Looking for Scriptural basics on how to explain a question which unbeliever asked me ( not man made traditions or because my priest/pastor said so ).
The question is following :
Assuming that OT Jews and Gentiles went to either prison or Abraham's bossom and then the gospel was preached to them when Jesus went to Scheol and preached it to them then they rose from the graves :
Ephesians 4:9
Matthew 12:40
1 Peter 4:6
1 Peter 3:19
Matthew 27:52
There is no problem explaining that everybody had a chance to listen to the gospel.
But there is problem after Christ rose from the dead.
From the time Christ rose from the dead , if some person died not knowing the gospel then he would burn in hell because only by knowing Jesus people are saved .
So we are at example 55 A.D ( could be 33 I don't mind the exactly date that is to make a point ) .
Apostle Saul just had personal revelation and was born again and renamed Paul , he is now preaching the grace gospel.
1) Where did a Roman citizien go before Paul took the gospel to Rome ? Did he go to hell or paradise and Jesus preached to him again ?
Did he have personal revelation from Christ like Paul if such person wanted to be born again ? How can people believe in a gospel least somebody preach to them . We see in Book of Acts that people were even baptised after John's baptism but had to be re-baptised because they never heared of Holy Spirit or of Jesus Christ , the name of Jesus Christ was not revealed to them by anybody .
Acts 19 King James Version (KJV)
19 And it came to pass, that, while Apollos was at Corinth, Paul having passed through the upper coasts came to Ephesus: and finding certain disciples,
2 He said unto them, Have ye received the Holy Ghost since ye believed? And they said unto him, We have not so much as heard whether there be any Holy Ghost.
3 And he said unto them, Unto what then were ye baptized? And they said, Unto John's baptism.
4 Then said Paul, John verily baptized with the baptism of repentance, saying unto the people, that they should believe on him which should come after him, that is, on Christ Jesus.
5 When they heard this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.
6 And when Paul had laid his hands upon them, the Holy Ghost came on them; and they spake with tongues, and prophesied.
7 And all the men were about twelve.
8 And he went into the synagogue, and spake boldly for the space of three months, disputing and persuading the things concerning the kingdom of God.
Let's say we are at 100 A.D
Where will all the native tribers or people in China/India go if they have never heared the gospel of Jesus Christ or even his name?
It would be most logicall to have Angel from Heaven proclaim the gospel as fast as Christ rose from the dead , to make sure everybody heared it . But God did not do such thing he said he will do but not now , he said he will do it in Revelation 14:6 but Paul told us to not listen to any angel from heaven now Galatians 1:8-9.
Question is :
Why did God not let people in China or India or any natives hear the gospel prior to these people death , he knew for sure apostles won't make it there in time before these people die ?