Daniel 12:2 And many of them that sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, some to everlasting life, and some to shame and everlasting contempt. 3 And they that be wise shall shine as the brightness of the firmament; and they that turn many to righteousness as the stars forever and ever.
The Lord spoke to Daniel and showed him a lot of what is to come. Much has already come to pass and some is getting ready to happen and nothing can stop it. He described those gone on as bodies in the dust. Those who were lost went to hell. The saved are in paradise.
In the resurrection, Christ will reclaim the body. When the spirit of life leaves the body, the soul leaves. This spirit is the cement of life. We all have the gift of a physical life. The soul will continue on after the physical life ends. What we do with our sins through Jesus Christ determines what we’ll do in the next life.
Bodily, those who have gone on are in the dust. Those dead for many years are already dust. Even bones decompose. But God knows where that dust will be, every part of it. He will reclaim it on that great day into a glorified body. Daniel talks of those gone who have gone on as asleep. This indicates rest. A saved person is at rest. The unsaved are in torment. From the story of the rich man and Lazarus we learn that our saved loved ones who have gone on are in the arms of Jesus. Their soul is resting in him. I can’t talk to them but I can talk to the one holding them. They are happy, at peace. Mommy doesn’t see what I go through. They don’t need to see it. They are entrusted to Jesus. That a comfort for us.
God has promised there will come a day. Look back at verses 2-3. …Many of them that sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, some to everlasting life, and some to shame and everlasting contempt. Compare it with John 5:24-26. Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life. Verily, verily, I say unto you, The hour is coming, and now is, when the dead shall hear the voice of the Son of God: and they that hear shall live. For as the Father hath life in himself; so hath he given to the Son to have life in himself. This is called the resurrection. Everyone who has ever lived and been saved, regardless of where their dust is, will hear his voice and come forth. No wonder the world will go into tribulation. At the end of this time the unsaved will be resurrected. The first resurrection is for the saved; the second one is for the lost. Everyone who is dead will be resurrected in one of them. I can see the science of it. The earth is full of dust now. We’re made of it. One day it will be dust free as the resurrection happens. I want to be part of those who awake to everlasting life. My soul and body will come together in a glorified body. No end. No aging. No bad years to dread. To be good and young forever. The resurrection to life is only granted by him who is the Resurrection and the Life. Without being born again you will not go to heaven. Trust Jesus with all your heart.
Jesus wants to wake us up now. The lost are dead, buried in trespasses and sin. None can do anything about that in themselves. That’s why Jesus came into the world: to give life. John tells us now is the hour to listen to his voice and be called out of death into life. Today is the day. This is what’s wrong with the church: coldness, indifference, asleep, routine, habit. People are in their own fantasy world. If you can’t hear the call of the Master, do something. It is inexcusable for the church to be asleep. The awakening day is nigh. Jesus says watch. Be ready. Be awake. Are you alert? How long has it been since you moved for the Lord? Pick yourself up and roll out of the bed of indifference. Splash some cold water on your face and come out of it. What does God have to do to smash the sleepy out of our eyes? The devil has lulled many to sleep. Today is the awakening day to get back where we should be and out of the lukewarm-ness. Get out of the lost your first love-ness.
Eternity and judgment are right at the door. Jesus needs us now. The disciples would not stay awake while Jesus prayed in the garden. Look what they awoke to. It was a different life. We’ll all awake to a different life. Jesus wants no one to wake to the resurrection of damnation. He wants everyone in the first resurrection to life. Be fully awake. It’s up to us. Are you awake or asleep?
Adwolfe Freewill Baptist Church 