In the book of Daniel, Daniel said, “at that time shall Michael stand up, the great prince which stands for the children of your people: and there shall be a time of trouble, such as never was since there was a nation even to that same time: and at that time your people shall be delivered, every one that shall be found written in the book”, and in chapter twelve and verse two of his book Daniel said, “many of them that sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake” where we read,
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.
The verse reads, “And many of them that sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, …” Daniel began with the words, “and many of them” or “and a great, abundant and numerous amount of people” “that sleep in the dust” which means “who are asleep within the powder, dry and loose ash or ground” “of the earth” or “pertaining to the general or tilled land” “shall awake” which means “will arise and show signs of waking”. Daniel shared how a great number of people who are asleep within the powder of the ground will arise.
The verse goes on to say, “… some to everlasting life, and some to shame and everlasting contempt.” Daniel continued with the words, “some to everlasting life” or “a number of the people to forever, continual, perpetual and unending living”, “and some to shame” which means “and a number of the people to reproach, taunting, scorn and disgrace” “and everlasting contempt” or “and forever, continual, perpetual and unending aversion and abhorrence”. Daniel shared how a number of people would arise to eternal age-abiding life, and others will arise to disgrace and perpetual abhorrence.
When we meditate upon the words in this verse, we learn through Daniel about the resurrection of people who are “asleep” or who have died. Job said, “And though after my skin worms destroy this body, yet in my flesh shall I see God: I shall see for myself, and my eyes shall behold, and not another; though my reins be consumed within me.” (See Job 19:25-27) Jesus said, “as touching the resurrection of the dead, have you not read that which was spoken unto you by God, saying, I am the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob? God is not the God of the dead, but of the living.” (See Matthew 22:31-32) Because “all have sinned and come short of the glory of God” (See Romans 3:23), and “the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord” (See Romans 6:23), God sent His Son Jesus into the world to die on the cross for our sins and was raised from the dead after three days. Daniel referred to this as “sleep”, and some people will be resurrected to be with God for all eternity, and others will experience eternal separation and disgrace from Him. This difference will be whether they put their faith and trust in Jesus as our “Savior and Lord”. When we yield to Him, He will forgive our sins, grant us everlasting life with Him and cleanse us from all unrighteousness by His Holy Spirit as we live in His presence forever.
Next time Daniel says, “they that be wise shall shine as the brightness of the firmament”, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.
Until tomorrow…there is more…
See more devotionals on the website "thewordfortodaywithray.com" or look for the daily devotional book “Equipped for Battle – From Generation to Generation”, the marriage book “So, You Want to Be Married”, “One Year in the Sermon on the Mount” and the new poetry book "Random Mushrooms Volumes I and II" and the new novel "Elizabeth County" in all major bookstore sites, http://www.amazon.com ; http://www.barnesandnobles.com ; download to e-books, and find it locally at www.mrzlc.com/bookstore. All references are from "Strongs Concordance".
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