Introduction: As I have talked to people about Christ, several have said that they do not believe in heaven or hell. They claim, “When, I die, I will be dead. That is the end.” Is that true? Many primitive cultures have for centuries believed in some sort of life after death. Why? Could it be that their creator placed that sense in their inmost being? Does the Bible address the topic of the afterlife? Yes, it does!
Transition: Our text this morning is 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.” From this text and those related to it, we ought to gain four understandings about the resurrection which greatly encourage our hearts.
The first understanding is …
1. God assures us that resurrection day is coming.
a. We see this in the phrase “shall awake”.
1) “Sleeping in the dust of the earth” speaks of death.
2) When Daniel wrote “many” he was not implying most, but not all. Rather he was saying that those resurrected will be many or a great multitude.
3) “Shall awake” depicts the resurrection. They had been sleeping in death and they now will awake in life.
4) For further study, here are other OT verses that allude to the future resurrection. Job 19:25-27; Psa 49:15; Psa 71:20; Isa 26:19; Hos 6:1-2.
b. Jesus spoke clearly of a resurrection day.
1) In Jesus’ day, Sadducees denied a future resurrection (Mt 22:23-31).
2) Jesus affirmed it. (John 5:28-29) “Marvel not at this: for the hour is coming, in the which all that are in the graves shall hear his voice, And shall come forth; they that have done good, unto the resurrection of life; and they that have done evil, unto the resurrection of damnation.”
3) Jesus also said, (Luke 14:14) “And thou shalt be blessed; for they cannot recompense thee: for thou shalt be recompensed at the resurrection of the just.”
4) Jesus claimed to be the resurrection. (John 11:25) “Jesus said unto her, I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live:”
5) The resurrection is the main theme of NT preaching. (Acts 4:33) “And with great power gave the apostles witness of the resurrection of the Lord Jesus: and great grace was upon them all.” We find it mentioned 10x in Acts.
6) 1 Corinthians 15 is all about the resurrection.
God assures us that resurrection day is coming. The second understanding is …
2. God affirms that some will resurrect to everlasting life.
(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.”
a. Resurrection to everlasting life is our hope.
1) In John 5:28-29, we saw that Jesus affirmed this. “Marvel not at this: for the hour is coming, in the which all that are in the graves shall hear his voice, And shall come forth; they that have done good, unto the resurrection of life; and they that have done evil, unto the resurrection of damnation.”
2) Peter also affirmed this. (1 Peter 1:3-5) “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which according to his abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, To an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for you, Who are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.”
3) Sadly, many in our world think that when they die that is the end. All who think this way have no hope beyond this life.
b. Heaven with the Lord is a reality for all who trust in Christ alone for salvation.
1) (John 3:36) “He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him.”
2) Jesus said, (John 5:24) “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.”
Resurrection Day is coming. Some will resurrect to life. The third understanding is …
3. God warns that others will resurrect to shame and everlasting contempt
(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.”
a. At death, the spirit of every human will appear before God his Creator
1) Solomon wrote in Ecclesiastes 12:7, “Then shall the dust return to the earth as it was: and the spirit shall return unto God who gave it.”
2) The Apostle Paul wrote in Hebrews 9:27, “And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment:”
3) Death is not the end. Your body will die and decay, but your spirit will live eternally somewhere. You will answer to your Creator.
b. On Judgment Day unbelievers will be resurrected to everlasting contempt.
1) We already read this in John 5:28. “Marvel not at this: for the hour is coming, in the which all that are in the graves shall hear his voice, And shall come forth; they that have done good, unto the resurrection of life; and they that have done evil, unto the resurrection of damnation.” Since we are all sinners, the only good a person can do is to repent of his sin and trust Christ alone to save his soul from hell. Have you done that?
2) Revelation 20:11-15 describes that fateful judgment. “And I saw a great white throne, and him that sat on it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away; and there was found no place for them. And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works. And the sea gave up the dead which were in it; and death and hell delivered up the dead which were in them: and they were judged every man according to their works. And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death. And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire.”
3) Knowing that judgment is coming for you and me, God sent His Son, Jesus, to die in our place. (John 3:17) “For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.”
The fourth understanding is …
4. God asserts that each person has a choice in this life where he will spend eternity
(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.”
a. The next verse in Daniel 12 speaks of turning to righteousness
1) (Daniel 12:3) “And they that be wise shall shine as the brightness of the firmament; and they that turn many to righteousness as the stars for ever and ever.”
2) All who turn to God for righteousness gain everlasting life.
b. You have a choice where you will spend eternity.
1) (Romans 6:23) “For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.” You alone can choose.
2) (John 3:36) “He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him.” Your choice is final. Death seals your opportunity to choose.
3) (2 Thessalonians 1:8-9) “In flaming fire taking vengeance on them that know not God, and that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ: Who shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord, and from the glory of his power;” You must obey the Gospel by trusting Christ.
4) Your destiny depends on your decision for Christ.
Conclusion: Resurrection Day awaits us. Death is not the end for anyone. Every person’s spirit will stand before God his Creator to give account. All who repent of their sinful living and trust Christ’s payment for this sin, they will be resurrected to life. All the others will be resurrected to damnation. Which will describe you?
