Daniel's Time of the End

Daniel's Time of the End

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."

And many of... This verse clearly states the doctrine of the first and second resurrections, but without the time element of 1,000 years between the two resurrections.

The Resurrections

There are two main kinds of resurrection: spiritual and material. Spiritual resurrection is that of the spirit being quickened from death in trespasses and sins. Such a resurrection causes one to be renewed in the glorious likeness of God (1Co. 11:7; Eph. 4:21-24; Col. 3:10; 1Jn. 3:9). It is taught in Eph. 2:1-6; 5:14; Rom. 6:11 and takes place only in this life. When physical death comes all possibility of such spiritual resurrection has passed (Ecc. 11:1; Heb. 9:27; Rev. 22:11). Material resurrection is that of the body to which we shall confine the rest of our study.

Kinds of Material Resurrection:

There are two kinds of material or physical resurrection: the righteous to life before the Millennium; and the wicked to damnation after the Millennium (Dan. 12:3; John 5:28-29; Rev. 10:4-6, 10:11-15). There will be 1,000 years between the two resurrections (Rev. 20:4-6).

1. The fact of a resurrection. The following Bible characters taught it: Job (Job. 19:25-27), Isaiah (Isa. 26:14-19), Daniel (Dan. 12:2), David (Psm. 16:10; 17:15; Act 2:31), O.T. saints (Heb. 11:35), N.T. saints (Mat. 28:1-20; Mar. 16:1-20; Luke 24:1-53; John 20-21; Act 2:1-47; 4:1-37; etc.), Jesus (Mat. 16:21; 22:23-31; Luke 14:14; 20:27-36; 24:13-45), Matthew (Mat. 28:1-20), Mark (Mar. 16:1-18), Luke (Luke 24:1-49), John (John 19-21; Rev. 20:4-6), Mary (John 11:24), Herod (Mat. 14:2), Peter (1Pe. 1:3; 3:21), and Paul (Act 17:18, 17:32; 23:6; 24:15, 24:21; Rom. 1:4; 6:5; 8:34; 1Co. 15:1-58; Phlp. 3:10-11; Heb. 6:2; 11:35).

2. The resurrections foretold (Isa. 26:14-19; Dan. 12:2; Psm. 16:10; Mat. 12:41-42; 20:19; 27:63; 1Th. 4:14-17; 1Co. 15:1-58; Rev. 20:4-6; John 5:28-29).

3. Examples of resurrection—temporary and permanent:

(1) Temporary (See Mat. 9:25).

(2) Permanent—raised to immortality to live forever in their bodies. Christ "the firstfruits" was the first of all permanent resurrections (1Co. 15:1-23). Then there were many O.T. saints resurrected after His resurrection (Mat. 27:53).

4. The order of the resurrection (1Co. 15:20-34). There are five.

5. Qualifications for the first resurrection (see Ten Qualifications for the Rapture)

6. The method of the resurrection (1Co. 15:35-50). Paul illustrates the method of the resurrection by the death and resurrection of a grain of wheat or some other grain.

The first Resurrection (Rev. 20:4-6; Dan. 12:2; John 5:28-29)

This is the resurrection of all the just, blessed and holy, from Adam to the Millennium. It covers the period of time from Christ’s resurrection to the resurrection of the tribulation saints and the two witnesses and includes the various companies of redeemed. There are Five Raptures in the First Resurrection. All who have part in this resurrection will have a part in ruling with Christ. He will not rule with just a select few, as taught by some (Rev. 20:4-6). This resurrection may be called the "out" resurrection; that is, a resurrection out of or from among the dead (Luke 14:14; 20:35-36; Phlp. 3:11-14; 1Th. 4:14-17; 1Co. 15:51-58; Heb. 11:35; Rev. 20:4-6). Just as Christ came out from among the dead as the firstfruits of the dead, so at the rapture the dead in Christ will come forth from among the wicked dead according to the above passages. Even the tribulation saints will come out from the wicked dead (Rev. 20:4-6). The wicked dead will not live again until the thousand years are finished (Rev. 20:4-6).

The Greek expression ek, nekron, out of the dead, is used 48 times and teaches a select resurrection from the dead—the righteous selected from among the wicked—but it does not teach a select resurrection of some righteous from among the remaining righteous (Mat. 17:9; Mar. 9:10; Luke 24:46; Act 3:15; 4:10; 10:41; 13:30; 17:31; Rom. 1:4; 4:24; 6:4-9; 8:11; 1Co. 15:12, 15:20-23; etc.). The theory that a few of the righteous will be selected from among the righteous is a mere human invention based upon a few historical stories of the O.T. which were never intended as types. There is a lack of even one plain scripture on the subject. All the dead and living in Christ will be in the first resurrection—not just a few of those in Christ. All who are out of Christ will be raised together after the Millennium to be judged and cast into the lake of fire (Rev. 20:4-6, 20:11-15).

The Resurrection of the Righteous:

1. The first resurrection (Rev. 20:4-6)

2. The resurrection of the just (Luke 14:14)

3. A resurrection of life (John 5:29)

4. A better resurrection (Heb. 11:35)

5. The resurrection of (from among) the dead (Phlp. 3:10-15)

The Second Resurrection (Dan. 12:3; John 5:28-29; Rev. 20:4-6)

This is the resurrection of all the wicked from Adam to the end of the Millennium. It will take place after the Millennium and will also include those wicked who die during the Millennium (Rev. 20:4-6, 20:11-15). They will be raised with immortal bodies to be tormented in hell forever (Mat. 10:28; John 5:28-29; 12:24; Dan. 12:2; Act 24:15; 1Co. 15:21, 1Co. 15:34-50; Rev. 14:9-12; 19:20; 20:4-6, 20:11-15). The theory that only the righteous will be raised to immortality is false, not being founded on one scripture. The method of the resurrection of the just and unjust is plainly taught and illustrated by a grain of wheat or any other grain. So what makes the difference between the two resurrections? Does not a bad or poisonous seed reproduce in the same way that a good seed does? Do not both go through the same process? The resurrection of men follows this same process, the only difference being in the glory of one over another. Both the saved and unsaved will be immortal as is plainly taught in all Scripture. The wicked bodies will exist in conscious torment forever (Luke 12:5).

in the dust... Only the body sleeps in the dust of the earth, for only the body was made out of dust (Gen. 2:7; 3:19; Ecc. 3:19-21).

No Soul-Sleeping Taught in Scripture

All scriptures used to teach soul-sleep clearly refer to the body which does sleep in the dust of the earth until the resurrection of the body (Dan. 12:2; John 5:28-29). The body is the only part of man that dies at physical death (Jas. 2:26). The reason it dies is because the inner man, the life of the body, leaves the body. It then goes back to dust and is spoken of as being asleep (Gen. 3:19; Ecc. 3:19-21; Mat. 9:24; John 11:11; 1Co. 11:30; 15:6, 15:18, 15:20, 15:51; 1Th. 4:13-17).

Soul-Sleeping Scriptures Examined:

Every scripture used by those who teach soul-sleep refers to the body and not to the soul and spirit, as can be seen by an examination of the so called proof texts themselves.

1. Sleep in the dust (Job. 7:21; Psm. 22:15; 146:4; Ecc. 3:19-20; Dan. 12:2). Only the body was made of dust and that is what will return to dust again (Gen. 2:7; 3:19; Ecc. 3:20). The soul and spirit are not made of material substances as the body so they will not return to dust.

2. Death—a falling asleep (Act. 7:60; 13:36; 1Co. 15:6, 15:18, 15:20, 15:51; 1Th. 4:13-17; 5:10; 2Pe. 3:4). This is true as far as the body is concerned, for the body is the only part men can see as falling asleep. No man could see the soul and spirit, or the invisible part of man, whether it fell asleep or not. In Act. 13:36 that which fell asleep was laid in a tomb and saw corruption. That seeing corruption definitely refers to the flesh is clear from Psm. 16:10; Act 2:23-32. In these passages it was the flesh that saw no corruption while the soul went to hell. In David’s case his flesh saw corruption (Act 13:36). In all the other passages above the thing that fell asleep was the flesh or body (1Co. 15:35). Naturally, the body falls asleep when the spirit leaves it (Jas. 2:26).

3. Death is spoken of as sleep (Deut. 31:16; 2Sa. 7:12; 1Ki. 2:10; 11:21, 11:43). This refers to the body falling asleep, as in points 1 and 2, above.

4. No difference between man and beast in death (Ecc. 3:19-20). This is used as conclusive proof by false cults that both man and beast become extinct at death, but an honest acknowledgement of facts here will show that it refers to the body, not the soul. It says, All go to one place; all are of the dust, and all turn to dust again. There can be no argument against this, for both men and beasts were made of dust as far as the body is concerned (Gen. 2:7, 2:19). All bodies do return to dust again, but nothing is said here or in any other place that the souls and spirits (or the invisible and intangible parts) of men and beasts were made of dust. On the contrary, this same passage proves there is a distinction between man and beast as far as their spirits are concerned, for the spirit of man goeth upward, and the spirit of beast goeth downward to the earth.

5. No consciousness in death (Psm. 6:5). This verse must be understood with other facts. In physical death there is no remembrance, because the body dies and has no soul or spirit in it that could cause the body to continue having memory and consciousness. The body without the spirit is dead (Jas. 2:26). It is not the chemical makeup of the body that has consciousness or it would continue after the spirit leaves the body. The soul and spirit make the body conscious so long as they are in the body, but when they leave the body it is dead and therefore cannot be conscious.

The statement in this verse about the grave (Hebrew: She’owl, the unseen world of departed spirits) not containing anyone who praises God is no doubt literally true, for hell is a place of torment in fire and who would praise God in such circumstances? That there is consciousness in sheol is clear from many scriptures. It does not say here or elsewhere that people in Sheol are extinct and unconscious, and could not praise God. It is clear that in "hell" (Sheol/Hades) men do cry and desire to get out of hell, as in Luke 16:19-31; Isa. 14:9-11; etc.

6. The dead don’t praise the Lord (Psm. 115:17). This is true as far as the body is concerned, for it is lifeless, unconscious, and goes into dust again when the soul and spirit leave it (Jas. 2:26). The souls of the righteous continue to praise God in full consciousness after leaving their bodies (Heb. 12:22-23; Rev. 6:9-11), but the wicked who go to hell will have no praise for God. Their sole interest will be to escape such a literal burning hell and that will be impossible (Luke 16:19-31).

7. In the day of death "his thoughts perish" (Psm. 146:4). This also is true as far as the body is concerned. The body cannot possibly have thoughts when the inner man leaves it (Jas. 2:26). After leaving the body souls and spirits continue to have thoughts in heaven (Heb. 12:22-23; Rev. 6:9-11) and in hell (Isa. 14:9-11; Luke 16:19-31).

8. "The dead know not anything" (Ecc. 9:5-6; Job. 14:21). Again, we repeat these facts are true regarding the body, but not the soul and spirit. How could a dead body of dust be conscious, have memory, love, hatred, and envy with the soul and spirit gone from it? Dust cannot have these experiences whether it is shaped into physical form or otherwise. The soul and spirit continue to know and they have emotions and desires after leaving the body, as proved in many scriptures.

9. The dead come out of the graves (Mat. 27:52; John 5:28-29). As to the bodies which die at physical death, they are put into graves; but the souls and spirits never go to graves, as proved in many scriptures. If one knew that a body was still alive because the spirit was still in it, he would not put that body in the grave. It could not see corruption with life in it.

10. David is not yet ascended into heaven (Act. 2:34). This is true as to his body, but not true as to his soul and spirit, for all souls who died before Christ’s resurrection were taken to heaven as captives (Psm. 68:18; Eph. 4:8-10). Every just man’s spirit is in heaven (Heb. 12:22-23). Every righteous person who dies goes to heaven as an inner man (2Co. 5:8; Phlp. 1:21-24; Rev. 6:9-11) and the body is buried in the grave to await its resurrection (John 5:28-29; Dan. 12:2). One does not die spiritually a physical death, for he is either dead or alive spiritually in his lifetime. If he is spiritually dead in sins (Eph. 2:1-9; 1Ti. 5:6), at physical death his soul will go to hell and his body in the grave to await their reunion in the second resurrection (Rev. 20:6, 20:11-15). If he is alive spiritually at physical death, his soul will go immediately to heaven and his body to the grave until their reunion in the first resurrection (Rev. 20:4-6; 1Th. 4:13-17). To prove that David’s body is what is referred to as the part which has not yet ascended, see Act 13:36 where it plainly reveals what it was that saw corruption.

Thus, it is clear that soul-sleeping is a fallacy, but body-sleeping is a reality.

and some to... The contempt and punishment of the wicked are equal to the bliss of righteousness in length and consciousness. Mat. 25:46; John 5:28-29.