What do the righteous have in their death?
(Gen. 28:13-14; Job 19:25-27; Psalm 49:15; 71:20; Isaiah 26:19; Daniel 12:1-3) Blog Oct. 16-22, 2022
Prepared by Richard A. Marin: Present Truth PO Box 700, Fallbrook CA 92088-0700 USA
REVIEW: Lucifer was heaven’s most exalted angel. But through seeking to take God’s place he became the agent of pride, which is the opposite of love. Being cast out of heaven he deceived Eve into thinking that she would never die if she ate the forbidden fruit. Then Adam freely chose to follow Eve’s example and disobey God. Thus, by one man, sin came into this world together with condemnation to death. The death Adam chose for all of us takes on two forms: temporal death and eternal death. The first is like an unconscious sleep. The second ends in total destruction.
From Adam to Joseph
1. What is “hope”? Hope is an expected desire, grasped by faith (Rom. 8:24-25; Heb. 11:1).
2. What was the hope that God gave to Adam and Eve? God gave Adam & Eve the hope of a Savior to come & of the final destruction of Lucifer (Gen. 3:15).
3. What door of hope did God place before Noah? God placed a door of salvation in the ark (Gen. 7:1).
4. What hope did God promise to Abraham? God promised Abraham that through him all nations would be blessed & that they would inherit the earth (Gen. 12:2-3, 7; Rom. 4:13).
5. To what other patriarchs did God make the same promise as he did to Abraham? God promised Isaac & Jacob the same two things that he promised Abraham (Gen. 26:3-4; 28:13-14).
6. How did Joseph demonstrate his hope in the deliverance of God’s people and their final resurrection? Joseph reminded his brethren of God’s promise to Abraham, Isaac, & Jacob & requested that his bones be buried with theirs in Canaan, for he said, “God will surely visit you.” (Gen. 50:24-25).
7. If Adam, Eve, Noah, Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, and Joseph have all died, what must their hopes have included? The fervent hope of all God’s people must include the hope of resurrection from the dead for apart from that, neither God’s promises nor their sure hopes could be accomplished (Heb. 11:13).
From Moses to David
8. When did Job expect to see God? Job expected to see God on the latter day after skin worms had destroyed his body & not immediately upon dying. He expected his own flesh to be renewed when he would see God (Job 19:25-27).
9. What did God tell Moses that he remembered and intended to act upon? God told Moses that he remembered the covenant promises he made to Abraham Isaac, & Jacob & that he planned to deliver his people from Egyptian bondage (Ex. 6:5-8).
10. What choice did Moses set before God’s people just before he died? Moses set before God’s people “life” & “death” & encouraged them to choose “life” (Deut. 30:19).
11. What hope was fulfilled to Moses in a far more glorious way than he expected? Moses hoped to enter the promised land of Canaan but he died on the east side of Jordan. Then Jesus resurrected him & took him to the heavenly Canaan (Deut. 3:23-26; Jude 9).
12. How did David express his hope of resurrection? David wrote: “My flesh also shall rest in hope.” “God will redeem my soul from the power of the grave.” & “shalt bring me up from the depths of the earth.” Note the words “soul” & “me” which indicate the whole person (Psa. 16:9; 49:15; 71:20).
13. In what aspect of God’s character did David hope? David’s hope was in God’s mercy (Psa. 33:18; 130:7; 147:11).
14. In Psalm 119 what hope does David express? In Psalm 119 David expresses his hope in God’s Word (Psa. 119:81, 114).
15. If God’s Word promises resurrection of the whole person and if God is merciful, then who should have the hope of resurrection from the dead? All who accept the gift of God’s Son & believe his Word should have the hope of resurrection (John 11:25).
From Solomon to Malachi
16. What does Solomon say that the righteous have in their death? Solomon says that “the righteous hath hope in his death.” (Prov. 14:32).
17. What did the Lord promise his people in Isaiah 26? The Lord promised his people that their dead would live again (Isa. 26:19).
18. What did Jeremiah say that it was good to hope for? Jeremiah says it is good to hope & quietly wait for the salvation of the Lord (Lam. 3:26).
19. As Daniel’s fourth vision ends what special resurrection is foretold? When Michael, the divine representative of God’s people, ceases his sanctuary intercession there is a time of trouble during the seven last plagues which culminates in a special resurrection of both righteous & wicked people who will see Jesus coming in the clouds of heaven (Dan. 12:1-3; Matt. 26:64; Rev. 1:7).
20. What eternal hope did Malachi predict? Malachi foretold the day when the wicked would all be destroyed & Jesus would make all things healthy & new for those that have worshipped him (Mal. 4:1-3).