The angel finished delivering G-d's prophetic message to Daniel.
"And at that time shall Michael stand up, the great prince who 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 many of those who sleep in the dust of the earth shall
awake, some to everlasting life, and some to shame and everlasting contempt.
And they that be wise shall shine like the brightness of the firmament;
and they that turn many to righteousness, as the stars forever and ever.
But you, O Daniel, shut up the words, and seal the book, even to the time
of the end; many shall run to and fro, and knowledge shall be increased."1
"Michael? Isn't he the angel who came to the rescue in chapter ten?"
Brian asked.
"Yes, Michael is the archangel who defends Israel. He will be at his
post defending Israel during the greatest period of tribulation the world
has ever known."
"Which book was the angel referring to that everyone's name is in?"
Jamie asked.
"The book of life. It is the book in which G-d records the names of
all the saints. Those whose names are not in the book of life will spend
eternity burning in the lake of fire."
"Who is resurrected at the second coming?"
"Let me back up a little bit here," Darryl told them. "When
the rapture takes place, the Bible tells us that the dead in Messiah Yeshua will
rise first. That means all of the people who have died between Messiah's
resurrection and the rapture, and who have accepted Yeshua (Jesus) as their Messiah.
Their bodies will be resurrected and changed into incorruptible bodies.
At the second coming of Messiah, the saints who lived before Yeshua (Jesus) first
coming will be resurrected and given their incorruptible bodies."
Brian interrupted Darryl, "I have a couple of questions."
"What would you like to know?"
"First, what exactly is a saint?"
Jamie jumped in, "I can answer that."
Brian turned to Jamie and waited to hear her answer.
"A saint is anyone who has trusted in Yeshua's (Jesus') shed blood on the
execution stake (cross) as payment for their sins. They believe that Yeshua (Jesus)
was the promised Messiah who died in their place, was buried, and rose again
conquering sin and death. They have asked G-d's forgiveness and asked Yeshua (Jesus)
to come into their lives and save their souls."
"What about the people who lived before Yeshua's (Jesus') time?"
Now Elizabeth joined the discussion. "In those days, the people of
G-d had animal sacrifices at the temple of G-d in Jerusalem. The sacrifices
were done year in and year out, in order that the people might find forgiveness
in the eyes of the L-rd."
Darryl quickly turned in his Bible to the book of Leviticus. "In Leviticus
17:11, the L-rd gave the people the following instructions. 'For the life
of the flesh is in the blood; and I have given it to you upon the altar
to make an atonement for your souls; for it is the blood that makes an atonement
for the soul.'"
"Now let me read from the book of Hebrews, 9:11-22. This passage explains
how the blood of Yeshua (Jesus) was the perfect atonement for our sins. 'When Messiah (Christ)
came as high priest of the good things that are already here, He went through
the greater and more perfect tabernacle that is not man-made, that is to
say, not part of this creation. He did not enter by means of the blood of
goats and calves; but He entered the Most Holy Place once and for all by
His own blood, having obtained eternal redemption. The blood of goats and
bulls and the ashes of a heifer sprinkled on those who are ceremonially
unclean sanctify them so that they are outwardly clean. How much more, then,
will the blood of Messiah (Christ), who through the eternal Spirit offered Himself
unblemished to G-d, cleanse our consciences from acts that lead to death,
so that we may serve the living G-d! For this reason, Messiah(Christ) is the mediator
of a new covenant, that those who are called may receive the promised eternal
inheritance--now that He has died as a ransom to set them free from the
sins committed under the first covenant. In the case of a will, it is necessary
to prove the death of the one who made it, because a will is in force only
when somebody has died; it never takes effect while the one who made it
is living. This is why even the first covenant was not put into effect without
blood. When Moses had proclaimed every commandment of the law to all the
people, he took the blood of calves, together with water, scarlet wool and
branches of hyssop, and sprinkled the scroll and all the people. He said,
"This is the blood of the covenant, which G-d has commanded you to
keep." In the same way, he sprinkled with the blood both the tabernacle
and everything used in its ceremonies. In fact, the law requires that nearly
everything be cleansed with blood, and without the shedding of blood there
is no forgiveness.'"
Darryl explained, "The saints of old knew the animal sacrifices only
covered their sins, and awaited the day when the promised Messiah would
come and take away their sins once and for all." He paused for a moment
to allow his words to sink in. "Brian, do you have another question?"
"I have two. What happens to a person when they die, and what is an
incorruptible body?"
"When a person dies, the soul departs from the body. A believer's soul
is escorted by G-d's holy angels to heaven. An unbeliever's soul is cast
into hell. 2 The body is left to decompose. It is necessary at the resurrection
for G-d to give the saints a body that won't age, become sick, or die, because
nothing corruptible can enter heaven."
"The unbelievers will be resurrected after the 1000 year reign of Messiah.
Their bodies will be joined with their souls to stand before G-d at the
great white throne judgment. Jamie, why don't you read about this judgment
of the unsaved from Revelation 20:11-15?"
Jamie took the Bible from her father and began to read. "'And I saw
a great white throne, and him that sat on it, from whose face the earth
and heaven fled away, and there was found no place for them. And I saw the
dead, small and great, stand before G-d, 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 that were in it, and death and hell delivered
up the dead that 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.'"