B. The Rewards
1. Analyzed
Those who are rewarded “shall shine like the brightness of the firmament . . . as the stars forever and ever. ” I believe that means we will be rewarded in eternity by a capacity to manifest the blazing glory of God. When we look into the night sky we see stars of varying size and brilliance, but they are all beautiful. That’s the way we will be in heaven. I believe our size and brightness depend on our faithfulness. All who know Jesus Christ will have the capacity to eternally radiate the glory of God, but those who “turn many to righteousness” will be especially bright.
According to the New Testament the rewards or crowns we will receive when we go to heaven will simply be ways of expressing our capacity to radiate the glory of God. If we’re saved we’ll shine like stars, and all the more if we’ve turned “many to righteousness. ” The brightest glories are reserved for those who have influenced others to believe in Christ. Thus the angel was telling Daniel that during the tribulation Israel will be saved and lead others to Christ, including many Gentiles, “which no man could number, of all nations, and kindreds, and peoples, and tongues” (Rev. 7:9). The Jewish evangelists of the tribulation will be able to manifest God’s glory with a special brilliance.
2. Applied
We as Christians can apply that reward to ourselves. Our faithfulness to witness will help determine our eternal capacity to manifest the glory of God. We will shine like “stars” (v. 3). There have been many earthly stars in the past, such as Caesar, Napoleon, and Hitler, who have led great armies that wreaked havoc. There are also many contemporary stars. A walk down Hollywood Boulevard will reveal who they are right underneath your feet (as would a walk through a nearby cemetery). But few earthly stars shine very long or brightly in the memory.
In contrast to the stars of earth the greatest stars in God’s sky are those who “turn many to righteousness. ” One such star is John the Baptist. An angel said of him, “He shall be great in the sight of the Lord, and shall drink neither wine nor strong drink; and he shall be filled with the Holy Spirit, even from his mother’s womb. And many of the children of Israel shall he turn to the Lord, their God” (Luke 1:15-16). Jesus said that John was the greatest human being who ever lived up to His time (Matt. 11:11). He will shine brightly forever when he is resurrected, with a tremendous capacity to radiate God’s eternal glory because he turned “many to righteousness. ”
When you examine your own life, what have you done to contribute to such a future? Although the angel spoke specifically to Israel in Daniel 12, the principle extends to us. The Lord wants us all to be faithful to preach the Word and share the gospel. The apostle Paul wrote that we are to “be blameless and harmless, children of God, without rebuke, in the midst of a crooked and perverse nation, among whom [we] shine as lights in the world, holding forth the word of life” (Phil. 2:15-16).
Conclusion
Daniel 12:1-3 is a message of great hope. Israel can anticipate great distress in the future, yet they will be specially defended and delivered. All who are saved can look forward to a special destiny with glorious dividends: the capacity to radiate the glory of God forever. Israel’s hope is ours as well: we are blessed in the tents of Shem (the Gentile descendants of Japheth will be spiritually blessed through the Jewish descendants of Shem–Gen. 9:27; 12:3). We become the seed of Abraham by faith, and therefore we too will reign in the kingdom and share the same privilege of radiating the glory of God!
Focusing on the Facts
1. Why is hope essential to a meaningful life? Why is it especially important to those who suffer (see p. 2)?
2. What does God give Israel in the first three verses of Daniel 12? Why (see pp. 2-3)?
3. When will hope dawn for Israel (see p. 3)?
4. What are Israel’s sufferings designed to do (see p. 3)?
5. When will the unprecedented time of trouble for God’s people occur (see pp. 4-5)?
6. According to Zechariah 13:8 what portion of the Jewish people will be redeemed after their final purging (see p. 5)?
7. Who is the special defender that will stand up for Israel? What singular responsibility has he been given (see pp. 5-6)?
8. Why has Satan continually tried to destroy the nation of Israel (see p. 6)?
9. How will demons be prevented from totally destroying Israel (see p. 7)?
10. What gave Daniel confidence (see p. 8)?
11. What part of Israel referred to in Romans 11:26 will be saved (see p. 9)?
12. How will the remnant of Israel come to believe in Jesus Christ (see pp. 9-10)?
13. Show from Scripture that the resurrection has always been the hope of God’s people (see p. 10-11).
14. Describe the three sequential parts of the first resurrection to everlasting life (see p. 94)?
15. According Revelation 20:4, what will the saints of all ages do during the millennium (see p. 12)?
16. What is the second resurrection? When will it occur (see p. 13)?
17. Who will receive special dividends at the resurrection (see p. 14)?
18. What will increase the brilliance of one’s reward? Why will the Jewish evangelists of the tribulation be able to brightly manifest God’s glory (see pp. 14-15)?
19. What is one reason that John the Baptist was “great in the sight of the Lord” (Luke 1:15-16; see p. 15)?
Pondering the Principles
1. What is your greatest hope? The Bible says that a Christian’s greatest hope is the assurance that he will share in the glory of God (Rom. 5:2). Meditate on Romans 5:1-5. Why can we rejoice in the tribulations we face (vv. 3-4)? Our trials are like the rigors an athlete must endure while he trains. His hope to win is strengthened by the assurance that his suffering is a necessary part of the prize he will win. Do you rejoice in your trials, knowing that they are enhancing your spiritual maturity (James 1:2-4)? Christians in the midst of trials and suffering experience a hope and confidence in the future that will not disappoint them. Remember and take comfort in that hope as you face difficulties in your own life.
2. Are you committed to turning “many to righteousness” (Dan. 12:3)? If you desire to “be great in the sight of the Lord” (Luke 1:15) , pray that you will be effectively used by God to speak about spiritual things to unbelievers. As you shine as a light “in the world, holding forth the word of life” (Phil. 2:15) , look forward to the ability to manifest God’s glory more fully in His presence in heaven.
“This article originally appeared here at Bible Bulletin Board.”
