Introduction: Why do you remain a Christian? When I’ve
considered turning away what stopped me was the thought of
living life without God. Central to my life is knowing that
God is with me in every challenge. Paul says in 1
Corinthians 15:19 “If in Christ we have hope in this life
only, we are of all people most to be pitied.” I don’t
agree. Even without a hereafter, I have been immeasurably
blessed in this life by God’s companionship. Know that I’ve
taken Paul’s words out of context. His context is that we
have been captured by a lie if heaven is not real. In
context, Paul’s statement aligns with my gratitude for God’s
presence. Jesus is real. His resurrection is real. His
companionship with us is real and will continue forever if
we choose. Jesus is at the heart of Paul’s argument about
the hereafter. What did God’s people believe before Jesus
came? Did they believe in an enduring companionship with
God? Let’s turn to that this week in our continuing study of
the Bible!
I. The Job Dispute
A. You know the story of Job. God brags that Job is
an ideal follower, and Satan responds that Job
follows God because of what he can get. That
precise point is tested by taking virtually
everything away from Job except his wife. Read Job
2:9. Assume that Job’s wife loves him and has his
best interest in mind. Why would she suggest this
course of action? (It ends Job’s suffering. She is
not contemplating an afterlife.)
B. Read Job 2:10. What counter argument does Job make
to his wife? Does it involve an afterlife? (It is
a statement about justice on earth. Job does not
raise the issue of an afterlife.)
C. Read Job 19:25-27. What does Job mean by the
phrase, “after my skin has been destroyed?” (He
must be referring to a time after his death.)
1. How would Job see God after Job died? (Job’s
comment shows that he believes in an
afterlife. This supplies the logic for him
persisting despite terrible losses and
personal suffering.)
II. Foolish Confidence
A. Read Psalms 49:5-6. The Psalmist writes about
fear. Why does he not fear? What is different
about his source of confidence? (The inference is
that the Psalmist places his confidence in God
while others place their confidence in their
wealth.)
B. Read Psalms 49:7-9. What is the problem with
relying on wealth to avoid “the pit?” (The pit is
death, and the wealthy are not rich enough to
“ransom another.”)
C. Read Psalms 49:10-12. If you put your name on a
building will you be remembered forever? (The text
says that even then you will be like the animals
who die – your “pomp will not remain.” Our local
boarding school had a dormitory named after the
man who I believe paid to build it. (His widow was
a member of my church when I was young.) When I
became old, someone paid to renovate the dormitory
and the school renamed the building after the
renovator!)
D. Read Psalms 49:14-15. What do you think is this
“morning?” (This is a reference to the Second
Coming of Jesus. It states that both the righteous
and unrighteous will be raised “in the morning,”
but then the unrighteous “shall be consumed in
Sheol.” Why? Because there is no place for them,
but the Psalmist will be received by God based on
a ransom!)
E. Notice that this discussion of the afterlife
begins with a discussion of confidence in God’s
companionship during life.
III. The Wise Confidence
A. Read Psalms 71:1-4. In whom does the Psalmist
(King David) trust in times of distress? (God.
David says that God is my “rock and my fortress.”)
1. What do you think David would say about living
a life without the support of God?
B. Read Psalms 71:9-11. When does David say that
God’s support is most important to him? (When he
is old, when his “strength is spent.”)
C. Read Psalms 71:20-21. What is the “depths of the
earth? (Death. The grave.)
1. As David goes from being a young man depending
on God, to an old man desperately needing God,
to one who is buried, what role does God play?
(God revives, rescues, and comforts David.)
2. Did King David believe in heaven? (Yes.)
a. On what was that belief based? (His
continued companionship with God. This
relationship survives death.)
IV. Perfect Peace
A. Read Isaiah 26:1-3. If we trust God during our
life here, what is the result? (Perfect peace.)
1. Does this text suggest that all is peaceful
around the person who trusts God? (Just the
opposite. Notice the reference to “walls and
bulwarks,” “gates,” and a “strong city.” These
would not exist were it not for real danger
outside.)
B. Read Isaiah 26:10-11. In what different way do the
righteous and unrighteous look at the blessings
and favor of God? (The unrighteous learn nothing
from it. They do not see God in their blessings,
they think it is their cheating that benefits
them.)
C. Read Isaiah 26:18. Will the righteous defeat the
unrighteous when we live together on earth? (We
cannot ultimately defeat them or cause the evil on
earth to fall based on our efforts alone.)
D. Read Isaiah 26:19 and Isaiah 26:21. What is
necessary for evil to be defeated? (God will come
and defeat the wicked, but the righteous who
“dwell in the dust” will live!)
1. What does this say about the afterlife?
E. Read Isaiah 26:20. What should we do in the
meantime? (When we face real fury we should hide
until the fury passes.)
1. Really? Should we be hiding? What about Isaiah
26:1-3 which talks about perfect peace for
those who trust God’s “walls and bulwarks?”
(Perhaps a time comes when we will need to
hide “for a little while, but I think the
general instruction is to hide in the power of
God.)
V. The Daniel Description
A. Read Daniel 12:1. Will the righteous face trouble
in the end time? (Trouble will exist as never
before. But the righteous “shall be delivered.”)
B. Read Daniel 12:2. What does this say about the
afterlife? (It predicts a general resurrection for
both the good and bad. The righteous arise to
“everlasting life.” We will not get into the
details revealed in texts such as 1 Thessalonians
4:16 or Revelation 20:4-15. At the moment we are
discussing the Old Testament view of the
afterlife.)
C. Read Daniel 12:3. What kind of future do we find
for “those who are wise” and “those who turn many
to righteousness? (They shine like stars forever.)
1. Note the nature of the analogy. Mountains are
not the point of comparison, but rather stars.
Why? (This adds to the idea that our hereafter
is in heaven.)
D. Read Daniel 12:4. What does this tell Old
Testament readers? (That Daniel’s “book” cannot be
fully understood until the end of time.)
1. What was understandable then? (Daniel is very
clearly stating that a judgment will be made
about people and there is an afterlife. Those
who pass are admitted into a “star-like”
afterlife.)
VI. Tested Theory
A. Read John 11:23-26. How did Martha understand the
teachings of the Old Testament and her discussions
with Jesus? (There was an end time resurrection.)
1. If this was not true, should Jesus have
corrected her? (Rather than correcting Martha,
Jesus says that He is “the resurrection and
the life.” Jesus had previously told Martha
(John 11:23 that her brother would “rise
again.”)
2. Notice that Jesus also says that a believer
would “never die.” How should we understand
this since Lazarus had died? (Jesus must be
promising us that we will never eternally die
if we choose Him.)
B. Friend, in the writings of the Old Testament God
has made clear promises to those who choose Him.
He will continue His companionship with them into
eternal life. Will you choose God now, if you have
not already?
VII. Next week: Resurrection Before the Cross.
Copr. 2022, Bruce N. Cameron, J.D. Scripture quotations are
from the ESV Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard
Version ), copyright 2001 by Crossway, a publishing
ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All
rights reserved. Suggested answers are found within
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but it is lost one week, you can find it by clicking on this
link: http://www.GoBible.org. Pray for the guidance of the
Holy Spirit as you study.
