As believers in Christ we are set on Earth to be His voice and to spread the good news to the world. (All bold are my emphases added. Square brackets [ ] indicate meanings of words, my explanations. King James Version Easy-Reading Bible (KJVER) used.)
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.
At the general resurrection at the Day of the Lord (Revelation 20:11-15) there will be some raised from ‘sleep’ to “everlasting life,” those who were saved because they loved the Lord and were faithful in their service to Him. Those saved shall have the enjoyment of everlasting life and happiness with Christ in the world to come. Then there are some who are raised to “shame and everlasting contempt.” of these John Gill wrote:
“… wicked men, who lived in a course of sin in this world, without any remorse or shame; but, when they shall rise from the dead, they will rise with all their sins upon them, and with a full conviction of them in their consciences; and will be ashamed of them, and to appear before God the Judge of all; and will be had in contempt by the Lord, by elect angels, and all good men; and this reproach shall never be wiped off; see (Isaiah 66:24).”
Isaiah 66:24 And they shall go forth, and look upon the carcases of the men that have transgressed against Me: for their worm shall not die, neither shall their fire be quenched; and they shall be an abhorring unto all flesh.
“Our Lord seems manifestly to have respect to this passage, when he speaks of men coming out of their graves at the last day, “some unto the resurrection of life, and others unto the resurrection of damnation (John 5:28,29).”
John 5:28,29 Marvel not at this: for the hour is coming, in the which all that are in the graves [all the dead] shall hear His voice, 29 And shall come forth; they that have done good, to the resurrection of life; and they that have done evil, to the resurrection of damnation [judgment].
Of those who are resurrected to everlasting life they shall shine like the noonday sun in the sky.
Daniel 12:3 And they that be wise shall shine as the brightness of the firmament [day-time sky]; and they that turn many to righteousness as the stars for ever and ever [night-time sky].
John Gill:
“These wise [i.e.the opposite of the foolish, who didn’t believe] at the resurrection shall shine, both in body and soul; their bodies shall be fashioned like to the glorious body of Christ; their souls shall be filled with perfect light and knowledge, and be completely holy, without any sin upon them; and this light and glory that will be upon both soul and body will be like the brightness of the heavens when the sun is risen; yea, it will be like the brightness and glory of the sun itself…”
Of the wise who turn many to righteousness (i.e. those who witness to bring others to know Christ), they shall shine like the stars, which means to shine with glory, from all the stars in their crowns, rewards given to them. Their brightness will be as the day-time sun in brilliance. Compare with
Matthew 13:43 Then shall the righteous shine forth as the sun in the kingdom of their Father. Who has ears to hear, let him hear.
So tell those you meet about the love of Christ and tell them to repent and believe the gospel.
Mark 1:15 And saying, The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand: repent you, and believe the gospel.
Matthew 4:17 From that time Jesus began to preach, and to say, Repent: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.
Jesus preached: Repent because the kingdom of heaven is close, telling them to make a decision now. What does repent mean then? It is from the Greek word μετανοέω metanoeo which means “to think differently or afterwards, i.e. reconsider.” That means to ‘revolute,’ change your mind and hence everything else will follow. Do a U-turn in your mind! Turn it towards God!
Matthew 5:14-16 You are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid. 15 Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick; and it gives light unto all that are in the house. 16 Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.
If you are the light to the world, don’t hide it. Don’t wait either!
John 4:35 Say not you, There are yet four months, and then comes harvest? behold, I say unto you, Lift up your eyes, and look on the fields; for they are white [ripe] already to harvest.
When is the right time to go out and witness, to preach the gospel? Now … is the time to witness!
John 4:36,37 And he that reaps receives wages, and gathers fruit to life eternal: that both he that sows and he that reaps may rejoice together. 37 And herein is that saying true, One sows, and another reaps.
It does not matter if you don’t see the fruits of your planting seeds. The Holy Spirit is the one who works in the hearts of those He has chosen. But the laborers are few; you won’t see that the harvest field crowded with those witnessing, unfortunately.
Matthew 9:37,38 Then says He to His disciples, The harvest truly is plenteous, but the laborers are few; 38 Pray you therefore the Lord of the harvest, that He will send forth laborers into His harvest
Pray for labourers. God says we need to. Then He will send labourers. He will call them out of the world. And send them into the harvest.
Mark 16:15 And He said to them, Go you into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature [human].
Mark 16:16 He that believes and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believes not shall be damned.
Belief is listed first because it is the belief in Christ that saves, not the baptism by water. That is a confession of the saved person’s faith. Baptism is an outward confession of an inward faith, nothing more. Salvation comes as a work of God, causing you to repent and turn your mind to Him. Those who do not believe are damned to Hell. Yes, it is a real place.
Mark 16:17 And these signs shall follow them that believe; In My name shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues [heavenly languages included].
There will be signs following those who believe; it is not a requirement though. You do not need to ‘speak in tongues’ to be saved, as some erroneously teach. Nor is ‘tongues’ a sign that you are saved. The gift of tongues is only one of many gifts of the Spirit. See 1 Corinthians 12.
Romans 8:9 But you are not in the flesh [not controlled by the flesh], but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of His.
It is God’s Spirit who saves. See study on Holy Ghost baptism. There were cases of people saved before they even heard of the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit is, in a measure, in all who are saved.
Matthew 28:19-20 Go you therefore, and teach [make disciples of] all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: 20 Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen
Jesus commanded His disciples on Earth to go and teach all nations. The same commandment applies to His disciples now. But the preaching of the cross is foolishness to them that perish or are perishing. It is the fruit of the Spirit of God, which is a saved disciples life.
1 Corinthians 1:18 For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but to us which are saved it is the power of God.
Always preach the word. Never silence the Spirit of God in you! Always carry witnessing tracts with you. Never go out without them!
2 Timothy 4:2 Preach the word; be instant [ready] in season, out of season [any time at all]; reprove, rebuke, exhort [encourage] with all long-suffering and doctrine [teaching].
That means any time, any where, any place. And be bold! Don’t worry what other think about you. The Holy Spirit will support you.
Acts 5:20 Go, stand and speak in the temple to the people all the words of this life.
Daily, not once a year. Do it in churches, in temples and in every house, which means any where.
Acts 5:42 And daily in the temple, and in every house, they ceased not to teach and preach Jesus Christ.
Go into the highways, i.e. the streets, anywhere.
Matthew 22:9 Go you therefore into the highways, and as many as you shall find, bid [invite] to the marriage.
“To the marriage” means to be part of the Bride of Christ, which is through salvation. We are even told to go out and compel them to come in.
Luke 14:23 And the lord said to the servant, Go out into the highways and hedges, and compel [urge] them to come in, that my house may be filled.
As God people on the Earth we are His voice and He commands us even to warn the wicked that he may turn from his sins. If we don’t God will hold us responsible.
Ezekiel 3:17-19 Son of man, I have made you a watchman to the house of Israel: therefore hear the word at My mouth, and give them warning from me. 18 When I say to the wicked, You shall surely die; and you give him not warning, nor speak to warn the wicked from his wicked way, to save his life; the same wicked man shall die in his iniquity [depravity, guilt, sin]; but his blood will I require at your hand. 19 Yet if you warn the wicked, and he turn not from his wickedness, nor from his wicked way, he shall die in his iniquity; but thou hast delivered thy soul.
Christ is the Good Shepherd who will seek out that which is lost. As His disciples we are as the Master. And we should rejoice when one lost sheep is found.
Luke 15:4-6 What man of you, having an hundred sheep, if he lose one of them, does not leave the ninety and nine in the wilderness, and go after that which is lost, until he find it? 5 And when he has found it, he lays it on his shoulders, rejoicing. 6 And when he comes home, he calls together his friends and neighbors, saying unto them, Rejoice with me; for I have found my sheep which was lost.
Then we are taught to teach others what we have learned.
2 Timothy 2:2 And the things that you have heard of me among many witnesses, the same commit you to faithful men, who shall be able to teach others also.
Teach others to teach others. Learn from other witnesses and pass what you learn onto others. Improve your witness by copying others. Use methods that work, face to face talking to people usually is the best method. Anyone can do that. Use tracts! You will find some you can download from this Tracts page, accessible from the front page.
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