The prophet Daniel roots his statement regarding the resurrection in Isaiah’s proclamation. Daniel points to a day of resurrection: “Multitudes who sleep in the dust of the earth will awake some to everlasting life, others to shame and everlasting contempt” (Dan. 12:2, NIV). God’s Old Testament revelation culminates with this declaration. Death is compared to sleep, and those who are dead will be resurrected: those who served the Lord will receive eternal life, but the wicked will be condemned to eternal death. God also assures Daniel that he will be resurrected to new life at the very end: “As for you, go your way till the end. You will rest, and then at the end of the days you will rise to receive your allotted inheritance” (Dan. 12:13, NIV). Death is like a rest from faithful labor. But afterward will come the sweet inheritance: eternal life with the Lord.

The allusion to the resurrection in the story of Jonah is related to his stay for three days in the belly of a big fish. Jonah defines this experience as being in sheol, meaning in a grave (Jon. 2:2). After three days and three nights, he was brought to a new life when he was vomited out of this sheol. In his prayer he states: “I was imprisoned in the earth, whose gates lock shut forever. But you, O Lord my God, snatched me from the jaws of death!” (Jon. 2:6 NLT). Jesus compared His stay in the grave and resurrection to Jonah’s experience (Matt. 12:40).

The prophet Hosea speaks about Israel’s spiritual revival and return to the Lord in terms of being raised from death to new life. The imagery of resurrection is used to explain this new life of God’s people.
Death the Leveler. James Shirley. 1596–1666
THE glories of our blood and state
Are shadows, not substantial things;
There is no armour against Fate;
Death lays his icy hand on kings:
Sceptre and Crown
Must tumble down,
And in the dust be equal made
With the poor crookèd scythe and spade.

Some men with swords may reap the field,
And plant fresh laurels where they kill:
But their strong nerves at last must yield;
They tame but one another still:
Early or late
They stoop to fate,
And must give up their murmuring breath
When they, pale captives, creep to death.

The garlands wither on your brow,
Then boast no more your mighty deeds!
Upon Death’s purple altar now
See where the victor-victim bleeds.
Your heads must come
To the cold tomb:
Only the actions of the just
Smell sweet and blossom in their dust.

Sin is a curse that brings terrible consequences. It is like an avalanche. Seemingly starting as nothingness, it then breaks and tears down everything that is beautiful, valuable, and meaningful, and destroys life completely. It is only a matter of time before this destroying force becomes plainly visible. Where there is wrong thinking, it automatically follows that there also will be evil behaviours. Sin breaks down all kinds of meaningful relationships; it brings only misery, suffering separation, and complications. Breaking our relationship with God (the vertical dimension of our existence) brings multiple horizontal breaks. The resurrection is God’s answer to sin suffering and death. It is God’s answer to you! It is the Blessed hope for all those awaiting the coming of Jesus. (Titus 2:13)