When David was about to die, he called his son Solomon and gave him his last instructions:

"And now the LORD has kept his promise. I have succeeded my father as king of Israel, and I have built the Temple for the worship of the LORD God of Israel.

The LORD said to Moses, "You will soon die, and after your death the people will become unfaithful to me and break the covenant that I made with them. They will abandon me and worship the pagan gods of the land they are about to enter.

If you don't, as soon as you are dead, my son Solomon and I will be treated as traitors."

Many of those who have already died will live again: some will enjoy eternal life, and some will suffer eternal disgrace.

For David served God's purposes in his own time, and then he died, was buried with his ancestors, and his body rotted in the grave.

Listen to this secret truth: we shall not all die, but when the last trumpet sounds, we shall all be changed in an instant, as quickly as the blinking of an eye. For when the trumpet sounds, the dead will be raised, never to die again, and we shall all be changed.

We believe that Jesus died and rose again, and so we believe that God will take back with Jesus those who have died believing in him.

Then he heard the LORD speaking to him again: "This slave Eliezer will not inherit your property; your own son will be your heir."

"And now the LORD has kept his promise. I have succeeded my father as king of Israel, and I have built the Temple for the worship of the LORD God of Israel.

When you die and are buried with your ancestors, I will make one of your sons king and will keep his kingdom strong.

His dynasty will be as permanent as the sky; a descendant of his will always be king.

You made a solemn promise to David--- a promise you will not take back: "I will make one of your sons king, and he will rule after you.

If your sons are true to my covenant and to the commands I give them, their sons, also, will succeed you for all time as kings."

His royal power will continue to grow; his kingdom will always be at peace. He will rule as King David's successor, basing his power on right and justice, from now until the end of time. The LORD Almighty is determined to do all this.

The royal line of David is like a tree that has been cut down; but just as new branches sprout from a stump, so a new king will arise from among David's descendants.

and find pleasure in obeying him. He will not judge by appearance or hearsay;

"What do you think about the Messiah? Whose descendant is he?" "He is David's descendant," they answered.

'The Lord said to my Lord: Sit here at my right side until I put your enemies under your feet.'

He was a prophet, and he knew what God had promised him: God had made a vow that he would make one of David's descendants a king, just as David was.