Daniel 12
Leon Morris · Citado em PreceptAustin
Daniel 12
Morris remarks that "This is an explicit promise of the future bodily resurrection of the dead, as recorded in one of the key prophetic books on the Old Testament. This is not, as some claim, a strictly New Testament doctrine. At this point (as in John 5:29), however, the thousand-year time interval between the resurrection of the saved and lost is not mentioned, since it is not relevant to the context and also (in view of the following verse) inconsequential in relation to eternity (Revelation 20:4, 5, 6). Those who now look with contempt on the Bible and Biblical Christianity will eventually experience “everlasting contempt” on themselves—as well as “everlasting fire” (Mt 25:41), and “everlasting destruction” (2Th 1:9). (Defender's Study Bible notes - Daniel 12) To everlasting life (olam chay - the only use of this combination in Scripture) - Those who believe in Messiah shall live forever in the presence of Christ Who is our life (Col 3:4-note) is also the Truth (Rev 19:11-note) about the (only) Way (Acts 4:12) to the (everlasting) Life (Jn 14:6). The Septuagint (LXX) translates this phrase with the Greek phrase "Zoen aionion" (literally "life eternal"). This identical Greek phrase is also found in 31 NT verses! Da 12:2; Mt 19:16, 29; 25:46; Mk 10:17, 30; Lk 10:25; 18:18, 30; John 3:15, 16, 36; 4:14, 36; 5:24, 39; 6:27, 40, 47, 54; 10:28; 12:25; 17:2; Acts 13:48; Ro 2:7; 5:21; 6:22; Gal 6:8; 1Ti 1:16; 1Jn 3:15; 5:11; Jude 1:21 In view of passages like Daniel 12:2, it should come as no surprise that the true believers in the days of Jesus (before the birth of the church) had at least some understanding of the future resurrection of the righteous. When Martha's brother Lazarus died, Jesus comforted her with the truth of the resurrection (which indeed has been a comforting truth to all believers throughout history - cf 1Th 4:18-note referring to the doctrine of the resurrection/rapture of those who compose the "Bride" of Christ - cf 1Th 4:13, 14-note, 1Th 4:15, 16-note, 1Th 4:17-note) Jesus said to her, “Your brother will rise again.” Martha said to Him, “I know that he will rise again in the resurrection on the last day.” Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life; he who believes in Me will live even if he dies, and everyone who lives and believes in Me will never die. Do you believe this?” (Jn 11:23-26)
Daniel 12
Morris says represents "one the most remarkable prophetic sections in the Bible. Its climax is the great victory of God over all His enemies and the fulfillment of all His promises to Israel. As such, it appropriately begins with a reminder that the God of Israel is none other than the mighty Creator of the universe and of every human being." These last 3 chapters of Zechariah are introduced as the "the burden (for Israel's enemies) of the word of the LORD concerning Israel" (Zech 12:1) THE REFINER'S FIRE The prophet Malachi also alludes to the "Refiner's fire", drawing his readers attention to the "day of His coming" which cuts short the days of the Great Tribulation… But who can endure the day of His coming (Second Coming brings an end to the Great Tribulation)? And who can stand when He appears? For He is like a refiner's (tsaraph - see discussion of this word above) fire and like fullers' soap. And He will sit as a smelter (tsaraph) and purifier of silver, and He will purify (Heb = taher = make clean, cf Je 33:8 where "cleanse" = taher) the sons of Levi and refine them like gold and silver, so that they may present to the LORD offerings in righteousness (Since the only righteousness acceptable to God is by faith, these are Levitical priests who have come to believe in the Messiah). (Malachi 3:2, 3-note) John
Daniel 12
Morris remarks that at the Christ's Judgment of the Gentiles after the Great Tribulation and prior to the Millennium Jesus will say to the "sheep"… “Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world” (Mt 25:34), and they will be enabled to enter, still in their natural bodies, the great millennial kingdom of Christ, where they will serve as the initial generations inhabiting the earth during that glorious period. The resurrected saints will also be there, in teaching and governing capacities (Rev 20:4, 6). Daniel himself will be there and “stand in thy lot at the end of the days” (Da 12:13).(Excellent Defender's Study Bible notes free online) Related Resource: Why do Daniel and Revelation give varying counts of 1,260, 1,290, and 1,335 days for the tribulation? Daniel 12:13 BUT AS FOR YOU, GO YOUR WAY TO THE END; THEN YOU WILL ENTER INTO REST AND RISE AGAIN FOR YOUR ALLOTTED PORTION AT THE END OF THE AGE." go: Da 12:9 rest: Da 12:3 Isa 57:1 Zec 3:7 Mt 19:28 Lk 2:29,30 2Co 5:1 2Th 1:7 2Ti 4:7,8 Rev 14:13 Rise again: Ps 1:5 Lk 21:36 Jude 1:14,15 REST RESURRECTION REWARD But as for you - God has not forgotten His servant Daniel. Go your way to the end - Not the end of this age but the end of his life. Keep on keeping on Daniel. Daniel may have been in his 80's but as long he had breath, he had time he could redeem (Eph 5:15-16-note). One has little doubt that he complied with this command. Enter into your rest - This is a reference to the end of Daniel's physical life on earth, which is not the end of his existence, but is the beginning of his promised rest. Immediately upon death, all those of the faith obtain rest (Is 57:1,2; Da 12:13; Lk 23:43, cf "rest" in Rev 14:13-note). What a glorious, blessed hope this sure word of prophecy (2Pe 1:19-note) is for Daniel and by way of application to all believers (Beginning to see signs of "spiritual burnout"? - Study the concept of "Rest" in the Bible) Note that this verse is not teaching the false doctrine of "soul sleep (note)"! Rise again (KJV = "dost stand") - God promises the highly esteemed Daniel that he will be resurrected. When will he be resurrected? At the end of this age in order to enter into and experience the next age on God's calendar (the Millennial Age - the Age of the Messiah). God says of David "I will raise" him (Jer 30:9-note) Most believe this is the "son of David" but what keeps this from being interpreted literally? If God will raise Daniel, then surely He will resurrect David so that he too can experience the Millennial age (along with you and me dear reader! Won't this be a glorious time!) Related Resources: See Discussion on to Whom David refers - notes on Hosea 3:5 What does the Bible say about soul sleep? I agree wholeheartedly with Leon Wood who observes that "If Daniel is to be resurrected at this time, then other Old Testament saints will likely be resurrected at the same time, thus giving evidence regarding the probable time for the resurrection of Old Testament saints." (Leon Wood -Daniel commentary). McGee agrees writing that ""In thy lot" (Da 12:13KJV) means that Daniel will be raised with the Old Testament saints at the beginning of the Millennium." David's affirmation is that of Daniel and every genuine believer… As for me, I shall behold Your face in righteousness; I will be satisfied with Your likeness when I awake. (Ps 17:15-note) Your allotted portion (Da 12:13NIV "allotted inheritance" cf Jdg 1:3, Col 1:12-note) - This describes Daniel's reward at the end of this age, when he is resurrected (along with Moses and David and all the OT saints) when he will surely hear "Well done, My good and faithful servant". (cf Mt 25:21, 23, Lk 19:17) Miller writes… This “consolation of hope” belongs to all who have received Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior. May every person who reads these words be part of that great host of the redeemed who “will shine like the brightness of the heavens” and “like the stars for ever and ever!” (Amen and Amen!) (Miller, S. R. - Daniel - New American Commentary) THE END OF THE AGE: THE BEST IS YET TO COME! End of the age - "The age" is a specific phrase in Scripture and in this context describes the end of this present age in which we live today, which comes to an end in the last 3.5 years, the Great Tribulation, when Christ, the Stone of Daniel 2 returns (Da 2:34, 35-note, Da 2:45-note) (Christ's Second Coming). "The age" Daniel and we today live in will be followed by another age, the the Messianic Age. This phrase gives us a "clue" as to when the resurrection of the OT righteous (saints) will occur - at the end of the age. When Jesus returns in triumph to reign as King of kings at the end of the age, all the OT saints will experience a bodily resurrection. This is simply one "phase" of the blessed "First Resurrection" (see notes above) Jews divided all time into two ages this present age which they felt was wholly bad and beyond all hope of human reformation. It could only be mended by the direct intervention of the Messiah. The other division was "the age to come" when Messiah intervenes in the history of the world and establishes the golden age. At that time, the age to come, will have arrived. Jesus spoke about the age in his parable on the tares… The enemy who sowed them (tares) is the devil, and the harvest is the end of the age; and the reapers are angels. Therefore just as the tares are gathered up and burned with fire, so shall it be at the end of the age… So it will be at the end of the age; the angels shall come forth, and take out the wicked from among the righteous, (Mt 13:39, 40, 49) (See other NT uses referring to the age - Lk 20:34, 35 Mt 12:32 Mk 10:30) Comment: Louis Barbieri notes that "“The end of the Age” represents the conclusion of the present Age before Christ establishes the messianic kingdom. The disciple's question about the age was followed by Jesus' famous Olivet Discourse… And as He was sitting on the Mount of Olives, the disciples came to Him privately, saying, "Tell us, when will these things be, and what will be the sign of Your coming, and of the end of the age?" Comment: Henry Morris writes that this age refers to "the "age" of time and space in which people now live and have lived since the world was drastically changed by the Flood in the days of Noah." (Defender's Study Bible. -free Online Version) John