Daniel
Chapter 12
Resurrection and Salvation
At that time, Michael there shall arise, the great prince guardian of your people. It will be a time of suffering like never before in the history of the nations. Then, all those whose names are written in the book will be saved.
Many of those who sleep in the dust of the earth will awake, some to everlasting life, and others to shame and everlasting contempt.
Those who gain knowledge will shine, like the brilliance of the sky; those who teach others to be just will shine, like the stars, for all eternity.
And you, Daniel, keep these words secret and have the book sealed until the designated time at the end. Many will wander, looking here and there. Wickedness will continue to increase.”
I, Daniel, looked and saw two others standing, one on either side of the river.
One said to the man clothed in linen who was upstream: “When will these wonderful things take place?”
And I heard the answer from the man in linen who was upstream. He raised his hands to heaven and swore by the One who lives forever: “Everything will be fulfilled within a time, two times, and a half a time. When the holy people are completely crushed and without any strength, then these things will be fulfilled.”
I heard but did not understand. Then I asked: “My lord, what will be the outcome of these things?”
He replied: “Go, Daniel, for these words are secret and sealed until the appointed time of the end.
Many will be purified, cleansed, and proven. The wicked will continue doing evil; none of them will understand anything; only the wise will understand.
From the moment the perpetual sacrifice is stopped and the Abominable Idol of the devastator is installed, there shall be a thousand two hundred ninety days.
Fortunate are those who have patience and persevere for the one thousand three hundred thirty-five days.
And you, go your way until your end. You shall rest; and then rise, to receive your reward, at the end of time.”
Commentaries
The Visions.
In this second part of the book, the story shifts back to the time of Babylonian rule. Now, the narrator is Daniel himself, whose dreams and visions reflect a distinct apocalyptic style. Apocalypticism is a literary device often used during periods of persecution. Through symbolic and complex images, God’s intervention in history is depicted to comfort and reassure His “saints,” referring to those who remain faithful to the Lord and the Covenant amid all the suffering and challenges they face (cf. Rev 1:1-8).
Fourth: The Terrible Vision.
Fasting and meditation on the Word bear fruit. The vision of the man dressed in linen with a golden belt dazzles and weakens Daniel (Rev 1:13). Then, through mediators—angels—God reveals his plans (Gabriel) to his “beloved” and directs a heavenly battle (Michael) with repercussions for human history (Rev 12:7-9).
Resurrection and salvation (12:1-13): The archangel Michael is sent to deliver Israel from persecution. This is followed by an explicit reference to the resurrection that precedes the judgment: Just as liberation from exile has two possible outcomes, return to Jerusalem (Ezekiel 37:12) or death in the desert (Ezekiel 20:33-38), the “difficult times” (1) will be a crucible of purification for “many” (2:10), but those who do not accept the message of salvation will be condemned (cf. 1 Thess 4:8). The outcome of history and its timing belong to God. The faithful who suffer persecution must trust in God’s sovereignty over human history. Death is a time of rest in the hope of eternal life and joy with God (13).
Resurrection and Salvation.
This reflection on Daniel 12:1-4 powerfully highlights the theological depth and eschatological hope found in the passage. These verses are widely known as one of the clearest Old Testament affirmations of bodily resurrection. Verse 2 is a striking promise of divine justice.
Commentators often view this moment as the pinnacle of Daniel’s prophetic vision. It confirms that God’s ultimate plan includes vindicating the faithful and judging the wicked, addressing the tension found in texts like Psalm 37, where the righteous suffer while the wicked seem to prosper.
The question in Daniel 12:8—“What shall be the outcome of these things?”—remains unanswered in exact terms. Instead, the message is sealed until the end times, highlighting that apocalyptic literature focuses more on present endurance than on future specifics. It’s a call to stay faithful, trusting that God’s justice will ultimately prevail.