Uncle John,
In Daniel 12:2, it says that in the resurrection, there will be two groups of people: those raised to everlasting life and those raised to everlasting abhorrence. Does verse 3 then subdivide further those who are getting everlasting life by distinguishing those who have understanding and who turned many to righteousness by making them shine bright, or is it now talking about people who are still alive when Jesus comes back, that they will shine bright when they are caught up as opposed to those who aren’t living right at that time?
Daniel 12:
- And multitudes who are asleep in the dust of the ground shall awake, some to everlasting life, and some to reproaches and to everlasting abhorrence.
- And those who have understanding will shine like the brightness of the firmament, and those who turn many to righteousness, like the stars forever and ever.
Josiah P.
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Good question, Josiah.
Jesus made it clear that there will be degrees of reward for the righteous and degrees of punishment for the wicked. In a parable in Luke 19:12–26, Jesus revealed that in the Judgment, some good servants of God would be rewarded with greater blessing than other good servants of God, according to how much good they had accomplished in this life. And in Matthew 11:20–24, he said plainly that in the Judgment, the punishment of some of the wicked will be more tolerable than the punishment of other wicked people, based on the opportunities they were offered. but rejected, in this life.
In Daniel, 12:3, I have never understood that verse to be a comparison of the righteous versus the wicked. It seems to me to be a description of those who in this life have attained to an understanding in the things of God and who labor to win souls. Many of God’s precious children will doubtless be saved in the end in spite of not having much understanding or being soul winners for Christ – if they have lived morally upright lives – but the reward of the wise who labor in the vineyard of God will certainly be greater than theirs.
Still, for all who are saved in the end, eternal life and peace in a glorified body on the new earth God has promised will be more than sufficient reward to make us all happy forever! There will be no envy or strife in that wonderful world.
I am glad you gave some thought to what you were reading in Daniel and that you asked a question. You have touched on an issue which should give us all food for thought.
God bless you!
Uncle John
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