Daniel 12 (ESV)
The Time of the End
12:1 “ At that time shall arise Michael, the great prince who has charge of your people. And there shall be a time of trouble, such as never has been since there was a nation till that time. But at that time your people shall be delivered, everyone whose name shall be found written in the book. 2 And many of those who sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, some to everlasting life, and some to shame and everlasting contempt. 3 And those who are wise shall shine like the brightness of the sky above;1 and those who turn many to righteousness, like the stars forever and ever. 4 But you, Daniel, shut up the words and seal the book, until the time of the end. Many shall run to and fro, and knowledge shall increase.”
5 Then I, Daniel, looked, and behold, two others stood, one on this bank of the stream and one on that bank of the stream. 6 And someone said to the man clothed in linen, who was above the waters of the stream,2 “ How long shall it be till the end of these wonders?” 7 And I heard the man clothed in linen, who was above the waters of the stream; he raised his right hand and his left hand toward heaven and swore by him who lives forever that it would be for a time, times, and half a time, and that when the shattering of the power of the holy people comes to an end all these things would be finished. 8 I heard, but I did not understand. Then I said, “ O my lord, what shall be the outcome of these things?” 9 He said, “ Go your way, Daniel, for the words are shut up and sealed until the time of the end. 10 Many shall purify themselves and make themselves white and be refined, but the wicked shall act wickedly. And none of the wicked shall understand, but those who are wise shall understand. 11 And from the time that the regular burnt offering is taken away and the abomination that makes desolate is set up, there shall be 1,290 days. 12 Blessed is he who waits and arrives at the 1,335 days. 13 But go your way till the end. And you shall rest and shall stand in your allotted place at the end of the days.”
Footnotes
Daniel 12 Commentary
In Daniel 12, Michael, the great prince, will rise during a time of unprecedented distress (Daniel 12:1), but those whose names are in the book will escape (Daniel 12:1). Many will awaken from the dust, some to eternal life and others to disgrace (Daniel 12:2). Those with insight will shine brightly (Daniel 12:3).
Daniel is instructed to keep these words secret until the end, as knowledge will increase (Daniel 12:4). A man in linen reveals that the end will come after a specified time (Daniel 12:5-7), and while many will be purified, the wicked will not understand (Daniel 12:10). Daniel is assured of his eventual inheritance (Daniel 12:13).
Context
Daniel 12 continues the vision from Daniel 11 and brings us into one of the clearest and most powerful Old Testament pictures of final judgment, resurrection, and eternal reward. At a time of great distress, Michael, the great heavenly prince who stands guard over God’s people, will arise (Daniel 12:1). Although the turmoil will be intense, God promises deliverance for everyone whose name is written in the book. This “book” echoes the concept of the Book of Life, a register of those who belong to the Lord.
Resurrection
Even in the face of death, Daniel is shown that this is not the end of the story. The dead will awaken (those who sleep in the dust of the earth) with two drastically different outcomes: some will rise to everlasting life, while others will face shame and everlasting contempt (Daniel 12:2). This is a rare but unmistakable reference to bodily resurrection in the Hebrew Scriptures. It shows us that God’s justice and promises echo into eternity.
A special honor is given to “those who are wise” and “those who lead many to righteousness.” These faithful ones will shine like the brightness of the heavens and the stars forever. In the Old Testament and Second Temple literature, star language is associated with divine beings and glory. A major theme is the eternal impact of living a godly life and helping others to follow God. These will be seen as radiant lights, reflecting God’s truth and glory.
Mysteries
Daniel is then told to “shut up the words and seal the book until the time of the end.” This doesn’t mean the message is hidden forever, but that its full understanding will come as the end approaches. People will search for answers, and knowledge will increase, but only those with insight from God will truly understand.
An angelic figure then speaks and gives mysterious timeframes: 1,290 days and 1,335 days. These numbers have sparked endless debate, but again, let us focus on what we know with certainty.
- There will be great tribulation, but God’s people will be delivered.
- A resurrection awaits: some to everlasting life, others to shame.
- The wise will shine like stars, a beautiful image of eternal reward.
- The timeline of events may be unclear, but God’s sovereignty is certain.
- We are called to remain faithful and “go our way until the end.”
Faithful perseverance matters. Blessed are those who wait, endure, and remain faithful even when things seem unclear or drawn out. God sees the long haul, and He rewards those who trust Him in the waiting.
Daniel & Paul
Daniel 12 also connects well with Paul’s language about resurrection glory.
Paul’s teaching in 1 Corinthians 15:35-53 expands directly on this theme. He describes the resurrection body as imperishable, glorious, powerful, and spiritual. Drawing a contrast between the first Adam, who was earthly, and the second Adam, Christ, who is heavenly, Paul declares that believers will bear the image of the heavenly man. This transformation from mortal to immortal and from dishonor to glory mirrors the vision in Daniel 12.
In Philippians 3:21, Paul writes that Christ “will transform our lowly body to be like his glorious body.” This promise refers to a bodily transformation that conforms believers to the radiant glory of the risen Christ. This is basically New Testament shorthand for the celestial radiance described in Daniel 12. The “glorious body” of Christ is not simply imperishable but luminous and exalted, which directly aligns with Daniel’s portrayal of the righteous shining like the heavens.
2 Corinthians 3:18 contributes further by describing the believer’s present transformation. While this verse emphasizes the ongoing sanctifying work of the Spirit, it also connects it to the eschatological promise of complete transformation at the resurrection. The process of being conformed to the image of Christ, begun in this life, culminates in the final glorification foreseen in Daniel’s vision.
Finally, in 1 Corinthians 6:17, Paul writes that “he who is joined to the Lord becomes one spirit with him.” This points to the spiritual union with Christ as the present reality that anticipates the future resurrection. Our current unity with Christ by the Spirit is the groundwork for our future bodily transformation, when we will be glorified in a way that reflects Christ’s own resurrected state. This present-tense union assures the believer of a future-tense glorification that fulfills Daniel’s prophecy of radiant resurrection life.
Finally, Daniel is told he will “rest” (a gentle metaphor for death) and then “stand in your allotted place at the end of the days.” This is personal. Daniel, after a life of faithfulness, will one day rise and receive his inheritance. That promise extends to all of God’s people. The message of Daniel 12 is hope-filled and future-focused. Even in seasons of suffering and uncertainty, we are called to live with endurance, walk in wisdom, lead others toward righteousness, and trust that resurrection and reward await all who belong to Him.
