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Chapter 12

The Resurrection

“At that time there shall arise Michael,(A)
    the great prince,
    guardian of your people;
It shall be a time unsurpassed in distress
    since the nation began until that time.
At that time your people shall escape,
    everyone who is found written in the book.[a]
Many of those who sleep[b]
    in the dust of the earth shall awake;
Some to everlasting life,
    others to reproach and everlasting disgrace.(B)
But those with insight shall shine brightly
    like the splendor of the firmament,
And those who lead the many to justice
    shall be like the stars[c] forever.(C)

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Footnotes

  1. 12:1 Written in the book: cf. 10:21.
  2. 12:2 Many of those who sleep: Daniel does not envisage the universal resurrection as later developed. Two groups are distinguished, one that rises to eternal life, the other to reproach and disgrace. Then “those with insight” (11:33–35) are singled out for special honor.
  3. 12:3 Like the stars: like the heavenly host, or angels. Cf. Mt 22:30.

This world will come to an end

12 Then the angel said to me, ‘At that time God's great angel Michael will come. He is the leader who takes care of your people. There will be a time of great trouble. It will be worse than any trouble that has happened since God first made your nation. But many of your own people will escape from that trouble. Those are all the people whose names are written in the book.[a] Many dead people who lie under the ground will become alive again. Some of them will receive life that continues for ever with God. But other people will receive shame that continues for ever. People who are wise will shine like the bright sky. Those who help many people to do what is right will also shine brightly for ever. They will shine like the stars in the sky at night.

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Footnotes

  1. 12:1 ‘The book’ is God's book of life. See Philippians 4:3; Revelation 3:5; 13:8; 20:12.