Final Resurrection and Reward

Apocalyptic literature often sees events in the near term as anticipations of similar events to come. Jesus shows us this phenomenon when He predicts the “abomination of desolation” in the Jerusalem temple in AD 70, namely, the Roman standards that General Titus set in place as objects of worship just before he had the armies of Rome burn the temple to the ground (Mark 13:14–23). Our Lord was recalling Daniel 11:31, where Daniel foresaw the “abomination that makes desolate”—the idols Antiochus IV Epiphanes set up in the Jerusalem temple in the second century BC. Christ foresaw Titus’ standards as a long-term fulfillment of a vision that had a shorter-term fulfillment centuries earlier. When we come to the end of Daniel 11, which is actually one unit with Daniel 12, we find a prediction of longer-term events alongside a prediction of events occurring prior to the coming of the Messiah. In 11:36, it appears that the prophet moves from Antiochus as a figure in history to Antiochus as a type of the final enemy to come. We draw this conclusion mainly based on the exalted language applied to the king in verses 36–45, the reference to the “time of the end” (v. 40), and the fact that the final resurrection foreseen in Daniel 12 seems to happen immediately after the ruler in 11:36–45 is defeated. Given the symbolism of the passage, this interpretation is tentative, but it seems to fit the figure whom theologians have traditionally regarded as the Antichrist, the ultimate embodiment of the “spirit of antichrist” who has always stood against the Lord and His people (see 1 John 4:3). This final enemy “shall come to his end” in a time of great trouble, but the people of God will be preserved (11:45–12:1). At that point, there will be a physical resurrection of the dead, both the righteous and the unrighteous. The former will be rewarded, but the latter will find “everlasting contempt” and destruction because they are the Lord’s impenitent enemies (12:2–3). Despite the sufferings of God’s people in exile, as described in Daniel 1–6 and foreseen in 7–12, those who persevere in faithfulness, trusting in God alone for deliverance, will be victorious in the long term even though they endure pain in the near term. That is the message of Daniel for us today. As God’s people, we remain physically exiled from paradise, awaiting the full restoration of all things. Spiritually, however, the restoration has begun, which means suffering for our faith until the consummation. But all who endure to the end will be saved (Matt. 10:22).