The Time of the End
Daniel 12:3 "And they that be wise shall shine as the brightness of the firmament; and they that turn many to righteousness as the stars forever and ever."
they that be... Literally, it refers to those who make others wise, and those who win souls and turn many to righteousness (2Tim. 3:15-17). The second fact that consoled Daniel is the promise that those who sleep will be resurrected. Many Jews will lose their lives at the hands of Gentiles in the events revealed in Dan. 11:1-45 (cf. Rev. 20:4).
shine as the... Unbelieving Jews will be resurrected to shame and everlasting contempt and will not partake in the covenanted blessings. Jews, however, who believe the Messiah will be resurrected bodily to everlasting life and to positions of honor in Christ’s millennial kingdom. Being glorified in the kingdom, they will shine like the brightness of the heavens. (Cf. Mat. 13:43, “Then the righteous will shine like the sun in the kingdom of their Father.”) They will be wise, for they will trust in the Messiah even though it will result in their suffering.
This is speaking of being wise unto salvation. The following is a companion Scripture to this.
Mat. 13:43 "Then shall the righteous shine forth as the sun in the kingdom of their Father. Who hath ears to hear, let him hear?"
The greatest privilege any of us have, is leading someone to the Lord Jesus Christ. Jesus is the Light of the world. When He comes and dwells within us, His Light shines forth through us. It is His Light that causes us to shine.
Jas. 5:20 "Let him know, that he which converteth the sinner from the error of his way shall save a soul from death, and shall hide a multitude of sins."
God gives special honor in heaven to those who work at saving souls on the earth.
This is speaking of those having true knowledge by faith in God’s Word. Not only leaders (as 11:33), but others (11:35; 12:10).
To “shine” in glory is a privilege of all the saved. Any who influence others for righteousness shine like stars in varying capacities of light as their reward as in 1 Cor. 3:8 “Now he that planteth and he that watereth are one: and every man shall receive his own reward according to his own labour. “
Being glorified in the kingdom, they will shine like the brightness of the heavens. (Cf. Mat. 13:43, “Then the righteous will shine like the sun in the kingdom of their Father.”) They will be wise, for they will trust in the Messiah even though it will result in their suffering.
This message that God will remember His covenant and will fulfill all He promised to Israel (in spite of her sufferings at the hands of the Gentiles) will be a consolation that will in turn cause them to lead others to righteousness (cf. the “wise” in Dan. 12:10). No righteousness of God’s people ever goes unrewarded so those who are faithful under persecution will shine like the stars forever and ever.
The resurrection of believers martyred in the Tribulation will occur at the second coming of Christ (cf. Rev. 20:4, “they came to life and reigned with Christ 1,000 years”). The unbelieving dead, however, will be resurrected to “everlasting contempt” and torment at the end of the 1,000-year reign of Christ (cf. Rev. 20:5; John 5:28-29).
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