Daniel 12:1Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

Porphyry, despite his arrogance, managed to sway both the naive among us and the uninformed among his followers; yet what can he say about this passage, which depicts the resurrection of the dead, some destined for eternal life and others for eternal punishment? He cannot even tell who those were under Antiochus that shone like the brilliance of heaven and like stars everlasting. But what perseverance can achieve is remarkable! Like a defeated serpent, he raises his head once more, spreading venom upon those fated to perish. This he claims pertains to Antiochus, who, on his journey to Persia, entrusted an army to Lysias, who governed Antioch and Phoenicia, with intentions to wage war against the Jews and devastate their city of Jerusalem. Josephus, the historian of the Jewish people, recounts that such tribulation occurred then as had never been witnessed before, a moment unmatched since the advent of nations.

However, victory came, and Antiochus's commanders fell, leading to Antiochus's demise in Persia. The people of Israel were saved—those inscribed in the book of God, namely those who faithfully upheld the covenant; conversely, those guilty of transgressing the law and aligning with Antiochus found their names removed from the book. Then, it is said, those who appeared to be in slumber in the dust, weighed down by afflictions and buried in graves of despair, revived from the earth to triumphant resurrection, with the guardians of the law rising to everlasting life, while the lawbreakers faced eternal disgrace. The teachers of the law will shine like the celestial bodies, and those who encouraged others to follow divine commands will reflect the glory of the stars forever and ever.

He further draws from the Maccabean narratives, which recount how many Jews, led by Mattathias and Judas Maccabeus, fled to wilderness realms and took refuge in caves and rock crevices, only to emerge post-victory (1 Mac. 2). It seems metaphorically to foreshadow the resurrection of the dead. More accurately, it indicates that in the era of the Antichrist, tribulation will arise such as has not been experienced since the formation of nations. For if Lysias had fallen irretrievably and complete defeat had befallen the victorious Jews, would not the anguish have paralleled that of the time when Jerusalem was besieged by the Babylonians, the Temple obliterated, and the populace led into exile? In this way, following the defeats of the Antichrist, and upon his demise by the Spirit of the Savior, those inscribed in the book of God will find salvation. According to their deeds, some shall inherit eternal life while others face everlasting condemnation. The learned will shine like the sky, and those who have taught others will radiate like the stars in their brightness. Knowledge of wisdom is insufficient if it remains unshared; a silent teaching devoid of edification does not earn the reward of labor. Theodotion and the standard version render it as follows: the wise will shine as bright as the heavens, and many of the righteous will resemble stars, enduring through the ages. Some wonder whether the learned saint and the simple believer will enjoy equal rewards and places in heaven. According to Theodotion, it is noted that the wise will reflect the splendor of heaven, while the righteous without education will be likened to the glimmers of stars, illustrating the distinction between educated righteousness and simple holiness, akin to the difference between heaven and a star.

This conveys that when the Antichrist acts with arrogance, Elijah will reemerge to proclaim the Lord’s arrival to the Jewish people and to lead many to repentance. This is captured in the phrase “He will turn the heart of the father to the son,” meaning that the hearts of the Jewish people will be directed towards the Gentile believers. The Prophet refers to the Jews as fathers, acknowledging their superior knowledge; thus, he does not say “the heart of the son to the father,” but rather “the heart of the father to the son.” This indicates that those who believe will unite with the Church. Although the Jews have traditionally been seen as elders in understanding, both Jews and Gentiles share the same human nature, which is why the Prophet adds, “and the heart of man to his sincere heart,” emphasizing the commonality of their nature, while also recognizing that divine revelation was initially bestowed upon the Jews. The Jews, who were seen as last due to their unbelief, will ultimately be restored and, through the ministry of the great Elijah, will join with the Gentiles, who yearn for the salvation intended for the Jews, forming one Church together. This indicates that amid the Antichrist's endeavors, the holy Archangel Michael will take all necessary actions to ensure that Elijah comes to proclaim the Lord’s coming, leading to the salvation of the Jewish people during that time. Furthermore, the Archangel outlines the severity of the tribulations wrought by the wicked Antichrist, saying: “There will be a time of great distress, such as has not occurred since the earth was created until that time.” The Lord also spoke of this in the holy Gospel, declaring: “For then there will be great tribulation, such as has not been from the beginning of the world until now, no, and never will be. And if those days had not been cut short, no human being would be saved. But for the sake of the elect, those days will be cut short” (Matthew 24:21, 22). Thus, the prophetic declarations resonate with the prefigurations found in the Gospel. In this context, the Archangel adds: “And from that time, your people will be delivered; all whose names are found in the book, meaning those deemed worthy of salvation, will heed the message of Elijah, foreordained by God from the beginning,” referring to the knowledge of God as “the book.”

It is evident that when the prophet speaks of "many of those who sleep in the earthly body" rising, he refers to the resurrection of the physical form, as it is clear that no one would assert that souls are asleep in the earthly body.