I was reading a post “Who Goes Where And When” and you gave the reference (Daniel 12:1-2, Rev. 20:4) to show that the Old Testament saints would be resurrected at the 2nd coming. It has been my understanding that all people before Christ will sleep through the thousand years and I did not see anything indicating differently. What am I missing?
Daniel 12:1-2 says, “At that time Michael, the great prince who protects your people, will arise. There will be a time of distress such as has not happened from the beginning of nations until then. But at that time your people–everyone whose name is found written in the book–will be delivered. Multitudes who sleep in the dust of the earth will awake: some to everlasting life, others to shame and everlasting contempt.”
The phrase “at that time” refers to the time of the anti-Christ’s unsuccessful attempt to gain world dominance (Daniel 11:36-45). Four things will happen then; Michael will come to the aid of the Jewish people, the believing remnant of Israel will be delivered, there will be a time of distress such has never been seen before, and there will be a resurrection of Jewish people.
The phrase “There will be a time of distress such as has not happened from the beginning of nations until then” was quoted by Jesus in Matt. 24:21 to describe the Great Tribulation. This confirms the timing of these things.
Then the angel told Daniel “Multitudes who sleep in the dust of the earth will awake: some to everlasting life, others to shame and everlasting contempt.” This is the Bible’s first reference to two resurrections; the resurrection of believers which will take place at the time of the Great Tribulation, and the resurrection of unbelievers that will take place at the end of the Millennium, 1,000 years later (Rev. 20:11-15).
The angel made two references to “your people” indicating he was speaking of Daniel’s people, the Jewish nation.