Daniel 12:2-3
‘Many of them that sleep in the dust of the Earth, shall awake — some to everlasting life, and some to shame and everlasting contempt…. They that be wise, shall shine as the brightness of the firmament; and they that turn many to righteousness, as the stars — for ever!’ Daniel 12:2-3.
Calvin comments that God “regenerates His elect by His Holy Spirit…. God, when regenerating us by His Spirit…, is able to acknowledge us as His real children…. “Many who sleep in the earth of dust, or who are in earth and dust, (shall awake)…. Though it may be read as if in opposition with the former word ‘sleep’ — meaning, those who are reduced to earth and dust.
“The angel seems here to mark a transition from the commencement of the preaching of the Gospel, to the final day of the resurrection…. He unites these two subjects very fitly and properly, connecting the salvation of the Church with the final resurrection and with the second coming of Christ… The word ‘many’ seems here clearly put for ‘all’….
“‘Some shall rise to life, and others to disgrace and contempt’…. This shows the angel to be treating of the last resurrection, which is common to all and allows of no exceptions…. Our minds must necessarily be raised upwards — and gain the victory!…
“‘Those who sleep in the Earth and the dust’…shall rise — implying the hope of a resurrection not founded on natural causes but depending upon the inestimable power of God which surpasses all our senses. Hence, although the elect as well as the wicked shall be reduced to earth and dust — this shall by no means form an obstacle to God’s raising them up again….
“Although they are only putrid carcases, yet they shall be reduced to dust…. God, then, is endued with sufficient power to call forth the dead to newness of life…. The Prophets do not contain any clearer testimony than this, to the last resurrection — particularly as the angel distinctly asserts the future rising again of both the righteous and the wicked…. Eternal life awaits the elect; and eternal disgrace and condemnation will be the lot of the ungodly!”
Calvin also says in his Institutes II:10:22 & III:25:7,10: “There are (passages)…which point without any veil to the future immortality which awaits believers in the Kingdom of Heaven… ‘Many of them that sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake — some to everlasting life, and some to shame and everlasting contempt’ (Daniel 12:1-2)…. There is no ambiguity in the words of Daniel…, since he…calls forth the dead from their graves…. The renewal produced by Christ, must be in the same body which began to be mortal…. Daniel (12:3) says ‘They that be wise, shall shine as the brightness of the firmament; and they that turn many to righteousness, as the stars — for ever!’… The Scriptures…not only…promise eternal life to believers, but a special reward to each!”
So then, there is resurrection from the dust — unto everlasting life, or death! For you too!
