Who is resurrected in Daniel 12—believers only, or believers and unbelievers together?
Daniel 12 describes the resurrection of believers only. The unbelieving element is not yet raised according to that passage. Although verse 2 mentions some to everlasting life and some to shame, other Scriptures show these are separate resurrections. Daniel 12 specifically concerns the believing Old Testament resurrection, distinct from the later resurrection of unbelievers.
Les explains that Daniel 12 is speaking of a resurrection of only the believer element; none of the unbelievers are yet going to be resurrected according to Daniel 12. He notes that verse 2, which says "many that sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, some to everlasting life, and some to shame and everlasting contempt," seems to bring the two resurrections into the same event. However, Les points out that from other Scriptures we know they are not the same event. The resurrection of the believing Old Testament will be totally separate from the resurrection of the unbelievers, which he says will be picked up later. Les also emphasizes that these Old Testament saints were recipients of eternal life by faith—whether Adam, Noah, Abram, Jacob, Joseph, David, or Moses—and that salvation has always been by faith, as Hebrews says without faith it is impossible to please God.
And many of them that sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, some to everlasting life, and some to shame and everlasting contempt.
More Questions
Does Daniel 12:2 teach one general resurrection of saved and lost together?
Daniel 12:2 reads almost as if there will be a general resurrection in which lost and saved Jews rise at the same time, but when compared with the book of Revelation that is not the case.
Does Daniel 12 teach that the saved and the lost are resurrected at the same time?
Daniel, writing by inspiration, describes what sounds like a general resurrection in which the lost Jew and the saved Jew are raised at the same time, but comparing Daniel with the Revelation shows that is not what happens.