Yes—Daniel 12:2 reveals that Old Testament believers will be raised to everlasting life, and Les Feldick teaches this occurs after the tribulation, separate from the resurrection of the wicked.
Daniel 12:2 says many sleeping in the dust of the earth shall awake, some to everlasting life and some to shame and everlasting contempt. Les explains that although the wording can sound like a general resurrection, the believing Old Testament saints are raised first, while the lost are raised a thousand years later for the Great White Throne. He also places this resurrection after the tribulation and at the second coming of Christ.
Daniel 12:1-2 — These verses give the only direct Old Testament statement that those sleeping in the dust will awake to everlasting life or to shame and everlasting contempt, set in the context of Israel's deliverance.
Daniel 12:1 sets the scene in a time of trouble for Israel: 'And at that time shall Michael stand up, the great prince which standeth for the children of thy people: and there shall be a time of trouble, such as never was since there was a nation even to that same time: and at that time thy people shall be delivered, every one that shall be found written in the book.' Verse 2 then describes the resurrection itself: '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.' Verse 3 continues: 'And they that be wise shall shine as the brightness of the firmament; and they that turn many to righteousness as the stars for ever and ever.' The Scripture text alone shows a resurrection of those sleeping in the dust, with two outcomes—everlasting life for some, and shame and everlasting contempt for others. The wording places this at the time Israel is delivered, but the text itself does not spell out two separate resurrections.
Les Feldick identifies Daniel 12 as the best place to understand the resurrection of Old Testament believers, which he says takes place shortly after the end of the tribulation, at the second coming of Christ, and into the kingdom. He notes that Daniel 12:2 appears to describe a general resurrection at first glance, but comparing it with Revelation and John 5 shows that only believing Jews are raised first; the lost Jews are raised a thousand years later at the Great White Throne. Les also connects the Old Testament resurrection to the 'gleanings and corners' at the end of the resurrection order—after Christ as the firstfruits and the Church as the harvest. He includes the tribulation saints and believers who died during Christ's earthly ministry in this group, because they were connected to Judaism and Israel's program, not the Body of Christ. The 'wise' in Daniel 12:3, he says, are those who believed what God instructed them to believe, since even in the Old Testament economy salvation was based on faith.
Les Feldick teaches that Daniel 12 speaks of the resurrection of Old Testament saints at a point shortly after the end of the tribulation, or after the second coming of Christ, and into the kingdom. He points to Daniel 12:1, where Michael stands up for the children of Israel, and a time of trouble occurs such as never was since there was a nation. At that time, he says, Israel's believing remnant—those found written in the book—will be delivered. Les sees verse 2 as a parallel to John 5, with some raised to everlasting life and some to shame and everlasting contempt.
No, according to Les Feldick. Daniel, by inspiration, writes almost as if it's going to be a general resurrection, where the lost Jew is resurrected at the same time as the saved Jew. But Les says you have to compare this with Revelation and John 5, and it's not going to be that case. Only the believing Jews are resurrected first, and then a thousand years later the lost Jews are resurrected for the Great White Throne. He emphasizes that all people will be resurrected, but not all at the same time.
Les explains that 'they that be wise' are those who have believed what God has instructed them to believe. Even in the Old Testament economy, salvation was based on faith, so the wise are those Old Testament saints who trusted God's word. Daniel 12:3 says they will shine as the brightness of the firmament and those who turn many to righteousness as the stars forever.
Les presents the order from 1 Corinthians 15: first, Christ and those who came out of the graves as the firstfruits; second, the harvest of the Church; and then the gleanings and corners, which he says are the Old Testament saints, the tribulation saints, and those who were believers during Christ's earthly ministry. He puts the tribulation saints with the Old Testament saints because they were saved during the tribulation and are not part of the Body of Christ. The resurrection of the tribulation saints is included in the gleanings and corners.
Daniel 12 as the Best Place for Old Testament Resurrection
Les identifies the resurrection of Old Testament believers as the remaining resurrection group he has not yet covered in his 1 Corinthians 15 study, and he points to Daniel 12 as the best place to turn.
Timing of the Old Testament Resurrection
Daniel 12 places the resurrection of Old Testament saints shortly after the end of the tribulation, or after the second coming of Christ, and into the kingdom.
Separate Resurrections for Saved and Lost Jews
Les explains that Daniel 12:2 looks like a general resurrection, but Revelation and John 5 show only believing Jews are raised first, while lost Jews are raised a thousand years later at the Great White Throne.
Old Testament Saints as Gleanings and Corners
Les places Old Testament believers, along with tribulation saints and believers from Christ's earthly ministry, in the gleanings and corners of the resurrection after Christ and the Church.
Israel's Delivered Remnant
Les ties Daniel 12:1 to the remnant of Israel that will be saved and delivered at the end of the tribulation, connecting the resurrection passage to Israel's deliverance.
Daniel 12:2 Parallels John 5
Les draws a parallel between Daniel 12:2 and John 5, noting that both speak of some rising to everlasting life and some to shame and everlasting contempt.
Tribulation Saints Included With Old Testament Saints
Les includes tribulation saints, saved through the preaching of the 144,000 Jewish witnesses, in the gleanings and corners resurrection with the Old Testament saints.
All Resurrected but Not at the Same Time
Les clarifies that believing and unbelieving people are all resurrected, but Daniel 12 does not mean they are raised at the same time.
Daniel 12:1: And at that time shall Michael stand up, the great prince which standeth for the children of thy people: and there shall be a time of trouble, such as never was since there was a nation even to that same time: and at that time thy people shall be delivered, every one that shall be found written in the book.
This verse sets the resurrection passage in the context of Israel's deliverance and the great tribulation.
Daniel 12:2: 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.
This is the central Old Testament verse about the resurrection of believers and unbelievers.
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 for ever and ever.
This verse describes the reward of the wise, whom Les identifies as those who believed in the Old Testament economy.
John 5:28-29: Marvel not at this: for the hour is coming, in the which all that are in the graves shall hear his voice, And shall come forth; they that have done good, unto the resurrection of life; and they that have done evil, unto the resurrection of damnation.
Les uses this New Testament parallel to show that Daniel 12:2's two outcomes are not necessarily simultaneous.
According to Les Feldick, no. Daniel 12:2 can sound like a general resurrection, but he says the saved and lost are not raised together. Believing Jews are resurrected first, and the lost Jews are resurrected a thousand years later at the Great White Throne, as seen in Revelation and John 5.
Les teaches that the wise are those who believed what God instructed them to believe. Even in the Old Testament economy, salvation was based on faith, so the wise are Old Testament saints who trusted God.
Yes. Les says the tribulation saints—those saved during the tribulation through the 144,000 Jewish witnesses—are included in the gleanings and corners of the resurrection along with Old Testament saints and believers from Christ's earthly ministry, because they are not part of the Body of Christ.
Watch the Teaching: The Mysterious 75 Days After the Tribulation — Daniel 12 Explained