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“Many are brought to justice”
"Those who bring many to justice will shine like the stars, forever and ever" (DAN. 12:3).
1. What exciting events await us during the Millennial Reign of Christ?
Can we imagine how beautiful the day the resurrection begins here on Earth during the Millennial Reign of Christ will be? All of us who have lost loved ones want to see them again. And Jehovah wants it too (Job 14:15). Imagine how many happy reunions there will be all over the Earth. As we learned in the previous article, the “righteous,” who have their names written in the book of life, will receive “a resurrection of life” (Acts 24:15; John 5:29). Many of our loved ones may be among the first to be resurrected on Earth. b Furthermore, the “unrighteous,” who are those who did not have a sufficient opportunity to know Jehovah or serve him faithfully before they died, will receive “a resurrection of judgment.”
2, 3. (a) As indicated by Isaiah 11:9, 10, what will be the greatest educational program in all history?
2 All these resurrected will have much to learn (Is. 26:9; 61:11). That is why it will be necessary to launch the largest education program in all of history (read Isaiah 11:9, 10). a). On the one hand, the unrighteous will have to learn about Jesus Christ, about the Kingdom, about ransom, and about the universal issue related to Jehovah's name and his sovereignty. Even the righteous will have to catch up with what Jehovah has been revealing about his purpose. Some of these faithful servants died long before the Bible was finished. It is clear that the unjust and the just will have much to learn.
2, 3. b) What will we analyze in this article?
3 b). In this article we will answer the following questions: how will this great educational program be carried out? What will happen to those who take advantage of this program? And what will happen to those who don't? The answers should interest us today. As we will see, some fascinating prophecies from the books of Daniel and Revelation will help us understand what will happen when the resurrection takes place. First, let's review the exciting events described in the prophecy at Daniel 12:1, 2.
“THOSE WHO ARE ASLEEP IN THE DUST […] SHALL WAKE UP”
4, 5. What does Daniel 12:1 say would happen at the end time?
4 (Read Daniel 12:1). The book of Daniel tells us the order in which some exciting events will occur at the end time. For example, Daniel 12:1 says that Michael, who is Jesus Christ, "stands for" God's people. This part of the prophecy began to be fulfilled in 1914, when Jesus was named King of God's heavenly Kingdom.
5 However, Daniel was also told that Jesus would rise during “a time of trouble such as there will not have been since a nation began to exist until that time.” This time of trouble is the “great tribulation” mentioned in Matthew 24:21. Jesus rises up, or defends the people of God, at the end of that time of trouble, that is, at Armageddon. The book of Revelation refers to such people as the "great crowd" coming out "of great tribulation" (Rev. 7:9, 14).
6. What happens after the great crowd survives the great tribulation, and why do we say so? (See also in this magazine the article in the section "Questions from readers" that talks about the resurrection on Earth).
6 (Read Daniel 12:2). What happens after the great crowd survives the time of trouble? The prophecy speaks of a resurrection. But it is not a symbolic or spiritual resurrection of God's servants that occurs during the last days, as we understood it before. Rather, it refers to the resurrection that will take place in the new world. Why can we come to that conclusion? In Job 17:16 the “dust” is also spoken of, and there it is used as a synonym for “the Grave”. This tells us that Daniel 12:2 speaks of a literal resurrection that will occur at the end of the last days and after the battle of Armageddon.
7. (a) In what sense will some be resurrected “to everlasting life”? (b) Why is this “a better resurrection”?
7 Now, what does Daniel 12:2 mean when it says that some will rise “to eternal life”? a). It means that those who are resurrected and come to know, or continue to know, and obey Jehovah and Jesus during the 1,000 years will eventually receive eternal life.—John 17:3. b). This will be "a better resurrection" than some humans have experienced in the past (Heb. 11:35). Why? Because those imperfect human beings died again.
8. In what sense will some be raised “to humiliation and everlasting contempt”?
8 But not all those resurrected will take advantage of Jehovah's education program. Daniel's prophecy says that some will be raised "to humiliation and everlasting contempt." Because of their rebellious attitude, their names will not be in the book of life and they will not receive eternal life. They will suffer “everlasting contempt” or destruction. So Daniel 12:2 is talking about the end result for all the resurrected, based on what they do after their resurrection d (Rev. 20:12). Some will get eternal life, some will not.
BRINGS “MANY TO JUSTICE”
9, 10. (a) According to Daniel 12:3, what else will happen after the great tribulation? b) Who will “shine as bright as the sky”?
9 (Read Daniel 12:3). What else will happen after the “time of trouble,” which is near? In addition to what we have seen in Daniel 12:2, verse 3 mentions something else that will happen after the great tribulation.
10 Who are the ones who will a). “shine as bright as the sky”? The words of Jesus found in Matthew 13:43 help us to know this. He said: "At that time, the righteous will shine as bright as the sun in the Kingdom of their Father." When he said these words, Jesus was speaking of b). “the sons of the Kingdom,” that is, his brothers anointed by him, who will rule with him in the heavenly Kingdom (Matt. 13:38). So Daniel 12:3 must refer to the anointed and the work they will do during the Thousand Year Reign.
11, 12. What work will the 144,000 do during the 1,000 years?
11 The anointed will bring "many to justice." How will they do it? Working closely with Jesus Christ in directing the educational program that will take place here on Earth for the 1,000 years. The 144,000 will not only be kings, but also priests (Rev. 1:6; 5:10; 20:6). So they will help “heal the nations” by slowly bringing mankind to perfection (Rev. 22:1, 2; Ezek. 47:12). What joy it will give the anointed to be able to do it!
ILLUSTRATION
The same scene from the previous article seen from another angle. Jesus and the 144,000 observe from heaven the brother who is explaining to the resurrected the meaning of the image in Nebuchadnezzar's dream mentioned in chapter 2 of Daniel.
The 144,000 will work closely with Jesus Christ in directing the educational program that will take place for the 1,000 years. (See paragraph 11).
12 Who will be among the “many” who will be brought “to justice”? Those who are resurrected, those who survive Armageddon and the children who are born in the new world. At the end of the 1,000 years, everyone living on Earth will be perfect. So, when will their names be written in ink and not in pencil in the book of life?
THE FINAL TEST
13, 14. What will all perfect people living on earth have to prove before receiving eternal life?
13 Let us remember that the fact that someone is perfect does not automatically imply that he will obtain eternal life. Consider the case of Adam and Eve. They were perfect, but they had to prove their obedience to Jehovah to receive eternal life. Unfortunately, they were disobedient (Rom. 5:12).
14 As we have seen, at the end of the 1,000 years, everyone living on Earth will have achieved perfection. Will all these perfect people give their full support to Jehovah's government forever? Or will they be some like Adam and Eve, who, although they were perfect, did not remain faithful? How will this issue be resolved?
15, 16. (a) When will all humans have the opportunity to show their loyalty to Jehovah? b) What will be the final result of this test?
15 Satan will be locked up for 1,000 years. In that time he will not be able to deceive anyone. But at the end of the 1,000 years he will be released from his confinement and will try to deceive the perfect human beings.a). During that test, all of them will have the opportunity to show which side they are on in the issue related to God's name and His sovereignty (Rev. 20:7-10). What they do will determine whether their names will be permanently written in the book of life.
16 Some—we don't know how many—will be like Adam and Eve, rejecting Jehovah's rule. What will happen to them? b). Revelation 20:15 tells us: "Those who were not inscribed in the book of life were thrown into the lake of fire." That's right, these rebels will be completely destroyed forever. But most perfect human beings will pass the final test. Their names will be permanently written in the book of life.
IN “THE TIME OF THE END”
17. What was Daniel told would happen in our day? (Daniel 12:4, 8-10).
17 How excited we are to think of all these events that will take place in the future! But an angel also gave Daniel some important information about what would happen in our day, in “the time of the end” (read Daniel 12:4, 8-10; 2 Tim. 3:1-5). He told him: "True knowledge will become abundant." So let the people of God understand I would better describe the prophecies of the book of Daniel. The angel added something else about the end time. He said: "The wicked will act wickedly and no wicked will understand."
18. What will soon happen to the wicked?
18 In our day, it seems that the wicked get away with it (Mal. 3:14, 15). But soon Jesus will judge those who are like goats and separate them from those who are like sheep (Matt. 25:31-33). Those wicked will not survive the great tribulation nor will they be resurrected to live in the new world. Their names will not be in the "book to remember," which is mentioned in Malachi 3:16.
19. What should we do now, and why? (Malachi 3:16-18).
19 Now is the time to show that we are not in the group of wicked (read Malachi 3:16-18). Jehovah is gathering those whom he considers his “special property,” or his valuable possession. Do we really want to be among them?
20. What final promise was made to Daniel, and why do you want it to be fulfilled?
20 We certainly live in exciting times. But soon even more amazing things will happen. The day is coming when all evil will disappear. After that, we will see how the promise that Jehovah made to Daniel will be fulfilled: “At the end of the days you will rise to receive your part” (Dan. 12:13). Are you looking forward to the day when Daniel, along with his loved ones who have died, will rise again? In such a case, make every effort to be faithful, and your name will be written in Jehovah's book of life.
ILLUSTRATION
The prophet Daniel is in Paradise enjoying a meal with some friends.
How exciting it will be to see Daniel, our loved ones, and many more rise up to receive his part in the new world! (See paragraph 20).
HOW WOULD YOU EXPLAIN THE FOLLOWING VERSES?
Daniel 12:1
For example, Daniel 12:1 says that Michael, who is Jesus Christ, "stands for" God's people. This part of the prophecy began to be fulfilled in 1914, when Jesus was named King of God's heavenly Kingdom.
Daniel 12:2, 3
Daniel 12:2 is talking about the end result for all the resurrected, based on what they do after their resurrection. Some will get eternal life, some will not.
Daniel 12:2 when he says that some will be raised “to eternal life”? It means that those who are resurrected and come to know, or continue to know, and obey Jehovah and Jesus during the 1,000 years will eventually receive eternal life.—John 17:3.
Verse 3 mentions another thing that will happen after the great tribulation. "They will shine as bright as the sky."
Daniel 12:4, 8-10
"True knowledge will become abundant." So God's people would better understand the prophecies in the book of Daniel. The angel added something else about the end time. He said: "The wicked will act wickedly and no wicked will understand."
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