Daniel 12 ends the prophecy with:
1-2 That’s when Michael, the great angel-prince, champion of your people, will step in. It will be a time of trouble, the worst trouble the world has ever seen. But your people will be saved from the trouble, every last one found written in the Book. Many who have been long dead and buried will wake up, some to eternal life, others to eternal shame.
3 “‘Men and women who have lived wisely and well will shine brilliantly, like the cloudless, star-strewn night skies. And those who put others on the right path to life will glow like stars forever.
4 “‘This is a confidential report, Daniel, for your eyes and ears only. Keep it secret. Put the book under lock and key until the end. In the interim there is going to be a lot of frantic running around, trying to figure out what’s going on.’
Daniel received a very enigmatic message. Indeed, there is a lot of frantic running around in order to get what this message meant. In the Old Testament there are few texts about life after death. In Daniel 12:2 we read:
2 Many who have been long dead and buried will wake up, some to eternal life, others to eternal shame.
There will be a resurrection of many (or all?) who have been long dead: some to eternal life and others to eternal shame. Some argue that this means a soul living forever in heaven or in hell. The opposite of "eternal life" could be "eternal death"; or the opposite of "eternal shame" could be "eternal praise" (or perhaps, "short term shame").
Now, I will argument against the idea of a soul being punished eternally in hell. This idea comes from the belief that we have an eternal soul, but where in the Bible can we find such idea? Daniel 12:2 and another in Matthew (that seems a copy of this one) are used to argue an eternal punishment in hell, even though it doesn't say anything about "eternal soul".
A soul that stays forever in hell in shame has "eternal life"?
Yes, I think so, that is: "eternal life" doesn't mean a life without suffering or shame. The problem is that we can´t split very well two fates based on "eternal life" and "eternal shame". Besides, "eternal shame" doesn't mean that the person is alive. It is possible to die in shame and stay in shame forever. For instance: Edgar Allan Poe was first buried in a place of shame, but after some public commotion he was moved to a more honorable grave. A dead can be in eternal shame as in a shameful grave.
Besides this verse and its reference in Matthew by Jesus, I really don't know of any other verse that are used to say that a soul suffers eternally in hell; and even this verse is not clear enough. For me, the Bible seems to say the opposite: "eternal life" in opposition to "death", so the term "second death" (a death after resurrection, found in Revelation) makes sense.
Anyway, Daniel asks when this things happen. The answer:
11 “From the time that the daily worship is banished from the Temple and the obscene desecration is set up in its place, there will be 1,290 days.
12 “Blessed are those who patiently make it through the 1,335 days.
13 “And you? Go about your business without fretting or worrying. Relax. When it’s all over, you will be on your feet to receive your reward.”
It is very difficult to fit this prophecy and its end (1290 days) with Antiochos or even the destruction of Jerusalem because there is no resurrection yet. For me, I 'd better relax and believe that when it is all over, I will be alive again with Jesus.
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