Daniel 12:1-4: Evaluating Contrasts in Meaning in the MT/LXX

Seminary Room N310

Daniel 12 has been a topic of great interest to Seventh-day Adventists since the movement’s founding. While all the sections of Daniel 12 contain aspects of interest for Adventist Eschatology, verses 1–4 have great importance as they contain content relevant to the time of trouble, resurrection, judgement, and the historical sealing of Daniel until the time of the end. However, while the MT rendering of this passage is familiar to Adventist theology, the LXX renders these verses in very different ways which could result in a dramatically different theological conclusion not the least of which is a post resurrection exile for the wicked. Which of these two readings has the most accurate rendering and does the NT favor one over the other? Are there NT allusions that draw from the LXX/MT? What are the theological implications of one reading over another? The purpose of this paper is to examine the differences between the MT and LXX readings of Daniel 12:1–4 in order to determine which of these gives evidence of being the most accurate reading and determine the New Testament usage and theological implications.