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Daniel Chapter 12
Verses 1-24 |
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Chapter 11 ended with the exploits of the “antichrist” during the last seven years of his rule. This chapter is a continuation of the events of that period from the perspective of the Jews during that time. It begins with disaster and ends with glory. Daniel heard and saw things, which he did not understand and asked one of the most profound questions to be found in the Bible, “O my Lord, what shall be the end of these things?” (Verse 8). Indeed, if it were not for the revelations in the New Testament none of us would be able to understand the prophecies in this chapter. So we must use the New Testament as an expository of the events in this chapter.
Verse 1.
It is clear to us that the time referred to is the “Great Tribulation.” At that time Michael will stand for the people of Daniel (the Jews). This must surely be related to Michael's warfare with Satan (the dragon) as seen in the Book of Revelation (12:7).
“There shall be a time of trouble, such as never was since there was a nation even to that same time.” Jesus used almost the exact words in Matthew (24:21) and Mark (13:19) in describing the conditions of the “Great Tribulation.”
As horrifying and distressing, as these events are, a number of Jews, whose names are found written in the book, will be delivered out of this “Great Tribulation.” What this book is, we can only speculate. God refers to certain “books” in scriptures, but how they relate to each other is not clear to us. In Revelation 7:4 it speaks of 144,000 Jews being sealed, 12,000 from each tribe. This could be the connection to this “book.”
Verse 2.
This awaking is a resurrection. Only the body “sleeps” in the dust of the earth. It is most probable that two resurrections are meant here; due to the different status the “dead” have in their resurrection. Some are resurrected to everlasting life and others to shame and everlasting contempt. From what we are told of the two future resurrections, only those who “awake” to everlasting life are in the first resurrection at the second appearing of Christ.
Verse 3.
Those who attain to everlasting life in their resurrection are the wise (or better translated, “they who make [men] wise”) who shall shine as the stars. They have turned many to righteousness and have their brightness in their resurrected bodies forever and ever.
Verse 4.
Daniel is now instructed to shut up the words and seal the book till the time of the end. This is very suggestive of Revelation chapter 5, when John saw a book with seven seals on it and only the Lamb of God (also called the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David) could break the seals and open the book. The symbolism of the book being sealed has been seen in Daniel 9:24, where it meant to close the vision and it was not to be tampered with. The book, the visions, and the prophecies will be opened and executed, but only at the end of this “age.”
The running of many to and fro and knowledge increasing certainly seems to be the conditions of our present day. We can travel across the globe, and at no time in the history of man has so much knowledge been made available to so many. But this is not necessarily the absolute meaning of this verse.
Verse 5-7.
Daniel sees three men, one on each side of a river and the third standing upon the waters. Two of these men hold a conversation in which the question is asked, “How long shall it be to the end of these wonders?” This is very similar to the question asked by one of the “saints” in chapter 8:13.
The answer given was, “that it shall be for a time, times, and an half; and when he shall have accomplished to scatter the power of the holy people, all these things shall be finished.” This frame of time is found in chapter 7:25, which was the length of time given to the “antichrist” to persecute the Jews. The period is three and a half years, the same time of the last half of Daniel's 70th week, or the “Great Tribulation” period. This is the length of time for “him” (the antichrist) to have power to disperse the “holy people.” Daniel would naturally have understood these holy people to be the Jews. When the son of perdition has exhausted his powers over the people then all these things shall be finished.
Verse 8.
Not all things were revealed to Daniel and he expresses his lack of understanding. We today have a much better understanding than Daniel but we also do not know all. So Daniel's question (What shall be the end of these things?) is still our question today. It will not be answered until that generation exists who will witness and experience all these things. Notice that the question is not “When” but “What.” We seem to be more concerned with the when rather than the what, perhaps we ought to reconsider our thinking a little?
Verse 9.
The reply to Daniel's question was, in essence, that nothing more was to be revealed to him. The words are closed up and have now been sealed till the end of time or until these times being prophesied.
The phrase, “Go thy way, Daniel” indicates that these visions were not to be experienced by him, nor were they for him. What way then did Daniel go? His way was the grave. As of now Daniel is with The Lord to waiting the unfolding of all these things. His portion, way, was not to live these times. Few of us will, and our way may very well be the same as Daniel's. However, we live for these times with the possibility that we may have a part in them, as they will actually occur.
Verse 10.
In the end many will purify themselves and be made white and tested. These words are similar to those, which Jesus gave to the seven churches of Asia (Rev 2,3) as they applied to the overcomers in those churches. Also this description is similar to that of the bride of The Lamb in Rev. 19:7-9.
The wicked of these times shall act wickedly and shall not understand. Their lack of understanding is that Christ is about to bring His judgment on them, and they stand in the greatest jeopardy and peril. But those who do understand are they who make wise. No doubt the wisdom they give is unto the salvation of God.
Verses 11 and 12.
Two periods of time are mentioned in these verses, both different from the one in verse 7. The first is 1,290 days and the second 1,335 days (verse 7 is 1,260 days). By the Jewish accounting of time (30 days per month) the first is 43 months (3 years, 7 months), the second is 44-1/2 months (3 years, 8-1/2 months). So from the time that the Temple worship and the setting up of the abomination that makes desolate (see Dan. 11:31) till the end is 43 months. But then we see blessedness for those who wait and come to the 44-1/2 months.
As to the first time period, all of the other prophecies specifying a length of time have been 42 months, or 3 and ½ years (both in Daniel and Revelation). Why has this extra month (30 days) been added? I have not personally found any completely satisfying explanation. There are many theories, but none that can withstand close scrutiny, with the possibility of one. There are scriptures, which tell of Jehovah re-gathering all of the Children of Abraham from the four corners of the world back to the land of Judea. Could this take 30 days? Perhaps. The reuniting of the Jews in their “homeland” is a very significant event of the beginning of the millennium reign of Christ. The wording of verse 7 speaks of the dispersion of the holy people, and so this could be the end of this dispersion happening one month after the end of this age. But, as good as it is, is this view absolutely convincing? I leave it to your judgment.
That was just the first problem; the second is how to understand the 44-1/2 months of the next verse. The difference in time between the two is 45 days. My theory (and it's just that, a theory) is that the battle of Armageddon may take place 45 days after the return of Christ and His establishing Himself in Jerusalem. If so, then the Kingdom of God will have put down the last vestiges of open opposition against His rule and authority. This indeed would be a tremendous cause of blessedness.
One last comment on verse 12 and that is on the term “waiteth.” It literally means, “longeth.” Those who long for the end of this present world system and love the appearing of Christ will be Blessed, made happy and joyful.
Verse 13.
Once again the command is given for Daniel to go his way as in verse 9. But it is added for him to rest and he shall rise and have his lot (portion) at the end of the days. Daniel will stand in the first resurrection and have part in the very conclusion of all that has been revealed to him. Amen.
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Next: Conclusions of the "Man of Sin"
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This page last updated September 14, 2004 at 10:21am
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