GOD'S CONCLUSIONS WITH
DANIEL
DANIEL 12
INTRODUCTION
God answers Daniel's earlier request to understand the fate of the
Jews. The visions given to Daniel take the people from where
they are now in captivity, to the upcoming destruction of the nation, and
finally of Judiasm in 70 A.D.
Daniel was shown that Persia was going to soon fall. Persia was defeated from the attacks led by Alexander the Great.
This fact was fulfilled and has been recorded by historians.
Alexander The Great died in 323 B.C., some two hundred years after Daniel's vision.
Daniel was also shown the rise of Egypt and Syria. These two warring powers were situated on either side of Israel and Palestine. The battles that would rage went back and forth across Palestine, thus affecting the Jews.
Antiochus Epiphanes is revealed to Daniel as, the "contemptible person", who would be one of the kings of the north,
The king of Syria, Antiochus IV or Epiphanes would defiled the temple in Jerusalem and caused the sacrificial blood offerings to cease.
The account of Matthew 24 pictures the doom of Jerusalem and the end of Judiasm by Titus and the Romans.
Daniel and Jesus are not speaking about the end of the world but the destruction of Judiasm.
There will be a deliverance of the people of God on that day, the people of God then were Christians.
Matt. 24:31 And he shall send forth his angels with a great
sound of a trumpet, and they
shall gather together his elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven
to
the other.
The angel Michael directed Daniel to prophecy that Israel would go beyond her present struggles, to a glorious victory in the Kingdom of the Almighty.
There would be many Jews killed and persecuted by the angry and evil Antiochus Epiphanes.
Although the destruction and price Antiochus IV would extract would be high , the Jews would have victory.
We come to the opening words of the twelfth chapter, part of the same vision of the two earlier chapters. The vision goes on for three more verses,
We are coming to observe in this chapter the closing of Daniel's vision.
Dan. 1:1-3 And at that time shall Michael stand up, the
great prince who 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.
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. And they that are wise
shall shine
as the brightness of the firmament; and they that turn many to righteousness
as the
stars for ever and ever.
Those who were faithful , had their names written in the book, "they shall have life again."
The glory of the faithful would shine as eternal stars in the heavens, full of splendor and brillance.
Daniel was instructed to shut up the book until the end of time.
Dan. 12:4 But thou, O Daniel, shut up the words, and seal
the book, even to the time
of the end: many shall run to and fro, and knowledge shall be increased.
The words, "shut up", would include all the prophecies of Daniel with their spiritual and historical significance.
God had revealed divine truth to Daniel. The prophecies declared his will upon men, nations, and the kingdoms..
Knowledge would increase due to the study of the prophecies which God had given Daniel.
The prophecies given to Daniel, were fulfilled in minute detailed, and are recorded in the pages of history.
Antiochus IV, or Antiochus Epiphanes, "was the mad king" of Syria who defiled the temple. The abominations of Antiochus caused the revolts led by the Maccabeans .
These predictions of Daniel, were fulfilled around 165 B.C.
The angel will leap over the intervening centuries, to the time of the coming of Christ, Daniel had seen this in other visions.
The prophecies show the great fulfillment of the vision concerning the defilement of the temple.
The first defilement of the temple was that made by Antiochus IV, Epiphanes.
The second abomination ocurred after another king would arise and would repeat the blasphemies of Antiochus Epiphanes in attacking the temple.
Ultimately this second defilement was in the destruction of the temple, and sacking of Jerusalem, by Titus in 70 A.D.
Of this time Jesus said prophetically:
Matt 24:21 Then shall be great tribulation such as has
never been since the beginning of
the world until now, no, and never shall be,"
Jer. 30: 4-7 And these are the words that Jehovah
spake concerning Israel and concerning
Judah. For thus saith Jehovah: We have heard a voice of trembling,
of fear, and
not of peace. Ask ye now, and see whether a man doth travail with
child:
wherefore do I see every man with his hands on his loins, as a woman in
travail,
and all faces are turned into paleness? Alas! for that day
is great, so that none is
like it: it is even the time of Jacob's trouble; but he shall be saved
out of it.
Dan 12:1 And at that time shall Michael stand up, the great
prince who 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.
When those events begin, Michael, the great prince who stands for Daniel's people, the of Israel, The Jews are promised they "shall arise".
"At that time" indicates the same time as the events covered in the
latter part of chapter eleven, concerning the willful king,
the contemptible person. This is a type of Titus, who arises
to defile the temple for the last time in 70 A.D..
Michael is called, "the great prince."
In the New Testament he is called an archangel. There are three references to Michael in the New Testament.
One is found in the book of Jude, where we are told that he disputed with the devil over the body of Moses. What this involves no one quite knows, but evidently some problem arose over the body of Moses.
Michael was involved because Moses was the leader of God's people, Israel.
Jude 9 But Michael the archangel, when contending
with the devil he disputed about the
body of Moses, durst not bring against him a railing judgment, but said,
The Lord
rebuke thee.
Michael is mentioned in the book of Revelation, he fights against the devil and his angels when they are cast out of heaven and are confined to earth.
Rev. 12:7 And there was war in heaven: Michael and
his angels going forth to war with
the dragon; and the dragon warred and his angels;
Satan comes down to earth, he has but a short time, and his wrath is terrible.
This is picture is seen in the persecution of the Christians under Domition in the first century..
Michael is also mentioned by neccessary inference in The first epistle to the Thessalonians.
1 Thess. 4:16 For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven,
with a shout, with the
voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ
shall rise first;
The Apostle Paul tells us that the Lord Jesus is coming for the resurrection and judgement of the world.
Michael, is the only archangel mentioned in Scripture. This this helps us to know the order of the events of the last times.
That agrees exactly with what Daniel was told.
When Michael stands up there shall be a time of trouble, and yet, "your people shall be delivered, everyone whose name is found written in the book."
Throughout this time of distress there will be a remnant of Israel, a persecuted minority, who will be kept safely through the time of peril. Though persecuted they would remain faithful.
Dan 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.
The Old Testament does not say much about the resurrection of the dead. Though it is a very rare occurrence, the idea is there.
This is one of the few places where it clearly speaks of a resurrection.
The New Testament gives us further details.
There is a resurrection that will occur when the Lord Jesus comes again.
1 Thess. 4:16 For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven,
with a shout, with the
voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ
shall rise first;
This is possibly the same resurrection as that in Daniel, or Daniel may refer to a national resurrection, that occured under the Maccabeans.
Dan 12:3 And they that are wise shall shine as the brightness
of the firmament; and they
that turn many to righteousness as the stars for ever and ever.
These are the last words of the vision. They point out the glory and
honor that God has reserved for those who are faithful
during time of trial and persecution..
There will be two kinds: those who are wise (literally, "the teachers," those who teach others), who turn many to righteousness.
Because of their faithfulness God will honor them in this way. They shall shine out like the brightness of the firmament, and like the stars forever and ever. That is the end of the vision.
The next words are an admonition to Daniel. The angel tells him:
But that is not what it means. As a matter of fact, Daniel is not a
difficult book to understand. Much of it is as simple and easy
to understand as a child's reading book. It is made up of simple stories.
What this verse means is that these words to Daniel are concerning the
book from which he was reading, not the one which he
was writing. Now what book is that? We must get back to the start of
the vision to understand that.
Dan 10:21 But I will tell thee that which is inscribed in the
writing of truth: and there
is none that holdeth with me against these, but Michael your prince.
Dan 11:2 And now will I show thee the truth. Behold, there
shall stand up yet three kings
in Persia; and the fourth shall be far richer than they all: and when he
is waxed
strong through his riches, he shall stir up all against the realm of Greece.
It would appear that the angel had a book in front of him from which
he reads the great events contained in the vision; a book
which is the symbol of God's foreknowledge of all human events.
Dan. 12:6-7 And one said to the man clothed in linen,
who was above the waters of the river,
How long shall it be to the end of these wonders? And I heard
the man clothed in
linen, who was above the waters of the river, when he held up his right
hand and his
left hand unto heaven, and sware by him that liveth for ever that it shall
be for a time,
times, and a half; and when they have made an end of breaking in pieces
the power of
the holy people, all these things shall be finished.
Daniel observes two angels who are in this prophetic revelation . One angel asks how long before the propphecies are fulfilled.
The second angel answers and states an indefinate time.
There would be the scattering of the holy people with victory not limited to Jerusalem or the physical land of Israel. This victory would be for the faithful throught the whole world.
The summary of the chapter is the end of Judiasm is to occur.
The archangel Michael shall stand up for the people.
Dan. 12:1-4 And at that time shall Michael stand
up, the great prince who 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.
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. And they that are wise shall
shine as the
brightness of the firmament; and they that turn many to righteousness as
the stars
for ever and ever. But thou, O Daniel, shut up the words, and
seal the book, even
to the time of the end: many shall run to and fro, and knowledge shall
be increased.
Daniel speaks of the great deliverance provided by God.
Dan. 12:5-10 Then I, Daniel, looked, and, behold,
there stood other two, the one on
the brink of the river on this side, and the other on the brink of the
river
on that side. And one said to the man clothed in linen, who was above
the waters of the river, How long shall it be to the end of these wonders?
And I heard the man clothed in linen, who was above the waters of the river,
when he held up his right hand and his left hand unto heaven, and sware
by
him that liveth for ever that it shall be for a time, times, and a half;
and when
they have made an end of breaking in pieces the power of the holy people,
all
these things shall be finished. And I heard, but I understood not:
then said I, O
my lord, what shall be the issue of these things? And he said,
Go thy way,
Daniel; for the words are shut up and sealed till the time of the end.
Many shall
purify themselves, and make themselves white, and be refined; but the wicked
shall
do wickedly; and none of the wicked shall understand; but they that are
wise shall
understand.
The conclusion is a waiting for the end to come.
Dan. 12:11-13 And from the time that the continual burnt-offering
shall be taken away,
and the abomination that maketh desolate set up, there shall be a thousand
and two hundred and ninety days. Blessed is he that waiteth, and
cometh
to the thousand three hundred and five and thirty days. But go thou
thy way
till the end be; for thou shalt rest, and shalt stand in thy lot, at the
end of the days.
All that occurs in history is known to God long before it ever takes place, and it is symbolized by the book from which the angel reads to Daniel.
The angel says, "Daniel, this is all I'm going to read to you. Shut up the words, and seal the book for this is all I will show to you now."
The meaning is, "We have come to the end, your work is finished; this is all that will be revealed to you now."
This has nothing to do with the understanding of the book of Daniel.
The fact is the things which Daniel had seen in the book were given in order that they might be understood.
The angel simply means, "We have come now to the end of the period of revelation to you about these matters."
But the latter part of this verse has also intrigued many.
Dan 12:4 But thou, O Daniel, shut up the words, and seal
the book, even to the time
of the end: many shall run to and fro, and knowledge shall be increased.
Unquestionably the angel is here describing that which will happen until
the time of the end is reached. What will occur before
then? The angel says, "Many shall run to and fro, and knowledge shall
increase." That can be taken in two ways:
I think it is more likely that this refers to an increase in the knowledge from the book of Daniel.
In connection with the sealing up of the book that this is said. It would then mean, "Many shall run to and fro throughout this vision."
This refers to an exhaustive investigation of the vision.
Men shall investigate and carefully study the prophecies of Daniel, and knowledge of the book shall increase as people study it thoroughly.
This admonition is true for all the word of God.
II Tim. 2:15 Give diligence to present thyself approved
unto God, a workman that
needeth not to be ashamed, handling aright the word of truth.
A student of history knows that after the 5th century of this era, Europe drifted into a period of ignorance, darkness, and superstition, that secular historians call the "Dark Ages."
It is important to remember that is period coincided with removing the Scriptures from the understanding and availability of the common people.
When scriptures are not available, men are ignorant about life.
In the following acoount we have a question and answer session that follows the vision. That was a common procedure in those days.
We call it "dialogue," and it is put here it is in the book of Daniel to teach us a vital lesson.
Dan 12:5-7 Then I, Daniel, looked, and, behold, there
stood other two, the one on the
brink of the river on this side, and the other on the brink of the river
on that
side. And one said to the man clothed in linen, who was above
the waters of
the river, How long shall it be to the end of these wonders?
And I heard the
man clothed in linen, who was above the waters of the river, when he held
up
his right hand and his left hand unto heaven, and sware by him that liveth
for ever
that it shall be for a time, times, and a half; and when they have made
an end of
breaking in pieces the power of the holy people, all these things shall
be finished.
Remember how the vision began? Daniel saw a man clothed in linen, with a bright countenance, standing by the river.
Now at the end he sees two angels with him. He asks the man clothed in linen. "How long will it be until these things are over?"
If you have carefully followed the character of the vision. you can understand the question.
This is a time of trouble for Daniel's people such as they have never passed through before.
Daniel is troubled by this and he identifies with them, and asks, "How long will it be? How long till the end of these amazing things?"
The man clothed in linen, raised his right hand to indicate the solemness of his words as a guarantee.
It is much as it was in the days of Jesus in the flesh when he used to say, "verily, verily I say to you."
The guarantee is made with an upraised hand. "When these things begin," he says, they will run for "a time, two times, and half a time."
We have understood already from Daniel that this means three and a half years. A "time" is a year.
When they are finished, the power of the holy people, the Jews, will be shattered.
Judiasm will be broken, and defeateded, as never before.
The end of the week accomplishes the end of Judiasm, and the power of Israel.,
Daniel interrupts the man clothed in linen,
Dan 12:8-10 And I heard, but I understood not: then
said I, O my lord, what shall be
the issue of these things? And he said, Go thy way, Daniel;
for the words
are shut up and sealed till the time of the end. Many shall
purify themselves,
and make themselves white, and be refined; but the wicked shall do wickedly;
and none of the wicked shall understand; but they that are wise shall understand.
Daniel wants more information. He says, "Lord, I don't understand what you mean about 'the shattering of the power of the holy people.'"
The man clothed in linen says, " Daniel, remember, there is no
more revelation to you out of the book.
The book is closed; I won't tell you any more."
The instruction is that it will be necessary to study what has already been given, from this there will be this result: "Many shall purify themselves, and make themselves white and be refined; but the wicked shall do wickedly; and none of the wicked shall understand."
This is in reference to the book of Daniel, in what he had written which had been revealed.
Many shall read it, study it, and search it through, and it will have a very interesting three-fold effect upon them:
First, they will interact with the book. They will purify themselves by reading the cleansing word of God. God's word is always a cleansing agent. By obedience they would be purified from within.
Second, they will obey the word they read and make themselves white.
The outer life would become clean and they would be made white. They will be refined, becoming better people.
This is always true with the word of God, if men follow it.
There is another class of persons who will read the book but not understand.
They shall do wickedly. The wicked shall do wickedly.
These people are wicked because they do wickedly.
It says the wicked are not wicked because they do wicked things; but they do wicked things because they are already wicked.
What is being wicked? This is someone who will not listen to God,
That is a wicked person. A wicked person is one wicked in thought, and because of this they do wicked things.
Their deeds become wicked because their thoughts are already wicked.
The last word are given.
The man clothed in linen resumes what he is saying to Daniel interrupted him.
Dan 12:11-13 And from the time that the continual burnt-offering
shall be taken away,
and the abomination that maketh desolate set up, there shall be a thousand
and two hundred and ninety days. Blessed is he that waiteth, and
cometh to
the thousand three hundred and five and thirty days. But go thou
thy way till
the end be; for thou shalt rest, and shalt stand in thy lot, at the end
of the days.
The daily sacrifices of Judaism would be ended and abolished. The law was fulfilled by Christ sacrifice.
Matt. 5:17-18 Think not that I came to destroy the law
or the prophets: I came not to destroy,
but to fulfill. For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth
pass away, one jot
or one tittle shall in no wise pass away from the law, till all things
be accomplished.
The heaven and earth Jesus spoke of referred to Judaism.
After the destruction of the temple the priest was carried to Rome, sacrifices as under the Old Testament came to an end.
This same message was delivered to Daniel in chapter 9.
The 1,290 days and 1,335 days are parallelled to the 42 months, time, times and a half time, also the 1,260 days used symbolically in the book of Revelation.
This time is the countdown of the Jewish religion or Judaism that arrived in the first century.
The final destruction arrived in 70 A.D. at the fall of Jerusalem and the destruction of the temple.
Judaism was ended once and for all and Christianity was confirmed and victorious.
Those who were faithful under the dispensation of the law of Moses became heirs with those faithful under the covenant of Christ.
Eph. 1:10 unto a dispensation of the fulness of the
times, to sum up all things in Christ,
the things in the heavens, and the things upon the earth; in him, I say,
Eph. 2:12-16 that ye were at that time separate from Christ,
alienated from the commonwealth
of Israel, and strangers from the covenants of the promise, having no hope
and
without God in the world. But now in Christ Jesus ye that once
were far off
are made nigh in the blood of Christ. For he is our peace,
who made both one,
and brake down the middle wall of partition, having abolished in
the flesh the enmity,
even the law of commandments contained in ordinances; that he might create
in
himself of the two one new man, so making peace; and might
reconcile them both
in one body unto God through the cross, having slain the enmity thereby:
Daniel will be there. The prophet is promised that from the oracle of God..
He will have a part in it as a resurrected being. Daniel will not be
forgotten of God, but will stand in his place at the end of the days.
Conclusion
To become a child of God: Believe Jesus Christ is
God's son. John 8:24
Repent and turn from sins. Luke 13:3,5
Confess Christ before men, Matthew 10:32
Be baptized, immersed in water for the remission of sins, Acts 2:38
Remain faith to the lord unto death, Rev. 2:10