Daniel Chapter 12

Daniel 12:1 "And at that time shall Michael stand up, the great prince which 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."

In chapter 11, we were brought to the "time of the end". Notice the word "and" which connects this with the end of the last chapter which was speaking of the willful king, the Antichrist.

During the Great Tribulation, there will be an unprecedented attack to exterminate the Jews, but they will be delivered by Michael the archangel.

First of all, we must see that Michael is a ministering spirit to the believers. He is actually an archangel over the other angels. His ministry is directly under the instructions of the Lord Jesus Christ.

We know the time mentioned here, is the end of the Gentile age. This points back (to 11:36-45), the time of the ascendance of Antichrist during the final tribulation period. During that period, Michael the archangel (Jude 9; 10:13), 21 ministers with special attention to protecting Israel during that Gentile time (Isa. 26:20-21; Jer. 30:7; Matt. 24:21).

This time of trouble is speaking of the great tribulation. Notice also, that the deliverance of those, whose names are written in the Lamb's book (the book of the saved), is not before this time, but during.

To have your name written in the book means you are saved.

Daniel 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."

You can read a great deal more of this (in 1 Thessalonians 4:13-17). This happens at the rapture which happens before the tribulation starts.

"But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep, that ye sorrow not, even as others which have no hope." "For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him." "For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive [and] remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent them which are asleep." "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:" "Then we which are alive [and] remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord."

Two groups will arise from death constituting the “many”, meaning all (as in John).

John 5:28-29 "Marvel not at this: for the hour is coming, in the which all that are in the graves shall hear his voice," "And shall come forth; they that have done good, unto the resurrection of life; and they that have done evil, unto the resurrection of damnation."

Those of faith will rise to eternal life when the rapture occurs. Sometime after that (this is the pre-tribulation view), the tribulation will begin. We don’t know the timing of that which could be a short time or a considerable time afterwards.

After the 7 years of tribulation there will be two resurrections, one of the righteous to everlasting life for those who refused to take the mark of the beast during the tribulation which happens at the end of tribulation, and another of the unrighteous to everlasting contempt. (This is the White Throne Judgment). These two resurrections are separated by the one-thousand-year reign of Christ.

Revelation 20:4 “And I saw thrones, and they sat upon them, and judgment was given unto them: and [I saw] the souls of them that were beheaded for the witness of Jesus, and for the word of God, and which had not worshipped the beast, neither his image, neither had received [his] mark upon their foreheads, or in their hands; and they lived and reigned with Christ a thousand years.”

Jesus is the Judge of all the earth. Then Jesus separates them into those receiving everlasting life at His right hand, and those doomed for all eternity on His left.

Matthew 25:46 "And these shall go away into everlasting punishment: but the righteous into life eternal."

This is referring to the time of the judging of all nations which you can read about (in Matthew 25:31-34; actually read to verse 46).

Matt. 25:31-34 "When the Son of man shall come in his glory, and all the holy angels with Him, then shall He sit upon the throne of His glory:" "And before Him shall be gathered all nations: and He shall separate them one from another, as a shepherd divideth [his] sheep from the goats:" "And He shall set the sheep on His right hand, but the goats on the left." "Then shall the King say unto them on His right hand, Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world:"

Daniel 12:3 "And they that be wise shall shine as the brightness of the firmament; and they that turn many to righteousness as the stars for ever and ever."

This is speaking of being wise unto salvation. The following is a companion Scripture to this.

Matthew 13:43 "Then shall the righteous shine forth as the sun in the kingdom of their Father. Who hath ears to hear, let him hear."

The greatest privilege any of us have, is leading someone to the Lord Jesus Christ. Jesus is the Light of the world. When He comes and dwells within us, His Light shines forth through us. It is His Light that causes us to shine.

James 5:20 "Let him know, that he which converteth the sinner from the error of his way shall save a soul from death, and shall hide a multitude of sins."

God gives special honor in heaven to those who work at saving souls on the earth.

This is speaking of those having true knowledge by faith in God’s Word. Not only leaders (as 11:33), but others (11:35; 12:10).

To “shine” in glory is a privilege of all the saved. Any who influence others for righteousness shine like stars in varying capacities of light as their reward (as in 1 Cor.):

1 Corinthians 3:8 “Now he that planteth and he that watereth are one: and every man shall receive his own reward according to his own labor”.

Daniel 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 time referred to is Daniel’s 70th week, which is the tribulation.

World knowledge is at an all time high right now. We have no problem seeing people running to and fro. The freeways are full of cars carrying people to different places. We are running to and fro at this very time.

This message was not for Daniel's time. It is for our time. His book has been sealed to full understanding from his time to now. It is easier to look back over history, and see what Daniel talked about in the first few chapters of this book.

This 12th chapter looks into the future. The book of Daniel is easier understood today than ever before, perhaps because we are living in the time of the end. This better characterizes this time than all of the rest. This is the age of the coming of the Lord.

The “back and forth” and “to and fro” contains a Hebrew verb form that always refers to the movement of a person searching for something. In the tribulation, people will search for answers to the devastation and discover increased knowledge through Daniel’s preserved book.

Daniel 12:5 "Then I Daniel looked, and, behold, there stood other two, the one on this side of the bank of the river, and the other on that side of the bank of the river."

These two are probably angel beings. Had the Lord wanted us to know their names He would have given them. The message is the important thing. The message carrier is not important.

The bank of the River is unimportant, as well. It could have been the Tigris River. The fact there were two is for witness. By two, a thing is established. The two could also symbolize the spiritual house of Israel and the physical house of Israel.

Daniel 12:6 "And [one] said to the man clothed in linen, which [was] upon the waters of the river, How long [shall it be to] the end of these wonders?"

"Linen" speaks of righteousness. The man clothed in linen was of higher rank than the two. They were looking to Him for answers, as if He were the Lord. Notice also, he was on the water, not in the water.

We see in the following Scripture that the disciples asked the Lord Jesus the same question.

Matthew 24:3 "And as he sat upon the mount of Olives, the disciples came unto him privately, saying, Tell us, when shall these things be? and what [shall be] the sign of thy coming, and of the end of the world?"

When most people look at the Lord, they see the figure of a man. It could also be Michael, representing the Lord Jesus.

We also saw someone similar to this (in chapter 10:5).

Daniel 12:7 "And I heard the man clothed in linen, which [was] upon 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 he shall have accomplished to scatter the power of the holy people, all these [things] shall be finished."

This answers the question (of verse 6). This is speaking of that 3-1/2 years period, we have mentioned before. Time is one year, times is two years, and half time is half a year. The following Scriptures are the same thing.

Revelation 10:5-6 "And the angel which I saw stand upon the sea and upon the earth lifted up his hand to heaven," "And sware by him that liveth for ever and ever, who created heaven, and the things that therein are, and the earth, and the things that therein are, and the sea, and the things which are therein, that there should be time no longer:"

He that liveth forever and ever is God. Notice also, it is the power of the holy people scattered, not the holy people. This could be speaking of the time, when the God pours out His Spirit on all flesh.

Having said all this, the question comes to mind about the words “scatter the power” used here which seems to hold a key.

Bertrand L. Comparet explains it this way: Until the last few years, these words were incomprehensible; and we did not want to believe them, because "scattering the power of the holy people" certainly prophesied nothing but trouble. Some tried to read another meaning into that word "scatter"; but it is the Hebrew word 'naw-fa' which cannot be given the meaning to expand and spread out: its meaning is to scatter, or to dash to pieces and scatter the fragments. Therefore, our power is to be scattered, in an unfavorable sense, and then the time of trouble will be ended with our rescue by the return of Jesus Christ with the armies of heaven.

When our America's power was concentrated, in World Wars I and II, it was irresistible; but scattered, a little here, a little there, it can be destroyed by the enemy because there is not enough of it at any one place. And that is exactly what our enemies were planning. One of the basic principles of warfare, centuries older than ancient Egypt, is that an army which is kept together can defeat a far larger army which has been separated into several smaller groups, by defeating each of these groups in turn. Our enemies are maneuvering us into the fatal error of scattering our forces. Many of you will remember that some far sighted patriots warned us, as much as ten years ago, that politicians in high places in our government were in the service of our enemies, and that they planned to take the United States Army out of the country, scatter it all over the world, disarm the civilians at home, and hand us over completely helpless to our enemies, and enslavement for such of us as they may permit to survive.

Now, Daniel's strange words make sense. "The power of the holy people" is already "scattered", which when completed, will make our very survival impossible, on any merely human basis: nothing but the power of God can rescue us from the consequence of our amazing folly. Yet in all this there is also a note of hope: it will not take much longer for the plot to "scatter the power of the holy people" to be completed, leaving us defenseless before our enemies. But that is exactly what brings God to the rescue, for the angel told Daniel, "when he shall have accomplished to scatter the power of the holy people, ALL THESE THINGS SHALL BE FINISHED".

Daniel 12:8 "And I heard, but I understood not: then said I, O my Lord, what [shall be] the end of these [things]?"

Daniel is like so many of us. He heard the words, but he did not understand what they were saying. His only chance of understanding is in the Lord.

Daniel 12:9 "And he said, Go thy way, Daniel: for the words [are] closed up and sealed till the time of the end."

The Words are sealed until the time of the end. These things will become more apparent to the generation this comes upon. I personally believe this is our generation. The reading of the book of Daniel was not sealed, but the understanding was sealed.

Daniel 12:10 "Many shall be purified, and made white, and tried; but the wicked shall do wickedly: and none of the wicked shall understand; but the wise shall understand."

Salvation will come to many Jews during the Great Tribulation (see Zech. 13:8-9)

"And it shall come to pass, [that] in all the land, saith the LORD, two parts therein shall be cut off [and] die; but the third shall be left therein." "And I will bring the third part through the fire, and will refine them as silver is refined, and will try them as gold is tried: they shall call on my name, and I will hear them: I will say, It [is] my people: and they shall say, The LORD [is] my God."

The truly saved develop in godliness through trials. The unsaved pursue false values.

True wisdom comes from God. Only those who belong to God will understand. The blood of the Lord Jesus Christ purifies the Christian. We are made white, because we have been washed in His blood.

Revelation 7:14 "And I said unto him, Sir, thou knowest. And he said to me, These are they which came out of great tribulation, and have washed their robes, and made them white in the blood of the Lamb."

We must realize that the Christians will be tried.

John 16:33 "These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world."

The wicked are living for this life, and the pleasures they can get now. They are not looking to eternity.

Daniel 12:11 "And from the time [that] the daily [sacrifice] shall be taken away, and the abomination that maketh desolate set up, [there shall be] a thousand two hundred and ninety days."

This is a time when all worship, as we know it, will be stopped. This is 30 days after the middle of the 7 years of tribulation (which is a little over 3-1/2 years).

This reference is to the end of daily temple sacrifice, previously allowed under a covenant which the Antichrist formed with Israel, which he later causes to cease in the middle of the final 7 years. Then, favorable relations give way to persecution.

Even his abomination that desecrates the temple (as in 9:27; Matt. 24:1; Mark 13:14; and 2 Thess. 2:3-4), is accomplished with persecution.

Daniel 12:12 "Blessed [is] he that waiteth, and cometh to the thousand three hundred and five and thirty days."

The Christians are the blessed.

This is in the kingdom (2:35, 45; 7:13-14, and 27), that gives blessedness after the subjugation to Gentile empires (in chapters 2, 7 and 8).

"Blessed is he that waiteth, and cometh to the one thousand three hundred five and thirty days". Which is an addition of forty five days or years more, beginning at the end of one thousand two hundred and ninety, and make up this sum; during which time the vials will be poured out upon all the antichristian states. And the Turkish empire be destroyed, and all the enemies of Christ and His church removed, and clear way made for the setting up of His kingdom in the world in a more visible and glorious manner. And therefore, happy is the man that will be found waiting for these times, and live to enjoy them.

Forty five more days, even beyond the 1290 days, allows for transition between Israel’s time of being shattered (verse 7), and God’s setting up of His kingdom. (7:13-14; and 27).

Daniel 12:13 "But go thou thy way till the end [be]: for thou shalt rest, and stand in thy lot at the end of the days."

Soon Daniel’s own career would involve death and he shall rest. Daniel would not live to see the fulfillment of his own prophecies, but is here promised that he would be resurrected to receive his reward (thou shall stand in thy lot). All who trust in Daniel’s God will likewise be blessed.

Luke 21:36 "Watch ye therefore, and pray always, that ye may be accounted worthy to escape all these things that shall come to pass, and to stand before the Son of man."

Every individual person, who ever lived, stands before Jesus to be judged. Those who did not receive Jesus as their Savior will be judged guilty, and sent to everlasting torment.

Those who are Christians will be judged to receive their rewards. They all receive everlasting life, but some receive a reward for their work on earth.

Salvation is a free gift. It does not need to be earned. Rewards are extras.

Daniel 12 Questions

1.Who is Michael?

2.What time is mentioned here?

3.What one word connects chapter 12, and the last part of chapter 11?

4.Who are delivered?

5.What does it mean to have your name written in the book.

6.What do the dead rise to?

7.Where is a Scripture that makes this very clear?

8.________ is the Judge of all the earth.

9.What kind of wisdom is this speaking of?

10.What is our greatest privilege?

11.________ is the Light of the world.

12.What is Daniel to do with the words and the book?

13.Many shall run ___ and _____, and knowledge shall be ___________.

14.This is the age of the ________ of the _______.

15.Who are the two on the sides of the river?

16.This river could have been the ________.

17.What are some of the things two symbolize?

18.Who held up his right hand and His left hand to heaven?

19.What does time, times, and half a time mean?

20.What is a companion Scripture to verse 7?

21.What did Daniel ask the Lord?

22.What was His answer to Daniel?

23.True wisdom comes from _____.

24.What purifies the Christian?

25.What is meant by the daily sacrifice being taken away?

26.1290 days are approximately how many years?

27.Who are the blessed?

28.How long must they wait?

29.Who are judged at the end of the world?