Daniel 11:36-45

Daniel 12

We now conclude our study of Daniel by looking at chapter 12. Daniel 12 completes the vision started in Daniel 10. It may be divided as follows:

1. Michael and Israel, vs 1.
2. The Resurrection, vs 2-3.
3. The Sealing of the book, vs 4.
4. The Extent and Purpose of the Period, vs 5-7.
5. Daniel’s Request, vs 8.
6. The Response, vs 9-13.

Michael and Israel, vs 1.

Vs 1a, at that time Michael, the great prince who protects your people, will arise.

The verse opens with the phrase, “at that time.” What time is that? It is the time of verses 40-45. We were introduced to Michael in Dan 10:13 and learned he is an archangel, the highest position in God’s hierarchy of angelic beings. We also learned from 10:21, he was the guardian angel of Israel, which again is emphasized in the next phrase, the great prince who protects your people. The verse then notes Michael will “arise.”  This is a word that means military involvement. In other words, Michael, the archangel, and protector of Israel, will stand and fight for the nation. While the Anti-Christ is waging his war against the 10-king federation, Michael will begin a heavenly war against Satan and his demonic throng. This battle is described in Rev 12:7-12, Then war broke out in heaven. Michael and his angels fought against the dragon, and the dragon and his angels fought back. ⁸ But he was not strong enough, and they lost their place in heaven. ⁹ The great dragon was hurled down—that ancient serpent called the devil, or Satan, who leads the whole world astray. He was hurled to the earth, and his angels with him. ¹⁰ Then I heard a loud voice in heaven say: “Now have come the salvation and the power and the kingdom of our God, and the authority of his Messiah. For the accuser of our brothers and sisters, who accuses them before our God day and night, has been hurled down. ¹¹ They triumphed over him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony; they did not love their lives so much as to shrink from death. ¹² Therefore rejoice, you heavens and you who dwell in them! But woe to the earth and the sea because the devil has gone down to you! He is filled with fury because he knows that his time is short. Note from this Revelation passage, since Satan will be thrown down from Heaven he can no longer stand before God and accuse us before God’s throne therefore the Heavens rejoice (vs 12). Also, Satan realizes his time his short, so is full of wrath and frustration, so woe to the earth!

Vs 1b, there will be a time of distress such has not happened from the beginning of nations until then.

Now that Satan is on earth, and full of fury, verse 1 notes, there will be a time of distress such as has not happened from the beginning of nations until then. This references the second 3 ½ year period of the Tribulation. The events of Rev 6-19 occur during this time. It will be a time of plague, famine, death, destruction, fear, environmental catastrophe, and despair. Though the world has experience world war and in places, horrendous suffering, it has not experience anything like what will come in this 3 and ½ year period. A great persecution of the Jewish people will also begin. Zech 13:8 states fully 2/3 of the nation of Israel will be killed.

Vs 1c, but at that time your people—everyone whose name is found written in the book—will be delivered. 

but God’s remnant will be saved: everyone whose name is found written in the book -will be delivered. The book of life is mentioned in Phil 4:3, Rev 3:5, Rev 13:8, and Ps 69:28.  It is a record of those who have trusted Christ (We forget the Tribulation will also be a time of great revival as noted in Rev 7).  Specifically, God will protect a remnant from Satan and the Anti-Christ as also described in Rev 12:6.

The Resurrection, 12:2-3.

Verses 2 and 3 describe a resurrection which will occur in this time frame. This can be a confusing subject so I will present a general overview of the concept of the resurrection and then we will drill down on the verse. So, we can get a sense of what it is telling us.

First, the word resurrection always refers to the body. Scripture states we consist of body, soul, and spirit (1 Thess 5:23). Our bodies are our physical selves. Our souls are composed of our mind and consciousness, while our spirit is what responds to spiritual matters. Prior to faith our spirit is noted to be dead (Eph 2:1-3) but God gives it life through faith. Scripture says our bodies are made of dust and to dust they shall return (Gen 3:19). But in the afterlife, we are not disembodied people. 1 Cor 15 makes clear our present bodies are simply a fallen foretaste of our eternal ones, and the process or mechanism for our obtaining this new body is the resurrection of our old into something new.

Secondly, two resurrections are noted in scripture: the first and the second. This is made clear by Rev 20:4-6, ^I saw thrones on which were seated those who had been given authority to judge. And I saw the souls of those who had been beheaded because of their testimony about Jesus and because of the word of God. They^[a] had not worshiped the beast or its image and had not received its mark on their foreheads or their hands. They came to life and reigned with Christ a thousand years. ⁵ (The rest of the dead did not come to life until the thousand years were ended.) This is the first resurrection. ⁶ Blessed and holy are those who share in the first resurrection. The second death has no power over them, but they will be priests of God and of Christ and will reign with him for a thousand years. There is a lot in this passage, but for now I just want you to see it discusses a first resurrection, and then a second.

Third, the first resurrection occurs in stages. 1 Cor 15:23 says there is an order to this resurrection. This phrase comes from a military idea of a formation or progression of soldiers. In a formation one group follows another, and this is also true of the 1^st resurrection. Scripture notes there are five stages to the first resurrection. They are as follows:

1. The Resurrection of Jesus. 1 Cor 15:20 likens the process of resurrection for those who believe as a harvest, and Jesus’s resurrection was the first fruit of this harvest (But Christ has indeed been raised from the dead, the first fruits of those who have fallen asleep).
2. The second stage is the resurrection of church saints at the time of the rapture (see 1 Thess 4:16-17).
3. The third stage is the resurrection of the two witnesses noted in Rev 11:11-12.
4. The fourth stage will be the resurrection of OT remnant saints at the end of the tribulation (see Is 26:19, (But your dead will live, Lord; their bodies will rise—let those who dwell in the dust
       wake up and shout for joy) and our present passage, Dan 12:2.
5. The fifth and final stage will be the resurrection of tribulation saints as noted in Rev 20:4 (and I saw the souls of those who had been beheaded because of their testimony about Jesus and because of the word of God. They^[a] had not worshiped the beast or its image and had not received its mark on their foreheads or their hands. They came to life and reigned with Christ a thousand years). This event closes the first resurrection.

Fourth, the second resurrection occurs at the end of the millennial reign of Christ. This event is when all the unrighteous will be raised and will appear before God for judgement. This is foretold in Is 24:21-22, Rev 20:5, and Rev 20:12-14.

Now we are better equipped to deal with Dan 12:2-3.

Vs 2, Multitudes who sleep in the dust of the earth will awake: some to everlasting life, the others to shame and everlasting contempt.

Reading this verse, one could easily draw the conclusion that this verse is describing a resurrection of the righteous and unrighteous at the same time. However, this is not the case. The literal Hebrew is better transliterated as follows, “and many from among the sleepers of the dust of the earth shall awake; these shall be unto everlasting life. But those, meaning the rest of the sleepers, who do not awake at this time shall be unto shame and everlasting contempt” (from Fruchtenbaum). The Hebrew implies there will be a time of separation of these two events. Rev 20:5 notes this time separation will be 1000 years. (The rest of the dead did not come to life until the thousand years were ended.) 

In this passage, the multitudes who sleep in the dust of the earth who will awake, are OT remnant saints and those saints who were killed in the tribulation period. (the Church age saints were resurrected at the rapture). The others to shame and everlasting contempt, are unbelievers, both from before and after Christ’s time who are awaiting the 2^nd resurrection and judgement at the end if the millennial period.

Vs 3a, Those who are wise^[a] will shine like the brightness of the heavens,

The word, wise, is often used in scripture for those who believe, while foolishness is used of those who don’t believe (see Ps 14:1, I Cor 1:18). The word, the heavens, refers to the vault in the sky which holds all the stars. It also has the idea of God’s glory. In other words, tribulation saints will shine and reflect God’s glory. This is more understandable as the days of tribulation are certainly spiritually dark and the light of these believers will stand out.

Vs 3b, and those who lead many to righteousness, like the stars for ever and ever.

Verse 3b also notes there will be a special blessing for those who in the tribulation period, will lead others to Christ. Revelation 12 notes there will be 144,000 special witnesses (or evangelists) who will be spreading the gospel. No doubt many others will be witnesses as well.

As an aside, Phil 2: 14 uses this same imagery likening our lives in this dark world as stars standing out (do everything without grumbling or arguing, ¹⁵ so that you may become blameless and pure, “children of God without fault in a warped and crooked generation.”^[c] Then you will shine among them like stars in the sky ¹⁶ as you hold firmly to the word of life).

The Sealing of the Book, vs 4.

Vs 4a, but you, Daniel, roll up and seal the words of the scroll until the time of the end. 

This verse now concludes with the message of the angel which started at 10:1. The phrase roll up and seal the words of the scroll, meant Daniel was to close off the message, affix a seal to the scroll, and put it away. The idea here is not one of secrecy, rather it is one of preservation. For many years these chapters would not be understood because there were too many gaps in the revelation that was given regarding the tribulation period. However, further revelation came by John. Rev 22:10 says “Do not seal up the words of the prophecy of this scroll, because the time is near.” Daniel was told to seal up his vision, (i.e. preserve it till more revelation is available) while John was told not to seal up his vision (since it filled in the missing gaps of Daniel’s vision regarding the tribulation period).

The angel then says it is to be sealed until the time of the end. The time of the end refers to the tribulation period. In other words, by sealing its contents, it would be especially preserved for the tribulation period because the revelation given in chapters 10-12 concerns those who would be living at this time.

Vs 4b, many will go here and there to increase knowledge.

The phrase many will go here and there to increase knowledge, refers to a desire to know of the last days.

So, to summarize, Daniel was asked to seal up his vision for two reasons: first, the revelation contained gaps that John would later fill. Second, it would be preserved so that at the end of days, many who will be searching for answers about the tribulation period will find answers.

The Extent and Purpose of the Period, vs 5-7.

Vs 5, Then I, Daniel, looked, and there before me stood two others, one on this bank of the river and one on the opposite bank. 

In verse 5 we see two other angelic beings appear, one on each side of the river. They appear to serve as witnesses as to what has been said (see Deut 17:6 and 19:15).

Vs 6, One of them said to the man clothed in linen, who was above the waters of the river, “How long will it be before these astonishing things are fulfilled?”

In verse 6, one of these angelic beings asks a question of the angel who is above the waters and has been talking to Daniel. How long will it be before these astonishing things are fulfilled? In other words, how long will it be for the events you have described go on? The answer is given in verse 7.

Vs 7, The man clothed in linen, who was above the waters of the river, lifted his right hand and his left hand toward heaven, and I heard him swear by him who lives forever, saying, “It will be for a time, times and half a time.^[b] When the power of the holy people has been finally broken, all these things will be completed.

Normally when an oath is given only one hand is raised, but here the angel raises both hands, and swears (i.e. gives an oath) by God almighty the duration of the events he has given to Daniel in the previous verses will be for 3 ½ years. Note the period ends when the power of the holy people has been finally broken. This means two things: first, the nation will be overrun. At the end of the tribulation period, Israel will be shattered and on the ropes; and second, the stubborn will of the people will be broken as they will finally look to their Messiah.

Daniel’s Response, vs 8.

Vs 8, I heard, but I did not understand. So I asked, “My lord, what will the outcome of all this be?”

Daniel did not comprehend what he just heard. He had no reference point for it, so he asked a question. What will be the outcome of all this? In other words, how will it all end?

The Angels Response, 12:9-13.

The angel’s response to Daniel is given in the next 5 verses. 

Vs 9, he replied, “Go your way, Daniel, because the words are rolled up and sealed until the time of the end.

In verse 9 he tells Daniel to go on your way. In other words, I have finished giving you the information I was supposed to give. I have commanded you to preserve it and there is nothing more to do, save for you to go on with your business. However, the angel has a few parting comments. The first is given in verse 10.

Vs 10, Many will be purified, made spotless and refined, but the wicked will continue to be wicked. None of the wicked will understand, but those who are wise will understand.

In verse 10 the angel notes many will come to salvation during the tribulation period. The implication is they will be purified (saved) because they will understand the time—and some of that understanding will be attributable to Daniel’s writings.

Vs 11-12, From the time that the daily sacrifice is abolished and the abomination that causes desolation is set up, there will be 1,290 days. ¹² Blessed is the one who waits for and reaches the end of the 1,335 days.

The angel then makes two-time related statements. First, there will be 1290 days from the time of the abomination of desolation till the end and there will be blessing for the one who goes another 45 days beyond this and who therefore reaches 1135 days since the abomination was set up. What does he mean by all this?

We know the tribulation period lasts 7 years and is divided into two equal portions of 1260 days (see Rev 11:2-3). The tribulation ends with the second coming of Christ (Mt 24:30, Lk 21:27). Revelation 13:14-15 notes the abomination of desolation will be set up in the middle of the tribulation and all the world will worship it. Daniel 12:11 notes there will be an additional 30 days after the Lord comes but before the image will be removed from the temple. The verse then goes on to say one will be blessed if they can wait for another 45 days for a total of 1135.

What will happen in this 75-day period from the time of the return of Christ, (day 1260 of the second half of the tribulation), till day 1135? The answer can be gleaned from other scriptures.

1. The image of the desolation of abomination will be removed, Dan 12:11.
2. The Anti-Christ will be thrown into the lake of fire, Rev 19:20.
3. The false prophet will be thrown into the lake of fire, Rev 12:20.
4. Satan will be bound and cast into the abyss, Rev 20:1-3.
5. Though a great many Gentiles will be destroyed in the later part of the Great Tribulation a number will survive. They will be gathered for judgement as noted in Mt 25:31-46, and Joel 3:1-3. This judgement will sort out two categories of Gentiles: the antisemitic “goats” and the pro-semitic “sheep.” Those in the antisemitic category will be sent to hell, while those in the pro-semitic category will move on into the Messianic Kingdom. These, along with surviving believing Jews, are the “blessed ones who waits for and reaches the end of the 1335 days”.
6. OT saints (remnant saints) will be resurrected at this time, Dan 12:2, Is 26:19.
7. The saints who have been killed during the tribulation will also be raised at this time, Rev 20:4.
8. These events (f and g) conclude the first resurrection, 1 Cor 15:20-23.
9. The marriage feast of the lamb will be celebrated, Is 25:6-8, Mt 22:1-14, Mt 25:1-13, Rev 19:9.

Daniel’s future, vs 13.

As for you, go your way till the end. You will rest, and then at the end of the days you will rise to receive your allotted inheritance.

Daniel was probably 85 years old when he received this prophecy. The angel now dismisses him and says go your way till the end. The end is a reference to his own death. But the angel gives Daniel a word of encouragement and hope; you will rest and at the end of days you will rise to your inheritance.  In other words, yes you will die Daniel—but it will be a time of rest till the Lord raises you at the end of days (the end of the tribulation period) when He will resurrect you to your inheritance. The word inheritance means lot. It is his reward and a place in the Messianic Kingdom. I want to conclude by turning to Gen 15:2. Here a similar promise is made to Abraham. Do not be afraid Abrahm, I am your shield, your exceedingly great reward. This is Daniel’s and our inheritance as well. Amen to that!