#1227 Daniel 12 At That Time

 

“At that time shall arise Michael, the great prince who has charge of your people. And there shall be a time of trouble, such as never has been since there was a nation till that time. But at that time your people shall be delivered, everyone whose name shall be found written in the book. 2 And many of those who sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, some to everlasting life, and some to shame and everlasting contempt. 3 And those who are wise shall shine like the brightness of the sky above; and those who turn many to righteousness, like the stars forever and ever. 4 But you, Daniel, shut up the words and seal the book, until the time of the end. Many shall run to and fro, and knowledge shall increase.”

5 Then I, Daniel, looked, and behold, two others stood, one on this bank of the stream and one on that bank of the stream. 6 And someone said to the man clothed in linen, who was above the waters of the stream, “How long shall it be till the end of these wonders?” 7 And I heard the man clothed in linen, who was above the waters of the stream; he raised his right hand and his left hand toward heaven and swore by him who lives forever that it would be for a time, times, and half a time, and that when the shattering of the power of the holy people comes to an end all these things would be finished. 8 I heard, but I did not understand. Then I said, “O my lord, what shall be the outcome of these things?” 9 He said, “Go your way, Daniel, for the words are shut up and sealed until the time of the end. 10 Many shall purify themselves and make themselves white and be refined, but the wicked shall act wickedly. And none of the wicked shall understand, but those who are wise shall understand. 11 And from the time that the regular burnt offering is taken away and the abomination that makes desolate is set up, there shall be 1,290 days. 12 Blessed is he who waits and arrives at the 1,335 days. 13 But go your way till the end. And you shall rest and shall stand in your allotted place at the end of the days.” Daniel 12 ESV

Daniel 12 The End of Time

A great sign appeared in heaven: a woman clothed with the sun, and the moon under her feet, and on her head a crown of twelve stars; 2 and she was pregnant and she *cried out, being in labor and in pain to give birth.

The Red Dragon, Satan

3 Then another sign appeared in heaven: and behold, a great red dragon having seven heads and ten horns, and on his heads were seven crowns. 4 And his tail *swept away a third of the stars of heaven and hurled them to the earth. And the dragon stood before the woman who was about to give birth, so that when she gave birth he might devour her Child.

The Male Child, Christ

5 And she gave birth to a Son, a male, who is going to rule all the nations with a rod of iron; and her Child was caught up to God and to His throne. 6 Then the woman fled into the wilderness where she *had a place prepared by God, so that there she would be nourished for 1,260 days.

The Angel, Michael

7 And there was war in heaven, Michael and his angels waging war with the dragon. The dragon and his angels waged war, 8 and they did not prevail, and there was no longer a place found for them in heaven. 9 And the great dragon was thrown down, the serpent of old who is called the devil and Satan, who deceives the whole world; he was thrown down to the earth, and his angels were thrown down with him. 10 Then I heard a loud voice in heaven, saying,

“Now the salvation, and the power, and the kingdom of our God and the authority of His Christ have come, for the accuser of our brothers and sisters has been thrown down, the one who accuses them before our God day and night. 11 And they overcame him because of the blood of the Lamb and because of the word of their testimony, and they did not love their life even when faced with death. 12 For this reason, rejoice, you heavens and you who dwell in them. Woe to the earth and the sea, because the devil has come down to you with great wrath, knowing that he has only a short time.”

13 And when the dragon saw that he was thrown down to the earth, he persecuted the woman who gave birth to the male Child. 14 But the two wings of the great eagle were given to the woman, so that she could fly into the wilderness to her place, where she *was nourished for a time, times, and half a time, away from the presence of the serpent. 15 And the serpent hurled water like a river out of his mouth after the woman, so that he might cause her to be swept away with the flood. 16 But the earth helped the woman, and the earth opened its mouth and drank up the river which the dragon had hurled out of his mouth. 17 So the dragon was enraged with the woman, and went off to make war with the rest of her children, who keep the commandments of God and hold to the testimony of Jesus. Revelation 12 

At that time shall arise Michael - So remember, chapters 10-12 deal with the same vision, so we go back to chapter 11 and we see that this is during the tribulation, and further into verse 1 we see this referred to as a time of trouble, which would be the Great Tribulation, the last 3.5 years. 

…6Ask now, and see: Can a male give birth? Why then do I see every man with his hands on his stomach like a woman in labor and every face turned pale? 7How awful that day will be! None will be like it! It is the time of Jacob’s distress, but he will be saved out of it. 8On that day, declares the LORD of Hosts, I will break the yoke off their necks and tear off their bonds, and no longer will strangers enslave them.… Jeremiah 30: 6-8

In the Septuagint (LXX), tsarah is translated with the Greek word thlipsis a term which originally expressed sheer, physical pressure, as when pressing grapes. It conveys the idea of being squeezed or placed under pressure or crushed beneath a weight. When, according to the ancient law of England, those who willfully refused to plead guilty, had heavy weights placed on their breasts, and were pressed and crushed to death, this was literally thlipsis. - Precept Austin

The great prince who has charge of your people - So Michael is the angel who has been assigned to Israel, and we know from other books he is an arch angel, one of authority. We also saw in a previous chapter that an angel contended with a prince of Persia, so Persia had a fallen angel that the other side, in this spiritual battle, had assigned there. Like at work or in government, Israel is his (Michael's) area of responsibility. In Revelation 12, included at the entry above we see "Michael and his angels waging war", so he is a leader, a general in Christ's army. 

…8Yet in the same way these dreamers defile their bodies, reject authority, and slander glorious beings. 9But even the archangel Michael, when he disputed with the devil over the body of Moses, did not presume to bring a slanderous charge against him, but said, “The Lord rebuke you!” 10These men, however, slander what they do not understand, and like irrational animals, they will be destroyed by the things they do instinctively.… Jude 1: 8-10

But at that time your people shall be delivered - What time? The time of the Great Tribulation.

…21For at that time there will be great tribulation, unmatched from the beginning of the world until now, and never to be seen again. 22 If those days had not been cut short, nobody would be saved. But for the sake of the elect, those days will be cut short. 23At that time, if anyone says to you, ‘Look, here is the Christ!’ or ‘There He is!’ do not believe it.… Matthew 24: 21-23

Everyone whose name is found written in the book - At this point the tares have been separated from the wheat, about 2/3 of the Jews have been wiped out in what is worse than any of the prior holocausts, including Hitler's campaign. All those things, Antiochus, Hitler, Stalin, what the Jews endured in Poland, that is the work of the world ruled by the Red Dragon of Revelation 12, who comes after the woman who is Israel, who gives birth to the Seed, which is Christ. Throughout history, Satan has hated Israel, tried to wipe her out, first because of the Seed that was promised in the garden, but then he was born, and then Herod tried to kill all the infant males, then Christ fulfilled the covenant of God on the cross, as Satan knew from reading Isaiah and watching all the sacrifices till His time. So why does he still hate Israel? Because Christ is coming back to rule, and He has a remnant. Israel is a blight on Satan's prideful career, a people that God has written redemptive history through, a people of whom many will be saved in the end, yet the devil is granted no such repentance. He chases the woman till the very end, his heart is filled with violence and bent on genocide.  

…20But after he had pondered these things, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, “Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to embrace Mary as your wife, for the One conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. 21She will give birth to a Son, and you are to give Him the name Jesus, because He will save His people from their sins.” 22All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had said through the prophet:… Matthew 1: 20-22

…5Behold, the days are coming, declares the LORD, when I will raise up for David a righteous Branch, and He will reign wisely as King and will administer justice and righteousness in the land. 6In His days Judah will be saved, and Israel will dwell securely. And this is His name by which He will be called: The LORD Our Righteousness. 7So behold, the days are coming, declares the LORD, when they will no longer say, ‘As surely as the LORD lives, who brought the Israelites up out of the land of Egypt.’… Jeremiah 23: 5-7

…29But if from there you will seek the LORD your God, you will find Him if you seek Him with all your heart and with all your soul. 30When you are in distress and all these things have happened to you, then in later days you will return to the LORD your God and listen to His voice. 31For the LORD your God is a merciful God; He will not abandon you or destroy you or forget the covenant with your fathers, which He swore to them by oath.… Deuteronomy 4: 29-31

7Awake, O sword, against My Shepherd, against the man who is My Companion, declares the LORD of Hosts. Strike the Shepherd, and the sheep will be scattered, and I will turn My hand against the little ones. 8And in all the land, declares the LORD, two-thirds will be cut off and perish, but a third will be left in it. 9This third I will bring through the fire; I will refine them like silver and test them like gold. They will call on My name, and I will answer them. I will say, ‘They are My people,’ and they will say, ‘The LORD is our God.’ ”… Zechariah 13: 7-9

Some to everlasting life, some to shame - It is given to men once to die and then the judgment. 

…28A man is not a Jew because he is one outwardly, nor is circumcision only outward and physical. 29No, a man is a Jew because he is one inwardly, and circumcision is a matter of the heart, by the Spirit, not by the written code. Such a man’s praise does not come from men, but from God. Romans 2: 28-29

31When the Son of Man comes in His glory, and all the angels with Him, He will sit on His glorious throne. 32 All the nations will be gathered before Him, and He will separate the people one from another, as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. 33He will place the sheep on His right and the goats on His left.… Matthew 25: 31-33

And those who turn many to righteousness - There will be evangelism, that should be the testimony of every Christian life, not just that of preachers, yet there will be two significant witnesses in those days, along with 144,000 Jewish converts that guide people back to righteousness, taking them to what the word of God says, revealing to them the meaning of the signs of the times. 

…6Therefore My people will know My name; therefore they will know on that day that I am He who speaks. Here I am!” 7How beautiful on the mountains are the feet of those who bring good news, who proclaim peace, who bring good tidings, who proclaim salvation, who say to Zion, “Your God reigns!” 8Listen! Your watchmen lift up their voices, together they shout for joy. For every eye will see when the LORD returns to Zion.… Isaiah 52: 6-8

Knowledge shall increase - I think the people in this time will have a much better understanding than we do, a better vantage point so to speak. Some think this statement also includes technology, and I would agree with both, and here is a simple point of that: In Revelation 11 it speaks about the two witnesses laying dead in the street, and the whole world being not only able to watch this live for 3.5 days, but also making it into a holiday, like Taco Tuesday, Mother's day, now they will have Day of the Two Dead Witnesses and send each other gifts. Now when John wrote about them there wasn't even radio, much less television, so for about two thousand years this was difficult to picture. Now we have television, computers, satellites, live stream, phones that let us not only hear but also face time. So more understanding came as we get closer, but there is also now, with all the preaching of the prophets, I believe a Rapture has already taken place, and there are the writings of Daniel that he sealed against this time. Now this was a common thing for prophets under Judaism, you wrote down your prophecy, sealed the scrolls, and the measure of a prophet was that what he wrote came to pass, and if it didn't you were stoned. During this time people will come back to this book, and will look at Revelation, and I recommend Matthew 24 along with Jeremiah and Isaiah, you will look at it in that day and have a better vantage point than Daniel and me. You will see very clearly as all this takes place, and when you do, repent to the God that wrote it, plead for mercy, rest assured that He will see through what He foretold. 

…32With flattery he will corrupt those who violate the covenant, but the people who know their God will firmly resist him. 33Those with insight will instruct many, though for a time they will fall by sword or flame, or be captured or plundered. 34Now when they fall, they will be granted a little help, but many will join them insincerely.… Daniel 11: 32-34

…36But as I stated, you have seen Me and still you do not believe. 37Everyone the Father gives Me will come to Me, and the one who comes to Me I will never drive away. 38For I have come down from heaven, not to do My own will, but to do the will of Him who sent Me.… John 6: 36-38

…16For You do not delight in sacrifice, or I would bring it; You take no pleasure in burnt offerings. 17The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; a broken and a contrite heart, O God, You will not despise. 18In Your good pleasure, cause Zion to prosper; build up the walls of Jerusalem.… Psalm 51: 16-18

And someone said to the man clothed in linen - I believe this to be Christ, and there is one angel on Daniel's bank and one on the other, acting as two witnesses to what is taking place and also as Christ's messengers. To look at this more in depth read this from chapter 10:

Bank of Tigris, Man in Linen

How long shall it be till the end of these wonders - One of the angels ask this to the Lord Who is above the waters. Angels are curious about these things, the wonder that is human redemption, but they don't know all the answers or times. They are probably eager for it to end, to see the finale. I have friends that tell me about their retirement plans for age 55, but imagine being Michael and Gabriel, fighting in a war for some 6000 or so years, incredible! They are probably emotionally involved, have come to love those like Daniel, those under their charge, and for the sake of God's glory would like to see justice brought against the great traitor. 

…11trying to determine the time and setting to which the Spirit of Christ in them was pointing when He predicted the sufferings of Christ and the glories to follow. 12It was revealed to them that they were not serving themselves, but you, when they foretold the things now announced by those who preached the gospel to you by the Holy Spirit sent from heaven. Even angels long to look into these things. 13Therefore prepare your minds for action. Be sober-minded. Set your hope fully on the grace to be given you at the revelation of Jesus Christ.… 1 Peter 1: 11-13

35Heaven and earth will pass away, but My words will never pass away. 36 No one knows about that day or hour, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father. 37As it was in the days of Noah, so will it be at the coming of the Son of Man.… Matthew 24: 35-37

Swore by Him Who lives forever - The Son of God has nothing higher to swear by than the Godhead, so He swears by the eternal God. That they ask Him for the time of how long shows they are subordinate, and He gives them the time of the 3.5 years, that's the extent of how long the antichrist will blaspheme, and then he will be shut up. It is difficult for humans to comprehend this but the angels are fixated on God's glory, they are eager for His righteousness to reign, for Satan to be bound and the son of perdition destroyed with his prophet. 

There are those who tell us that the great tribulation spoken of by our Lord was that time of suffering that came upon the Jewish people at the destruction of Jerusalem in 70 A.D. But both Daniel and John, and also the Lord Jesus, relate the great tribulation to a judgment that is to come upon the whole world immediately preceding the coming of the Son of Man to earth in power and great glory (Mt 24:29). Our world has witnessed distress of serious magnitude, but the coming last distress will be unequalled. The world today gives little heed to this solemn prophecy, but the present indifference to it will in no wise lessen its fierceness when it comes. (Lehman Strauss Commentary – The Prophecies of Daniel) - Precept Austin

…4They worshiped the dragon who had given authority to the beast, and they worshiped the beast, saying, “Who is like the beast, and who can wage war against it?” 5 The beast was given a mouth to speak arrogant and blasphemous words, and authority to act for 42 months. 6And the beast opened its mouth to speak blasphemies against God and to slander His name and His tabernacle—those who dwell in heaven.… Revelation 13: 4-6

I heard but I did not understand - This is far forward, way past Daniel's time, he is writing to our benefit and even more to the benefit of those in the Tribulation.

Oh Lord - He speaks to the second member of the Trinity.

What shall be the outcome of these things - Daniel is old, and so he will not be much longer on the earth, so I think he asks in concern for his people. 

…33They will flog Him and kill Him, and on the third day He will rise again.” 34But the disciples did not understand any of these things. The meaning was hidden from them, and they did not comprehend what He was saying. 35As Jesus drew near to Jericho, a blind man was sitting beside the road, begging.… Luke 18: 33-35

…15“Do not be afraid, O Daughter of Zion. See, your King is coming, seated on the colt of a donkey.” 16 At first His disciples did not understand these things, but after Jesus was glorified they remembered what had been done to Him, and they realized that these very things had also been written about Him. 17Meanwhile, many people continued to testify that they had been with Jesus when He called Lazarus from the tomb and raised him from the dead.… John 12: 15-17

Go your way - Live your life Daniel, go do what you are supposed to do, don't go up on some mountain and chant while you wait for My return, a lot of things have to happen first. 

10But the Day of the Lord will come like a thief. The heavens will disappear with a roar, the elements will be destroyed by fire, and the earth and its works will be laid bare. 11Since everything will be destroyed in this way, what kind of people ought you to be? You ought to conduct yourselves in holiness and godliness 12as you anticipate and hasten the coming of the day of God, when the heavens will be destroyed by fire and the elements will melt in the heat.… 2 Peter 3: 10-12

None of the wicked shall understand - We should not have a stoic bone in our body about this, yes, it is fair, but that is not what I asked for or received. Let our lives and our words leave them without excuse.

…20Now the rest of mankind who were not killed by these plagues still did not repent of the works of their hands. They did not stop worshiping demons and idols of gold, silver, bronze, stone, and wood, which cannot see or hear or walk. 21Furthermore, they did not repent of their murder, sorcery, sexual immorality, and theft. Revelation 9: 20-21

There will be 1290 days - There are 1260 days from the setting of the image in the temple until the Beast is destroyed by the returning Christ (Rev 19:19,20-note). One can only speculate to what this extra 30 days (1260 + 30) refers. Most conservative commentators feel this probably refers to the time it will take to judge the Gentiles and Jews who physically survive the Great Tribulation to determine who is allowed to enter into the 1000 year Kingdom of Christ. - Precept Austin

Blessed is he who waits - It reminds you of the time of Noah, the earth was filled with violence, the wicked mocked Noah for 120 years as he built the ark. Eight people, of all the earth, entered the ark for 7 days, then it rained for 40 days, yet they were in the ark for about a year.

The waters flooded the earth for a hundred and fifty days.

8 But God remembered Noah and all the wild animals and the livestock that were with him in the ark, and he sent a wind over the earth, and the waters receded. 2 Now the springs of the deep and the floodgates of the heavens had been closed, and the rain had stopped falling from the sky. 3 The water receded steadily from the earth. At the end of the hundred and fifty days the water had gone down, 4 and on the seventeenth day of the seventh month the ark came to rest on the mountains of Ararat. 5 The waters continued to recede until the tenth month, and on the first day of the tenth month the tops of the mountains became visible.

6 After forty days Noah opened a window he had made in the ark 7 and sent out a raven, and it kept flying back and forth until the water had dried up from the earth. 8 Then he sent out a dove to see if the water had receded from the surface of the ground. 9 But the dove could find nowhere to perch because there was water over all the surface of the earth; so it returned to Noah in the ark. He reached out his hand and took the dove and brought it back to himself in the ark. 10 He waited seven more days and again sent out the dove from the ark. 11 When the dove returned to him in the evening, there in its beak was a freshly plucked olive leaf! Then Noah knew that the water had receded from the earth. 12 He waited seven more days and sent the dove out again, but this time it did not return to him. Genesis 7:24 - 8:12

1335 days - A difficult one, but I will quote from J Mac's sermon on Daniel 12 Part 2.

And then verse 12, and here’s a positive note, “Blessed is he that waiteth and cometh to the thousand three hundred and five and thirty days.” Now wait a minute. Twelve hundred and sixty, now we’ve got 30 days more for cleaning up the judgment as defined in Matthew 25. And now we’ve got thirteen hundred and 35 days, that’s 45 more days. You say, “What’s that?” Well, it’s not 45 more days for purging, but it’s 45 more days for – what’s the first word? Blessing.

So if it takes Him an extra 30 days for the purging, it apparently will take an extra 45 for the full establishment of the Kingdom of blessing. I guess the best way to see that is the set up and if a man endures through the tribulation by the grace of God and is a part of that living remnant and if he is a part of the sheep who are told you on My right hand inherit the Kingdom, he’ll pass by the twelve hundred and ninety days and as He goes through that 45 days, he will enter into the blessedness of the establishment of the Kingdom. - J Mac

You shall rest - Daniel would pass away.

Shall stand in your allotted place - Daniel will be resurrected. 

…6Then the angel of the LORD gave this charge to Joshua: 7“This is what the LORD of Hosts says: ‘If you walk in My ways and keep My instructions, then you will govern My house and will also have charge of My courts; and I will give you a place among these who are standing here. 8Hear now, O high priest Joshua, you and your companions seated before you, who are indeed a sign. For behold, I am going to bring My servant, the Branch.… Zechariah 3: 6-8

…12Here is a call for the perseverance of the saints who keep the commandments of God and the faith of Jesus. 13And I heard a voice from heaven telling me to write, “Blessed are the dead— those who die in the Lord from this moment on.” “Yes,” says the Spirit, “ they will rest from their labors, for their deeds will follow them.” Revelation 14: 12-13

McGee agrees writing that ""In thy lot" (Da 12:13KJV) means that Daniel will be raised with the Old Testament saints at the beginning of the Millennium."

David's affirmation is that of Daniel and every genuine believer…

As for me, I shall behold Your face in righteousness; I will be satisfied with Your likeness when I awake. (Ps 17:15-note)

Your allotted portion (Da 12:13NIV "allotted inheritance" cf Jdg 1:3, Col 1:12-note) - This describes Daniel's reward at the end of this age, when he is resurrected (along with Moses and David and all the OT saints) when he will surely hear "Well done, My good and faithful servant". (cf Mt 25:21, 23, Lk 19:17)

Miller writes…

This “consolation of hope” belongs to all who have received Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior. May every person who reads these words be part of that great host of the redeemed who “will shine like the brightness of the heavens” and “like the stars for ever and ever!” (Amen and Amen!) (Miller, S. R. - Daniel - New American Commentary) - Precept Austin