Daniel 12 - The End Times

Daniel 12 - The End Times

v1-4: Tribulation and Judgement

Daniel 12 is a continuation from Daniel 11, where the angel continued to tell Daniel about the future. He said that "At that time Michael, the great prince who stands watch over your people, will rise up." Apparently, God assigns an angel over each Kingdom, such as the angel who spoke to Daniel in Chapter 10 were assigned to Persia, the "prince" of Greece will also be assigned. Do note that on the evil domain, Satan also assigned his demons to each kingdom as well. (See Ch 8)

The angel describe "that time" as a time of distress more than ever before. (See Matthew 24:21; Revelation 12:13-17) However, "your people" - ie Jews, whose name is found in the book will be delivered. Others who were "asleep in the dust" will awake and faces judgement so that they either received eternal life, or to "everlasting content". 

The "time" that the angel referred to is at the end times. During those days, Israel will the center of a major war with many enemies. Many of them will die, but only a remnant will remain. The angel explain that those who had died before, even those who died before Jesus was born, will be raised up for judgement. 

From the story that Jesus told in Luke 16:22-26, we believe those who died without Christ will be held at Hades. There are bad side of Hades, where the sinful are thrown into flames, while the faithful ones are placed together with Abraham. As God is fair and trustworthy, he will judge based on a righteous way.  Those who are found guilty will be thrown into the lake of fire - which Revelation 20:14 called the "second death", i.e, these people have died physically before, but the soul was raised up from Hades and died again after the judgement. (See John 5:29; Rev 11:18 - referring to those without Christ)

However, if the Jews (or gentiles) who believed in Jesus Christ, they do not need to be raised up from Hades, for the scripture says they will be with Christ once they die. Jesus said:  "Very truly I tell you, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life and will not be judged but has crossed over from death to life" (John 5:24) He also told the thief on the cross that "today you will be with me in paradise." (Luke 23:42-43)

The angel called those who received eternal life were "wise": "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." (Daniel 12:3, ESV)

If we choose Jesus as our savior, we are "wise" too! The wise do not hoard materialism but to be a light to the lost and turn them to the righteousness given by Christ's death. 

The angel concluded by asking Daniel to roll up the scroll until the end, and that "Many will go here and there to increase knowledge." (v4)

The prophecy that knowledge will increase or accelerate is true. Buckminster Fuller created the concept of Knowledge Doubling Curve in 1982. It suggests that the rate at which human knowledge doubles has been rapidly increasing. In 1900, human knowledge doubled approximately every 100 years. By the end of 1945, the rate was every 25 years. Today, it’s estimated that human knowledge is doubling every 13 months, and with the help of the Internet, we are quickly on our way to the doubling of knowledge every 12 hours. (lodestarsolutions.com)

Newell said of v4: “The correct sense is that ‘many shall search it through and through,’ and that as a consequence ‘knowledge of the book itself shall be increased.’ ” 

v5-13: Jesus comes again as King of Kings!

Daniel looked up and saw two other beings - one on his bank of the river, the other one at the opposite bank. One of them asked the man clothed in linen, standing above the waters of the river, regarding the time of all these things will happen. The man above the river said: “It will be for a time, times and half a time. When the power of the holy people has been finally broken, all these things will be completed.” (v7)

Daniel didn't understand what he meant, and asked what is the outcome of all this things. The man replied and ask Daniel to go on his own way, as these will be rolled up and sealed until the time of the end. 

It appears to me that as time is nearing the end, people will have the knowledge of the prophecy better, through hindsight, exegesis of God's world, and ability to verify with others through the internet. For example, we know that "a time, times and half a time" is referring to the Great Tribulation, which occurs at the last 3.5 years of the 7 year tribulation, by referring to Revelation, which was written by John over 620 of years after Daniel. This shows that the Bible is true and complete when New Testament is synchronized with Old Testament. 

This event was mentioned by the book Daniel in Ch 7:25 (saints given into antichrist's hands); 9:27 (breaking of antichrist covenant with Israel); 12:7 (duration of "the time of trouble"); and in Revelation 11:2 (Israel under the foot of Gentiles), 13:5 (duration of antichrist to rule). 

The man also said that “From the time that the daily sacrifice is abolished and the abomination that causes desolation is set up, there will be 1,290 days.  Blessed is the one who waits for and reaches the end of the 1,335 days. blessed are those who waits for and reaches the end of the 1,335 days."  (v11-12)

In other words, after 3.5 years (1260 days), the Lord will come back to battle against Satan and the anti-Christ. However there is a 30 day extension, probably to a transition from winning the war to judgement of Satan and the anti-Christ. 

The 1335 days is 45 days after 1290 days. This is interpreted as the time when final restoration occurs,  the Messianic Kingdom is inaugurated, and distribution of rewards. 

The man concluded with these words: “Go your way, Daniel, because the words are rolled up and sealed until the time of the end. 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." (v9-10)

I believe that "many will be purified, made spotless and refined" refers to the time of Grace, which Jesus brought for us through his death. Acceptance of Jesus is not just to assured our eternal life, but also the start of the process to be "purified" through the sanctification process. We will be presented as "spotless" to God when we meet Him. This opportunity is available to the Jews as well. 

The man said those who are "wise" will understand, that is, they will have faith in Jesus and accept him as his savior. But those who are wicked, will not understand nor accept the truth of the Gospel. 

The last word to Daniel was: "You will rest, and then at the end of the days you will rise to receive your allotted inheritance." (v13). Daniel definitely deserve the inheritance in God's kingdom, for he has been faithful to God regardless of the circumstances, even when his life is at risk. He is an example of how we should live, both under persecution and even in our normal life. Pray that we can imitate him as much as possible in the way we live today.