Dan. 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.
“at that time” – I believe this is referencing the last half of the 70th week and the reign of Antichrist as referenced in the last verse of chapter 11. I believe this is the time referenced by the following verses.
Jeremiah 30:4–7 “And these are the words that the LORD spake concerning Israel and concerning Judah. For thus saith the LORD; 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.”
Matthew 24:21–22 “For then shall be great tribulation, such as was not since the beginning of the world to this time, no, nor ever shall be. And except those days should be shortened, there should no flesh be saved: but for the elect’s sake those days shall be shortened.”
Revelation 12:7–8 “And there was war in heaven: Michael and his angels fought against the dragon; and the dragon fought and his angels, And prevailed not; neither was their place found any more in heaven.”
The messenger seems to have finished his explanation of Daniel’s vision. It was filled with bad things to be experienced by Israel in future years. He seeks to comfort Daniel by telling him that Michael, the special guardian angel of Israel, will be standing at their side in those final terrible times. In fact, those times will be the worst Israel has ever experienced since being singled out by God to be a nation. That’s really hard to imagine as we look back over history, especially at the atrocities of Hitler toward the Jews in World War II.
There are some words of hope for Daniel. The Jews will not be destroyed as a people, and all those whose names are found in the book of life will be saved.
Maybe it will be Michael that provides supernatural protection for those that flee to the wilderness for the last 3.5 years of the 70th week.
Revelation 12:6 And the woman fled into the wilderness, where she hath a place prepared of God, that they should feed her there a thousand two hundred and threescore days.
There is a reference in Zechariah that indicates that a third of the Jewish people will come through the 70th week and emerge as people of faith—the believing remnant.
Zechariah 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.
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.
“many of them” – I think this is telling Daniel that those of the Jews who die at the hands of Antichrist will be resurrected—some to everlasting life, and others to shame (disgrace, reproach) and everlasting contempt (aversion). I believe this verse is supported by the following verses in Revelation.
Revelation 20:4-5 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. But the rest of the dead lived not again until the thousand years were finished. This is the first resurrection.
Dan. 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.
The wise are always associated with those that love God and righteousness and want to share their faith.
Psalm 107:43 Whoso is wise, and will observe these things, even they shall understand the lovingkindness of the LORD.
Psalm 111:10 The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom: a good understanding have all they that do his commandments: his praise endureth for ever.
Proverbs 11:30 The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life; and he that winneth souls is wise.
This verse is indicating that those who cling to their faith in God and His Word and prove it by their actions will be honored.
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.
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.
After writing the Revelation, John was instructed not to seal the book. Why? Because the time was at hand. It was relevant to the people at that time.
Revelation 22:10 And he saith unto me, Seal not the sayings of the prophecy of this book: for the time is at hand.
Daniel, however, is told to seal the book. Why? Because the time was not at hand; it would apply to a people in the distant future. The words for shut up and sealed indicate to close it and keep it hidden; this seems to be implying to keep it safe and preserve it.
The message of Daniel was not meant to remain sealed; it was only to be sealed until the time of the end. Personally, I think “the time of the end” references all time after the death and resurrection of Jesus—after the end of the 69th week.
I usually hear the last part of this verse used to reference modern transportation and the huge advances being made in our knowledge of science and technology, and I don’t think you can say that is wrong since the reality of our day and age reflects the truth of it. I believe it’s primary reference, however, is regarding the increased interest in the study of “end times” and the ability to understand God’s plan since the “Revelation” given to John on the Isle of Patmos.
I was reading recently (early 2004) in Amos, and thought that a couple of verses applied here:
Amos 8:11-12 Behold, the days come, saith the Lord GOD, that I will send a famine in the land, not a famine of bread, nor a thirst for water, but of hearing the words of the LORD: And they shall wander from sea to sea, and from the north even to the east, they shall run to and fro to seek the word of the LORD, and shall not find it.
This is talking of a time when men will run to and fro and not be able to find understanding in the word of God. Daniel is speaking of a time when men will be running to and fro and knowledge shall be increased—they will find understanding of the word of God.
Dan. 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.
Daniel now looks and sees two other beings besides the messenger that is talking to him; one was on his side of the Tigris and the other was on the other side.
Dan. 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?
“the man clothed in linen” = the preincarnate Jesus (cf 10:5)
“upon the waters” – I had certainly never noticed this phrase before. The Hebrew indicates that the messenger is now over the river (above, ascend). This would make another comparison to Jesus, who walked on water.
One of the two just seen asks Jesus how long it will be before all the things of Daniel’s vision are accomplished. The word “wonders” references a miracle, so maybe this is a reference to the preservation and restoration of Israel through the terrible times of the Antichrist as a miracle.
Dan. 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 an half; and when he shall have accomplished to scatter the power of the holy people, all these things shall be finished.
Jesus raises both his hands to heaven and swore by God, “him that liveth forever,” that it would be 3.5 years. I think the timeframe is clarified by looking at the following verses in Revelation.
Revelation 12:6 And the woman fled into the wilderness, where she hath a place prepared of God, that they should feed her there a thousand two hundred and threescore days.
Revelation 12:14 And to the woman were given two wings of a great eagle, that she might fly into the wilderness, into her place, where she is nourished for a time, and times, and half a time, from the face of the serpent.
Revelation 13:5 And there was given unto him a mouth speaking great things and blasphemies; and power was given unto him to continue forty and two months.
When it looks like Antichrist has won, the “wonder” of God’s deliverance will put an end to it all.
This verse reminds me of Revelation 10:6: “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….” This is yet another place in which I believe the angel to be Jesus and is shown swearing by Himself and/or the Father.
Dan. 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 hearing the conversation, but he doesn’t understand how it applies to his people. So, he asks the messenger himself how all this is going to end.
Dan. 12:9 And he said, Go thy way, Daniel: for the words are closed up and sealed till the time of the end.
Daniel is basically told to forget about it. The full meaning of the message will not be understood until the end times.
Many of the prophets of old had questions about their prophecies.
1 Peter 1:10–12 “Of which salvation the prophets have enquired and searched diligently, who prophesied of the grace that should come unto you: Searching what, or what manner of time the Spirit of Christ which was in them did signify, when it testified beforehand the sufferings of Christ, and the glory that should follow. Unto whom it was revealed, that not unto themselves, but unto us they did minister the things, which are now reported unto you by them that have preached the gospel unto you with the Holy Ghost sent down from heaven; which things the angels desire to look into.”
Principle: It is not meant for us to understand everything. It is, however, our privilege to seek understanding.
Proverbs 25:2 “It is the glory of God to conceal a thing: but the honour of kings is to search out a matter.”
Dan. 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.
During the end times many Jews will be purified, made white, and tried. This is almost a quote of Daniel 11:35. It’s repeated, I believe, as an encouragement to Daniel, who has obviously shown his love for his people.
In spite of the terrible wickedness of the wicked and their refusal to hear the truth, the wise will understand; they will continue to have faith in God and seek His righteousness.
Dan. 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.
I think we have to remember that the messenger is still answering Daniel’s question. He now references a very specific time designation. From the time that Antichrist takes away the right of the Jews to sacrifice in the temple and sets up his image in the temple until the end (v8) will be 1,290 days. This adds an additional 30 days to the 1260 days stated as the time of Antichrist’s reign of terror.
Frankly, this may be one of those things that only those who endure the last half of that 70th week will understand. Maybe it means that the abomination of desolation takes place 30 days before the midpoint of the tribulation, allowing 30 days for Antichrist to gain worldwide control. One explanation I’ve heard is that the extra 30 days will be the time necessary for the sheep/goat judgment to determine who enters the millennial kingdom (Matthew 25). Another article of interest explained the Jewish reckoning of time that required the insertion of a leap month every seven years. Needless to say, I am alert for further enlightenment on this verse.
Dan. 12:12 Blessed is he that waiteth, and cometh to the thousand three hundred and five and thirty days.
Now the messenger adds a special blessing for those who come to 1,335 days—45 more days beyond the 1290. Maybe this is when the Millennial Kingdom is actually ushered in and Christ takes His throne. At this point I am awaiting revelation from the Spirit regarding these last two verses.
I read a book online by George Madray called The End. He has some interesting thoughts regarding these specified time frames. His premise is based on the prophetic significance of the feasts of Israel, and he believes that based on the festival typology Jesus will return on Yom Kippur. Since it was quite thought provoking to me, I am going to quote from the notes I made as I was reading his book.
“The passage in Daniel 12:11 gives us 1,290 days from the abomination, or 30 days past the Revelation of God as Jesus Christ on Yom Kippur, Tishri 10. Thirty days was the traditional time of Jewish mourning, as seen in the way they mourned for the deliverer of Israel, Moses: "The Israelites grieved for Moses in the plains of Moab thirty days, until the time of weeping and mourning was over" (Deuteronomy 34:8).
In the same way, they will also mourn for the deliverer of Israel, Christ. "They will look on me, the one they have pierced, and they will mourn for him as one mourns for an only child, and grieve bitterly for him as one grieves for a firstborn son" (Zechariah 12:10).
The 45 days remaining (the days left to reach the 1,335 days of Dan 12:12) is for the judgment (or continuing judgment) of the sheep and goats. Those who will be blessed will be those who have the privilege of entering into the Millennial Kingdom. "He will put the sheep on his right and the goats on his left. Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world’” (Matthew 25:34).
The goats are those who do not hear His voice and do not receive eternal life. This is what Jesus said when He spoke to goats on the very day of this feast (John 10:22-28)! It will be on this day that the judgment of the sheep and goats will end.
"As the weeds are pulled up and burned in the fire, so it will be at the end of the age. The Son of Man will send out his angels, and they will weed out of his kingdom everything that causes sin and all who do evil. They will throw them into the fiery furnace, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth. Then the righteous will shine like the sun in the kingdom of their Father" (Matthew 13:40-43).
This takes us back to the parallel passage in Daniel: "Those who are wise will shine like the brightness of the heavens, and those who lead many to righteousness, like the stars for ever and ever. But you, Daniel, close up and seal the words of the scroll until the time of the end. Many will go here and there to increase knowledge" (Daniel 12:3-4).
As we saw, the 1,260 days run out at Yom Kippur, and 30 additional days are allotted for the mourning, to bring us to the 1,290th day. Then, the additional 45 days brings us to the 1,335th day. On the Jewish calendar, this will bring us to Kislev 25—the feast of Hanukkah. At least four times, God has used Kislev 24 as an important date in past Jewish history. In 520 B.C. the foundations of the temple were laid. In 168 B.C. the temple sacrifice was abolished. In 165 B.C. the temple was recaptured and cleansed. In 1917 A.D. Jerusalem was freed from Turkish rule. It will be in the future, on Hanukkah, that once again, we who are there will celebrate on the very day the celebration of the Temple rededication was inaugurated.
Those who reach the 24th day of Kislev will be blessed! The Prophet Haggai also supports this day as the day when all present upon the earth are blessed by being allowed to enter the millennium: "From this day on, from this twenty-fourth day of the ninth month… From this day on I will bless you" (Haggai 2:18-19).
[end of notes]
Jack Kelley at gracethrufaith.com poses another possibility worth considering.
“…several times we have been told that there are 1260 days from the Abomination of Desolation to the end of the Great Tribulation….3 times in the span of 23 verses (Matthew 24:42, 44, 25:13) Jesus said that those on earth wouldn’t know the day or the hour of His return to them in advance….If He appears in the sky on Rosh Hashanah…and if His first official act is one of judgment (Matthew 25:31)…then perhaps this judgment will begin on Yom Kippur, ten days after Rosh Hashanah. His actual appearance on earth could take place at a time known only to Him sometime between these two holy days. Suppose that 20 days are consumed in judging Israel and the Gentiles (Matthew 25:31-46) and cleansing the defiled Temple making it fit for use again….This scenario would make it 1290 days from the Abomination of Desolation to the rededication of the cleansed Temple….But then come 45 more days for a total of 1335. I suggest that this time may be necessary to set up the Kingdom. There’s a lot that needs to be done like crowning the Prince of Israel, organizing the priesthood behind the family of Zadok and teaching them their new duties, especially concerning the new cycle of Holy days (Ezekiel 44-46), positioning the New Jerusalem in its orbit around Earth, reassigning the tribal allotments in Israel (Ezekiel 45 & 48) and installing the governments of the nations. If things unfold as I’ve described them, and it’s a big ‘if,’ then 1335 days from the Abomination, the Millennial Kingdom will be officially inaugurated.”
Personally, I believe these explanations are flawed in that they both assume the use of the tribulation temple. I believe the scripture is clear in declaring that Jesus will build the millennial temple as described in Ezekiel. And it will be very different from the tribulation temple. In fact, the whole topography to the temple mount will be changed.
Zechariah 6:12-13 “And speak unto him, saying, Thus speaketh the LORD of hosts, saying, Behold the man whose name is The BRANCH; and he shall grow up out of his place, and he shall build the temple of the LORD: 13 Even he shall build the temple of the LORD; and he shall bear the glory, and shall sit and rule upon his throne; and he shall be a priest upon his throne: and the counsel of peace shall be between them both.”
Isaiah 2:3 “And it shall come to pass in the last days, that the mountain of the LORD’S house shall be established in the top of the mountains, and shall be exalted above the hills; and all nations shall flow unto it.”
Micah 4:1 “But in the last days it shall come to pass, that the mountain of the house of the LORD shall be established in the top of the mountains, and it shall be exalted above the hills; and people shall flow unto it.”
Dan. 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.
Again, Daniel is basically told to leave the future to the LORD. He doesn’t have to worry, because he will die a natural death and be resurrected to enjoy the blessings of the covenant.
“stand in thy lot” = receive your inheritance or await your destiny
I like that phrase because it speaks to the fact eternity holds a blessing for each individual that follows God in faith as LORD; each believer has a personal inheritance awaiting him/her.
