Daniel 12 - ESV - Bible Reading / Study Notes

Daniel 12

The Time of the End

12:1 “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;¹ 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,² “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.”

Footnotes

[1] 12:3 Hebrew the expanse; compare Genesis 1:6–8
[2] 12:6 Or who was upstream; also verse 7

Commentary

The dates and times are important, but more important is our faith in God, and that we find our peace and security in Him. Events prophesied by Daniel also point us forward to wars between nation and nation (Matt 24.7). It can be difficult to understand the details. However, these things are announced to us, to inspire us to remain faithful to God, just as Daniel himself was through difficult circumstances.

v1: Time of trouble prophesied. 1 Macc 9 records such a time, around 161 BC; but we expect a later tribulation also, Jer 30.7; Matt 24.21.

This trouble relates specifically to Israel, "your people." Powerful Gentile peoples scheme and plan to attack Israel and the temple, which God ordained. Ultimately, God delivers His people, Matt 24.22.

v2: Resurrection at the end of time, to everlasting life, or everlasting judgment.

v3: Reward for the wise, and those who turn many to righteousness. The command is that we live lives of truth, integrity, discernment, and clear testimony. . Someone said; ‘you are not yet a disciple of Christ until you have disciple another disciple.’ We are called to unselfish commitment to Christ.

v4: God's timing; see 11.27,35, for ultimately, He is in overall control. The times and the seasons are in the Father's authority, Acts 1.7.

v5-9: Daniel tries to understand; "How long will it be?...What will the outcome of all this be?" It seems the man does give an answer;

a time, until Jesus Christ is crucified, a specific time, already given, 9.25-27;
times; the church age, a longer, but non-specific period;
half a time, the period of Tribulation, a period limited by God.

One specific matter is that the power of the "holy people" will be finally broken, completely shattered, during the period of Gentile domination, which Daniel witnessed the start of.

v9: Serve, don't speculate, for some things are hidden from us. These words give assurance to Daniel that he will be spared some of the awful events described.

v10: See Rev 22.11; the wicked remain ignorant, but the wise have understanding.

v11-12: Referring back to 11.31, when Antiochus took away the sacrifices, and set up his abomination of desolation, but which the NT also places in the future.

v13: Specific promise to Daniel; whatever happens around him, God has a reward for His faithful servant. We are not to be fearful, but to passionately serve Christ.