Daniel Bible Prophecy

Daniel Chapter 12

Daniel 12:1 “And at that time shall Michael stand up, the great prince which standeth for the children of your 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 your people shall be delivered, every one that shall be found written in the book.”

And at that time - This is referring to the time frame of the previous verse as there is no break in the prophecy, even though we have proceeded into another chapter. So some time after the papacy plants its influence between the people and the final message that is going out under the power of the Latter Rain, to prevent them from hearing the gospel and being saved.

Shall Michael stand up - For an explanation of who Michael is see chapter 10:12. At this time Christ stands up, but what is so significant about this?

If we look at Acts 7:55-58 when Stephen was being stoned, he looked up into heaven and saw Christ standing. As we have already seen in Daniel chapter 9, this event marked the close of probation for the Jewish nation as God’s chosen people. So when Christ is standing we are dealing with a close of probation. In chapter 12:1 we are dealing with world events at the end of time, thus it would be the close of probation upon the world.

Standeth for the children of people - Stands in defence of His downtrodden people.

And there shall be a time of trouble - This time of trouble is greater than any that has come before it. Notice how the Bible says ‘since there was a nation’, so this time of trouble comes upon the nations of the world. When Christ stands and ceases His intercession in the heavenly sanctuary, He takes off His priestly garments and puts on the garments of vengeance, and then the seven last plagues spoken of in Revelation 16 will be poured out upon the nations of the earth.

At that time thy people shall be delivered - Just as the children of Israel were delivered at the end of the 10 plagues, so too will God’s people, in the end of time, be delivered at the end of the seventh plague with His second coming.

Every one that shall be found written in the book - This book is none other than the book of life. (Revelation 3:5, 21:27) Only those that have their names written in the book of life will be delivered.

Daniel 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.”

And many of them that sleep - Here we have a resurrection taking place during the time of the plagues.

Some to everlasting life, and some to shame and everlasting contempt - The many that awake, or are resurrected, are a mixed multitude consisting of some that will gain eternal life and others that will not. These are being resurrected at the same time. This cannot be the first resurrection that takes place when Jesus comes as only the righteous dead are raised in it. (1 Thessalonians 4:16) It also cannot be the second resurrection that takes place at the end of the thousand years as only the wicked dead are raised in it. (Revelation 20:4-6, 14-15)

This can only mean that we have a special resurrection taking place. Does the Bible support this? The answer is yes it does. In Revelation 1:7 and Matthew 26:63-64 we learn that those that took part in the crucifixion of Christ and the high priest will be raised to see Christ coming in the clouds of heaven. This takes care of those that will be raised to everlasting shame and contempt.

The righteous that will be a part of this special resurrection are found in Revelation 14:13. The voice from heaven told John to ’write, blessed are the dead which die in the Lord from henceforth’. Henceforth means from this time onwards, or from now on. The time frame is found in the preceding verses which is none other than the proclamation of the third angels message that commenced in 1844. So from 1844 onwards those that die in the Lord were to be blessed. The reason why they are blessed is that they are a part of the special resurrection which has to take place during the seventh plague if they are to see Christ coming in the clouds of heaven. What a fitting reward for those that held their faith in proclaiming the last message to a dying world to usher in the coming of Christ, to see Him come in the clouds of glory.

Daniel 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.”

They that be wise - As the margin reads, they that be teachers.

Shall shine as the brightness of the firmament - Those that teach the truth and proclaim the last message will be vindicated by God. They will shine as the firmament for the glory/ righteousness of God is revealed therein, (Psalms 97:6) thus the glory/righteousness of the Lord has risen upon them. (Isaiah 60:1) Each of them had pushed aside the darkness of the world and allowed the Sun of Righteousness into their lives. (Malachi 4:2) God’s glory/ righteousness is His character, thus they are revealing Christ’s character in their own lives by faith.

They that turn many to righteousness - This is a repeat of the first part of the verse but with a little more information. These teachers have faithfully given and lived the gospel message and in turn many have been saved from eternal ruin. So we could quite easily say that the purpose of prophecy is to teach others the way of salvation.

Daniel 12:4 “But you, 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.”

Shut up the words, and seal the book - Gabriel tells Daniel to seal the book, thus the book of Daniel was to be a sealed book.

To the time of the end - Until 1798 the book of Daniel was to be sealed. Therefore the book is now unsealed, and we are able to gain a correct interpretation of the prophecies within.

Many shall run to and fro - Whether it be running to and fro in the earth because of increased technology in modes of transport, or running to and fro through the Bible to gain knowledge of the prophecies, both can apply.

Knowledge shall be increased - If we look at the knowledge of the world today, we see that it is rapidly increasing each day. Also the knowledge of what is contained in the prophecies is fast increasing.

After 1798, the date for the unsealing of Daniel, pace of society has been rapidly increasing, likewise with the increase of knowledge.

Daniel 12:5-7 “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. 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? 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.”

Stood other two - We have no real clear answer to who these beings are. It is possible that they are saints as in 8:13 or angels, there is no clear explanation. One on one side of the river and the other on the other side.

Bank of the river - This is the same river as in chapter 10, the Hiddekel, as there is no break in the prophecy thus far from chapter 10. The River Euphrates/Tigris.

Man clothed in linen - This man clothed in linen was standing upon the waters of the river as one of the men were talking to him. Looking at this person in linen, we find that it is the same person in Daniel 10:5-6, the person there was Christ. Thus this is Christ here also.

How long shall it be to the end of these wonders - The answer is divided into two parts, the 1260 days, and then the scattering of the power of the holy people. When both these things shall be accomplished then the end will come.

1260 days - 538-1798 A.D., the era of papal supremacy over Europe.

When he shall have...scattering the power of the holy people - The ‘he’ is a reference to God, to he who liveth for ever, as it is He Who is working through the nations of the earth to fulfil His plan to call as many as possible to salvation.

This is the spreading of the message into all the world. Sometimes persecution is the only thing that will wake the people of God up to seek Him and do the work He has asked of them. The gospel is the power of God unto salvation (Romans 1:16) and it is this power/gospel that is to go to all the world and then the end will come. (Matthew 24:14) Revelation 14:6-7, the everlasting gospel will be preached to every nation, kindred, tongue and people. Revelation 18:1, the earth will be lightened by the glory of the fourth angel’s message.

Held up his right hand and his left hand - Christ proceeds to make an oath, thus the raising of His hands. Both hands are raised to show the great solemnity and assurance of the matter.

Daniel 12:8-10 “And I heard, but I understood not: then said I, O my Lord, what shall be the end of these things? 9 And he said, Go your way, Daniel: for the words are closed up and sealed till the time of the end. 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.”

Understood not - Daniel did not understand all that was told to him.

What shall be the end of these things - This leads Daniel to inquire for further understanding of the matter. This has been done by other prophets throughout history, for if they did not understand the message given to them, they would search the prophecy themselves for an understanding. (1 Peter 1:10-12)

Go thy way...sealed till the time of the end - Michael/Christ completely declined to answer Daniel’s question. Daniel wasn’t living in the time of the end/1798; so he didn’t need to understand all the details of end of time developments. Michael’s/Christ’s answer teaches us that prophecy is provided for practical purposes. It is not given to arouse speculation or to satisfy needless curiosity, no matter how spiritual and Christ-centered our curiosity may be. We can see the emphasis that the book is sealed until 1798.

Many shall be purified and made white - Through trial and tribulation down through the ages, many would accept Jesus as Lord and Saviour and become part of the everlasting kingdom.

Wicked shall do wickedly and not understand - This is a very realistic picture of the attitude of the wicked. They do not understand because spiritual things are spiritually discerned. (1 Corinthians 2:14)

Wise shall understand - Those in the last days who are wise will understand the things that Daniel here is struggling to grasp.

Daniel 12:11-12 “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. 12 Blessed is he that waiteth, and cometh to the thousand three hundred and five and thirty days.”

From the time that the Daily is taken away - From the time that paganism is taken away and the conversion of Europe to Christianity in 508 A.D. after the conversion of Clovis, king of the Franks.

And the abomination of desolation set up - Margin TO set up the abomination of desolation. This marginal reading reveals the idea that the daily was taken away in order that the Abomination of Desolation could be set up. Without the removing of the ‘daily’ there would never have been an Abomination of Desolation. Thus the time being looked at here is not the setting up of the Abomination of Desolation but the taking away of the daily which was in 508 A.D.

Shall be 1290 days - 1290 years from 508 A.D. takes us to 1798 A.D. and the fall of the temporal power of the papacy.

1335 days - From 508 A.D. an addition of 1335 years takes us to 1843-44 A.D.

Blessed is he that waiteth - A blessing is pronounced upon those who not only come to the 1798 date, but which are able to also come to the second date at the end of the 1335 days. Why is this? Because in 1798 the papacy received the deadly wound, which was tremendous in itself, but in 1843-44 the messages of the three angels began to be preached to the world about the second coming of Christ. At this time the church was in the period of Philadelphia and the experience was one of tremendous blessing to all who later recalled going through it.

Daniel 12:13 “But go you your way till the end be: for you shall rest, and stand in your lot at the end of the days.”

Go thy way and rest - Daniel will not live to see all these things as he was to rest in the grave.

Thou shalt stand in thy lot - The book that he has written will stand in its place and do its appointed work at the end of time.

Also Daniel will stand in his lot in another way as explained below;

The 2300 days, as has been already shown, terminated in 1844, and brought us to the cleansing of the sanctuary. How did Daniel at that time stand in his lot? Answer: In the person of his Advocate, our great High Priest, as he presents the cases of the righteous for acceptance to his Father. The word here translated lot does not mean a piece of real estate, a ’lot’ of land, but the ’decisions of chance,’ or the ’determinations of providence.’ At the end of the days, the lot, so to speak, was to be cast. In other words, a determination was to be made in reference to those who should be accounted worthy of a possession in the heavenly inheritance. And when Daniel’s case comes up for examination, he is found righteous, stands in his lot, is assigned a place in the heavenly Canaan. Does not the psalmist refer to this time and event, when he says (Psalms 1:5), ’The ungodly shall not stand in the judgment’?

When Israel was about to enter into the promised land, the lot was cast, and the possession of each tribe was assigned. The tribes thus stood in their respective ‘lots’ long before they entered upon the actual possession of the land. The time of the cleansing of the sanctuary corresponds to this period of Israel’s history. We now stand upon the borders of the heavenly Canaan, and decisions are being made, assigning to some a place in the eternal kingdom, and barring others forever there from. In the decision of his case, Daniel’s portion in the celestial inheritance will be made sure to him. And with him all the faithful will also stand. And when this devoted servant of God, who filled up a long life with the noblest deeds of service to his Maker, though cumbered with the weightiest cares of this life, shall enter upon his reward for well-doing, we too may enter with him into rest. Daniel and the Revelation pgs 316, 317, Uriah Smith.

This brings us to the end of the book of Daniel. We have studied the life of faithfulness of God’s servants, even under the penalty of death, and have also seen how this will come about in the last days of earth’s history. We have looked at the prophecies unfold before our eyes and have seen the accuracy of them. With this in mind we can only exclaim how great, true, and mighty God is to have laid out the entire history of the world, sometimes thousands of years before it even happens.

May all of this, with these brief study handouts, inspire us to dig deeper into the fountain of truth, and earnestly seek for a closer walk with our Saviour as we see the nearness of His coming.

This concludes the study on the book of Daniel. Select the following link for the companion study on Revelation Bible Prophecy.