This final chapter in Daniel’s marvelous book is a clear warning to humankind to get right with God before it’s too late! It’s short, but powerful. It’s also a wake-up call for those who refuse to accept the Good News of Jesus’ True Salvation. Let’s dig in…
Daniel 12 – The Time of the End
“At that time Michael, the archangel (the great prince) who stands guard over your nation, will arise. Then there will be a time of anguish greater than any since nations first came into existence. But at that time every one of your people whose name is written in the book will be rescued. 2 Many of those whose bodies lie dead and buried will rise up, some to everlasting life and some to shame and everlasting disgrace. 3 Those who are wise will shine as bright as the sky, and those who lead many to righteousness will shine like the stars forever. 4 But you, Daniel, keep this prophecy a secret; seal up the book until the time of the end, when many will rush here and there, and knowledge will increase.”
5 Then I, Daniel, looked and saw two others standing on opposite banks of the river. 6 One of them asked the man dressed in linen, who was now standing above the river, “How long will it be until these shocking events are over?”
7 The man dressed in linen, who was standing above the river, raised both his hands toward heaven and took a solemn oath by the One who lives forever, saying, “It will go on for a time, times, and half a time. When the shattering of the holy people has finally come to an end, all these things will have happened.”
8 I heard what he said, but I did not understand what he meant. So I asked, “How will all this finally end, my lord?”
9 But he said, “Go now, Daniel, for what I have said is kept secret and sealed until the time of the end. 10 Many will be purified, cleansed, and refined by these trials. But the wicked will continue in their wickedness, and none of them will understand. Only those who are wise will know what it means.
11 “From the time the daily sacrifice is stopped and the sacrilegious object that causes desecration (the abomination of desolation) is set up to be worshiped, there will be 1,290 days. 12 And blessed are those who wait and remain until the end of the 1,335 days!
13 “As for you, go your way until the end. You will rest, and then at the end of the days, you will rise again to receive the inheritance set aside for you.”
Daniel 12 NLT
The Time of the End
This is a final prophecy for Daniel. It’s describing what will happen in the far distant future for him and the not so distant future for us. In fact, we are living in the time of the “birth pains” which will only get stronger and more frequent. Let’s go over point by point…
- The Archangel Michael is the guardian of Israel.
- The “time of distress” refers to the “Time of Jacob’s Trouble” for the Jews. “Jacob” being Israel. It’s the 7 years of Tribulation or the last “7” from Daniel’s 70 sevens (ch.9). This should happen sometime after the Rapture of the born-again believers, which could happen at any moment. Believe me, you don’t want to be left behind! Check out this series for a glimpse at what it may be like.
- Everyone who’s name is written in the book will be rescued. That’s the Lamb’s Book of Life, which John talks about in Revelation.
- At that time, all the dead will rise again. This is describing the Resurrection of believers. Those who are born-again, will have Everlasting Life. Those who are not, will spend eternity in “everlasting disgrace”, aka, hell. Look at the word “disgrace”. It comes from the Latin, dis- (expressing reversal) + Latin gratia ‘grace’. The reversal of God’s Grace. That’s not where you want to end up! Related: What the 5 Solas?
- The wise — that is those who accept Jesus’ Good News and Salvation — will shine as bright as the sky! Wow! Jesus, at the end of His parable of the wheat and weeds said…
43 Then the righteous will shine like the sun in their Father’s Kingdom. Anyone with ears to hear should listen and understand!
Matthew 13:43 NLT Read the whole chapter here.
Paul wrote in 2 Corinthians…
8 We are confident, yes, well pleased rather to be absent from the body and to be present with the Lord.
2 Corinthians 5:8 NKJV
The moment a born-again believer dies, his or her soul goes to be with Jesus. That’s how it works! There’s no such thing as purgatory!
Related: Bible Study on 1 & 2 Thessalonians
- The question here is, are YOU wise enough to accept the Gift of Grace that is ONLY available THROUGH JESUS?
- Daniel’s job is done. He doesn’t have to worry about any of this. He gets to seal up the scroll until the time of the end.
- That last part of v. 4 describes our world today.
Pastor Sandy Adams comments…
No one from Daniel to the middle of the 1800s ever traveled faster than horseback. But that began to change in the middle of the 19th century with the invention of the steam engine and electric power. Man was flying down the road at blazing speeds of 12 mph. When Henry Ford produced the first internal combustion engine, speeds increased to an incredible 25 mph…
Today we have land vehicles that travel 600 mph, planes that hurdle through the atmosphere at 2000 mph, and rockets that travel 24,000 mph.
Since the days after the flood until 1800, knowledge doubled. In the next 100 years knowledge doubled again. Today, knowledge is doubling every 18 months.
Did you know, 70% of all the medicines we take were developed since WWII – and 80% of all scientists who have ever lived, are alive today… Pressing a few buttons on a computer can duplicate the life’s work of an engineer prior to 1955.
Sandy Adams
- As Daniel said, “many will rush here and there, and knowledge will increase.” These are the signs of the end times!
- Then Daniel sees a pre-incarnate Jesus who answers the question many people are asking, “How long”? Jesus, “the One who lives forever”, replies 3.5 years. That’s halfway through the Tribulation. Again Daniel is told to seal the book and keep it secret. It’s interesting that it’s not secret any more! We are living in the Last Days!
- Many will be “purified, cleansed, and refined by these trials.” Those are the Tribulation Saints — the folks who get left behind after the Rapture and then realize what happened and surrender their lives to Jesus. However, they have to withstand and survive the Great Tribulation.
- The wicked just won’t get it and will continue in their wickedness. That’s not you, right?
- At some point in the future, the 3rd temple will be built in Jerusalem and daily sacrifices will resume. That is until the abomination of desolation — of which I covered yesterday.
- Once that happens, then the worst of the Tribulation is triggered. That will last 3.5 years — the 2nd half of the final “7”.
- Finally, Daniel will die soon after. Nevertheless, at the end of days, he will rise again to receive his inheritance in the Kingdom.
Will YOU be Inheriting the Kingdom?
Choose today whom you will serve, because the king you serve will be the kingdom you inherit. In other words, if you’re not following King Jesus, you’re following the king of this world, Satan. Get it?
If you’re not sure if you’re saved or not, if you truly want to be born again and have the assurance of salvation, receive the Holy Spirit, feel His Shalom — a peace that surpasses all understanding, and get a 1-way, non-stop ticket to Heaven after you die, or that you won’t be left behind at the Rapture, which can happen at any moment, this is what you have to do…
