Prophecy of the End Time
Dan. 12: 1- 13
Introduction
This chapter concludes the final vision of the prophet Daniel which has taken up the last 3 chapters of the Book. A description of the last end time conflict and the final victory for Israel by the hand of God is given.
I. A time of Tribulation (Dan. 12:1)
A. Both the Old Testament and the New Testament teach that a time of great tribulation will one day come to the world, and our interpretation of Daniel’s seventy weeks (9:24-27) locates this period in the last “week” of his prophecy. The event that triggers the beginning of those last seven years is the signing of the covenant with Israel by the powerful leader in the ten-nation confederacy in Europe (Dan. 7:7-28).
B. The reason for the covenant seems to be the guarantee of his protection for Israel while the Jews rebuild their temple in Jerusalem. The Tribulation period will end with the return of Christ and the confinement of Antichrist and the false prophet in the lake of fire (Rev. 19:11-21).
C. “At that time” means “during the time of the end.” the time period the angel is describing in this part of the prophecy. We have now reached the middle of the Tribulation when Antichrist breaks his covenant with Israel, seizes the temple, and sets himself up as world dictator and God. This is the “abomination of desolation” that Daniel wrote about in 9:27; 11:31; and 12:11, and that Jesus referred to in His Olivet Discourse (Matt. 24:15; Mk. 13:14).
D. One of the features of this terrible time will be Antichrist’s (Satan’s) war against the Jewish people (Rev. 12), but Michael, the angel assigned to care for the Jewish people (Dan. 10:13,21; Rev 12:7), will come to their aid.
E. God’s elect people will be preserved (Matt. 24:22). During this terrible “time of Jacob’s trouble” (Jer. 30:7), the true Israelites will be protected in the wilderness (Rev. 12:6, 14), and prepared to receive Christ when he returns at the end of the great tribulation (Zech. 12:10, Rom. 11:25, 26).
F. The combatants in the Great Tribulation (v, 1). Further details concerning these activities of the archangel Michael are given in Rev. 12:7-9. In this celestial battle Michael and his hosts will prevail, causing Satan to be cast out into the earth, From Rev. 12 & 13 we see that he will then energize the Antichrist, ushering in his reign of terror.
G. The Nature of the Great Tribulation (v. 1). Considering the horrific nature of wars past and present, Daniel’s description of what is to come is frightening! See also Matt. 24:21-22, Zech. 14:2, Joel 2:1-11; 3:9-13: etc.
Praise God that those who are saved NOW will not pass through this great furnace.
H. Will present day Christians and churches enter into this period of Tribulation? The answer is NO for the ff. reasons.
1. Daniel’s 70th week is specifically concerned with “thy people”- the Jews-Dan. 9:24-27; 12:1.
2. The Great Tribulation is called the “Time of Jacob’s Trouble” in Jer. 30:7.
3. The design of the Great Tribulation is to refine and save Israel- Ezek. 20:34-38; 22:19-22; Isa. 66:7-8; Hos. 3:4,5, Zech. 13:8,9; 12:10; 14:2,3
4. The warnings to the “elect” are Jewish in their context- vs. 16, 20, 22.
5. Present day believers are “…not appointed to wrath…” 1 Thess. 5:9 but will be “kept from the hour… which shall come upon all the world”. Rev. 3:10
6. After the apostle Jon is “raptured” in Rev. 4:1-2, there is no mention of the churches being involved in any of the events on earth. (Rev. 6 through 19 gives a detailed description of Daniel’s 70th week.
7. The Antichrist cannot be revealed until the restrainer (“he who now letteth [hinders]”—2 Thess. 2:7) is taken out of the way. According to 1 Jn. 4:3,4, it is the indwelling Holy Spirit of God who overcomes the Spirit of Antichrist in this present age. If the Holy Spirit is to be taken out of the way, then those who are permanently indwelt by Him must also be removed from the earth!
8. The return of Jesus Christ for His saints (the rapture) is an eminent event. No one knows when He shall come-Matt. 24:42-46: Titus 2:13; Lk. 12:35-54- we must be ready for Him at any time. If present day believers entered into Daniel’s 70th week, Christ’s coming could be figured out from the information given in prophecy (42 months, 1,260 days, etc.).
9. Notice that the deliverance will be on the basis of a of a Personal faith in Christ. “Every one that shall be found written in the book”. Rev. 20:15, Zech. 12:8-13.
I. The length of the Great Tribulation (vs. 5-7)
1. The heavenly spectators of the vision (v. 5) …” other two…” i.e., two angels.
2. The giver of the vision (v. 6)- This “man clothed in linen” is the same preincarnate Christ mentioned in Dan. 10:5,6.
3. The “how long shall it be” (v. 6).
4. The answer (v. 7)-” …a time, times, and a half…” -3 ½ years. We are now very familiar with this time span-if the last half of Daniel’s 70th week. See: Dan.7:25; Rev. 11:2; 12:6, 14; 13:5.
5. The surety (v.7). The hands raised is a double swearing as to the certainty of these prophecies.
Illustration/Application: Premillennial View
According to premillennialism, this is a 7-year period that immediately precedes the return of Christ and the millennial kingdom of His rule which lasts for 1000 years. It will be a time of great peace (the first 3 ½ years) and great war (the second 3 ½ years) when the Antichrist rules over many nations. At the midpoint of the tribulation (at the end of the first 3 ½ years) the Antichrist will proclaim himself worthy of worship. Many will bow down and worship the Antichrist and many will refuse. Those who refuse to worship the Antichrist will be killed. The second half of the tribulation is called the Great Tribulation. It will involve the whole world (Rev. 3:10). There will be catastrophes all over the world. (See Matt. 24; Mark 13; Luke 17.) Source unknown
II. The Two Resurrection (v.2)
A. Physical Death- Here, physical death is referred to as “sleep”- Acts 7:60, 1 Cor. 11:30; 15:6,18,51; 1 Thess. 4:13-15 in the “dust of the earth” (Gen. 3:19, Eccl. 12:7)
When a person dies, his body returns to dust but his soul and spirit go either to be with the Lord (2 Cor. 5:6,8) or to hell (Lk. 16:22-23- depending upon his relationship to Jesus Christ. Note that hell is everlasting!
B. Why just “Many”? Verse 2 says “…many of them…” will be resurrected. Yet the bible teaches that all will be resurrected. There are three possible explanations here:
1. This verse is concerned only with “Thy People”- the Jews. Following the context of verse 1, this may be the case-although in fact ALL those in the dust of the earth (Jews and Gentiles) will be involved
2. 2. The “many” refers specifically to the saved Jews. See the “many” of verse 10. or…
3. This verse deals with that Phase of the Resurrection which occurs at the end of 70th Week. If this is the case, a large segment of those asleep in the dust of the earth will already have been resurrected at the rapture – 1 Cor. 15:51-52; 1 Thess. 4:13-17
4. The two resurrections. The latter portion of v. 2 teaches two resurrections. See also Jn. 5:28,29. At first glance it may appear that Dan. 12:2 is teaching a general resurrection but keep in mind that the prophet is seeing things a “long way down the road”.
5. The Bible teaches two separate and distinct resurrection, the first resurrection being in three stages. See also, Jn. 14:3, 11:25,26; Rev. 3:10-20. According to Rev. 10:1-6, the two resurrections are actually 1,000 years apart.
Illustration/Application: A Sign for Unbelievers
Well over three hundred verses are concerned with the subject of Jesus’ resurrection in the New Testament. We are told that this event is a sign for unbelievers (Matt. 12:38-40); cf. John 20:24-29) as well as the answer for the believer’s doubt (Luke 24:38-43). It serves as the guarantee that Jesus’ teachings are true (Acts 2:22-24; 1 Cor. 15:12-20) and is the center of the gospel itself (Rom. 4:24-25, 10:9; 1 Cor. 15:1-4). Further, the resurrection is the impetus for evangelism (Matt. 28:18-20; Acts 10:39-43), the key indication of the believer’s daily power to live the Christian life (Rom. 6:4-14, 8:9-11; Phil. 3:10) and the reason for the total commitment of our lives (Rom. 7:4; 1 Cor. 15:57-58). The resurrection even addresses the fear of death (John 11:25; 1 Cor. 15:54-58; cf. Heb. 2:14-15) and is related to the second coming of Jesus (Acts 1:11; Rev. 1:7). Lastly, this event is a model of the Christian’s resurrection from the dead (Acts 4:2; 1 Cor. 6:14; 1 Thess. 4:13-18) and provides a foretaste of heaven for the believer (Phil. 3:20-21; 1 Peter 1:3-5). For a popular treatment that addresses these and other aspects, see Gary R. Habermas, The Centrality of the Resurrection, forthcoming. Immortality – The Other Side of Death by Gary R. Habermas & J. P. Moreland, Thomas Nelson Publishers, 1992, p. 245.
III. The Heavenly Reward (v. 3)
A. A. The Wise. “…they that be wise…” refers to those that will shine for the Lord during the time of darkness.
1. During the Reign of Nebuchadnezzar- Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed Nego – the three friends of Daniel were wise.
2. During the reigns of Nebuchadnezzar, Belshazzar, & Darius – Daniel proved himself to be wise.
3. During the reign of Antiochus Epiphanes – The Maccabees and the Pharisees – were wise to oppose him.
4. During the Great Tribulation – The 144,000 Jewish servants of God – Rev. 7:3,4 – will stand out.
B. The Wisest – a secondary application of Dan. 12:3 is to soul winning, (Prov. 11:30, Jas. 5:20). The stars are used to navigate and guide. It is every Christian’s duty to guide the lost to Christ in an ever-darkening day (Rom. 13:11-14).
IV. The Sealed Book (vs. 4,8-12)
A. The end to Daniel’s Prophetic Ministry (v. 4). The question of verse 8 and the answer of verse 9 show the meaning of v. 4 to be that the understanding of Daniel’s prophecies would be given in the last days. (This was fulfilled when John wrote the book of Revelation).
It is interesting to note that prior to this century, the Book of Daniel was in many ways a sealed book. Very little preaching and writing about it was done.
B. The Contrast between Daniel and Revelation. In Rev. 5:1-7, the Lord Jesus Christ takes a sealed book (Daniel?) and loose the seals thereof – giving the reader many details about the final 7 years.
In Rev. 22:10, John is told to do the exact opposite-” seal not’! – the reason being that the “time is at Hand”.
C. A summary of the Time of the End (v. 10)
1. To those purified and made white – the Lord promises trial and understanding. These are those saved during the awful period of tribulation-Rev. 6:9-11, 7:13,14.
2. To the wicked. Wickedness shall abound (Mt. 24:12) and understanding shall be withheld (2 Thess. 2:11, 12)
D. The 1,290 Days (v. 11). The beginning point of this period is the same as the 1.260 days, but an extra month is not stated, and much conjecture has been made over it. Some think it may be:
1. Time deducted for the “Elect’s sake” Matt. 24:22.
2. Time needed to clean up debris after the final battle, cf. Ezek. 39:12
3. Time required for the Judgment of the Nations. Matt. 25:31-46.
E. The 1,335 days (v. 12). Again, this begins with the 1,260 and the 1,290 days, but continues another 45 days past the 1,290 days of 2 ½ months into the Millennium.
1. A blessing is pronounced on those who wait for this time. As to why? We are uncertain.
2. Ironside suggests this extra time refers to the first Millennial feasts of the Tabernacles- Zech. 14:16.
3. At any rate, this time obviously refers to the full establishment of the Millennial rule of Christ on the earth.
V. The final Benediction
A. Daniel is instructed to continue serving God. Although he is an aged saint, the Lord never did allow him to retire, but simply said “…go thy way till the end…”
B. Daniel is promised rest. Our rest comes when we leave this old world behind! (Rev. 14:13).
C. Daniel is Promised Resurrection. “…thou shalt stand in thy lot…” Jn. 11:25-26, Job. 19:25-27. The reference to Daniel’s “lot” here probably refers to his sphere of service in the Millennium, (Jer. 30:21, Isa. 1:26; 32:1). Faithful Christians have God’s promise that they will reign and rule with Christ during His earthly kingdom- Rev. 5:9, 10; Matt. 25:14-30, Also Matt. 19:28
VI. Conclusion:
Before the return of Christ to rule for a thousand years, there will be a time we call Tribulation. It will be a seven-year period, which we can divide into 2 parts. The first 3 ½ years will be peaceful specially for the Jews. At the end 3 ½ years, the antichrist will rule and this is what we call the Great Tribulation which will involve the whole world. He would demand worship. Those who will refuse will be killed. Present day Christians will be spared from this time of trouble. My friend, now is the time for salvation. Repent from your sins and receive the Lord Jesus Christ now as your personal Saviour before its too late.
