Bible Study: Daniel 12 – Time of the End

The book of Daniel is one of the most prophetic books in the old testament. It has been sealed until the time of the end. Undoubtedly, now is the time of the end. Therefore, let us not be hypocrites without discerning this time and let us unseal the book of Daniel.

(Dan 12:4) “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.”

(Luke 12:56) “Hypocrites! You can discern the face of the sky and of the earth, but how [is it] you do not discern this time?

The twelfth and the final chapter of Daniel is about the end-times.

Great Tribulation & Resurrection

Dan 12:1-4 “At that time Michael shall stand up, The great prince who stands watch over the sons of your people; And there shall be a time of trouble, Such as never was since there was a nation, Even to that time. And at that time your people shall be delivered, Every one who is found written in the bookAnd many of those who sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, Some to everlasting life, Some to shame and everlasting contemptThose who are wise shall shine Like the brightness of the firmament, And those who turn many to righteousness Like the stars forever and ever. 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.”

The role of Michael the archangel in great tribulation is unclear and not mentioned elsewhere in the Bible. However, there are faint references as restrainer which could be Michael the archangel. The term used for stand up is the Hebrew word amad, which actually means to “stand aside,” “stand still,” “desist,” or “be inactive.”.

2Thess 2:5-8 Do you not remember that when I was still with you I told you these things? And now you know what is restraining, that he may be revealed in his own time. For the mystery of lawlessness is already at work; only He who now restrains will do so until He is taken out of the way. And then the lawless one will be revealed, whom the Lord will consume with the breath of His mouth and destroy with the brightness of His coming.

Some believe the restrainer in the above verse is the Holy Spirit. However, the restrainer is not the Holy Spirit for several reasons. Holy Spirit is given to God’s people and not to evil doers for doing any restraining for society as a whole and there is no reference in Scripture for it. However, Michael is already referred as prince of the people of Israel. Hence, when Michael, the restrainer stood up or taken out of the way, the lawless one will be revealed and then the great tribulation, where the Lord will consume with the breath of His mouth and destroy with the brightness of His coming. Daniel also prophesied the first and second resurrection.
Today, we can see the increase in knowledge and people running to and fro, which clearly indicates this is the end times.

A time, times & half-a-time …

Dan 12:5-7 Then I, Daniel, looked; and there stood two others, one on this riverbank and the other on that riverbank. And one said to the man clothed in linen, who was above the waters of the river, “How long shall the fulfillment of these wonders be?” Then I heard the man clothed in linen, who was above the waters of the river, when he held up his right hand and his left hand to heaven, and swore by Him who lives forever, that it shall be for a time, times, and half a time; and when the power of the holy people has been completely shattered, all these things shall be finished.

Daniel saw two others in the vision and asked the man who is clothed in linen and was above the waters of the river (or identified as Jesus Christ), who long shall the fulfillment of these wonders be and he replied, a time, times and half a time. We see the same phrase and the same event in chapter 7 as well.

Dan 7:25 He shall speak pompous words against the Most High, Shall persecute the saints of the Most High, And shall intend to change times and law. Then the saints shall be given into his hand For a time and times and half a time.

Hence, the great tribulation will be for a time, times and half a time which is generally understood to be 3.5 years or 1260 days.

Go your way

Dan 12:8-13 Although I heard, I did not understand. Then I said, “My lord, what shall be the end of these things?” And he said, “Go your way, Daniel, for the words are closed up and sealed till the time of the end. Many shall be purified, made white, and refined, but the wicked shall do wickedly; and none of the wicked shall understand, but the wise shall understand. And from the time that the daily sacrifice is taken away, and the abomination of desolation is set up, there shall be one thousand two hundred and ninety days. Blessed is he who waits, and comes to the one thousand three hundred and thirty-five days. But you, go your way till the end; for you shall rest, and will arise to your inheritance at the end of the days.”

Daniel wants to know the conclusion of all these things but he was responded with a blunt ‘No’ saying the words are sealed until the end of time. However, for John it was told that the words are not to be sealed for the time is at hand.

Rev 22:10-11 And he said to me, “Do not seal the words of the prophecy of this book, for the time is at hand. He who is unjust, let him be unjust still; he who is filthy, let him be filthy still; he who is righteous, let him be righteous still; he who is holy, let him be holy still.”

No of days Events
0 Daily sacrifice take away
75 Beginning of 1260 days of Great Tribulation
1290 Abomination of Desolation
1335 End of Great Tribulation and Blessed are those who wait and comes to this time

Daniel is told that he will arise to his inheritance at the end of days in resurrection. Will we raise to our inheritance at the end of days when Christ returns? Or, are we ready to wait until 1335 days going through Great Tribulation?

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