Daniel 11:40-12:4
“At the time of the end” (vase 40) carries the reader on to a time immediately before the Lord’s appearing. The seven-year period forming the last of the seventy weeks foretold in Daniel 9:24 will be nearing its end, when the king of the south (Egypt) will attack the false king of the Jews. The king of the north (Turkey, with certain allies, as it would appear) will then invade the south with a great force moving very fast before which resistance will be difficult. He will enter into other countries, and pass over to “the glorious land” (the land of Israel), but Edom; and Moab and the chief of the children of Ammon will escape. Egypt, Libya and Ethiopia fall into his hands. Isaiah 28, and the judgment of “Ariel” (Jerusalem) in the 29th chapter; also Zechariah 12 and 14, should be read in connection with what is given in the book of Daniel, but many other passages may be profitably examined, as the king of the north of the last days is repeatedly referred to in Old Testament prophecies as the Assyrian”.
While the victor is far south of Israel’s land, news that troubles him will come out of the east and the north. Whatever it may be (for Scripture does not tell), it causes the king of the north to return northward with great fury (verse 44). He will proceed to Jerusalem, and there, or near there, he and his armies will come to their end. (See Isaiah 30:3). For the Lord will then have descended and delivered His earthly saints out of the hands of their enemies, and the false king will have been judged.
Chapter 12 Continues the subject of the last six verses of chapter 11, viz., “the time of the end.” God’s word gives the names of but two angels, Gabriel, named in chapters S and 9 and in Luke 1; and Michael (chief prince or archangel) in chapters 10 and 12, in the Epistle of Jude, and Rev. 12.
The believer is warned in Col. 2:18 against the worshiping of angels, and Hebrews 1:14 tells their office as ministering spirits sent forth to minister for them who shall be heirs of salvation. In the day now near at hand, Michael will be engaged in a new work for Israel, looking to their restoration and blessing. Satan will oppose, as he always does, but he cannot thwart the work of God.
Verses 2 and 3 speak not of resurrection, but of a work of God in the souls of the spiritually dead children of Israel in which some of them will be used for the blessing of others. (See Ezekiel 36-37).
Daniel (verse 4) is to seal the book; John (Rev. 22:10) was not to seal the book committed to him, and the reason is given. As to Daniel, the words were for Israel at the time of the end; when they again become the earthly people of God, and are passing through the great tribulation, the prophecies will be understood by them.
ML 09/06/1936