Daniel 12

Daniel 12
The Time of the End
Chapter 12 Continues the subject chapter 11:40-46, viz., “the time of the end.” God’s word gives the names of but two angels, Gabriel, named in chapters 8 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. 2:1818Let no man beguile you of your reward in a voluntary humility and worshipping of angels, intruding into those things which he hath not seen, vainly puffed up by his fleshly mind, (Colossians 2:18) against the worshiping of angels, and Hebrews 1:1414Are they not all ministering spirits, sent forth to minister for them who shall be heirs of salvation? (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. 22:1010And he saith unto me, Seal not the sayings of the prophecy of this book: for the time is at hand. (Revelation 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.
The fourth verse marks the end of the prophetic outline begun in chapter 10:20, foretelling the history of Gentile rule from the Persian empire until the Son of Man shall take dominion. That no reference is made in it to the present interval of grace to Gentile and Jew alike (which began when He, rejected and crucified, rose from the dead and ascended to the right hand of the Majesty on high) is entirely in harmony with all other Old Testament prophecies, none of which tell of the present gathering out of a people to share Christ’s heavenly glory. (See Eph. 3:1-121For this cause I Paul, the prisoner of Jesus Christ for you Gentiles, 2If ye have heard of the dispensation of the grace of God which is given me to you-ward: 3How that by revelation he made known unto me the mystery; (as I wrote afore in few words, 4Whereby, when ye read, ye may understand my knowledge in the mystery of Christ) 5Which in other ages was not made known unto the sons of men, as it is now revealed unto his holy apostles and prophets by the Spirit; 6That the Gentiles should be fellowheirs, and of the same body, and partakers of his promise in Christ by the gospel: 7Whereof I was made a minister, according to the gift of the grace of God given unto me by the effectual working of his power. 8Unto me, who am less than the least of all saints, is this grace given, that I should preach among the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ; 9And to make all men see what is the fellowship of the mystery, which from the beginning of the world hath been hid in God, who created all things by Jesus Christ: 10To the intent that now unto the principalities and powers in heavenly places might be known by the church the manifold wisdom of God, 11According to the eternal purpose which he purposed in Christ Jesus our Lord: 12In whom we have boldness and access with confidence by the faith of him. (Ephesians 3:1‑12)).
Verses 5 and 6: Angelic beings are seen again, but the central figure is, as before (chapter 10:5, 6), the glorious Person we believe to be the Son of God. In chapter 10, Daniel “heard the voice of His words”, but all that follows, until chapter 11:7 is reached, was communicated to him through angels.
Verse 7: “A time, times and an half” (or the dividing of a time), is believed to mean 1 year, 2 years, and one-half year, (three and a half years in all), and this is confirmed by chapter 7:25, and chapter 9:27 which relate to the same period of time. Taking the prophetic year as comprised of 360 days, or 12 months of 30 days each, it will be seen that the period referred to in verse 7 is 1,260 days. The periods named in verses 11 and 12 are 30 and 75 days longer.
Verse 8: Daniel heard, but understood not. The words are “closed up and sealed till the time of the end” (verse 9). Such was the character of much of the revelations of the purposes of God in Old Testament times; compare Rev, 22:10, where it is said that the book (of Revelation) should not be sealed, “for the time is at hand”. (See also 1 Peter 1:10-1210Of which salvation the prophets have inquired and searched diligently, who prophesied of the grace that should come unto you: 11Searching what, or what manner of time the Spirit of Christ which was in them did signify, when it testified beforehand the sufferings of Christ, and the glory that should follow. 12Unto whom it was revealed, that not unto themselves, but unto us they did minister the things, which are now reported unto you by them that have preached the gospel unto you with the Holy Ghost sent down from heaven; which things the angels desire to look into. (1 Peter 1:10‑12)), The Christian is taught to expect the coming of the Lord at any moment, and he is given intelligence as to the purposes of God, not only as to his own future place as linked with Christ in glory, but concerning Israel and the Gentiles.
Verse 10 tells in briefest language of the time of trial at the close of Gentile rule; the “wise” of Israel’s race shall understand then, but none of the wicked shall understand. It is ever true that only those who are subject to God understand His Word (1 Cor. 1:17-3117For Christ sent me not to baptize, but to preach the gospel: not with wisdom of words, lest the cross of Christ should be made of none effect. 18For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God. 19For it is written, I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, and will bring to nothing the understanding of the prudent. 20Where is the wise? where is the scribe? where is the disputer of this world? hath not God made foolish the wisdom of this world? 21For after that in the wisdom of God the world by wisdom knew not God, it pleased God by the foolishness of preaching to save them that believe. 22For the Jews require a sign, and the Greeks seek after wisdom: 23But we preach Christ crucified, unto the Jews a stumblingblock, and unto the Greeks foolishness; 24But unto them which are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God, and the wisdom of God. 25Because the foolishness of God is wiser than men; and the weakness of God is stronger than men. 26For ye see your calling, brethren, how that not many wise men after the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are called: 27But God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise; and God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty; 28And base things of the world, and things which are despised, hath God chosen, yea, and things which are not, to bring to nought things that are: 29That no flesh should glory in his presence. 30But of him are ye in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption: 31That, according as it is written, He that glorieth, let him glory in the Lord. (1 Corinthians 1:17‑31)).
Verses 11-12: It is clear from Rev. 19:11-21,11And I saw heaven opened, and behold a white horse; and he that sat upon him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness he doth judge and make war. 12His eyes were as a flame of fire, and on his head were many crowns; and he had a name written, that no man knew, but he himself. 13And he was clothed with a vesture dipped in blood: and his name is called The Word of God. 14And the armies which were in heaven followed him upon white horses, clothed in fine linen, white and clean. 15And out of his mouth goeth a sharp sword, that with it he should smite the nations: and he shall rule them with a rod of iron: and he treadeth the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God. 16And he hath on his vesture and on his thigh a name written, KING OF KINGS, AND LORD OF LORDS. 17And I saw an angel standing in the sun; and he cried with a loud voice, saying to all the fowls that fly in the midst of heaven, Come and gather yourselves together unto the supper of the great God; 18That ye may eat the flesh of kings, and the flesh of captains, and the flesh of mighty men, and the flesh of horses, and of them that sit on them, and the flesh of all men, both free and bond, both small and great. 19And I saw the beast, and the kings of the earth, and their armies, gathered together to make war against him that sat on the horse, and against his army. 20And the beast was taken, and with him the false prophet that wrought miracles before him, with which he deceived them that had received the mark of the beast, and them that worshipped his image. These both were cast alive into a lake of fire burning with brimstone. 21And the remnant were slain with the sword of him that sat upon the horse, which sword proceeded out of his mouth: and all the fowls were filled with their flesh. (Revelation 19:11‑21) and 2 Thess. 2:8-108And then shall that Wicked be revealed, whom the Lord shall consume with the spirit of his mouth, and shall destroy with the brightness of his coming: 9Even him, whose coming is after the working of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders, 10And with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish; because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved. (2 Thessalonians 2:8‑10) that the first act of the Lord upon His return in glory to this world will be to put down the Antichrist, the false king of the Jews; this, we gather. will take place 1,260 days after the daily sacrifice is stopped at Jerusalem and an idol is set up in the temple—the abomination of desolation (See Matt. 21:1515And when the chief priests and scribes saw the wonderful things that he did, and the children crying in the temple, and saying, Hosanna to the Son of David; they were sore displeased, (Matthew 21:15)).
The Scriptures do not reveal the order in which His other enemies will be dealt with, but it is clear that they will meet judgment in succession, the last being the northern power called Gog in Ezekiel 38 and 39; the end of the period of 1335 days, named in verse 12 no doubt marks the complete establishment of abiding peace in the world, and the 1,290 relates to an intermediate period of blessing.