DANIEL SIMPLIFIED
CHAPTER 12.5
Gleanings
from the Book of Daniel:
A
Weekly Verse by Verse Bible Study Series
DANIEL
Chapter
Twelve
Daniel’s Final Vision
The Events of the End
The Setting
In the study of eschatology, there will
be many who will seriously seek to learn and understand Bible prophecy. In
Daniel 12:5ff the triumph of God’s people, Israel is finally in view. It is
then followed by a question and answer period by Daniel with angels. Now, the
narrative picks up the storyline from the beginning of Daniel 10.
You recall the year is the third year
of King Cyrus of Persia’s reign (cf. Daniel 10:1). The month is the
twenty-fourth day of Nissan, Nissan being the first month of the Hebrew
calendar when the Passover was celebrated.
Note, that Daniel was not at the
Passover festival at this time which all Jewish males were required to attend.
It is widely believed Daniel and his associates were in this area on official
governmental business.
His location was by the River Hiddekel
(the Tigris River) when he encountered a man wearing [fine] linen which is
believed to be a pre-incarnate appearance of the Lord Jesus Christ, a
Christophany.
(Verse 5)
Then I Daniel looked, and, behold, there stood
other two, the one on this side of the bank of the river, and the other on that
side of the bank of the river.
Daniel meets up with two other angels,
one on each side of the river bank. He is also accompanied by the angel Gabriel
who is relaying the vision to him. Hence, Daniel is flanked by three angels and
the Lord for the explanation of the eschaton, i.e., the final event in God’s
divine plan for the end of the Age.
(Verse 6)
And one said
to the Man clothed in linen, which was upon
the waters of the river, How long shall
it be to the end of these wonders?
Question Number One
The angel clothed in
linen, the pre-incarnate Christ, who hovered above the waters of the River, was
addressed by one of the angels with a question that has perplexed man
throughout the ages: “How long will it be until the end of the series of
wondrous events foretold takes place?”
You recall, this was
the same question the Apostles had asked:
Matthew 24:3 - And as He (Jesus) sat
upon the Mount of Olives, the disciples came
unto Him privately, saying, Tell us, when shall these things be?
and what shall be the sign of Thy coming, and of the end of
the world?
Note: It would have been natural
for the angel at the riverbank to ask this question foreseeing the tremendous
persecution the Jews would undergo at the time of the Great Tribulation.
(Verse 7)
And I heard the Man clothed in linen,
which was upon the
waters of the river, when He held up His right hand and His left hand unto
Heaven, and sware by Him that liveth for ever that it shall be for a time, times, and an half.
Response Number One
Next, Daniel heard the
pre-incarnate Christ swear an oath. Generally, when someone swore an oath, he
held up his right hand, for example:
Genesis 14:22 – And Abram said to the king of Sodom, I have lift up mine hand unto the LORD, the Most High God, the possessor of heaven and earth.
Deuteronomy 32:40 - For I lift up my hand to heaven, and say, I live for ever.
Then, He that wore fine linen swore by the Eternal God that
what He was about to proclaim was divine truth.
However, in this particular instance, both
hands were raised, thus giving greater importance to His answer.
It shall be for a time, times, and an half; and when He shall have
accomplished to scatter the power of the holy people, all these things shall be finished
Period Number One
As explained in Daniel 7:25 and
Revelation 12:14, a time and times and
the dividing of time (half of time) represent the last 3 ½ years of the Tribulation Period (Daniel’s
Seventy Weeks – seventy weeks of years), i.e., the Great Tribulation [the time
of Jacob's Trouble – a period of intense hardship and war for the people of
Israel (cf. Jeremiah 30:7)].
Three and a half years factor out in
this fashion:
·
42
months (cf. Revelation 11:2; 13:5)
·
1260
days (cf. Revelation 12:6)
And when He shall have accomplished to scatter
the power of the holy people, all these things shall be finished
The End of Persecution
When Israel's
rebellion against God's will has been finally broken, and the dispersions of the holy people, the Jews ended, Jesus
Christ shall come and be accepted as their Messiah.
At this point, the restoration
of the nation to their land will occur and Israel will be back in communion
with Him. These things shall come to pass and be completed at the time of the
end.
(Verse 8)
And I heard, but I understood not: then said I,
O my Lord, what shall be the
end of these things?
Question Number Two
After hearing the
conversation between the angel and the pre-incarnate Christ, Daniel became
confused and did not quite comprehend the full meaning. So, Daniel respectfully
appeals again with a question for further clarification of the end. Notice to whom Daniel addresses his inquiry: O my Lord.
(Verse 9)
And He said, Go thy way, Daniel: for the
words are closed up
and sealed till the time of the end.
The Second Response
Daniel is not told by
Adonai any more information but to go his way, or be at peace. He is assured
the end will come and the book will be carefully preserved until the time of
the end.
What Revelation reveals
Daniel seals. This does not mean the book is concealed. In other words, the
prophecy can be read but not be fully interpreted until the time of the end.
Hence, once again Daniel
is instructed (cf. Daniel 12:4) that what was revealed to him will be obscure. Then,
as the end draweth neigh, the
fulfillment of this prophecy will serve to ultimately glorify the sovereign,
creator, and eternal God.
(Verse 10)
Many shall be purified, and made white, and
tried; but the wicked shall do wickedly: and none of the wicked shall
understand; but the wise shall understand.
The End Result
Many of God’s faithful
people, the remnant, who had been tried and tested by persecution and suffering
will have their hearts cleansed, purified, and made white (spotless) in the
process (see Revelation 7:13-14). Those are the wise and with insight seek the
truth.
Conversely, the
wicked, are those who willfully reject the truth (cf. 1 Cor 2:14; Revelation
13:10). This will cause them to have a complete lack of understanding.
(Verse 11)
And from the time that the daily sacrifice shall
be taken away, and the abomination that maketh desolate set up, there shall be a thousand two
hundred and ninety days.
Period
Number Two
Continuing
His explanation to Daniel, the pre-incarnate Christ says that from the time
when the daily sacrifices will cease (cf. Daniel 11:31) and the Antichrist shall
desecrate the Temple (cf. Daniel 8:3, 11:9:27) in the middle of the Tribulation
Period, there will be exactly 1290 days. This means there are 30 extra days
added to God's timetable.
(Verse 12)
Blessed is he that waiteth, and cometh to the thousand three
hundred and five and thirty days.
Period Number Three
The pre-incarnate
Christ proclaims a special blessing for those who keep waiting or endure 45
extra days (one and a half months). The additional 45 days amounts to 1335 days,
thus totaling 75 extra days than originally prophesied.
Seventy-five Day Time
Lapse Explanation
God is very exact in
numbering His days, thus causing much speculation over the years.
Notice again the three
prophetic times listed in Daniel’s final vision:
1. 1260 days
2. 1290 days
3. 1335 days
The Explanation
1. 1260 days – Forty-two
months of the Great Tribulation are the last 3 ½ years known as the Seventy Weeks of Daniel [a time and
times and the dividing of time or half a time (cf. Daniel 7:25; Revelation
12:14) also known as the Time of Jacobs’
Trouble (cf Jeremiah 30:7).
2. 1290 days – Another period presented in verse 11.
It seems reasonable to conclude that an additional month will be needed to
carry out the sheep and goat judgment of Matthew 25:31, known as the Judgment of Nations. It is believed the
Lord Jesus Christ will use the extra time to determine who has the right to
enter the Millennial Kingdom and receive its blessings.
3. 1335 days – This verse extends beyond Matthew 25 by 45 days. It is also
widely believed that undoubtedly after the purging, 45 extra days will be
needed for the full establishment of the Millennial Kingdom. Therefore, 75 days
are transitional as such:
a. The final restoration
of Israel
b. The time needed to set
up the Kingdom
c. The time needed to set
up the Millennial Temple (cf. Ezekiel 40-48)
(Verse 13)
But go thou thy way till the end be: for thou shalt rest, and stand in
thy lot at the end of the days.
Epilogue
The Lord
speaking to Daniel and telling us today:
1. Go our
way (v. 13)
2. Wait for
His return (v. 1)
3. Rest in
death (v. 2)
4. Rise
again (v. 2)
5. Receive
a reward (v.3)
God has
shown through Daniel He has kept his promises and fulfilled His predictions
with great historical accuracy – History written in advance. May this be an
encouragement to all believers that Jesus is coming again, sin will be no more,
and blessings will be bestowed on the believer…
Ephesians 3:20-21
Now unto Him that is
able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the
power that worketh in us, Unto Him be glory
in the church by Christ Jesus
throughout all ages, world without end.
Amen.
QUESTIONS:
1. Where was Daniel when he saw this
vision?
2. Who is the Man clothed in linen?
3. What question did the first angel ask?
4. What is Israel’s fate?
5. What was the procedure for taking an
oath?
6. Why are 75 additional days in this
prophecy?
7. What was Daniel finally instructed to
do?
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