Daniel 12

Daniel 12:1-4

After the prediction of the troubles of the Jews under Antiochus, prefiguring the troubles of the Christian church under the antichristian power, we have here, 1. Comforts for the support of God’s people in these times of trouble, ver. 1—4. 2. A conference between Christ and an angel, concerning the time of the continuance of these events, ver. 5—7. 3. Daniel’s enquiry for his own satisfaction, ver. 8. and the answer he received to that enquiry, ver. 9—13.

1. AND at that time shall Michael Stand up, the great prince which stands for the children of the people, and there shall be a time of trouble, such as never was since there was a nation, even to that same time: and at that time the people shall be delivered, every one that shall be found written in the book. 2. And many of them that they are in the dust of the earth shall awake, some to everlasting life, and some to shame, and everlasting contempt. 3. And they that be the time, and the time of their men, and they that turn many to righteousness, as the stars

for ever and ever. 4. But thou, O Daniel, shut up the words, and seal the book, even to the time of the end: many shall run to and fro, and knowledge shall be increased.

When the troubles of God’s people are at their height, the power and grace of their Redeemer shall be the more magnified in their deliverance.

1. Christ, the great Prince, shall stand up in the time of great tribulation; either to save the Jews from the perfections of Antiochus; or to save his church from the antichristian tyranny; or at the great day, when he shall come to compleat the redemption of his people, and to excuse some vengeance on their enemies, when all that are written among the righteous, and found in the book of life of the Lamb, shall be delivered from the power of evil for ever.

2. In this great day of the appearing of our God and Saviour, an awful distinction will be made between the persons who shall awake from the dust of death; some of them arising to everlasting life, while others, who died impatient, shall awake to them and everlasting contempt; which would be a glorious encouragement for the sufferers under the perfection of Antiochus, See Heb. xii. 35. as it is to all the suffering saints of God to the end of time.

3. The reward of the faithful will then be great. The wife, who know and believe in Jesus to the saving of their souls, deep read in their own fistful state, and the Eufelsency of the Redeemer’s blood and righteousness; these shall shine as the Prophets of the firmament, perfectly holy, and happy, and glorious as their Lord; and they that save many to righteousness, the manifesters of the gospel, and others who laboured for this blessed purpose, to bring men to the knowledge of a Redeemer’s righteousness, as the alone ground of their acceptance with God, and to convert their souls to the love and practice of holiness, they shall shine as the stars for ever and ever, with undiminished lustre through the ages of eternity. A powerful engagement this, to those who are put in truth with the gospel, to labour with fidelity and zeal in the blessed cause, when every soul converted by their ministry shall aid a jewel to their crown.

4. Daniel is commanded to feel up the look unto the time of the end; either he was to keep the vision secret, or it would not be understood or regarded till the times of trial came, which were at a distance; or it intimates the darkness and obfcurity of the book, till the accomplishment of the events should discover the meaning of the prophetic word. Many shall run to and fro, at the end of time, when the things here spoken of begin to be fulfilled; earnestly searching into this blessed book: and knowledge shall be increased; light will then be cast on the prophecies, so that the diligent enquirer shall be able to understand them more fully than they had ever been understood before. Note, (1.) They who would draw knowledge from the deep well of prophetic truth, must diligently examine and compare spiritual things with spiritual, and in prayer fervently ask divine illumination. (2.) However dark and obscure the prophecies may now be, the time will come, when they will be clear as if written with a fun-beam.

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. 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? 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 swore by him that liveth for ever, that it shall be for a time, and an half; and when he shall have accomplished to featter the power of the holy people, all these things shall be finished. 8. And I heard, but I understood not: then said I, O my Lord, what shall be the end of these things? 9. And he said, O, my way, Daniel: for the words are closed up, and sealed till the time of the end. 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 wife shall understand, 11. And from the time that the daily sacrifice shall be taken away, and the abomination that maketh deloins set up, there shall be a thousand two hundred and ninety days. 12. Blessed is he that waiteth, and cometh to the thousand three hundred and five and thirty days. 13. But go thou thy way till the end be: for thou shalt rest, and I stand in thy lot at the end of the days.

Daniel 12:5-13

The mysterious things before spoken naturally excited in the prophet’s mind the desire to know when the end

Before God The Clerk v. Chap. vii. 4b. Vol. xv. 4c. Rev. x. v. 5a. xviii. 5b. xvii. 5c. 5d. 5e.

126. of these things should be, and what would be the sign of their conclusion.

127. How long shall it be to the end of these wonders? This question is put by one of the angels who stood by the river, in the prophet’s hearing, to the glorious personage who stood upon, or above, the waters of the river, the Lord Jesus, described before, chap. x. 5. Daniel probably feared to be too inquisitive; and though he wished to know, yet dared not ask. The answer is ushered in with great solemnity: Lifting up his hands to heaven, the great High-prise of our profession, by a solemn oath, in 7. For the confirmation of the faith of his servant, (See Rev. x. 5, 6.) declares that the troubles will continue for a time, times, and half: and when he shall have accomplished to featter the power of the holy people, all these things shall be finished. This some explain of the conclusion of the troubles under Antiochus, who for three years and a half held Jerusalem, and quite dispersed and broke the Jewish people. Others apply it to the reign and fall of Antichrist, where the same numbers are used, Rev. xi. 2, 3. xii. 6—14. when the dispersion of the Jews shall end, and they shall be gathered out of all lands; which blessed event may the Lord hasten in his time!

128. What shall the end of these things be? Encouraged by what he had heard of Christ’s condescension in answering the former question, and not understanding the meaning of what he heard, Daniel himself is emboldened to ask, what events would more distinctly mark the conclusion of these troubles; or, as the words may be rendered, what is the last of these things? Note, (1.) Through the darkness of their minds, the greatest saints are often at a loss in their enquiries, and humbly own their ignorance. (2.) We have one to apply to under all our doubts and difficulties, who is able to solve them. (3.) When we see the prevalence of iniquity, and the triumphs of the ungodly, we are ready in amaze to cry, What will be the end of these things? as if the cause of Christ was utterly overwhelmed; but it shall prevail at last over all opposition.

The answer Christ gives to the prophet’s enquiry is very gracious: He shall know as much as he needs, and is bid to be content about the rest. Go thy way, Daniel; be satisfied with what thou hast heard, and prepare for eternity; for the words are closed up, and sealed unto the end of time; will continue till then dark and obscure, when time would interpret the vision. Many shall be purified, and made white, and tried, by their afflictions, and come like silver from the furnace; but the wicked shall do wieldedly; perishing in their impenitence, and given up to judicial blindness of heart. None of the wicked shall understand, neither the word nor providences of God; but the wise shall un-

derstand both, and improve thereby. And, as to the immediate solution of the question, he gives him some dates by which it might be known: from the time that the daily sacrifice shall be taken away, and the abomination which maketh desolate, there shall be a thousand two hundred and ninety days; which some refer to what Antiochus did, and confine the prophecy to the Jewish people. Others suppose it to refer to Antichrist, the antitype, who, in opposition to the one sacrifice of Christ, hath set up the merits of man, established the worship of saints and images, and other abominations. The length of this date of trouble is declared to be a thousand two hundred and ninety days, See Rev. xiii. 5. The days here added to the number there given are, as some think, the space allotted for the conversion of the Jews. Blessed is he that waiteth, and cometh to the thousand three hundred and five and thirty days, at the end of which all the enemies of Christ and his people will, it is supposed, be utterly destroyed, and times of the greatest happiness and joy succeed. The period of these events indeed still remains a secret; but of this the people of God may be sure, that the end of all the suffering of his church is fixed; that we are called with patience to wait for the blessed day; and that our happiness will then be compleat and everlasting.

The conclusion of our Lord’s answer is a word of comfort, particularly addressed to Daniel himself. Go thy way till the end be; prepare for death, and wait for the resurrection more; for thou shalt rest, dying in the Lord, and delivered for ever from all the burdens of mortality; and stand in thy lot at the end of the days; raised to a glorious inheritance at the last, and put in possession of that eternal kingdom God hath prepared for those who are faithful unto death. Note, (1.) Whilst God continues us upon earth, our business is to be found in the work he hath given us to do, waiting for our dismissal, and ever ready to receive it with joy. (2.) A child of God, like Noah’s dove, must not expect his rest in this tempestuous world; but when his head rests upon a pillow of dust, then shall his soul find rest in the Saviour’s bosom. (3.) Whatever our lot or portion may be in this world, we have an inheritance before us incorruptible, undefiled, which fudeth not away, the believing prospect of which will effectually support us under all the trials of life, and carry us triumphant through all the terrors of death. (4.) We know, (for every believer hath the infallible promise of the unchangeable God to support his confidence) to our everlasting comfort we know, the day is near, when Jesus shall appear, and then shall we appear with him in glory. Even so, Amen! come, Lord Jesus, come quickly!

THE