Daniel 12

Daniel Chapter TwelveVerse 1 This final chapter of Daniel is interpreted in various ways by different schools of scholars. Practically all of the critics limit the application to the last days of Antiochus, supposing that Daniel was totally mistaken about the resurrection which he mentioned, there being no resurrection whatever that marked the closing of the Antiochus persecution. We must reject this in its entirety, because we cannot believe that Christ would have quoted part of this chapter, applying it to the destruction of Jerusalem with antitypical overtones in the final judgment itself unless there had been much more here than a blunder on the part of the prophet Daniel. Such interpretations we leave without comment to those who prefer to disbelieve the holy prophecies of the “end times.” The various premillennial views of this chapter we also reject on the basis that “the millennium” of Revelation 20 is nothing more nor less than the entire dispensation of the Gospel, embracing all of the time between the First Advent and the Second Advent of Christ. (See extensive studies on this in the Book of Revelation. Also, we have given a summary of it underDaniel 7:25, above.) The really destructive heresy regarding this chapter is the error of seeing nothing in it except the conclusion of the persecutions under Antiochus Epiphanes. Keil pointed out that the critical application of the first few verses of Daniel 12 to the times of Antiochus could be true and correct, “Only if the premises from which it is drawn were allowed."[1] These premises were confidently contradicted by Keil; and, as we found in our studies of the last paragraph of Daniel 11, there is no reference whatever in those verses to Antiochus. That impressive gap between undeniable references to Antiochus earlier in chapter eleven, prior to Daniel 11:36, and the introduction of the resurrection of the dead in the first three verses of this chapter, make it absolutely imperative to understand that in this chapter the focus of the prophecy moves to the climax of the Messianic kingdom itself in the Final Judgment and Second Advent of Jesus Christ. In this connection, Albert Barnes declared that: “The full meaning of the language (Daniel 12:1-3) is not met by the events of the times of the Maccabees. The passage looks forward and onward to a higher and more important event than any that occurred in the times of Antiochus."[2]What then is the meaning of these first few verses in Daniel 12? Young summarized them as follows: “When these events take place, those who are found written in the book will be delivered. The reference is to the elect, those destined to receive eternal life."[3] We hold that analysis to be absolutely correct. We are also certain that the resurrection of the dead mentioned here is the general resurrection of all the dead at the time of the final judgment, as we shall more fully explain in the notes on the text itself. Daniel 12:1“And at that time shall Michael stand up, the great prince who standeth for the children of the people; and there shall be a time of trouble, such as there never was since there was a nation even to that same time: and at that time thy people shall be delivered, every one that shall be found written in the book.“Fortunately, this verse is crystal clear in its meaning, thanks to the direct comment of Jesus Christ himself regarding what is here prophesied. “At that time …” is a reference to Messianic times; and the fact of the final judgment and the Resurrection coming into view almost simultaneously should not be confusing. It is a thing common enough in the prophecies that “the last Days” is a reference to the whole times of the Messianic kingdom including the final judgment itself; and, since all of these events (first, and last, and in between) were in the same line of vision, they are often mentioned in the same passage. “The Lord himself coordinated the destruction of Jerusalem with the end of the world."[4] “It was no uncommon thing in the prophets to allow the eye to glance from one object to another lying in the same range of vision."[5] Even in astronomy today, two stars may appear in one photograph appearing to be almost touching each other, whereas in fact, they could be separated by thousands of millions of miles! In understanding this prophecy it is imperative to understand that Daniel 10-12 are all one prophecy, not two or three. The chapter divisions here have been deplored by scholars ever since Cardinal Hugo butchered the job of dividing them in the 13th century; but to understand the passage before us, we must go back and read Daniel 10:14 - “Now I am come to make thee understand WHAT SHALL BEFALL THY PEOPLE IN THE LATTER DAYS, for the vision is yet for many days (Daniel 10:14).” In these verses, we have therefore come to that part of the prophecy that particularly deals with the TRUE ISRAEL OF GOD in the beginning of Messianic times. It is most important to separate this prophecy and its application from the ISRAEL; FROM THE VINE; FROM THE ; SECULAR ISRAEL. After that Israel rejected and crucified the Son of God Himself, they lost forever their status as God’s chosen people. That distinction now belongs only to the Church of the Lord Jesus Christ and to no other. Without seeing this vital fact, no one can understand this prophecy. This reference, therefore is not of what is going to happen to the Jews (racially) but to the Church of Jesus Christ. Very well, what does this first verse say? “At that time … 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 thy people shall be delivered …” Now, when was that? Christ said it would occur at the destruction of Jerusalem, which we can definitely pinpoint as an event occurring in A.D. 70. In his prophecy of the destruction of Jerusalem, Christ said: “Then shall be great tribulation, such as there hath not been from the beginning of the world until now, no, nor ever shall be” (Matthew 24:21). Thus the very terminology of Daniel’s prophecy was used by the Lord and applied to the end of Jerusalem (with overtones of the final judgment also). But the people who cannot understand this verse have a stumbling block in the next clause, “And at that time, thy people shall be delivered.” They say this cannot apply to the destruction of Jerusalem because that is when 1,100,000 Jews were put to the sword; and how could God have said, “Thy people shall be delivered?” They just don’t understand WHO God’s people were in that holocaust! They were the Church, the TRUE ISRAEL OF GOD; and it is history that they were indeed delivered, fleeing to Pella, as every student of history knows. The Jews at that time were not, nor have they ever since been, God’s chosen people. The study of this passage, together with the fact of Christ’s having definitely applied it to the destruction of Jerusalem raises the possibility that Christ himself relied in part upon this promise of God regarding the safety of his church during the siege of Jerusalem when he warned the Christians to flee. One of the most important, and one of the most universally unknown, facts about the ISRAEL of GOD is that the true ISRAEL today is a far different group of people from what it was in the days of Daniel. “Everyone that shall be found written in the book …” Here is the definition of God’s people who shall be saved from the horrible holocaust of the destruction of Jerusalem. Who are these? They are the Christians. This is a reference to the “Lamb’s Book of Life,” where the names of the redeemed are enrolled. “This is the book of life (Psalms 69:28; Revelation 3:5)."[6] The very idea that the racial Jews who had engineered the crucifixion of Christ and hounded the holy apostles all over Europe in their vicious efforts to prevent the spread of the Gospel all had their names written in the book of life because they were racially descended from Abraham is ridiculous. It is absolutely certain, as Keil put it, that, “These verses do not treat of the times of Antiochus and the Maccabees."[7] The notion that the persecutions under Antiochus were of the dimensions of those which Christ associated with the end of the city of Jerusalem (which are the ones found in this verse) is contradicted by no less authority than Christ himself. Verse 2 “Many of them that sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, some to everlasting life, and some to shame and everlasting contempt"The big problem with this verse is the word “many,” construed by some as an indication that “some” or a “major number” of the dead shall rise, with the conclusion that the general resurrection of all the dead is not in view in this passage. We disagree with that. It is undeniable that in Scripture the word “many” is often used as a reference to all. Note this passage: “For as through the one man’s disobedience the many were made sinners, even so through the obedience of the one shall the many be made righteous” (Romans 5:19). A comparison with verse 18 in that same passage indicates positively that “many” in both of the references here actually means “all.” Therefore, it is a gross error to fasten a limited denotation upon the use of “many” in Daniel’s reference to the general resurrection. Thus the principal idea to be derived from the use of many in this verse 2 is the great multitudes that shall rise from the dead. “No one can doubt that the word ‘many’ is used to denote all."[8] Thomson and many other dependable scholars have mentioned this same thing. “We cannot, therefore, deduce that ‘many’ here excludes ‘all’; the idea suggested is rather multitudinousness."[9]The Resurrection of the Dead There are a number of important revelations connected with this verse. The resurrection of both wicked and righteous persons shall occur simultaneously. Here is the only reference in the Old Testament to “everlasting life."[10] Note also that “everlasting contempt” for the wicked appears in the same verse. Although a number of other Old Testament passages speak somewhat ambiguously of the resurrection, these being: Ezekiel 37:11; Isaiah 55:10 ff; Isaiah 26:19; Ecclesiastes 3:18-22, Isaiah 53:10 ff; Psalms 17:39,49,73; Hosea 6:2; Job 19:26, etc, nevertheless this is the most forthright promise of the resurrection to be found in the Old Testament. The denials of most critical scholars that the general resurrection is here promised should be set aside. The passage cannot possibly refer to anything else. To deny this is to assert that Daniel made a false prophecy, because there has never been even until this day such a resurrection as is promised here. Some of course would get around this by declaring this to be the “first resurrection”; however, Jesus Christ left no doubt at all that “the first resurrection” is a resurrection from the deadness in sins by hearing and obeying the gospel (John 5:25-29). Still others have tried to make it out that the saints who came out of their graves upon the occasion of the resurrection of Christ constituted the resurrection mentioned here; but that cannot be true, because only “the saints” were raised on that occasion (Matthew 27:53). Therefore, in this second verse we have a prophecy of the general resurrection of all the dead, and also the assignment of his true destiny to every man. Thus Daniel, as did our Lord Jesus Christ in Matthew 25, made the Final Judgment and the general resurrection of the dead to be concurrent events coming at the end of the age. That our Lord Jesus fully approved of this chapter is demonstrated by his use of it in the prophecies which he himself uttered. If men would heed their Saviour’s words instead of following the wild speculations of Biblical enemies they would find little difficulty in believing every word of this prophecy. Verse 3 “And they that are wise shall shine as the brightness of the firmament; and they that turn many to righteousness as the stars forever and ever.“Here again we have a Messianic promise focused upon the post-resurrection glory of the saints who have been glorified. This is a Scriptural promise to be fulfilled in the Final Judgment, that day mentioned by Paul when all of the saints in Christ shall receive the crown of life that never fades away (2 Timothy 4:8). Although the apostle Paul did not quote Daniel, he nevertheless applied this conception of the saints being glorious like the stars in this passage: “For one star differeth from another star in glory. So also is the resurrection of the dead” (1 Corinthians 15:41-42). It should be observed from these words who are the truly wise. “True religion is wisdom, and sin is folly, and those who live for God and for heaven are truly wise."[11] The utter foolishness of sin and rebellion against God is stressed by the words of the Saviour. Regarding that rich farmer who mistook his stomach for his soul and said, “Soul, thou hast much goods laid up,” the Lord said, “Thou fool, this night shall thy soul be required of thee” (Luke 12:20). Of those virgins in the parable who took no oil for their lamps, Jesus said, “Five were foolish” (Matthew 25:2). Concerning the man who heard the sayings of Jesus and did them not, our Lord said, “He shall be likened unto a foolish man who built his house upon the sand” (Matthew 7:27). What an incredible folly characterizes every person who does not strive to live in a manner well pleasing to God! “They that turn many to righteousness …” “This is a reference to those who are instrumental in converting men to the worship of the true God and to the ways of holy religion."[12] This is frequently applied to preachers of God’s Word; but there are many others who qualify. This writer still recalls the example of Sgt. Herbert F. Elrod, of the United States Air Force at Fort Sill, Oklahoma, who was baptized in 1932, and who, within the period of a single year, was the chief instrument in the baptism of twenty-three other persons! Verse 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.““Shut up the words, and seal the book, even to the time of the end …” Keil stated that the true meaning of shut up and seal is that of “guarding and protecting the message” that it might be available to future generations."[13] Moreover, it is perfectly obvious that the instructions thus to guard and protect the message “refers to the whole Book of Daniel."[14]“Men shall run to and fro, and knowledge shall be increased …” Some interpreters have tried to apply this to persons letting their eyes run to and fro searching for the truth; but we cannot find anything like that in the passage. If men will just look at the travel to and from upon the planet earth by men of all nations throughout this whole century, they could not fail to be impressed with the truth that this going “to and fro” on the earth has been multiplied fantastically above everything that was even dreamed of a hundred years ago. Is not this prophesied here as being a development “at the time of the end”? Likewise, has not knowledge been “increased”? In the field of medicine, more knowledge has been learned in the past century than in all previous centuries put together. Furthermore, this same phenomenon may be noted in any one of a hundred different fields of knowledge. Take transportation, chemistry, biology, agriculture, space travel, etc., etc., Is it not a fact that “knowledge has been increased”? Does this mean, therefore, that we are indeed approaching the time of the end? Our own conviction is that the answer is undoubtedly affirmative. Verse 5 “Then I, Daniel, looked, and, behold, there stood other two, the one on the brink of the river on this side, and the other on the brink of the river on that side. And one said to the man clothed in linen, who was above the waters of the river, How long shall it be to the end of these wonders? And 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, and sware by him that liveth forever and ever that it shall be for a time, and times, and a half; and when they have made an end of breaking in pieces the power of the holy people, all these things shall be finished.““How long shall it be to the end of these wonders …” (Daniel 12:6).” This means, “How long shall it be to the end of the world, the general resurrection of the just and the wicked, and the glorification of the saints of God? The answer came back that all of these wonders would come at the end of time, and times, and a half. Fortunately, we know exactly what this means. It is the totality of all the time between the First Advent of Jesus Christ and the Second Coming of the Lord Jesus Christ. (See under Daniel 7:25 for an elaboration of this.) The most dreadful and terrible thing in this little paragraph is the raw prediction that, “THEY SHALL MAKE AN END OF IN PIECES THE POWER OF THE HOLY PEOPLE.” That cannot possibly have any reference to Antiochus Epiphanes, for his persecutions in no manner made an end of breaking in pieces the power of the holy people (The Jews). The meaning here comes far beyond the events of the Maccabean period. “The breaking in pieces of the power of the holy people” is a reference to the near-extermination of Christianity which shall occur near the end of the whole dispensation when the time, and times, and a half are about concluded. Revelation 16 develops this very same idea, revealing a future time when the total spiritual environment on the whole earth shall be seriously if not indeed fatally polluted. It was of this period that Christ inquired, “When the Son of Man cometh shall he find faith on the earth” (Luke 18:8). Note the terminology here, “breaking in pieces the power of the holy people.” What can this be if not indeed the utter fragmentation of Christendom by literally hundreds and hundreds of denominations, sects, cults, fads, etc? Note in this connection that “the holy people” is by no stretch of the imagination a reference to racial Israel. No! The reference is to God’s TRUE ISRAEL, the Church of our Lord Jesus Christ, which is positively theONLY ISRAEL God has ever had since the birth of the Son of God. Verse 8 “And I heard, but I understood not; then said I, O my lord, what shall be the issue of these things? And he said, Go thy way, Daniel, for the words are shut up and sealed till the time of the end.“One of the favorite dictums of Bible enemies is that we should look for what was “probably in the mind of the prophet” to understand and interpret his words; but the Holy Scriptures in this passage offer the complete denial of such a bastard ruling, which, alas, influences much of the so-called “interpreting” of the ancient prophecies. Here Daniel freely admitted that he did not understand the words which the holy one spoke unto him and which he wrote down and sealed. He asked for information about what the words meant, but the holy one refused to enlighten him further, saying, “Go thy way, the words are shut up and sealed till the time of the end.” There was no way, really, that Daniel could have understood these words. Why? (1) The holy people whose power was to be broken in pieces in the mind of Daniel was doubtless a reference to the OLD ISRAEL; but we have known since Jesus Christ that HE, and HE ALONE is the true Israel of God (John 15:1; John 15:5). (2) The expression, “time, and times, and a half a time” could have had no practical meaning whatever for Daniel. (3) The prophecies of knowledge being increased and men going “to and fro” could never have been fully understood by any person living prior to the 20th century! In this connection, one should read 1 Peter 1:10-12, where this phenomenon of the prophets not understanding their own prophecies is specifically stated. Verse 10 “Many shall purify themselves, and make themselves white, and be refined; but the wicked shall do wickedly; and none of the wicked shall understand; but they that are wise shall understand.“Daniel desired to know, “What shall be the issue of these things…(Daniel 12:8).” Well here it is. Many shall indeed obey the gospel of Christ and be saved, or “refined” as stated here; but there shall continue to be wicked men who shall act wickedly and shall not be able either to understand or comprehend spiritual things in any manner whatever. This little sentence is a picture of the entire dispensation of the Gospel of Christ. The great cleavage of mankind into the two Biblical groups is seen here: the saved and the lost, the good and the bad, the wheat and the chaff, the wise and the foolish, the wheat and the tares, the keepers and the rejects (the parable of the fish-net), those on the fight hand and those on the left, etc. etc. Verse 11 “And from the time that the continual burnt-offering shall be taken away, and the abomination that maketh desolate set up, there shall be a thousand two hundred and ninety days.“The big problem with this verse is that of the one thousand two hundred and ninety days. It so nearly corresponds with the one thousand two hundred and sixty days that one is at a total loss to account for the discrepancy. We agree with Thomson that, “No satisfactory solution to this mystery is possible."[15] Probably the best view of it is to understand it as a symbol of the same period, namely, the whole Christian dispensation, as that of the “time, and times, and a half a time,” the one thousand two hundred and three score days. One possible meaning, which is as reasonable as any we have encountered is that, since the one thousand two hundred and threescore days stands for the whole period between the First and the Second Advents of Jesus Christ, these tabulations in verse 11 (one thousand two hundred and ninety days) and the one in verse 12 (one thousand three hundred and five and thirty days) also represent the whole dispensation, the slightly different numbers indicating God’s adjustment of the exact time of Christ’s coming in order more exactly to conform to his infinite will. It will be recalled that there was mentioned “a shortening” of certain days (Matthew 24:22). Some have vainly tried to get Antiochus into this passage; but many have pointed out that there is positively no period whatever in the life of that evil ruler that could possibly have been fulfilled by these predictions even if viewed as literal days, or upon any other reasonable conjecture. Assuming, then, that the one thousand two hundred ninety days is but a slightly variable reference to “the time, and times, and a half a time,” which we understand to be the entire Christian dispensation, the “terminus ad quem”, or starting point for the calculation of this period is described in this verse as, “the time when the continual burnt-offering shall be taken away and the abomination that maketh desolate shall be set up.” That time, of course, was pinpointed by the Christ himself as occurring at the destruction of Jerusalem when the Christians were warned to flee from the city. At first thought, one might hesitate to place this event in A.D. 70 as concurrent with the beginning of the Christian era in A.D. 30; but in the prophetic sense, that was precisely the date when Jesus Christ consigned the Herodian temple to complete destruction and removal, even to the extent that not a single stone would be left on top of another. In this light, we see no difficulty at all in finding the entire Christian dispensation indicated by this time reference. “The continual burnt-offering was taken away forever in the destruction of Jerusalem. The short period of time when Antiochus caused the daily sacrifices to cease was a trifling and unimportant event compared with the actual and permanent removal of the continual burnt-offering in Christ’s condemnation and commitment of the Temple to complete destruction. Verse 12 It is strange that the “thousand three hundred and five and thirty days” should have been identified by the definite article “the,” as if this time period had already been mentioned earlier. This is the grounds upon which many hold this to be merely a variable of the “the time, and times, and half a time,” featured in these final verses, and in the Book of Revelation. However, as Barnes pointed out, “The article is not used in the original."[16]“There is much apparent abruptness here. What the angel said in these closing communications has much the character of being fragmented…hints, or detached and unexplained thoughts thrown out, upon which the angel did not elect to enlarge, or explain."[17]It is simply a mystery to us as to why these variable time-periods are used here; and our conviction remains that in some general sense, at least, they appear to have reference to the whole Christian dispensation, exactly as does “the time, and times, and a half a time.” THE BLESSED PROMISE TO DANIEL"Thou shalt rest, and shall stand in thy lot, at the end of the days …“Young’s beautiful comment on this is, “Daniel himself is assured of his salvation, and that he shall stand in his lot at the end of the days. May this same destination be that of all who read these words!"[18]Our studies in Daniel remind us of those done in the Book of Jonah. Both books have come under the most vicious fire of the critics; but it turns out that both afford very rich rewards for the student. Both Daniel and Jonah were approved and endorsed, quoted and made applicable to the ministry and kingdom of Christ by the Lord himself. There is no intelligent reason for rejecting a single line of either book. Each one of them carries its own imprimatur of the Holy Spirit.

Commentary On Daniel Twelve by Eric HallDaniel 12 Daniel 12:1-4 1 “ At that time shall arise Michael, the great prince who has charge of your people. And there shall be a time of trouble, such as never has been since there was a nation till that time; but at that time your people shall be delivered, every one whose name shall be found written in the book. 2 And many of those who sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, some to everlasting life, and some to shame and everlasting contempt. 3 And those who are wise shall shine like the brightness of the firmament; and those who turn many to righteousness, like the stars for ever and ever. 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.” The most important words in understanding this section of the vision are the first three in verse 1: “ At that time.” They provide the time frame for this part of the vision, which of course is crucial to understanding the vision. What is the time frame? The items mentioned here in Chapter 12 will occur at the time when Chapter 11 came to an end. What was happening when Chapter 11 came to an end? Rome had just established its authority in Palestine. The angel is telling Daniel (very plainly) that this part of the vision applies to the time when Rome would be in charge of the Holy Land. But, we do not have to rely on this clue alone to determine the time when this prophecy would occur. We can also look at what the angel said would happen, and then look elsewhere in the Scripture to see when it happened. Let’ s consider these other clues: (1) At this time, the angel Michael would arise. Here he is called the “ great prince who has charge of your people.” In Daniel 10:21, he is called “ your prince.” Just like Persia had a prince in Chapter 10, the Jews also had a prince; Michael. The fact that Michael is involved here indicates that this vision involves the Jews. This also fits in well with what we were told at the beginning of this vision. Daniel 10:14 told us that this vision would tell us about the Jews in the latter days. (Recall that Acts 2 tells us that the latter days spoken of by the prophets occurred in the first century.) (2) At this time there would be “ a time of trouble, such as never has been since there was a nation till that time.” As we have already discussed, this was a common way of describing a very terrible calamity. Did such a calamity befall the Jews at this time? Yes. Read the description of Jerusalem’ s destruction found in Matthew 24:21.Matthew 24:21 For then there will be great tribulation, such as has not been from the beginning of the world until now, no, and never will be. You might also compare Josephus’ description of the destruction of Jerusalem by the Romans. It is impossible to give every instance of the iniquity of these men [the Romans]. I shall therefore speak my mind here at once briefly: that never did any other city suffer such miseries. (3) Verse 1 tells us that at that time all of the faithful Jews (i.e. those of Daniel’ s people whose names are in the book) will be delivered. Did that happen in the first century? Absolutely. Jeremiah 33:14-16 Behold, the days are coming, says the Lord, when I will fulfil the promise I made to the house of Israel and the house of Judah. 15 In those days and at that time I will cause a righteous Branch to spring forth for David; and he shall execute justice and righteousness in the land. 16 In those days Judah will be saved and Jerusalem will dwell securely. And this is the name by which it will be called: ‘The Lord is our righteousness.’ Luke 1:68-70 Blessed be the Lord God of Israel, for he has visited and redeemed his people, 69 and has raised up a horn of salvation for us in the house of his servant David, 70 as he spoke by the mouth of his holy prophets from of old. Verses 2– 3 talk about a resurrection. Is this the final resurrection at the end of the world? Well, despite countless sermons to the contrary, I do not think that this is the final resurrection. If this is the final resurrection, then we must conclude that the vision includes the end of the world, and hence we must conclude that the Jews have a special role to play in the end of the world. This is clearly in conflict with other scriptures that tell us there is no distinction between Jew and Greek in the church. Which resurrection does it apply to then? It is the resurrection of the Jewish nation. It is the time when a Jewish Messiah would come to bring blessings to the entire world. The Jewish nation would be resurrected under Christ. What happened to the Jews at this time? Those Jews who followed Christ were saved. Here they are pictured as awakening to everlasting life. This is the resurrection of the faithful Jewish remnant who were taken from foreign domination and ushered into the kingdom of God under the rule of their Messiah. Those Jews who rejected Christ were lost. Here they are pictured as awakening to shame and everlasting contempt. Is this resurrection spoken of elsewhere in the Bible? You bet! Ezekiel 37:12-13 Therefore prophesy, and say to them, Thus says the Lord GOD: Behold, I will open your graves, and raise you from your graves, O my people; and I will bring you home into the land of Israel. 13 And you shall know that I am the Lord, when I open your graves, and raise you from your graves, O my people. John 5:25 Truly, truly, I say to you, the hour is coming, and now is, when the dead will hear the voice of the Son of God, and those who hear will live. Ephesians 5:14 Therefore it is said, “ Awake, O sleeper, and arise from the dead, and Christ shall give you light.” Luke 2:34 and Simeon blessed them and said to Mary his mother, “ Behold, this child is set for the fall and rising of many in Israel… A very puzzling event to many has been the actual resurrection of some that occurred at the death of Christ. Recall: Matthew 27:52-53 the tombs also were opened, and many bodies of the saints who had fallen asleep were raised, 53 and coming out of the tombs after his resurrection they went into the holy city and appeared to many. I think that this actual resurrection of faithful Jews in Jerusalem was a sign that all of the faithful Jews still living would be resurrected as well at this time. That is, this physical resurrection reminded the people of the spiritual resurrection that occurred at this time. Many use this passage to apply to the end of the world. I think they are taking it out of context. (How many times have you heard both Daniel 12:2 and Daniel 11 discussed in the same sermon?) If you want to apply Daniel 12:2 to the end of the world then you should be aware of the logical consequence that the Jews must then have a future role to play in God’ s plan. Finally, Daniel is again told to seal up the vision, which means that it pertains to a future time and a future people. (Recall that John was told just the opposite in the book of Revelation!) Daniel 12:5-7 5 Then I Daniel looked, and behold, two others stood, one on this bank of the stream and one on that bank of the stream. 6 And I said to the man clothed in linen, who was above the waters of the stream, “ How long shall it be till the end of these wonders?” 7 The man clothed in linen, who was above the waters of the stream, raised his right hand and his left hand toward heaven; and I heard him swear by him who lives for ever that it would be for a time, two times, and half a time; and that when the shattering of the power of the holy people comes to an end all these things would be accomplished. Daniel asked how long it would be until the end of the events in the vision. He is told that it would be “ a time, two times, and half a time” and that everything in the vision would be accomplished when “ the shattering of the power of the holy people comes to an end.” First, nowhere is there a clearer statement than here that the vision ends in AD 70 with the destruction of Jerusalem and the temple. That was the shattering of the power of the holy people. This vision ends with the Romans and the Romans are the ones who shattered the power of the holy people. (If we take Daniel 12:2 to apply to a still future event then we must conclude that this shattering is still future as well.) The “ time, two times, and half a time” is a broken 7, and we have seen this symbol before. The angel is telling Daniel that while the Jews will be oppressed, it will not be a permanent oppression. The power of Rome would end one day, and the faithful remnant of true Jews would be victorious in Christ. God’ s promises to the Jews have always been conditioned on their faithfulness to him. The true Jew was always the faithful Jew. The prophets said this. Jesus said this. Paul said this. The faithful Jews were saved at the time of Christ. (Jeremiah 33:14– 16 and Romans 11:26.) The faithless Jews were completely cut off during the time of Christ. (Matthew 21:43 and Acts 3:22– 23.) Daniel 12:8-12 8 I heard, but I did not understand. Then I said, “ O my lord, what shall be the issue of these things?” 9 He said, “ Go your way, Daniel, for the words are shut up and sealed until the time of the end. 10 Many shall purify themselves, and make themselves white, and be refined; but the wicked shall do wickedly; and none of the wicked shall understand; but those who are wise shall understand. 11 And from the time that the continual burnt offering is taken away, and the abomination that makes desolate is set up, there shall be a thousand two hundred and ninety days. 12 Blessed is he who waits and comes to the thousand three hundred and thirty-five days. 13 But go your way till the end; and you shall rest, and shall stand in your allotted place at the end of the days.” As you might suspect, Daniel is confused. This story does not seem to have a happy ending. How can God’ s plan for the Jews end with the complete destruction of Jerusalem and the temple? Daniel asks the angel for an explanation of this seeming discrepancy. Now, here is an important point. At this point, Daniel does not understand the point of the vision. Yet, in Daniel 10:1, Daniel said that he did understand the vision. Thus, the explanation from the angel that we are about to read gave Daniel the extra information he needed to understand the point of the vision. First, the angel reminds Daniel that the end of the vision would not occur for some time. He would not be personally affected by these events. Many good things and many bad things would happen before it came to pass. Those who were wicked would not understand; that is, they would not know that they were playing a part in the plan of God. Those who were wise, however, would know that they were playing a part in the plan of God. Indeed, they would know that the events that were occurring had been spoken of here in Daniel 11 and 12. In verse 10, the angel is assuring Daniel that God will bless those who are good and the wicked will perish. This is just what Daniel needed to hear since this vision ended with the destruction of Jerusalem and the temple. That is, it appeared that at the end of this vision the wicked were blessed and the good perished. The angel assures Daniel that just the opposite is true. The angel then says that from the time that the burnt offering is taken away and the abomination that makes desolate is set up, there shall be 1290 days. Further, those who wait for 1335 days will be blessed. Note that the 1290 days occur after both the removal of the burnt offering and the abomination that makes desolate. In particular, the 1290 days do not separate these two events. Are this removal of the daily sacrifice and this abomination of desolation the same ones that we read about in Daniel 11:31? They cannot be. Jesus pointed to a prophecy of Daniel in Matthew 24:15 regarding the abomination of desolation and said that it had not happened yet, but that it would happen in the first century (Matthew 24:34). The abomination of desolation in Daniel 11:31 happened nearly 200 years before the birth of Christ. Since Daniel only mentions the abomination twice, Jesus must be referring to the one mentioned here. We have another clue that this is the fact. Look at Matthew 24:15. Matthew 24:15 So when you see the desolating sacrilege spoken of by the prophet Daniel, standing in the holy place (let the reader understand). Do you see the phrase “ let the reader understand” ? Why did Jesus say that? He wanted us to know that he was pointing back to Daniel 12:11 because almost the same phrase is found in Daniel 12:10 where we read “ those who are wise shall understand.” (A similar phrase is found in Daniel 11:33 but there it refers to the Maccabeans.) Which abomination is this then? It is the desecration of the temple by the Romans in AD 70. The vision ends with the Romans. Jesus was talking about the Romans in Matthew 24. In Matthew 24:15,34 Jesus said that the abomination he spoke of would occur in the first century. The desecration by Antiochus IV occurred long before the birth of Christ. What about the 1290 days and the 1335 days? What do they denote? What would we expect then to denote? Daniel doesn’ t understand how God’ s plan for the Jews could end with the destruction of the Jews. After he hears this, though, he understands God’ s plan. What must God have told him? God must have told him that God’ s plan for the Jews did not end with the destruction of the their city and their temple. He may also have told him that those who destroyed the city and the temple would themselves be destroyed, and thus would not ultimately be victorious. How do these symbols denote that? Revelation 13:5 uses 1260 days to describe the temporary power of Rome. Since 1260 days Isaiah 42 months (30 days each), we have 3.5 years. Thus, 1260 days points to a broken 7. But here we have 1290 days. Why the extra month? I think that God is telling Daniel that while the Roman persecution will be temporary, it will be longer and worse than other persecutions. It will be a broken 7 plus a little bit more. What about the extra 45 days between the 1290 days and the 1335 days? What would we expect it to denote? The context suggests that it denotes the time after Rome during which God’ s followers must continue to persevere. Why would 45 denote that? No one knows for sure, but we can speculate. The number 5 is said by some to symbolize the grace of God. (The number 5 and multiples of 5 occur all throughout the tabernacle.) The number 9 is said by some to denote finality and judgment. (The 9 judgments of Haggai 1:11, for example.) [See the book You Can Count On It by Eli Borden.] Thus, 45 being 5 × 9 may denote the grace of God leading to the final judgment of the world. This is just speculation, however. It is possible that the number 45 had some significance that has been lost to us but was quickly understood by Daniel. (While we cannot be certain of the meaning of this number, we can be certain of the meaning of the message that Daniel received.) One other possibility is that the 45 days (month and a half) is simply God’ s way of telling Daniel that after Rome, God’ s people will need to persevere a little longer. This would fit in well with our explanation of the extra 30 days in the 1290 days. Finally, Daniel is assured that while he will not live to see these events , he will be present at “ the end of the days.” And the “ end of the days” ? What does that refer to? I think that we have at last come to the end of the world! The vision is over. The Romans are gone. God’ s grace has been extended to the final judgment. Daniel is again present and standing in his allotted place. This is the final judgment of the world. (Recall that the vision dealing with the end of the Jewish age ended in verse 4 of this chapter. Thus, it does not violate the time frame of that vision to say that Daniel is now hearing about the end of the world.) Thus, while Daniel 12:2 does not refer to the final resurrection, I think that Daniel 12:13 does. Daniel goes to his rest in verse 13, but then we see him standing again. Another possibility is that the end of the days is the fall of Jerusalem and that Daniel stands up and figuratively takes his place when the events in his book come to pass. This view is not as appealing since verse 12 seems to take us past the end of Rome. The book ends with a complete confirmation of one of the book’ s principle themes: the absolute and total sovereignty of God. God is in control of this world and this universe and he has a plan to bless the entire world through his son Jesus Christ. This book has given us a glimpse of just what was involved in bringing that plan about. 1 Peter 1:18-21 You know that you were ransomed from the futile ways inherited from your fathers, not with perishable things such as silver or gold, 19 but with the precious blood of Christ, like that of a lamb without blemish or spot. 20 He was destined before the foundation of the world but was made manifest at the end of the times for your sake. 21 Through him you have confidence in God, who raised him from the dead and gave him glory, so that your faith and hope are in God. We are looking back over 2500 years of history, and during that time we have seen virtually everything in this book come to pass. But there is one thing that we have not yet seen. We like Daniel are waiting for that day when we will stand up and take our allotted place among the people of God.

“THE BOOK OF DANIEL”

The Vision Of The Time Of The End - III (Daniel 11:36 to Daniel 12:13)

1. We have been studying the final vision recorded in the book of Daniel… a. Depicting what will affect Daniel’s people (i.e., Israel) - Daniel 10:14b. Describing events “in the latter days, for the vision refers to many days yet to come” - Daniel 10:14c. Its words were closed and sealed “till the time of the end”-Daniel 12:9– For such reasons this vision has been called “The Vision Of The Time Of The End”

2. In the introductory remarks of the vision, there is a glimpse of spiritual warfare… a. Angelic forces withstanding each other - Daniel 10:13 a,20b. Angelic forces helping each other - Daniel 10:13 b,21; 11:1– Such forces affecting the nations of Persia and Greece

3. As the vision unfolds, a series of future conflicts involving nations is described… a. Between the Persians and the Greeks - Daniel 11:2-4b. Between kings of the South (Egypt) and kings of the North (Syria)

• Daniel 11:5-351) In this conflict, Israel would be caught in the middle

2. Israel would suffer extreme blasphemies by one Syrian king (Antiochus Epiphanes)

4. Beginning with Daniel 11:36, there is a large diversity of opinion… a. Regarding the identity of the king described in Daniel 11:36-45b. The time in which events described in Daniel 11:36 to Daniel 12:13 would be fulfilled

[As with any difficult portion of Scripture, especially one involving prophecy, dogmatism should be avoided. In this study, our final one in this series of lessons on the Book of Daniel, I shall offer what I believe is a plausible explanation of the text…]

I. THE OF THE KING AND HIS TIMES A. THREE VIEWS…1. The king is Antiochus Epiphanes of Syria a. The vile and blasphemous ruler described in Daniel 11:21-35b. The time of his persecution would therefore be 169-167 B.C. c. The time of the Maccabean revolt – This view is espoused by Albert Barnes in his commentary 2. The king represents the Roman emperors a. Who persecuted Christians in the early years of the church b. The time of this persecution would therefore be 60-313 A.D. – This view is proposed by Robert Harkrider in his workbook 3. The king represents the Anti-Christ a. A future ruler still to come b. The time of this persecution would be shortly before the return of Christ – This view is held by pre-millennialists, but also by some amillennialists (e.g., Edward Young)

B. SEEMS A LIKELY CHOICE…1. The allusion in previous verses is undoubtedly to Antiochus Epiphanes 2. There is no indication in the prophetic narrative of any change; notice… a. “Then the king shall do…” - Daniel 11:36b. “At the time of the end the king of South shall attack him…” - Daniel 11:40c. “At that time Michael…” - Daniel 12:1d. “At that time your people shall be delivered…”-Daniel 12:13. A sudden transition, with no given indication, is not in accordance with what is usually found in prophetic writings (Barnes) 4. The word “king” is never applied to Antichrist (if there in fact be “the Antichrist”, as the Bible speaks of many antichrists - 1 John 2:18; 1 John 2:22; 1 John 4:3; 2 John 1:7) 5. The description that follows can easily be applied to the person and times of Antiochus Epiphanes

[This is not imply there is no difficulty with applying this passage to Antiochus Epiphanes and his times, but I believe it possesses fewer difficulties than alternative views. Now let’s consider what is described to come…]

II. THE EVENTS AT “THE TIME OF THE END” A. THE OF THIS KING…1. He shall magnify himself above every god - Daniel 11:36-37a. Speaking blasphemies against the God of gods b. Prospering till the wrath that has been determined is done (suggesting that this was allowed by God as part of divine judgment against Israel) - cf. Daniel 11:35; as with the case of Assyria and Israel, Isaiah 10:5-12c. He shall not regard the god of his fathers, nor the desire of women, nor any god 2. He shall honor a god of fortresses - Daniel 11:38-39a. A god which his fathers did not know (some suggest the Roman god Mars, or Jupiter) b. He shall act against the strongest fortresses with this foreign god, rule over many and divide the land for gain – In his commentary, Albert Barnes explains how this could apply to Antiochus

B. THE AND END OF THIS KING…1. The king of the South (Egypt) shall attack him - Daniel 11:40a. Note that this will occur “at the time of the end” b. This may help pinpoint the meaning of the “latter days” of Daniel 10:142. The king of the North (Antiochus Epiphanes) will respond and overwhelm the countries - Daniel 11:40-43a. Entering the “Glorious Land” (Israel) b. Overthrowing many, while Edom, Moab and Ammon will escape c. Egypt will not escape, even Libyans and Ethiopians will submit 3. He shall come to his end - Daniel 11:44-45a. News from the east and north will trouble him (from Persia) b. He shall proceed to destroy and annihilate many, planting his tents between the seas and the glorious holy mountain (Mt. Zion, Jerusalem?) c. Yet he shall come to his end, no one helping him (Antiochus died in 163 B.C. of a terrible disease) – Again, Barnes relates in detail how these events could refer to Antiochus

C. THE VICTORY OF DANIEL’S PEOPLE…1. To occur “at that time” - Daniel 12:1a. To be assisted by “Michael…the great prince who stands watch over the sons of your people” - cf. Daniel 10:13; Daniel 10:21b. In a time of a trouble not seen before c. Deliverance of Daniel’s people “at that time”

1. I.e., the time just previously described
2. I.e., the time of the conflict involving Antiochus Epiphanes

2. Many who sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake - Daniel 12:2a. Some to everlasting life b. Some to shame and everlasting contempt – Note that this is not likely the physical resurrection of the dead, for then “all” (not “many”) shall be raised

• John 5:28-293. Those who will shine at this time - Daniel 12:3a. The wise will shine like the brightness of the firmament b. Those who turn many to righteousness will shine like the stars forever and ever – Using the figure of the resurrection, this may depict the Maccabean revolt when the Jews came out of caves and mountain hideouts to resist Antiochus - cf. Daniel 11:33-35 D. FINAL AND ANSWERS GIVEN TO DANIEL…1. Shut up the words, and seal the book until the time of the end
• Daniel 12:4a. Perhaps what is meant is to stop writing, and secure what he has written b. Compare this with Daniel 8:17; Daniel 8:19; Daniel 8:261) Both visions (Daniel 8, 10-12) were to be sealed up

2. Both pertained to many days in the future
3. Yet both visions were fulfilled within 200-400 years c. Contrast this with Revelation 22:101) The vision of the Revelation was not to be sealed, for the time was at hand
4. How then the explanation of some that the events of Revelation have yet to begin, nearly 2000 years later?

2. Two final questions answered a. One question overheard by Daniel - Daniel 12:5-71) Daniel saw two others, one on each side of a river bank

2. One asked the man clothed in linen (cf. Daniel 10:5-6) above the river: “How long shall the fulfillment of these wonders be?”
3. The answer: “…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.” a) The “time, times, and half a time” (3 and a half years, 42 months, 1260 days) is commonly used to describe a definite, marked, period of tribulation

• cf. Daniel 7:25; Revelation 11:2-3; Revelation 12:6; Revelation 12:13-14; Revelation 13:5b) When the persecution has accomplished its purpose, then the things described will take place b. The question asked by Daniel - Daniel 12:8-131) Not understanding, Daniel asks: “…what shall be the end of these things?”

2. Daniel is first told: a) To go, for the words are closed and sealed till the time of the end b) That many shall be purified, and the wise shall understand - cf. Daniel 11:33-35c) That the wicked shall do wickedly, and not understand

• cf. Daniel 11:32d) That there will be a period of “1290 days” beginning from: 1/ The time the daily sacrifice is taken away - cf. Daniel 11:312/ The abomination of desolation is set up - cf. Daniel 11:31e) Those who wait and come to “1335 days” will be blessed – Whether literal or figurative, these numbered days appear to apply to the period of the Antiochian persecution (ca. 168 B.C.)

3. Daniel is then told: a) To go his way till the end b) For he shall rest and arise to his inheritance at the end of the days – This “end” or “end of the days” may refer to the actual resurrection on the day of Judgment, not “the time of the end” spoken of throughout this vision

1. We have seen that “The Vision Of The Time Of The End” describes events that would… a Affect Daniel’s people (i.e., Israel) - Daniel 10:14b. Take place “in the latter days, for the vision refers to many days yet to come” - Daniel 10:14c. Occur in “the time of the end” - Daniel 11:35; Daniel 11:40; Daniel 12:4; Daniel 12:9

2. From the context, “the time of the end” likely refers to the closing days of God’s dealings with Israel as His covenant nation; i.e.,… a. The inter-testamental period between Malachi and Matthew b. The period involving the Greek-Persian and Egyptian-Syrian conflicts – Which is how the phrase is used in “The Vision Of The Ram and The Goat” that depicts many of the same events - cf. Daniel 8:1-27(esp. Daniel 8:17; Daniel 8:26)

3. As we conclude our study of the Book of Daniel, we have found it to be a book that… a. Strengthens faith in God and His Word through its fulfilled prophecies

1. Describing the rise and fall of world empires - Daniel 2, 4-52) Foretelling the establishment of God’s everlasting kingdom

• Daniel 2, 7, 93) Depicting the events to befall the people of Israel - Daniel 8, 9, 10-12b. Inspires faithfulness to God through its examples of dedicated faith and service

1. Of Daniel - Daniel 1, 62) Of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego - Daniel 3 While there is certainly much in this book that challenges our understanding, may we never neglect to mine its spiritual treasures preserved for the people of God:

“For whatever things were written before were written for our learning, that we through the patience and comfort of the Scriptures might have hope.” - Romans 15:4 “THE BOOK OF DANIEL”

Chapter Twelve “The Vision Of The Time Of The End” concludes with assurance of ultimate victory for Daniel’s people (Israel), in words suggestive of the final resurrection (Daniel 12:1-3). Daniel is given instructions to seal the book because it pertain to things in the future. Asking when these things will be accomplished, he is given cryptic answers, but is reassured that he himself shall rest and rise to his inheritance at the end of the days (Daniel 12:4-13).

POINTS TO PONDER

• Identifying the “time of trouble” and “time of the end” in this chapter

• The instructions for Daniel to “shut up the words, and seal the book”

REVIEW

1. What are the main points of this chapter?- The ultimate victory of Daniel’s people - Daniel 12:1-3- Final instructions and answers given to Daniel - Daniel 12:4-13
2. What events were to occur “at that time”? (Daniel 12:1-3)- Michael, the great prince who watches over Daniel’s people, shall stand up

• There shall be time of trouble, unlike any before
• Daniel’s people (those whose name found written in the book) will be delivered
• Many will who sleep in the dust shall awake, some to life and others to shame
• The wise and those who turn many to righteousness will shine

3. What suggests that this “time” is not the Last Day or end of time as we know it? (Daniel 12:2)- Only “many” are said to arise, not “all”; thus this text may be figurative (cf. John 5:28-29)

4. What instructions was Daniel given, and why? (Daniel 12:4; Daniel 12:9)- Shut up the words, and seal the book

• For the words are closed and sealed until “the time of the end”

5. What questions does Daniel ask of the man clothed in linen? (Daniel 12:6; Daniel 12:8)- “How long shall the fulfillment of these wonders be?”

• “What shall be the end of these things?”

6. What answers are given to Daniel? (Daniel 12:7; Daniel 12:11-12)- “It shall be for a time, times, and half a time”

• “From the time the daily sacrifice is taken away, and the abomination of desolation is set up, there shall be 1290 days.”
• “Blessed is he who waits, and comes to the 1335 days.”

7. What words of comfort and assurance are given to Daniel? (Daniel 12:10; Daniel 12:13)- “Many will be purified, made white, and refined…the wise shall understand.”

• “…you shall rest, and will arise to your inheritance at the end of the days.”

Daniel 12:1

Daniel 12:1. That is a demonstrative pronoun but does not necessarily refer to any definite time as to exact date. It means that a certain time is referred to and is designated by this pronoun because of the importance of the events to be predicted. The closing events of the preceding chapter bring the date down to a century and a half before Christ. Since those events were directly connected with the bitter experiences of the Jews, it was appropriate to speak of the good things about to be predicted as being for the sake cf thy (Daniel’ s) people. However, there were to be some more hardships imposed upon God’ s people, only they will be His people belonging to all nations and not the Jews alone.

Altogether, the things predicted in this chapter will pertain to the greater part of the Christian Dispensation, even including the general resurrection at the last day. No doubt the prophecy in this verse is still remembering the persecutions of the Jews because of Epiphanes’ wicked treatment of them, and that Michael was an instrument in God’ s hands to help them according to Hebrews 1:13-14, But the passage is not restricted to that subject for the vision passes immediately in the next verse to the events of the resurrection day.

Daniel 12:2

Daniel 12:2. Beyond any question, this verse predicts the general resurrection since it includes the two classes of mankind, the good and the evil. In John 5:28-29 the Lord Jesus makes the same prediction in virtually the same language. As further evidence that this is a prediction of the general resurrection we have Paul In Acts 24:15 mentioning the general resurrection, and says of it that they (the Jews) themselves also allow, or admit. Yet the Jews could not have known of this doctrine but from the prophecy of Daniel. Many of them does not signify that not all will arise. The word many is defined by Strong as “ abundant,” and the phrase merely means that a vast number of people will have lived and died by the time of the resurrection day.

Daniel 12:3

Daniel 12:3. This verse has been perverted to teach that the saved will have stars in their erowns. That theory is wrong from every standpoint, and entirely misses the things pre-dicted. The saved are said to shine as the stars hut that has nothing to do with their possessing any stars in their crown, for there is not even any mention of crowns.

Daniel 12:4

Daniel 12:4. Shut up the words, and seal the booh Indicates that the fulfillment of the predictions would be far in the future. Before they are fulfilled knowledge shall be increased. This refers to the general diffusion of the light of truth to be sent out through the kingdom of Christ, and predicted also in Isaiah 11:9.

Daniel 12:5

Daniel 12:5. The prophet next sees a vision of things to take place in the Gospel age, or at least things that will be a part of its blessings. The Lord often uses rivers and other streams figuratively to represent His blessings upon the righteous. However, at the present time Daniel is still by the river where he received his last message from heaven. Now there is a person on each side of the river prepared to give some information in the hearing of the prophet.

Daniel 12:6

Daniel 12:6. One of the men spoke to the man clothed in linen (Daniel 10:5) and asked how long it would be to the end of these wonders. The answer that will be given Indicates the question pertained to a period in the far- off future that would be similar in principle to that previously predicted to come In the nearer future on the Jews.

Daniel 12:7

Daniel 12:7. The answer came in figurative language, that it was to be after a time, times and a half. This is the same symbolic prediction that is made in Daniel 7:25 and means the “dark ages” of 1260 years. The figure is explained at that place which the reader should see. Scatter the power of the holy people refers to the persecutions of Christians by Rome during the dark ages.

Daniel 12:8

Daniel 12:8. Daniel saw the men and heard them speak, but he was concerned because he did not understand the answer to the question.

Daniel 12:9

Daniel 12:9. The spokesman rather put Daniel off with an indefinite reply for the same reason as expressed in verse 4 where be was told to seal the book because the fulfillment was to be in the long future.

Daniel 12:10

Daniel 12:10. While the man or angel would cot go into all the details of the things predicted, yet Daniel was given some further information as to what would happen in the course of the “dark ages.” Many shall be purified, and made white, and tried by the per-secutions of the dark ages. None of the wicked shall understand refers to the blindness of the Roman clergy, and the same is predicted by Paul in 2 Thessalonians 2:11.

Daniel 12:11

Daniel 12:11. Daily sacrifices and abom-ination. that maketh desolate are used figuratively or comparatively. The terms are those used of the corruption of the sacrifice by Epiphanes, but they are used to denote the time when the dark ages would start, because at that time the pure worship would be polluted by Rome. The prophet was told it would be 1290 days, while the period of the dark ages was 1260 (years). But it took some time before the work got a good start, so the addition of 30 (years) is allowed in this figurative prophecy.

Daniel 12:12

Daniel 12:12. When the work of Luther and his co-laborers got well underway, the clergy of Rome and leaders of the temporal dominions of the State that formed the union known as Babylon the Great, began to see what it was all about and began to persecute the reformers. For some time they were subjected to bitter experiences, comparable with the ones suffered by the Maccabees, and the distress was so great that some yielded and gave up the struggle. There were others, though, who waited and came through until the battle of the Reformation was won, which the passage sets at the end of 1335 days (years), and a blessing is promised to those who endured to that time. Of course the number of years indicated is only approximate, but it gives the general idea of the great epoch.

Daniel 12:13

Daniel 12:13. The vision is ended and Daniel is dismissed to go on his way. He has faithfully and patiently given attention to the address of man or angel. Thou shalt rest is a blessing pronounced upon him in view of his righteous life. He has been an exile from the land of his fathers since the beginning of the great captivity and it is now the third year since that period ended. Stand in thy lot. The first word means to be established and the last means fortune or destiny. The promise means that when the last great day cornea fend of the days), Daniel will be among those who will be able to join with the faithful of all ages in sharing the blessings of Him whose faithful servant lie lias been while living on the earth.