The Final Trial of Daniel's People (Daniel 12)

Class Notes

• Tribulation Suffering followed by Resurrection Glory (Daniel 12:1-3)
  • "At that time Michael shall stand up, the great prince which standeth for the children of thy people"
    (Daniel 12:1)
    • The "children of thy (Daniel's) people" (Daniel 12:1) are the oppressed "children of Israel" (Daniel 1:3)
    • Michael, "your (Israel's) prince", is one of the "two chief (angelic) princes" who remained faithful to God
      (Daniel 10:13,21) - the other being Gabriel, Daniel's heavenly instructor (Daniel 8:16; Daniel 9:21)
    • "At that time" (Daniel 12:1) when "Michael shall stand up" (Daniel 12:1), i.e. fight and prevail against Israel's arch enemy (Revelation 12:7-8) "in the midst of" the Tribulation week (Daniel 9:27)
    • "At that time" (Daniel 12:1), Israel's arch enemy and his host will be "cast out into the earth" (Revelation 12:9) and "as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour" (I Peter 5:8)
      • "At that time" (Daniel 12:1), Israel shall face the "flood" of "the Serpent" (Revelation 12:15-16 cf. Matthew 24:15-16)
      • "At that time" (Daniel 12:1), Israel shall face the "wrath" of "the Dragon" (Revelation 12:17 cf. Revelation 2:10)
  • "At that time" (Daniel 12:1), i.e. from the middle of the Tribulation week until the end of the Tribulation week - is said to be "a TIME OF TROUBLE, such as never since there was a nation even to THAT SAME TIME" (Daniel 12:1)
    • It is at THIS TIME that faithful Israel will be delivered (Daniel 12:1), i.e. "it is even the TIME OF JACOB'S TROUBLE; but he shall be saved out of it" (Jeremiah 30:7)
    • It is THIS TIME which is referred to by the Lord as the "GREAT TRIBULATION, such as was not since the beginning of this world until THIS TIME" (Matthew 24:21)
    • It is at THIS TIME when the Adversary "shall wear out the saints of the Most High" (Daniel 7:25) and "shall scatter the power of the holy people" (Daniel 12:7)
  • "At that time ... thy people shall be delivered, every one that shall be found written in the Book" (Daniel 12:1 cf. Malachi 3:16-17)
    • Finally, "at that time", there was "heard a LOUD voice saying, NOW is come SALVATION ... for the Accuser of our brethren is cast down" (Revelation 12:10)
    • It is at THIS TIME that Israel's "man child" will be "caught up unto God, and His Throne" (Revelation 12:4-5 cf. Isaiah 66:6-7), i.e. the 144,000 Israelites who will be untainted by idolatry (Revelation 14:3-5 cf. Revelation 2:14,20) and whom the Lord will "keep ... from the hour of temptation (trial), which shall come upon ALL the world, to try them that dwell upon the earth" (Revelation 3:10)
      • The 144,000 pure Israelites, as "being the firstfruits unto God and to the Lamb" (Revelation 14:3-5), are represented under the figure of the "man child" (Revelation 12:4-5 cf. Isaiah 66:6-7), because under the Law it was the "first born male child" that was required to be "redeemed" for the Lord (Exodus 13:12,15)
    • It is at THIS TIME that Israel's HIDDEN remnant will flee to "a place prepared of God" (Revelation 12:6,14-16) in the land of Moab (Isaiah 16:4) to be protected from "the Spoiler (Antichrist)" and also shielded from the Lord's wrath upon His enemies (Isaiah 26:20-21)
    • It is at THIS TIME that Israel's FAITHFUL remnant who physically are unable to flee Jerusalem as warned by the Lord (Matthew 24:15-20) will be martyred for their testimony (Revelation 12:17; Revelation 13:7 cf. Revelation 2:9-10)
      • These are they who have "come out of GREAT TRIBULATION" (Revelation 7:14) and "OVERCAME him (Antichrist)" through DEATH (Revelation 12:11)
      • As Messiah promised, "he that loseth his life for My sake shall find it" (Matthew 10:39)
      • These Tribulation OVERCOMERS will offer songs of PRAISE for their Redeemer Who gave them COMPLETE VICTORY "OVER the Beast, and OVER his image, and OVER his mark, and OVER the number of his name" (Revelation 15:2-4 cf. Deuteronomy 32:43-44)
    • It is at the conclusion of THIS TIME that God will mercifully execute His promised "COVENANT" of "MARVELS" on behalf of Israel (Exodus 34:10 cf. Micah 7:14-18) in providing Israel a DELIVERANCE from the nations which will be MUCH GRANDER in scope than the one from Egypt (Jeremiah 16:14-15 cf. Isaiah 66:8-10)
  • At the END of Israel's "GREAT TRIBULATION" (Matthew 24:15 cf. Jeremiah 30:7), i.e. "at the END of the DAYS (of UNPRECEDENTED TROUBLE)" (Daniel 12:13 cf. Daniel 12:1,11-12) there will be the FIRST RESURRECTION (according to PROPHECY) "unto EVERLASTING LIFE" (Daniel 12:2 cf. John 5:28-29; I Corinthians 15:22-23)
    • The Tribulation martyrs (Revelation 20:4,6)
    • Saved Israel - according to PROPHECY (John 3:5-8 cf. Ezekiel 37:9-14)
    • Saved Gentiles - according to PROPHECY (Matthew 8:10-12 cf. Genesis 12:1-3)
  • At the END of Israel's Messianic MILLENIAL REIGN (Revelation 20:4) there will be the LAST RESURRECTION (according to PROPHECY) "unto EVERLASTING CONTEMPT" (Daniel 12:2 cf. John 5:28-29; I Corinthians 15:24-25)
    • The "rest of the dead", i.e. ALL UNSAVED humanity (Revelation 20:11-12) who will experience the "SECOND DEATH" (Revelation 20:5-6 cf. (I Corinthians 15:26; Revelation 20:13-15)
  • BETWEEN Christ's RESURRECTION as "the FIRSTFRUITS of them that slept" I Corinthians 15:20) and "AFTERWARD they that are Christ's at His coming (to earth)" (I Corinthians 15:23 cf. Revelation 20:4,6) will occur the "SECRET" RESURRECTION (I Corinthians 15:50-55) of "the Church, which is His Body" (Ephesians 1:22-23)
    • This event (I Thessalonians 4:15-18) will occur BEFORE the FULFILLMENT of "the Times and Seasons" associated with the PROPHESIED dark doom and gloom of "the Day of the Lord"
      (I Thessalonians 5:1-5 cf. Joel 1:15; Joel 2:1-2.11)
  • "They that shall be WISE shall SHINE as tne BRIGHTNESS of the FIRMAMENT" (Daniel 12:3)
    • The "WISE" are they that "do KNOW their God" (Daniel 11:32) and "shall INSTRUCT many" (Daniel 11:33) to "turn many to RIGHTEOUSNESS" (Daniel 12:3)
    • "The robe of RIGHTEOUSNESS" also called "the garments of SALVATION" (Isaiah 61:10) are given to those who will have given their "FILTHY rags" (Isaiah 64:6) to be "WASHED" and "MADE ... WHITE in the BLOOD of the Lamb" (Revelation 7:14 cf. Isaiah 1:18)
    • ALL the SAVED ("RIGHTEOUS") will "SHINE FORTH as the SUN in the Kingdom of their Father" (Matthew 13:43) AFTER "He (the Father) hath put ALL things under His (the Son's) feet" (I Corinthians 15:27-28)
      • They will SHINE as "the STARS for ever and ever" (Daniel 12:3) when the CELESTIAL LIGHTS of the HEAVENS will have given way to the RESURRECTION LIGHTS of GLORY (I Corinthians 15:41-42 cf. Revelation 21:23-24)

• Sealing of The Book until "The Time of the End" (Daniel 12:4-9)
  • Daniel is told to "SHUT UP the words, and SEAL the Book, even to the TIME OF THE END" (Daniel 12:4)
    • Daniel was repeatedly told that his prophecies concerned "the TIME OF THE END" (Daniel 8:17; Daniel 11:35,40), i.e. "the LAST END of the indignation: for the TIME APPOINTED shall be THE END" (Daniel 8:19)
    • John was given the exact opposite command: "SEAL NOT the sayings of the prophecy of this Book: for the TIME IS AT HAND" (Revelation 22:10)
    • The reason for the different instructions is that the apostle was physically transported by the Spirit of the Lord to the TIME of the DAY OF THE LORD and, so refers to himself as "your brother, and companion in TRIBULATION" (Revelation 1:9-10), whereas the prophet was specifically told: "Go thy way Daniel, for the words are CLOSED UP and SEALED TILL the TIME OF THE END" (Daniel 12:9)
  • At "the TIME OF THE END ... many shall run to and fro: and knowledge shall be increased" (Daniel 12:4)
    • The Hebrew word "shuwt" translated "run to and fro" is very closely related to the Hebrew word "suwt" translated "turn aside", i.e. a negative expression as in:
      • "turn aside to lies" (Psalms 40:4)
      • "I hate the work of them that turn aside: it shall NOT cleave to Me" (Psalms 101:3)
    • This apostasy is all the more acute for our text ends with the words, "knowledge shall be increased" (Daniel 12:4)
      • This "KNOWLEDGE" is in reference to what "the WISE shall UNDERSTAND" and that which "NONE of the WICKED shall UNDERSTAND" (Daniel 12:10)
      • It's "KNOWLEDGE" of the "SURE WORD of PROPHECY ... that SHINETH in a DARK PLACE (Tribulation), UNTIL the DAY DAWN (Millenium)" (II Peter 1:19)
      • The "MYSTERY (SECRET) of God ... declared to His servants the PROPHETS" (Revelation 10:7 cf. Revelation 11:15) has the testimony of "Daniel the PROPHET" (Matthew 24:15; Mark 13:14) who spoke "by the Holy Spirit" (II Peter 1:20-21) that God's "INTERPRETATION thereof is SURE" (Daniel 2:44-45 cf. Daniel 2:26-28)
  • "The Man clothed in linen" occupies the central place "UPON the waters of the river" (Daniel 12:6) flanked by the "other two" - "one on THIS SIDE of the river and the other on THAT SIDE of the bank of the river" (Daniel 12:5)
    • "The Man clothed in linen" is "the CERTAIN MAN clothed in linen" Whom Daniel saw earlier in vision (Daniel 10:5-6) and is the SAME PERSON Whom John saw in his opening vision (Revelation 1:12-16) and Who identified Himself as the Lord (Revelation 1:17-18)
    • As the One Who occupies the central place ("in the MIDDLE") BETWEEN the "other two" - He is asked the question, "How long shall it be to the end of these wonders?" (Daniel 12:6)
    • "The Man clothed in linen" answers with hands "HELD UP" to Heaven - indicative of the DIVINE swearing of an OATH (Deuteronomy 32:39-43; Revelation 10:5-7)
    • The answer is very specific (three and a half TIMES), i.e. three and a half YEARS - a "time" being reckoned as a "YEAR" (Daniel 4:16,23,25,32)
    • The time of three and a half years specifies the length of time that is alotted for when "he (Antichrist) shall have accomplished to scatter the power of the holy people (faithful Israel)" (Daniel 12:7) during which time "he (Antichrist) shall speak GREAT (BLASPHEMOUS) words against the Most High, and shall wear out the saints (faithful Israel) of the Most High" (Daniel 7:25; Revelation 13:5-7)
    • This TIME will most certainly be WHEN "... for the children of thy (Daniel's) people ... there shall be a TIME OF TROUBLE, such as NEVER SINCE there was a nation EVEN TO THAT SAME TIME ..."
      (Daniel 12:1), which is why the Lord reassures His own that "for the elect's sake" that TIME shall be mercifully BRIEF (Matthew 24:21-22)
  • Daniel's response to the Lord's answer concerning "HOW LONG shall it be to the end of these wonders?" (Daniel 12:6) was "I heard, but UNDERSTOOD NOT" (Daniel 12:8) and is again told by the Lord to "Go thy way, for the WORDS are CLOSED UP and SEALED TILL THE TIME OF THE END" (Daniel 12:9)
    • In his response, Daniel is like other of his brethren "the PROPHETS" who "searched diligently" (I Peter 1:10) concerning "WHAT MANNER OF TIME the Spirit of Christ which was in them did signify" (I Peter 1:11) and "unto whom it was revealed, that NOT UNTO THEMSELVES, BUT UNTO US they did minister the things" (I Peter 1:12)
    • Israel's FINAL "SALVATION" spoken of by "the PROPHETS" (I Peter 1:10 cf. Jeremiah 16:14-15) was purchased by "the SUFFERINGS of Christ" at His FIRST ADVENT (I Peter 1:11 cf. Isaiah 53:6-10) and will be manifested by His "GLORY that shall follow" at His SECOND ADVENT (I Peter 1:11 cf.
      Zechariah 8:20-23)
    • This FINAL "SALVATION" spoken of by "the PROPHETS" (I Peter 1:10) will occur in "the LAST DAYS" also called "the LATTER DAYS":
      • JACOB'S BLESSING of "his sons", i.e. "the 12 TRIBES OF ISRAEL" (Genesis 49:1,28)
      • BALAAM'S FINAL PROPHECY concerning "a STAR OUT OF JACOB" (Numbers 24:14-19)
      • The SONG OF MOSES sung by the TRIBULATION OVERCOMERS (Revelation 15:2-3 cf. Deuteronomy 31:19-22,28-30; Deuteronomy 32:42-45)
  • The Lord bidding Daniel to "Go thy way" (Daniel 12:9) strongly suggests that Daniel will NOT SEE his beloved Jerusalem (Daniel 6:10; Daniel 9:16) UNTIL his RESURRECTION when he will "STAND in his lot AT THE END OF THE DAYS" (Daniel 12:13)

• The Wicked versus The Wise (Daniel 12:10)

  • GENERAL CONTRASTS between The Wicked and The Wise in ANY AGE
    The Wicked	The Wise
    NO FEAR of God (Psalms 36:1)	The FEAR of the Lord (Psalms 111:10)
    Man's UNRIGHTEOUSNESS (Deuteronomy 6:25; Isaiah 64:6)	God's RIGHTEOUSNESS (Isaiah 45:24; II Corinthians 5:21)
    End is DEATH (Proverbs 14:12; Proverbs 16:25)	End is LIFE (Proverbs 13:14; Proverbs 15:4)

  • SPECIFIC CONTRASTS between The Wicked and The Wise in "THE TIME OF THE END" (Daniel 8:17; Daniel 12:4,9)
    The Wicked	The Wise
    NO UNDERSTANDING "the Signs of the Times" (Matthew 16:2-3)	"SHALL UNDERSTAND" "the Time of the End" (Daniel 12:4,10)
    "Covenant with DEATH" (Isaiah 28:15)	"Eternal LIFE" (I John 1:2)
    "given to Him (Antichrist) ... by reason of TRANSGRESSION" (Daniel 8:12)	"shall instruct many" & "turn many unto RIGHTEOUSNESS" (Daniel 11:33; Daniel 12:3)
    "TRODDEN DOWN" by the Covenant Breaker (Isaiah 28:18; Daniel 9:27)	"OVERCAME him (the Beast)" (Revelation 12:11; Revelation 15:2)
    "hide ... from the WRATH OF THE LAMB" & "shall drink of the wine of the WRATH OF GOD" (Revelation 6:16; Revelation 14:9-11)	shall rule the nations & "shall be PRIESTS OF GOD ... and shall REIGN WITH HIM (CHRIST)" (Revelation 2:26-27; Revelation 20:4,6)

• Counting The Days until "The End of the Days" (Daniel 12:11-13)
  • Daniel is told that "the wise shall understand" (Daniel 12:10) the counting of the days from "the time that the daily sacrifice shall be taken away" (Daniel 12:11) until "the end of the days" (Daniel 12:13), i.e. the relationship between Daniel's 70th week and Israel's Fall Feasts
  • Daniel's 70th week is divided into two equal halves consisting of 1260 days each (Revelation 11:3; Revelation 12:6)
    • There is a 30-day midpoint interval called "the midst of the week" during which time Antichrist breaks his covenant with israel by causing "the sacrifice and the oblation to cease" (Daniel 9:27) and with the help of "his arms" (apostate Israel), he "shall place the abomination that maketh desolate" (Daniel 11:31 cf. Daniel 8:12)
    • Then will follow "the Great Tribulation" (the 2nd half of the 70th week), which was spoken of by the Lord (Matthew 24:15-22) and the prophets (Daniel 12:1 cf. Jeremiah 30:4-7)
    • "The midst of the week" (30 days) plus "the Great Tribulation" (1260 days) combine for a total of 1290 days (Daniel 12:11)
    • An additional 45 days yields a final total of 1335 days (Daniel 12:12)
      • During this 45-day period between the end of the reign of the False Christ and the beginning of the reign of the True Christ will occur the prophetic fulfillments of Israel's Fall Feasts
    • The period of 2300 days covering the times of the "daily sacrifice" and the "transgression of desolation" (Daniel 8:13-14) is explained via the Lord's parable of the "fig tree" (Matthew 24:32-33 cf. Matthew 24:1-2)
      • Israel's history is figuratively represented by three fruit trees:
        • NATIONALLY, she is pictured as a "VINE" brought "out of Egypt" which "filled the land" (Psalms 80:8-9)
        • SPIRITUALLY, she is pictured as an "OLIVE tree" (Romans 11:17,24) of which "the Gentiles have been made partakers" (Romans 15:27)
        • RELIGIOUSLY, she is pictured as a "FIG tree" under which Nathanael was sitting (John 1:48-50) - Nathanael, "an Israelite indeed, in whom is NO guile" (John 1:47) stood in contrast to Israel's RELIGIOUS "hypocrites" (Matthew 23:13-15,23,25,27,29) from whom the Lord (during his three year earthly ministry) "sought fruit thereon, and found NONE" (Luke 13:6-7)
      • The 1st half of the 70th week will comprise the rebuilding of the Temple (220 days) and the subsequent offering of the "daily sacrifice" (1040 days)
      • The "transgression of desolation" will stand during the reign of the False Christ for the duration of the 2nd half of the 70th week (1260 days)
      • Taken together - the time of the "daily sacrifice" (1040 days) and the time of the "transgression of desolation" (1260 days) combine for a total of 2300 days (Daniel 8:13-14)
      • Daniel is given to understand that he will "rest" (in a grave outside of Israel) and will "stand in thy lot" (land inheritance in israel) "at the end of the days" (Daniel 12:13) and so is told "to go thy way" till "the time of the end" (Daniel 12:9)

Study Outline

Daniel 12:1-3

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Daniel 12:4-9

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Daniel 12:10

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Daniel 12:11-13

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