Daniel Twelve ... A Background Study  

Chapter 12 begins by mentioning the appearance of the archangel, Michael. He is described here as, "the great prince," who is standing guard over believers. In the original context of this passage, "the sons of your people" refers to Israel, but we can safely broaden this to all who have accepted Christ as their Lord and Savior and follow the God of Israel.

Verse 1 says that there will be a time of distress like the world has never seen before. *In Matthew 24:21, Jesus says that there will be a time of tribulation unlike any the world has ever seen before or shall ever see again. In the midst of this word of warning, however, is an assurance of hope. The very next sentence says that "everyone who is written in the book will be rescued." What book could Daniel be referring to?

The most logical explanation is the book of life, referred to in Revelation 20:12. All who have salvation in Christ have their names written in this book and will spend eternity with Christ. Since we are assured in Daniel 12:1 that believers will be rescued, the intent is apparently punishment against unbelievers rather than believers. There is not a need for believers to be punished, because Christ took that upon himself in our place when he died on the cross.

Verse 2 says that there will be a bodily resurrection. Those who have physically died will awake. Again, those who have salvation in Christ will resurrect to inherit everlasting life. Those who do not will resurrect to disgrace and everlasting contempt. At that point, it will be too late to choose sides. God desires with all of his heart that we would choose now to accept his Son's atoning death for us on the cross and turn from our past and live for him. God said that he is not willing that any should perish but that ALL should come to a knowledge of the truth. If you have not done this already, I strongly urge you to do that today. Jesus paid the price for your sin and rose from the dead so that you could be among those who will be resurrected to everlasting life. He wants us to confess our sin to him, accept him as our Lord and Savior and live obediently to his commands.

Verse 3 refers to those who have insight and those who do not. This is not a matter of our own intellect, but rather God giving insight and understanding to his Word. That begins with asking for understanding and insight. James 1:5 says that if we lack wisdom, we should ask God and it will be given. *The fact that they shine brightly is a dual reference to the righteousness that is given to us by Christ as well as the Holy Spirit's work in making us more like Christ in our daily walk with him.

In verse 4, Daniel is told to conceal these words until the end of time. The passage doesn't mention the reason. *In the ancient Near East, duplicates were made of important documents. The original was kept in a safe place in case there were future challenges to it or there was a need to make more copies of it. The idea of sealing the book came from the ancient practice of witnesses placing a personal seal on the document, making it official and unchangeable. *By putting his seal on the text, Daniel was testifying to the truthfulness of the contents and ensuring it would remain unaltered until all the predictions had been fulfilled.

*The statement that many would go back and forth seems to refer to God's people heeding the prophecies presented in Scripture and trying to understand how the prophecies are being fulfilled in their own time or how they will be fulfilled in the future. *The statement that knowledge will increase seems to refer to a better understanding of how the prophecies are being fulfilled as time progresses.

Verses 5 through 7 mention two figures standing on opposite sides of a river. They wonder how long it will be until these things take place. The disciples also asked in Acts 1:6 if that was the time that Jesus was going to set up his kingdom on earth. Neither passage tells us when these things are going to happen. We are only told that they will happen and that we are to make sure that we are ready in the meantime.

One of the figures in verse 7 says that it would be for "a time, times and half a time," that is, for three and a half years. It says as soon as the shattering of the power of the holy people is completed, then all these events will have reached their conclusion. *The Expositor's Bible Commentary says that the believers of the end times will be overwhelmed by the forces of the Antichrist and will appear doomed to defeat and extinction. But at that point, God himself will intervene with a mighty judgment of all the invaders and the forces of the Antichrist will be destroyed.

In verse 8, Daniel inquires as to the outcome of these events. Again, his question is not answered directly, but Daniel is told to go his way because the prophecy is sealed up until the end of time. The idea that these prophecies are sealed until the end of time lends insight into the breaking of the seven seals in Revelation, suggesting that the things which had been predicted long before are coming to pass at that point.

Verse 10 says that many will be purged, purified and refined. *The people of God will be purified and refined by the testings they endure. In all probability the higher quality of faith and life is a result of the Holy Spirit dwelling in believers following Pentecost, which gives us all the resources of Christ in the battle against evil.

Verse 11 says that there will be 1290 days from the date regular sacrifices are abolished and the abomination of desolation is set up. The Believer's Bible Commentary says that the abomination of desolation would be set up in the temple of Jerusalem thirty days before the Great Tribulation is to begin. This would explain the 1290 days mentioned here. *It appears that the abomination of desolation will be some statue or idol set up in the temple in Jerusalem.

The Believer's Bible Commentary explains the 1335 days of verse 12 as taking us past the Second Coming of Christ and the judgment of his enemies to the beginning of Jesus' reign on earth.

Daniel is told in verse 13 to go his way ‘til the end, that is, to continue in his faithfulness to God for the rest of his time on earth. He is told that he would enter into rest, meaning that he would go and enter God's presence, but that he would also participate in the bodily resurrection mentioned in verse 2 and receive his eternal reward.
 

*= Denotes taken from the Expositor's Bible Commentary