Daniel — Chapter 12
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1And at that time shall Michael stand up, the great prince which standeth for the children of thy 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 thy people shall be delivered, every one that shall be found written in the book.
2And many of them that sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, some to everlasting life, and some to shame and everlasting contempt.
3And they that be wise shall shine as the brightness of the firmament; and they that turn many to righteousness as the stars for ever and ever.
4But 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.
5Then 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.
6And 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?
7And I heard the man clothed in linen, which was upon the waters of the river, when he held up his right hand and his left hand unto heaven, and sware by him that liveth for ever that it shall be for a time, times, and an half; and when he shall have accomplished to scatter the power of the holy people, all these things shall be finished.
8And I heard, but I understood not: then said I, O my Lord, what shall be the end of these things?
9And he said, Go thy way, Daniel: for the words are closed up and sealed till the time of the end.
10Many shall be purified, and made white, and tried; but the wicked shall do wickedly: and none of the wicked shall understand; but the wise shall understand.
11And from the time that the daily sacrifice shall be taken away, and the abomination that maketh desolate set up, there shall be a thousand two hundred and ninety days.
12Blessed is he that waiteth, and cometh to the thousand three hundred and five and thirty days.
13But go thou thy way till the end be: for thou shalt rest, and stand in thy lot at the end of the days.
1And at that time shall Michael stand up, the great prince who standeth for the children of thy 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 thy people shall be delivered, every one that shall be found written in the book.
2And many of them that sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, some to everlasting life, and some to shame and everlasting contempt.
3And they that are wise shall shine as the brightness of the firmament; and they that turn many to righteousness as the stars for ever and ever.
4But 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.
5Then 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.
6And 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?
7And 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 unto heaven, and sware by him that liveth for ever that it shall be for a time, 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.
8And I heard, but I understood not: then said I, O my lord, what shall be the issue of these things?
9And he said, Go thy way, Daniel; for the words are shut up and sealed till the time of the end.
10Many 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.
11And 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 and two hundred and ninety days.
12Blessed is he that waiteth, and cometh to the thousand three hundred and five and thirty days.
13But go thou thy way till the end be; for thou shalt rest, and shalt stand in thy lot, at the end of the days.
1“At that time Michael, the great prince who watches over your people, will arise. There will be a time of distress unlike any other from the nation’s beginning up to that time. But at that time your own people, all those whose names are found written in the book, will escape.
2Many of those who sleep in the dusty ground will awake— some to everlasting life, and others to shame and everlasting abhorrence.
3But the wise will shine like the brightness of the heavenly expanse. And those bringing many to righteousness will be like the stars forever and ever.
4“But you, Daniel, close up these words and seal the book until the time of the end. Many will dash about, and knowledge will increase.”
5I, Daniel, watched as two others stood there, one on each side of the river.
6One said to the man clothed in linen who was above the waters of the river, “When will the end of these wondrous events occur?”
7Then I heard the man clothed in linen who was over the waters of the river as he raised both his right and left hands to the sky and made an oath by the one who lives forever: “It is for a time, times, and half a time. Then, when the power of the one who shatters the holy people has been exhausted, all these things will be finished.”
8I heard, but I did not understand. So I said, “Sir, what will happen after these things?”
9He said, “Go, Daniel. For these matters are closed and sealed until the time of the end.
10Many will be purified, made clean, and refined, but the wicked will go on being wicked. None of the wicked will understand, though the wise will understand.
11From the time that the daily sacrifice is removed and the abomination that causes desolation is set in place, there are 1,290 days.
12Blessed is the one who waits and attains to the 1,335 days.
13But you should go your way until the end. You will rest, and then at the end of the days you will arise to receive what you have been allotted.”
1“At that time Michael will stand up, the great prince who stands for the children of your people; and there will be a time of trouble, such as never was since there was a nation even to that same time. At that time your people will be delivered, everyone who is found written in the book.
2Many of those who sleep in the dust of the earth will awake, some to everlasting life, and some to shame and everlasting contempt.
3Those who are wise will shine as the brightness of the expanse. Those who turn many to righteousness will shine as the stars forever and ever.
4But you, Daniel, shut up the words, and seal the book, even to the time of the end. Many will run back and forth, and knowledge will be increased.”
5Then I, Daniel, looked, and behold, two others stood, one on the river bank on this side, and the other on the river bank on that side.
6One said to the man clothed in linen, who was above the waters of the river, “How long will it be to the end of these wonders?”
7I 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 to heaven, and swore by him who lives forever that it will be for a time, times, and a half; and when they have finished breaking in pieces the power of the holy people, all these things will be finished.
8I heard, but I didn’t understand. Then I said, “My lord, what will be the outcome of these things?”
9He said, “Go your way, Daniel; for the words are shut up and sealed until the time of the end.
10Many will purify themselves, and make themselves white, and be refined; but the wicked will do wickedly; and none of the wicked will understand; but those who are wise will understand.
11“From the time that the continual burnt offering is taken away, and the abomination that makes desolate set up, there will be one thousand two hundred ninety days.
12Blessed is he who waits, and comes to the one thousand three hundred thirty-five days.
13“But go you your way until the end; for you will rest, and will stand in your inheritance at the end of the days.”
Summary
The final chapter of Daniel reveals the end of all things: Michael stands up for Israel during "a time of trouble such as never was," the dead are raised — some to everlasting life, some to everlasting contempt — and "they that be wise shall shine as the brightness of the firmament." Daniel is told to "seal the book" until the time of the end. The prophet asks "How long?" and receives mysterious time markers: 1,290 days and 1,335 days. "Blessed is he that waiteth." Daniel will rest and rise at the end of days.
Authorship & Background
- Michael Stands Up: "A Time of Trouble" (v.1)
- The Resurrection: Two Eternities (v.2)
- The Wise Shine Like Stars (v.3)
- "Seal the Book" Until the End (v.4)
- "How Long?" — Two Angels and the Man in Linen (vv.5-7)
- Daniel's Final Question and God's Answer (vv.8-10)
- Time Markers: 1,290 and 1,335 Days (vv.11-12)
- "Blessed Is He That Waiteth" (v.12)
- Daniel's Personal Promise: "Thou Shalt Rest and Rise" (v.13)
Map & Geography
- No specific geographic locations are referenced in this chapter.
Commentary
- Enduring Word (David Guzik): enduringword.com
- Charles Spurgeon: "'They that be wise shall shine as the brightness of the firmament.' Not just saved — SHINING. Not just surviving — RADIATING. The soul-winner's reward is not merely heaven but GLORY in heaven. Every person you turn to righteousness becomes a star in your eternal crown. Shine, Christian. Turn many to righteousness. Your investment has interest that compounds for eternity."
Reflection
- 1. "They that be wise shall SHINE" (v.3). You were made to radiate — not just exist. The wise don't merely survive; they GLOW with purpose. And soul-winners shine as STARS — forever. Who are you actively trying to turn toward righteousness?
- 2. "Every one that shall be found written in the book" (v.1). Are you in the book? Is your name secured? The tribulation is coming — deliverance belongs to those written in God's book. Assurance of salvation matters immensely.
- 3. "Blessed is he that waiteth" (v.12). Patience isn't passive — it's BLESSED. In a culture of instant everything, waiting on God's timing is an act of faith. The one who endures to the end will be called "blessed." Can you wait?
- 4. "Thou shalt rest, and stand in thy lot" (v.13). Death is REST. Resurrection is STANDING. And "thy lot" means your INHERITANCE — your designated place in God's eternal kingdom. You have a reserved spot. Death cannot cancel the reservation.
- 5. "Many shall run to and fro, and knowledge shall be increased" (v.4). We live in this age — unprecedented travel, exploding information. If this marks "the time of the end" — live with urgency. The sealed book is opening. The time is short. What are you doing with what you now know?