Read Daniel 12
The End Times
12 “At that time Michael, the great prince who protects your people, will arise. There will be a time of distress such as has not happened from the beginning of nations until then. But at that time your people—everyone whose name is found written in the book—will be delivered. 2 Multitudes who sleep in the dust of the earth will awake: some to everlasting life, others to shame and everlasting contempt. 3 Those who are wise[a] will shine like the brightness of the heavens, and those who lead many to righteousness, like the stars for ever and ever. 4 But you, Daniel, roll up and seal the words of the scroll until the time of the end. Many will go here and there to increase knowledge.”
5 Then I, Daniel, looked, and there before me stood two others, one on this bank of the river and one on the opposite bank. 6 One of them said to the man clothed in linen, who was above the waters of the river, “How long will it be before these astonishing things are fulfilled?”
7 The man clothed in linen, who was above the waters of the river, lifted his right hand and his left hand toward heaven, and I heard him swear by him who lives forever, saying, “It will be for a time, times and half a time.[b] When the power of the holy people has been finally broken, all these things will be completed.”
8 I heard, but I did not understand. So I asked, “My lord, what will the outcome of all this be?”
9 He replied, “Go your way, Daniel, because the words are rolled up and sealed until the time of the end. 10 Many will be purified, made spotless and refined, but the wicked will continue to be wicked. None of the wicked will understand, but those who are wise will understand.
11 “From the time that the daily sacrifice is abolished and the abomination that causes desolation is set up, there will be 1,290 days. 12 Blessed is the one who waits for and reaches the end of the 1,335 days.
13 “As for you, go your way till the end. You will rest, and then at the end of the days you will rise to receive your allotted inheritance.”
Go Deeper
We have reached the end of Daniel! We have read heroic stories of Daniel’s faith and prophetic visions of the future. This book is packed with examples of bold and countercultural faith, as well as accounts of people who stood firm and were unwilling to compromise. We read visions of Daniel that provided hope for the exiles in Babylon of a Savior to come, and hope for us in Jesus’ return. In the previous chapter, there was a focus on the coming conflict in the near future. This included the kings of the North and South, prophecies concerning a ruler named Antiochus Epiphanes, and revelation about the Antichrist. It told us that the Antichrist will exalt himself, blaspheme the Lord, rely on military power, be established in Jerusalem, but finally come to an end (11:36-45).
This chapter is a culmination of the dreams and visions of Daniel, with a focus on the far future with the resurrection and final judgment. There is a promise that the end times will be a time of trouble. This time of trouble will be different than Israel has seen prior to this. The chapter begins telling us that “Michael, the great prince who protects your people, will arise. There will be a time of distress such as has not happened from the beginning of nations until then” (v. 1). The archangel Michael is commonly associated with a spiritual battle and is believed to be Satan’s opposite. He stands watch over the people of Israel protecting them. This “time of trouble” is referring to the Great Tribulation.
However, there is also a promise of deliverance for the people of God. It says, “But at that time your people—everyone whose name is found written in the book—will be delivered.” The “book” is a reference to The Book of Life, which is the names of people who are saved and will get to live forever with God in Heaven (Revelation 3:5). Those believers will be resurrected into eternal life. It tells us that “multitudes who sleep in the dust of the earth will awake: some to everlasting life, others to shame and everlasting contempt” (v. 2). The word “sleep” in this verse means death and “dust” is referring to the grave. This is a sobering but powerful picture. Every single person we know will be in one of two places for all of eternity: with God forever in Heaven or separated from God forever in Hell. We will either be in everlasting life or everlasting contempt.
If we believe this is true, this changes everything. We would live with that perspective in mind. We would keep our minds fixed on the things of eternity. We would leverage our lives for the sake of His Kingdom. We would share the hope of the gospel with a sense of urgency. We would be righteous people who “lead many to righteousness, like the stars for ever and ever” (v. 3). We would be willing to do whatever it takes to lead others to Christ through the power of the Holy Spirit. Will we live today for what is going to matter forever?
Questions
- How does this chapter and the book of Daniel give you hope for the future?
- Who is someone that God has placed on your heart that can you share the gospel with today? Text a close friend or someone in your Life Group and ask them to hold you accountable to doing so!
- What is your main takeaway from the book of Daniel? How will you apply this to your life?
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4 thoughts on “Daniel 12”
As we’ve reached the final chapter of this amazing book of scripture and read of the remarkable life of Daniel, I’ve noted what set him apart. Taken into captivity as a teenager and deported to Babylon, he served in the government advising his captors (4 kings) with unusual wisdom for 70 years. He never lost his faith or devotion to God while surrounded by insurmountable odds and serving pagans. V13 reveals Daniel’s ultimate reward, “As for you, go your way until the end. You will rest, and then at the end of the days, you will rise again to receive the inheritance set aside for you.” We see that God is completely sovereign over all of history both past and present. He strategically places his people in the middle of chaos to showcase his authority. He was in control of Babylon and he is full control today over peoples, nations and destinies. We must find our security in his sovereignty and press on to live soberly in the midst of a perverse generation, our own Babylon.
Who’s truth do we choose to live by?
Faithfulness to God has a rich reward, not necessarily in this life, but most certainly in the life to come.
Daniel is a man worthy of more intense study. He believed God even when his life got turned upside down as a young man. He had a disciplined prayer life so faithful and committed. He studied God’s Word and believed it with his whole heart. He understood spiritual wrestling and tearing down of strongholds. His sole purpose was to glorify God, he greatly feared God.
He had work to do for the kingdom and was tactful in his work. He did right things after he sought God’s heart about those things. We have but one life. One life to live for Christ and become everything He’s intended for us to be.
May the things of earth grow strangely dim, in the light of His glory and grace. Come Lord Jesus!!!
God thank You for Your son. Thank You for Your Word. Thank You for Holy Spirit that can give us guidance. God thank You that I have ears to really hear and my heart so desires to do Your will, no matter the cost. Thank You for courage in Jesus name amen
WOOHOO!!!