DANIEL  SIMPLIFIED

 

CHAPTER 12.1

Gleanings from the Book of Daniel:

A Weekly Verse-by-Verse Bible Study Series

 

DANIEL

Chapter Twelve

Daniel’s Final Vision

The Events of the End

 

Introduction

Continued is Daniel’s last great prophetic vision which began in Chapter 10. It highlights God’s faithfulness to His chosen people Israel. God’s covenantal promise to Abraham which started back in Genesis 1:1-3 climaxes at the time of the end (cf. Daniel 12:9) or the end of days (cf. Daniel 12:13) on earth. Israel, i.e., not all, but a remnant, will be saved from the intense persecution of the Great Tribulation Period – the last three and one-half years. It also will be a time when Gentile rule on the earth will conclude.

 

Several End Times topics are discussed in this brief chapter, as expressly stated in the outline:

1. The Great Tribulation Period (v.1)

2. The two resurrections (v.2)

3. The rewards of the righteous (v.3)

4. The preservation of revelation (v.4)

5. The triumph of God’s people (Vv. 5-7)

6. The question Daniel queries (v.8)

7. The answer Daniel receives (v.9)

8. The abomination of desolation (v.10-11)

9. The epilogue (Vv.12-13)

 

 

(Verse 1)

 

And at that time shall Michael stand up, the great prince which standeth for the children of thy people: and at that time thy people shall be delivered, every one that shall be found written in the book.

 

At That Time

At what time? is the question. Reverting to its antecedent verse of Chapter 11, at that time is an eschatological expression designating the time frame known as the time of the end of the latter days for Israel (cf. Daniel 10:13). It will be a time of Israel’s greatest distress.

 

Shall Michael stand up, the great prince which standeth for the children of thy people

The Great Prince

Michael (who is like unto God), the archangel, has the responsibility of being the guardian angel of Israel. He will protect, defend, and stand on her behalf.

 

Thy People

Here, the angel Gabriel is specifically identifying Daniel’s people, i.e., God’s children It does not include all believers and there is no reference to the Church. They will endure a time of unparalleled oppression.

 

And there shall be a time of trouble, such as never was since there was a nation even to that same time

A Time of Jacob’s Trouble

Never before or afterward will there be a time of trouble for the nation Israel. In other words, the Antichrist will bring an unprecedented amount of pain upon Israel ever since it became a nation (read: Matthew 24:15-26).

Jeremiah 30:7 - Alas! for that day is great, so that none is like it: it is even the time of Jacob's trouble, but he shall be saved out of it.

 

And at that time thy people shall be delivered, every one that shall be found written in the book.

The Book of Life

The Book of Life is a divine register, written beforehand, on everyone who has ever lived. Earth’s citizens who are found written in the Book inherit eternal life, whereas names not found written are destined to eternal damnation.

 

Insofar as Israel is concerned, not all will be saved (cf. Romans 11:26) solely the remnant or one-third of God’s elect who were regenerated will be saved. Zechariah tells us two-thirds of Israel will die (cf. Zechariah 13:2). These apostates and rebels will be blotted out by God (cf. Psalm 69:28; Revelation 20:15) and be recipients of the second death [explained in the next verse].

 

 

(Verse 2)

 

And 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 Dust of the Earth

When a person dies or sleeps, his physical body goes to grave or dust and returns to dust. Many refer to all mankind (cf. Romans 5:19). The word sleep is a symbol for death, i.e., the body is asleep but not the soul, conversely the dust of the earth is a common phrase for ‘in the ground’ or grave.

Genesis 3:19 – In the sweat of thy face shalt thou eat bread, till thou return unto the ground; for out of it wast thou taken: for dust thou art, and unto dust shalt thou return.

 

Job 7:21 - And why dost thou not pardon my transgression, and take away mine iniquity? for now shall I sleep in the dust; and thou shalt seek me in the morning, but I shall not be.

 

First and Second Resurrections

At the end of the Great Tribulation there will be a resurrection of the dead (cf. Acts 24:15). However, there are two separate and very different resurrections talking about the eternal state of the soul as notated in Scripture:

1. Daniel 12:2

a.  The resurrection to everlasting life

b.  The resurrection to shame and everlasting contempt

 

2. John 5:29

a.  The resurrection of life

b.  The resurrection of damnation or judgment

 

3. Acts 24:15

a.  The resurrection of the just

                                        i.    The premillennial view places this event at the beginning of the millennium (cf. 1 Thessalonians 4:13-14)

 

b.  The resurrection of the unjust

                                        i.    The outcome of the Great White Throne Judgment at the end of Tribulation. This includes all the unsaved persons who ever lived (cf. Revelation 20:11-15)

 

NOTE: [For further study visit Got Questions Ministries:

       What is the first resurrection? What is the second resurrection? | GotQuestions.org ]

 

Bodily resurrection is a reality when one who believes in Jesus Christ will receive a glorified or transformed body. Recall, Christ was the first fruit of that reality:

1 Corinthians 15:23 - But there is an order to this resurrection: Christ was raised as the first of the harvest; then all who belong to Christ will be raised when he comes back (NLT).

…And,

1 John 3:2 - Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when He shall appear, we shall be like Him; for we shall see Him as He is.

 

In the context of Daniel 12:2, the emphasis is on the hope of the Jews who will die during the Tribulation. Additionally, this is the first mention of eternal life in the Bible, even though Job and others imply resurrection (cf. Job 19:25)

 

 

(Verse 3)

 

And 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.

 

The Rewards of the Righteous

Rewards for the just will follow the resurrection. Servants of God and their benefits are categorized into two groups:

1. Those who are wise

a.  The wise are those who understand and remain faithful to God and His covenant, i.e., the teachers (cf. Daniel 11:33, 35).

b.  Their rewards: They will shine as the brightness of the heavens or sky.

 

2. Those who turn many to righteousness

a.  The evangelists too have an important role to play in God’s program in the toughest of times, they will attempt to purge sin from the lost by instructing them in the faith after the Church has been raptured.

b.  Their rewards: They will shine as the stars forever and ever.

 

Incidentally, their glory will also involve reigning with Jesus Christ during His Kingdom.

Matthew 13:43 - Then shall the righteous shine forth as the sun in the Kingdom of their Father. Who hath ears to hear, let him hear.

 

Matthew 25:31 - When the Son of Man shall come in His glory, and all the holy angels with Him, then shall He sit upon the throne of His glory.

 

2 Timothy 2:12 - If we suffer [endure], we shall also reign with Him: if we deny Him, He also will deny us.

 

 

 

(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.

 

The Preservation of Revelation

Instructions are given to Daniel by Gabriel to close up the record of the prophecy and seal it thus making it secure until the End Times. The sealing did not mean concealment, but rather conclusion or confirmation.

 

The sealing of a scroll was not uncommon for scribes. Upon completing their work, one would place their seal on the scroll cylinder to certify its authenticity. Sealing also served as a means of guarding and protecting the work against any unauthorized changes or additions.

 

Daniel was to preserve his book so that people of all time, from his day to the end, could know about the events of the future. So here, God directs Daniel to seal the words of this prophecy until the time of the end. In the book of Revelation, God orders John to not seal the prophecy of Revelation for the time is at hand (cf Revelation 22:10). 

 

Many shall run to and fro, and knowledge shall be increased

In Search of Knowledge

Accepted is the view this phrase is referring to the citizens of the Tribulation, a time God has appointed, trying to find answers as to what is happening. Jeremiah foretold:

Jeremiah 5:1 - Run ye to and fro through the streets of Jerusalem, and see now, and know, and seek in the broad places thereof, if ye can find a man, if there be any that executeth judgment (justice), that seeketh the truth; and I will pardon it (Jerusalem).

 

No doubt, those living in the last days will have more knowledge and understanding than those of today. And, the knowledge that is increased, more than likely, will be the study of eschatology, i.e., Bible prophecy.

 

 

In the forthcoming study, the triumph of Israel will be spotlighted.

 

 

QUESTIONS:

1. What role does Michael play concerning Israel?

2. When is the time of Jacob's trouble?

3. Whose names are written in the Book of Life?

4. When will the first resurrection take place?

5. When will the second resurrection take place?

6. Who are the first fruits of the resurrection?

7. Why was Daniel told to seal the book until the end of times?

 

 

 

If this study was a blessing to you, make it a blessing to others.

SAVE AND FORWARD THIS LINK

http://breadoflifeministriesassoc.blogspot.com/