When we first met Daniel in Chapter 1 he would have been
perhaps only 14 years old. As we find him in Chapter 12 he is almost 90 years
old. Isn’t it encouraging to see him still as faithful as when he started out
as a youth? This is ‘a long obedience in
the same direction’[1].
One of the great lessons we learn from Daniel is that it does not require an ideal world or ideal conditions to be a
faithful witness for God. Faith may flourish in the darkest places. Thank God
that He holds more onto us than we on to Him!
Daniel 10-12 forms the concluding vision of the book. Daniel
was standing on the banks of the Tigris river(10:4), when he saw an awesome vision of a man clothed in linen.
When we compare him with John’s vision in Revelation
1:13ff we think that this is the pre-incarnate Lord Jesus. In Daniel 11 He gave Daniel a prophetic understanding
of what would happen for a few hundred years into the future from where he
stood. All these came true in history. He
gave Daniel also a vision into the very distant future. Daniel received
a vision of “the time of the end” (8:17; 11:40; 12:1,4,9,13) or the
end of days. That time would be a time
of terrible trouble for the people of God, but at the end of that time there
also would be a glorious deliverance for the people of God.
It is worth reminding ourselves that the history of our world
is not just a matter of human cause and effect. There are so many things that
we don’t and can’t understand from where we are. We have finite minds and very
limited access to that which exists beyond our 5 senses. History is more
complicated than we suppose. For this we need revelation. This is what Daniel
receives. That is what all prophets received. This is what John received in the
Revelation whilst he was on the island of Patmos. This is what we have received
in our Bible. We have received an
understanding of the future - of how things will ultimately turn out.
OUTLINE
1. 12:1-4 the conclusion
of the vision which Daniel had received in chapter 10.
2. 12:5-13 The
final moments of this visionary experience
(i)
12:5-7
The angel’s question
(ii)
12: 8-
13 Daniel’s question
1. 12:1-4 The
conclusion of the vision which Daniel had received in chapters 10,11.
12:1 Good
news, bad news, good news: “At that
time (links us up with 11:40 -
the antichrist king who thinks he is God- 11:36-39)
shall arise Michael (Good news – we have met this
heavenly warrior angel before in 10:13. His
name means ‘who is like God?’), …the great prince who has charge of your
people (God’s people are supernaturally protected: Hebr.1:14; Matt. 26:53; Ps. 91:11,12 “He will command his angels concerning you to guard you in all your
ways; they will lift you up in their hands, so that you will not strike your
foot against a stone”). Bad
news …And there shall be a time of trouble, such as never has been since there was a nation till that time,
which is caused by the abomination that causes desolation (Dan.9:27,11:31à Matt 24:15ff)
God's people must be prepared for trouble and tribulation. Good news… But at
that time your people shall be delivered, everyone whose name shall be found written in the book”. The names of God’s
people are recorded from eternity. We find this concept first in Exod. 32:32,33 à Ps 69:28.
Jesus refers to it in Lk. 10:20,
Paul in Philip. 4:3 and John in the Revelation 3:5; 13:8; 17:8;20:12,15;
21:27. Again, if you will find this
in the Olivet discourse, Matt. 24:22,24
where the Lord Jesus talks about the elect, the chosen people of God not
being spared. These are the sheep for
whom the Good Shepherd laid down His life (John
10:15). Let this be the call to everyone here: Hear the voice of the Good Shepherd - enter by the narrow gate – NOW! (Matt. 7:13,14; Lk. 13:24)
12:2 That day of the defeat of the
antichrist (11:45) will be the day
of 1 Thessalonians 4:16: “For the Lord himself will descend from
heaven with a cry of command, with the voice of an archangel, and with the sound
of the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first”. Here we
find the testimony of the Old Testament to the doctrine of the resurrection. But
Daniel says that there is also another resurrection – “some to shame and everlasting contempt” (12:2). This is what Jesus
speaks of when He says in John 5:28,29,
“Do not marvel at this, for an hour is
coming when all who are in the tombs will hear his voice and come out, those who have done good to the
resurrection of life, and those who have done evil to the resurrection of
judgment”. At the time of the end
the will be a resurrection. Please remember that deliverance from death
is not guaranteed for Christians. What is guaranteed is deliverance out of
death. And remember this: Resurrection day will also be division day (Matt. 25:32). No grave will fail to
give up its dead. Each member of the human race will find themselves in one of
two destinies: some to everlasting life and some to shame and everlasting
contempt.
12:3 focuses on the blessedness that
awaits those who have remained faithful in tribulation (Matt. 24:13). Notice: In
12:1 God will protect the faithful.
In 12:2 God will resurrect the
faithful. In 12:3 God will bless the
faithful who are wise. They will shine like the brightness of the sky. These
are the ones, similar to 11:33, who
in the face of much adversity, continue to instruct others in the way of God’s
truth, and who turn many to righteousness. These were fools in the eyes of the
world of their day. They were despised when they were standing on the street
corners of the world, like Noah proclaiming God’s judgement and salvation.
These will be ultimately be vindicated by God.These will ultimately be shown to
be the truly wise.
12:4 Daniel is told, “Shut up the words and seal the book!” The vision that began in chapter
10 is now complete. This does not mean that the things revealed to Daniel were
to remain a secret. No! This revelation is sealed and preserved for the purpose
of being a great help for future generations, like ours. 12:4
ends with a difficult phrase: “Many shall
run to and fro, and knowledge shall increase.” What does this mean? I am
going with a positive interpretation[2]. The future and its ultimate outcome have been
made known to us by way of this book of Daniel. Now there has been no shortage
of frenetic activity among Christians to
determine exactly how the future
may be played out – particularly as to
who the antichrist may be, and
the meaning of the mysterious number 666,
and whether the church will be taken out of the world before this
great tribulation etc. The truth
is that we don’t know exactly. What we do know is this: Jesus will bring
everything to a climax. He will finally overthrow the antichrist. He will
raise the dead. He will be the final Judge of all. He will
consign everyone to their final destinies. I think that as we get closer to the end, and
as we give diligent attention to the Scripture we will have a clearer grasp of
things. Our knowledge shall increase as
the future unfolds.
2. 12: 5-13 The final moments of this visionary experience
(i)
12:5-7 The
Angel’s Question
At the end of this vision, Daniel is joined by two more
heavenly visitors, one on each bank of the Tigris river. The man dressed in
linen was now seen above the waters. One of them asked the One dressed in linen
a question: ‘How long shall it be till the end of these wonders?’ (12:6). The answer given was, “for a time, times and half a time (cf. 7:25- which also relates to the coming
of the antichrist) and that when the
shattering of the power of the holy people, comes to an end all these things
will be finished.” In doing so He raised both His hands to heaven (a very
solemn oath). Daniel did not understand the reply. If he can’t, how can we? So
let’s stick to what we do know. The antichrist will dominate the world for a
determined time (indicating God's
control of this time) and when he is at the height of that
time (i.e. when the holy people – God’s
people – the church is shattered- See Revelation 11), he will be destroyed, and the church shall rise from the
ashes.
(ii)
12:8-13 Daniel’s Question
Daniel's question follows in 12:8 and he says, “explain
this to me. I don't understand. What is going to be the outcome of all this?
The answer that Daniel gets in 12:9 is this: ‘Daniel,
this is not for you to know. What you do need to know is found in 12:10. “Many shall purify
themselves and make themselves white and be refined; but the wicked shall act
wickedly. And none of the wicked shall understand, but those who are wise shall
understand’. Simply put: these hard
providences are for the purpose of refining God's people. God's people will be
purified, and the wicked will continue in their wickedness to the end (see also
Rev.
22:10,11). That is what Daniel needs to know. And now God says, “Go your way Daniel” (12:9; 12:13).
What do we make of 12:11?
At 30 days to the month 1290 days make up 3 years and 7 months. Whatever that
means (and no one knows for sure) we can say that the days of purification are
counted and known to God. There shall be an end to them. What about the 1335
days (12:12) - 45 days more than 1290? There are three
sets of days mentioned in the book of Daniel: In 8:14,
2300 evenings and mornings; 12:11 1290 days ; 12:12, 1335 days. What is the significance of these? We don’t know.
We do know this: be prepared to persevere. Understanding Matthew 24:36-51 is helpful- no
one knows the day or hour! In that parable Jesus tells us that we are to be
faithful even if our Master doesn't come home at the expected time.
12:13 is a beautiful personal promise for
Daniel and for all believers: Daniel is told that his duty is to go on and to
endure, and then to enter into joy. It reminds us of Jesus words in Matthew
25:21,23: “Well done, good and faithful servant. You have been faithful over a
little; I will set you over much. Enter into the joy of your master.”
What a glorious promise for Daniel and for us at the
conclusion of this great book. How long did Antiochus Epiphanes dominate
Jerusalem? Between 1,290 and 1,335 days, (12:11
& 12), that is, about three and a half years. It was just a matter of
days. Not decades, and not centuries –
just a few days, and he was overthrown. So too, we must know that Satan’s
little season is quickly gone. “Blessed
is the one who waits for and reaches the end of the days” (12:12). “And you shall rest and shall stand in your allotted place at the end of
the days“, Daniel is assured (12:13).
That is where it all
ends dear believer! We are not in the
hands of unspeakable evil; we are not in the hands of an almighty devil. We are
in the hands of Jesus. And from Him we receive our promised rest if we endure
to the end. Our earthly journey ends, not with despair or uncertainty. It ends
in the words of 1 Peter 1:3-7 …”Blessed
be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! According to his great mercy,
he has caused us to be born again to a
living hope through the resurrection of
Jesus Christ from the dead , to an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled
and unfading, kept in heaven for you, who by God’s power are being guarded
through faith for a salvation ready to
be revealed in the last time. In this you rejoice, though now for a little
while, if necessary, you have been grieved by various trials, so that the
tested genuineness of your faith- more precious than gold that perishes though
it is tested by fire – may be found to result in praise and glory and honour at
the revelation of Jesus Christ.” Amen!
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