Daniel 12
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And 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.
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.
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.
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.
5 Then 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.
6 And 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?
7 And 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.
8 And I heard, but I understood not: then said I, O my Lord, what shall be the end of these things?
9 And he said, Go thy way, Daniel: for the words are closed up and sealed till the time of the end.
10 Many 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.
11 And 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.
12 Blessed is he that waiteth, and cometh to the thousand three hundred and five and thirty days.
13 But go thou thy way till the end be: for thou shalt rest, and stand in thy lot at the end of the days.
Public Domain KJV text from Wordproject.org
ESV Bible text displayed through the American Bible Society's Global Bible Widget
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Commentary
The one speaking to Daniel from v.9 on provides additional information about the faithful. They will be purified and made spotless through sanctification. But the wicked will continue their bad habits, their cover-up of sins, their half-hearted participation in God's true worship, and their lip-service instead of heart surrender. However, those who are wise will walk with Christ and His Spirit and "will understand."
After the 2300 year prophecy of Daniel, there were no more long periods of prophecy given to him. However, the answer was given to Daniel's question about how everything would end. The difficult times in history during the Middle Ages were to end in 1798, but would start again before the end. Daniel is told about the 1290 days (v. 11), and the last verse says "Blessed is the one who waits for and reaches the end of the 1335 years" (v. 12).
A note of caution: There is no official view from our denomination on the 1290 and 1335 days. For now, some observations must come from continued personal research.
Dear God,
We know that Your coming is near. If we have to go to our rest, let it be in Jesus, and if we live 'til Your coming, carry us through. Amen.
Koot van Wyk
Kyungpook National University
Sangju, South Korea.
