Jan's Bible NotesDANIEL 12
This is a continuation of the vision mentioned in Dan. 10, that began in Dan. 11. Who is speaking? Still the angel.
1 No more about the king who is like Antiochus Epiphanes. But we are told some other things. Again we are told that, just as there are wicked angels assigned to various nations, Michael is the angel that is over what nation? What is the second thing we are told in this verse? Compare Jesus’ description of that time that is coming, Mt. 24:21. Many claim this has already happened, at the fall of Jerusalem to the Romans in 70 AD. But WAS that the worst thing that ever happened to the Jew? Was it worse than Hitler's holocaust? Both those events were a type of the great tribulation to come, but do not match the Bible’s description of that time. What does Mt. 24:29 say will happen right after that? Did this happen in 70 AD? To take that view means you must throw out or change the meaning of parts of the Bible.
What is the third thing we are told in verse 1? Some of the Jews will be rescued; which ones? So we find that at the end of the 7 years of tribulation, there will be in Israel believing Jews and unbelieving Jews. As we saw in Dan. 3, “rescued” implies being removed from the dangerous situation. The Messiah returns at that time, the little horn/beast is removed, and the believers are rescued from him.
2 There will be a resurrection of the dead then; who must be resurrected at that time? Believing Israel; they must be resurrected in order to inherit the kingdom, to receive what God promised them. “These” must refer back to 12:1--everyone who is found written in the book. Also, read Dan. 12:13. Daniel will rise to receive his allotted portion at that time; so must all true believers of Israel. Read Mt. 8:11, Ez. 37:12. What about that last phrase? When are all unbelievers resurrected? At the last judgment, Rev. 20:11-15. When does that take place? At the end of the millenium, Rev. 20. Just because both statements are found in the same verse does not imply they must take place at the same time; when Jesus read from Is. 61:1-2, He stopped in the middle of 2, because the first part of 2 refers to His first coming and the second part refers to His second coming.
So how many resurrections are there, and when? First, at the rapture, that of the church, I Thes. 4:16-17. Who does it say will rise at that time? The dead in Christ; we never find that term used of people in the Old Testament. Second, at the end of the tribulation, believing Jews who have died. Third, we saw that all unbelievers are resurrected at the end of the millenium. What about non-Jews who believe during the tribulation and die or are killed? Read Rev. 20:1-4. So they are resurrected at the end of the tribulation, before the millenial kingdom begins, along with the believers of Israel in the Old Testament.
What about all those Old Testament believers who were not of Israel? Abraham, Isaac and Jacob are not Jews (Jews are the sons of Israel/Jacob), but what does it say about them in Mt. 8:11? So they must be resurrected at this time too. There must be a final resurrection of believers at the end of the kingdom, who become believers during the kingdom age, because we are told there will be birth and death during the millenium, Is. 65:20. These would be the ones referred to in Rev. 20:15, those whose names ARE found written in the book of life.
I wonder of the word "many" at the beginning of 12:2 is referring particularly to Israel. Compare also the word "many" in 9:27, 12:2,3,4,10.
3 Some will have great insight (margin: the instructors), and some will lead many to righteousness. This could be a reference to the 144,000 witnesses of Rev. 7.
4 These prophecies are for the distant future, the end of time (which is followed by the beginning of eternity, at the end of Christ's earthly kingdom). Seal: preserve, close up, validate. Some think this means we can't know what this book is about. As far as Daniel is concerned, he should seal it up, because it is not for him but for the distant future. We are getting close to that time, and, unlike Daniel, we now have God's complete written Word. Compare Rev. 22:10 and 1:3. Last phrase: Some think it refers to increased travel and knowledge in our modern world, even to missionary activity. It may refer to the Bible, to these prophecies, that people will make more effort to increase their knowledge of these things as the time approaches. It could refer to Amos 8:12. Again, "many" could mean Israel, running around fruitlessly looking for a message from God, but God is temporarily not dealing with them because of their disobedience.
5 Two more angels.
6-8 One asks Christ how long it will be. At the end of the 3½ years everything mentioned will be completed. The Bible doesn’t tell a lot about the first 3½ years of the tribulation but much about the last 3½ years. Again we see what phrase that means 3 1/2 years? Shatter--elsewhere in the Bible we learn that the kings of all the earth are coming against Israel at the end of the tribulation.
9 Daniel is not to concern himself over these things; they are not for his time. Some say that prophecies were fulfilled in the immediate context of those to whom it was given; otherwise, if it was not for them, it wouldn't make sense. But here we see that Daniel has been given much information regarding the distant future, and is told as much.
10 This is not speaking of the church; the context is Israel. The church or the church age is not mentioned in the Old Testament. This is what God is doing with Israel during the seven years of tribulation, and especially the last 3½ years. The Old Testament has been very clear that their disobedience has brought this on them.
11-12 Another reference to the abomination of desolation. We saw that 1260 days equaled 3½ years, so what are these two numbers indicating? Apparently some things have to happen in between the end of the 7 years and the beginning of the kingdom reign of Christ. I would guess that it could be the judging of the Gentiles to show who will enter the kingdom and who won’t. Not all will "attain" to this day, Mt. 25:31-46. Also, Mt. 13:40-43, 47-50. Read Dan. 7:21-22. Sounds like a bit of time passes while this all takes place.
13 Again, Daniel is told that he should just go on with his life since these things won’t really concern him. This speaks of his death, entering his rest (Abraham’s bosom, Luke 16:22-23), then his resurrection at what time? At the end of the church age or the age of grace; at the beginning of the next age or dispensation, the kingdom age. The angel reaffirms that he will have a part in these events at that distant time. Also Is. 26:19-21. So we find the Bible teaches that Old Testament saints will be resurrected for the beginning of the kingdom age, to inherit all the promises about the kingdom on earth, when Israel is the head and not the tail, and Christ rules from Jerusalem.
Daniel is a key book of prophecy, even though Daniel himself was not called to be a prophet in the sense that the other prophets were. We do not find him saying, "And the word of the Lord came unto me, saying…" as do most of the other prophets. His messages were not for the purpose of chastising Israel for their idolatry and disobedience, as were most of the other prophets. God gave him prophetic information in dreams and visions, which he recorded. God gave him some very specific information in advance, concerning all the people of the world and far distant events, as well as some timetables for these events. Amazingly, these timetables mesh exactly with everything else the Bible records about future events. Besides Daniel, we find this information particularly in Mt. 24-25 and Revelation. Studied together, they give an outline of future events.
Daniel is one of the outstanding believers in the Bible account. His life span covered a crucial time in Israel's history. He held high positions in several very powerful empires, because of his own unique abilities, his obedience to God, and because of God's providence. He had no visible failings but was true to God under difficult circumstances. He is truly an example for all believers.
Daniel is also an important book for our understanding of the whole Bible. Because of the literal fulfillment of the detailed prophecies of Dan. 11, we have historical evidence of the truth and accuracy of the Bible. The Bible is infallible and inerrant. Fulfilled prophecy is one of the best evidences for the inspiration of the Bible. People say you can't prove the Bible is true, but fulfilled prophecy, and the book of Daniel in particular, come awful close to proving that the Bible is true. There is no human explanation for fulfilled prophecy.
Copyright 2005 Jan Young