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DANIEL — LESSON 16
Scriptures for Lesson 16 are taken from Daniel 11 and 12.
Daniel Chapter 12 describes the Time of the End. Daniel chapters 10-12 are all a part of Daniel’s last vision that he received in 536 BC, two years after Israel had returned to their homeland following the 70 years of captivity. Daniel was on the banks of the Tigris River north and east of Babylon. An angel appeared to Daniel who was identified as the angel Gabriel in Daniel 9:21. Gabriel told Daniel about the future kingdoms who would reign over Israel.
There would be three more kings who would reign over Persia. The last king, Xerxes or Ahasuearus would evoke the wrath of Greece. A great king would rise out of Greece, but would die young. The Grecian kingdom would be divided into 4 areas and given to his four generals. Of these four kingdoms, the king of the north (Syria) and the King of the South (Egypt) would struggle for power for 150 years. Out of the northern kingdom (Syria) a king who would exalt himself over the other kings and would promote himself as a god.
[Daniel 11:45] (45) He will pitch his royal tents between the seas at the beautiful holy mountain. Yet he will come to his end, and no one will help him.
[Daniel 12:1] (1) 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.
This is talking about the Antichrist at the end time as described in Daniel’s 70 weeks, the great tribulation. He will bring the greatest persecution that the people of Israel have ever endured. At that time Michael, the archangel and Israel’s protector whose name means “who is like God,” will come to watch over and protect the people of Israel in their time of trouble.
[Daniel 12:2-7] (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 wisewill 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. When the power of the holy people has been finally broken, all these things will be completed.”
Daniel is standing on one bank of the Tigris River and there seems to be an angel there with him and one on the other side of the river. Another angel out in the river on top of the water was speaking to Daniel. One of them asked when these things would be fulfilled. The man standing above the waters lifted his left hand to heaven and swore by God who is the authority, He who lives forever and ever, that it would be for a time and times and a half. “Time and times and a half” is interpreted as being three and a half years. This would be the last half of the last week of Daniel’s seventy weeks prophecy, the last half of the tribulation. Many Jews will be killed and those who will be left alive will be scattered for their own protection.
[Daniel 12:8-13] (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.
In verse 6, one of the angels asked when all these things would take place, but no answer was given. It would be a very long time. Down through the years, many will hear and listen and believe, but there are also many who won’t. Those who are wise will understand.
[Daniel 12:11-13] (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.”
This is talking about the second half of the tribulation. When the Antichrist breaks his covenant with Israel, abolishes the sacrifices and sets a statue, probably of himself up in the temple. Then there will be three and a half years of terrible trouble for all those living during that time, but especially for Israel. During those three and a half years, God has designated two witnesses to prophesy and teach the word of God. They will have great power and God will protect them, so that they cannot be harmed. Who these two witnesses will be is uncertain. Tradition says that they will be Moses and Elijah. Elijah did not, die but God took him. Moses it says was buried by God in an unknown place.
We have three time periods given in Daniel 12. We have three and a half years, which is the same as 1260 days using the calendar year from the Old Testament as 360 days in a year. Then we have 1290 days, which is an additional month following 1260. Then there is 1335 days, which is 45 days after the 1290 days.
The ever faithful Daniel is promised that he will rest for a period. He will die, and then be resurrected with the Old Testaments saints to receive his reward.
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