You may recall I have stated before that there were no chapter breaks when Daniel was written; this portion of Scripture began back in chapter 10 where Daniel tells us he was by the Tigris river and he began to receive this vision. There had been several visions granted to Daniel and every one of them has been about the nation of Israel. In verse 14 of chapter 10 the angel speaks to Daniel to tell him why he was there: Now I am here to tell you what will happen to your people, the Jews, at the end times— for the fulfillment of this prophecy is many years away.” Daniel 10:14 (TLB)
In chapter 11 we studied about the end of the age and the reign of the Antichrist and all of the upheaval that will take place. In chapter 12 we find the final 13 verses of this great book. So let's dig in and read the chapter all the way through and then we will go back and review each verse: Please read Daniel 12:
1-13
Question #1: What is (in your opinion) the overriding theme of Chapter 12?
In verse 2 we find the resurrection of the dead. Daniel 12:2 also correlates with Isaiah 26:19, Yet we have this assurance: Those who belong to God shall live again. Their bodies shall rise again! Those who dwell in the dust shall awake and sing for joy! For God’s light of life will fall like dew upon them! (TLB)
While the resurrection of believers is a prominent part of biblical hope, references to unbelievers being resurrected is much more limited. Yet here in Daniel it is very clear that is exactly what will happen.
“ And I solemnly declare that the time is coming, in fact, it is here, when the dead shall hear my voice— the voice of the Son of God—and those who listen shall live. granted his Son to have life in himself,
26
The Father has life in himself, and has
27 and to judge the sins of all mankind because he is the Son of
Man.
28
Don’t be so surprised! Indeed the time is coming when all the dead in their graves shall hear the voice of God’s Son,
29 and shall rise again—those who have done good, to eternal life; and those who have continued in evil, to judgment.
John 5: 25-29 (TLB)
Please read Revelation 20: 11-15 and answer question #2:
Question #2: In looking at Daniel 12: 1-2, John 5: 25-29 and Revelation 20: 11-15 how would you describe the future judgments of mankind? Exactly how will all mankind be judged? (If you are unsure of this question refer to Phil. 4:3, Rev. 3:5, Rev. 13:8, Rev. 17:8 and Rev. 21:27).
When it comes to judgement and the resurrection we find that the Old Testament understood and general resurrection. In Job 19: 22-28 (the oldest book in the Bible) understood that he would be resurrected. Isaiah 26, Hosea 13 and here in Daniel 12-the all speak of the resurrection.
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Consider in Hebrews 11: 18-19 it even says that Abraham knew God could raise Isaac from the dead; which never struck me until I was studying this now how remarkable this is-Abraham was going to burn
Isaac. Do you still wonder if it is ok to be cremated?
Couple of other points here before we leave the first two verses: we know that Daniel is writing about a very specific time and a very specific being. The time is the seventieth week, the final days of the world because in verse one it states, "At that time..." ; which is a continuation of chapter 11 (remember no chapter breaks when it was originally written) and then it says ..."Michael the great prince who protects your people..." Whose people? Daniels...who happens to be a Jew and his people are the people of
Israel. We find him also in Jude 1:9 where he contests Lucifer over the body of Moses. We saw him in chapter ten when he came to assist Gabriel, we see him in Revelation 12 when he does battle against
Satan and his angels when Satan is cast out of heaven. Notice two things about Michael the archangel: first he is always busy and second notice the article used when referencing him. Michael 'the' archangel.
There is only one-he is in a class by himself.
Lucifer had been the head cherub; Michael was the head of the angels. Lucifer said in Isaiah 14:14, "I will be like the Most High God!" Yet the name Michael means, Who is like the Lord. Michael is like the antithesis of Lucifer in many ways and he will always stand up for the nation of Israel.
Consider this: it seems all other pieces of earth have principalities and powers influencing them but they are fallen principalities and powers. The apostle Paul alludes to this in Ephesians, And you He made alive, who were dead in trespasses and sins,
2 in which you once walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit who now works in the sons of disobedience, Ephesians 2: 1-2 (NKJV)
Those students of history: consider Israel and the wars they have faced in 1948, 1967, 1982 and the odds they faced and what occurred to bring them victory. Consider the first Persian Gulf crisis when 40 scud missiles came into Israel. The only people who died, died of heart attacks. The is a record of one home collapsing around a man and his heart was sticking out of the roof with the tiles piled up around his neck and he was not killed! Consider that fact and then look at verse one of Daniel 12, "...but everyone whose name is found in the book will be delivered." There is no scriptural reference that
Michael is definitely involved in protecting Israel; but historically you have to wonder!
Question #3: What is the difference between the Cherubim and the Seraphim when it comes to angels?
In verse 4 many scholars point to this verse as saying knowledge will be increasing in the end times.
However in the original translation it states "the knowledge will increase". It seems to be saying that we will understand what Daniel 12 is saying more than Daniel did as we can look back at history and see the first coming of Christ and understand the things He said to us about His second coming. We have the advantage of the Scriptures. I think what it is telling us here is that in the end times people like us will be studying and searching the Scriptures and we will garner and better understanding of what it is telling us-no world knowledge in general.
In verses 6 and 8 we come to two questions. In verse 6 we have the first question and in verse 7 we get the answer which is the most documented stretch of time in history- but it also brings us the most questions once we get to verses 11 and 12.
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Keep in mind that we are back to a 360 cycle as it was in Daniels time. When did the tribulation begin?
To say there is no tribulation in the first 3
1/2
years would be naive. When the two witnesses are killed in the great tribulation is almost at the half-way point and then the Antichrist enters the temple and proclaims himself to be God. We need to remember when the witnesses are killed the Bible tells us everyone celebrates because they had tormented all the earth (Rev. 11:10). The angel asks the question, "how long?" That tells us that Satan cannot extend this period of time, he us under the governance and providence of Almighty God. It is going to last 3
1/2
years.
In verse 8 Daniel; who is now close to ninety years old and who has received some of the most remarkable visions and experiences of life known to man admits he doesn't have a clue what this is all about. I find this refreshing because I am going to make the same statement in just a few verses. He asks for clarification and look at the answer he gets in verse 9"It's not time for you to know now. There will be a time where the answers will become more evident-but it's not for you now."
Please read verses 9-10 and answer question #4:
Question #4: What are these two verses saying to you and how are we to apply them to our lives today?
Verse 11, “And from the time that the daily sacrifice is taken away, and the abomination of desolation is set up, there shall be one thousand two hundred and ninety days. Everyone else regarding this time tells us 1,260 days (3
1/2
years) but here Daniel adds 30 days and then he ends the book!
Verse 12, blessed is he who waits, and comes to the one thousand three hundred and thirty-five days.
Here are 45 more days! We have a total of an extra 75 days. If you don't believe in the Millennium you have 75 days and they have to go somewhere.
When you have a question about the Bible you can read and study so many books and research until there are no more books to read but one thing I am certain about-the Bible does interpret itself. Chuck
Smith taught on this subject years ago and David Jeremiah in The Jeremiah Study Bible gives a great description of this time in his footnote on these verses: "The 1,290 day period (360 x 3.5 + 30) will be for the final judgment to be completed, and the 1,335 days (+75) will be the final preparations for the return of Christ and the establishment of the millennial kingdom (Matt. 25:1-46), completing the six items contains in 9:24. These extra days are needed for the sheep/goat judgment of Matt. 25 and the necessary arrangements for the administration of the kingdom." (Page1142)
Question #5: What has been impressed upon you heart and mind as you have studied the Book of
Daniel?
Question #6: How has the study of this book impacted you walk with God?
Thank you so much for joining us in the study of this great book. It is the goal of the ministry of
Cornerstone Christian Church to win the lost, disciple the won and care for the fellowship. If you have come across these notes on our web site we hope they have blessed you. May we encourage you to visit here often as studies from other books of the Bible will be posted in the near future. Our next study will be in the book of the Revelation of Jesus Christ beginning on January 4, 2016.
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