Daniel 12:1-13

The Men who were Loyal to God

Daniel

Robert Bryce

Chapter 12

v1 ‘At that time Michael will come’, continued the man. ‘He is the great *angel who looks after your people. There will be a time of terrible trouble. It will be the worst time since the nation began. Then God will rescue those among your people whose names are in his book. v2 Many of those who have died will come back to life again. God will give life that will never end to some of them. But some will have shame and disgust always. v3 Those who are wise will shine like the bright sky. Those who help many people to obey God will shine like the stars always.

v4 Now you, Daniel, do not add to this message. Close the book and keep it secret until the end. Many will try hard to increase their knowledge.’

Verses 1-4 This is the rest of what the man told Daniel. This is certainly about the end of the world. It will be a terrible time, especially for the people who love the real God. (See Mark 13:19-20.) But the *angels will help them and God will rescue them. God will only allow bad things to happen for a certain time.

The people who have died will come back to life. God will reward those who were loyal to him. They were the wise people. Those who did not love God will have shame.

The man told Daniel to stop writing. The things that he told Daniel about will not happen yet. They will not happen until just before the end of the world. But they will certainly happen. God has promised that they will happen.

v5 Then I, Daniel, looked up and I saw two other people. One of them was on this side of the river with me. The other one was on the other side of the river. v6 One of them spoke to the man who was wearing white clothes. He was beyond them over the water. He asked him, ‘How long will it be before these extraordinary things end?’ v7 The man who was wearing white clothes lifted up both his hands towards the sky. I heard him make a promise by God, who lives always. ‘It will end after three and a half years. Then the enemies who oppose the power of the holy people will stop. And all these events will be complete.’

Verses 5-7 Daniel saw two more *angels. One of them asked the man, ‘How long will it be before these extraordinary things end?’ The *angel knew that God would only allow bad things to happen for a certain time.

The man said that the time would last three and a half years. He actually said one time, two times and half a time. This may mean three and a half years. But God will stop these bad things after a certain time.

Then the end will come. Then God will show his power. He will show that he is in control.

v8 I heard his words, but I did not understand. So I said, ‘My *lord, how will it all end?’ v9 ‘You may go now, Daniel’, he said. ‘This message will remain secret until the end comes. v10 God will make many people holy and good. But wicked people will continue to do evil things. Wicked people will not understand what God wants. But wise people will understand. v11 From the time that there is no daily *sacrifice there will be 1290 days. That is from the time that they put the awful thing in place. v12 The people who wait patiently for 1335 days will be happy. v13 You yourself must be patient and you must continue until the end. You will die. But then you will live again and receive your reward at the end of time.’

Verses 8-13 Daniel still did not understand. He asked the man a different question. ‘How will it all end?’ But the man did not tell him any more. He said that he would not explain any more until the time arrived. This means that we will not understand all about the end of the world. But we do know enough. We know that many bad things will happen. We also know that God will stop those things after a certain time. The good people are those who are really wise. Wicked people are not wise and they will continue to do evil things.

We do not know what the 1290 days and the 1335 days mean. But they both mean about three and a half years. We do know that God will only allow the bad things to happen for a certain time. God’s people must be patient. Then they will be happy.

The man told Daniel to be patient. Daniel would die before the end of the world. But the man promised him that he would become alive again. Then God would give him his reward.

angel ~ God’s servant in heaven, who brings messages from God.
Lord ~ Lord is a special kind of name, and a title, for God. The Jewish people often use this title for God. It shows that he is over all. Or it may mean that he is always God.
lord ~ when this title does not mean God, it just means someone very important.
Jewish ~ a word that describes a Jew or anything that belongs to a Jew.
Jew ~ a person who is from the family of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob; a person who believes what Jews believe. It is also a name for people from Judah and Israel.
sacrifice ~ a gift, such as food or an animal; people often gave it as part of their worship of God or of a false god; a gift to God to ask him to forgive us; or to thank him for something.
worship ~ to show honour to someone superior; to respect God; to praise and serve God; to tell God that we love him very much; or, to serve and to show honour to a false god.