Daniel 12:13

Till the end be— To thy station. Rest and continue in thy lot, till the end of thy days. It is hereby signified, that Daniel should live in peace and tranquillity till the end of his days; and that the evils which had just been shewn him were yet at a great distance: and it also, probably, signifies, that Daniel should be a partaker of all the privileges of the first resurrection, and have then a glorious lot with the saints of God. See Revelation 20:5.

REFLECTIONS.—1st, When the troubles of God's faithful people are at their height, the power and grace of their Redeemer shall be the more magnified in their deliverance; and especially at the resurrection of the dead and the great day of judgment.

1. In that great day of the appearing of our God and Saviour, an awful distinction will be made between the persons who shall awake from the dust of death; some of them arising to everlasting life, while others, who died impenitent, shall awake to shame and everlasting contempt; which would be a glorious encouragement for the sufferers under the persecution of Antiochus, (see Hebrews 11:35.) as it is to all the suffering saints of God to the end of time.

2. The reward of the faithful will then be great. The wise, who perseveringly know and believe in Jesus to the saving of their souls; deep read in their own sinful state by nature, the sufficiency of the Redeemer's blood and infinite merit, and the divine operations of the Holy Spirit; these shall shine as the brightness of the firmament, perfectly holy, and happy, and glorious as their Lord; and they that turn many to righteousness, the ministers of the gospel, and others who laboured for this blessed purpose, to bring men to the knowledge of a Redeemer's sacrifice, intercession, and infinite merit, as the only ground of their acceptance with God, and to convert their souls to the love and practice of holiness, they shall shine as the stars for ever and ever, with undiminished lustre through the ages of eternity. A powerful engagement this, to those who are put in trust with the gospel, to labour with fidelity and zeal in the blessed cause, when every soul converted by their ministry shall add a jewel to their crown.

3. Daniel is commanded to seal the book even to the time of the end; either he was to keep the vision secret, or it would not be understood or regarded till the times of trial came, which were at a distance; or it intimates the darkness and obscurity of the book, till the accomplishment of the events should discover the meaning of the prophetic word. Many shall run to and fro, at the end of time, when the things here spoken of begin to be fulfilled, earnestly searching into this sealed book: and knowledge shall be increased; light will then be cast on the prophesies; so that the diligent inquirer shall be able to understand them more fully than they had ever been understood before. Note; (1.) They who would draw knowledge from the deep well of prophetic truth must diligently examine and compare spiritual things with spiritual, and in prayer fervently ask divine illumination. (2.) However dark and obscure any of the prophesies may now be, the time will come when they will be clear as if written with a sunbeam.

2nd, The mysterious things before spoken naturally excited in the prophet's mind the desire to know when the end of these things should be, and what would be the sign of their conclusion.

1. How long shall it be to the end of these wonders? This question is put by one of the angels who stood by the river, in the prophet's hearing, to the glorious personage who stood upon, or above, the waters of the river. Daniel, probably, feared to be too inquisitive; and though he wished to know, yet dared not ask. The answer is ushered in with great solemnity: the celestial personage, lifting up his hand to heaven, by a solemn oath for the confirmation of the faith of his servant (see Revelation 10:5.), declares, that the troubles will continue 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. This is to be applied to the reign and fall of Antichrist, the same numbers being used, Revelation 11:2; Revelation 12:6 when the dispersion of the Jews shall end, and they shall be gathered out of all lands: which blessed event may the Lord hasten in his time!

2. What shall be the end of these things? Encouraged by the answer which had been given, but not understanding the meaning of what he heard, Daniel himself is emboldened to ask, what events would more distinctly mark the conclusion of these troubles? or, as the words may be rendered, what is the last of these things? Note; (1.) Through the darkness of their minds, the greatest saints are often at a loss in their inquiries, and humbly own their ignorance. (2.) We have one to apply to under all our doubts and difficulties, who is able to solve them. (3.) When we see the prevalence of iniquity, and the triumphs of the ungodly, we are ready in amaze to cry, What will be the end of these things? as if the cause of Christ was utterly overwhelmed; but it shall prevail at last over all opposition.

The answer given to the prophet's inquiry is very gracious: he shall know as much as he needs, and is bid to be content about the rest. Go thy way, Daniel; be satisfied with what thou hast heard, and prepare for eternity; for the words are closed up, and sealed till the time of the end; will continue till then more or less dark and obscure, when time would interpret the vision. Many shall be purified, and made white, and tried, by their afflictions, and come like silver from the furnace; but the wicked shall do wickedly; persisting in their impenitence, and given up to judicial blindness of heart. None of the wicked shall understand, neither the word nor the providences of God; but the wise shall understand both, and improve thereby. And, as to the immediate solution of the question, he gives him some dates by which it might be known: 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; which some refer to what Antiochus did, but is also to be referred to Antichrist; who, in opposition to the one sacrifice of Christ, has set up the merits of man, established the worship of saints and images, and other abominations. The length of this state of trouble is declared to be a thousand two hundred and ninety days, see Revelation 13:5. The days here added to the number there given are, as some think, the space allotted for the conversion of the Jews. Blessed is he that waiteth, and cometh to the thousand three hundred and five and thirty days, at the end of which all the enemies of Christ and his people will, it is supposed, be utterly destroyed, and times of the greatest happiness and joy succeed. The period of these events indeed still remains a secret; but of this the people of God may be sure, that the end of all the sufferings of his church hastens apace; that we are called with patience to wait for the blessed day; and that our happiness will then be complete and everlasting.

The concluding answer is a word of comfort, particularly addressed to Daniel himself. Go thou thy way till the end be; prepare for death, and wait for the resurrection morn; for thou shalt rest, dying in the Lord, and delivered for ever from all the burthens of mortality; and stand in thy lot at the end of the days; raised to a glorious inheritance at the last, and put in possession of that eternal kingdom which God hath prepared for those who are faithful unto death. Note; (1.) While God continues us upon earth, our business is to be found in the work that he has given us to do, waiting for our dismission, and ever ready to receive it with joy. (2.) A child of God, like Noah's dove, must not expect his rest in this tempestuous world; but when his head rests upon a pillow of dust, then shall his soul find rest in the Saviour's bosom. (3.) Whatever our lot or portion may be in this world, we have an inheritance before us incorruptible, undefiled, which fadeth not away; the believing prospect of which will effectually support the faithful under all the trials of life, and carry them triumphant through all the terrors of death to everlasting glory. Even so, Amen; come, Lord Jesus, come quickly!