DANIEL 12
“At that time shall arise Michael, the great prince who has charge of your people. And there shall be a time of trouble, such as never has been since there was a nation till that time. But at that time your people shall be delivered, everyone whose name shall be found written in the book. 2 And many of those who sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, some to everlasting life, and some to shame and everlasting contempt. 3 And those who are wise shall shine like the brightness of the sky above; and those who turn many to righteousness, like the stars forever and ever. 4 But you, Daniel, shut up the words and seal the book, until the time of the end. Many shall run to and fro, and knowledge shall increase.” 5 Then I, Daniel, looked, and behold, two others stood, one on this bank of the stream and one on that bank of the stream. 6 And someone said to the man clothed in linen, who was above the waters of the stream, “How long shall it be till the end of these wonders?” 7 And I heard the man clothed in linen, who was above the waters of the stream; he raised his right hand and his left hand toward heaven and swore by him who lives forever that it would be for a time, times, and half a time, and that when the shattering of the power of the holy people comes to an end all these things would be finished. – Daniel 12:1-7
DANIEL 12 THE PROMISE TO THE ELECT
A poem by ILMA inspired by these verses
If you serve the Jesus Christ there is much reason for hope
For the Lord has promised the elect a new heaven and new earth
Only those who are perishing will have to worry about the end times
For they will account for the way they have rejected Christ himself.
According to Coffman’s commentaries on the book of Daniel, the phrase in verse 1 “at that time” refers to Messianic times. He further comments “In understanding this prophecy it is imperative to understand that Daniel 10-12 are all one prophecy, not two or three. The chapter divisions here have been deplored by scholars ever since Cardinal Hugo butchered the job of dividing them in the 13th century.” The first few verses of this chapter according to Young’s summary states that “When these events take place, those who are found written in the book will be delivered. The reference is to the elect, those destined to receive eternal life.”
REFLECTION
- How do you think believers and unbelievers vary in their perspective regarding the prophecies given by Daniel here and in the book of Revelation?
