Daniel 12:1-13
Daniel 12:1. At that time Michael shall stand up, the great prince who stands watch over the sons of your people; and there shall be a time of trouble, such as never was since there was a nation, even to that time. And at that time your people shall be delivered, everyone one who is found written in the book.
Who is Michael?
The Hebrew for Michael is Mika´el and means, who is like God.
Additional texts naming Michael are mentioned in the following:
Daniel 10:13. But the prince of the kingdom of Persia withstood me twenty-one days; and behold, Michael, one of the chief princes, came to help me, for I had been left alone there with the kings of Persia. (Daniel here was in vision, and whilst in vision an angel came to him and explained what was taking place behind the political scenes during the time of Cyrus the king of Persian rulership. The angel was battling with the prince of Persia who is a fallen angel assuming power over the Persian kingdom. However, Michael (Jesu Christ), one of the chief princes in the heavenly kingdom came to help this angel talking to Daniel.
Daniel 10:20.21. Then he said, “Do you know why I have come to you? And now I must return to fight with the prince of Persia; and when I have gone forth, indeed the prince of Greece will come. But I will tell you what is noted in the Scripture of Truth. (No one upholds me against these, except Michael your prince).”
(It seems like this angel and Michael are fighting to establish the next rulership of the Babylonian empire after the Persian rulership, and that is the Grecian empire according to the image in Daniel 2:).
Jude 1:9. Yet Michael the archangel, in contending with the devil, when he disputed about the body of Moses, dared not bring against him a reviling accusation, but said, “The Lord rebuked you!”
The text in Jude 1:9 says that Michael is the archangel. Who is this archangel? 1 Thessalonians 4:16. For the Lord himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first.
(This verse tells us that the archangel is the Lord himself descending from heaven at the Second Coming of Christ and the resurrection of the saints. Matthew 24:30. Then the sign of the Son of Man will appear in heaven, and then all the tribes of the earth will mourn, and they will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven with power and great glory).
Revelation 12:7.8. And war broke out in heaven: Michael and his angels fought with the dragon, and the dragon and his angels fought, but they did not prevail, nor was a place found for them in heaven any longer. So the great dragon was cast out, that serpent of old, called the Devil and Satan, who deceives the whole world; he was cast out to the earth, and his angels were cast out with him.
Conclusion
Michael in the Hebrew means, who is like God. There is only one person who fits this description and that is Jesus Christ. In the book of Daniel, Michael the chief prince is Jesus Christ who establishes all nations from the Medo-Persian empire to the Grecian empire as in Daniel 10:20.21. The only one who can contend with the devil about the dead body of Moses is Jesus Christ, because he has the keys of death. Rev 1:18. As regards to the archangel, Jesus Christ is the only leader and archangel of all the angels in heaven, and he is the only one who fits the description of the Lord at the Second Coming of Christ. 1 Thessalonians 4:16. When there was war in heaven (Rev 12:7-9) there were only two groups: the devil and his angels, verses Michael and his angels. So, Michael is the archangel and the leader of the good angels in heaven, hence Michael is Jesus Christ.
Daniel 12:1. “At that time.”
What time?
This time is referring to the time of the end as stated in Daniel 11:40, when the mysterious king named by personal pronouns in Daniel 11:14-45 referring to the papacy in the Roman Catholic church system. He will at the time of the end attack the king of the North and the king of the South, and all the Christian church denominations on the earth, plus all other religions and atheism. This time is referring to the last time of trouble before and after the time of the seven last plagues fall upon the earth. Rev 16:
Even though the papacy will be trying to establish their rulership over the earth, the text says, “And at that time your people shall be delivered.”
Who are Daniel´s people?
These are the sons of Daniel´s people, who are found written in the book. Which book?
Rev 3:5. He who overcomes shall be clothed in white garments, and I will not blot out his name from the Book of Life, but I will confess his name before my Father and before his angels.
Rev 13:8. All who dwell on the earth will worship him (the beast from the sea), whose names have not been written in the Book of Life of the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world.
Rev 20:15. And anyone not found written in the Book of Life was cast into the lake of fire.
Rev 22:19. And if anyone takes away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part from the Book of Life, from the holy city, and from the things which are written in this book.
Philippians 4:3. And I urge you also, true companion, help these women who laboured with me in the gospel, with Clement also, and the rest of my fellow workers, whose names are in the Book of Life.
Conclusion
The book which our names are written on, refers to the Book of Life or eternal life. This book is related to him who overcomes; he who is clothed in white garments; he who does not worship the beast from the sea; and he who labours with Paul in preaching the gospel of Jesus Christ. He whose name is not written in the book of Life was cast into the lake of fire.
Daniel 12:1. Writes about a time of trouble, such as never was since there was a nation, even to that time.
When is this time of trouble?
This time of trouble is not referring to the Dark Middle Ages when over 50 million Roman Catholic church members were persecuted and burnt at the stake, because they protested against the pope and believed in salvation through Christ in the Holy Bible.
This time of trouble is referring to the time of the end as stated in Daniel 11:40, when the mysterious king named by personal pronouns in Daniel 11:14-45 referring to the papacy in the Roman Catholic church system. He will at the time of the end attack the king of the North and the king of the South, and all the Christian church denominations on the earth, plus all other religions and atheism. This time is referring to the last time of trouble before and after the time of the seven last plagues fall upon the earth. Rev 16:
When this time of trouble occurs, Daniels people who believe in the Protestant Holy Bible, the Ten Commandments of God and the faith of Jesus Christ will be delivered. They have their names written in the Book of Life. Revelation 14:12. 12:17.
Daniel 12:2. And many of those who sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, some to everlasting life, some to shame and everlasting contempt.
There are two major resurrections at the Coming of Christ and thereafter. John 5:28.29. Do not marvel at this; for the hour is coming in which all who are in the graves will hear his voice and come fourth – those who have done good, to the resurrection of life, and those who have done evil, to the resurrection of condemnation.
- The first major resurrection occurs at the Second Coming of Jesus Christ, and this is for all believers in God. 1 Thessalonians 4:16.17. For the Lord himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And thus, we shall always be with the Lord.
- The second major resurrection will take place after the 1,000 years millennium and this is for all the wicked non-believers in God upon the earth. Rev 20:5. But the rest of the dead did not live again until the thousand years were finished.
Therefore, those who take part in the first resurrection to everlasting life are all believers in God and Jesus Christ. Those who take part in the second resurrection to shame and everlasting contempt are all non-believers in God.
Dan 12:3. Those who are wise shall shine like the brightness of the firmament, and those who turn many to righteousness like the stars forever and ever.
How do you get wisdom to be wise and what is wisdom?
The Oxford Dictionary says wisdom is being wise; soundness of judgment in matters to life and conduct; knowledge, enlightenment, learning e.g. The wisdom of Solomon.[i]
Proverbs 2:6. For the Lord gives wisdom; from his mouth comes knowledge and understanding.
James 1:5. If any lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given him.
When we turn many to righteousness, that is when we witness for the gospel of Jesus Christ through preaching, teaching and literature evangelism, then many will come to a knowledge of the truth. Matthew 28:19.20. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you. This command refers to all believers in Christ and not just to a select few.
Daniel 12:4. 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.
Seal the book refers to the prophecies in the book of Daniel. The narratives are easily understood, and one can gain wisdom and understanding from them, but the prophecies are hard to understand, especially for Daniel.
The prophecies in the book of Daniel were sealed until the time of the end. When was this time of the end? This study was done on my website www.ayindk.com/Daniel 11:35-39. When is the time of the end? In short, `the time of the end` refers to the period between 1798 and the Second Coming of Christ.
Dan 12:4. Knowledge shall increase.
Does this mean the prophecies in the book of Daniel, or the technical knowledge in the world today?
A word study from the Bible to understand knowledge.
Genesis 2:9. The tree of knowledge of good and evil.
Job 15:2. Should a wise man utter vain knowledge.
Psalm 119:66. Teach me good judgment and knowledge.
Psalm 139:6. (Such) knowledge is too wonderful for me. (God´s knowledge of man).
Proverbs 1:7. The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge.
Proverbs 8:10. Knowledge rather than choice gold.
Proverbs 8:12. Find knowledge of witty inventions.
Proverbs 14:18. The prudent are crowned with knowledge.
Ecclesiastes 1:18. He who increases knowledge increases sorrow.
Jeremiah 10:14. Every man is brutish in his knowledge.
Daniel 1:4. Young men in whom there was no blemish, but good looking, gifted in all wisdom, possessing knowledge and quick to understanding, who had the ability to serve in the king’s palace, and whom they might teach the language and literature of the Chaldeans.
Hosea 4:6. My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge.
Conclusion
Knowledge refers to Biblical knowledge of God, the scriptures and worldly knowledge e.g. Daniel and his friends in Babylon.
Daniel 12:5.6. Then I, Daniel looked and there stood two others, one on this riverbank and the other on that riverbank. And one said to the man clothed in linen, who was above the waters of the river, “How long shall the fulfilment of these wonders be?”
Which riverbank and which vision revealing these wonders?
It seems like the only riverbank which is related to the vision in Daniel is in Dan 10:4. Now on the twenty-fourth day of the first month, as I was by the side of the great river, that is, the Tigris. Dan 10:7. And I Daniel, alone saw the vision, for the men who were with me did not see the vision. (This vision Daniel saw refers to Dan 7: 8: 9:). Dan 10:14. Now I have come to make you understand what will happen to your people in the latter days, for the vision refers to many days yet to come.
Daniel 12:7. Then I heard the man clothed in linen who was above the waters of the river, when he held up his right hand and his left hand to heaven, and swore by him who lives forever, that it shall be for a time, times, and half a time; and when the power of the holy people has been completely shattered, all these things shall be finished.
What does the time, times and half a time mean?
If you go to my website www.ayindk.com/Revelation 12:6 it will give you a full explanation.
In short it refers to the time during the Dark Middle Ages between 538-1798. The time, times and half a time would cover much of Daniel 11:14-45, which is referring to the last vision he received from God.
Daniel 12:8.9. Although I heard, I did not understand. Then I said, “My Lord, what shall be the end of these things?” And he said, “Go your way, Daniel, for the words are closed up and sealed till the time of the end.
This citation `time of the end` is also mentioned in Dan 12:4. 11:40. 8:17. The `time of the end` refers to the time from 1798 to the Second Coming of Christ. So the words of the prophecy in Daniel´s vision were closed and sealed to the beginning of 1798. For a fuller explanation of the citation `time of the end, ` see my website www.ayindk.com/Daniel 11:35.
What happened after 1798?
“At the end of the 18th and beginning of the 19th century a new interest in the prophecies of Daniel and the Revelation was awakened in widely separated places of the earth. The study of these prophecies led to a widespread belief that the second advent of Christ was near. Numerous expositors in England, Joseph Wolf in the Middle East, Manual Lacunza in South America, and William Miller in the United States, together with the host of other students of the prophecies, declared, on the basis of their study of the prophecies of Daniel that the second advent was at hand. Today, this conviction has become the driving force of the worldwide movement.”[ii]
Daniel 12:10. Many shall be purified, made white, and refined, but the wicked shall do wickedly; and none of the wicked shall understand, but the wise shall understand.
How are we made white?
2 Timothy 3:16. All scripture is given by inspiration of God. (We must believe in the holy scriptures of the Bible).
John 3:16. God so loved the world that he gave his only Son that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have everlasting life. (We should believe in Jesus Christ as our personal saviour).
Romans 3:23. All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God. (Admit that we are sinners).
Acts 2:38. The Peter said to them, “Repent.” (We should repent of all our sins).
1 John 1:9. If we confess our sins, he is faithful to forgive of our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness. (We have to confess our sins to God).
John 3:5. Jesus answered, “Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God. We must be born again).
Ephesians 4:22.23. That you put off concerning your former conduct, the old man which grows corrupt according not the deceitful lusts and be renewed in the spirit of your mind.
Isaiah 1:18. Though your sins be as scarlet blood red, they shall be as white as snow.
Conclusion
We are made white by reading in the holy scriptures which tells us to believe in Jesus Christ as our only personal saviour, repent of our sins and be born again into a new man.
Daniel 12:10. But the wicked shall do wickedly; and none of the wicked shall understand.
“The wicked have chosen Satan as their leader. Under his control, the wonderful faculties of the mind are used to construct agencies of destruction. God has given the human mind great power, power to show that the Creator has endowed man with ability to do great work against the enemy of all righteousness, power to show victories may be gained in the conflict against evil.
But when those to whom God has entrusted capabilities give themselves into the hands of the enemy, they become a power to destroy. When men do not make God first and last and best in everything, when they do not give themselves to Him for the carrying out of His purposes, Satan comes in, and uses in his service the minds that, given to God, could achieve great good.”[iii]
Daniel 12:10. But the wise shall understand.
How do we become wise?
The Oxford Dictionary says wisdom is being wise; soundness of judgment in matters to life and conduct; knowledge, enlightenment, learning e.g. The wisdom of Solomon.[iv]
James 1:5. If any lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given him.
Proverbs 2:1-6. My son, if you receive my words, and treasure my commands within you, so that you incline your ear to wisdom, and apply your heart to understanding; yes, if you cry out for discernment, and lift up your voice for understanding. If you seek heart as silver, and search for her hidden treasures; then you will understand the fear of the Lord and find the knowledge of God. For the Lord gives wisdom; from his mouth comes knowledge and understanding. (Wisdom comes from the words of the scriptures and from the Ten Commandments of God).
1 Corinthians 1:22-24. For the Jews request a sign; and the Greeks seek wisdom; but we preach Christ crucified, to the Jews a stumbling block and to the Greeks foolishness, but to those who are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God. (Christ is the wisdom of God).
1 Corinthians 1:30. But of him you are in Christ Jesus, who became for us wisdom from God – and righteousness and sanctification and redemption.
Conclusion
We become wise by asking God for wisdom. By Believing God´s word in the Bible and the Ten Commandments. By applying our hearts to understanding and discernment and to the knowledge of God. Christ is the wisdom of God and in Christ we have wisdom, righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption.
Daniel 12:10. But the wise shall understand refers to the people that are called by God to his kingdom and seek to understand the prophesies of Daniel especially towards the end of time.
Daniel 12:11.12. 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. Blessed is he who waits and comes to the one thousand three hundred and thirty days.
The most important word in this text is the word daily which is tamid in Hebrew. There are many translations for this word from many different Bibles. But what does this word mean?
For a full explanation of the word tamid look at my website www.ayindk.com/Daniel 11:31 and www.ayindk.com/Daniel 8:13.14.
In short tamid is related to the daily administration in the earthly sanctuary or tabernacle of the priesthood. After the crucifixion of Christ, the administration of the earthly sanctuary was transferred to the heavenly sanctuary where Christ is our High Priest.
What does the abomination of desolation mean?
The abomination of desolation is the manmade earthly substitute of the priestly administration of the heavenly sanctuary by the papacy in the Roman Catholic church system all around the world. For example, when one sins in the Roman Catholic Church system the people come to their priest to ask for forgiveness of sins, instead of coming to Christ in the heavenly sanctuary for forgiveness of sins.
“Thus, the setting up of the abomination of desolation of Daniel 12:11 can be seen as the union of church and state and what the church set out to accomplish through the power of the state. This had the effect of eclipsing the true ministry of Christ as our High Priest in the heavenly sanctuary (Daniel 11:31. 8:11-13).[v]
Even more the pope states that he is God´s representative on this earth. This is also an abomination which brings desolation to the priesthood of Christ in the heavenly sanctuary. www.ayindk.com/Daniel 11:31.32.
What does the 1,290 days mean in this text?
Dan 12:11. From the time, refers to a starting date of the taking away of the `daily` administration from the heavenly sanctuary, and to set up the abomination of desolation by the papacy on this earth.
So, when did the papacy begin and finish with the taking away of the daily and the setting up of the abomination of desolation?
“How should the 1,290 days be marked off? Because of the nature of the events that occurred in A.D. 1798 when the papacy, the little horn, received its temporary `deadly wound` (Revelation 13:3 KJV) and was removed from the scene of action for a time, that date must mark the end of the 1,290 days as well as of the 1,260 days. It was at this time that the Medieval substitution for Christ´s heavenly ministry received a serious blow through the papacy`s temporary loss of power and prestige. Thus, we must extend the 1,290 days backward from that date so that the 1,290 days commence thirty days-years prior to the beginning of the 1,260 days A.D. 538 minus thirty years takes us to the date of A.D.508. What significant event occurred at that time to mark the beginning of the 1,290 years?”[vi]
“In this connection the three horns which the papal little horn plucked from the head of the beast representing imperial Rome (Daniel 7:8) can be seen as the following three powers: the Vandals in 534, the Visigoths in 508, and the Ostrogoths in 538. These were victories for the Frankish and Roman emperors, but they were also theological victories for the bishop of Rome. The first of these horns was plucked up in 508 at the beginning of the 1,290 days; the last of the three was plucked up in 538 at the beginning of the 1,260 days.”[vii]
“The Arians believed that Christ was a created being, and this view was anathema to the bishop of Rome. Thus, when Clovis and the Franks defeated the Arian Visigoths and drove them into Spain, it was also a theological victory for the bishop of Rome.”[viii]
“Two major elements came together here (1) the blending of the political arm of the state and the religious arm of the church; (2) the use of the arms of the state to accomplish the ends of the church.”[ix]
Conclusion
From the time the daily tamid administration of Christ in the heavenly sanctuary was taken away in A.D. 538 by the papal system of the Roman Catholic priesthood; this was the beginning of the Dark Middle Ages of spiritual depression. The taking away of the daily was substituted by the enforced papal system of forgiveness of sins by the priests and their teachings, and this was called the abomination of desolation.
Daniel 12:12. Blessed is he who waits, and comes to the one thousand three hundred and thirty-five days.
The 1,290 days and the 1,260-day prophecy time period are related to the taking away of the daily administration of Christ in the heavenly sanctuary and the setting up of the abomination of desolation by the papal system from the Roman Catholic priesthood during the Dark Middle Ages.
However, the 1,335-day prophecy refers to those who wait till the end of this time period prophecy because they will receive a blessing.
When does this prophecy of 1,335 days start?
This 1,335-day prophecy starts in A.D. 508 and finishes in the year 1843.
“In early Adventist writings, this date was taken to represent the time of the Millerite preaching when the giving this message announced that the end of the 2,300 day-years of Daniel 8:14 would come in 1843/1844 and eventually settled on October 22, 1844, as the date of fulfilment. Here in Daniel 12:12 we have a prophetic time period that came to an end in 1853. Thus, the two events were very close in time.”[x]
So, what happened in the years 1843/1844?
If you look on my website www.ayindk.com/Revelation 10:1-11 Sixth trumpet and Revelation 11:1-14 sixth trumpet, you will get a full explanation.
In short, William Miller from the USA and other Adventists around the world like Dr. Joseph Wolf the missionary to the world, Robert Winter from England, Lacunza a Jesuit Spaniard from South America, Bengel a Lutheran minister from Germany, Guassen who preached in France and Switzerland, and children in Scandinavia preached about the Second Coming of Christ to this earth around the year 1843. However, Christ did not come? Why?
William Miller and his associates had believed that this earth was the sanctuary of God. This was the prevailing view accepted by all ministers and theologians from different churches at that time. But this view was not the Biblical view. Further Bible study revealed that the sanctuary was not this earth, but in heaven. Hebrews 8:1.2. The end of the 2,300 day/year prophecy in Daniel 8:14 was referring to the heavenly sanctuary. Our High Priest in the heavenly sanctuary was none other than Jesus Christ. Hebrews 4:14-16.
So what happened in the heavenly sanctuary at the end of the 2,300 years and at the end of the 1,335 years which was in 1843/44?
The “daily” tamid teachings of the sanctuary were restored after being taken away by the papal system which was called the abomination of desolation. For forgiveness of sins one did not come to the Roman Catholic priests as in the Middle Ages, but one came to Christ as our only High Priest in the heavenly sanctuary.
“At the termination of the 2,300 years, in 1844, there had been no sanctuary on earth for many centuries. The prophecy, `Unto two thousand and three hundred days; then shall the sanctuary be cleansed, ` unquestionably points to the sanctuary in heaven. But the most important question remains to be answered: What is the cleansing of the sanctuary?”[xi]
“In Hebrews 9: the cleansing of both the earthly and the heavenly sanctuary is plainly taught. Almost all things are by the law purged with blood; and without the shedding of blood is no remission. It was therefore necessary that the pattern of things in the heavens should be purified with these (the blood of animals); but the heavenly things themselves with better sacrifices than these (Hebrews 9:22.23), even the precious blood of Christ.”[xii]
“For eighteen centuries this work of ministration continued in the first apartment of the sanctuary. The blood of Christ, pleaded on behalf of penitent believers, secured their pardon and acceptance with the Father, yet their sins still remained upon the books of record. As in the typical service there was a work of atonement at the close of the year, so before Christ´s work for the redemption of men is completed there is a work of atonement for the removal of sin from the sanctuary. This is the service which began when the 2,300 days ended. At that time, as foretold by Daniel the prophet, our High Prist entered the Most Holy, to perform the last division of his solemn work to cleanse the sanctuary.”[xiii]
So this is the blessing that came to God´s people at the end of the 1,335 years and at the end of the 2,300 years which was in 1844. The sanctuary daily teaching was restored, and Christ entered into the Most Holy apartment of the heavenly sanctuary to complete the cleansing of the sanctuary as on the day of atonement.
[i] Dorothy Eagle, edit., Revised, The Oxford Illustrated Dictionary, (Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1975), 971.
[ii] Francis D. Nicol, Edit., The Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary Vol 4, (Washington D.C.: Review & Herald Pub., Assoc., 1976), 879.
[iii] Ellen G. White, Letter 141, 1902.
[iv] Dorothy Eagle, edit., Revised, The Oxford Illustrated Dictionary, (Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1975), 971.
[v] William H. Shea, Daniel A Reader´s Guide, (Nampa: Pacific Press Pub., Assoc., 2005), 275.
[vi] Ibid., 274.
[vii] Ibid., 275.
[viii] Ibid., 274.
[ix] Ibid., 274.
[x] Ibid., 276.
[xi] Ellen G. White, Confrontation, (Grantham: The Stanborough Press, 1978), 417.
[xii] Ibid., 417.
[xiii] Ibid., 421.