The End Times

12 “At that time Michael,(A) the great prince who protects your people, will arise. There will be a time of distress(B) such as has not happened from the beginning of nations until then. But at that time your people—everyone whose name is found written in the book(C)—will be delivered.(D) Multitudes who sleep in the dust of the earth will awake:(E) some to everlasting life, others to shame and everlasting contempt.(F) Those who are wise[a](G) will shine(H) like the brightness of the heavens, and those who lead many to righteousness,(I) like the stars for ever and ever.(J) But you, Daniel, roll up and seal(K) the words of the scroll until the time of the end.(L) Many will go here and there(M) to increase knowledge.”

Then I, Daniel, looked, and there before me stood two others, one on this bank of the river and one on the opposite bank.(N) One of them said to the man clothed in linen,(O) who was above the waters of the river, “How long will it be before these astonishing things are fulfilled?”(P)

The man clothed in linen, who was above the waters of the river, lifted his right hand(Q) and his left hand toward heaven, and I heard him swear by him who lives forever,(R) saying, “It will be for a time, times and half a time.[b](S) When the power of the holy people(T) has been finally broken, all these things will be completed.(U)

I heard, but I did not understand. So I asked, “My lord, what will the outcome of all this be?”

He replied, “Go your way, Daniel, because the words are rolled up and sealed(V) until the time of the end.(W) 10 Many will be purified, made spotless and refined,(X) but the wicked will continue to be wicked.(Y) None of the wicked will understand, but those who are wise will understand.(Z)

11 “From the time that the daily sacrifice(AA) is abolished and the abomination that causes desolation(AB) is set up, there will be 1,290 days.(AC) 12 Blessed is the one who waits(AD) for and reaches the end of the 1,335 days.(AE)

13 “As for you, go your way till the end.(AF) You will rest,(AG) and then at the end of the days you will rise to receive your allotted inheritance.(AH)

Footnotes

  1. Daniel 12:3 Or who impart wisdom
  2. Daniel 12:7 Or a year, two years and half a year

The Time of the End

12 “Now at that time (A)Michael, the great prince who stands guard over the sons of your people, will arise. And there will be a (B)time of distress (C)such as never occurred since there was a nation until that time; and at that time your people, everyone who is found written in the (D)book, will be rescued. And (E)many of those who sleep in the dust of the ground will awake, (F)these to everlasting life, but the others to disgrace and everlasting [a]contempt. And [b]those who have (G)insight will (H)shine like the glow of the [c]expanse of heaven, and those who [d](I)lead the many to righteousness, like the stars forever and ever. But as for you, Daniel, (J)keep these words secret and (K)seal up the book until the (L)end of time; (M)many will roam about, and knowledge will increase.”

Then I, Daniel, looked, and behold, two others were standing, one on this bank of the stream and the other on that bank of the stream. And (N)someone said to the man (O)dressed in linen, who was above the waters of the stream, “(P)How long will it be until the end of these wonders?” And I heard the man dressed in linen, who was above the waters of the stream, [e]as he (Q)raised his right hand and his left toward heaven, and swore by (R)Him who lives forever that it would be for a [f](S)time, [g]times, and half a [h]time; and as soon as [i]they finish (T)smashing the [j]power of the holy people, all these events will be completed. But as for me, I heard but did not understand; so I said, “My lord, what will be the [k]outcome of these events?” And he said, “Go your way, Daniel, for these words will be kept secret and (U)sealed up until the end time. 10 (V)Many will be purged, [l]cleansed, and refined, but the (W)wicked will act wickedly; and none of the wicked will understand, but [m]those who (X)have insight will understand. 11 And from the time that the regular sacrifice is abolished and the (Y)abomination [n]of desolation is set up, there will be 1,290 days. 12 (Z)Blessed is the one who is patient and attains to the (AA)1,335 days! 13 But as for you, go your way to the [o]end; then you will (AB)rest and [p]rise for your (AC)allotted portion at the end of the [q]age.”

Footnotes

  1. Daniel 12:2 Lit abhorrence
  2. Daniel 12:3 Or The instructors will
  3. Daniel 12:3 Or firmament; i.e., atmosphere and space
  4. Daniel 12:3 Or obtain rights for many, like
  5. Daniel 12:7 Lit and
  6. Daniel 12:7 I.e., year(s)
  7. Daniel 12:7 I.e., year(s)
  8. Daniel 12:7 I.e., year(s)
  9. Daniel 12:7 Lit to finish
  10. Daniel 12:7 Lit hand
  11. Daniel 12:8 Or final end
  12. Daniel 12:10 Or whitened
  13. Daniel 12:10 Or the instructors will
  14. Daniel 12:11 Lit that makes desolate; or that causes horror
  15. Daniel 12:13 I.e., end of your life
  16. Daniel 12:13 Lit stand
  17. Daniel 12:13 Lit days

Chapter 12

The Resurrection

“At that time there shall arise Michael,(A)
    the great prince,
    guardian of your people;
It shall be a time unsurpassed in distress
    since the nation began until that time.
At that time your people shall escape,
    everyone who is found written in the book.[a]
Many of those who sleep[b]
    in the dust of the earth shall awake;
Some to everlasting life,
    others to reproach and everlasting disgrace.(B)
But those with insight shall shine brightly
    like the splendor of the firmament,
And those who lead the many to justice
    shall be like the stars[c] forever.(C)

“As for you, Daniel, keep secret the message and seal the book until the end time; many shall wander aimlessly and evil shall increase.”

I, Daniel, looked and saw two others, one standing on either bank of the river. One of them said to the man clothed in linen, who was upstream, “How long shall it be to the end of these appalling things?” The man clothed in linen,(D) who was upstream, lifted his hands to heaven; and I heard him swear by him who lives forever that it should be for a time, two times, and half a time;[d] and that, when the power of the destroyer of the holy people was brought to an end, all these things should end. I heard, but I did not understand; so I asked, “My lord, what follows this?” “Go, Daniel,” he said, “because the words are to be kept secret and sealed until the end time. 10 Many shall be refined, purified, and tested, but the wicked shall prove wicked; the wicked shall have no understanding, but those with insight shall. 11 [e]From the time that the daily sacrifice is abolished and the desolating abomination is set up, there shall be one thousand two hundred and ninety days. 12 Blessed are they who have patience and persevere for the one thousand three hundred and thirty-five days. 13 Go, take your rest, you shall rise for your reward at the end of days.”

Footnotes

  1. 12:1 Written in the book: cf. 10:21.
  2. 12:2 Many of those who sleep: Daniel does not envisage the universal resurrection as later developed. Two groups are distinguished, one that rises to eternal life, the other to reproach and disgrace. Then “those with insight” (11:33–35) are singled out for special honor.
  3. 12:3 Like the stars: like the heavenly host, or angels. Cf. Mt 22:30.
  4. 12:7 A time, two times, and half a time: see note on 7:25.
  5. 12:11 The specific numbers of days given in vv. 11–12 represent attempts to calculate the precise duration of the three and a half years. Most probably, when the first date (1,290 days) passed, the author attempted another calculation. Another, earlier calculation is preserved in 8:14. It is noteworthy, however, that the contradictory numbers were allowed to stand in the text; this is a reminder that it is not possible to calculate a precise date for God’s judgment; cf. Mk 13:32.