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The Time of the End

12 “At that time Michael, the great prince [C angel] who ·protects [L stands by] your people [10:13, 21], will ·stand up [arise]. There will be a time of ·much trouble [distress], the worst time since nations have been on earth, but at that time your people will be ·saved [rescued]. ·Everyone whose name is written in God’s book will be saved [L All who are found written in the book; C of life; Ex. 32:32; Ps. 69:28; Rev. 20:12]. Many people who ·have already died [L are sleeping in the land of the dust] will ·live again [L wake up]. Some will wake up to life forever, but some will wake up to ·shame [reproach] and ·disgrace [abhorrence] forever [Is. 26:19]. The ·wise [insightful; 11:33, 35] people will shine like the ·brightness of the sky [firmament; dome; expanse; Gen. 1:6]. Those who teach ·others [L the many] ·to live right [righteousness] will shine like stars forever and ever.

“But you, Daniel, ·close up the book and seal it [L keep the words secret and seal the book]. ·These things will happen at the time of the end [L …until the time of the end]. Many people will go here and there to ·find true [L increase] knowledge [Amos 8:12].”

Then I, Daniel, looked, and saw two other men. One was standing on ·my side [one bank] of the river, and the other was standing on the ·far side [other bank]. The man who was dressed in linen was standing ·over the water in the river [or upstream]. One of the two men spoke to him and asked, “How long will it be before these ·amazing things [wonders] come ·true [to an end]?”

The man dressed in linen, who stood ·over the water [or upstream], raised his ·hands [L right hand and his left; C a solemn vow] toward heaven. And I heard him swear by the ·name of God who lives forever [L life of the Eternal One], “It will be for ·three and one-half years [L a time; two times, and half]. The ·power [L hand] of the holy people will finally be ·broken [shattered], and then all these things will ·come true [be completed].”

I ·heard the answer [L listened], but I did not really understand, so I asked, “Master, what will ·happen after all these things come true [L be the outcome of these things]?”

He answered, “Go your way, Daniel. The ·message [L word] is ·closed up [secret] and sealed until the time of the end. 10 Many people will be made clean, pure, and ·spotless [refined], but the wicked will continue to be wicked. Those wicked people will not understand these things, but the ·wise [insightful] will understand them.

11 “The ·daily [regular] sacrifice [8:12] will be ·stopped [turned away]. Then, after 1,290 days from that time, ·a blasphemous object that brings destruction [L the abomination of desolation; 11:31] will be set up. 12 Those who wait for the end of the 1,335 days will be ·happy [blessed].

13 “As for you, Daniel, go your way until the end. You will get your rest, and at the end you will rise to receive your reward.”

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The Time of the End

12 “Now at that [end] time Michael, the great [angelic] prince who stands guard over the children of your people, will arise. And there will be a time of distress such as never occurred since there was a nation until that time; but at that time your people, everyone who is found written in the [a]Book [of Life], will be rescued. Many of those who sleep in the dust of the ground will awake (resurrect), these to everlasting life, but some to disgrace and everlasting contempt (abhorrence).(A) Those who are [spiritually] wise will shine brightly like the brightness of the expanse of heaven, and those who lead many to righteousness, [will shine] like the stars forever and ever.(B) But as for you, Daniel, conceal these words and seal up the scroll until the end of time. Many will go back and forth and search anxiously [through the scroll], and knowledge [of the purpose of God as revealed by His prophets] will [greatly] increase.”(C)

Then I, Daniel, looked, and behold, there stood two others, the one [angel] on this bank of the river and the other [angel] on that bank of the river. And one said to the man dressed in linen, who was above the waters of the river, “How long will it be until the end of these wonders?”(D) And I heard the man dressed in linen, who was above the waters of the river, as he held up 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 a half a time (three and a half years); and as soon as they finish shattering and crushing the power of the holy people, all these things will be finished. As for me, I heard, but I did not understand; so I said, “My lord, what will be the outcome of these things?” And the angel said, “Go your way, Daniel, for the words are concealed and sealed up until the end of time. 10 Many will be purged, purified (made white) and refined, but the wicked will behave wickedly. None of the wicked shall understand, but those who are [spiritually] wise will understand.(E) 11 From the time that the regular sacrifice [that is, the daily burnt offering] is taken away and the abomination of desolation is set up [ruining the temple for worship of the true God], there will be [b]1,290 days.(F) 12 How blessed [happy, fortunate, spiritually prosperous] and beloved is he who waits expectantly [enduring without wavering for the period of tribulation] and comes to the [c]1,335 days! 13 But as for you (Daniel), go your way until the end [of your [d]life]; for you will rest and rise again for your allotted inheritance at the end of the age.”(G)

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Footnotes

  1. Daniel 12:1 See 10:21; Mal 3:16; Luke 10:20.
  2. Daniel 12:11 1,290 is 30 days more than 3 1/2 years of 360 day years (1,260 days). The extra 30 days allows for the judgment that will take place after the second coming of Christ.
  3. Daniel 12:12 The difference between this number and that in v 11 is 45 days, an interval that is not explained. The ancient rabbis speculated that when the Messiah comes, He will lead Israel into the wilderness and then disappear for 45 days to test their faith. The true believers will wait for Him, the rest will join other nations and eventually die there.
  4. Daniel 12:13 Daniel was now over ninety years of age.