Slides for this study

At the end of Daniel 11, we saw the world thrown into a great crisis.

• The antichrist will have full control of the political arena, the religious arena and even the economy.
• Daniel 11:44-45
  44 But news from the east and the north shall trouble him; therefore he shall go out with great fury to destroy and annihilate many. 45 And he shall plant the tents of his palace between the seas and the glorious holy mountain; yet he shall come to his end, and no one will help him.
• He would go out and to destroy and annihilate many. However, he would come to his end.

How would this happen?

• 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, every one who is found written in the book.

What does it mean for Michael to stand up?

• Throughout chapter 11, we see the kings standing up.
  • The following texts are taken from the KJV as it is clearer. In the NKJV it says arise – which means stand up!
• Daniel 11:2
  And now will I shew thee the truth. Behold, there shall stand up yet three kings in Persia…
• Daniel 11:3
  And a mighty king shall stand up, that shall rule with great dominion…
• Daniel 11:4
  And when he shall stand up, his kingdom shall be broken…
• Daniel 11:7
  But out of a branch of her roots shall one stand up in his estate…
• Daniel 11:14
  And in those times there shall many stand up against the king of the south…
• Daniel 11:20
  Then shall stand up in his estate a raiser of taxes…
• Daniel 11:21
  And in his estate shall stand up a vile person…
• When we see the stand up mentioned, we see a new king coming in or even a new kingdom.

Last of all, Michael stands up.

• He is that great prince that stands for His people.
• It is at that time that there will be ushered in the kingdom of God.
• Finally will be fulfilled the words in Luke:
  • Luke 1:33
    And he shall reign over the house of Jacob for ever; and of his kingdom there shall be no end.
• He will finally reign for ever and ever.

But in order for Christ to stand up, He must have first been sitting.

• When Jesus died and resurrected and ascended up to heaven, what did He go up and sit down as?
• Hebrews 8:1
  Now this is the main point of the things we are saying: We have such a High Priest, who is seated at the right hand of the throne of the Majesty in the heavens.
• Jesus sat down as High Priest.
• Now what was the purpose of Jesus taking on the role of the High Priest up in heaven?
• Hebrews 7:25-26
  25 Therefore He is also able to save to the uttermost those who come to God through Him, since He always lives to make intercession for them. 26 For such a High Priest was fitting for us, who is holy, harmless, undefiled, separate from sinners, and has become higher than the heavens.
• He is interceding on behalf of everyone on the earth. When we sin and we look up to heaven to ask for forgiveness, even now, Jesus forgives our sins. He pardons us from all our transgressions.
• But there is coming a day when we will look up to heaven and Christ will say, I am done with that work already. That is when Christ will stand.
• His work of intercession will cease. And He will come as king!
• Revelation 14:14
  Then I looked, and behold, a white cloud, and on the cloud sat One like the Son of Man, having on His head a golden crown, and in His hand a sharp sickle.
• Revelation 19:16
  And He has on His robe and on His thigh a name written: KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS.
• He will come to give His reward to the faithful and punish those that have been unfaithful.
• Our eternal destinies will have been decided already.
• Revelation 22:11
  He who is unjust, let him be unjust still; he who is filthy, let him be filthy still; he who is righteous, let him be righteous still; he who is holy, let him be holy still.”
• There will be no more changing at that point.
• Probation will have closed on the whole earth.
• Just like probationary time closed on those who lived before the flood. When that rain came falling down, it was already too late! No more repentance, no more change!
• Before Christ comes as king, He will have completed His final work of judging. He will have decided and the whole universe will see who is faithful and who is unfaithful.

Let’s go back to Daniel 12 and keep reading now though.

• 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.
• It is at the end that there will be a resurrection.
• And there are 2 types of resurrections.
  • A resurrection to eternal life.
  • And a resurrection to shame and everlasting contempt.
• John 5:28-29
  28 Do not marvel at this; for the hour is coming in which all who are in the graves will hear His voice 29 and come forth—those who have done good, to the resurrection of life, and those who have done evil, to the resurrection of condemnation.
  • There is a resurrection of life and a resurrection of condemnation.
• It is not a moment earlier that people will be resurrected, because God must finish His judgment first, and then at the second coming, the resurrection of life will take place.

Daniel 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.

• We will then shine like the stars forever and ever.
• This is when we walk then into eternity.

However, as we reach the end of the vision, what does the angel instruct Daniel to do?

• 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.”
• Daniel is instructed to shut up the words and to seal the book until the time of the end.
• Remember, when is the time of the end again?
  • It is 1798!
  • Daniel’s book would be sealed until that time.
• However, not the whole book would be sealed.
• I don’t think anyone would have had a problem understanding Daniel 1 and how Daniel wanted to be faithful in the little things.
• I don’t think anyone would have any problem with majority of Daniel 2, 7, 8 and 11 because the countries were named clearly even in the book of Daniel.
  • Babylon was mentioned.
  • Medo-Persia was written down as well.
  • And even the kingdom of Greece was written clearly there that even the priests would go out and show that portion of the scripture to Alexander the Great, telling him that he would be the next king.
• And though the kingdom of Rome was not mentioned explicitly there by name, but the descriptions given of it were clear.
• And Martin Luther, prior to 1798, was able to pin point with great accuracy the papacy as the little horn power in Daniel 7, calling him the antichrist of the Bible.
• So what was sealed up?
• Daniel 8:26
  “And the vision of the evenings and mornings which was told is true; therefore seal up the vision, for it refers to many days in the future.”
• It was the vision of the evenings and mornings in Daniel 8. The 2300 day prophecy.

So the prophecy would be sealed up until the time of the end.

• And the scripture says back there in Daniel 12:4.
• 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.”
• What else would take place shortly after that?
• Many would run to and fro and knowledge would be increased.
• I think we can say with a certainty that since 1798, there have been great developments.
• First, let’s talk about the knowledge increasing from a spiritual stand point.
  • Why running to and fro?
  • You see, the Bible previously was written on a scroll. And so in order for someone to study it, they had to open up the whole scroll, and go back and forth, to and fro. That would be the most efficient way instead of turning it back and forth with our hands and wrists.
  • So there would be a greater interest in the scriptures. And knowledge of the Bible would be increased.
  • Amos 8:12
    They shall wander from sea to sea, and from north to east; they shall run to and fro, seeking the word of the LORD, but shall not find it.
  • That without a doubt took place with the introduction of the Bible societies, and the printing press all coming together in the early 1800’s.
  • The Bible was then made available to the common people in a common language.
• However that is not the only increase of knowledge that we see.
  • There has been a increase in the technology and the way of life.
  • Paved roads and electric cars.
  • The automobile.
  • The train, even high-speed trains.
  • Air travel.
  • We’ve travelled to the moon in a space shuttle.
  • How technology has changed our lives in such a profound manner even in these past 20 years. It is amazing.
• There is no doubt that since 1798, we have seen this scripture fulfilled in our lives.

However, after the prediction concerning the increase of knowledge, what do we read next?

Daniel 12:5-6
5 Then I, Daniel, looked; and there stood two others, one on this riverbank and the other on that riverbank. 6 And one said to the man clothed in linen, who was above the waters of the river, “How long shall the fulfillment of these wonders be?”

• What shall be the end of these wonders?
• What wonders was it referring to?
• The next verse answers it.

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 were the wonders?
• It was referring to the times, times and half a time.
• That was the 1260 year prophecy.
• The persecution of the saints during the dark ages.
• God gives an assurance again to Daniel that human strife, error and suffering would not be allowed to continue forever. They would be finished!
• That God had a time limit for it. He had His time!
• The raising of the right and left hand to heaven was the most solemn form of oath possible – a pledge on the authority of heaven that the 1260 years would absolutely come to an end.

How does Daniel react?

Daniel 12:8
Although I heard, I did not understand. Then I said, “My lord, what shall be the end of these things?”

• It seemed like Daniel still did not understand.
• What shall be the end of these things?
• His question is still surrounding the timing of the 1260 years of persecution and the end of the wonders.

Daniel 12:9
And he said, “Go your way, Daniel, for the words are closed up and sealed till the time of the end.

Once again, it is reiterated that the words of Daniel would be sealed up until the time of the end. Until 1798.

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.

Still talking about the time of persecution.

• Many will be purified and made white and refined.
• And the wicked would have their way during the time.
• However, the wicked would not understand, but the wise
• What wouldn’t they understand? It is the prophecies of Daniel. Especially that in relation to the 2300 days prophecy.

Who are the wise?

• Starting from here in this verse, it gives an opposite.
• And the opposite is the wicked. They would not understand, but the wise would.
• So the wise are those that are NOT wicked.
• That word wicked there means condemned, bad person, ungodly.
  • This has very much to do with character.
  • So those that are living in sin, they will not understand.
  • That is why in Daniel 9, it emphasized so much the need to have victory over sin, to stop sinning.
  • There are some who do not understand the words of Daniel because they are continually living in sin. And so when they read it, they don’t understand. Or it will be easy to come up with your own wrong interpretation of it.
• But who else are the wise? Where do we see wise people mentioned in Daniel?
  • Daniel 1:17
    As for these four young men, God gave them knowledge and skill in all literature and wisdom; and Daniel had understanding in all visions and dreams.
  • Daniel 1:20
    And in all matters of wisdom and understanding about which the king examined them, he found them ten times better than all the magicians and astrologers who were in all his realm.
  • The wise men in Daniel were Daniel and his 3 friends!
  • They were wiser than any wise man in the whole of Babylon.
  • And there was a group in Daniel 2 who could not understand the prophecy of that image made of different metals in Nebuchadnezzar’s dream. Only the wise man could interpret it truthfully and properly.
• So then how can we be a wise man according to the book of Daniel?
  • We need to learn to be faithful in the little things. That’s Daniel 1.
  • We need to be a man of prayer just like Daniel was. That’s Daniel 2 and Daniel 6.
  • We need to be connected to God, the source of all wisdom just as Daniel was.
  • Daniel 2:20-21
    20 Daniel answered and said: “Blessed be the name of God forever and ever, for wisdom and might are His. 21 And He changes the times and the seasons; He removes kings and raises up kings; He gives wisdom to the wise and knowledge to those who have understanding.
  • He is the only One that can make us wise.
• How else can we be wise in the Bible?
  • Psalms 111:10
    The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom; a good understanding have all those who do His commandments. His praise endures forever.
  • We must fear God.
• What does it mean to fear God?
  • Ecclesiastes 12:13
    Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God and keep His commandments, for this is man’s all.
• Once again, it is tied in with obedience.
• If we want to understand these prophecies, and if we want God to guide our lives and help us to be ready for the end of time, then we need to ask God to help us to apply those things that we know that are true and right from the scriptures.
• 2 Timothy 3:15
  And that from childhood you have known the Holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus.
  • Only the scriptures are able to make us wise to salvation.
  • And it is only God’s Spirit applied to our hearts and lives that is able to help us to put into application those things that we have learnt.
• Many of us don’t understand that we are living at the end of time.
  • Society, to some, seems to be improving and getting better. With the advancement of technology, we’ve had an advancement of life. But actually our morals are getting worse!
  • Many are not ready to Jesus’ second coming.

But now we come to the last 2 verses of the whole book of Daniel.

Daniel 12:11
“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.

What is this new time period that is introduced here? Is God introducing something entirely new separate to the book of Daniel?

• It can’t be.
• It must be tied in with something that has already been introduced. God would do no such thing to give something totally new and unrelated at the very end.
• Remember Daniel asked a question just prior to this.
  • Daniel 12:8
    Although I heard, I did not understand. Then I said, “My lord, what shall be the end of these things?”
  • He asked when shall be the end of all these things?
  • It was in reference to the dark ages of persecution from 538-1798.
• And God replied saying to go his way because the words would be sealed up.
• However, He then introduces the 1290 days in Daniel 12:11.
• It must be tied in with the prophecy of 538-1798 AD.
• But see here, he is asking when the persecution would end.
• So this 1290 years must be tied up with the end of the 1798.

538AD

• Justinian, the Roman Emperor, gave to the Pope civil and religious authority.
• That would mark the beginning of persecution and the dark ages.

However, in 508 AD:

• That process began historically, as the Papacy gained its power and finally drove the Ostrogoths out of Rome by 538.
• But in actual fact, in 508 that whole process began.
• So here, the prophecy takes us back to 508 when the process begins.
• If you add 1290, that will take you to 1798.
• So the actual process begins in 508.
• But the papacy is not given ultimate civil authority until 538 AD when Justinian arrives.

But there’s one more time period.

Daniel 12:12
Blessed is he who waits, and comes to the one thousand three hundred and thirty-five days.

If you take it from 508AD, which is the time period that we have been focusing on in the previous verse, and you add 1335 years to it, it will take you all the way to 1843.

• This is just 1 year prior to 1844 when the truth of the heavenly sanctuary is unveiled, and Jesus moves into the Most Holy Place of the heavenly sanctuary to begin that cleansing process – we studied this in Daniel 8 and 9. It’s called the day of atonement.
• There is a blessing that is pronounced on that person who will live in that judgment hour from 1844 onwards, and they understand the truths of the sanctuary, and that open their heart to receive the grace and power of God in the judgment for the finishing of God’s word.

Right at the end of the book, God reminds us of the 2 great prophecies that we have studied in the book of Daniel.

• The 1260 years that goes from 548 to 1798.
• And the 2300 year prophecy that would conclude in 1844.

And then finally the last verse of Daniel.

Daniel 12:13
“But you, go your way till the end; for you shall rest, and will arise to your inheritance at the end of the days.”

Daniel is given assurance that he would arise at the end of time.

• However, I like how the KJV puts it.
• Daniel 12:13
  But go thou thy way till the end be: for thou shalt rest, and stand in thy lot at the end of the days.
• Daniel would stand in his lot at the end of the days.
• His writings would be of great significance at the end of time.
• To the point that even Jesus would quote from him.
• Matthew 24:15
  “Therefore when you see the abomination of desolation,’ spoken of by Daniel the prophet, standing in the holy place” (whoever reads, let him understand)
• Daniel’s writings are very much still relevant to us who are living in the last days.
• It is the foundation that must be built before we launch into the book of Revelation.
• Truly Daniel is standing in his lot today even as we have studied this great book verse by verse.
• So I encourage you to go back to listen to the recordings. To digest it. To understand it. To make sure that you’re able to grasp each point.
• That we might be ready for the last days.
• That we might be ready for the greatest event ever to take place on the earth – the second coming of Jesus.
• There has been no more time prophecies that God has given to us after 1844. No man knows the day or the hour of His coming.
• Jesus can come at any time – morning, afternoon or evening.
• Let’s be ready today.
• Let’s be ready now.
• Let’s accept Jesus as Lord and Saviour today.
• 1 John 5:12
  He who has the Son has life; he who does not have the Son of God does not have life.
• Let’s make that recommitment to follow Jesus wherever He leads us.
• Let’s heed His voice, His knocking on the door of our hearts today.