Prophecy Class - Part 2

Next in our class we studied Daniel 12. I find Daniel 12 a little harder to understand exactly what it is saying...so I guess I'll just paste the scripture in with a few commentary notes on what we learned.

Daniel 12:1-4
12 “At that time shall arise a 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.”

First note, Michael the archangel stands guard over the Jews. Also, the second half of verse 1 denotes the midpoint of the 70th week (See Revelation 12:7-14). Then, according to our teacher follow the interpretation of this text (which I know is still debatable), there will be a Resurrection - or a reuniting of the body and spirit. This will be a judgement time. Also, verse 4 could refer to todays time as it is so easy to travel to and fro and we certainly have attained "knowledge." Just think how easy information is available on the internet.

Daniel 12:5-7
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.

This passage reinforces the times/times/half time - or 3.5 years.

Daniel 12:8-13
8 I heard, but I did not understand. Then I said, “O my lord, what shall be the outcome of these things?” 9 He said, “Go your way, Daniel, for the words are shut up and sealed until the time of the end. 10 Many shall purify themselves and make themselves white and be refined, but the wicked shall act wickedly. And none of the wicked shall understand, but those who are wise shall understand. 11 And from the time that the regular burnt offering is taken away and a the abomination that makes desolate is set up, there shall be 1,290 days. 12 Blessed is he who waits and arrives at the 1,335 days. 13 But go your way till the end. And you shall rest and shall stand in your allotted place at the end of the days.”

Verse 10 again refers to the Great Tribulation. This could refer to the believers being purified if the rapture has not happened. Others say this means the Jews as many come to Salvation during the tribulation. Verse 11 refers back to Daniel 9, the Abomination of Desolation at the halfway point in the 70th week. There will be an end to the sacrifices in the temple that was part of the covenant which we believe the Anti-Christ will make, or be a part of, with the nation of Israel. After the Abomination of Desolation there will be 1290 days of persecution and rule of the Anti-Christ. Verse 12, with it's 1335 days, an addition 45 days could be for several reasons....either a time of mourning for the calamity that has just encompassed the entire earth....it could be a time of preparation for the millennial kingdom. Then Daniel 10 ends with verse 13 which is the end of the 70th week. Daniel is about to die as well as he nears the end of his life.

Next we studied Matthew 24 which I will work on for the next post. Hopefully after I have gone through all this, I can put a timeline together of how all these verses work together. We'll see.