Daniel 11:36-12:13 Comments by Stephen Ricker
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You Will Arise to Receive Your Allotted Inheritance
Comments for Study 12

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Memory Verse: 13
Questions
A MAP OF THE KINGDOMS OF ISRAEL AND JUDAH
A MAP OF ASSYRIA
A MAP OF THE BABYLONIAN EMPIRE
A MAP OF THE PERSIAN EMPIRE IN 500 B.C
A MAP OF GREECE DIVIDED AFTER ALEXANDER DIED.
OLD TESTAMENT BOOKS TIMELINE
ISRAEL'S HISTORY
A LIST OF MAJOR EVENTS FROM BABYLON TIMES TO ROMAN OCCUPATION OF JUDAH
A LIST OF ISRAEL'S KINGS AND PROPHETS

* Daniel 10, 11, and 12 are one event in Daniel's life.

* Some modern "scholars" claim that most if not all of chapters 10, 11, and 12 were written after most of the events listed took place. Thus, most of these three chapters were history not prophecy when they were written. They also claim these chapters have historical errors and unfulfilled skipped prophecies. They claim that Daniel did not write chapters 10-12. Rather, someone in the second century B.C. who claimed to be Daniel wrote those chapters and that person got some of their historical facts wrong. Other scholars accept that all of the book of Daniel was written by him during the reigns of the people mentioned in the book. (Daniel 1:1, 2:1, 3:1, 4:1, 5:1, 6:1, 7:1, 8:1, 9:1, 10:1) Thus, all the events listed from Daniel's point of view were prophecy. One clear fact that supports this view is that Jesus claimed Daniel was a real person and the events recorded in chapters 10-12 were his. (Matthew 24:15) So who to believe, the sceptic "scholar" or Jesus? What remains then is to understand who the revelation (and its explanation that came in a vision) concerns and to what time it is prophecy for? Another question that needs to be answered is, how many times will the events be fulfilled? The answers (understanding) is aided by what is revealed in the New Testament, especially through Jesus' teachings and the apostles' writings on the time of the end (Daniel 12:4, 9, 13) including the book of Revelation.

* Daniel wrote the first chapter of his book in the Hebrew language. Chapters 2 thru 7 were written in Aramaic, the then common commerce language used throughout the Gentile nations. Chapters 8 thru 12 are written in Hebrew. Daniel was deliberate in writing in these two languages. The Hebrew chapters are about Israel's future (not just Judah), future from Daniel's point of view. The Aramaic chapters are about the Gentiles' future from Daniel's point of view. Jesus called it the time of the Gentiles. (Luke 21:24) Most of the events predicted in this book are history to us. The godless kingdoms referred to are the Gentile nations, and the kingdom of God are those who will partake in the millennial reign of Jesus (Yeshua) Christ (Messiah) centered about Jerusalem and Israel. Many of Jesus' parables explain about the kingdom of God.

* Daniel did not fully understand everything of the visions shown him (12:8), but he had a spirit and attitude which were acceptable to God. His humility kept him from an intellectual sophistication which demanded a human explanation of all divine revelation. "Daniel was still no expert on prophetic interpretation. There will be no expert until prophecy becomes history," wrote Charles F. Pfeiffer and Everett F. Harrison in the Wycliffe Bible Commentary. The multi-fold vision of the last three chapters of the book contains some difficult portions, as do the earlier vision of the book. In your study, maintain a patient and inquiring spirit, and do not let any difficult detail detract from the clear overall teachings of the vision. (Irving L. Jensen, A Self-Study Guide -Ezekiel & Daniel)

I. One Terrible King (11:36-45)

* The facts in Part I are prophecy to be fulfilled before Jesus' second coming. The future events that were revealed in Daniel 2:40-45, 7:8-14, 19-27, 8:9-14, 19, 23-26 are about the same yet to come time. Earlier in the discourse (study 11) the messenger, a man dressed in linen spoke about a coming man of lawlessness that in part was fulfilled by Antiochus IV Epiphanes, who was an archetype of the yet to come man of lawlessness. This part of the discourse is solely about the yet to come man of lawlessness, later called the antichrist by John. (2 Thessalonians 2:1-12; and 1 John 2:18, 23, 4:1-6; and 2 John 1:7-11)

* The break at verse 36 does not appear at first glance, because the prophetic perspective jumps over a long interval of centuries as though they did not exist. Recall a similar gap of time in the vision of the seventy weeks. (Chapter 9:20-27) There, the gap existed because the vision moves from the foreshadowing of the antichrist (in Antiochus) to the antichrist himself. Consult Pfeiffer and Harrison for Roberts Culver's seven reasons supporting a gap between verses 35 and 36. (Irving L. Jensen, A Self-Study Guide -Ezekiel & Daniel)

>1. What are the characteristics of the king in verses 36 and 37? (c.f. Rev. 13 & 17)

* Daniel 11:36-37 "The king will do as he pleases. He will exalt and magnify himself above every god and will say unheard-of things against the God of gods. He will be successful until the time of wrath is completed, for what has been determined must take place. He will show no regard for the gods of his fathers or for the one desired by women, nor will he regard any god, but will exalt himself above them all."

* "The king" -The previous verses fit in with events in Antiochus IV Epiphanes' life. From here on the events do not fit in Antiochus IV Epiphanes' life. They are solely about the man of lawlessness, the antichrist. The character of the man of lawlessness is described in the following verses more than his campaigns.

* "will do as he pleases" -Like Antiochus IV Epiphanes he is a man who makes his own rules as it suits him. He is a man of lawlessness.

* "He will exalt and magnify himself" -Like Antiochus IV Epiphanes he is a proud arrogant man.

* "will say unheard-of things against the God of gods" -Like Antiochus IV Epiphanes he hates God. He does not know himself and he does not know God. He will live in a state of self imposed delusion. (Revelation 13:3-6)

* "He will be successful" -Like Antiochus IV Epiphanes was until the Roman fleet made Antiochus stop his attack against Egypt and thus go back to Syria. (Daniel 11:30)

* "He will show no regard for the gods of his fathers" -The antichrist will be a man with parental history which he disregards when it doesn't serve his pride.

* "or for the one desired by women" -Usually interpreted as either Tammuz whose legendary death was mourned annually in Canaanite rituals (Ezekiel 8:14), or the Messiah.

* "nor will he regard any god" -He will be an atheist and humanist.

* "but will exalt himself above them all" -Human pride is behind atheism and humanism. Such people either ignore truths or distort them to suit their purposes. They consider others less than themselves, especially those who oppose them, and especially those who point out the falsehood of their lies. Left unchecked they eventually consider the masses sub-human. They gain such a high opinion of themselves that they begin believing their own lies and press releases. The eventually consider themselves godlike while their heart grows empty and cold. Their hate for others increase as does their hate for their own flaws which they have to contribute more and more time and effort to cover up and deny. The confusion and pain that they create in thier life and the lives of others leaves then lonely, suspicious, depressed, and bitter. They are mystified by the reality that the dream they had for themselves though reached did not have the outcome they expected. They get to a point where nothing satisfies then, nothing thrills them, nothing eases their pain, nothing helps them. They wonder why no one loves them, while pushing away anyone who ties to. They lose all hope and love. Left unchecked they eventually become mentally unstable and demon possessed. They become like Nebuchadnezzar (Daniel 4) or like the Garasenes' demoniac (Mark 5:1-20).

* The evil of human pride is one of the main themes of the book of Daniel that is exemplified by the antichrist. Isaiah 2:9-12 states, "So man will be brought low and mankind humbled-- do not forgive them. Go into the rocks, hide in the ground from dread of the LORD and the splendor of his majesty! The eyes of the arrogant man will be humbled and the pride of men brought low; the LORD alone will be exalted in that day. The LORD Almighty has a day in store for all the proud and lofty, for all that is exalted (and they will be humbled)."

* Daniel is and old man and the temple is being rebuilt in Jerusalem. Daniel received a revelation of a great war and now a vision of a messanger who is explaining the meaning to him.

Hope is found here. "But at that time your people-everyone whose name is found written in the book-will be delivered. Multitudes who sleep in the dust of the earth will awake: some to everlasting life, others to shame and everlasting contempt. Those who are wise will shine like the brightness of the heavens, and those who lead many to righteousness, like the stars for ever and ever."

My hope is in Jesus who makes my resurrection possible. "In this world," Jesus reminds me, "You will have trouble. But take heart," he promises, "I have overcome the world." Because he overcame, so I will arise to an amazing eternal life.

I keep my eye on the prize. I do not want to awake and be ashamed of a selfish faithless life. I will be wise. I will obey. I will love my neighbor. I will share the good news.

>When will his success end? (36b, 7:11, 23-26, 8:19; and 2 Thess. 2:3-4)

* "until the time of wrath is completed" -The time of wrath is associated with the second half of the seven years John the apostle wrote about.

* Daniel 7:11 "Then I continued to watch because of the boastful words the horn was speaking. I kept looking until the beast was slain and its body destroyed and thrown into the blazing fire."

* Daniel 7:23-26 "He gave me this explanation: 'The fourth beast is a fourth kingdom that will appear on earth. It will be different from all the other kingdoms and will devour the whole earth, trampling it down and crushing it. The ten horns are ten kings who will come from this kingdom. After them another king will arise, different from the earlier ones; he will subdue three kings. He will speak against the Most High and oppress his saints and try to change the set times and the laws. The saints will be handed over to him for a time, times and half a time. But the court will sit, and his power will be taken away and completely destroyed forever."

* Daniel 8:19 "He said: "I am going to tell you what will happen later in the time of wrath, because the vision concerns the appointed time of the end."

* 2 Thessalonians 2:3-4 "Don't let anyone deceive you in any way, for that day will not come until the rebellion occurs and the man of lawlessness is revealed, the man doomed to destruction. He will oppose and will exalt himself over everything that is called God or is worshiped, so that he sets himself up in God's temple, proclaiming himself to be God."

* Romans 1:18 "The wrath of God is being revealed from heaven against all the godlessness and wickedness of men who suppress the truth by their wickedness,"

* Colossians 3:5-6 "Put to death, therefore, whatever belongs to your earthly nature: sexual immorality, impurity, lust, evil desires and greed, which is idolatry. Because of these, the wrath of God is coming."

* "the time of wrath" -Wrath is a nature of God, as is love, and forgiveness. God's wrath is fair and righteous, rational, and justly displayed. The wrath of God is terrible to fall under. When Jesus was on the cross, the wrath of God fell on him, not that he committed a sin and therefore needed to under God's wrath, but that he took our sins upon him and therefore needed to be under God's wrath (This was God's will for him.).

* Jesus' people, both Messianic Jews and the truth church are not and will not be under God's wrath. Isaiah 26:20-21 wrote, "Go, my people, enter your rooms and shut the doors behind you; hide yourselves for a little while until his wrath has passed by. See, the LORD is coming out of his dwelling to punish the people of the earth for their sins. The earth will disclose the blood shed upon her; she will conceal her slain no longer." This does not mean that we are and will be free of troubles. Jesus clearly says we will experience troubles in this world. (John 16:33) During the coming time of wrath spoken of here to Daniel by the man in linen there will be people who are Jesus' people. They will not experience God's wrath, but they will experience pain and trouble from the enemies of God. Here and elsewhere in the Bible we are told that many will even be martyred. (Revelation 6:9-11) God people are told by Isaiah and Jesus to hid during the time of wrath.

>What does the phrase "for what has been determined must take place" tell us? (5:21)

* "for what has been determined must take place" -God has a plan that is unfolding without hinder or dither.

* Daniel 5:21 "He was driven away from people and given the mind of an animal; he lived with the wild donkeys and ate grass like cattle; and his body was drenched with the dew of heaven, until he acknowledged that the Most High God is sovereign over the kingdoms of men and sets over them anyone he wishes."

* Job 11:10-11 "If he comes along and confines you in prison and convenes a court, who can oppose him? Surely he recognizes deceitful men; and when he sees evil, does he not take note?"

* Job 23:13-16 "But he stands alone, and who can oppose him? He does whatever he pleases. He carries out his decree against me, and many such plans he still has in store. That is why I am terrified before him; when I think of all this, I fear him. God has made my heart faint; the Almighty has terrified me."

* Job 40:7-13 "Brace yourself like a man; I will question you, and you shall answer me. Would you discredit my justice? Would you condemn me to justify yourself? Do you have an arm like God's, and can your voice thunder like his? Then adorn yourself with glory and splendor, and clothe yourself in honor and majesty. Unleash the fury of your wrath, look at every proud man and bring him low, look at every proud man and humble him, crush the wicked where they stand. Bury them all in the dust together; shroud their faces in the grave."

>2. What does verses 38 and 39 say he will do?

* Daniel 11:38-39 "Instead of them, he will honor a god of fortresses; a god unknown to his fathers he will honor with gold and silver, with precious stones and costly gifts. He will attack the mightiest fortresses with the help of a foreign god and will greatly honor those who acknowledge him. He will make them rulers over many people and will distribute the land at a price."

* "Instead of them" -The gods of his fathers and of women. (37)

* "he will honor a god of fortresses" -He promotes "might makes me right". He will make a great war machine in a relatively short time like Hitler did.

* "he will honor with gold and silver, with precious stones and costly gifts" -He will be very materialistic and all those he empowers will also be materialistic. I'm often amazed at the evils people do for even a little monetary gain. People who do not rely on God to provide will go to any lengths to gain security with money and power.

* "will greatly honor those who acknowledge him" -He will shower gifts and praises to anyone who does the same for him. His acknowledgement and praise of others are insincere.

* "He will make them rulers over many people" -The antichrist will set up rulers under him. His kingdom will be vast until it is over all the earth.

* "and will distribute the land at a price." -The antichrist hunger for wealth will cause him to sell what he steals from others like Stalin did. The antichrist will take from others to give to those who support him. Such ruling is becoming more and more common in modern societies, businesses, and government's. He will claim to be democratic when in fact he sets up an anti-theocracy -a government based on wealth for a few, power over many, oppression of all, and rule by fear instead of love.

>Who helps him?

* "the help of a foreign god" -The antichrist will accept help from a group who promotes a god he does not worship or believe in. The antichrist will accept aid from anyone and/or anything that advances his cause and exults himself. Sometimes people and groups who were at odds and have nothing in common suddenly join forces to oppose and defeat a common enemy. Such alliances seldom if ever end up gaining what the uncommon enemies fully desired even if they defeat their common enemy.

>3. What is the time frame? (40a)

* Daniel 11:40a "At the time of the end..."

* The timing is the point of consummation, when the kingdoms of the world, opposing God, will be replaced by Jesus' Messianic kingdom.

* 1 Corinthians 15:23-24 "But each in his own turn: Christ, the firstfruits; then, when he comes, those who belong to him. Then the end will come, when he hands over the kingdom to God the Father after he has destroyed all dominion, authority and power."

* Matthew 13:37-39 "The one who sowed the good seed is the Son of Man. The field is the world, and the good seed stands for the sons of the kingdom. The weeds are the sons of the evil one, and the enemy who sows them is the devil. The harvest is the end of the age, and the harvesters are angels."

* Matthew 28:18-20 "Then Jesus came to them and said, "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age."

* Revelation 19:11, 17-21 "I saw heaven standing open and there before me was a white horse, whose rider is called Faithful and True. With justice he judges and makes war... And I saw an angel standing in the sun, who cried in a loud voice to all the birds flying in midair, "Come, gather together for the great supper of God, so that you may eat the flesh of kings, generals, and mighty men, of horses and their riders, and the flesh of all people, free and slave, small and great." Then I saw the beast and the kings of the earth and their armies gathered together to make war against the rider on the horse and his army. But the beast was captured, and with him the false prophet who had performed the miraculous signs on his behalf. With these signs he had deluded those who had received the mark of the beast and worshiped his image. The two of them were thrown alive into the fiery lake of burning sulfur. The rest of them were killed with the sword that came out of the mouth of the rider on the horse, and all the birds gorged themselves on their flesh."

* Daniel 10 commentary question 8 discusses the meaning of "the end of the age". Discussions are also in "The Believer's Future -Hope That Inspires" also found on this site.

>What will happen to the king of the South and North (not the same ones in chapter 11:1-35)?

* Daniel 11:40b "...the king of the South will engage him in battle, and the king of the North will storm out against him with chariots and cavalry and a great fleet of ships. He will invade many countries and sweep through them like a flood."

* "the king of the South will engage him in battle" -"Him" is the antichrist. The "king of the south" does not need to be Egypt. It could be any kingdom of group of kingdoms south of Israel.

* "the king of the North will storm out against him with chariots and cavalry and a great fleet of ships" -"Him" is the antichrist. The king of the North does not need to be Syria. It could be any kingdom or group of kingdoms north of Israel. Modern Syria does not have a fleet of ships. However, their current ally, Russia does.

* "He will invade many countries and sweep through" -The king of the north will not be satisfied with taking the southern kingdom. He will quickly take many countries.

* The United State of America currently has the most powerful army (2014), though recent economic and political pressures are causing the USA to reduce its military. Russia, China, and the European Union have large militaries. A few small nations have nuclear weapons to make them strong. Most of the other nations of the world have such a small army that they can be easily conquered by one of the few nations that have a large military.

>How fast will he conquer?

* "...like a flood." -Modern mechanized war machines make fast invasions possible. World War II had nations fall in a matter of hours and a few days.

>4. What is the Beautiful Land? (41a)

* Daniel 11:41a "He will also invade the Beautiful Land."

* "the Beautiful Land" -The Beautiful Land is use to describe the promised land, the territory the Jews were allowed to live in after they came back from exile. (Jeremiah 3:19; Daniel 8:9, 11:16, 11:41) The Jews were allowed to return to the promised land, but only as subjects of first the Mede-Persian Empire, then the Greek Empire, then the Ptolemaic Kingdom and finally the Seleucid kingdom.

* Israel is a nation again, an event unheard of ever in the history of mankind. Many Jews have returned to the promised land. History is being repeated and prophecies are being fulfilled.

>What other countries does he conquer? Refer to a map of Daniel's time.

* Daniel 11:41b-43 "Many countries will fall, but Edom, Moab and the leaders of Ammon will be delivered from his hand. He will extend his power over many countries; Egypt will not escape. He will gain control of the treasures of gold and silver and all the riches of Egypt, with the Libyans and Nubians in submission."

* "Many countries will fall" -Not every country is listed here. The ones listed are those near Israel.

* "Edom" -Edom was a kingdom and state to the south-east of Judah (between the Salt Sea and the Gulf of Aqabah, part of the Red Sea). Most of the area is now part of Jordan, though some of Edom's territory is also in modern southern Israel. Edom is Idumea in Greek. Edom consisted of descendants of Esau, Jacob's twin brother. See their history in the following verses: Ge. 27:41-45, 32:1-21, 33, 36; Ex. 15:15; Nu. 20:14-21; Dt. 2:1-6, 23:7; and 1 Sa. 22 w/ Ps. 52; and 2 Sa. 8:13-14; and 2 Ki. 8:20-22, 14:7; Ps. 83; Eze 35; Joel 3:18-19; Am. 1:11-12, 9-12. The Edomites may have been connected with the Shasu and Shutu, nomadic raiders mentioned in Egyptian sources. The last unambiguous reference to Edom is an Assyrian inscription of 667 BC; it has thus been unclear when, how and why Edom ceased to exist as a state, although many scholars point to scriptural references in the Bible, specifically the Book of Obadiah, to explain this fact. After the conquest of Judah by the Babylonians, Edomites settled in the region of Hebron. They prospered in this new country, called by the Greeks and Romans "Idumaea" or "Idumea", for more than four centuries. Strabo, writing around the time of Christ, held that the Idumaeans, whom he identified as of Nabataean origin, constituted the majority of the population of Western Judea, where they commingled with the Judaeans and adopted their customs. Judas Maccabeus conquered their territory for a time in around 163 BC. They were again subdued by John Hyrcanus (c. 125 BC), who forcibly converted them to Judaism and incorporated them into the Jewish nation, despite the opposition of the Pharisees. Antipater the Idumaean, the progenitor of the Herodian Dynasty that ruled Judea after the Roman conquest, was of Edomite origin. Under Herod the Great Idumaea was ruled for him by a series of governors, among whom were his brother Joseph ben Antipater and his brother-in-law Costobarus. After the Jewish Wars the Idumaean people are no longer mentioned in history though the area retained their name.

* "Moab" -The Moabites were descendants of Lot (Gen. 19:36-38; Deut. 2:9-23). They lived east of the Jordan and the Dead Sea (Salt Sea). David's parents were placed there while Saul was chasing David. They were a cursed people. But Ruth, David's great grand mother was a Moabites and not cursed because she believed in the Lord God by faith.

* Genesis 19:36-38 "So both of Lot's daughters became pregnant by their father. The older daughter had a son, and she named him Moab; he is the father of the Moabites of today. The younger daughter also had a son, and she named him Ben-Ammi; he is the father of the Ammonites of today.

* Numbers 22:4-6 "The Moabites said to the elders of Midian, "This horde is going to lick up everything around us, as an ox licks up the grass of the field." So Balak son of Zippor, who was king of Moab at that time, sent messengers to summon Balaam son of Beor, who was at Pethor, near the River, in his native land. Balak said: "A people has come out of Egypt; they cover the face of the land and have settled next to me. Now come and put a curse on these people, because they are too powerful for me. Perhaps then I will be able to defeat them and drive them out of the country. For I know that those you bless are blessed, and those you curse are cursed."

* "the leaders of Ammon" -The Ammonites were descendants of Lot (Gen. 19:36-38). They lived east of the Jordan and the Dead Sea (Salt Sea). The Israelites were not to destroy them when going to the promised land. Eventually they became an enemy of Israel, trying to take parts of the promised land from Israel.

* "will be delivered from his hand" -When the antichrist is in the promised land he will focus his conquest elsewhere.

* "He will extend his power over many countries" -Not every country is listed here. The ones listed are those near Israel.

* "Egypt will not escape" -Egypt will be part of the antichrist's kingdom too. They will his allies, at least for awhile.

* "the Libyans" -Lybia to the west of Egypt will be under the antichrist's power.

* "Nubians" -The original Hebrew here is "Kushi". The area is also known as Ethiopia and Cush. It is to the south of Egypt. (Genesis 2:13, 10:6-8; and 1 Chronicles 1:8-10; Esther 1:1, 8:9; Isaiah 18:1, 20:3-5; 43:3, 45:14; etc.)

* After describing the antichrist's character the messenger now speaks of his early military campaigns.

>5. Why might reports from the east and north alarm him? (44; Rev. 16:12)

* Daniel 11:44 "But reports from the east and the north will alarm him, and he will set out in a great rage to destroy and annihilate many."

* Revelation 16:12 "The sixth angel poured out his bowl on the great river Euphrates, and its water was dried up to prepare the way for the kings from the East."

* According to verses 41 to 43 the antichrist's empire will be expanding to the south and west of Israel. While he is engaged there suddenly attention is needed in the opposite direction. When engaged in battle in those directions he will be victorious as he was in the south and west.

>What is the holy mountain and what is his intent? (45a; Psalms 48:1-2; Rev. 16:13-16)

* Daniel 11:45a "He will pitch his royal tents between the seas at the beautiful holy mountain."

* Psalms 48:1-2 "Great is the Lord, and most worthy of praise, in the city of our God, his holy mountain. It is beautiful in its loftiness, the joy of the whole earth. Like the utmost heights of Zaphon is Mount Zion, the city of the Great King."

* Revelation 16:13-16 "Then I saw three evil spirits that looked like frogs; they came out of the mouth of the dragon, out of the mouth of the beast and out of the mouth of the false prophet. They are spirits of demons performing miraculous signs, and they go out to the kings of the whole world, to gather them for the battle on the great day of God Almighty. 'Behold, I come like a thief! Blessed is he who stays awake and keeps his clothes with him, so that he may not go naked and be shamefully exposed.' Then they gathered the kings together to the place that in Hebrew is called Armageddon."

* "between the seas" -Elsewhere the Mediterranean is stated in the plural.

* "the beautiful holy mountain." -The temple was located on Mount Moriah. (2 Chronicles 3:1) It is not the tallest mountain in the Jerusalem area (i.e. the Mount of Olives is higher). Rather, what makes this mountain beautiful is that the Lord God Almighty chose it as the place where mankind can seek him. Though God's dwells in heaven and no man-made structure can house all of God, he made this a special holy place. (2 Chronicles 6:18-21) The first temple was destroyed when Daniel was a young man. Now as an old man, seventy years later, the temple foundation had been laid again. In 70 A.D. the temple was destroyed by the Romans. Soon it will be rebuilt again on the same mountain.

>Even though he will be so powerful what happens to him in the end? (45b; Rev. 19:11; Isa. 11:4; Ps. 2)

* Daniel 11:45b "Yet he will come to his end, and no one will help him."

* Revelation 19:11 "I saw heaven standing open and there before me was a white horse, whose rider is called Faithful and True. With justice he judges and makes war."

* Isaiah 11:4 "but with righteousness he will judge the needy, with justice he will give decisions for the poor of the earth. He will strike the earth with the rod of his mouth; with the breath of his lips he will slay the wicked."

* Psalm 2:1-2 "Why do the nations conspire and the peoples plot in vain? The kings of the earth take their stand and the rulers gather together against the LORD and against his Anointed One."

* The message to Daniel and us ends with the clear fact that the antichrist will not remain in power very long. Though for a while it seems nothing can stop him, he will be stopped.

>6. What does Jesus tell us to do to the very end of the age even if we are alive when this king is alive? (Matt. 28:18-20)

* Matthew 28:18-20 "Then Jesus came to them and said, "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age."

* Jesus gave us a mission to preach the good news, the gospel of the kingdom of God.

II. The End of Times (12:1-13)

>7. What promise are we given? (1)

* Daniel 12:1 "At that time Michael, the great prince who protects your people, will arise. There will be a time of distress 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--will be delivered."

* "At that time" -The end of the antichrist's reign, the end of the seventieth week, and just before Jesus' second coming.

* "Michael, the great prince who protects your people" -See Daniel study 10 commentary question 7 for more on this angel.

* "There will be a time of distress" -The final three and one half years of the seventieth week will see an gradual increase of great distress. This was foreshadowed by the Romans destruction of Judea and the temple in 70 A.D. (Matthew 24:15-22, Luke 21:20-24)

* 2 Timothy 3:1-5 "But mark this: There will be terrible times in the last days. People will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boastful, proud, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, without love, unforgiving, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not lovers of the good, treacherous, rash, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God-- having a form of godliness but denying its power. Have nothing to do with them."

* "your people--everyone whose name is found written in the book" -All throughout the book the term "your people" is used to refer to all those who believe and trust in Jesus, the Lord God Almighty. (Daniel 9:13-16, 19, 24, 10:14, 11:14, 12:1) Many commentators say it refers to just the Israelites or just the Jews. According to this verse it is many more than the Jews and the Israelites. It is all who truly believe in Jesus. See Daniel study 10 commentary question 8 for more on "your people"

* "will be delivered." -Hope in the time of great distress.

>What is the book that is mentioned? (10:21a; Luke 10:20; Phil. 4:3; Rev. 3:4-5. 13:8, 20:11-15)

* "everyone whose name is found written in the book" -A Book of Truth was written by God and stored in heaven. (Daniel 10:21) Daniel 7:10 says "the books were opened" on judgment day. Jesus confirms what is stated here, all the saint's names are written in the Book of Truth along with all their deeds done in faith, hope, and love. (Revelation 20:11-15) It is also called "the book of life". (Philippians 4:3; Revelation 3:4-5) The book belongs to Jesus. (Revelation 13:8) The fact that the book was already written shows that God knows what is going to happen. The fact that names can be blotted out of the Book of Life means that God intends for us to be included. However, we have a choice to live by faith in Jesus, or reject him and thus be blotted out. (Psalm 9:5, 51:1, 69:28)

* Daniel 10:21a "but first I will tell you what is written in the Book of Truth..."

* Psalm 9:5 "You have rebuked the nations and destroyed the wicked; you have blotted out their name for ever and ever."

* Psalm 51:1 "Have mercy on me, O God, according to your unfailing love; according to your great compassion blot out my transgressions."

* Psalm 69:28 "May they be blotted out of the book of life and not be listed with the righteous."

* Luke 10:20 "However, do not rejoice that the spirits submit to you, but rejoice that your names are written in heaven."

* Philippians 4:3 "Yes, and I ask you, loyal yokefellow, help these women who have contended at my side in the cause of the gospel, along with Clement and the rest of my fellow workers, whose names are in the book of life."

* Revelation 3:4-5 "Yet you have a few people in Sardis who have not soiled their clothes. They will walk with me, dressed in white, for they are worthy. He who overcomes will, like them, be dressed in white. I will never blot out his name from the book of life, but will acknowledge his name before my Father and his angels."

* Revelation 13:8 "All inhabitants of the earth will worship the beast--all whose names have not been written in the book of life belonging to the Lamb that was slain from the creation of the world."

* Revelation 20:11-15 "Then I saw a great white throne and him who was seated on it. Earth and sky fled from his presence, and there was no place for them. And I saw the dead, great and small, standing before the throne, and books were opened. Another book was opened, which is the book of life. The dead were judged according to what they had done as recorded in the books. The sea gave up the dead that were in it, and death and Hades gave up the dead that were in them, and each person was judged according to what he had done. Then death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire. The lake of fire is the second death. If anyone's name was not found written in the book of life, he was thrown into the lake of fire."

>8. What do God's people have to look forward to? (2; Is. 26:19-21; Matt. 13:37-39)

* Daniel 12:2 "Multitudes who sleep in the dust of the earth will awake: some to everlasting life, others to shame and everlasting contempt."

* Isaiah 26:19-21 "But your dead will live; their bodies will rise. You who dwell in the dust, wake up and shout for joy. Your dew is like the dew of the morning; the earth will give birth to her dead. Go, my people, enter your rooms and shut the doors behind you; hide yourselves for a little while until his wrath has passed by. See, the Lord is coming out of his dwelling to punish the people of the earth for their sins. The earth will disclose the blood shed upon her; she will conceal her slain no longer."

* Matthew 13:37-39 "He answered, "The one who sowed the good seed is the Son of Man. The field is the world, and the good seed stands for the sons of the kingdom. The weeds are the sons of the evil one, and the enemy who sows them is the devil. The harvest is the end of the age, and the harvesters are angels.

* "Multitudes who sleep in the dust of the earth will awake" -A physical resurrection. (1 Corinthians 15) Death is only described as "sleep" because while the physical body ceases to live, the spirit remains active.

* "some to everlasting life, others to shame and everlasting contempt." -Jesus taught in several parables that the angels will separate the righteous from the wicked at the harvest.

* See Matthew 25:46 and John 5:28-29.

>What are the present and future characteristics of God's people? (3; 1 John 3:2-3)

* Daniel 12:3 "Those who are wise will shine like the brightness of the heavens, and those who lead many to righteousness, like the stars for ever and ever."

* 1 John 3:2-3 "Dear friends, now we are children of God, and what we will be has not yet been made known. But we know that when he appears, we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is. Everyone who has this hope in him purifies himself, just as he is pure."

* "Those who are wise" -Wisdom is different than knowledge. To often people know a lot while not being wise. God gives wisdom; knowledge doesn't always lead to wisdom.

* "will shine like the brightness of the heavens" -This is one of the clearest declaration of the nature of the physical resurrection for the righteous (chronologically speaking) just before the judgment to come. See below for more.

* "those who lead many to righteousness" -Through preaching and teaching the word of God, the gospel. Righteousness is found only in Jesus Christ.

* "like the stars for ever and ever" -See below for more.

* These words and 1 Corinthians 15 makes it clear that we will bear his image in a glorious spiritual/physical body. Our physical bodies do not bear his image now, though our spirit has been born again. (John 3:5-8) There is a great future coming for a true believer for if our bodies are just seeds now, how much greater will our bodies be when we are raised from the dead.

Does this mean that our new bodies will be physical in essence? Yes, for Jesus' body is physical in essence? Does this mean that our new body will be spiritual in essence? Yes, for Jesus' body is spiritual in essence? Does this mean our new bodies will be better than our bodies are now? Yes, in ways that we can imagine and can't imagine. Does this mean that God will restore our bodies to that of Adam and Eve? Our new resurrected bodies will be better than Adam and Eve's bodies. Does this mean our body will radiate? Yes, for Jesus radiates with the Glory of God as pointed out in the verses already quoted. This does not mean that we will be like angels who have been made flames of fire. (Heb. 1:8) We will be and are the King's bride.

Some may think it strange that we will radiate with the Glory of God. However, when Moses received the Ten Commandments his face was radiant to the point where he wore a veil when he was among the Israelites. For a long time after that when Moses went in to meet with God in the Tabernacle and came out his face was radiant. (Ex. 34:29-35) Paul points out, if the ministry that brought death, which was engraved in letters on stone, came with glory, so that the Israelites could not look steadily at the face of Moses because of its glory, fading though it was, will not the ministry of the Spirit be even more glorious? If the ministry that condemns men is glorious, how much more glorious is the ministry that brings righteousness! For what was glorious has no glory now in comparison with the surpassing glory. And if what was fading away came with glory, how much greater is the glory of that which lasts! (2 Cor. 3:7-11)

Moses was not the only person who radiated with the glory of God because the Spirit of God was on him. When Stephen was standing before the Sanhedrin being judged by them and about to be condemned Acts 6:15 states, "All who were sitting in the Sanhedrin looked intently at Stephen, and they saw that his face was like the face of an angel."

Another verse that states the bride will radiate with the Glory of God is Matthew 13:43a. Jesus said, "Then the righteous will shine like the sun in the kingdom of their Father." Col. 3:4 says we will appear with [Jesus] in glory." Daniel 12 also states that we will shine forever and ever.

We are reminded, "Dear friends, now we are children of God, and what we will be has not yet been made known. But we know that when he appears, we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is. Everyone who has this hope in him purifies himself, just as he is pure." (1 John 3:2-3) Jesus' bride hopes, looking forward to the day will be given a new resurrected physical body of glory.

>Even though men go all over why will not be able to find out the meaning of the sealed scroll? (4; Rev. 5:9)

* Daniel 12:4 "But you, Daniel, close up and seal the words of the scroll until the time of the end. Many will go here and there to increase knowledge."

* Revelation 5:9 "And they sang a new song: "You are worthy to take the scroll and to open its seals, because you were slain, and with your blood you purchased men for God from every tribe and language and people and nation."

* "close up and seal the words of the scroll" -Means to make it final. A seal was used to authenticate a completed document. A seal was made by pouring hot wax on a document and pressing into the wax a clay or metal "seal" which bore a mark or seal specific to the owner.

* "until the time of the end" -See Daniel study 10 commentary question 8 for more on this phrase.

* "Many will go here and there to increase knowledge." -Boy isn't this true today! The last three hundred years has see a exponential multiplication in the amount of information compared to all other years. The increasing use of the world wide web gives people all over the world more information then ever before. At the same time people are depressed more then all generations that proceed ours. If information and understanding were the source of joy and happiness, this should be the greatest time to live. However, the rate and degree of depression is greater than ever before. Like Solomon many declare in desperation, "Meaningless! Meaningless! Utterly meaningless! Everything is meaningless... I have seen all the things that are done under the sun; all of them are meaningless, a chasing after the wind... For with much wisdom comes much sorrow; the more knowledge, the more grief." (Ecclesiastes 1:2, 14-18) What did Solomon conclude? "Fear God and keep his commandments, for this is the whole duty of man. For God will bring every deed into judgment, including every hidden thing, whether it is good or evil." (Ecclesiastes 12:13-14)

Revelation Timeline

>9. How long will it be before these astonishing things are fulfilled? (5-7)

* Daniel 12:5-7 "Then I, Daniel, looked, and there before me stood two others, one on this bank of the river and one on the opposite bank. One of them said to the man clothed in linen, who was above the waters of the river, "How long will it be before these astonishing things are fulfilled?" The man clothed in linen, who was above the waters of the river, lifted his right hand and his left hand toward heaven, and I heard him swear by him who lives forever, saying, "It will be for a time, times and half a time. When the power of the holy people has been finally broken, all these things will be completed."

* "before me stood two others" -This implies that either Daniel never noticed them before or they suddenly appeared. Two witnesses were needed when an oath was made.

* "one on this bank of the river and one on the opposite bank" -The Tigris River (Daniel 10:4) was the scene. The man in linen that was the sole subject of the vision up to this point was standing on the waters of the river.

* "How long will it be before these astonishing things are fulfilled?" -Daniel did not ask the question. One of the new angels did. I, as most now ask, "When will these things be fulfilled?" Jesus' apostles asked that question. (Matthew 24:3) But the angel did not here nor in Daniel 8:13. Why? Perhaps because they did not count years as we do now (A.D and B.C.). Rather he asked, "How long?"

* "astonishing things" -The sufferings and deliverance of chapters 10, 11, and 12.

* "The man clothed in linen" -I believe this to be Jesus. See study 10 question 3.

* "lifted his right hand and his left hand toward heaven" -When a person made a vow they only rose the right hand. The messenger raised both hands.

* "I heard him swear by him who lives forever" -God the Father, Son, and Spirit live forever. Deuteronomy 32:40 records another time that God swore by himself. It says, "I lift my hand to heaven and declare: As surely as I live forever..." So does Jeremiah 51:14, Amos 6:8 and Hebrews 6:13 recalls God swearing to Abraham. Read the verses that follow in Hebrews for more on the significance of this type of swearing.

* "It will be for a time, times and half a time" -The mysterious phrase already stated in Daniel 7:25 where it was there written in Aramaic. The original Hebrew here is "moed moed hasi" (I think, not sure). "A year plus two years plus half a year" is interpreted as 3.5 years total. I've always wondered why it was stated this way. Why not just say three and one half years? Could it be there there is some important event at each interval, or perhaps it could be like it was for the seventy weeks (7 + 62 + 1), a break between each time? No commentary or book I ever read addressed why time is stated this way. So, like Daniel I can say, "I don't understand."

>What is meant by "the power of the holy people has been finally broken"?

* "holy people" -Israel (the Gentile Christians) and the Messianic Jews, both are Daniel's people. (See above.) No one can make themselves holy. Only God can make something and/or someone holy.

* "the power of the holy people has been finally broken" -Reducing to helplessness at the hands of their persecutors. Daniel 7:25 says, "He will speak against the Most High and oppress his saints and try to change the set times and the laws. The saints will be handed over to him for a time, times and half a time."

>Did Daniel understand the vision?

* Daniel 12:8-9 "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 closed up and sealed until the time of the end."

* "I heard, but I did not understand" -The understanding of prophecy concerning Jesus' first coming was fully understood only after it was fulfilled. So seems to be the case with his second coming. No wonder so many predictors who have claimed to have special insight have been wrong. I believe that much of the church today is wore down and have been overly embarrassed by so many wrong predictions. I'm not implying we shouldn't be watching and waiting in anticipation for the end of the age to come when Jesus comes again. I'm just suggesting some people are putting way to much effort into predicting dates of rapture and return. I heard of an atheist who is keeping track of all the wrong predictions on a web site. How embarrassing is that.

* "My lord" -An angel would not accept Daniel calling him his lord. Only the Lord God Almighty, Jesus would accept this. When Thomas saw the risen Jesus he said, "My Lord and my God."

* "My lord, what will the outcome of all this be?" -Daniel wanted to know what was next, after the saints are broken.

* "the words are closed up and sealed" -Daniel would receive no new revelation or explanation of the revelation. (Daniel 10:1) The words were finished, signed, and sealed. Other prophets would reveal more later. Jesus revealed more later. The apostles revealed more later.

Olivet Discourse Chart

>10. How is one purified and made wise?

* Daniel 12:10 "Many will be purified, made spotless and refined, but the wicked will continue to be wicked. None of the wicked will understand, but those who are wise will understand."

* "Many will be purified, made spotless and refined" -Purification comes through Jesus' blood. "Spotless" implies that we are imperfect, but can be made perfect. Refining is a common theme of the Bible. Paul wrote, "Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand. And we rejoice in the hope of the glory of God. Not only so, but we also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope. And hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out his love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom he has given us. You see, at just the right time, when we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly." (Romans 5:1-6)

* "the wicked will continue to be wicked" -The means of the refinement is the actions of the wicked. They will continue to be the source of persecutions. They are a tool of God.

* "None of the wicked will understand" -Jesus said, "This is why I speak to them in parables: "Though seeing, they do not see; though hearing, they do not hear or understand. In them is fulfilled the prophecy of Isaiah: "'You will be ever hearing but never understanding; you will be ever seeing but never perceiving. For this people's heart has become calloused; they hardly hear with their ears, and they have closed their eyes. Otherwise they might see with their eyes, hear with their ears, understand with their hearts and turn, and I would heal them.'" (Matthew 13:13-15) And he said, "Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because he has not believed in the name of God's one and only Son. This is the verdict: Light has come into the world, but men loved darkness instead of light because their deeds were evil. Everyone who does evil hates the light, and will not come into the light for fear that his deeds will be exposed. But whoever lives by the truth comes into the light, so that it may be seen plainly that what he has done has been done through God." (John 3:18-21)

* "those who are wise will understand" -We are not greater or better than others. In fact the Bible says we are lesser things. (Matthew 11:25, 24:45, 25:8) God makes us wise.

>What do all those days refer to?

* Daniel 12:11-12 "From the time that the daily sacrifice is abolished and the abomination that causes desolation is set up, there will be 1,290 days. Blessed is the one who waits for and reaches the end of the 1,335 days."

* "From the time that" -The original Hebrew word here is "et" meaning "time" and "season". The exact meaning is qualified by surrounding words. Here it is linked this ways, "From the time that... there will be..."

* "the daily sacrifice is abolished" -Repeated from Daniel 8:11-12 and Daniel 8:27. The daily sacrifice was to ensure daily presence of the Lord in the temple. Since there is no temple now in Jerusalem, it has to be rebuilt. Full preparations have been made to do rebuilt it and the priests are ready.

* "and the abomination that causes desolation is set up" -Half way through a seven year treaty with Israel the antichrist will drive them out of the temple, set up an idol in the temple that will speak, and offer sacrifices to it.

* "there will be 1,290 days" -Several understandings of this and other enigmatic number symbolism in Daniel over the centuries has been presented. The most commonly believed today is that this means three years and six months. (365 x 3 = 1,095 days) and (1,290 - 1,095 = 195 days). This is in fitting with other terms used to describe this period in Daniel and other books of the Bible.

* "Blessed is the one who waits for and reaches the end of the 1,335 days." -Why an extra 45 days is needed is not clear. What is made clear that if it were not for God and faith in him, no one would make it this far. Some believe the 45 days is the time of the judgment of nations. Those who are not kept out kingdom will morn, and those who are accepted in will rejoice.

* Compare the number in Daniel 8:14.

>What did Daniel have to look forward to?

* Daniel 12:13 "As for you, go your way till the end. You will rest, and then at the end of the days you will rise to receive your allotted inheritance."

* "go your way till the end" -Daniel will continue.

* "You will rest" -Again death is compared to sleeping.

* "at the end of the days" -The end of the days just mentioned.

* "you will rise" -Another clear statement of the physical resurrection of the dead.

>What is each person's allotted inheritance? (2 Cor. 5:10)

* "to receive your allotted inheritance" -Resurrection is a gift through faith in Jesus. However, gifts will still be given. An allotted inheritance refers back to when each Israelite was given land to live in when they crossed the Jordan. Daniel never received or enjoyed his land because he was taken in exile. Here, now he was promised to receive the true inheritance. The Lord told Abraham, "The whole land of Canaan, where you are now an alien, I will give as an everlasting possession to you and your descendants after you; and I will be their God." (Genesis 17:8) Hebrews 11:13-16 states, "All these people were still living by faith when they died. They did not receive the things promised; they only saw them and welcomed them from a distance. And they admitted that they were aliens and strangers on earth. People who say such things show that they are looking for a country of their own. If they had been thinking of the country they had left, they would have had opportunity to return. Instead, they were longing for a better country--a heavenly one. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for he has prepared a city for them."

* 2 Corinthians 5:10 "For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive what is due him for the things done while in the body, whether good or bad."

* Revelation 2:10 "Do not be afraid of what you are about to suffer. I tell you, the devil will put some of you in prison to test you, and you will suffer persecution for ten days. Be faithful, even to the point of death, and I will give you the crown of life."