Daniel 12

 Verses 1-4 are a continuation of Daniel 10-11 when the angel (Gabriel?) visits and is speaking to Daniel

Dan 12:1

1 And at that time shall Michael stand up, the great prince who standeth for the children of thy people; and there shall be a time of trouble, such as never was since there was a nation even to that same time: and at that time thy people shall be delivered, every one that shall be found written in the book. 

Summary

1. Michael? = archangel who is described as the one who stands in time of conflict for the children of Israel, Jesus?

Means = "who is like God" with/without a ?

Verses used for Michael (as a divine being, of some sort):

1. Dan 10:13 

But the prince of the kingdom of Persia withstood me one and twenty days; but, lo, Michael, one of the chief (first, primary, former) princes, came to help me: and I remained there with the kings of Persia. 

2. Dan 10:21 

But I will tell thee that which is inscribed in the writing of truth: and there is none that holdeth with me against these, but Michael your prince. 

3. Dan 12:1 

And at that time shall Michael stand up, the great prince who standeth for the children of thy people; and there shall be a time of trouble, such as never was since there was a nation even to that same time: and at that time thy people shall be delivered, every one that shall be found written in the book. 

4. Jud 1:9 

But Michael the archangel, when contending with the devil he disputed about the body of Moses, durst not bring against him a railing judgment, but said, The Lord rebuke thee.

Michael the Archangel

-G743 chief of the angels OR chief angel 

- angel or Jesus?

5. The only other NT verse with the word archangel (G743)

1Th 4:16 

For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven, with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first;

***Read verses 1 Th 4:14-18***

Jesus descends from heaven with the voice of an archangel….weird!

6. Rev 12:7 

And there was war in heaven: Michael and his angels going forth to war with the dragon; and the dragon warred and his angels

"Michael and his angels?" 

-how does Michael have angels???

2. Back in Daniel 12:1, Michael will "stand up for his people Israel". 

What is the implication? He has been seated. And now he stands up?

3. Verses about Jesus in NT

Col 3:1 

If then ye were raised together with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated on the right hand of God.

Eph 1:20 

which he wrought in Christ, when he raised him from the dead, and made him to sit at his right hand in the heavenly places,

Eph 2:6 

and raised us up with him, and made us to sit with him in the heavenly places, in Christ Jesus:

Luke 22:69 

But from henceforth shall the Son of man be seated at the right hand of the power of God.

***These NT verses seem to all describe Him as being seated (at the right hand of God)

4. But in Acts 7:55-56 at the stoning of Stephen, we see something different. 

Just before he is stoned to death by the Pharisees, Stephen says this:

Act 7:55-56 

55 But he, being full of the Holy Spirit, looked up stedfastly into heaven, and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing on the right hand of God, 56 and said, Behold, I see the heavens opened, and the Son of Man standing on the right hand of God.

Why might Stephen see Jesus stand? 

1. Example of Michael standing for his people

2. This occurred approx 34 AD

3. Remember the 70 weeks from Dan 9? (490 years) 

4. Jesus is anointed in the 69th week (483rd year). Approximately autumn of 27 AD.

5. How long is Jesus ministry? 3.5 years

6. Jesus is cut off in the midst or middle of the 70th week. So, Autumn 28 AD + 29 AD + 30 AD to Spring 31 AD. 

Why do we know his death was in the Spring? He was Passover lamb which occurred in April 25, 31 AD

7. This still leaves us 3.5 years until wrath is poured on the desolate (as per Dan 9:27). Jesus dies in Spring 31 AD, so spring 32 AD + spring 33 AD + spring 34 AD to Autumn 34 AD. 

8. Stephen is stoned in 34 AD, prob in Autumn 34. What is the significance of Stephen's death?  The 70th week (of the Old Covenant) has been fulfilled and comes to an end. Now desolations are determined on the physical Jews of Jerusalem. 

9. The desolations include the destruction of the temple and the greatly diminished light of Jesus in Jesusalem by the hand of Saul (who eventually becomes the apostle Paul)

How do we know this?

Act 8:3-4 

3 But Saul laid waste the church, entering into every house, and dragging men and women committed them to prison. 4 They therefore that were scattered abroad, went about preaching the word.

10. So Michael/Jesus stands on behalf of His people at the end of the 70 weeks by removing his newly formed church from Jerusalem and sending it unto the rest of the world (Gentiles). 

11. Ironically using the same person (Saul) to scatter the church from Jerusalem and then converting him so he is used as the apostle to the Gentiles. 

***Great irony. A great shot across the bow of Satan and angels. Which said "I tricked you. I always had everything under control even though you thought you won by killing my son and desecrating my physical temple via Antiochus. Now my people will be world wide and not just a physical landlocked nation. Ha!

Also think of the implication of the Psalms 82 and 89 where God assigned "eloheim" or little gods over all nations except His physical nation of Jews which evidently Michael oversaw. Now God spread out His people unto the Gentiles (or rest of the world). Affectively reclaiming all the nations for himself again.

Back to Dan 12:1

Verse 1 says "at that time thy people shall be delivered, every one that shall be found written in the book"

1. Who shall be delivered?

2. What book?

3. Who delivers them?

Dan 12:2-3

2 And many of them that sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, some to everlasting life, and some to shame and everlasting contempt. 3 And they that are wise shall shine as the brightness of the firmament; and they that turn many to righteousness as the stars for ever and ever.

Summary

1. What event seems to be occurring in verse 2?

-the second coming?

-the judgement?

2.  Who are the wise that "shall shine as the brightness of the firmament"? 

1. The wise will shine:

-admonish, warn, teach, shine, send out light, be light

2. As the brightness of the firmament

-Brightness from word meaning brilliant

Same word used in Ezekiel 8:2

Eze 8:2 

Then I beheld, and, lo, a likeness as the appearance (of a man) of fire; from the appearance of his loins and downward, fire; and from his loins and upward, as the appearance of brightness, as it were glowing metal.

Who is this?? Jesus

3. They shine as the brightness of the firmament.

What is firmament?

-heavens/sky

Why do they shine as the sky/heavens?

-they dwell in the heavens

3. So who stands at the time of the end on behalf of spiritual Israel (Gods NT people)? 

Michael/Jesus. 

But is it possible that it is also "Jesus in us" or "Jesus in His people" that stands?

4. Jesus asks this same question in Rev 6:17:

Rev 6:17 

for the great day of their wrath is come; and who is able to stand?

**Presented as a riddle**

5. What about this verse? Rev 11:11.

Here, the two witnesses are spoken of:

Rev 11:11 

And after the three days and a half the breath of life from God entered into them, and they stood upon their feet; and great fear fell upon them that beheld them.

What does the 3 ½ years represent here? 

The end of the second covenant people where Michael/Jesus returns. 

It's not a literal 3 ½ years but only represents the period of time (at the end of our current covenant) in which Michael (Jesus) arises just like in Daniel. 

****In this verse, Michael/Jesus arises in His people.****

Does this make sense?

Dan 12:4

4 But thou, O Daniel, shut up the words, and seal the book, even to the time of the end: many shall run to and fro, and knowledge shall be increased. 

**Book is sealed till the time of the end**

Dan 12:5-7

5 Then I, Daniel, looked, and, behold, there stood other two, the one on the brink of the river on this side, and the other on the brink of the river on that side. 6 And one said to the man clothed in linen, who was above the waters of the river, How long shall it be to the end of these wonders? 7 And 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 unto heaven, and sware by him that liveth for ever that it shall be for a time, times, and a half; and when they have made an end of breaking in pieces the power of the holy people, all these things shall be finished. 

Summary

1.  Who are on the sides of the river banks? Angels?

2. Who is the man clothed in linen? Jesus

3. Jesus says "this shall be for the "3 ½ years" period when the power of the holy people are broken in pieces. Then all these things shall be finished.

***Then the sanctuary will have been cleansed.***

Dan 12:8-11

8 And I heard, but I understood not: then said I, O my lord, what shall be the issue of these things? 9 And he said, Go thy way, Daniel; for the words are shut up and sealed till the time of the end. 10 Many shall purify themselves, and make themselves white, and be refined; but the wicked shall do wickedly; and none of the wicked shall understand; but they that are wise shall understand. 11 And from the time that the continual burnt-offering shall be taken away, and the abomination that maketh desolate set up, there shall be a thousand and two hundred and ninety days. 

Dan 12:12-13

12 Blessed is he that waiteth, and cometh to the thousand three hundred and five and thirty days. 13 But go thou thy way till the end be; for thou shalt rest, and shalt stand in thy lot, at the end of the days.