THE END TIMES

Passage: Daniel 12:1-13

Key verse: 1

NIV

The End Times

12 “At that time Michael,(A) the great prince who protects your people, will arise. There will be a time of distress(B) 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(C)—will be delivered.(D) 2 Multitudes who sleep in the dust of the earth will awake:(E) some to everlasting life, others to shame and everlasting contempt.(F) 3 Those who are wise[a](G) will shine(H) like the brightness of the heavens, and those who lead many to righteousness,(I) like the stars for ever and ever.(J) 4 But you, Daniel, roll up and seal(K) the words of the scroll until the time of the end.(L) Many will go here and there(M) to increase knowledge.”

5 Then I, Daniel, looked, and there before me stood two others, one on this bank of the river and one on the opposite bank.(N) 6 One of them said to the man clothed in linen,(O) who was above the waters of the river, “How long will it be before these astonishing things are fulfilled?”(P)

7 The man clothed in linen, who was above the waters of the river, lifted his right hand(Q) and his left hand toward heaven, and I heard him swear by him who lives forever,(R) saying, “It will be for a time, times and half a time.[b](S) When the power of the holy people(T) has been finally broken, all these things will be completed.(U)”

8 I heard, but I did not understand. So I asked, “My lord, what will the outcome of all this be?”

9 He replied, “Go your way, Daniel, because the words are rolled up and sealed(V) until the time of the end.(W) 10 Many will be purified, made spotless and refined,(X) but the wicked will continue to be wicked.(Y) None of the wicked will understand, but those who are wise will understand.(Z)

11 “From the time that the daily sacrifice(AA) is abolished and the abomination that causes desolation(AB) is set up, there will be 1,290 days.(AC) 12 Blessed is the one who waits(AD) for and reaches the end of the 1,335 days.(AE)

13 “As for you, go your way till the end.(AF) You will rest,(AG) and then at the end of the days you will rise to receive your allotted inheritance.(AH)”

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Footnotes
  1. Daniel 12:3 Or who impart wisdom
  2. Daniel 12:7 Or a year, two years and half a year
Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
Source: BibleGateway

ESV

The Time of the End

12 “At that time shall arise (A)Michael, the great prince who has charge of your people. And (B)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, (C)everyone whose name shall be found written in the book. 2 And many of those who (D)sleep in (E)the dust of the earth shall (F)awake, (G)some to everlasting life, and (H)some to shame and everlasting contempt. 3 (I)And those who are wise (J)shall shine like the brightness of the sky above;[a] and (K)those who turn many to righteousness, like the stars forever and ever. 4 But you, Daniel, (L)shut up the words and (M)seal the book, until (N)the time of the end. (O)Many shall run to and fro, and knowledge shall increase.”

5 Then I, Daniel, looked, and behold, two others stood, one on (P)this bank of the stream and one on that bank of the stream. 6 And someone said to (Q)the man clothed in linen, who was above the waters of the stream,[b] (R)“How long shall it be till the end of these wonders?” 7 And I heard (S)the man clothed in linen, who was above the waters of the stream; (T)he raised his right hand and his left hand toward heaven and (U)swore by him who lives forever that it would be for a (V)time, times, and half a time, and that when the shattering of (W)the power of (X)the holy people comes to an end all these things would be finished. 8 I heard, (Y)but I did not understand. Then I said, “O my lord, what shall be the outcome of these things?” 9 He said, (Z)“Go your way, Daniel, (AA)for the words are shut up and sealed until the time of the end. 10 (AB)Many shall purify themselves and make themselves white and be refined, but (AC)the wicked shall act wickedly. And none of the wicked shall understand, (AD)but those who are wise shall understand. 11 And from the time that (AE)the regular burnt offering is taken away and (AF)the abomination that makes desolate is set up, there shall be 1,290 days. 12 (AG)Blessed is he who waits and arrives at the 1,335 days. 13 (AH)But go your way till the end. (AI)And you shall rest and shall stand in your allotted place at (AJ)the end of the days.”

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Footnotes
  1. Daniel 12:3 Hebrew the expanse; compare Genesis 1:6–8
  2. Daniel 12:6 Or who was upstream; also verse 7
The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Text Edition: 2016. Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.
Source: BibleGateway

1. God's people will be delivered (1-4)

The end of human history will come at God's appointed time. There will be a time of great distress, but God's people--those whose names are written in his book of life--will be delivered (Rev 21:27). The dead will hear the voice of the Son of Man and rise to face the final judgment (Jn 5:28-29). Those who are wise--who have accepted God's grace of forgiveness--will rise to life and will shine like the stars forever and ever. The others will dwell in hell forever.

2. How long will it be? (5-13)

Daniel did not understand. He asked 2 questions: 'How long will it be...?' and 'What will the outcome be?' Neither of these questions is answered. One does not become wise by going here and there to increase in knowledge. The wise person is the one who has been purified and made spotless (by faith in Jesus' blood). The wicked never understand. The Lord tells Daniel and us to go our way until the end.

Prayer: Lord, thank you for writing my name in your book--by your grace through Jesus.

One Word: God holds history in his hand