THE WISE WILL SHINE LIKE THE STARS

Passage: Daniel 12:1-13

Key verse: 3

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

The heavenly man concludes that there will be a time of great distress as never has happened before, and God will protect his people. Those whose names are written in the book of life will be delivered. Multitudes will rise from dead: some to eternal life and some to everlasting punishment. Those who are wise and instructed others in righteousness will shine like the stars forever and ever. Then, the scroll was closed. Daniel saw two more heavenly men had joined them, and one asked about the time when these events would happen. The heavenly man said that when the power of the holy people has been finally broken, the end will come. Daniel longed to know more. But the heavenly man told him to go his way. The scroll was closed. He remarked that many will be purified and made spotless, and the wicked will continue to be wicked. Blessed is the one who patiently waits and puts their hope in God until the end.

We wonder about the end times, and God gives us here a vision about it to help us live wisely and have hope. We must be patient through all kinds of evil events and put our hope in God’s everlasting kingdom. Then, our hearts will be purified and spotless, and we can shine like the stars forever!

Prayer: Father, please help me to live wisely and put my hope in your kingdom.

One Word: Be wise and lead many to righteousness