Read Daniel 12.
Is our future uncertain? The answer is yes and no. Yes, we do not know what a day may bring our way (James 5:13-14). But our ultimate future is as sure as the promises of God.
In chapter 10, God revealed to Daniel a vision of the future hope for Israel. What he saw confused him and caused him to go into a period mourning. After three weeks, the LORD sent an angel to explain the vision. In chapter 11, the interpretation matched the previous dreams in this book concerning the future rise and fall of world empires. God's plans will be fulfilled right on schedule. In this chapter, the angel revealed even more of things that are yet to come.
The prophecy foretells of a double dose of suffering for Israel. As presented in the previous chapter, Anitochus Epiphanes did desecrate the Temple and thousands of Jews died. However, Jesus quoted from this section in Daniel to say the that this prophecy has not been fulfilled. The Antichrist will do even more evil in the future (Matthew 24:15). In the New Testament, this time of unparalleled trouble (12:1) is called the Great Tribulation. With all the terrible suffering in Jewish history, unfortunately, the worst is yet to come. The good news is that Michael, the archangel, is assigned to watch over God's chosen people (v.1). And, there is a comforting hope for Israel.
1. God has promised a national restoration for Israel.
Jeremiah 31:31: "Behold the days are coming, declares the LORD, when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and the house of Judah." Hebrews 8 quotes Jeremiah and describes this even further. The Apostle Paul explained in Romans 11 that currently we are in a time of the Gentiles with the birth and development of the Church. A day is coming, however, when "all Israel will be saved" (Romans 11:26).
2. God has promised a personal resurrection for everyone.
Everyone will be present in eternity but with two very different destinies. Verse 2:"...some to everlasting life, and some to shame and everlasting contempt." This chapter in Daniel mentions that God has books with individual names written down. He knows who is His and who is not. The Apostle John saw this same vision with even more clarity. "And I saw the dead, great and small, standing before the throne, and the books were opened. Then another book was opened, which is the book of life. And the dead were judged by what was written in the books, according what they had done....And if anyone's name was not found written in the book of life, he was thrown into the lake of fire." (Revelation 20:12-15) Eternal life or eternal punishment awaits.
Jesus said, "I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me." (John 14:6). Oh, that everyone would choose life through faith in Jesus!
There are two questions posed in Daniel 12.
Question: Another angel asked, "How long shall it be till the end of these wonders?" (v.6) In other words, how long will the tribulation suffering last?
Answer: "...a time, times, and a half a time." (v.7) The Tribulation will be a period of seven years. It is the second half, three and a half years or 1260 days, when the suffering will take place. Revelation 11:2-3 confirms this. We are not told why there is an additional 30 days, then a total of 75 days added in verses 11 and 12. Obviously, there is more detail that is not explained.
Question: Daniel asked, "What shall be the outcome of these things?" (v.8)
Answer: "Many will purify themselves...but the wicked shall act wickedly...those who are wise shall understand." (v.10) "Beloved, we are God's children now, and what we will be has not yet appeared; but we know that when he (Jesus) appears we shall be like him, because we shall see him as he is. And everyone who thus hopes in him purifies himself as he is pure." (1 John 3:2-3)
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