Daniel 12: The Time of the End
Michael arises, the dead awake to everlasting life or shame, and Daniel is told to rest and stand in his lot at the end of the days.
Daniel 12 (WEB)
1 “At that time shall Michael stand up, the great prince who stands for the children of your 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 your people shall be delivered, everyone who shall be found written in the book.
2 Many of those who sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, some to everlasting life, and some to shame and everlasting contempt.
3 Those who are wise shall shine as the brightness of the expanse; and those who turn many to righteousness as the stars forever and ever.
4 But you, Daniel, shut up the words, and seal the book, even to the time of the end: many shall run back and forth, and knowledge shall be increased.”
5 Then I, Daniel, looked, and behold, two others stood, one on the river bank on this side, and the other on the river bank on that side.
6 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 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 to heaven, and swore by him who lives forever 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.
8 I heard, but I didn’t understand: then I said, my lord, what shall be the issue of these things?
9 He said, Go your way, Daniel; for the words are shut up and sealed until 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 those who are wise shall understand.
11 From the time that the continual burnt offering shall be taken away, and the abomination that makes desolate set up, there shall be one thousand two hundred ninety days.
12 Blessed is he who waits, and comes to the one thousand three hundred thirty-five days.
13 But go you your way until the end; for you shall rest, and shall stand in your lot, at the end of the days.
Daniel 12 (KJV)
1 And at that time shall Michael stand up, the great prince which 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.
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 be wise shall shine as the brightness of the firmament; and they that turn many to righteousness as the stars for ever and ever.
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.
5 Then I Daniel looked, and, behold, there stood other two, the one on this side of the bank of the river, and the other on that side of the bank of the river.
6 And one said to the man clothed in linen, which was upon 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, which was upon 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 an half; and when he shall have accomplished to scatter the power of the holy people, all these things shall be finished.
8 And I heard, but I understood not: then said I, O my Lord, what shall be the end of these things?
9 And he said, Go thy way, Daniel: for the words are closed up and sealed till the time of the end.
10 Many shall be purified, and made white, and tried; but the wicked shall do wickedly: and none of the wicked shall understand; but the wise shall understand.
11 And from the time that the daily sacrifice shall be taken away, and the abomination that maketh desolate set up, there shall be a thousand two hundred and ninety days.
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 stand in thy lot at the end of the days.
Daniel 12 (ASV)
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.
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.
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.
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.
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 two hundred and ninety days.
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.
Summary
The vision reaches its climax. Michael, the great prince who stands for Daniel's people, will arise in a time of trouble unlike any before, but everyone whose name is written in the book will be delivered. Then comes the great hope: many who sleep in the dust of the earth will awake, some to everlasting life and some to shame and everlasting contempt. Those who are wise will shine like the brightness of the sky, and those who turn many to righteousness will shine like the stars forever. Daniel is told to shut up and seal the words until the time of the end, when knowledge will increase. He sees two others by the river and the man clothed in linen above the waters, who lifts both hands to heaven and swears that it will be for a time, times, and a half, until the power of the holy people is broken and all is finished. Daniel hears but does not understand, and asks what the end of these things will be. He is told that the words are sealed, that the wise will understand while the wicked persist in wickedness, and finally a personal word: go your way until the end, for you shall rest and stand in your allotted place at the end of the days.
Key Figures
- Daniel — The seer who hears the final word of the vision, does not fully understand it, and is given a personal promise of rest and resurrection.
- Michael — The great prince who stands for God's people and arises to deliver them in the time of unequaled trouble.
- The man clothed in linen — The heavenly figure above the waters who swears by the One who lives forever that these things will be fulfilled in God's appointed time.
- Those who sleep in the dust — The dead who will awake, some to everlasting life and some to shame, in the resurrection hope that crowns the book.
Key Verse
Daniel 12:2 (WEB)
Many of those who sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, some to everlasting life, and some to shame and everlasting contempt.
Lessons Learned
- God's people will pass through trouble, but those written in the book will be delivered.
- Death is not the end; the dead will awake to everlasting life or everlasting contempt.
- Those who are wise and lead others to righteousness will shine like the stars forever.
- We can rest in God's promise even when much remains beyond our understanding.
- God delivers his own through trouble. In the time of trouble, “your people shall be delivered, everyone who shall be found written in the book” (Daniel 12:1, WEB). Belonging to God secures us through the worst of times.
- Resurrection is our hope. “Many of those who sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, some to everlasting life” (Daniel 12:2, WEB). Death gives way to resurrection and unending life for God's people.
- The wise will shine. “Those who are wise shall shine as the brightness of the expanse” (Daniel 12:3, WEB). Lives spent turning others to righteousness gain an eternal glory.
- Rest and stand at the end. Daniel is told, “you shall rest, and shall stand in your lot, at the end of the days” (Daniel 12:13, WEB). The faithful may rest now, assured of their place in the resurrection.
- What hope does the promise of Michael's intervention give to God's people in trouble?
- How does the promise of resurrection in verse 2 change the way we face death?
- What does it mean that the wise will “shine… as the stars forever and ever”?
- Why is Daniel told to seal the words, and what comfort is in being told to “rest”?
- How does the resurrection hope of this chapter shape the way you live and serve today?
- Michael arises to defend God's people, and all whose names are in the book are delivered through even the worst trouble (12:1). Their security rests in belonging to God, not in the absence of trial. This steadies the faithful facing hardship.
- The clear promise that the dead will awake to everlasting life turns death from a final ending into a doorway (12:2). For believers, the grave is not the last word. Christians read this hope as fulfilled and secured in the resurrection of Christ.
- Those who are wise and turn many to righteousness will shine like the stars forever (12:3). A life spent leading others toward God carries eternal weight and glory. It dignifies faithful, often hidden service.
- The sealing means the full meaning awaits the time of the end, so Daniel can leave what he does not understand in God's hands (12:9). The word to “rest” assures him of peace now and a place in the resurrection. We too can rest amid mystery, trusting God.
- This is a personal-application question. Invite members to consider how living in light of resurrection reorders their fears, priorities, and service. As leader, close by resting in the promise that the faithful will stand in their lot at the end of the days.