Daniel chapter 12 is the final chapter in the book of Daniel and this book ends with victory. God’s plan and purposes are shown to triumph! Satan and the armies of hell will be defeated. History is reaching its climax. Every person will soon have decided their eternal destiny. There is no way to hinder God’s final plan for His people. Soon, the universe will be freed from the ravages that sin has caused. Soon, sinners will be destroyed. Sickness, trouble, and death will disappear and songs of joy will sound in the universe once more.  Daniel chapter 12 reveals a door that opens to the new world. The coming of Christ is everything for Christians. What hope does atheism have when death takes away someone they love? Atheism provides no hope. The book of Daniel is filled with hope. Every prophecy in Daniel, no matter where it begins, ends with the coming of Christ.

There are five important events that take place in the 12th chapter of Daniel. Firstly, Michael shall stand up. Who is Michael? Who can it be if it is not the “One who is like God”, since this is what the name “Michael” means. Michael is the Messiah, according to Daniel 9. Jesus came to this world to show us the Father. He said, “if you have seen Me, you have seen the Father, because I and my Father are One.” Five times in the Scriptures (Daniel 10:13, 21; 12:1; Jude 9; Revelation 12:7) we find the name “Michael” mentioned, which is one of the many names of Jesus recorded in the Scriptures. Clearly, the Bible interprets itself and God does not leave us in doubt regarding things which are already revealed and are good or profitable for our salvation.

“At that time shall Michael stand up.” Daniel 12:1.  If Michael is standing up, there must have been a time when Michael sat down. In Daniel 7 we do read of a time when He sat down. “I beheld till the thrones were cast down, and the Ancient of days did sit, whose garment was white as snow, and the hair of His head like the pure wool: His throne was like the fiery flame, and His wheels as burning fire. A fiery stream issued and came forth from before Him: thousand thousands ministered unto Him, and ten thousand times ten thousand stood before Him: the judgment was set, and the books were opened. . . . “Behold, one like the Son of man came with the clouds to the Ancient of days, and they brought Him near before Him.” Daniel 7:9–10, 13. God the Father invites Jesus to “Sit Thou at My right hand until I make Thine enemies Thy footstool.” Psalm 110:1. Michael sits with His Father, and the hosts of heaven at the beginning of the judgment which began on October 22, 1844. Michael, the Mighty Warrior, the Great Prince, has been mediating in the judgment for His people. The purpose of the judgment is not to condemn God’s people. Michael “standeth for the children of thy people”. As their names come up before God, Satan accuses them of the sins they have committed. He points to the errors of their life, but thank God that Jesus intercedes for His people in the judgment.

Daniel chapter 7 describes a majestic scene in the sky. There were thrones in the Holy of Holies of the heavenly sanctuary. The Ancient of Days (God the Father) and the Son of Man (Jesus) sat down and began the judgment. If “sitting on the throne” indicates that the judgment has begun (Daniel 7:9–10, 13), then “the standing” occurs when the judgment is over. In Daniel 12:1, Michael stands at the end of the judgment. So, at the time of the end, just before the coming of Jesus, there will be an eternal judgment that reveals that God is just and fair and righteous in the way He has dealt with the controversy between good and evil.

Jesus will stand up very soon to put an end to death, sorrow, sickness, and sin. However, it is important to note that before this final end there will be a time of trouble such as never was. Should we be afraid? Yes, if we are living in sin; but for those who are becoming like Christ in character there is hope. The good news is that God will intervene and those whose names are written in the book of life will be delivered. Jesus will take them through this time of trouble, just as He did with the three Hebrews in the fiery furnace, or with Daniel in the lion’s den.

Another important point in this chapter is that there will be a special resurrection taking place prior to Jesus’ appearing. “And many of them that sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, some to everlasting life, some to shame and everlasting contempt.” Daniel 12:2. “All who have died in the faith of the third angel’s message come from the tomb glorified, to hear God’s covenant of peace with those who have kept His law. ‘They also which pierced Him,’ those that mocked and derided Christ’s dying agonies, and the most violent opposers of His truth and His people, are raised to behold Him in His glory and to see the honour placed upon the loyal and obedient.” –Heaven, p. 28

This chapter also mentions those who are doing the work that Jesus has entrusted them with; namely,  preaching the Gospel, the great commission found in Matthew chapter 28 as well as the “Three Angels’ Messages” found in Revelation chapter 14. It is written of these people:  “but the people that do know their God shall be strong, and do exploits.” Daniel 11:32. They are the ones that will shine like the stars. The Bible calls them “wise”; the original Hebrew word is “Maskilim”. “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.” Daniel 12:3. If we want to be wise in God’s eyes we need to know our God and do His will. The ones that the Bible calls wise are not just simply knowledgeable people. These people are special because they are transformed through the Holy Spirit into men and women after God’s will.

Daniel chapter 12 makes another interesting point, “Many shall run to and fro, and knowledge shall be increased.” Daniel 12:4. Through inspiration, he predicted that, in the end, knowledge will increase. Although this prophecy can be applied in a general sense to the many scientific advances made recently and extremely complex technologies that exist today, it applies specifically to the Book of Daniel. Just before the coming of Christ, the book of Daniel will be unsealed. These prophecies will be studied by tens of thousands of people who will prepare for the coming of Christ. Knowledge of the events leading up to the final days of this earth’s history, including Satan’s delusions, will be gained through prayerfully studying the prophetic Book of  Daniel. Daniel’s book is unsealed today. We are now living in the final days of this earths history.

“And he said, go thy way, Daniel: for the words are closed up and sealed till the time of the end.” Daniel 12:9.  Gabriel tells Daniel that these words are to be closed up, but at the time of the end they will be revealed once more. The year 1798 AD marked the beginning of the time of the end mentioned in this verse. We are now living at the end of this time period, and Jesus will be coming very soon. This people “Maskilim” are not only wise concerning the Scriptures but they are wise in the way they conduct themselves. The Bible describes them in this manner. “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.” Daniel 12:10. We need to be wise in our daily life, inviting Jesus through faith into our lives and to clothe us with His robe of righteousness. Not all people will understand the Book of Daniel, especially the prophecies regarding end time events. Only the wise will understand.

Now is the time of the end when the final events of this world’s history are taking place. Now the judgment has nearly finished. Soon Michael will stand up. As He looks down on earth He can see the corruption. He sees the union of church and state. He also sees His people suffering. They have been loyal and faithful to Him. Just as the three young Hebrews who were cast into the fiery furnace and were protected by Jesus, personally, so also in the time of trouble the people of God will pass through fiery trials and will be protected by God. They will go unharmed, as living witnesses of His supreme power. This time of trouble differs from the world’s time of trouble, and the people of God find security in Him.

Should we be afraid of these terrible events? (Psalm 91:1-8; 46:1–2). No we should not be afraid because Jesus will be with us through this storm. Psalm 91 and 46 should be the motto of our journey as we travel towards Heaven.

God allow trials in our lives to teach us lessons and purify our characters. Every weight we encounter brings us closer to Him. Problems prompt us to pray. They lead us to seek God on our knees. The trials that we encounter in life can either lead us to a profound trust in Him, or create hostility, anger, and resentment. Our growth in trials and our rapid development in the most difficult times of life depend on our constant belief in a loving heavenly Father who holds everything under His control. As He has guided the rise and fall of kingdoms over the centuries, so He can

guide us as well.

Since Daniel is talking about the time of the end, he includes two distinct time periods in this chapter to give us an idea as to when the time of the end will occur. “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. Blessed is he that waiteth, and cometh to the thousand three hundred and five and thirty days.” Daniel 12:11–12. This is the explanation of the time periods. In 508 AD, the resistance of the Arian kings against Roman Catholicism effectively came to an end, when Theodoric (king of the Ostrogoths) made peace with the first Clovis—the first “Christian”/Catholic king. This paved the way for the full establishment of the Papacy in 538 AD by the decree of the Roman Emperor, Justinian. The 1290 prophetic days (or years), which thus began in 508 AD, was exactly fulfilled and came to an end in 1798 AD with the imprisonment of Pope Pius VI by the French army.

The prophecy of 1335 days (years) also began in 508 AD, but it extended to 1843 AD which was the time of the preaching of the First Angel’s Message and the Great Advent Movement. The text says, “Blessed is he that waiteth, and cometh to the thousand three hundred and five and thirty days.” From 1844, we live in time of the end, in time of the judgment hour of God. Praise the Lord, for Jesus will come soon. Of all mankind throughout history, a special blessing is pronounced on those who live in this time period. If we are faithful until the end of our lives we will have the opportunity to reign with Jesus throughout all eternity.

After reviewing the prophecies in the book of Daniel in several articles, and their relevance to the time in which we are living, there should be a great interest for all  Christians to study Daniel’s prophecies in more depth.

Every prophecy points to the return of our Lord. Each one predicts the coming of Christ at the end of history. Daniel chapter 2 ends with the kingdom of Christ—the Rock—the stone that breaks down and destroys all the empires of this world. When we look in the world today, we see nations getting angry, showing their mighty arsenal of nuclear weaponry. It is now that we can look at the prophetic word of Daniel given 600 years before Christ and see how it is being fulfilled today.

Daniel 7 ends with the loving Father, who puts all things in order, in His final judgment upon the earth. The destiny of every person is being decided in this judgment. God’s “Mercy and Justice” at the cross, are seen in the judgment. Daniel 8 culminates with the final restoration of the truth at the return of Christ. The whole universe is clean. Sin is defeated. The truth of God triumphs. In Daniel 11 and 12, we read how the people of God, who are persecuted, defeated and oppressed, are freed.

Several of the chapters in Daniel focus on “the time of the end.” The ones described here reveal faith, courage, and perseverance in the face of hardships and trials. His prophecies reveal the great prophetic events of God’s plan, demonstrating that He is still in control.

The book of Daniel reveals a powerful Almighty God, all wise. His plans, His people and His purposes will ultimately triumph. We can look beyond the problems of life to the promises of His Word. By faith we can see a better country, where the trials of life come to an end. One day we will enter into the joy of His eternal presence and experience the happiness for which we were created.

Do you want to dedicate yourself to Christ, who has everyone in His hands? Do you want to give up everything that is not according to His will in your life? The book of Daniel climaxes with the resurrection of the righteous dead and the coming of Jesus. “And it shall be said in that day, Lo, this is our God; we have waited for Him, and He will save us: this is the LORD; we have waited for Him, we will be glad and rejoice in His salvation.” Isaiah 25:9.

The second coming of Jesus is the most important event in the history of the world. It will be an awesome sight to behold. As lightning flashes out of the east and shines to the west, so His coming will cover the entire sky (Matthew 24:27). Every eye will see Him (Revelation 1:7). Every ear will hear Him (1 Thessalonians 4:16). The earth will tremble with the glory of His coming (Revelation 6:14–15). The “wise” make the most intelligent choice in their lives. They do not live for themselves, but live to be a blessing for others for whom Christ died. They give their lives to share the love of God to others. Regardless of their occupation, they are sensitive to the needs of those around them.

Would you, right now, like to say to Jesus, “Jesus, I want to be ready when You come. I want to be caught up to meet You in the sky. I want to live with You forever”? May we all say, Amen! Come Lord Jesus! I want to be ready when Jesus comes. How about you? May God give us a new and fresh desire to follow Him wherever He goes is my wish and prayer. Amen!

Nicholas Anca