Daniel 12
Big idea: The book ends with the clearest statement of resurrection in the Old Testament — many who sleep in the dust will awake, some to everlasting life and some to shame — and then declines to answer the question the reader most wants answered. How long? A time, times and half a time. Go your way, Daniel; the words are shut up until the end.
The last verse is not addressed to the nations or to Israel but to one old man: you will rest, and stand in your lot at the end of the days.
12:1–4 — Many who sleep in the dust
Michael stands up — the same protector named in chapter 10 — and what follows is a time of trouble such as never was, with deliverance for everyone found written in the book. Rescue is described as identification in a register rather than as escape from the trouble.
1 “At that time Michael will stand up, the great prince who stands for the children of your people; and there will be a time of trouble, such as never was since there was a nation even to that same time. At that time your people will be delivered, everyone who is found written in the book. 2 Many of those who sleep in the dust of the earth will awake, some to everlasting life, and some to shame and everlasting contempt. 3 Those who are wise will shine as the brightness of the expanse. Those who turn many to righteousness will shine 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 will run back and forth, and knowledge will be increased.”
12:5–13 — Go your way until the end
Two figures stand on either bank and one asks the question the reader has been asking since chapter 7: how long until the end of these wonders? The answer, sworn with both hands raised — an unusually emphatic oath — is a time, times and half a time, and then a condition rather than a date: when the shattering of the holy people's power is finished, all these things will be finished.
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 will 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 will be for a time, times, and a half; and when they have finished breaking in pieces the power of the holy people, all these things will be finished. 8 I heard, but I didn’t understand. Then I said, “My lord, what will be the outcome 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 will purify themselves, and make themselves white, and be refined, but the wicked will do wickedly; and none of the wicked will understand, but those who are wise will understand. 11 “From the time that the continual burnt offering is taken away and the abomination that makes desolate set up, there will 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 your way until the end; for you will rest, and will stand in your inheritance at the end of the days.”
Scripture text: World English Bible (public domain).