Daniel 12:11-13
How can you enjoy God’s blessings on your life? In these twisted times, you won’t find that answer in the news media nor in governmental policies. Bureaucrats bellow about what we ought to believe. But lately it seems that the real news is about the old lies that people have been telling us. So who or what is trustworthy? Throughout this series, we have learned that Isaiah chapters 41-45 illustrate God’s trustworthiness. God said what He meant and He meant what He said. His fulfillment of His prophecies prove His faithfulness. So in today’s message, we learn how to press on – to persevere in troubling times – knowing that we will receive a reward and enjoy everlasting rest.
Overview: God’s Timing in the Kingdoms
In the last message from Daniel 12:8-10, we wrestled with the issue of unanswered questions. Daniel wanted to know more, but the Lord told Daniel to go his way. This admonition is repeated in today’s text, in verse 13: “But go thy way till the end be…” There is a sense in which we could entitle this message, “The End,” since it covers the last verses in the Book of Daniel. But there is more here than first meets the eye, and we can benefit from these verses, though verses 11-12 are a bit cryptic.
It’s important to remember what we have studied along the way in this series on the Book of Daniel. The prophetic chapters in this book (chapters 2,7,8,9, 10-12) have given us a broad overview of God’s plan – extending from Nebuchadnezzar to God’s never-ending kingdom. (See chart below.) The revelation of the 5 kingdoms began with the beautiful image and massive stone in Nebuchadnezzar’s dream (ch. 2); the same 5 kingdoms were pictured as savage beasts until the appearance of the Ancient of Days in chapter 7. Chapter 7 also introduced us to the unusual, powerful horn, the Antichrist, in 7:24-26. Chapter 8 introduced his look-a-like, Antiochus Epiphanes. Commentators have noted that “Daniel 9:24-27 ‘contains perhaps the most significant prophecy for understanding most other OT and NT eschatological [prophetic] passages . . .’[i] “It has been described as ‘the ‘key’ to prophetic interpretation…the ‘backbone’ of prophecy.’[ii] “Desmond Ford says that it is not only the devotional heart of the book but also contains ‘the crown jewels’ of Old Testament prophecy.”[iii] Daniel chapters 10-12 describe God’s prophecies from Medio-Persia to the Millennium, and then on into God’s eternal kingdom. The special focus of today’s text is on the last half of the Tribulation and the inauguration of God’s eternal kingdom. Throughout this series, we have learned that the Most High God reigns in the kingdoms of men (Daniel 4:17).
The Time of Tribulation
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.” Though verse 10 is generally applicable to all generations, it appears to be especially pertinent during the Great Tribulation. If you have ever marveled over Pharaoh’s hardness of heart during the plagues in Egypt, you get the picture. Despite all the catastrophic plagues during the Tribulation, many will harden their hearts and refuse to believe in the Messiah. But, especially under the preaching of the 144,000 Jewish men,[iv] many will be purified by believing the Gospel; they will also learn to trust God’s sufficient grace in extreme trials.
The Timing in the Great Tribulation
And from the time that the daily sacrifice shall be taken away, and the abomination that makes desolate set up, there shall be a thousand two hundred and ninety days. Blessed is he that waits, and comes to the thousand three hundred and five and thirty days.
In Daniel 12:7 we learned that “the man clothed in linen” (which we believe was a pre-incarnate appearance of Jesus Christ) raised both hands to make a solemn vow. When asked about the worst time of trouble to come, he declared that it would be “for a time, times and half a time” (or 3 ½ years). We know that this is the last half of the seven year tribulation (Daniel’s 70th) because of what we read in Daniel 9:27, “And he [the Antichrist] shall confirm the covenant [treaty] with many for one week [7 years]: and in the midst of the week he shall cause the sacrifice and the oblation to cease, and for the overspreading of abominations he shall make it desolate, even until the consummation, and that determined shall be poured upon the desolate [the desolator, the Antichrist].” Comparing Daniel 9:27 with Daniel 12:11 we see the following connections: the temple sacrifices will be brought to an end, the abomination of desolation will be set up, and from that point to the end of the tribulation will be 3 ½ years. Calculating 3.5 years by average 30 day months highlights the significance of 1290 days.[v]
From historical records, we know that Antiochus Epiphanes slaughtered a pig on the altar in the Jerusalem temple in 167 B.C. However, Jesus helped us to understand that the fulfillment of Daniel’s prophecy is still future. Consider Jesus’ warning in Matthew 24:15-22 to those who would be alive during this coming time of great trouble:
“When ye therefore shall see the abomination of desolation, spoken of by Daniel the prophet, stand in the holy place, (whoso reads, let him understand): Then let them which be in Judaea flee into the mountains: Let him which is on the housetop not come down to take any thing out of his house: Neither let him which is in the field return back to take his clothes. And woe unto them that are with child, and to them that give suck in those days! But pray ye that your flight be not in the winter, neither on the Sabbath day: For then shall be great tribulation, such as was not since the beginning of the world to this time, no, nor ever shall be. And except those days should be shortened, there should no flesh be saved: but for the elect’s sake those days shall be shortened.” (Matthew 24:15-22)
So, around 32 A.D., Jesus clearly taught that there would be an “abomination of desolation” in the future as predicted by Daniel. His warning will have special significance to those who are alive at that time, who will read and understand. When the coming wicked one (the Antichrist) exalts himself in the temple, Jesus warned the people of Judea to flee to the mountains. For those who are alive during the Great Tribulation, the prediction of 1290 days will be extremely significant.
Daniel 12:12 refers to another important event 45 days later at 1335 days. All we can say with certainty about this event is what the Lord said in Daniel 12:12 “Blessed is he that waits, and comes to the thousand three hundred and five and thirty days.” From this comment, we understand the emphasis to be on perseverance while waiting on the Lord to fulfill His prophecy. Those who will do so will be blessed. Stephen Miller points out about this verse: “Certainty is not possible, but Wood is most likely correct in proposing that the extra days will be the time in which the nations are judged by the Lord immediately following his return (cf. Matt 25:31–46).”[vi]
Timeless Lessons from the Time of Trouble
We know that “All Scripture … is profitable” (2 Timothy 3:16-17) and that the things which were written in the Old Testament “… were written for our learning, that we through patience and comfort of the Scriptures might have hope.” That passage continues, “Now the God of patience and consolation grant you to be likeminded one toward another according to Christ Jesus:” (Romans 15:4-5). Today we can use the Old Testament to learn how to endure difficult times and encourage others in trying times. So as we conclude the Book of Daniel, notice the timeless lessons in these last few verses.
- Trust the Lord to work out His will in all the kingdoms of the world according to His precise timetable. 11-12
Whether it is the sweeping panorama of prophecies about the kingdoms of the world, or the exact number of days until He sets up His eternal kingdom, you can trust God’s timetable. Don’t let the news of the day disturb you. “Don’t worry yourself into a dither,” the old-timer said. (The word “dither” meaning “to be indecisive.”) No matter who is leading your country, or who is leading the nation of Israel at the moment, you can trust God’s precise timetable. Don’t try to “help God out” as Sarah and Abram did with Hagar.
2. Learn to wait on the Lord, even in the worst of times, knowing that He has promised a blessing for those who wait upon Him. 12
The Scriptures are full of reminders about waiting on the Lord[vii]. Habakkuk 2:3-4 reminds us that we can wait on the Lord even when our nation is facing serious threats: “For the vision is yet for an appointed time, but at the end it shall speak, and not lie: Though it tarry, wait for it; because it will surely come, it will not tarry. Behold, his soul which is lifted up is not upright in him: but the just shall live by his faith” (Habakkuk 2:3-4). The vision [Scriptural prophecy] will be fulfilled in God’s good time. If you haven’t seen it come to pass yet, “Wait for it” in humble faith, “because it will surely come.” In this very context, the Lord emphasized Gospel faith. Verse 4 includes the phrase, “the just shall live by his faith.” As you know, this crucial phrase appears three times in the New Testament (Romans 1:17, Galatians 3:11 and Hebrews 10:38). As Paul declared the Gospel in Romans 1:16-17, he proclaimed, “the just shall live by faith.” He described those who have been made righteous by placing all their trust in the finished work of Jesus Christ. Those who call upon Him as Lord recognize that He was put to death on the cross of Calvary for their sins and not His own. Rising again, He proved that God had highly exalted Him for He had given Himself for us. Search the Scriptures, looking for God’s Son (John 5:39). Read your Bible carefully, looking for those who have lived by faith (Hebrews 11). Make friends with those who are responding wisely rather than reacting in moodiness or impulsiveness. Look for those who are patiently waiting for the Lord and make up your mind to spend more time with them. Blessed are those who trust Him for salvation from sin and deliverance, even in the worst of times. In Revelation 22:12, Jesus said, “And, behold, I come quickly; and my reward is with me, to give every man according as his work shall be.” Wait for His blessing!
3. Learn what it means to persevere and endure through difficult times. 12-13
“Blessed is he that waits, and comes to the thousand three hundred and five and thirty days. But go your way till the end. And you shall rest and shall stand in your allotted place at the end of the days.” (Daniel 12:12-13)
In the face of extreme opposition, King Saul committed suicide (1 Samuel 31:4). When the earthquake hit Philippi, the jailor was also ready to do himself in as well (Acts 16:27). Those in the throes of the Great Tribulation will long for death (Revelation 6:15-16). Even wise and patient Job despaired of life in the midst of his severe trials, and wished that he had been a stillborn (Job 3:11-19). So as you can see, even God’s people have experienced such severe trials that they have longed for death. Others even committed suicide. This advice seems to be especially pertinent for the tribulation saints in the midst of the Great Tribulation: “Blessed is he who waits.” From the Lord’s words to Daniel, we learn that waiting is not merely a passive exercise. To Daniel, the Lord said, “Go your way till the end.” This is good advice for us today. My dear mother-in-law used to say, “Life is daily.” That was her way of saying, “Press on with life.”
4. Learn to persevere in the path that God has given you, knowing that you can rest your soul in His care. 12
When Daniel received this revelation, he must have been well up into his 80’s. But this principle applies to young and old alike. Now is the right time to get up and get going. Life is too short to be shallow. One of the reasons that you can respond to the challenges of life is that after life comes rest. That’s the way a believer thinks about the afterlife: rest in the Lord. So continue in the things you have learned and trust your soul to the Lord’s care.
5. Press on with the prize in mind: The Lord will bless you with eternal rewards when He comes for His own. 13
The Lord promised Daniel that he would receive his allotted inheritance. This is motivating for every believer. In Paul’s prayer for the members of the church at Ephesus, he requested that “That the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give unto you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of him: The eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that ye may know what is the hope of his calling, and what the riches of the glory of his inheritance in the saints…” (Ephesians 1:17-18) Surely this is the great need of the hour for us today. May God grant us understanding through His Spirit so that we may confidently understand the riches of His glorious inheritance for the godly. Missionaries such as Dr. William Leslie[viii] show us that our labor is not in vain in the Lord (1 Corinthians 15:58).
What do we learn from today’s text? “Blessed is he who waits.” We learn how to press on – to persevere in troubling times – knowing that we will receive a reward and enjoy everlasting rest.
Pastor Gordon Dickson, Calvary Baptist Church, Findlay, Ohio www.cbcfindlay.org
[i] Charles E. McClain, “Daniel’s Prayer in Chapter 9,” Detroit Baptist Seminary Journal, Volume 09:1 (Fall 2004) p.266 See “Crying Out to God in Chaotic Times, part 3” accessed at https://www.cbcfindlay.org/crying-out-to-god-in-chaotic-times-part-3/
[ii] Ibid. citing James Montgomery Boice, Daniel (Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 1989), pp. 103-4.
[iii] Ibid. citing a quote from Paul D. Feinberg, “An Exegetical and Theological Study of Daniel 9:24–27, ” in Tradition and Testament: Essays in Honor of Charles Lee Feinberg, ed. John S. Feinberg and Paul D. Feinberg (Chicago: Moody Press, 1981), p. 189.
[iv] According to Revelation 14:1-4, these 144,000 Jewish male virgins will exalt the Lord during Daniel’s 70th week.
[v] 1290 divided by exactly 30 day units equals 43 months. Using today’s 365 day calendar multiplied by 3.5 and divided by 30 equals 42.58. There were some changes in the Jewish lunisolar calendar after the time of Daniel. See https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hebrew_calendar It is not clear whether we should factor in Jesus’ comment in Matthew 24:22 into our calculations: “And except those days should be shortened, there should no flesh be saved: but for the elect’s sake those days shall be shortened.”
[vi] Stephen R. Miller, Daniel, vol. 18, The New American Commentary (Nashville: Broadman & Holman Publishers, 1994), 325–326. Citing Wood’s commentary on Daniel, page 328.
[vii] See for instance, Psalm 27:14, Psalm 37:7,9,24
[viii] Real Life Stories: William Leslie, missionary to the Congo, accessed at http://www.scripturaltruths.org/Articles/Real%20Life%20Experiences/REAL%20LIFE%20STORIES%20-%20William%20Leslie%20-%20Missionary%20to%20The%20Congo%20-%20Mar.%202019%20-%20PDF.pdf