Daniel continued to view things in the vision that he began describing in 10:5. The book ends with a question and answer session.
Daniel now saw two others, undoubtedly angels, beside the one who had been addressing him since 10:11, standing on either side of the Tigris River (cf. 10:4). One of these angels asked a question of the man (angel) dressed in linen (cf. 10:5-6) who was above the river. He wanted to know how long it would be until the end of the events just related (cf. 1 Pet. 1:12), namely, the things having to do with Israel's final persecution and deliverance (11:36-12:3).
The angel above the river swore by the eternal God that what he was about to say was true. Normally people who swore by God lifted one hand to heaven (cf. Deut. 32:40). This angel lifted both hands thus stressing the truthfulness of what he was about to reveal.
"There must be a reason for the choice of the word translated stream. As already indicated, it is the common designation for the Nile river. Possibly, it is deliberately employed here to remind Dan. that just as the Lord had once stood over Egypt, the world-nation which was hostile to God's people, so now does He stand over the world kingdom, represented symbolically by the Nile stream, actually the Tigris, ready again to deliver His people."452
The meaning of "time, times, and half a time"is quite clearly three and one-half years (cf. 7:25).453Scattering the power of the holy people refers to the terrible persecution of the Jews in the end times previously revealed (11:36-45). This was good news for Daniel and his people. Even though the future enemy of the Jews would be in control for one week (seven years, 9:27), intense persecution would only be the Jews' lot for the last half of that period (cf. Zech. 14:2-3).
Daniel continued having trouble comprehending this revelation, so he respectfully asked the angel how everything would end. He may have been particularly interested in receiving more information about the resurrection and rewards that the angel had mentioned briefly before (vv. 1-3).
12:9 The angel reminded Daniel that much of what he had received would remain obscure until the end time (cf. v. 4). Then people will be able to look back, marvel at the total fulfillment of prophecy, and glorify the sovereign Most High God.
12:10 The troubles coming on the earth, and especially on the Jews, would cause many to turn to the Lord and experience spiritual purification through faith. The wicked, however, would continue to act wickedly and would not understand what was happening (cf. 1 Cor. 2:14; Rev. 13:10). The wise, who have insight because they pay attention to divine revelation, will understand what is happening.454This verse provides motivation to pay attention to what God has revealed and to study it carefully. It should also help us to avoid thinking naively that the passing of time and the fulfillment of prophecy will cause bad people to change their ways. Humankind will not get better and better in spite of what postmillennialists and social evolutionists believe (2 Tim. 3:13).
12:11 Now the angel conceded to Daniel's request and provided a little more information. However as these things were unclear to Daniel, so they still are for most interpreters today including myself.
The angel measured the time between the end, presumably the end of the Tribulation, and the time that the Antichrist will terminate Jewish sacrifices and desecrate the temple (cf. Matt. 24:15). It will be 1,290 days. This is 30 days longer than the three and one-half years previously mentioned (v. 7; cf. 7:25; Rev. 11:2; 12:6, 14; 13:5). Consequently the extra month must involve time before the three and one-half years, after it, or both.
Perhaps Antichrist will terminate the sacrifices and desecrate the temple 30 days before the middle of the seventieth "week."This interpretation, which I prefer, views the explanation in this verse as more specific and the one in 9:27 as a general description.455A similar view is that the Antichrist may announce the termination of sacrifices and the setting up of the abomination 30 days before he carries out those acts.456Another option is that there will be a 30-day period between the time when Antichrist abolishes the regular sacrifice and the time when he sets up the abomination of desolation. A fourth possibility is that the 30 days will extend beyond the last three and one-half years.457It will include the cleansing of the temple and possibly the judgments of Israel and the nations that Christ will execute when He returns (Ezek. 20:34-38; Matt. 25:31-46).
12:12 The angel said that those would be blessed who keep waiting, presumably for God to rescue them (v. 1), and attain to the 1,335 days. Why did he mention this particular number of days, and when will this period end?
The 1,335-day period is 45 days (one and a half months) longer than the 1,290 day period just mentioned (v. 11). Evidently this period will end after the Tribulation has ended, namely, after the millennial reign of Christ has begun or at least after He has returned to earth. We can only speculate about what these 45 days following the Tribulation will hold for people living on the earth then. One view is that Jesus Christ will appear in the clouds at the end of the Tribulation (Matt. 24:30), and 45 days later He will descend to the earth.458A better option, I think, is that it may take 45 days for Jesus Christ to accomplish the necessary judgments and set up His kingdom after returning to the earth.459Whatever the explanation, clearly this verse will encourage believers living during the Tribulation to remain faithful to the Lord. It encourages us likewise.
12:13 The angel then dismissed the aged prophet. He was to go his way to the end. The angel may have had the end of Daniel's life in mind, or he may have meant that he should continue with his affairs, including dying, until the end of the age would come. The first option seems preferable since the angel appears to have been viewing Daniel's life in sequence. First he would rest, in death, then he would rise again (cf. v. 2), and then he would receive his reward from God (cf. v. 3). His resurrection and recognition would occur at the end of the age, namely, the times of the Gentiles.
Thus this great book closes with a reminder that the present age of Gentile domination is not all that God has in store for humankind. There is another age coming beyond the present one in which Jesus Christ will reign in righteousness and holiness (cf. Isa. 11:9; Zech. 9:10). We should all look forward to the beginning of this age and pray for its coming (Matt. 6:9; Luke 11:2).
Whereas this book would have encouraged the Jews of Daniel's day, it has become increasingly encouraging to God's people as history has unfolded. Today we can see as never before how God has fulfilled His predictions exactly in the past. This gives us great confidence as we anticipate His faithfulness to those promises that still remain unfulfilled.
