Old Testament Commentary - Daniel 12

by Don R. Hender

Scriptural Text [& Editorial]	Commentary & Explanation	Footnotes ~ References ~ JST
CHAPTER 12 In the last day Michael shall deliver Israel from their troubles—Daniel tells of the two resurrections—The wise shall know the times and meanings of his visions.
1 AND at that time shall ^aMichael stand up, the great prince ^bwhich standeth for the children of thy people: and there shall be a time of ^ctrouble, 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 ^dbook^a. 2 And many of them that ^asleep in the dust of the earth shall ^bawake, some to ^ceverlasting life, and some to ^dshame and ^eeverlasting contempt. 3 And they that be ^awise shall ^bshine as the ^cbrightness of the firmament; and they that turn many to ^drighteousness as the stars for ever and ever. 4 But thou, O Daniel, shut up the words, and ^aseal the ^bbook, even to the ^ctime of the end: many shall run to and fro, and ^dknowledge shall be increased.	1^a every one that shall be found written in the book What book but the book of life and of whom will it be written there but those who have complied with the requirements, 'except a man (or woman) be born of the water and of the spirit'—that is to say who has been baptized and received the confirmation of the Holy Ghost— they cannot enter into the kingdom of God'. Of course worthiness is also implied but for sure, whether in this life or by proxy for those who are passed on, one must be so baptized and confirmed in order for them to be written in and be a part of the Lord's Book of Life.
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 ^aclothed 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 ^asware by him that liveth for ever that it shall be for a time, times, and an half; and when he shall have accomplished to ^bscatter 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 ^aend of these things? 9 And he said, Go thy way, Daniel: for the words are closed up and ^asealed till the time of the end. 10 Many shall be ^apurified, and made white, and ^btried; but the ^cwicked shall do wickedly: and none of the wicked shall understand; but the wise shall ^dunderstand.
11 And from the time that the daily ^asacrifice shall be taken away, and the ^babomination 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 ^arest, and ^bstand in thy lot at the end of the days.