Verse-by-Verse Bible Commentary
Daniel 12:10

Clarke's Commentary

Verse Daniel 12:10. Many shall be purified — During the interim, the great work of God's providence and grace shall be carried on in the salvation of men; who, in the midst of trials, temptations, and difficulties, shall be purified and made white-be fully saved from their sins.

None of the wicked shall understand — Because they are wicked, and will continue in their sins, the eyes of their understanding shall be closed, and their hearts hardened; so that they shall not see the light of the glorious Gospel.

But the wise — Those who open their hearts to God, that he may pour in his light, shall understand the things that make for their peace.

Bridgeway Bible Commentary

End of an era (12:1-13)

Having concluded his lengthy revelation concerning the arrogance, ambition and brutality of Antiochus Epiphanes, the interpreting angel gave encouragement to Daniel. He pointed out that the great angel Michael would fight on behalf of the Jews during the period of Antiochus’s persecution. Those who were truly God’s people would be saved through their time of suffering. Though good and bad alike would be killed in the widespread massacre, the righteous had no need to fear. They received the assurance that one day God would raise them to enjoy eternal life, whereas the wicked would be raised to suffer eternal disgrace. A special reward awaited those who could turn others from selfish wrongdoing to the ways of God (12:1-3).
Daniel was not yet to announce publicly the revelation that God had given him. He was to make sure that it was kept safe till the climax of Jewish suffering arrived with the appearance of Antiochus. Through Daniel’s prophecy true believers would then receive enlightenment from God concerning his purposes. The unfaithful, by contrast, would never discover God’s purposes, no matter how hard they tried (4).
Two other angels appeared to Daniel, to assure him that God had set a limit to the period that he would allow his people to suffer under Antiochus (5-7). They informed him also of the outcome of the dreadful persecution. Many Jews would renounce their religion to preserve their lives, but in so doing would lose the only life worth having. Others would stand firm, and as a result their lives would be strengthened and purified (8-10).
History records that the period of Antiochus’s apparent triumph, which began when he stopped the Jewish sacrifices and ended when the Jews rededicated the temple, was about three and a half years. This period is described as ‘a time, two times and half a time’, or 1290 days. Many did not live to see the end of the persecution, having been martyred for their unfailing commitment to God. Those who survived, though they had a longer time of suffering, received a blessing that made their suffering seem worthwhile. After three and a half years of persecution, they had the joy of seeing their temple rededicated and the temple services in full operation again. Their religion had survived the onslaught (11-12).
Daniel went to his ‘rest’ in the grave before these events happened. However, he was assured that he would still have a place in the final triumph of God’s people (13).

The pattern repeated

Although Daniel’s understanding had been helped by the interpreting angel, the visions and revelations that God gave him had more significance than he may have realized. Their symbolic meaning extended beyond the period of conflict that followed the Jews’ return from Babylon. The terrible suffering under Antiochus, though it was the last great persecution of the Jews before the coming of the Messiah, was by no means the end of their troubles.

When the Messiah came, the Jewish people as a whole rejected him and brought upon themselves, at the hands of Rome, greater suffering than they had ever experienced before (cf. 7:23-25). Jesus more than once connected the Jews’ rejection of him with the ‘desolating abomination’ and ‘awful horror’ of the Romans’ destruction of Jerusalem (Matthew 21:37-41; Matthew 23:37-38; Matthew 24:15-22,Matthew 24:32-33; Luke 21:20-24; Luke 23:28-31).

Many years after the destruction of Jerusalem, John wrote of the persecution of God’s people, using symbolism that again was taken from the book of Daniel (Revelation 11:1-3; Revelation 12:6-7,Revelation 12:14; Revelation 13:1-12; Revelation 17:8-14). An anti-God spirit had motivated the persecutors of the Jews in Old Testament times, and now the same anti-God spirit was motivating the persecutors of Christians in New Testament times. The anti-God spirit was now specifically anti-Christ. This spirit is always hostile to God and his people (1 John 2:18), and will have its fullest expression in the antichrist who will appear at the end of the age and who will be destroyed by Christ at his coming (2 Thessalonians 2:3-12; Revelation 19:20).

Whatever the era and whoever the antichrist, the message for God’s people is always one of encouragement: ‘he who endures to the end shall be saved’ (Daniel 12:12; Matthew 24:13; 2 Timothy 2:11-12; 2 Timothy 2:11-12; Revelation 12:11; Revelation 13:10; Revelation 20:4). In the end all the powers of this world must give way to the rule of God, whose people inherit his eternal kingdom (Daniel 7:27; Matthew 25:34; Revelation 11:15; Revelation 19:1-8).

APPENDIX

Summary of important events

605

BC

First Jewish exiles taken to Babylon

597

More Jewish exiles taken to Babylon

587

Jerusalem destroyed; final deportation to Babylon

558

Cyrus becomes king of Persia

550

Persia conquers Media

539

Persia conquers Babylon

538

First Jews return to Jerusalem

Work starts on rebuilding the temple (under leadership of Zerubbabel)

516

Temple finished

458

More Jews return to Jerusalem (with Ezra)

445

Nehemiah goes to Jerusalem as governor

333

Alexander the Great overpowers Persia

323

Alexander’s empire splits into various sectors

301-198 Palestine ruled by Egyptian sector

198-143 Palestine ruled by Syrian sector

171

Antiochus Epiphanes becomes king of Syrian sector

168

Antiochus Epiphanes desecrates the Jewish temple

165

Jews under the Maccabees retake the temple

143

Palestine becomes independent again

63

Rome takes over Palestine

6

Birth of Jesus Christ

AD 31

Death and resurrection of Jesus Christ

70

Destruction of Jerusalem by the Romans

Coffman's Commentaries on the Bible

"Many shall purify themselves, and make themselves white, and be refined; but the wicked shall do wickedly; and none of the wicked shall understand; but they that are wise shall understand."

Daniel desired to know, "What shall be the issue of these things...(Daniel 12:8)." Well here it is. Many shall indeed obey the gospel of Christ and be saved, or "refined" as stated here; but there shall continue to be wicked men who shall act wickedly and shall not be able either to understand or comprehend spiritual things in any manner whatever. This little sentence is a picture of the entire dispensation of the Gospel of Christ. The great cleavage of mankind into the two Biblical groups is seen here: the saved and the lost, the good and the bad, the wheat and the chaff, the wise and the foolish, the wheat and the tares, the keepers and the rejects (the parable of the fish-net), those on the fight hand and those on the left, etc. etc.

Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible

Many shall be purified - In future times. That is, as the connection would seem to require, there will be a system introduced by which many will become purified, and made holy. Daniel might hope and expect that under the arrangements which God would make, many of the human race would be cleansed from sin. To what he would apply this we cannot determine, but it is a great truth of immense importance in regard to the human family, that, before the “end,” or the consummation, “many” will be made holy.

And made white - White is the emblem of innocence or purity, and hence, the term is so often applied to the righteous. “They have washed their robes, and made them white in the blood of the Lamb,” “they shall walk before me in white,” etc. Hence, the angels are represented as appearing in white raiment. The meaning here is, that many on the earth would be made holy before the end would come. The mind of Daniel was thus directed onward to one of the most glorious truths pertaining to future times - that multitudes of the human race would be redeemed, and would be prepared for a holy heaven.

And tried - Tried as in a furnace; that is, they will be subjected to persecutions, and to various other forms of suffering, that will test the strength of their faith, and the nature of their religion. This language, also, is of a general character, and would in itself apply to the times of Antiochus, but it is also fitted to describe what would occur in other ages. Perhaps the meaning is, that it would be a prominent thing in the future, in introducing the triumphs of religion; and in preparing the people of God for heaven, that they would be subjected to various forms of trial. There have been facts enough of this kind in the history of the church to justify this description, and to show that it would be a marked feature in spreading religion on the earth, that its friends would be persecuted. “But the wicked shall do wickedly.” They will continue to do wickedly. Notwithstanding all the judgments that will come upon men; notwithstanding all that will be done to purify the people of God, and, notwithstanding the fact that “many” will be of a different character - will be “purified and made white, and tried,” yet it will be a truth still, that there will be wicked men upon the earth, and that they will act out their nature.

This remark seems to have been thrown in by the angel to prevent the impression which Daniel might possibly get from what was said, not only that the true religion would generally prevail, but that wickedness would wholly cease in the earth. Such a time, perhaps, we are not authorized to look for; while we may hope and believe that there will be a period when the worship of God will pervade the world, and will supersede all other forms of worship, yet we have no reason to expect that every individual of the human family at any one time will be converted, and that none of the remains of the apostasy will be seen on the earth. There will be wicked men still, and they will act out their nature, despite all that is done to save them, and despite the fact that religion will have the ascendency in the hearts and lives of the great mass of mankind. For an illustration of this, see the notes at Revelation 9:20-21; notes at Revelation 20:7.

And none of the wicked shall understand - This, also, is a general declaration. It means, that none of the wicked would understand the import of these prophecies, or the true nature of religion. Their depravity of heart would prevent it; their purpose to lead a wicked life would so cloud their understandings, and pervert their moral judgments, that they would have no correct appreciation of the government of God, and the nature of the Divine plans and dispensations. Compare the notes at 1 Corinthians 2:14. The fact here asserted has been always true, and always will be, that sin prevents a clear perception of Divine truth, and that wicked men have no appropriate views of the plans and purposes of God. To comprehend religion aright a man needs a pure heart; and no one under the influence of depraved feelings, and corrupt propensities and appetites, can expect to have a just appreciation of what is good. Doubtless it will be found to be true in the days of millennial glory, when the true religion shall spread over the world, and when the earth shall be filled with light, that there will be wicked men who will have no correct understanding of the nature of religion, and whose minds will be blind to all the evidences of the truth of revelation which shall be diffused around them. No man, unless he is converted, has any proper conception of the beauty of religion.

But the wise shall understand - They who serve God and love him, and who, therefore, come under the denomination of the truly wise. See the notes at Daniel 12:3. The meaning is, that religion - the love of God and a pure heart - will qualify them to perceive the import of Divine truth; to appreciate what is revealed, and to obtain a just view of passing events - or to “understand the signs of the times.” Humble and sincere piety - a heart and mind made pure and clear by the influence of Divine truth - is the best preparation for understanding the works and ways of God. Compare the notes at 1 Corinthians 2:9-12, 1 Corinthians 2:14-15.

Calvin's Commentary on the Bible

Again, the angel mentions the persecutions which were at hand for the purpose of arming the faithful for the approaching conflicts. We know from other sources how tender and weak our minds naturally are, for as soon as any cause for fear arises, before it comes to blows, we fall down lifeless through terror. As, therefore, our natural imbecility is so great, we necessarily require many stimulants to patience, and to urge us to contend with earnestness, and never to yield to any temptations. This is the reason why the angel announces the necessity for such multiplied purification’s, to cleanse them, as wheat from chaff; to whiten them, as cloth by the fuller; and to melt them, as metal to be separated from dross. First of all, as I have previously explained, he admonishes Daniel and all the pious of the future state of the Church, to lead them to prepare and gird themselves for battle, and to gather up their unconquered fortitude, since the condition of life set before them is that of forcing their way through the midst of troubles. This is one point. Again, the angel shews the practical utility of this kind of life, which might otherwise seem too bitter. We naturally refuse the cross because we feel it contrary to our disposition, while God shews the pious that nothing can be more profitable to them than a variety of afflictions. This is a second point. But afflictions by themselves might possibly consume us, and hence we are cast into a furnace. Now, then, could we expect these sufferings to promote our salvation, except God changed their nature in some wonderful way, as their natural tendency is to effect our destruction? But while we are melted down, and whitened, and cleansed, we perceive how God consults for our welfare by pressing us with his cross and causing us to submit to adversity. Now, thirdly, the angel shews the insufficiency of one single act of cleansing, and our need of many more. This is the object of this numerous heaping together of words, they shall be cleansed, and whitened, and melted down, or poured forth. He might have embraced the whole idea in a single word; but, as through our whole lives God never ceases to test us in various ways, the angel heaps together these three words to shew the faithful their need of continual cleansing as long as they are clothed in flesh; just as garments which are in daily use have need of continual washing. However snowy a mantle may be, it becomes soiled immediately when used for even a single day; requiring constant ablution to restore it to its original purity. Thus we are brought in contact with the defilement’s of sin; and as long as we are pilgrims in this world, we necessarily become subject to constant pollution. And as the faithful also are infected with the contagion of numerous iniquities, they require daily purification’s hi different ways. We ought, then, diligently to notice these three distinct processes.

The angel afterwards adds, The impious will act impiously, and will never understand anything; but the prudent will be ever endued with intelligence Here he wishes to fortify the pious against a stumbling block in their way, when they see the profane despisers of God exulting in every direction, and defying God to his face. When the faithful see the world so full of the impious, they seem to be indulging so freely in lust as if there were no God in heaven’ time they are naturally subject to grievous sorrow and distress. To prevent this trial from agitating their minds, the angel announces how the impious should conduct themselves impiously; implying, — there is no reason why thou, O Daniel, or the rest of the righteous, should depend upon the example of others; Satan will cunningly set before you whatever obstacles may draw you into the contempt of God, and the abyss of impiety, unless you are remarkably cautious; but let not the conduct of the impious cause either you or the rest of the pious to stumble. Howsoever they conduct themselves, do you stand invincible. He afterwards assigns a reason for their behavior — they understand nothing, they are perfectly blinded. But what is the source of this blindness? Their being given over to a reprobate sense. If any one should see a blind man fall, and should cast himself down after this blind man, would he be excusable? Surely his blindness was the cause of his perishing so miserably, but why does the other person destroy himself willingly? Whenever we see the impious rushing furiously on to their destruction, while God is admonishing them that their blindness proceeds from Satan, and that they are given over to a reprobate mind, are we not doubly mad if we willingly follow them? The cause then of this impious behavior on the part of the wicked, is added with good reason; namely, they understand nothing. Meanwhile, the faithful are recalled to the true remedy, and the angel subjoins, But the prudent shall understand, meaning they shall not permit themselves to be implicated in the errors of those whom they see entirely devoted to their own destruction. Lastly, the angel points out to us the true remedy which will prevent Satan from drawing us off towards impiety, and the impious from infecting us with their evil examples, if we earnestly apply ourselves to the pursuit of heavenly doctrine. If, therefore, we heartily desire to be taught by God and to become his true disciples, the instruction which we derive from him will snatch us from destruction. This is the true sense of the passage. It afterwards follows, —

Smith's Bible Commentary

Chapter 12

Now it is during the time of this great Battle of Armageddon that Jesus will return.

And at that time shall Michael stand up, the great prince which stands for the children of thy people: and there shall be a time of trouble [the Great Tribulation], such as never was, since there was a nation even to the same time: and at that time thy people shall be delivered, every one that shall be found written in the book ( Daniel 12:1 ).

So there's going to be a time of Great Tribulation, but Daniel's people are to be delivered.

Now their deliverance will come in several ways. Number one, there will be 144,000 of them who are sealed by God and protected from the plagues of the Great Tribulation. Number two, there will be those who will make their flight to the rock city of Petra where God will preserve them. Jesus was warning His disciples, or the Jews actually, that when you see this abomination of desolation that was spoken of by Daniel the prophet standing in the holy place, when you see the antichrist standing in the temple of God declaring that he is God, then flee to the wilderness and don't stop to get your jacket. Just get out of there as fast as you can. If you're out in the field don't even go home. Just run.

In the book of Revelation we are told that God gives to them wings of an eagle (sounds like helicopters) that will bear them to this place in the wilderness where they will be preserved for three and half years. In the book of Isaiah, chapter 16, the Lord says to Jordan, "Open up and receive My people. Bear them safely to Petra until the Great Tribulation is over." And so the antichrist when he finds that the Jews are fleeing will send out an army against them, but the earth will open up and swallow the army. And then, of course, he'll be taken up with the other issues of the invasion of China and Russia, will not pursue them any further, but they will be preserved for three and half years.

So, "Thy people will be delivered, everyone that shall be found written in the book." Now those that do not flee, the antichrist will then go and make war against the remnant of the people that stay in the land and there will be a horrible devastation of those people. Once again, a time of trouble such as never existed since they were a nation up until that time. Jesus said, "The time of Great Tribulation such as the world has never seen before or will ever see again."

Now Daniel here is told of the resurrection.

And many of them that sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, some to everlasting life, and some to shame and everlasting contempt ( Daniel 12:2 ).

There is to be a resurrection of the dead. Now, they will not take place simultaneously. The righteous dead will rise a thousand years before the unrighteous dead. But it's all lumped together in one here. In the book of Revelation we see the time differential between the two. The resurrection of the righteous dead, they that sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, some to everlasting life. Of course, at the resurrection of Jesus Christ there began the great resurrection. The body of many of the... graves of so many of the saints were open and they were seen walking through the streets of Jerusalem after His resurrection from the dead. The great resurrection of the unjust dead will take place at the end of Christ's thousand-year reign, when they stand before the great white throne judgment of God. And they rise to everlasting shame and contempt.

And they that be wise shall shine as the brightness of the firmament; and they that turn many to righteousness as the stars forever and ever ( Daniel 12:3 ).

"They that be wise shall shine as the brightness of the sky; and they that turn many to righteousness as the stars for ever and ever." You know, there are some people whose life is like a skyrocket. They make a big flash, but they burn out very fast. You know, they hit the scene and everybody says, "Oohh, ahhh," you know. But just that fast they fade away. The glory of man is so transient. You know, the crowd may be cheering you today but jeering you tomorrow. The glory of man so transient. The big flash, "ohhhhhhh," but the burn out. But the place to really shine is in God's kingdom.

You know, on the fourth of July I like to go out and see the big pyrotechnic display. And I "oohh" and "ahhh" at the beautiful skyrockets. But you know, when it's all over for a while you lose sight of the stars. You know, there's so much flash in the atmosphere around you, you don't see the stars up there. But when it's all over, there they are shining forever and ever. Maybe not with such a big flash, but they keep going. Some people make a big flash, but that's the end of it. "They that be wise will shine as this as the brightness of the ferment. And they that turn many to righteousness as the stars forever and ever." Which sky do you want to shine in?

But thou, O Daniel, shut up the words, and seal the book, even to the time of the end ( Daniel 12:4 ):

The book was to be sealed when unto the time of the end. In other words, "Daniel, you're not gonna understand this; it will be understood in the time of the end."

for many shall run to and fro, and knowledge shall be increased ( Daniel 12:4 ).

"The knowledge increased" in its immediately context would be the knowledge of the book of Daniel, or the knowledge of these prophecies. And surely God has unfolded the book of Daniel in these last days as we can now see it with the advantage of hindsight. And we can see how accurately he wrote of the past, and now as we see the things of the past we can also understand as they relate to the present and future. So the book of Daniel is no longer a sealed a book, but an open book and easily understood by any diligent student of God's Word.

For knowledge has been increased. Now that knowledge increased has also been interpreted to be just the general amassed knowledge of man and surely, this has happened in our generation. Between the years of 1950 and 1960 man's total knowledge doubled. In other words, everything that man had learned from Adam up until the year 1950 accumulated knowledge of man in the next decade was doubled. By the year 1970 men knew, or 1960, men knew twice as much as what they have learned in all of the years up to 1950. And, of course, now with the ability through micro data processing and computers and all, we are again in this decade doubling the amassed knowledge of man. Knowledge increased.

And interesting, "men going to and fro." Tomorrow morning I get on a jet and tomorrow I eat lunch in Spokane, you know, and it's amazing what you can do now in jet travel. Many running to and fro.

Then I Daniel looked, and I beheld, and there stood two others, the one on this side of the bank of the river, and the other on the other side of the bank of the river. And one said to the man that was clothed in linen ( Daniel 12:5-6 ),

You see, with this one in linen there were other personages. That's why I believe the one in linen was Jesus Christ and there were angels with Him.

which was upon the waters of the river, How long shall it be till the end of these wonders? ( Daniel 12:6 )

How long before the end of these things, the Tribulation and all?

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 he sware by him that lives for ever and ever, that it shall be for a time [a year], times, [a half a year, or I mean, two years], and a half, [which would be a half a year]; and when he shall have accomplished to scatter the power of the holy people, all of these things shall be finished. And I heard, but I did not understand: then I said, O my Lord, what shall be the end of these things? And he said, Go your way, Daniel: for the words are closed up and sealed till the time of the end ( Daniel 12:7-9 ).

So don't worry about it, Daniel. You just go your way. These words are sealed until the time of the end, until now when the Lord has opened up understanding.

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 ).

Now even as Daniel predicted the very day that the Messiah would come, 173, 880 days from the commandment to restore and rebuild Jerusalem, so he has predicted the very day that Jesus will come again. Not the day that the Lord will take His church. No man knows that day or the hour. We don't know when the Lord is gonna come for us, His church.

But from the time that the daily sacrifices [and prayers] are caused to cease [by the antichrist] ( Daniel 12:11 ),

In the middle of the last seven year cycle.

it will then be 1,290 days ( Daniel 12:11 ).

According to the testimony of the Lord. If you were still here upon the earth you can mark your calendar and you can count off the days. And you'll be wanting to because it's gonna to be a fierce, horrible time. As God's wrath is poured out in judgment upon this earth. At this point maybe you should this week read Revelation 6:0 through 18 to find out just what's gonna be happening during this three and half year period of time. Terrible.

Blessed is he who waits, and comes to the thousand three hundred and thirty-fifth day ( Daniel 12:12 ).

Or forty-five days after the coming of Christ. Matthew 25:31 ,when Jesus returns, He's gonna gather together the nations for judgment and separate them as the shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. And to those in His right hand, "Come ye blessed of the Father. Enter into the kingdom that was prepared for you from the foundations of the earth." To those on His left, "Depart from Me, workers of iniquity, into the everlasting darkness which was prepared for Satan and his angels."

So if a person, and there will be many who will live through the Great Tribulation, they will be able to survive. Now if they survive the Great Tribulation, providing they have not worshipped the antichrist, nor taken his mark upon them, nor worship the image, for if any man worships the antichrist or takes the mark of the antichrist on him, or worships the image, he will not have any chance for salvation at all. In Revelation, chapter 14, John saw the angel flying through the midst of the heaven, declaring "Woe! Woe! Woe!" to the inhabitants of the earth. And if any man shall take the mark or worship the beast or his image, he shall be cast into the lake burning with fire and there's no hope for his salvation. The angels will be warning people not to take that mark. Of course, on the other hand, if you refused to take the mark they can put you to death for it, not taking the mark.

So you're gonna have to... you're gonna have to join with McKeever and some of these guys and get your little hideaway back up in the woods of Oregon and stock it with your food and your wheat and your guns and everything else in order you'll be able to survive this three and half year period of time, and then hopefully make it through the forty-five days of judgment. Because having come through the Great Tribulation will not necessarily ensure your entrance into the kingdom.

Then you have to pass this judgment when Christ says, "I was hungry and you fed Me; thirsty and you gave Me to drink; and naked and you clothed Me." "Lord, when did we see You this way?" Not when you were, you know, shooting those that were trying to come and get your food. So you better put your guns away, I guess, if you're gonna survive the forty-five days. "Inasmuch as you did it unto the least of these, My brethren, you've done it unto Me." And they are allowed to enter into the kingdom. So there will be some who will live through the Great Tribulation and will enter into the kingdom. Most of those that enter into the kingdom, though, will be those who belong to the Lord and who return with Jesus. Then He'll be coming with ten thousands of His saints to execute judgment upon the earth and we shall live and reign with Him upon the earth for a thousand years.

But to Daniel,

Go thy way till the end is: for thou shall rest, and stand in thy lot in the end of the days ( Daniel 12:13 ).

You'll stand with your group in the end of the days, Daniel. But in the meantime, just go and take your rest. And you'll stand in the end time.

So the fascinating prophecies of Daniel, marvelous man of God, high on my list of those I want to meet when I get to heaven. I so respect this man of God, so admire him, that I'm looking forward to quite a bit of time just sitting and learning from the depth of this man of his walk and love and relationship. That's one that is gonna be one of the neat things of heaven, is just getting acquainted and knowing some of these glorious people of God from history.

Next week we get into the book of Hosea. We'll take five chapters of Hosea for next Sunday. Moving through, it won't be long before we're through, be through with the Old Testament now, for the rest of the books are very short little books. Many of them we will be taking in just one week and then moving on into the New Testament. So as the Lord tarries and as the Lord wills, it won't be long before we'll be back in the New Testament and going through it.

Peter asked a very pertinent question in the light of the fact that the material world is going to soon be dissolved, the works are to be burned up, the elements will melt with the ferment heat, "What manner of persons ought we to be?" ( 2 Peter 3:11 ) If you are a materialist and your whole values are set in material things, when this material universe goes, everything that you have and hope for is gone. Therefore, it is not wise to be a materialist or a humanist. What manner of persons ought we to be? Peter answers, "In all holiness, godliness, godly manner of living." We ought to be spiritual; we need to have our things upon, our eyes upon the things above, not upon the things of the earth. We need to have our hearts set upon the eternal not on the temporal. May God help us to each one to make an evaluation of ourselves, our own priorities, our own lives, to find out where our values are. Find out what we truly treasure. For where a man's treasure is there will his heart be also. So God help us to treasure heavenly things, spiritual things, and mark them as the true values of life. And thus, may God cause us to examine our hearts, examine ourselves, our lives, our lifestyles, and may we so live in anticipation of our Lord's return in glory to establish God's kingdom.

God bless you. May He keep His hand upon your life, may He fill you with His love and with His spirit, and may He guide you according to His purpose through Jesus Christ our Lord. "

Dr. Constable's Expository Notes

4. The end of Israel’s trials 12:5-13

Daniel continued to view things in the vision that he began describing in Daniel 10:5. The book ends with a question and answer session.

Dr. Constable's Expository Notes

The second answer 12:9-13

Dr. Constable's Expository Notes

The troubles coming on the earth, and especially on the Jews, will cause many to turn to the Lord and experience spiritual purification through faith. The "wicked," however, will continue to "act wickedly," and will not understand what is happening (cf. 1 Corinthians 2:14; Revelation 13:10). The wise, "who have insight" because they pay attention to divine revelation, will understand what is happening. In the Old Testament, and in Scripture generally, a wise person is one who lives in the light of divine revelation, and a fool is one who ignores it. This verse provides motivation to pay attention to what God has revealed and to study it carefully. It should also help us to avoid thinking, naïvely, 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 Timothy 3:13).

Gann's Commentary on the Bible

Daniel 12:10

none -- understand -- The predictions here recorded would not be understood by all men even in the day of fulfillment. - Smith

Gill's Exposition of the Whole Bible

Many shall be purged, and made white, and tried,.... Though Christ does not give, in plain, clear, and explicit terms, an answer to the above question, when, and how, and what would be the end of the church's troubles and afflictions; yet he here points out the use of them, which for the present should be chiefly attended to; and, when duly considered, would be a means of causing the saints to endure them with more patience and cheerfulness: many should be hereby made more pure and holy, and more free from their spots, their chaff, and their dross; their corruptions, and the power of them, weakened; their graces tried, and become more bright and shining; and they themselves a greater ornament to the religion they profess: hereby they should be "purified", or cleansed from the chaff of their sins; or be separated, as the chaff is by the fan, from hypocrites and ungodly men, who would not be able to endure persecution for the sake of the Gospel: and "be made white"; as cloth is by the fuller; freed both from their own spots in their garments, being led to the blood of Christ to wash their garments, and make them white therein; which afflictions may be the means of guiding them to, under the direction of the blessed Spirit; and from such persons who were spots in their feasts of love: and "be tried", as gold and silver in the furnace, and so be rid of their own dross, and of the wicked of the earth, who are like unto it; see the note on Daniel 11:35.

But the wicked shall do wickedly; go on in a course of sin, and be never the better for the afflictive dispensations of Providence; these either mean formal professors, that turn apostates from the faith, and become openly wicked livers; or the profane world in common; and particularly furious persecutors of the saints: such as each of these there will be till the end of things come; see Revelation 22:11:

and none of the wicked shall understand; neither the doctrines of the Gospel spiritually and experimentally; nor the providences of God, and what he is doing in the world; and particularly not the prophecy of this book, and especially what has been just delivered:

but the wise shall understand; more or less of each of these things, such as are wise unto salvation; that search the Scriptures, seek to God by prayer, and are much in meditation, and make use of every help for the understanding of divine things, and even of these prophecies; and especially towards the close of time, as the accomplishment of them draws near.

Henry's Complete Commentary on the Bible

      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 clothed 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 sware by him that liveth for ever that it shall be for a time, times, and a half; and when he shall have accomplished to scatter 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 end of these things?   9 And he said, Go thy way, Daniel: for the words are closed up and sealed till the time of the end.   10 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.   11 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.   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 rest, and stand in thy lot at the end of the days.

      Daniel had been made to foresee the amazing revolutions of states and kingdoms, as far as the Israel of God was concerned in them; in them he foresaw troublous times to the church, suffering trying times, the prospect of which much affected him and filled him with concern. Now there were two questions proper to be asked upon this head:--When shall the end be? And, What shall the end be? These two questions are asked and answered here, in the close of the book; and though the comforts prescribed in the Daniel 12:1-4, one would think, were satisfactory enough, yet, for more abundant satisfaction, this is added.

      I. The question, When shall the end be? is asked by an angel, Daniel 12:5; Daniel 12:6. Concerning this we may observe,

      1. Who it was that asked the question. Daniel had had a vision of Christ in his glory, the man clothed in linen,Daniel 10:5; Daniel 10:5. But his discourse had been with the angel Gabriel, and now he looks, and behold other two (Daniel 12:5; Daniel 12:5), two angels that he had not seen before, one upon the bank of the river on one side and the other on the other side, that, the river being between them, they might not whisper to one another, but what they said might be heard. Christ stood on the waters of the river, (Daniel 12:6; Daniel 12:6), between the banks of Ulai; it was therefore proper that the angels his attendants should stand on either bank, that they might be ready to go, one one way and the other the other way, as he should order them. These angels appeared, (1.) To adorn the vision, and make it the more illustrious; and to add to the glory of the Son of man, Hebrews 1:6. Daniel had not seen them before, though it is probable that they were there; but now, when they began to speak, he looked up, and saw them. Note, The further we look into the things of God, and the more we converse with them, the more we shall see of those things, and still new discoveries will be made to us; those that know much, if they improve it, shall know more. (2.) To confirm the discovery, that out of the mouth of two or three witnesses the word might be established. Three angels appeared to Abraham. (3.) To inform themselves, to hear and ask questions; for the mysteries of God's kingdom are things which the angels desire to look into (1 Peter 1:12) and they are known to the church,Ephesians 3:10. Now one of these two angels said, When shall the end be? Perhaps they both asked, first one and then the other, but Daniel heard only one.

      2. To whom this question was put, to the man clothed in linen, of whom we read before (Daniel 10:5; Daniel 10:5), to Christ our great high priest, who was upon the waters of the river, and whose spokesman, or interpreter, the angel Gabriel had all this while been. This river was Hiddekel (Daniel 10:4; Daniel 10:4), the same with Tigris, the place whereabout many of the events prophesied of would happen; there therefore is the scene laid. Hiddekel was mentioned as one of the rivers that watered the garden of Eden (Genesis 2:14); fitly therefore does Christ stand upon that river, for by him the trees in the paradise of God are watered. Waters signify people, and so his standing upon the waters denotes his dominion over all; he sits upon the flood (Psalms 29:10); he treads upon the waters of the sea,Job 9:8. And Christ, to show that this was he, in the days of his flesh walked upon the waters,Matthew 14:25. He was above the waters of the river (so some read it); he appeared in the air over the river.

      3. What the question was: How long shall it be to the end of these wonders? Daniel would not ask the question, because he would not pry into what was hidden, nor seem inquisitive concerning the times and the seasons, which the Father has put in his own power,Acts 1:7. But, that he might have the satisfaction of the answer, the angel put the question in his hearing. Our Lord Jesus sometimes answered the questions which his disciples were afraid or ashamed to ask, John 16:19. The angel asked as one concerned, How long shall it be? What is the time prefixed in the divine counsels for the end of these wonders, these suffering trying times, that are to pass over the people of God? Note, (1.) The troubles of the church are the wonder of angels. They are astonished that God will suffer his church to be thus afflicted, and are anxious to know what good he will do his church by its afflictions. (2.) Good angels know no more of things to come than God is pleased to discover to them, much less do evil angels. (3.) The holy angels in heaven are concerned for the church on earth, and lay to heart its afflictions; how much more then should we, who are more immediately related to it, and have so much of our peace in its peace?

      4. What answer was returned to it by him who is indeed the numberer of secrets, and knows things to come.

      (1.) Here is a more general account given of the continuance of these troubles to the angel that made the enquiry (Daniel 12:7; Daniel 12:7), that they shall continue for a time, times, and a half, that is, a year, two years, and half a year, as was before intimated (Daniel 7:25; Daniel 7:25), but the one half of a prophetical week. Some understand it indefinitely, a certain time for an uncertain; it shall be for a time (a considerable time), for times (a longer time yet, double what it was thought at first that it would be), and yet indeed it shall be but half a time, or a part of a time; when it is over it shall seem not half so much as was feared. But it is rather to be taken for a certain time; we meet with it in the Revelation, under the title sometimes of three days and a half, put for three years and a half, sometimes forty-two months, sometimes 1260 days. Now this determination of the time is here [1.] Confirmed by an oath. The man clothed in linen lifted up both his hands to heaven, and swore by him that lives for ever and ever that it should be so. Thus the mighty angel whom St. John saw is brought in, with a plain reference to this vision, standing with his right foot on the sea and his left foot on the earth, and with his hand lifted up to heaven, swearing that there shall be no longer delay,Revelation 10:5; Revelation 10:6. This Mighty One that Daniel saw stood with both feet on the water, and swore with both hands lifted up. Note, An oath is of use for confirmation; God only is to be sworn by, for he is the proper Judge to whom we are to appeal; and lifting up the hand is a very proper and significant sign to be used in a solemn oath. [2.] It is illustrated with a reason. God will suffer him to prevail till he shall have accomplished to scatter the power of the holy people. God will suffer him to do his worst, and run his utmost length, and then all these things shall be finished. Note, God's time to succour and relieve his people is when their affairs are brought to the last extremity; in the mount of the Lord it shall be seen that Isaac is saved just when he lies ready to be sacrificed. Now the event answered the prediction; Josephus says expressly, in his book of the Wars of the Jews, that Antiochus, surnamed Epiphanes, surprised Jerusalem by force, and held it three years and six months, and was then cast out of the country by the Asmoneans or Maccabees. Christ's public ministry continued three years and a half, during which time he endured the contradiction of sinners against himself, and lived in poverty and disgrace; and then when his power seemed to be quite scattered at his death, and his enemies triumphed over him, he obtained the most glorious victory and said, It is finished.

      (2.) Here is something added more particularly concerning the time of the continuance of those troubles, in what is said to Daniel, Daniel 12:11; Daniel 12:12, where we have, [1.] The event fixed from which the time of the trouble is to be dated, from the taking away of the daily sacrifice by Antiochus, and the setting up of the image of Jupiter upon the altar, which was the abomination of desolation. They must reckon their troubles to begin indeed when they were deprived of the benefit of public ordinances; that was to them the beginning of sorrows; that was what they laid most to heart. [2.] The continuance of their trouble; it shall last 1290 days, three years and seven months, or (as some reckon) three years, six months, and fifteen days; and then, it is probable, the daily sacrifice was restored, and the abomination of desolation taken away, in remembrance of which the feast of dedication was observed even to our Saviour's time, John 10:22. Though it does not appear by the history that it was exactly so long to a day, yet it appears that the beginning of the trouble was in the 145th year of the Seleucidæ, and the end of it in the 148th year; and either the restoring of the sacrifice, and the taking away of the image, were just so many days after, or some other previous event that was remarkable, which is not recorded. There are many particular times fixed in the scripture-prophecies, which it does not appear by any history, sacred or profane, that the event answered, and yet no doubt it did punctually; as Isaiah 16:14. [3.] The completing of their deliverance, or at least a further advance towards it, which is here set forty-five days after the former, and, some think, points at the death of Antiochus, 1335 days after his profaning the temple. Blessed is he that waits and comes to that time. It is said (1 Mac. ix. 28; x. 1) that the Maccabees, under a divine conduct, recovered the temple and the city. Many good interpreters make these to be prophetical days (that is, so many years), and date them from the destruction of Jerusalem by the Romans; but what events they then fall upon they are not agreed. Others date them from the corruption of the gospel-worship by the antichrist, whose reign is confined in the Apocalypse to 1260 days (that is, years), at the end of which he shall begin to fall; but thirty years after he shall be quite fallen, at the end of 1290 days; and whoever lives forty years longer, to 1335 days, will see glorious times indeed. Whether it looks so far forward or no I cannot tell; but this, however, we may learn, First, That there is a time fixed for the termination of the church's troubles, and the bringing about of her deliverance, and that this time will be punctually observed to a day. Secondly, That this time must be waited for with faith and patience. Thirdly, That, when it comes, it will abundantly recompense us for our long expectations of it. Blessed is he who, having waited long, comes to it at last, for he will then have reason to say, Lo, this is our God, and we have waited for him.

      II. The question, What shall the end be? is asked by Daniel, and an answer given to it. Observe,

      1. Why Daniel asked this question; it was because, though he heard what was said to the angel, yet he did not understand it, Daniel 12:8; Daniel 12:8. Daniel was a very intelligent man, and had been conversant in visions and prophecies, and yet here he was puzzled; he did not understand the meaning of the time, times, and the part of a time, at least not so clearly and with so much certainty as he wished. Note, The best men are often much at a loss in their enquiries concerning divine things, and meet with that which they do not understand. But the better they are the more sensible they are of their own weaknesses and ignorance, and the more ready to acknowledge them.

      2. What the question was: O my Lord! What shall be the end of these things? He directs his enquiry not to the angel that talked with him, but immediately to Christ, for to whom else should we go with our enquiries? "What shall be the final issue of these events? What do they tend to? What will then end in?" Note, When we take a view of the affairs of this world, and of the church of God in it, we cannot but think, What will be the end of these things? We see things move as if they would end in the utter ruin of God's kingdom among men. When we observe the prevalence of vice and impiety, the decay of religion, the sufferings of the righteous, and the triumphs of the ungodly over them, we may well ask, O my Lord! what will be the end of these things? But this may satisfy us in general, that all will end well at last. Great is the truth, and will prevail at long-run. All opposing rule, principality, and power, will be put down, and holiness and love will triumph, and be in honour, to eternity. The end, this end, will come.

      3. What answer is returned to this question. Besides what refers to the time (Daniel 12:11; Daniel 12:12), of which before, here are some general instructions given to Daniel, with which he is dismissed from further attendance.

      (1.) He must content himself with the discoveries that had been made to him, and not enquire any further: "Go thy way, Daniel; let it suffice thee that thou has been admitted thus far to the foresight of things to come, but stop here. Go thy way about the king's business again, Daniel 8:27; Daniel 8:27. Go thy way, and record what thou hast seen and heard, for the benefit of posterity, and covet not to see and hear more at present." Note, Communion with God is not our continual feast in this world; we sometimes are taken to be witnesses of Christ's glory, and we say, It is good to be here; but we must go down from the mount, and have there no continuing city. Those that know much know but in part, and still see there is a great deal that they are kept in the dark about, and are likely to be so till the veil is rent; hitherto their knowledge shall go, but no further. "Go thy way, Daniel, satisfied with what thou hast."

      (2.) He must not expect that what had been said to him would be fully understood till it was accomplished: The words are closed up and sealed, are involved in perplexities, and are likely to be so, till the time of the end, till the end of these things; nay, till the end of all things. Daniel was ordered to seal the book to the time of the end,Daniel 12:4; Daniel 12:4. The Jews used to say, When Elias comes he will tell us all things. "They are closed up and sealed, that is, the discovery designed to be made by them is now fully settled and completed; nothing is to be added to it nor taken from it, for it is closed up and sealed; ask not therefore after more." Nescire velle quæ magister maximus docere non vult erudita inscitia est--He has learned much who is willing to be ignorant of those things which the great teacher does not choose to impart.

      (3.) He must count upon no other than that, as long as the world stands, there will still be in it such a mixture as now we see there is of good and bad, Daniel 12:10; Daniel 12:10. We long to see all wheat and no tares in God's field, all corn and no chaff in God's floor; but it will not be till the time of ingathering, till the winnowing day, comes; both must grow together until the harvest. As it has been, so it is, and will be, The wicked shall do wickedly, but the wise shall understand. In this, as in other things, St. John's Revelation closes as Daniel did. Revelation 22:11, He that is filthy, let him be filthy still; and he that is holy, let him be holy still. [1.] There is no remedy but that wicked people will do wickedly; and such people there are and will be in the world to the end of time. So said the proverb of the ancients, Wickedness proceeds from the wicked (1 Samuel 24:13); and the observation of the moderns says the same. Bad men will do bad things; and a corrupt tree will never bring forth good fruit. Do men gather grapes of thorns, or bring forth good things from an evil treasure in the heart? No; wicked practices are the natural products of wicked principles and dispositions. Marvel not at the matter then, Ecclesiastes 5:8. We are told, before, that the wicked will do wickedly; we can expect no better from them: but, which is worse, none of the wicked shall understand. This is either, First, A part of their sin. They will not understand; they shut their eyes against the light, and none so blind as those that will not see. Therefore they are wicked because they will not understand. If they did but rightly know the truths of God, they would readily obey the laws of God, Psalms 82:5. Wilful sin is the effect of wilful ignorance; they will not understand because they are wicked; they hate the light, and come not to the light, because their deeds are evil,John 3:19. Or, Secondly, It is a part of their punishment; they will do wickedly, and therefore God has given them up to blindness of mind, and has said concerning them, They shall not understand, nor be converted and healed,Matthew 13:14; Matthew 13:15. God will not give them eyes to see, because they will do wickedly, Deuteronomy 29:4. [2.] Yet, bad as the world is, God will secure to himself a remnant of good people in it; still there shall be some, there shall be many, to whom the providences and ordinances of God shall be a savour of life unto life, while to others they are a savour of death unto death. First, the providences of God shall do them good: Many shall be purified, and made white, and tried, by their troubles (compare Daniel 11:35; Daniel 11:35), by the same troubles which will but stir up the corruptions of the wicked and make them do more wickedly. Note, The afflictions of good people are designed for their trial; but by these trials they are purified and made white, their corruptions are purged out, their graces are brightened, and made both more vigorous and more conspicuous, and are found to praise, and honour, and glory,1 Peter 1:7. To those who are themselves sanctified and good every event is sanctified, and works for good, and helps to make them better. Secondly, The word of God shall do them good. When the wicked understand not, but stumble at the word, the wise shall understand. Those who are wise in practice shall understand doctrine; those who are influenced and governed by the divine law and love shall be illuminated with a divine light. For if any man will do his will he shall know the truth,John 7:17. Give instruction to a wise man, and he will be yet wiser.

      (4.) He must comfort himself with the pleasing prospect of his own happiness in death, in judgment, and to eternity, Daniel 12:13; Daniel 12:13. Daniel was now very old, and had been long engaged both in an intimate acquaintance with heaven and in a great deal of public business on this earth. And now he must think of bidding farewell to this present state: Go thou thy way till the end be. [1.] It is good for us all to think much of going away from this world; we are still going, and must be gone shortly, gone the way of all the earth. That must be our way; but this is our comfort, We shall not go till God calls for us to another world, and till he has done with us in this world, till he says, "Go thou thy way; thou hast finished thy testimony, done thy work, and accomplished as a hireling thy day, therefore now, Go thy way, and leave it to others to take thy room." [2.] When a good man goes his way from this world he enters into rest: "Thou shalt rest from all thy present toils and agitations, and shalt not see the evils that are coming on the next generation." Never can a child of God say more pertinently than in his dying moments, Return unto thy rest, O my soul! [3.] Time and days will have an end; not only our time and days will end very shortly, but all times and days will have an end at length; yet a little while, and time shall be no more, but all its revolutions will be numbered and finished. [4.] Our rest in the grave will be but till the end of the days; and then the peaceful rest will be happily disturbed by a joyful resurrection. Job foresaw this when he said of the dead, Till the heavens be no more, they shall not awake, nor be raised out of their sleep, implying that then they shall, Job 14:12. [5.] We must every one of us stand in our lot at the end of the days. In the judgment of the great day we must have our allotment according to what we were, and what we did, in the body, either, Come, you blessed or, Go, you cursed; and we must stand for ever in that lot. It was a comfort to Daniel, it is a comfort to all the saints, that, whatever their lot is in the days of time, they shall have a happy lot in the end of the days, shall have their lot among the chosen. And it ought to be the great care and concern of every one of us to secure a happy lot at last in the end of the days, and they we may well be content with our present lot, welcome the will of God. [6.] A believing hope and prospect of a blessed lot in the heavenly Canaan, at the end of the days, will be an effectual support to us when we are going our way out of this world, and will furnish us with living comforts in dying moments.