Daniel 12:1-4

The Time of the End

1 "Now at that time ¹Michael, the great prince who stands guard over the sons of your people, will arise. And there will be a ²time of distress ³such as never occurred since there was a nation until that time; and at that time your people, everyone who is found written in the ⁴book, will be rescued.

2 "⁵Many of those who sleep in the dust of the ground will awake, ⁶these to everlasting life, but the others to disgrace and everlasting contempt.

3 "Those who have ⁷insight will ⁸shine brightly like the brightness of the expanse of heaven, and those who ⁹lead the many to righteousness, like the stars forever and ever.

4 "But as for you, Daniel, ¹⁰conceal these words and ¹¹seal up the book until the ¹²end of time; ¹³many will go back and forth, and knowledge will increase."

Daniel 12:1-4 Meaning and Commentary

INTRODUCTION TO DANIEL 12

This chapter begins with an account of a time of exceeding great trouble to the people of God, who are comforted with the consideration of Michael the great Prince being on their side, and with a promise of deliverance, with the resurrection of the dead, and the glorious state of wise and good men upon that, Da 12:1-3, and Daniel is ordered to shut up and seal the book of the prophecy, until a time when it should be better understood, Da 12:4, next follows a question put by an angel to Christ, and his answer to it, with respect to the time of the fulfilment of those wonderful events, Da 12:5-7. Daniel, not understanding what he heard, asks what would be the end of those things, Da 12:8 in answer to which he is bid to be content with what he knew; no alteration would be among men; things would be neither better nor worse with them, Da 12:9,10, a time is fixed for the accomplishment of all, Da 12:11,12, and it is promised him that he should have rest after death, and rise again, and have his lot and share with the blessed, Da 12:13.

Cross References

• 1. Daniel 10:13, 21; Revelation 12:7
• 2. Revelation 7:14; Revelation 16:18
• 3. Jeremiah 30:7; Ezekiel 5:9; Daniel 9:12; Matthew 24:21; Mark 13:19
• 4. Daniel 7:10; Daniel 10:21
• 5. Isaiah 26:19; Ezekiel 37:12-14
• 6. Matthew 25:46; John 5:28, 29
• 7. Daniel 11:33, 35; Daniel 12:10
• 8. John 5:35
• 9. Isaiah 53:11; Daniel 11:33
• 10. Daniel 8:26; Daniel 12:9
• 11. Isaiah 8:16; Daniel 12:9; Revelation 22:10
• 12. Daniel 8:17; Daniel 12:9, 13
• 13. Isaiah 11:9; Isaiah 29:18, 19; Daniel 11:33

Footnotes

• [a] Lit "abhorrence"
• [b] Or "The instructors will"
• [c] Or "firmament"