Final Prophecies About Future Events
I have really enjoyed the book of Daniel. We have discovered that God wrote the book of Daniel. He has given us many reasons why we can believe in the Bible. The prophecies in the book of Daniel give us tremendous insights into the future, to be specific, the rapture, the tribulation, and the future kingdom. This study is the conclusion to the angel’s answer to Daniel’s prayer request which began in Daniel 11:2. In this study, we are given a few final prophecies, and then the chapter ends with an incredible prophecy.
Seal Up The Book
Our study begins in Daniel 12:4, and ends in verse 13. Here is verse 4.
But as for you, Daniel, conceal these words and seal up the book until the end of time; many will go back and forth, and knowledge will increase. Daniel 12:4 (NASB)
The first thing we are told is that Daniel is ordered to conceal the words of this book. The word “conceal” in the Hebrew means to shut or to close. When it says “seal up” it actually means to affix a seal. Most of us are familiar with a scroll. A large parchment was rolled up to form a scroll. Then “seal” refers to some wax that was affixed to the scroll. No one could look inside unless you broke the seal. Today, instead of a scroll, we would have a book.
So, Daniel was told to conceal—that is, to hide—the words of the scroll. If your Bible says “book,” it is not the best word. The Hebrew actually has the idea of a document or a message.
So Daniel was told to conceal these words. When it says “these words” we have to ask, “What words?” The words refer to Daniel 11:2 through chapter 12, verse 3. Those were the words just given to him. You will discover a little later why I think this is the right answer.
Then we are told,
. . . until the end of time. Daniel 12a (NASB)
It is important to understand the phrase “end of time.” I am going to take some time to explain what it means by “the end of time.” If you are thinking the “end of time” refers to the rapture, the tribulation, Armageddon, the second coming of Christ, and the millennial kingdom, you are correct. We think in those terms when we think about the end of time. But there is another way to think about the end of time. The verse says that Daniel was to conceal these words and to seal up the book “until the end of time.”
Acts 2:14 will help us understand this concept. Peter is speaking in this passage and is giving a sermon. He is speaking to a very large crowd of people in Jerusalem. You will see that in verse 14 because it says,
But Peter, taking his stand with the eleven, raised his voice and declared to them: “Men of Judea and all you who live in Jerusalem, let this be known to you and give heed to my words. Acts 2:14 (NASB)
Obviously, Peter is speaking to people who have arrived in Jerusalem. Verses 15-16 say:
“For these men are not drunk, as you suppose, for it is only the third hour of the day; but this is what was spoken of through the prophet Joel. Acts 2:15-16 (NASB)
So Peter quotes the prophet Joel. Verse 17 adds,
‘AND IT SHALL BE IN THE LAST DAYS,’ God says, ‘THAT I WILL POUR FORTH OF MY SPIRIT ON ALL MANKIND;
AND YOUR SONS AND YOUR DAUGHTERS SHALL PROPHESY,
AND YOUR YOUNG MEN SHALL SEE VISIONS, AND YOUR OLD MEN SHALL DREAM DREAMS.”
Acts 2:14 (NASB)
Peter just said that Joel was talking about some things that would happen in the last days, and one of the things he mentioned was that the Holy Spirit would be poured out on all mankind. We know that at Pentecost the Holy Spirit was poured out on the apostles and every Christian. But did you notice when it was to occur? Joel said it will occur in the last days. That means Peter was preaching in the last days.
Now we want to see another verse that speaks about the end days. In Galatians 4:4, Paul is talking about Christ and he says,
But when the fullness of the time came, God sent forth His Son, born of a woman, born under the Law. Galatians 4:4 (NASB)
What is the verse talking about? The birth of Christ. When was He born? Paul says in the fullness of time. Paul says “in the fullness of time, Christ was born.” The book of Hebrews is a fabulous book. Notice the opening verses of 1-2a,
God, after He spoke long ago to the fathers in the prophets in many portions and in many ways, in these last days has spoken to us in His Son . . . Hebrews 1:1-2a (NASB)
Now we are told that someone spoke in the last days. Who? Jesus! When Jesus came, He came in the last days! It was the end of time. But it was not the absolute end of time, because that is yet future.
So when Daniel said “until the end of time,” I would like to challenge us to think biblically. From a biblical perspective Jesus came in the last days. Why is it important to think about sealing up the words until the last days? The answer is that in the last days more revelation would be given to us. Who gave us the additional revelation? Jesus and certain of the apostles did. The apostle John wrote the book of Revelation, and the apostle Paul wrote 1 and 2 Thessalonians, for example. Jesus Himself gave us new revelation about the end times in Matthew 24 and other passages in the Gospels. The New Testament has given to us new revelation about the end times. The book of Revelation is primarily about the tribulation period, starting in chapter 6 and continuing to 19. That corresponds to Daniel 11:35-46. The message in the passage given to Daniel was to be sealed up. Therefore, we conclude that Daniel was told to seal up the information about the times of the tribulation through to the kingdom because it would be given to us in the New Testament times.
Many Will Go Back and Forth
Now let us go back to Daniel 12:4 and notice something else. Daniel was told to seal up the words until the end of time, “and many will go back and forth.” The Hebrew word translated as “back and forth” means to swerve. It has the idea of turning from truth to falsehood, of not believing but instead rejecting truth. It refers to people who are apostates. It refers to people who know about God and then reject Him. That is exactly what we are seeing in our world today, a mass rejection of the true God.
Knowledge Will Increase
Next we are told,
. . . knowledge will increase. Daniel 12:4b (NASB)
Some people believe this refers to an increase in all knowledge. They point to the explosion in information. But the Hebrew word “knowledge” refers to a specific knowledge. This knowledge is prophetic knowledge. When the word for knowledge is used in the Hebrew, it is speaking of a specific kind of knowledge, not just general knowledge—something very specific. So, Daniel has been asking repeatedly for prophetic knowledge about the future. Then when Christ and the apostles wrote the New Testament, revelatory knowledge increased significantly. Prophecy about the future increased.
End of the Tribulation Summarized
Verse 5 continues,
Then I, Daniel, looked and behold, two others were standing, one on this bank of the river and the other on of that bank of the river. Daniel 12:5 (NASB)
Now, who are the two others? They are angels. Back in Daniel 10 we were introduced to a theophany of Christ and an angel. If you remember, Christ was hovering over the river. Now the question is, “What was the name of the river?” Daniel 10:4 says,
On the twenty-fourth day of the first month, while I was by the bank of the great river, that is, the Tigris . . . Daniel 10:4a (NASB)
The river was the Tigris River because Daniel was still by the river. So, Daniel is having this vision by the Tigris River. That is the meaning of Daniel 10:1. The end of the verse says,
. . . and had an understanding of the vision. Daniel 10:1b (NASB)
So the vision is continuing from chapter 10. We are told here in verse 5 that there are two angels in addition to the theophany of Christ. The two angels are on opposite sides of the bank of the river River Tigris. Verse 6,
And one said to the man dressed in linen, who was above the waters of the river . . . Daniel 12:6a (NASB)
Who was the man dressed in linen? He was Jesus. A theophany or a Christophany—an Old Testament appearance of Christ. The picture described here is of Jesus hovering in the air over the middle of the river. Then over on the banks of the river are two angels. Daniel is watching all of this. Then we are told one of the angels asks the theophany of Christ a question.
The last of verse 6 gives us the question,
. . . “How long will it be until the end of these wonders?” Daniel 12:6b (NASB)
The angels wanted some information. They wanted to know when the wonders would end. My first reaction is that they did not understand what was occurring. Some information was missing.
Verse 7 says that the man in linen, the theophany of Christ, spoke,
I heard the man dressed in linen, who was above the waters of the river, as he raised his right hand and his left toward heaven, and swore by Him who lives forever that it would be for a time, times, and half a time . . . Daniel 12:7a (NASB)
The man in linen said that the length of time to the end would be a time, times, and half a time. That corresponds to 3.5 years, the last half of the tribulation. Then He said,
. . . and as soon as they finish shattering the power of the holy people, all these events will be completed. Daniel 12:7b (NASB)
When we are told the power of the holy people will be shattered, we are being told the nation of Israel will be shattered. So, when will this occur? It will occur at the end of the tribulation at the battle of Armageddon.
Zechariah 14:1-5 explains how the power of the Jewish people will be shattered. It says,
Behold, a day is coming for the LORD when the spoil taken from you will be divided among you. For I will gather all the nations against Jerusalem to battle, and the city will be captured, the houses plundered, the women ravished and half of the city exiled, but the rest of the people will not be cut off from the city. Then the LORD will go forth and fight against those nations, as when He fights on a day of battle. In that day His feet will stand on the Mount of Olives, which is in front of Jerusalem on the east; and the Mount of Olives will be split in its middle from east to west by a very large valley, so that half of the mountain will move toward the north and the other half toward the south. You will flee by the valley of My mountains, for the valley of the mountains will reach to Azel; yes, you will flee just as you fled before the earthquake in the days of Uzziah king of Judah. Then the LORD, my God, will come, and all the holy ones with Him! Zechariah 14:1-5 (NASB)
When Israel’s situation looks desperate, that is the moment the second coming of Christ will occur and He will rescue them.
Seal Up The Words
Then Daniel said,
As for me, I heard but could not understand; so I said, “My lord, what will be the outcome of these events?” Daniel 12:8 (NASB)
Now Daniel wanted to understand what would happen to Israel at the end of the 3.5 years. But the next verse tells us that he was told when his question would be answered.
He said, “Go your way, Daniel, for these words are concealed and sealed up until the end time.” Daniel 12:9 (NASB)
Verse 9 is almost like verse 4. Different words are used, but the same message is given. Daniel was to conceal and seal. The believers from ancient times could not know. The new Testament believers would have to wait for Jesus and the apostles to speak and write about the future events.
Verse 10 then summarizes the judgment of the wicked and the righteous.
Many will be purged, purified and refined, but the wicked will act wickedly; and none of the wicked will understand, but those who have insight will understand. Daniel 12:10 (NASB)
The “many will be purged and purified and refined refers to the Jewish people. They are still being purged, purified, and refined for their wicked behavior which resulted in the Assyrian and Babylonian invasions, the destruction of Jerusalem and the temple, and the scattering of the Jewish people. Then they rejected Jesus Christ. Consequently, Israel is purged, purified, and refined.
Then we are told “the wicked will act wickedly.” What does that mean? It means the wicked will become more wicked. They will not just be wicked, they will be wicked on steroids. This is occurring today. Just look at what is occurring in our world today. Do you think the wicked are becoming more wicked? Just this week I stumbled across a news item that says sexual activity will be shown on TV – porn on primetime TV. The wicked will act more wickedly. Every type of crime and despicable behavior is occurring in our world, all in pursuit of pleasure. It says,
And none of the wicked will understand. Daniel 12:10b (NASB)
Daniel does not give us any reasons why the wicked will not understand, but 1 Corinthians 2:14-15 states that unbelievers do not and cannot understand spiritual truth. That is why if you ever tried to tell someone about Jesus Christ, they might not understand and have questions. They do not understand because they are spiritually blind.
Then the last part of the verse echoes 1 Corinthians 2:14-15, for it says,
But those who have insight will understand. Daniel 12:10c (NASB)
It is talking about saints, about those who put their trust in God, who have their faith in God.
Signs of The End
Now verse 10 gives us some signs of the end times, not of the time of Christ, but of what I would call the “end of the end” times. That is, signs about the tribulation and the second coming of Christ. Jesus gave His disciples a number of signs about His coming. So, I want to give you ten signs of the end times.
The first sign is given to us right here in this verse. It says, “The wicked will act wickedly.” In Matthew 24:12 Jesus said,
“Because lawlessness is increased, most people’s love will grow cold.” Matthew 24:12 (NASB)
What does Jesus say will happen in the end times? Lawlessness will increase! It will be worse than it has been in the past.
Then we are told, “the people’s love will grow cold.” What does that mean? People are not going to care for other people as they have in the past. We see that in our world today. People do not love other people. People do not care for other people as they used to. For believers that should not be true. Believers should love people, especially believers. That should always be true for Christians.
The second sign of the end time is given to us in Luke 17:25. Jesus is asked again about the end times. Verse 25 says:
But first He must suffer many things . . . Luke 17:25a (NASB)
Jesus is speaking of Himself.
. . . and be rejected by this generation. And just as it happened in the days of Noah, so it will be also in the days of the Son of Man: they were eating, they were drinking, they were marrying, they were being given in marriage, until the day that Noah entered the ark, and the flood came and destroyed them all. It was the same as happened in the days of Lot: they were eating, they were drinking, they were buying, they were selling, they were planting, they were building; but on the day that Lot went out from Sodom it rained fire and brimstone from heaven and destroyed them all. It will be just the same on the day that the Son of Man is revealed. Luke 17:25b-30 (NASB)
What did Jesus say? He was talking about His second coming. Jesus said that in the future people will buy, sell, get married, divorce, and be eating and drinking. They will be indulging themselves in pleasure. People will be living for themselves.
2 Thessalonians 2:3 is another passage that tells us what will happen in the last days. It gives us the third sign. It says,
Let no one in any way deceive you, for it will not come unless the apostasy comes first. 2 Thessalonians 2:3 (NASB)
This describes what will be occurring prior to the tribulation period. It says the apostasy will occur. Apostasy refers to the abandonment of the faith. Does this mean that people can lose their salvation? No. 1 John 2:19 says,
They went out from us, but they were not really of us; for if they had been of us, they would have remained with us; but they went out, so that it would be shown that they all are not of us. 1 John 2:19 (NASB)
The message is that those who abandon the faith were never ever part of the faith—they were tares (see the parable of the Sower of the Seed). So, apostasy cannot refer to someone losing their faith. Apostasy refers to more and more people rejecting Christianity. That will occur in the days before the tribulation.
Matthew 24:9 gives us a fourth sign. It says,
Then they will deliver you to tribulation, and will kill you, and you will be hated by all nations because of My name. At that time many will fall away and will betray one another and hate one another. Matthew 24:9-10 (NASB)
This is also true in the tribulation period. By the way, all these signs are true in the tribulation. Verses 9 and 10 prophesy that people will hate and even murder Christians. Verse 10 tells us that friends and family members are going to betray us. It is happening now especially in the Middle East but also in other parts of the world. Christians are being persecuted and it is beginning to happen in our own country. Eventually it will occur in every country. Christians will be punished everywhere.
Then verses 7 and 8 give us another sign, the fifth sign. Jesus said that kingdom will rise up against kingdom—that is, nation against nation. In various places there will be famines and earthquakes.
A sixth sign is given to us in verse 14. This one is very interesting.
This gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in the whole world as a testimony to all the nations, and then the end will come. Matthew 24:14 (NASB)
Jesus said that the gospel will be preached throughout the whole world. This is great news! But remember 2 Thessalonians 2:3 says that at the same time the apostasy occurs. The gospel will be preached everywhere, but at the same time a great number of people will be rejecting the gospel. We are already experiencing the start of the apostasy.
The seventh sign is given in Luke 17:22. Jesus stated that the apostles would not see the end of time. He tells the apostles, “You are not going to see the second coming.”
The eighth sign is found in the book of Revelation. Chapters 6-19 are about the tribulation. But when did the apostle John write the book of Revelation? He wrote it in A.D. 95. He was the last of the apostles, and he prophesied that the end of time would not occur in his time. That connects with Jesus’ statement in Luke 17:22. This means the tribulation and the second coming of Christ did not occur in A.D. 70.
Our ninth sign of the tribulation and the second coming of Christ is that a temple must exist in Jerusalem. Matthew 24:15 says,
Therefore when you see the ABOMINATION OF DESOLATION which was spoken of through Daniel the prophet, standing in the holy place ( let the reader understand) . . . Matthew 24:15 (NASB)
What is the Holy Place? The Holy Place was in the temple in Jerusalem. Therefore, it must exist again so that the Antichrist can enter the temple and falsely declare that he is God. So how is this a sign of the end times? The sign is that a temple must exist in Jerusalem and there is not yet a temple in Jerusalem. So this is a yet future sign.
The tenth sign is that there will be a peace treaty for Israel that promises to protect the nation from conflict. (By the way, this does not exhaust all of the future signs). Daniel 9:27 says the peace treaty will promise peace for one week or seven years. If you recall, the seven years corresponds to the length of the tribulation period. The peace treaty is called a covenant in Daniel 9:27. This means that we are waiting for a peace treaty that supposedly will protect Israel from their surrounding nations. That has not happened yet. So, we are waiting for this to occur.
After The Tribulation
Now back to Daniel 12 and verse 11. Daniel has just asked about the meaning of time, times, and half time in verse 7. The angel began answering Daniel in verse 8. We have already studied verses 9-10. Now in verse 11 the angel said,
From the time that the regular sacrifice is abolished and the abomination of desolation is set up, there will be 1,290 days. Daniel 12:11a (NASB)
Here we are told that following the time or after the regular sacrifice is abolished and the abomination of desolation takes place, there will be 1,290 days. Now we know from Daniel 9:27 that the abomination of desolation will occur in the middle of the tribulation. We also know that the length of the last half of the tribulation is three-and-a-half years. That corresponds to forty-two months. Since we are dealing with biblical months, and there are thirty days to a biblical month, that means we multiply 30 days by 42 and the result is 1,260 days. Therefore, this helps us understand that the 1,290 days starts in the middle of the tribulation and extends 30 days beyond the tribulation.
So people have asked, “What are the extra 30 days? This is a fascinating verse. Many people are guessing about the meaning of the extra 30 days. Since the Bible does not explain the purpose of the extra 30 days, I speculate that the extra 30 days allows for the Sheep and Goat Judgment to occur. I cannot prove this with a Bible reference.
Jesus described the Sheep and Goat Judgment in Matthew 25:31-46. The Sheep and Goat Judgment is the Judgment of The Nations. At the end of the tribulation, Jesus will send all mortal unbelievers to hell, and all Christians will go into the kingdom. This happens after the tribulation.
Then Daniel was told,
How blessed is he who keeps waiting and attains to the 1,335 days! Daniel 12:12 (NASB)
You may ask, “What are the additional 45 days, or 75 days beyond the tribulation period? Why are there 75 more days?” I think the extra 75 days allows time for the beginning of the kingdom. The reason I think that is correct is notice that we are told “how blessed.” That is, those who experience the additional 75 days are blessed. To be in the millennial kingdom will be a blessed experience for Christ will reign as King over His worldwide kingdom. This is something believers will want. In the dream that was recorded in Daniel 2, the last kingdom begins with the future millennial kingdom. So the angel said, “how blessed is he.” I think that refers to the time believers will enter the kingdom.
Conclusion
Verse 13 is the concluding verse,
But as for you, go your way to the end; then you will enter into rest and rise again for your allotted portion at the end of the age. Daniel 12:13 (NASB)
Now, I want to close with a couple of comments. First, when the angel said “go your way,” Daniel is being told that he is going to die. Then he is told that he will be resurrected and given his allotted portion at the end of the age. What is that? He will enter the kingdom and live with God forever in the new heaven and new earth described in Revelation 21 and 22.
But there is also something else. When it says “allotted,” it actually has the idea of more. In 1 Corinthians 3:12-15, the apostle Paul describes the rewards that believers will receive. He says,
Now if any man builds on the foundation with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, straw, each man’s work will become evident; for the day will show it because it is to be revealed with fire, and the fire itself will test the quality of each man’s work. If any man’s work which he has built on it remains, he will receive a reward. If any man’s work is burned up, he will suffer loss; but he himself will be saved, yet so as through fire. 1 Corinthians 3:12-15 (NASB)
The message is Christians will not be judged in the sense of being sent to heaven or hell. Instead, we will be judged for our works. Our works will be evaluated. That means that if you are a believer, your works will be evaluated. Depending upon that evaluation, you will receive various rewards. May I ask if you want to be without a reward? Paul makes the point that when believers die, they will stand before God at the Bema Seat Judgment – not the White Throne Judgment. Believers will receive a reward.
Now go to 1 Corinthians 4:5.
Therefore do not go on passing judgment before the time, but wait until the Lord comes who will both bring to light the things hidden in the darkness and disclose the motives of men’s hearts; and then each man’s praise will come to him from God. 1 Corinthians 4:5 (NASB)
Now we are told that our rewards will be conditioned on our motives, why we did what we did. He will reveal the motives of your heart. One person may give money to somebody for totally selfish reasons. Another person may give money for a good reason. It will be not enough that someone gives money to a church or to the needy, for God will evaluate why you gave.
Next, turn to 1 Corinthians 9:16.
For if I preach the gospel, I have nothing to boast of, for I am under compulsion; for woe is me if I do not preach the gospel. 1 Corinthians 9:16 (NASB)
Paul said, “I am supposed to preach the gospel, and woe to me if I do not do it.” Then in verse 17 he added,
For if I do this voluntarily, I have a reward . . . 1 Corinthians 9:17a (NASB)
I hope you just caught that.
For if I do this voluntarily, I have a reward; but if against my will, I have a stewardship entrusted to me. 1 Corinthians 9:17 (NASB)
His point is that, “I can serve the Lord because I must.” If so, then I will not receive a reward. God seeks an eager servant – one who wants to serve.
Are you involved in ministry and would really rather not be involved, but you are performing the duties anyway? Then you will not receive a reward.
God will evaluate our motives. He seeks eager servants. 1 Peter 5 tells us that He wants the elders of the church to serve Him eagerly, voluntarily, and not under compulsion. Do you know what that translates to? A great reward in heaven for elders and everyone else who serves the Lord eagerly, voluntarily and not under compulsion.
Suggested Links:
Book of DanielThe Future Antichrist and the Battle of Armageddon
Promise of Future Resurrection
From the Tribulation To Eternity In Heaven