Daniel 12 and the Antichrist Part 2

DANIEL – CHAPTER 12

PART 2

 

(Daniel 12:7 KJV)

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 an half; and when he shall have accomplished to scatter the power of the holy people, all these things shall be finished.

A “time, times, and a half” is a period of three and one half years of 360 day years which is the length of a “time” by the majority of commentators.  This period is generally considered the last 3 ½ years of the tribulation period which traditionally, most consider has a length of seven years (Daniel’s 70^th week).  The mid-point of the seven years is, again traditionally, the time when the antichrist (beast) or the false prophet sets up the image of the beast, in or near the temple, which is called the abomination of desolation.

and when he shall have accomplished to scatter the power of the holy people

The ASV renders this phrase as: (“breaking in pieces the power of the holy people” ASV)  All of my current Bible translations generally render this phrase the same as the KJV except for the NET version which reads as: …”Then, when the power of the one who shatters the holy people has been exhausted, all these things will be finished.”   (Daniel 12:7 NET), which appears to have the opposite meaning of the other versions.  Therefore, whose power is being shattered – the people or the antichrist? 

Chris White (Daniel, A Commentary) considers the NET version as a more accurate rendition.  He points out that the AC (beast) is given a limited amount of time for his actions, which is 42 months or 3 ½ years, and when his time is finished so is his power. 

And there was given unto him a mouth speaking great things and blasphemies; and power was given unto him to continue forty and two months.   (Revelation 13:5 KJV)

I agree with Chris White’s statement concerning the AC,  but it may not be exactly the message this passage (Dan 12:1) is conveying.

The “Preacher’s Commentary” has this to say: “ When the powers of darkness have done their worst against the kingdom of God, and the truth of God has been set at a final devaluation, God will act.”  I tend to agree with the Preacher’s Commentary and it is my opinion that the KJV is more accurate at expressing the intention of the angelic message through Daniel. 

The angel gave Daniel a brief itinerary of future events (with additional details revealed in the New Testament).  In summary, “all these things shall be finished” (that is, the events given to Daniel) when:  1. the AC has transformed the people into total idolatry; 2. Those refusing to worship the image are put to death; 3. the 10 kings, along with the AC, begin destroying Babylon the Great; 4. and the wrath of God  through the trumpet and bowl judgments have occurred (or beginning to occur)

The Septuagint translation has a unique rendition:

And I heard the man clothed in linen, who was over the water of the river, and he lifted up his right hand and his left hand to heaven, and swore by Him that lives forever, that it should be for a time, times and half a time. When the dispersion is ended, they shall know all these things. (Daniel 12:7 Septuagint)

It uses the word “dispersion” in the place of “scattered” and then adds “they shall know all these things.”  The things of “all these things” may concern the prophecies of Daniel and other prophets proclaiming last-days information.  The people may finally understand that Jesus is their real Messiah and not the antichrist.  Of course, not all will understand, or even desire to understand, similar to most of today. The majority will be killed by the AC along with his 10 kings and by the wrath of God. 

Some will escape in time to save their life.

Then let them which be in Judaea flee into the mountains:    (Matthew 24:16 KJV)

And his feet shall stand in that day upon the mount of Olives, which is before Jerusalem on the east, and the mount of Olives shall cleave in the midst thereof toward the east and toward the west, and there shall be a very great valley; and half of the mountain shall remove toward the north, and half of it toward the south. And ye shall flee to the valley of the mountains; for the valley of the mountains shall reach unto Azal: yea, ye shall flee, like as ye fled from before the earthquake in the days of Uzziah king of Judah: and the LORD my God shall come, and all the saints with thee.              (Zechariah 14:4-5 KJV)

(Daniel 12:8-9 KJV)

And I heard, but I understood not: then said I, O my Lord, what shall be the end of these things? And he said, Go thy way, Daniel: for the words are closed up and sealed till the time of the end.

This verse has been previously discussed (above in Part 1) due to its similarity to 12:4.  Daniel did not understand the prophesied kingdoms, kings, and their actions because they were all future to him.  These words given to Daniel were to be closed up and sealed until the time of the end.  Some consider the knowledge restraint to have ended toward the close of the first century, others consider the past few years to be the beginning of true end time prophecy comprehension.  For most of the coming last-days, “Babylon the Great” inhabitants, it may not yet have arrived.    (Daniel 12:10 KJV)

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.

A summary of Dan 11:31 to 12:9 reveals a king, who honors the “god of forces”, engages in various wars around Israel, and has been allotted 2 ½ years before his authority is usurped.  The king (beast) will institute the abomination of desolation at the beginning of the 2 ½ year reign of great tribulation (see Dan 12:11).  This will be a time of purification for believers who will be hated and betrayed by all.

And ye shall be betrayed both by parents, and brethren, and kinsfolks, and friends; and some of you shall they cause to be put to death. And ye shall be hated of all men for my name’s sake.   (Luke 21:16-17 KJV)

I suppose the greatest trial will be when one is commanded to either renounce one’s faith or be put to death with the [worship the image or die] scenario being the most obvious example.  I’m certain there will be many other situations with a ‘life or death’ choice that don’t necessarily directly involve the image or temple.

“but the wise shall understand”

The wise people of the Lord understand when Biblical truth is placed before them.  It is like a light in the dark and they are naturally drawn to it.  The Word of God may not always be pleasant news, particularly prophetic words, but it is still the truth.

“none of the wicked shall understand”

However, the wicked choose to be wicked.  They despise the Word of God.  It is their desire to distort, bend, and reject the Word, to meet their own personal anticipations.  They prefer to use it in a deformed manner by adding erroneous understanding and by adding non-Biblical resources to bolster their objective as if one source is as valid as another, which is the intention they attempt to convey.  They do not, and will not understand or comprehend the things of God.

(Daniel 12:11-12 KJV)

And from the time that the daily sacrifice shall be taken away, and the abomination that makes desolate set up, there shall be a thousand two hundred and ninety days. Blessed is he who waits, and comes to the thousand three hundred and five and thirty days.

The reign of the king, before it transpires, is 1260 days (3 ½ years).  He will stop the daily temple sacrifice and place his image or statue in or around the temple at the beginning of this time period, which is also the traditional mid-point of the 70^th week of Daniel.

“a thousand two hundred and ninety days”

However, in verse 11, a time period of 1290 days is given, which is an increase of 30 days longer than the reign of the king.  What happens in these 30 days?  It is my opinion (with no specific Biblical proof) that the 7 bowls of God’s final wrath including the battle of Armageddon take place during this time period.

The king will have 3 ½ years to do the following:  “it shall be for a time, times, and an half; and when he shall have accomplished to scatter the power of the holy people, all these things shall be finished.”  The 30 days will complete God’s wrath and deliver the beast, including his 10 kings with their armies, to be destroyed by the Lord Jesus, somewhere around Jerusalem.  If Babylon the Great is destroyed during this period is questionable but possible. 

According to Dr. Elbert Sharpie (from Chris White’s book “Daniel: A Commentary”) the following things will happen during this 30 day period:

Two witnesses killed (Rev 11: 7-8)

All Israel saved ( Rom 11: 25-26, Rev 10: 7, Hosea 6: 1-3, Micah 2: 12-13) ·

The Journey to from Edom and Bozra to Jerusalem by Christ with the wilderness Jews                                                 (Isaiah 63: 1-4, Hosea 11: 10-11, Isaiah 14: 1, Zec 12: 10, Rev 11: 10-11,                                                Exodus 19:10-11,Obadiah 1: 21, Rev 11: 15, Rev 14: 7, Rev 14: 19-20, Rev 15:1,                                  Zechariah 14: 4-5, Isaiah 26: 20-21, Rev 16: 1)

The Seventh Trumpet and the Bowl Judgments (Revelation 16: 1-21)

White, Chris (2013-11-15). Daniel – A Commentary (p. 317). CWM Publishing. Kindle Edition.

“the thousand three hundred and five and thirty days”

In verse 12, an additional 45 days are given.  Outside resources maintain that this period of time will be the restoration period.  Again, according to Dr. Elbert Sharpie (from Chris White’s book “Daniel: A Commentary”) the following things will happen:

The Restoration of Mt. Zion (Zechariah 14: 10, Isaiah 2: 2, Ezekiel 20: 40)

The Restoration of Israel (Jeremiah 31: 10-12, Isaiah 10: 20-22, Isaiah 43: 5-7,

                                                Micah 7: 7-9, Isaiah 56: 6-8)

The Restoration of the Temple (Ezekiel 43: 6-7, Zechariah 6: 12-13)

Christ to rule over the earth (Daniel 7: 11,13-14)

White, Chris (2013-11-15). Daniel – A Commentary (pp. 318-319). CWM Publishing. Kindle Edition.

(Daniel 12:13 KJV)

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 will be resurrected at the rapture (harpazo) and blessed by God during the Millennial reign of Jesus Christ, for a happy ending.