Daniel Chapter 12 Series

Daniel – Chapter 12

Chapter 12 Outline

I. The Description of the End Times (12:1-4)

a. The Suffering (12:1)

b. The Separation (12:2)

c. The Shining (12:3)

d. The Sealing (12:4)

II. The Duration of the End Times (11:5-13)

a. 1,260 Days (12:5-10)

b. 1,290 Days (12:11)

c. 1,335 Days (12:12-13)

Message

I. The Description of the End Times (12:1-4)

a. The Suffering (12:1)

We are still at the middle of the Tribulation period here when Antichrist breaks his covenat with the Jews, seizes the temple, and sets himself up as world dictator and god. This is

Matthew 24:21 For then shall be great tribulation, such as was not since the beginning of the world to this time, no, nor ever shall be.

Jeremiah also wrote of this period Jeremiah 30:7 Alas! for that day is great, so that none is like it: it is even the time of Jacob’s trouble; but he shall be saved out of it.

The holocaust of the Great Tribulation will take place after Satan is cast out from the heavenlies at the hands of Michael and his angels (Revelation 12:7) The Antichrist will be a willing tool in his hands to accelerate those endtime events that culminate in the Great Tribulation.

The Antichrist will then be revealed for who he really is, his charade of peace will be over and he will be seen as the enemy of God, man and the nation of Israel.

Think about the sufferings that the Jewish people have gone through in the past. Egyptian Pharaoh’s have tried to eliminate them. Assyrian autocrats, Babylonian barons and Persian potentates have turned their hands against them. Xerxes ordered their total extermination from all of his realms.

Greek tyrants and Roman Caesars, neighbouring rulers and church officials, Spanish inquisitors and Roman popes, medieval kings and swashbuckling czars have persecuted this people.

The dungeon and the sword, the thumbscrew and the rack, flame and fire, concentration camps and gas chambers, starvation and torture, sadistic experiments in the name of science. Everything that fallen man or demon could come up with have been used against Gods chosen people. BUT, the Great Tribulation will be worse than them all.

God, however, will see to it that this time of tribulation serves His purpose. “…and at that time thy people shall be delivered…” The word DELIVERED here means “released, rescued.” This deliverance refers not to individual salvation, though a remnant will be saved, but rather to national deliverance from domination of the Gentiles.

b. The Separation (12:2)

Here we have one of those rare Old Testament passages about the general resurrection of the dead. This was a reminder to Daniel that death was not the end. There is a resurrection from the dead in which everyone will take part.

When Christ returns in the air to call His church, the dead in Christ will be raised first, and then the living believers will be caught up with them in the air to be with the Lord 1 Thessalonians 4:16-17 For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: [17] Then we which are alive [and] remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.

When Christ returns at the end of the Tribulation, he will bring His people with Him to share in the victory and glory. At that time, the Old Testament saints and the Tribulation martyrs will be raised to enter into the kingdom.

However, those who died without faith in the Lord Jesus Christ will not be raised until after the Millenial Age, and then they will be judged Revelation 20:5a & 12 But the rest of the dead lived not again until the thousand years were finished… [12] And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is [the book] of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works.

As Daniel says, some will awake to enjoy everlasting life, and some will awake (1,000 years later) to everlasting contempt. The Lake of Fire is called the second death Revelation 20:14. If you have been born only once, you can die twice; but if you have been born twice (born again through faith in Christ) you can die only once.

c. The Shining (12:3)

How we have lived our lives and served the Lord here on earth will determine the rewards Christ will give us at the bema seat (2 Cor 5:6-10) Every cup will be full in heaven, but some cups will be larger than others. We will share in the glory of Christ and those who have sought to win others to Christ will shine like the stars in the heavens.