HolyStudy
Home
Bible
Read BibleTopicsReading Plans
Worship
Worship of the DayDaily PrayersSaint of the DayChurch Calendar
Tradition
EncyclopediaChurch FathersSaintsCouncilsCreedsHeresies
ReflectionsConnection Map↗Support HolyStudy
HolyStudy
ReflectionsConnection Map↗Support HolyStudy
Sign in
HolyStudy

Read the Scriptures and pray with the mind of the Church.

Bible

  • Read Bible
  • Topics
  • Reading Plans

Worship

  • Worship of the Day
  • Daily Prayers
  • Saint of the Day
  • Church Calendar

Tradition

  • Encyclopedia
  • Church Fathers
  • Saints
  • Councils
  • Creeds
  • Heresies

More

  • Reflections
  • Mission
  • Support HolyStudy
  • Contact
  • Connection Map ↗
© 2026 HolyStudy
PrivacyTerms
HolyStudy
Home
Bible
Read BibleTopicsReading Plans
Worship
Worship of the DayDaily PrayersSaint of the DayChurch Calendar
Tradition
EncyclopediaChurch FathersSaintsCouncilsCreedsHeresies
ReflectionsConnection Map↗Support HolyStudy
HolyStudy
ReflectionsConnection Map↗Support HolyStudy
Sign in
Law
History
Poetry & Wisdom
Major Prophets
Minor Prophets

Daniel 12

“At that time shall arise Michael, the great prince who has charge of your people. And there shall be a time of trouble, such as never has been since there was a nation till that time. But at that time your people shall be delivered, everyone whose name shall be found written in the book.

And many of those who sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, some to everlasting life, and some to shame and everlasting contempt.

And those who are wise shall shine like the brightness of the sky above; and those who turn many to righteousness, like the stars forever and ever.

But you, Daniel, shut up the words and seal the book, until the time of the end. Many shall run to and fro, and knowledge shall increase.”

Then I, Daniel, looked, and behold, two others stood, one on this bank of the stream and one on that bank of the stream.

And someone said to the man clothed in linen, who was above the waters of the stream, “How long shall it be till the end of these wonders?”

And I heard the man clothed in linen, who was above the waters of the stream; he raised his right hand and his left hand toward heaven and swore by him who lives forever that it would be for a time, times, and half a time, and that when the shattering of the power of the holy people comes to an end all these things would be finished.

I heard, but I did not understand. Then I said, “O my lord, what shall be the outcome of these things?”

He said, “Go your way, Daniel, for the words are shut up and sealed until the time of the end.

Many shall purify themselves and make themselves white and be refined, but the wicked shall act wickedly. And none of the wicked shall understand, but those who are wise shall understand.

And from the time that the regular burnt offering is taken away and the abomination that makes desolate is set up, there shall be 1,290 days.

Blessed is he who waits and arrives at the 1,335 days.

But go your way till the end. And you shall rest and shall stand in your allotted place at the end of the days.”

Scripture quotations marked “ESV” are from the ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), © 2001 by Crossway. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

← Previous chapterNext chapter →

Daniel 12

The final chapter of Daniel opens with Michael standing up as the great deliverer of God's people, and a time of trouble such as has never been is announced—the ultimate eschatological crisis preceding the inauguration of God's eternal kingdom. Many who sleep in the dust of the earth shall awaken: some to everlasting life and exaltation, others to everlasting shame and contempt, establishing the biblical foundation for bodily resurrection, divine judgment, and eternal differentiation based on faithfulness to God's covenant. The wise—those who feared God, kept His commandments, and remained steadfast through persecution—shall shine like the brightness of the firmament and the stars forever, suggesting that faithfulness in the present age directly determines exaltation and vindication in the age to come. Daniel is instructed to seal the book until the time of the end, indicating that the fulfillment of these visions lies in the future and their full interpretation awaits eschatological consummation, yet their revelation strengthens faith during the intervening period of testing. The angel announces the cryptic timeframes of 1,290 and 1,335 days, evoking the prolonged suffering and delay before vindication, yet also marking the endpoint of tribulation and the beginning of blessing for those who endure patiently. Daniel is finally told to go his way until the end and rest, assured that he will rise to his inheritance in the resurrection of the righteous—a promise of personal vindication and resurrection that comforts him amid the knowledge of future persecution his people will face. Thus Daniel's visions conclude not with despair but with the triumphant assurance that death itself shall be conquered, the faithful shall be vindicated and exalted eternally, and God's kingdom shall supersede all earthly powers.

Daniel 12:6

One of them said to the man clothed in linen, who was upstream, "How long will it be until the end of these wonders?"—initiating the dialogue through which God will provide final temporal markers for eschatological expectation. The question about duration emphasizes human concern for knowing the appointed time. The "man clothed in linen" is the angelic revealer from chapter 10.

Daniel 12:1

At that time Michael, the great prince, will stand up on behalf of your people; and there will be a time of anguish, such as has never occurred since nations came into being until that time; but at that time your people will be delivered, every one found written in the book—prophesying the final eschatological intervention by Israel's angelic guardian Michael, introducing a climactic period of unprecedented suffering for God's people, followed by deliverance of the righteous remnant whose names are recorded in God's book. The mention of the book suggests divine predestination and foreknowledge of the righteous. Deliverance accompanies but follows the period of anguish.

Daniel 12:2

Many of those who sleep in the dust of the earth will awake, some to everlasting life, and some to shame and everlasting contempt—prophesying a final resurrection involving many (though not necessarily all) people, with ultimate judgment differentiating the righteous to eternal life and the wicked to eternal condemnation. This represents one of the Old Testament's clearest statements of resurrection and afterlife judgment. The awakening from sleep imagery suggests divine power over death itself.

Daniel 12:3

Those who are wise will shine like the brightness of the sky, and those who lead many to righteousness, like the stars forever and ever—describing the ultimate reward of the righteous and especially those who taught faithfulness under persecution, picturing their glorification as cosmic luminosity. The celestial imagery suggests transformation into incorruptible and permanent form. The emphasis on teachers affirms the theological importance of wisdom and faithful instruction.

Daniel 12:4

But you, Daniel, keep the words secret and seal the book until the time of the end; many will go here and there, and knowledge will increase—instructing Daniel to preserve the prophecy for future generations who will need its message, suggesting that its full meaning will become clearer as the predicted events approach and knowledge increases. The "sealing" of the book indicates both its preservation and the incompleteness of contemporary understanding. The increase in knowledge suggests that end-times will involve expanded understanding of God's purposes.

Daniel 12:5

Then I, Daniel, looked and saw two others standing, one on this bank of the stream and one on the far bank—introducing additional angelic figures who appear to frame the prophecy's conclusion and prepare for final chronological revelation. The stream setting maintains the visionary context. The two angelic figures suggest balance or confirmation through multiple heavenly witnesses.

Daniel 12:7

The man clothed in linen, who was upstream, raised his right hand and his left hand toward heaven, and swore by the one who lives forever, saying, "It will be for a time, two times, and half a time; and when the shattering of the power of the holy people comes to an end, all these things would be accomplished"—providing a cryptic temporal measure (3.5 years/years/times, or possibly referring to different units) and linking the timeline to "the shattering of the power of the holy people," indicating that deliverance comes when persecution has reached its end and God's purposes for refinement are complete. The oath by the eternal God emphasizes the certainty of the proclamation. The temporal measure parallels the 2,300 evenings and mornings in chapter 8.

Daniel 12:8

I heard but could not understand; so I said, "O my lord, what shall be the outcome of these things?"—expressing Daniel's incomprehension of the symbolic temporal measurement and his petition for clarification regarding the ultimate outcome. The acknowledgment of inability to understand demonstrates prophetic humility and the complexity of eschatological instruction. His question invites final clarification.

Daniel 12:9

He said, "Go your way, Daniel, for the words are kept secret and sealed until the time of the end; many will be purified, made white, and refined, but the wicked will continue to act wickedly; and none of the wicked will understand, but those who are wise will understand"—instructing Daniel that complete understanding must await the appointed time while assuring that the righteous will progressively understand as events approach their fulfillment, whereas the wicked will remain in ignorance. The emphasis on righteous understanding contrasts with wicked incomprehension. The ongoing purification and refining of the righteous continues until the end.

Daniel 12:10

The righteous will understand and grow in insight through the persecutions and experiences of the end times; their faith will be refined like precious metal through fire—affirming that the faithful will progressively grasp divine purposes through experiential engagement with the predicted events, and that suffering serves the essential purpose of refining faith. The metallic refining imagery emphasizes both destruction of impurity and preservation of value. Understanding grows through experience, not merely information.

Daniel 12:11

From the time that the regular burnt offering is taken away and the abomination of desolation is set up, there will be one thousand two hundred and ninety days—providing a specific count (approximately 3.5 years) from the desecration of the Temple by Antiochus until its rededication by the Maccabees (167-164 BCE) or possibly extending toward further eschatological fulfillment. The specific number suggests divine precision in orchestrating history's course. The connection to Temple desecration and rededication establishes concrete historical anchoring for eschatological calculation.

Daniel 12:12

Blessed are those who persevere and attain to the one thousand three hundred and thirty-five days—introducing a secondary counting extending beyond 1,290 days, possibly indicating the period until final resurrection or judgment, and pronouncing blessing on those whose faithfulness endures through the entire extended period. The extended count suggests that final completion extends beyond immediate Maccabean rededication. The beatitude affirms that perseverance receives divine approval and reward.

Daniel 12:13

But you, go your way until the end; you will rest, and will stand in your allotted place at the end of the days—concluding the entire prophecy by assuring Daniel that he will rest in death before witnessing fulfillment but that he will be resurrected and stand in his assigned place when all things are accomplished. The promise of resurrection to Daniel specifically personalizes the eschatological hope and assures the prophet of participation in ultimate redemption. The assurance of "allotted place" affirms that each righteous person has a predetermined role in God's fulfillment.