Daniel Chapter 12

Daniel chapter twelve is a continuation of the vision of chapter eleven. In this last chapter, we have some amazing passages. There is Michael “standing up.” There is a time of trouble as never upon the earth. There is the deliverance of God’s people. All of which, is in verse 1.

Then we have the description of a special resurrection that occurs between the Battle of Armageddon and the Second Coming of Christ in verse 2.

There is so much more in this chapter, so let us get started.

Verses 1

The events of Daniel 11:44–45 are momentous and rapid. When the “tidings out of the east and out of the north” have done their work in the proclamation of God’s last day message to a perishing world, then shall come the time when probation closes for the world.

Four thousand and five hundred years ago, Noah preached to the antediluvian world. He proclaimed a last day message of the gospel and judgment to come. He preached that same message for one hundred and twenty years. When everyone had made their decision for or against God and His Word, then probation closed and the door to the ark was shut. There was no second chance. They already had their chance. For those who did not make it in the ark, they made the wrong choice. They simply did not believe the truth. Instead, they chose to believe a lie. And it cost them eternal life.

In the same way, there will be a last gospel call to the world. Again, it will be a last day message of the gospel and that the judgment has started. The time will come when the judgment is over, and every case has been decided. Everyone will have made their choice between the “mark of the beast” and the “seal of God.” Then probation will end. The work of Jesus in the Most Holy Place in heaven will be complete. The work of cleansing the heavenly sanctuary will have been accomplished. Michael now “stands up.”

The name Michael means “who is like unto God.” There is One who is just like the Father. It is Jesus.

When Jesus “stands up” as our High Priest, He will have completed His work as our High Priest. He will leave the Most Holy Place, take off His priestly garments, and will then put on His kingly garment. He will prepare to come as King of kings, and Lord of lords.

When Jesus leaves the Most Holy Place, and His work as High Priest has ceased, the seven last plagues begin to fall. It will be a time of trouble such as never been.

The world that has wondered after the beast will plan to wipe out God’s people in one decisive blow in the Battle of Armageddon. However, Christ will intervene and rescue His people as He did at the Red Sea.

Verse 2

We know that Jesus will come the second time with “all the holy angels.” Matthew 25:31 At that time, there will be a great harvest. For Jesus “shall send his angels with a great sound of a trumpet, and they [the angel’s] shall gather together his elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other.” Matthew 24:31

Then the saints of God will rise from their dusty graves. As Paul wrote:

“Behold, I show you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we [fellow believers] shall all be changed, in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump; for the trumpet shall sound, and dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality.” 1 Corinthians 15:51, 52

“For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout [at His Second Coming], with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: 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. Wherefore comfort one another with these words.” 1 Thessalonians 4:16-18

What a glorious event! The saints from all ages will go to heaven together. The sleeping saints will rise from their dusty graves with immortal and incorruptible bodies. Then we who are alive at the time of Christ’s second advent will be changed in a twinkling of an eye. The angels will reap the earth of the redeemed, and wing them to heaven. For Jesus said:

“Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me. In my Father's house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you [in heaven]. And if I go and prepare a place for you [in heaven], I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also.” John 14:1-3

Will those who are lost eternally be raised from the grave?

Jesus said, “Marvel not at this: for the hour is coming, in the which all that are in the graves shall hear his voice, And shall come forth; they that have done good, unto the resurrection of life; and they that have done evil, unto the resurrection of damnation.” John 5:28, 29

Jesus made it clear that there is a resurrection of life and a resurrection of damnation. Paul said:

“that there shall be a resurrection of the dead, both of the just and unjust.” Acts 24:15

The apostle John described these two resurrections as being one thousand years apart.

“And I saw thrones, and they sat upon them, and judgment was given unto them: and I saw the souls of them that were beheaded for the witness of Jesus, and for the word of God, and which had not worshipped the beast, neither his image, neither had received his mark upon their foreheads, or in their hands; and they lived and reigned with Christ a thousand years. But the rest of the dead lived not again until the thousand years were finished. This is the first resurrection. Blessed and holy is he that hath part in the first resurrection: on such the second death hath no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with him a thousand years.” Revelation 20:4-6

Those who do not worship the beast are raised in the resurrection of life when Jesus returns the second time. Those who do worship the beast and receive his mark will be raised in the resurrection of condemnation. The resurrection of the unjust takes place after the millennium.

As John wrote, the “rest of the dead,” [those who are lost], “lived not again until the thousand years [the millennium] were finished.”

But in Daniel 12:2, we find a resurrection of both the just and the unjust. It is not all of the just and the unjust. As it reads:

“And many [not all] of them that sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, some [not all] to everlasting life, and some [not all of the unsaved] to shame and everlasting contempt.”

Jesus had said to Caiaphas:

“I am [the Christ, the Son of God]: and ye [Caiaphas and those who will take part in My crucifixion] shall see the Son of man sitting on the right hand of power, and coming in the clouds of heaven.” Mark 14:62

Jesus had predicted that Caiaphas and those who took part in the His crucifixion would be raised back to life to witness His Second Coming.

Then the apostle John wrote:

“Behold, he [Jesus] cometh with clouds [with all His angels]; and every eye shall see Him [when He returns the second time], and they also which pierced him [those who were responsible for Jesus’ crucifixion]: and all kindreds of the earth shall wail because of him. Even so, Amen.” Revelation 1:7

Therefore, there will be a special resurrection of some of the wicked. It will include those who were responsible for Christ’s crucifixion.

But who are the righteous that are raised in this special resurrection to witness the Second Coming of Christ?

In Revelation chapter fourteen, we have (1) a description of the 144,000 (verse 1-5), (2) the last gospel call to the world (verses 6-14), and (3) a description of a special resurrection. It says:

“And I heard a voice from heaven saying to me, Write, Blessed are the dead which die in the Lord from henceforth: Yea, saith the Spirit, that they may rest from their labors; and their works to follow them.” Revelation 14:13.

Why will these certain saints be especially blessed because they died during a certain period of time?

I believe the answer is, that they were the last generation that prepared a people for the soon return of Christ. They became martyrs in the process, but God will allow them to be part of the special resurrection to witness the Second Coming.

In Daniel 12:2, some of the righteous and some of the wicked will be raised in a special resurrection between the sixth and seventh plague, to witness the Second Coming of Christ.

Therefore, in the end, God’s people triumph. They may lose their jobs, reputations, and even life itself for the truth’s sake. But they will be rewarded with eternal life. The persecutors and those who choose to believe a lie will face the second death, from which there is no hope of a resurrection.

Verse 3: Shining for Jesus Forever

Those who take part in the resurrection of life at the Second Coming of Christ will receive eternal life. After they have lived a million years, they would have merely begun. Nay, more than that, they will live forever and shine for Jesus as the stars that fill our night sky.

But to shine for Jesus then, we need to shine for Jesus in this present world. We shine as we reflect the altogether beautiful life of Jesus. And as the world gets darker, God’s people are to shine the brighter.

As stars follow their appointed course, we are to follow in the footsteps of Jesus. Therefore, obedience to Jesus is shining for Jesus. Disobedience would then be darkness.

Verse 4: Prophecy Sealed

One of the most remarkable prophesies in the Bible is the one found in Daniel 12:4, which reads:

“But thou, O Daniel, shut up the words, and seal the book, even to the time of the end: many shall run to and fro, and knowledge shall be increased.” Daniel 12:4

Did you catch that? We have certain “words” that were to be “shut up” until the “time of the end.” These certain “words” would be found in the sealed book of Daniel.

When we come to “time of the end,” these certain “words” would be unsealed. Knowledge would be increased. Many would then “run to and fro” to share the message of these unsealed “words.”

But who are the righteous that are raised in this special resurrection to witness the Second Coming of Christ?

In Revelation chapter fourteen, we have (1) a description of the 144,000 (verse 1-5), (2) the last gospel call to the world (verses 6-14), and (3) a description of a special resurrection. It says:

Why will these certain saints be especially blessed because they died during a certain period of time?

In Daniel 12:2, some of the righteous and some of the wicked will be raised in a special resurrection between the sixth and seventh plague, to witness the Second Coming of Christ.

Verse 3: Shining for Jesus Forever

As stars follow their appointed course, we are to follow in the footsteps of Jesus. Therefore, obedience to Jesus is shining for Jesus. Disobedience would then be darkness.

Verse 4: Prophecy Sealed

One of the most remarkable prophesies in the Bible is the one found in Daniel 12:4, which reads:

“But thou, O Daniel, shut up the words, and seal the book, even to the time of the end: many shall run to and fro, and knowledge shall be increased.” Daniel 12:4

Did you catch that? We have certain “words” that were to be “shut up” until the “time of the end.” These certain “words” would be found in the sealed book of Daniel.

Was the whole book of Daniel sealed until the “time of the end”?

The book of Daniel has been a blessing to God’s people since it was first penned. But certain “words” would be “shut up” until the “time of the end.”

the “time of the end” the “end of time”?

I think not. But my opinion doesn’t really matter. As we continue in our study, I think you will agree that the “time of the end” is a period of time that immediately precedes the “end of time.”

Do we know which words were “shut up” until the “time of the end”?

We do. As we have studied, these “shut up” words are found in Daniel chapter eight.

What do we know about Daniel chapter eight?

In this chapter, Daniel received a vision about future events. He first saw a symbolic ram representing Medo-Persia. Then he saw a goat symbolically representing the kingdom of Greece. He saw one world power [Medo-Persia] being conquering by the next world empire [Greece].

As the angel Gabriel said to Daniel,

“The ram which thou sawest having two horns are the kings of Media and Persia. And the rough goat is the king of Grecia: and the great horn that is between his eyes is the first king [Alexander the Great].” Daniel 8:20, 21

It is quite obvious that Daniel understood many parts of this vision, but there was one particular part that he did not understand.

As Daniel said,

“And I Daniel fainted, and was sick certain days; afterward I rose up, and did the king's business; and I was

astonished at the vision, but none understood it.”

Daniel understood who the ram represented, as well as the goat. But there was a part he did not understand. In fact, “none understood it.” These “shut up” words were reserved for those who live in the “time of the end,” and for those only.

What were the “words” that were “shut up” until the “time of the end”?

In verse 26, we find the answer, “And the vision of the evening and the morning which was told is true: wherefore shut thou up the vision; for it shall be for many days.” Daniel 8:26

We know that the vision concerning the ram and the goat were not “shut up.” It was the “vision of the evening and the morning” that was “shut up.”

What is the vision of the “evening and the morning”?

There is only one thing in Daniel chapter eight that has to do with an “evening and the morning.” It is the 2300th day prophesy found in Daniel 8:14.

“And he said unto me, Unto two thousand and three hundred days [literally; “Unto two thousand and three hundred evening and morning]; then shall the sanctuary be cleansed.”

The words that were “shut up” until the “time of the end,” have to do with a time prophecy in connection with the cleansing of the sanctuary. Something wonderful was going to happen on exactly the 2300th day. The cleansing of the sanctuary was going to happen on the 2300th day.

But consider this very important point. Bible students have been able to understand the sanctuary and its services since it was first constructed in the time of Moses. After all, the sanctuary and its services explained the plan of salvation. The lambs that were slain represented the Messiah to come. They pointed to Jesus as the Lamb of God. God the Father would send His only begotten Son to die for the sins of the world.

In addition, the work of the high priest in the earthly sanctuary prefigured the work of Jesus when He would ascend into heaven as our high priest in the heavenly sanctuary. See Hebrews 2:17, 18; 4:14-16; 8:1-6.

What Bible students were not able to understand until the “time of the end,” was the connection between the 2300thday prophesy and the cleansing of the sanctuary.

When the words found in Daniel 8:14 were unsealed, there would be an increased understanding of the prophesies of Daniel and in the 2300th day prophesy in particular.

Finally, Jesus was again found by His people in the heavenly sanctuary above. The Papal apostate of an earthly priesthood had blinded the eyes of millions to the true tabernacle, which is in heaven.

There was a wonderful increase in knowledge concerning the plan of salvation, Bible prophecy, the unmasking of the Papal apostasy, and the judgment taking place in heaven.

The Three Wonders of Bible Prophecy

The remainder of chapter twelve of Daniel graces us with one more final picture. It will describe for us the three wonders of Bible prophecy. As we might expect, these three wonders will be related to the unsealed words found in Daniel 8:14. But how will these three wonders related to the 2300 days prophecy? Will they be in opposition to Christ as our High Priest in the heavenly Sanctuary, or followers of Christ?

Verses 5, 6: The Setting

In these opening verses, we have the scene of a river with two angels on opposite sides of the river and Jesus above the waters of the river.

“Then I Daniel looked, and, behold, there stood other two, the one [angel] on this side of the bank of the river, and the other [angel] on that side of the bank of the river. And one [angel] said to the man [Jesus] clothed in linen, which was upon the waters of the river, How long shall it be to the end of these wonders?”

Notice that one of the angels asked Jesus a particular question. The angel does not say, “What are the wonders?” Rather, the angel asks, “How long shall it be to the end of these wonders?”

Since there are three time prophecies in the remainder of this chapter, we can only assume that there are three wonders. Each time prophecy points to a particular wonder in Bible prophecy.

Verse 7: The First Wonder

The first wonder has to do with a time prophecy that we have already studied.

“And I heard the man clothed in linen, which was upon the waters of the river, when he [Jesus] held up his right hand and his left hand unto heaven, and sware by him that liveth forever that it shall be for a time, times, and a half; and when he [the Papacy] shall have accomplished to scatter the power of the holy people [God’s true church], all these things shall be finished.”

Where did we find this time prophesy expressed elsewhere? We found it in Daniel chapter seven.

“And he [the Papacy] shall speak great words [blasphemous words] against the most High, and shall wear out the saints of the most High, and think to change times and laws: and they shall be given into his hand until a time and times and the dividing of time.” Daniel 7:25

God begins with a time prophecy that we are already familiar with. It is a Bible prophecy wonder that we have already discovered. The “time, times, and an half” has to do with the scattering and persecution of God’s people. As we have seen, over 50 million people were martyred under papal Rome when she ruled both civilly and religiously from 538 to 1798.

The wonders of the Bible are not like the seven wonders of the world. The seven wonders of the world are focused on physical things, while the wonders of the Bible are focused on character and spiritual things.

The first wonder—the Papacy—is a professedly Christian church that claims to be God on earth, and then turns around and murders over 50 million of God’s people. Is it not a wonder that a mere man, the pope, could claim to be God on earth? Is it not a wonder that such a power could then turn around and persecute the innocent? Is it not a wonder that an institution of mere men would force the conscience of their fellow man, when God Himself would not? Is it not a wonder that men would intentionally speak perverse things and then claim to be the true church? Is it not a wonder that a church would accept pagan beliefs and customs and then say that it is the mother church?

Daniel chapter seven, provides additional details on why the Papacy is one of the three wonders of Bible prophecy. It would have “a mouth speaking great things.… And he shall speak great words against the most High.” Daniel 7:8, 25. Imagine an institution in the name of God, speaking great words against God? Then it would have the audacity to “think to change times and laws.” Daniel 7:25. Imagine mere men believing that they have the power to change the Ten Commandments of God? Absolutely tragic and blasphemous!

But perhaps the main reason the Papacy is the first wonder of Bible prophecy is because he has “magnified himself even to the prince of the host [Jesus Christ].” Daniel 8:11 By claiming to be the mediator between God and man, the Papacy could not have embraced a more blasphemous assertion. This claim by the Papacy is so apparently false, that it is a wonder that anyone should believe it. But there are over one billion adherents to this blasphemous claim. Then in the very end of time, nearly the whole world, will wonder after and worship the first beast—the Papacy. See Revelation 13:3, 8.

While claiming to be the mediator between God and man, the Papacy would “cast down” the truth concerning Christ and His heavenly Sanctuary. See Daniel 8:11, 12 It is easy to see how the Papacy has become one of the wonders of Bible prophecy. After all, she is the antichrist of Bible prophecy.

Verses 8-10: Understanding the Prophecies

Daniel desired to understand these latter portions of the prophecies, but they were “shut up” or “closed up and sealed till the time of the end.”

But in the end, many will be “purified, and made white” because there is power in God’s Word. In the seed of every plant is the unfolding of that plant. In same way, the Word of God is like seed. In these seeds of truth is the unfolding of a life. It is the unfolding of the life of Christ.

But for those who reject the Word of God, will not be changed into beautiful image of Jesus Christ. They will remain in there fallen natures and will continue to do wickedly.

Tragically many will be lost be they had no real interest in knowing what is truth. They spend their entire life seeking the things of this world. As a result, the wicked will not understand these prophecies. They will not accept the truth for this time. They are not preparing themselves for the judgment that is now taking place in the heavenly Sanctuary.

Verse 11: The Second Wonder

Paraphrase: “And from the time that the daily ministry of Christ would be obscured from before the people, and the abomination of Papal falsehoods and her apostate priesthood set up, there shall be a thousand two hundred and ninety days.”

The second wonder has to do with the taking away of the daily mediation of Christ in the heavenly Sanctuary and the setting up of the Papal system of false mediation. This false system is known as “the abomination that maketh desolate.”

It should be noted that the word sacrifice in the text is in italics and is therefore not part of the original text. In the original Hebrew, there is no word for “sacrifice.” The translators themselves supplied the word. As we studied earlier in chapter eight, the word daily simply means continual or regular. The Papacy exalted the concept of mediation, but replaced Christ’s High Priestly work with their own erroneous priesthood. It is as the Bible described it—an abomination. By destroying all who would not submit to her authority and false mediation, she became the “abomination that maketh desolate.”

The first wonder, Papal Rome, is the abomination that makes desolate. In Daniel 11:31, we read:

“And arms [an army] shall stand on his [the Papacy’s] part, and they shall pollute the Sanctuary of strength, and shall take away the daily sacrifice, and they shall place the abomination that maketh desolate.”

The phrase, “shall pollute the Sanctuary of strength”(Daniel 11:31), refers to the Papacy setting up her false priesthood. The word pollute carries with it the meaning of profaning, to break one’s word, or to begin opening a wedge for something profane to enter in. The two things that made it possible for the Papacy, the abomination that maketh desolate, to replace the daily mediation of Christ was the use of force, and her erroneous teachings.

As mentioned earlier, the Arians, the opposing forces to Papal Rome, were not truly Arian in their beliefs. An Arian believes that Christ was created. These Gothic nations were not taught that, and consequently did not teach that. They understood that Christ was the eternal Son of the Father. Jesus was not created, nor made. He was the only-begotten Son from eternity. One equal with the Father, yet His Son. As the Son of the Father, He alone could become the Savior of man. He alone could become the Mediator between man and God. He alone could become the high priest of the heavenly Sanctuary. In fact, all things must come through Christ and Him alone.

The Catholic Church fought against this belief because they had set themselves up as mediators to God. They had set up a priesthood in competition with Christ. Consequently, they falsely accused these Gothic nations as being Arians to create prejudice against them. Church history would have been quite different if the Gothic nations would have prevailed against the Catholic apostasy.

The army that stood on the part of the Papacy was none other than the Franks or the French. In AD 496, Clovis, the king of the Franks, was converted from paganism to Catholicism. He became the first Catholic king. In AD 508, the Franks defeated the Visigoths, who represented one of the strongholds of “Arian” Christians. And besides all that, the Franks were the strongest of the ten divisions of the Roman Empire. When the Roman Empire broke up into ten smaller kingdoms by AD 476, the Franks emerged as the strongest of the ten.

It was particularly the victories of Clovis over the Gothic nations that prepared the way for the Papacy to ascend to the throne of Caesar by 538. Therefore, the events of 508—the defeat of the Visigoths—prepared the way for the events of 538. Without the military aid and support of Europe’s strongest nation, the Papacy would not have ascended to the throne in 538.

But why would the strongest nation in Europe utilize its forces to support the erroneous claims of the Papacy?

It is a mystery. It is one of the wonders of Bible prophecy. The “man of sin, the son of perdition,” the Papacy, had convinced the world’s strongest nation that they were Christianity’s rightful ruler over the conscience of men. The Papal system must have convinced them that the Roman Catholic Church was the true church and that all others were heretics. With all the blasphemous words of the Papal power you would wonder how any nation could fall for such a deception. You would also wonder how any leader could believe that the annihilation of whole people groups represented the ministry and desires of Jesus Christ. You would think that after the annihilation of say 100,000 people, Clovis would open up his eyes and say, “Enough is enough!” But then, the martyrdom rose to one million, and these deceived nations supporting the Papal hierarchy, continued to support her. Then the martyrdom rose to ten million and then fifty million, and they still supported the Papal apostasy. Some have estimated that the Papacy murdered over 100 million innocent people. By 1798, someone had enough sense to put an end to these atrocities. In that year, Napoleon’s general, Berthier, captured the pope and declared Rome to be a republic. The French set up the Papacy in 538, and the French caused the deadly wound in 1798. But it wasn’t until over fifty million had perished. Imagine nations supporting this Papal apostasy for over one millennia. What a wonder!

We know that the 1260 year prophecy—the time, times, and half a time—represents the Dark Ages of Papal rule from 538 to 1798. Therefore, the 1290 year prophecy which sets up the 1260, must begin before. If the 1290 years begins before the 1260, then both prophecies must end at the same time in 1798.

“And from the time that the daily sacrifice shall be taken away, and the abomination that maketh desolate set up, there shall be a thousand two hundred and ninety days.” Daniel 12:11

Therefore, the years 508 to 1798 must represent the time of the 1290 year prophecy. The events of 508, with the Franks defeating the Visigoths in that pivotal battle, made it possible for the Catholic forces to defeat the Arians forces and rule for over one thousand years beginning in 538.

538-(the 1260 year rule of the Papacy)-1798

508-(the 1290 year prophesy, which “set up” the 1260 year prophesy)-

History will repeat itself. As the strongest nation in Europe, the Franks made it possible for the Papacy to ascend the throne of Caesar for the first time, the Papacy will rise to her former power a second time. This will also be made possible by the world’s strongest nation. The second beast of Revelation chapter thirteen, the United States, will be responsible for healing the deadly wound of the first beast, the Papacy. Without the world’s superpower, the Vatican could not regain her lost supremacy. But what a tragedy, what a wonder, that Protestant America would be responsible for re-igniting the fires of Papal atrocities! How can a nation based on liberty of conscience support the most intolerant of creeds? How can the nation of Protestant principles clasp hands with the man of sin, the antichrist of Bible prophecy? How can the nation most favored of God now turn its back on the commandments of God? It is a Bible prophecy wonder!

So far, we have studied two wonders of Bible prophecy: the abomination of Papal desolations from 538 to 1798, and the setting of these Papal desolations through the support of civil powers. In this particular prophecy, the focus was on Clovis and the Franks that made possible the rise of Papal supremacy and the martyrdom of over one fifty million people.

Time Prophecies

Before we consider the third wonder of Bible prophecy I would like us to consider the importance of time prophecies in the Bible. The Word of God covers the history of our world from Creation to the earth made new in more than one thousand pages. However, throughout the entire Bible there are only a few prophecies that focus on time. Therefore, those events associated with time, stand out as great milestones in the great conflict between Christ and Satan.

Already in the book of Daniel we have the 1260 and the 1290 year prophecies. These prophecies focused on the work of the antichrist power, the Papacy. The 1260 tells us how long the Papacy first ruled, and the 1290 tells us how that rule was made possible, namely, by the support of the nations to legislate her dogmas and to support her institutions.

Then there was the 70 weeks prophecy of Daniel chapter nine, and the 2300 day prophecy of Daniel chapter eight. We know that the 70 weeks, represents 490 years and points to the crucifixion of Christ. We know that the 2300 day prophecy, represents 2300 years and points to the high priestly ministry of Jesus Christ in the heavenly Sanctuary. It was at the fulfillment of this time prophecy that Christ would enter upon His final work in the anti-typical day of Atonement when the books would be opened and the investigative judgment would begin.

The 70 weeks and the 2300 day prophesy represent the most important events in human history, namely, the crucifixion of Christ and Christ’s high priestly work in the Most Holy Place in the heavenly Sanctuary. The 1260 and the 1290 represent the next most important power that affects human history, namely, the Papacy. More people have been deceived and murdered by papal Rome than any other religion or power.

Therefore, we might expect that the third wonder, will focus on something that greatly affects the eternal destiny of those living in the end of time.

Verse 12: The Third Wonder

“Blessed is he that waiteth [for the Lord to return], and cometh [by sanctification] to the thousand three hundred and five and thirty days [or 1335 years].”

The third most important thing that affects human history is the work of God’s people who usher in the second coming of Christ. The most “blessed” people are those who “waiteth” for the return of their Lord. Paul wrote, “Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ; who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works.” Titus 2:13–14.

The word waiteth denotes a time that can be delineated through charts and graphs. It also carries with it a sense of tarrying and waiting. It also may emphasize that the 1335 year prophecy would carry beyond the fulfillment of the 1290, therefore, the 1335 and the 1290 would have the same starting point 508, with the 1335 naturally ending 45 years later in 1843.

The word for cometh (the Hebrew naga) carries the meaning to touch, to draw near, or to reach or to arrive.

The people who were touched by the blessed hope of Christ’s return, those who were waiting for Jesus to come, and knew through charts and graphs the day of His appearing were the Millerites. When did these advent believers expect Jesus to first appear? In 1843. When does the 1335 year prophecy find its fulfillment? Beginning in 508, the prophecy would end in 1843. That’s right! The 1335 year prophecy ends in 1843, the year that the Advent believers first expected Jesus to come.

The blessed saints of that Advent movement, known also as the Millerite movement, used charts to explain their views of the prophecies. These charts clearly taught that the Advent believers saw the 1335 year prophecy ending in 1843. It was in this year that the second angel’s message began to sound and to join with the first angel’s message. See Revelation 14:6–8. These messages were designed by God to prepare a people for the second coming of Christ. The first angel’s message is the continued proclamation of the everlasting gospel. In addition, God’s people are to warn the world that “judgment is come.” In other words, the books have been opened for judgment. Jesus is in the Most Holy Place of the heavenly Sanctuary. His people are to “worship Him that created heaven and earth.” They are to repair the breach made in God’s law concerning the Sabbath.

For the entirety of Biblical history, from the creation of our world to the final book of the Bible was written, God’s people have only known one Sabbath day—the seventh day Sabbath.

At the end of the creation world, God set aside the seventh day Sabbath as a memorial of His creative work. “Thus the heavens and the earth were finished, and all the host of them. And on the seventh day God ended his work which he had made; and he rested on the seventh day from all his work which he had made. And God blessed the seventh day, and sanctified it: because that in it he had rested from all his work which God created and made.” Genesis 2:1-3

Twenty-five hundred years later, around 1500 BC, we find Jesus writing the Ten Commandments on two tables of stone, and handing them to Moses. Jesus had written concerning the fourth commandment, “Remember the sabbath day, to keep it holy. Six days shalt thou labor, and do all thy work: But the seventh day is the Sabbath of the Lord thy God: in it thou shalt not do any work, thou, nor thy son, nor thy daughter, thy manservant, nor thy maidservant, nor thy cattle, nor thy stranger that is within thy gates: For in six days the Lord made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that in them is, and rested the seventh day: wherefore the Lord blessed the Sabbath day, and hallowed it.” Exodus 20:8-11

For the first 2500 years, God’s people had only known one Sabbath day—the seventh day Sabbath.

Then Jesus came at the “fullness of time,” four thousand years after Creation. Which day may we expect our Creator and Redeemer to keep? Which day would the Lawgiver keep as the Sabbath day? “And he [Jesus] came to Nazareth, where he had been brought up: and, as his custom was, he went into the synagogue on the Sabbath day, and stood up for to read.” Luke 4:16

For the first 4000 years, God’s people had only known the seventh day as the Sabbath of the Lord our God.

Hence, the early church would keep the seventh-day Sabbath. “And Paul, as his manner was, went in unto them, and three sabbath days reasoned with them out of the Scriptures.” Acts 17:2

Throughout all Biblical time, God’s people kept the seventh-day Sabbath. But today we find the majority of God’s professed people keeping a different day—Sunday. It is a day that neither points to God’s creative work, nor to the power of His resurrection. The sign of the power of Christ’s resurrection is the new birth experience. As Paul wrote, “Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death? Therefore, we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life. For if we have been planted together in the likeness of his death, we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection: Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin. For he that is dead is freed from sin.” Romans 6:3-7

We are to honor God on the seventh-day Sabbath as our Creator. In doing so, we acknowledge that He created all things, and that all that He creates is perfect. Therefore, true Sabbath-keeping is living the new life by the creative power of God. In like manner, we celebrate the resurrection of Christ by living the new life. This happens when we allow the old nature to die. When the old man is buried in the likeness of Christ’s death, then we are able to rise in newness of life by the very power that raised Jesus from the dead. Therefore, we are not to change the day that God Himself set aside as a memorial of His creative power, but we are to live in the power of Christ’s resurrection to honor our Savior’s life, death, and resurrection. In fact, we are to do both. We are to keep the seventh-day Sabbath and live a new life in honor of Christ’s resurrection.

Sadly, we have people keeping a different day—Sunday. This is a day that has robbed God of the memorial He has set aside for the creation of our world. In addition, many of the Sunday-keeping churches fail to preach the everlasting gospel that proclaims both the forgiveness of sin and deliverance from sin. Now we can see that God needed to raise up a movement that preached the soon return of Christ, the everlasting gospel, that judgment has begun, and the privilege to repair the breach made in God’s law.

Prior to 1843, the Millerites were able to speak in many of the Protestant churches. But when January 1843 arrived and Jesus had not yet come, the pulpits were closed to the Millerites, and widespread disfellowshipping of them commenced. It was at this time that the Millerites saw the various Protestant churches as the fallen churches of Babylon. See Revelation 14:8. It was the second angel’s message that brought them out of the other churches.

This Advent movement was marked with a consecration that we have not seen since. They were closer to heaven than we are today. They sacrificed to get the message out to every nation, kindred, tongue, and people. They were indeed the most blessed of movements until this day. They were the beginning of a movement that would eventually enlighten the world with the three angels’ messages. See Revelation 14:6–12. And today, we are still in that blessed waiting time. That blessed time began in 1843, but it will not cease until the Lord shall appear in the clouds of heaven.

Who were these Millerites? They were earnest seekers of truth from the various churches. It didn’t matter which church they had been attending. What was important is that they sought for truth and a much deeper spiritual experience. They came from the Methodist church, the Lutheran Church, and the Catholic church. They were Baptists, and Presbyterians, and Congregationalists. They were those who were closer to heaven than all others.

Today, the Great Advent Movement continues. You and I can choose to be a part of this last great gospel call to the world, to prepare a people for the soon return of Christ. This is not a movement to take over politics, commerce, the media, and every other institution. This movement has one singular purpose, namely, get ready for Jesus to come.

We will learn more about these waiting saints in Revelation chapter ten and fourteen.

Other interpretations

Now some would have us throw the 1260, 1290, and 1335 into the future. They would have us understand them as 1260, 1290, and 1335 literal days. They would argue that there is no symbolism in Daniel chapter twelve, and therefore, time prophecies are to be understood as literal time and not as prophetic time, as a day representing a year. The problem with that argument is that Daniel chapter nine does not have any symbolism either and there we have the 70 week prophecy which we know represents 490 years.

The Bible clearly teaches that a day represents a year in Bible prophecy. And the notion that a time prophecy is to be understood as literal time when there is no symbolism simply does not hold water.

It should also be carefully noted that you cannot separate the 1290 year prophecy of Daniel 12:11 from the 2300 year prophecy of Daniel 8:14. Not only do both prophecies include the same detail, but they are also couched in the same setting.

For example, the 1290 year prophecy is about the daily being taken out of the way for the abomination that maketh desolate to be set up. The details involved in the 2300 year prophecy are the same. The question is asked, “How long shall be the vision concerning the daily sacrifice, and the transgression of desolation, to give both the Sanctuary and the host to be trodden under foot?” Daniel 8:13. And the answer is, “Unto two thousand and three hundred days; then shall the Sanctuary be cleansed.” Daniel 8:14.

Both the 1290 and 2300 year prophecies speak about the daily and the transgression or abomination of desolation. The strength of the daily representing Christ’s priestly ministry is that Daniel 8:14 answers the specific question about how long the daily and the transgression of desolation would last. The answer is 1844. It was in 1844, that the Advent people would receive great light on the high priestly work of Christ in the heavenly Sanctuary. When that truth was discovered, God’s people came physically and spiritually out of spiritual Babylon. They now had the light that the Papacy had hidden for so long through her false priesthood. The truth that Satan hoped to hide from the human family now became known through the understanding of the 2300thday prophecy.

As noted earlier, the setting of these two time prophecies is the same. In Daniel chapter twelve, we have a river with two heavenly beings on either side of the river. Jesus Himself is seen as above the waters of the river. And the question that is asked is, “How long. . . the wonders?” Which wonders? The abomination of desolation (represented by the 1260), the setting up of the abomination of desolation (represented by the 1290), and God’s people (represented by the 1335).

What do we have in Daniel chapter eight? We have a river, Daniel 8:2, 16. We have two heavenly beings, Daniel 8:13. We have Jesus upon the waters of the river, Daniel 8:16. We have a “How long” question, Daniel 8:13. We have the same wonders as in chapter twelve: the abomination of desolation, the daily, and the Sanctuary and the host, or God’s people, Daniel 8:13. Simply said, we have the same setting in both Daniel chapters eight and twelve. Therefore, we cannot separate the message of Daniel eight and the 2300 year prophecy from the three wonders of chapter twelve, especially the 1290 year prophecy. If you put Daniel 12:5–13 in the future, then you would logically have to put chapter eight in the future as well. But as we already know, the 2300 day prophecy represents 2300 years. It began in 457 BC, and ended in 1844 AD. Therefore, the 1290 day prophesy must likewise represent 1290 years. It would begin in 508 AD, and end in 1798 AD.

Verse 13: Prophecy Ended

The book of Daniel ends with the surety that the prophecies concerning the latter days will be understood and proclaimed. It is when these prophecies are proclaimed and God has a people who purpose in their hearts not to be defiled that Daniel will certainly stand in his lot. It is the day that all the patriarchs and prophets of old looked forward to. And we are the privileged generation that is given the glorious opportunity to proclaim that last message of mercy to a fallen world. May we prove to love and trust our heavenly Father as much as did Daniel of old. May we glorify our Redeemer with each and every trial. May we learn the lessons as taught in the stories of this great prophetic book.

The book of Daniel had concluded with the 1335 day prophesy representing 1335 years. It pointed to a people waiting for the Lord to return in the year of 1843. This is just one year before the time Jesus would begin the judgment in 1844.