---
title: "Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible -  Daniel 12"
description: "CHAPTER 12   :-. CONCLUSION OF THE
VISION (TENTH
THROUGH TWELFTH
CHAPTERS) AND
EPILOGUE TO THE BOOK. Compare Daniel 12:4;
Daniel 12:13; as Daniel 12:6;
Da"
image: "/images/missing.jpg"
url: "https://realbiblebelievers.com/commentaries/commentary-critical-and-explanatory-on-the-whole-bible/daniel/12"
---

CHAPTER 12

. CONCLUSION OF THE
VISION (TENTH
THROUGH TWELFTH
CHAPTERS) AND
EPILOGUE TO THE BOOK.
Compare [Daniel 12:4](../../../kjv/daniel/12/4);
[Daniel 12:13](../../../kjv/daniel/12/13); as [Daniel 12:6](../../../kjv/daniel/12/6);
[Daniel 12:7](../../../kjv/daniel/12/7) refer to [Daniel 12:7](../../../kjv/daniel/12/7), that is, to the time of Antichrist, so the subsequent [Daniel 12:7](../../../kjv/daniel/12/7) treat of the time of Antiochus (compare [Daniel 12:11](../../../kjv/daniel/12/11);
[Daniel 11:31](../../../kjv/daniel/11/31)), thus putting together
in one summary view the two great periods of distress. The political
resurrection of the Jews under the Maccabees is the starting-point of
transition to the literal resurrection about to follow the
destruction of Antichrist by Christ's coming in glory. The language
passes here from the nearer to the more remote event, to which alone
it is fully applicable.

**1. at that time**—*typically,*
towards the close of Antiochus' reign; *antitypically,* the time
when Antichrist is to be destroyed at Christ's coming.
**Michael**—the guardian
angel of Israel ("thy people"), (). The transactions on earth affecting God's people have
their correspondences in heaven, in the conflict between good and bad
angels; so at the last great contest on earth which shall decide the
ascendency of Christianity (). An archangel, not the Lord Jesus; for he is
distinguished from "the Lord" in .
**there shall be**—rather,
"it shall be."
**time of trouble, such as
never was**—partially applicable to the time of Antiochus, who
was the first subverter of the Jews' religion, and persecutor of its
professors, which no other world power had done. Fully applicable to
the last times of Antichrist, and his persecutions of Israel restored
to Palestine. Satan will be allowed to exercise an unhindered,
unparalleled energy ([Isaiah 26:20](../../../kjv/isaiah/26/20);
[Isaiah 26:21](../../../kjv/isaiah/26/21); [Jeremiah 30:7](../../../kjv/jeremiah/30/7);
[Matthew 24:21](../../../kjv/matthew/24/21); compare [Daniel 8:24](../../../kjv/daniel/8/24);
[Daniel 8:25](../../../kjv/daniel/8/25); [Daniel 11:36](../../../kjv/daniel/11/36)).
**thy people shall be
delivered**— ([Romans 11:26](../../../kjv/romans/11/26)).
The same deliverance of Israel as in [Zechariah 13:8](../../../kjv/zechariah/13/8);
[Zechariah 13:9](../../../kjv/zechariah/13/9), "the third part .
. . brought through the fire . . . refined as silver." The
remnant in Israel spared, as not having joined in the Antichristian
blasphemy ([Revelation 14:9](../../../kjv/revelation/14/9); [Revelation 14:10](../../../kjv/revelation/14/10));
not to be confounded with those who have confessed Christ before His
coming, "the remnant according to the election of grace"
([Romans 11:5](../../../kjv/romans/11/5)), part of the Church
of the first-born who will share His millennial reign in glorified
bodies; the spared remnant ([Romans 11:5](../../../kjv/romans/11/5)) will only know the Lord Jesus when they see Him, and when
the spirit of grace and supplication is poured out on them
[TREGELLES].
**written in the book**—namely,
of God's secret purpose, as destined for deliverance ([Psalms 56:8](../../../kjv/psalms/56/8);
[Psalms 69:28](../../../kjv/psalms/69/28); [Luke 10:20](../../../kjv/luke/10/20);
[Revelation 20:15](../../../kjv/revelation/20/15); [Revelation 21:27](../../../kjv/revelation/21/27)).
Metaphor from a muster-roll of citizens ([Revelation 21:27](../../../kjv/revelation/21/27)).

**2. many . . . that sleep**—"many
*from among* the sleepers . . . *these* shall be unto
everlasting life; but *those* (the rest of the sleepers who do
not awake at this time) shall be unto shame" [TREGELLES].
Not the *general* resurrection, but that of those who share in
the first resurrection; the rest of the dead being not to rise till
the end of the thousand years ([Revelation 20:3](../../../kjv/revelation/20/3);
[Revelation 20:5](../../../kjv/revelation/20/5); [Revelation 20:6](../../../kjv/revelation/20/6);
compare [1 Corinthians 15:23](../../../kjv/1-corinthians/15/23); [1 Thessalonians 4:16](../../../kjv/1-thessalonians/4/16)).
Israel's national resurrection, and the first resurrection of the
elect Church, are similarly connected with the Lord's coming forth
out of His place to punish the earth in [Isaiah 26:19](../../../kjv/isaiah/26/19);
[Isaiah 26:21](../../../kjv/isaiah/26/21); [Isaiah 27:6](../../../kjv/isaiah/27/6).
Compare [Isaiah 25:6-9](../../../kjv/isaiah/25/6-9). The
Jewish commentators support TREGELLES.
AUBERLEN thinks the sole
purpose for which the resurrection is introduced in this verse is an
incitement to faithful perseverance in the persecutions of Antiochus;
and that there is no *chronological* connection between the time
of trouble in [Daniel 12:1](../../../kjv/daniel/12/1) and the
resurrection in [Daniel 12:2](../../../kjv/daniel/12/2); whence
the phrase, "at that time," twice occurs in [Daniel 12:2](../../../kjv/daniel/12/2), but no fixing of time in [Daniel 12:2](../../../kjv/daniel/12/2);
[Daniel 12:3](../../../kjv/daniel/12/3); 2 Maccabees 7:9, 14,
23, shows the fruit of this prophecy in animating the Maccabean
mother and her sons to brave death, while confessing the resurrection
in words like those here. Compare [Daniel 12:3](../../../kjv/daniel/12/3). NEWTON'S view
that "many" means *all,* is not so probable; for
[Romans 5:15](../../../kjv/romans/5/15); [Romans 5:19](../../../kjv/romans/5/19),
which he quotes, is not in point, since the *Greek* is "*the*
many," that is, all, but there is no article in the *Hebrew*
here. Here only *in the Old Testament* is "everlasting
life" mentioned.

**3. wise**— (). Answering to "they that understand" ([Daniel 11:33](../../../kjv/daniel/11/33);
[Daniel 11:35](../../../kjv/daniel/11/35)), the same *Hebrew,
Maskilim;* Israelites who, though in Jerusalem when wickedness is
coming to a head, are found intelligent witnesses against it. As *then*
they appeared worn out with persecutions (typically, of Antiochus;
antitypically, of Antichrist); so *now* in the resurrection they
"shine as the brightness of the firmament." The design of
past afflictions here appears "to make them white" ([Matthew 13:43](../../../kjv/matthew/13/43);
[Revelation 7:9](../../../kjv/revelation/7/9); [Revelation 7:14](../../../kjv/revelation/7/14)).
**turn . . . to
righteousness**—literally, "justify," that is, convert
many to justification through Christ ([Revelation 7:14](../../../kjv/revelation/7/14)).
**stars**— ([1 Corinthians 15:41](../../../kjv/1-corinthians/15/41);
[1 Corinthians 15:42](../../../kjv/1-corinthians/15/42)).

**4. shut up . . . seal the book**—John,
on the contrary, is told () not to seal his visions. Daniel's prophecy refers to a
*distant* time, and is therefore obscure for the immediate
future, whereas John's was to be *speedily* fulfilled ([Revelation 1:1](../../../kjv/revelation/1/1);
[Revelation 1:3](../../../kjv/revelation/1/3); [Revelation 22:6](../../../kjv/revelation/22/6)).
*Israel,* to whom Daniel prophesied after the captivity, with
premature zeal sought after signs of the predicted period: Daniel's
prophecy was designed to restrain this. The *Gentile* Church, on
the contrary, for whom John wrote, needs to be impressed with the
shortness of the period, as it is, owing to its Gentile origin, apt
to conform to the world, and to forget the coming of the Lord
(compare [Matthew 25:13](../../../kjv/matthew/25/13); [Matthew 25:19](../../../kjv/matthew/25/19);
[Mark 13:32-37](../../../kjv/mark/13/32-37); [2 Peter 3:8](../../../kjv/2-peter/3/8);
[2 Peter 3:12](../../../kjv/2-peter/3/12); [Revelation 22:20](../../../kjv/revelation/22/20)).
**run to and fro**—not
referring to the modern rapidity of locomotion, as some think, nor to
Christian missionaries going about to preach the Gospel to the world
at large [BARNES], which
the context scarcely admits; but, whereas now but few care for this
prophecy of God, "at the time of the end," that is, near
its fulfilment, "many shall run to and fro," that is,
scrutinize it, running through every page. Compare [Revelation 22:20](../../../kjv/revelation/22/20) [CALVIN]: it is
thereby that "*the* knowledge (namely, of God's purposes as
revealed in prophecy) shall be increased." This is probably
being now fulfilled.

**5.** A vision of two other angels,
one on one side of the Hiddekel or Tigris, the other on the other
side, implying that on all sides angels attend to execute God's
commands. The angel addressing Daniel had been *over* the river
"from above" ([Daniel 12:6](../../../kjv/daniel/12/6),
*Margin*).

**6. one**—namely, of the two ().
**man . . . in linen**—who
had spoken up to this point. God impelled the angel to ask in order
to waken us out of our torpor, seeing that the very "angels
desire to look into" the things affecting man's redemption (), as setting forth the glory of their Lord and ours ().
**How long . . . to the end of
these wonders**—This question of the angel refers to the final
dealings of God in general, Antichrist's overthrow, and the
resurrection. Daniel's question () refers to the more immediate future of his nation
[AUBERLEN].

**7. held up . . . right . . . and . .
. left hand**—Usually the right hand was held up in affirmation
as an appeal to heaven to attest the truth ([Deuteronomy 32:40](../../../kjv/deuteronomy/32/40);
[Revelation 10:5](../../../kjv/revelation/10/5); [Revelation 10:6](../../../kjv/revelation/10/6)).
Here *both* hands are lifted up for the fuller confirmation.
**time, times, and a half**—(See
on [Daniel 7:25](../../../kjv/daniel/7/25)). NEWTON,
referring this prophecy to the Eastern apostasy, Mohammedanism,
remarks that the same period of three and a half years, or 1260
prophetic days, is assigned to it as the Western apostasy of the
little horn ([Daniel 7:25](../../../kjv/daniel/7/25)); and so,
says PRIDEAUX, Mohammed
began to forge his imposture, retiring to his cave, A.D.
606, the very year that Phocas made the grant to the bishop of Rome,
whence he assumed the title, The Universal Pastor; Antichrist thus
setting both his feet on Christendom together, the one in the East,
and the other in the West. Three and a half is the time of the world
power, in which the earthly kingdoms rule over the heavenly
[AUBERLEN]. "Three
and a half" represents *the idea of spiritual trial;*
(besides this certain *symbolical* meaning, there is doubtless
an accurate *chronological* meaning, which is as yet to us
uncertain): it is half of "seven," the complete number, so
a semi-perfect state, one of probation. The holy city is trodden by
the Gentiles forty-two months ([Daniel 7:25](../../../kjv/daniel/7/25)), so the exercise of the power of the beast ([Daniel 7:25](../../../kjv/daniel/7/25)). The two witnesses preach in sackcloth 1260 days, and
remained unburied *three days and a half:* so the woman in the
wilderness: also the same for a "time, times, and a half"
([Revelation 11:3](../../../kjv/revelation/11/3); [Revelation 11:9](../../../kjv/revelation/11/9);
[Revelation 11:11](../../../kjv/revelation/11/11); [Revelation 12:6](../../../kjv/revelation/12/6);
[Revelation 12:14](../../../kjv/revelation/12/14)). *Forty-two*
connects the Church with Israel, whose haltings in the wilderness
were *forty-two* ([Revelation 12:14](../../../kjv/revelation/12/14)). The famine and drought on Israel in Elijah's days were
for "three years and six months" ([Luke 4:25](../../../kjv/luke/4/25);
[James 5:17](../../../kjv/james/5/17)); there same period as
Antiochus' persecution: so the ministry of the Man of Sorrows, which
ceased in the midst of a week ([James 5:17](../../../kjv/james/5/17)) [WORDSWORTH,
*Apocalypse*].
**scatter . . . holy
people**—"accomplished" here answers to "the
consummation" ([Daniel 9:27](../../../kjv/daniel/9/27)),
namely, the "pouring out" of the last dregs of the curse on
the "desolated holy people." Israel's lowest humiliation
(the utter "scattering of her power") is the precursor of
her exaltation, as it leads her to seek her God and Messiah ([Daniel 9:27](../../../kjv/daniel/9/27)).

**8. understood not**—Daniel
"understood" the main features of the vision as to
Antiochus ([Daniel 10:1](../../../kjv/daniel/10/1); [Daniel 10:14](../../../kjv/daniel/10/14)),
but not as to the *times.* [Daniel 10:14](../../../kjv/daniel/10/14) refers mainly to Daniel: for it is he who foretells "the
sufferings of Christ and the glory that should follow"; it is he
who prophesies "not unto himself, but unto us"; it is he
who "searched what, or what manner of *time* the Spirit of
Christ in him did signify."

**9.** Daniel's desire of knowing
more is thus deferred "till the time of the end." John's
Revelation in part reveals what here is veiled (see on ; [Daniel 8:26](../../../kjv/daniel/8/26)).

**10.** There is no need of a fuller
explanation as to the *time;* for when the predictions so far
given shall have come to pass, the godly shall be "purified"
by the foretold trials and shall understand that the end is at hand;
but the wicked shall not understand, and so shall rush on to their
own ruin ([Daniel 11:33-35](../../../kjv/daniel/11/33-35))
[MAURER]. The "end"
is primarily, of Antiochus' persuasion; antitypically, the end of
Antichrist's. It is the very clearness in the main which renders
necessary the obscurity. The fulfilment of God's decree is not a mere
arithmetical problem which the profane may understand by arithmetical
calculations, but a holy enigma to stimulate to a faithful observance
of God's ways, and to a diligent study of the history of God's people
[AUBERLEN]. To this Christ
refers ([Matthew 24:15](../../../kjv/matthew/24/15)), "Whose
readeth, let him *understand.*"

**11. from . . . sacrifice . . . taken
way . . . abomination**— (). As to this epoch, which probably is prophetically
germinant and manifold; the profanation of the temple *by Antiochus*
(in the month Ijar of the year 145 B.C.,
till the restoration of the worship by Judas Maccabeus on the
twenty-fifth day of the ninth month [Chisleu] of 148 B.C.,
according to the Seleucid era, 1290 days; forty-five days more
elapsed before Antiochus' death in the month Shebat of 148 B.C.,
so ending the Jews' calamities [MAURER]);
*by pagan Rome,* after Christ's death; *by Mohammed; by
Antichrist,* the culmination of apostate Rome. The "abomination"
must reach its climax (see AUBERLEN'S
translation, "summit," ), and the measure of iniquity be full, before Messiah comes.
**thousand two hundred and
ninety days**—a month beyond the "time, times, and a half"
([Daniel 12:7](../../../kjv/daniel/12/7)). In [Daniel 12:7](../../../kjv/daniel/12/7), forty-five days more are added, in all 1335 days.
TREGELLES thinks Jesus at
His coming will deliver the Jews. An interval elapses, during which
their consciences are awakened to repentance and faith in Him. A
second interval elapses in which Israel's outcasts are gathered, and
then the united blessing takes place. These stages are marked by the
1260, 1290, and 1335 days. CUMMING
thinks the 1260 years begin when Justinian in A.
D. 533 subjected the Eastern churches to John II, bishop of
Rome; ending in 1792, when the Code Napoleon was established and the
Pope was dishonored. 1290 reach to 1822, about the time of the waning
of the Turkish power, the successor to Greece in the empire of the
East. Forty-five years more end in 1867, the end of "the times
of the Gentiles." See [Daniel 12:7](../../../kjv/daniel/12/7), "seven times," that is, 7 X 360, or 2520 years:
652 B.C. is the date of
Judah's captivity, beginning under Manasseh; 2520 from this date end
in 1868, thus nearly harmonizing with the previous date, 1867. See on
[Daniel 8:14](../../../kjv/daniel/8/14). The seventh millenary
of the world [CLINTON]
begins in 1862. Seven years to 1869 (the date of the second advent)
constitute the reign of the personal Antichrist; in the last three
and a half, the period of final tribulation, Enoch (or else Moses)
and Elijah, the two witnesses, prophesy in sackcloth. This theory is
very dubious (compare [Matthew 24:36](../../../kjv/matthew/24/36);
[Acts 1:7](../../../kjv/acts/1/7); [1 Thessalonians 5:2](../../../kjv/1-thessalonians/5/2);
[2 Peter 3:10](../../../kjv/2-peter/3/10)); still the event alone
can tell whether the chronological coincidences of such theories are
fortuitous, or solid data on which to fix the future times. HALES
makes the periods 1260, 1290, 1335, begin with the Roman destruction
of Jerusalem and end with the precursory dawn of the Reformation, the
preaching of Wycliffe and Huss.

**13. rest**—in the grave ([Job 3:17](../../../kjv/job/3/17);
[Isaiah 57:2](../../../kjv/isaiah/57/2)). He, like his people
Israel, was to wait patiently and confidently for the blessing till
God's time. He "received not the promise," but had to wait
until the Christian elect saints should be brought in, at the first
resurrection, that he and the older Old Testament saints "without
us should not be made perfect" ([Isaiah 57:2](../../../kjv/isaiah/57/2)).
**stand**—implying
*justification* unto life, as opposed to condemnation ([Isaiah 57:2](../../../kjv/isaiah/57/2)).
**thy lot**—image from the
*allotment* of the earthly Canaan.

```json
{"@context":"https://schema.org","@graph":[{"@type":"WebSite","@id":"https://realbiblebelievers.com/#website","url":"https://realbiblebelievers.com","name":"Real Bible Believers","description":"RBB","publisher":{"@id":"https://realbiblebelievers.com/#/schema/person/e966585dde703268e7f6ae890ea98509"},"potentialAction":[{"@type":"SearchAction","target":"https://realbiblebelievers.com/search?q={search_term_string}","query-input":"required name=search_term_string"}],"inLanguage":"en-US"},{"@type":"ImageObject","@id":"https://realbiblebelievers.com/commentaries/commentary-critical-and-explanatory-on-the-whole-bible/daniel/12#primaryimage","inLanguage":"en-US","url":"https://realbiblebelievers.com/images/missing.jpg","contentUrl":"https://realbiblebelievers.com/images/missing.jpg","width":640,"height":370,"caption":"Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible -  Daniel 12"},{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https://realbiblebelievers.com/commentaries/commentary-critical-and-explanatory-on-the-whole-bible/daniel/12#webpage","url":"https://realbiblebelievers.com/commentaries/commentary-critical-and-explanatory-on-the-whole-bible/daniel/12","name":"Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible -  Daniel 12","isPartOf":{"@id":"https://realbiblebelievers.com/#website"},"primaryImageOfPage":{"@id":"https://realbiblebelievers.com/commentaries/commentary-critical-and-explanatory-on-the-whole-bible/daniel/12#primaryimage"},"datePublished":null,"dateModified":null,"author":{"@id":"https://realbiblebelievers.com/#/schema/person/e966585dde703268e7f6ae890ea98509"},"description":"CHAPTER 12   :-. CONCLUSION OF THE\nVISION (TENTH\nTHROUGH TWELFTH\nCHAPTERS) AND\nEPILOGUE TO THE BOOK. Compare Daniel 12:4;\nDaniel 12:13; as Daniel 12:6;\nDa","breadcrumb":{"@id":"https://realbiblebelievers.com/commentaries/commentary-critical-and-explanatory-on-the-whole-bible/daniel/12#breadcrumb"},"inLanguage":"en-US","potentialAction":[{"@type":"ReadAction","target":["https://realbiblebelievers.com/commentaries/commentary-critical-and-explanatory-on-the-whole-bible/daniel/12"]}]},{"@type":"BreadcrumbList","@id":"https://realbiblebelievers.com/commentaries/commentary-critical-and-explanatory-on-the-whole-bible/daniel/12#breadcrumb","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"item":{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https://realbiblebelievers.com/","url":"https://realbiblebelievers.com/","name":"Home"}},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"item":{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https://realbiblebelievers.com/commentaries","url":"https://realbiblebelievers.com/commentaries","name":"Commentaries"}},{"@type":"ListItem","position":3,"item":{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https://realbiblebelievers.com/commentaries/commentary-critical-and-explanatory-on-the-whole-bible","url":"https://realbiblebelievers.com/commentaries/commentary-critical-and-explanatory-on-the-whole-bible","name":"Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible"}},{"@type":"ListItem","position":4,"item":{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https://realbiblebelievers.com/commentaries/commentary-critical-and-explanatory-on-the-whole-bible/daniel","url":"https://realbiblebelievers.com/commentaries/commentary-critical-and-explanatory-on-the-whole-bible/daniel","name":"Daniel"}},{"@type":"ListItem","position":5,"item":{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https://realbiblebelievers.com/commentaries/commentary-critical-and-explanatory-on-the-whole-bible/daniel/12","url":"https://realbiblebelievers.com/commentaries/commentary-critical-and-explanatory-on-the-whole-bible/daniel/12","name":"12"}}]},{"@type":["Person","Organization"],"@id":"https://realbiblebelievers.com/#/schema/person/e966585dde703268e7f6ae890ea98509","image":{"@type":"ImageObject","@id":"https://realbiblebelievers.com/#personlogo","inLanguage":"en-US","url":"https://realbiblebelievers.com/android-chrome-512x512.png","contentUrl":"https://realbiblebelievers.com/android-chrome-512x512.png","width":512,"height":512},"logo":{"@id":"https://realbiblebelievers.com/#personlogo"},"sameAs":["https://twitter.com/RBiblebeliever","https://www.facebook.com/RBibleBelievers"]}]}
```