Daniel Prophecies
Chapter 12
There is much similarity between the invasion and destruction by Antiochus and the army of Caesar. As the prophecy of Chapter 11 moves on, the shift is away from Antiochus and toward Caesar. Remember, Daniel is given 2 prophesies, one of rebuilding of the temple and its final destruction, and of the coming Messiah.
Michael, the great prince who stands guard over the sons of your people
( Michael is the angel of Israel )
(the final phase of the persecution of the Jews, under the Caesars)
at the time of distress, (the Great Trib of around 66.6 AD to 70AD) your people (the
elect of God, since they are those written in the Lamb’s book*) will be rescued.
Christians in Jerusalem fled the city to the city of Pella during a lull in the siege. The commander of Caesar’s army, withdrew for a time, leaving a time of safety for the Christians to flee. The reason for the withdrawal of the army was never explained… it is God’s will at work, fulfilling His prophecy. Not one Christian perished in that siege. No Christian perished. Pella is in the hills/mountains, not far from Jerusalem.....you canGoogle it and see.
* There is the Lamb’s book of the elect and the book of life of all peoples, two books.
2. many of those who sleep in the dust will awake to everlasting life, the others to disgrace and everlasting contempt FIRST RESURRECTION (bodily resurrection of the bodies of saints)
3. and those who have insight (discernment), will shine brightly like the expanse of heaven (the sun) and those who lead the many to righteousness (sound teaching brings the freedom of truth) will shine like stars.
4. this prophecy is sealed (will not be understood by man until it happens at the “end of time” or the “end of THAT time)
5. knowledge will increase (as the time drew nearer, John was given his “Revelation and it increased the understanding of Daniel’s prophecy)
6. “how long will it be until the end of these wonders?
7. Gabriel answers: it would be for a time, times and half a time; (3 ½ years, or 1290 days which is the exact amount of time Jerusalem was under siege) and as soon as they finished shattering the power of the holy people, the power of the Jewish leaders rested in their ministry to the people: offering sacrifice and translating the meaning of the Law and applying it. Their power over the people and the temple ceased finally and forever when the temple was destroyed. Though the cross effectually did this for believers, the destruction of the temple signaled to the Jews that the old covenant was truly replaced by the NEW….and these events WERE completed as Daniels’ prophesy says they would be.
Short version: The POWER of the HOLY PEOPLE was the Temple. The siege lasted 3 ½ years, then the city and the temple were totally destroyed.
8. Daniel asks the outcome of these events and is told in verse 9….
9. basically that this is none of Daniel’s concern, that the prophecy is sealed until that end time when these things take place.
10. there was a time of purification, when God’s people repented and believed, tho the wicked remained in their state just as they do today; and those who had discernment to see the fulfilling of Daniel’s prophecy and Revelation understood what this prophecy was about.
11 and from the time that the regular sacrifice is abolished: - the regular sacrifice was in the temple, the blood of animals which the CROSS abolished (AD33-34?)
and the abomination of desolation is set up: the army of the Caesars reign
there will be 1290 days = 3 ½ years (the beginning of Caligula’s reign marked the beginning of intense persecution of Christians, and as Luke tells us, the abomination of desolation is the army of the Caesars. Caligula’s reign AD 37-41, which puts him very close in the time line of 3 ½ years after the cross. (the time of the ministry of Christ and the year of the cross is not exactly known)
12 how blessed is he who keeps waiting and attains to the 1335th day
**approximately 45 days after the fall of the temple, the bulk of the abomination of desolation (the army of the Caesar) went back to Rome.
1290 days plus 45 days = 1335 days
I see Two 7 year periods in history
1. 3 ½ year of the ministry of Christ, after the cross the gospel is taken to the Jews first for 3 ½ years.
2. 3 ½ years from when John writes Revelation until the siege of Jerusalem begins then a 3 ½ year siege
#7 in Hermenutics signifies perfection, completion and is a period of time in several bible events. I see no reason to suppose that every 7 year, 3 ½ year, 1290 days, etc should be linked to ONE event.