The Day of Atonement in Daniel
Daniel 12:1 “Now at that [end] time Michael, the great [angelic] prince who stands guard over the children of your people, will arise. And there will be a time of distress such as never occurred since there was a nation until that time; but at that time your people, everyone who is found written in the Book [of Life], will be rescued. 2 Many of those who sleep in the dust of the ground will awake (resurrect), these to everlasting life, but some to disgrace and everlasting contempt (abhorrence).
This is a direct and very clear reference to the Day of Atonement. At the Feast of Trumpets the books are open. You have the book of life and if you are written in that book you will go to everlasting life. You have the book of death and if you are in that book you go to everlasting contempt. Then you have the book of sinners, those who are still not clearly in one book or the other.
When Jesus tells Sardis
5 He that overcometh, the same shall be clothed in white raiment; and I will not blot out his name out of the book of life, but I will confess his name before my Father, and before his angels.
Many have been shocked that "blotting your name out of the book of life" is a possibility. Please note, blotting your name out of the book of life is not the same as writing it in the book of death. Suppose He said "he that overcomes will be raptured and will not be left behind". Suppose "being raptured" is equal to having your name in the book of life and in order for that to happen you must "overcome". If you do not overcome that doesn't mean your name is in the book of death, instead it means you are in the book of the sinners. A psychopath and sociopath would be those that would be in the book of death, the ones that go into eternal contempt. Overcomers are in the book of life. Everyone else hasn't been sorted yet and will be sorted out during the tribulation. They may be sheep that inherit the earth, they may turn out to be goats that go into the book of death, or they may overcome during the tribulation and be in the book of life.
Daniel 12:3 Those who are [spiritually] wise will shine brightly like the brightness of the expanse of heaven, and those who lead many to righteousness, [will shine] like the stars forever and ever.
On the one hand this sounds like the raptured saints, but it also sounds like the story of the ten virgins with their lamps and five were wise and took oil with them.
4 But as for you, Daniel, conceal these words and seal up the scroll until the end of time. Many will go back and forth and search anxiously [through the scroll], and knowledge [of the purpose of God as revealed by His prophets] will [greatly] increase.”
This is a prophecy that many see being fulfilled today. We have tools like Blue Letter Bible and Biblegateway that provide lexicons, concordances, Hebrew and Greek, and all kinds of commentaries to assist us in going back and forth through the word of God. I understand that some are frustrated by the study of the Bible as their are many bogus teachings and false teachers, but the reality is that knowledge has greatly increased.
If you are confused I would recommend you start with a few fundamental teachers that will give you a solid foundation in the word of God. Darby, Watchman Nee and Scofield. Are they perfect? No. Did they have erroneous teachings and issues in their own lives? Yes. The Fellowship of the Apostles is always the standard by which we measure everything, but these three will help you greatly to get into the word of God. Their teaching is not the word of God, but with a solid foundation you will understand how to read the word and you will avoid 95% of the false teachers and bogus teachings.
5 Then I, Daniel, looked, and behold, there stood two others, the one [angel] on this bank of the river and the other [angel] on that bank of the river. 6 And one said to the man dressed in linen, who was above the waters of the river, “How long will it be until the end of these wonders?” 7 And I heard the man dressed in linen, who was above the waters of the river, as he held up 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 a half a time (three and a half years); and as soon as they finish shattering and crushing the power of the holy people, all these things will be finished.
This is a clear reference to the first half of the seven year tribulation and the ministry of the two witnesses.
8 As for me, I heard, but I did not understand; so I said, “My lord, what will be the outcome of these things?” 9 And the angel said, “Go your way, Daniel, for the words are concealed and sealed up until the end of time. 10 Many will be purged, purified (made white) and refined, but the wicked will behave wickedly. None of the wicked shall understand, but those who are [spiritually] wise will understand.
Jesus directly references this chapter in His discourse in Matthew 24 and this verse seems to be a direct reference to "no one knows the day or the hour". Jesus was speaking present tense at that time and here in Daniel we are told that the word will be sealed up until the end of time and only those who are "spiritually wise will understand". Isn't that what Jesus said when He explained what "no one" meant referring to Noah? Isn't that what his account of learning from the mistake of the Jewish leaders meant, that we need to be spiritually wise? Isn't this what He meant when He said some will be taken as close personal friends and He told us that He calls us friends because whatever He hears from the Father He tells us?
