Daniel 12 Examined

Are these Scriptures written only for the Jewish people? What is hidden from Daniel that is to be revealed at the end time?

I’m going to go verse by verse through Daniel 12 to see the big picture of what it is trying to get across. While we do this, we will relate it to various parallel passages in various portions of the Bible.

“And at that time shall Michael stand up, the great prince which standeth for the children of thy people: and there shall be a time of trouble, such as never was since there was a nation even to that same time: and at that time thy people shall be delivered, every one that shall be found written in the book.” Daniel 12:1

The great prince Michael is actually referred to as Christ on many occasions by Brother Branham. [1] This is not to mean, as the Jehovah’s Witness’ teach, that Jesus was an angel before his birth and was not God at all. Christ means the anointed one, but also refers to the anointing. [2] In this sense we are looking at Christ as the very visible expression: the theophany of God. God is coming in the form of an angelic being with the name of Michael. Michael means: “who is like God?”

Michael is going to come and stand for the children of thy people. The clear reference in this is speaking of the Israeli people. Many, many people take this to mean that it is only Israel. There are certainly many promises that God will turn to, and deal with the Israel again. However, there are promises in the Bible that now also pertain to the Gentiles. Notice what the LORD speaks through Hosea.

“Yet the number of the children of Israel shall be as the sand of the sea, which cannot be measured nor numbered; and it shall come to pass, that in the place where it was said unto them, Ye are not my people, there it shall be said unto them, Ye are the sons of the living God.” Hosea 1:10

“Ye are not my people,” applies to the Gentiles; and now they are told they are going to be sons of the living God. In the book of Ephesians, Paul tells us that we are now brought near and are to inherit the promises. We are no longer aliens to them.

“¹¹ Wherefore remember, that ye being in time past Gentiles in the flesh, who are called Uncircumcision by that which is called the Circumcision in the flesh made by hands; ¹² That at that time ye were without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope, and without God in the world: ¹³ But now in Christ Jesus ye who sometimes were far off are made nigh by the blood of Christ.” Ephesians 2:11-13

This does not mean that God has replaced Israel as his chosen people or that all the promises of the covenants belong to Gentiles. We realize that there is a promise, that God will restore Israel to her land and he has done so. There are promises that he will turn away from dealing with the Gentiles and deal with Israel alone, once again. There is no question about that. It is important that we clearly delineate the prophecies of God so that we can understand the scriptures correctly.

Michael will come to stand for the children of Daniel’s people and there will be a time of trouble unlike any other time in history. This is speaking of the Great Tribulation period during the last half of Daniel’s seventieth week. And the people that are written in the book of life will be delivered. Are these the Israeli people only? The context will have to tell us:

“And many of them that sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, some to everlasting life, and some to shame and everlasting contempt.” Daniel 12:2

This is, of course, speaking of the resurrection. The chapter begins with a general overview and then goes into more detail. Michael will stand for the people and those who are written in the book of life will be delivered. In chapter 2, we have a space of 3,000 years within it. Many of them that sleep in the dust of the earth shall awaken. This is speaking of the resurrection in general: “… some to everlasting life,” takes place at the resurrection of Christ, the rapture of the church, “and some to shame and everlasting contempt,” which, of course, speaks of the resurrection of the wicked after the end of the millennium and the white throne judgment.

“And they that be wise shall shine as the brightness of the firmament; and they that turn many to righteousness as the stars for ever and ever.” Daniel 12:3

Those whom arise to everlasting life have already shone as the brightness of the firmament in their lives prior to the resurrection, and they will continue to shine.

“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

Here Daniel is instructed to shut up the words and seal it until the time of the end. During “… the time of the end many shall run to and fro and knowledge shall be increased,” seems to speak of the speed of world travel and the fact that scientific and technological knowledge shall increase exponentially. This age of increased knowledge could also speak of knowledge of what has been sealed up. People will seek to search out and know what these hidden truths mean and perhaps they will come close to it, but they will never be able to fully understand it except through the means which God uses to reveal it. In other words, they probe at it, but can never quite grasp it.

“Then I Daniel looked, and, behold, there stood other two, the one on this side of the bank of the river, and the other on that side of the bank of the river.” Daniel 12:5

“And one said to the man clothed in linen, which was upon the waters of the river, How long shall it be to the end of these wonders?” Daniel 12:6

“And I heard the man clothed in linen, which was upon the waters of the river, when he held up his right hand and his left hand unto heaven, and sware by him that liveth for ever that it shall be for a time, times, and an half; and when he shall have accomplished to scatter the power of the holy people, all these things shall be finished.” Daniel 12:7

This is a parallel to Revelation 10 wherein a mighty angel comes down from heaven and lifts up his right hand to heaven and swears by him that lives forever and ever that time shall be no more. If you look closely, it says, there shall no longer be a delay. A delay of what? No more delay until all these things are fulfilled.

“And I heard, but I understood not: then said I, O my Lord, what shall be the end of these things?” Daniel 12:8

Above, Daniel is asking the Lord for an understanding of these things. Notice that he refers to the angel as Lord, so now we know his identity. It is Almighty God.

“And he said, Go thy way, Daniel: for the words are closed up and sealed till the time of the end.” Daniel 12:9

Notice that Daniel is once again told this is not for your time, or any other time, but the time of the end. Thus, we understand that there will be a revelation of the scriptures at the end time that has not happened throughout all of history. Since God always reveals his Word through a prophet, there will have to be a prophet at the end time to reveal these secrets to God’s people.

Malachi 4:5-6 promises a prophet at the end time in the spirit and power of Elijah. It is well known that John the Baptist only turned the hearts of the fathers to the children according to Luke 1:17. A man in the spirit of Elijah will reveal these hidden truths to the people of God. Which we know to have been Brother Branham.

What is sealed up? Daniel heard, but understood not. The understanding of what was written was not given. When this word is opened then the revelation or understanding of it is given.

“Many shall be purified, and made white, and tried; but the wicked shall do wickedly: and none of the wicked shall understand; but the wise shall understand.” Daniel 12:10

“Many shall be purified and made white,” denotes that this opening of the hidden mystery will bring necessary purification for those that receive it. The wise understand and are purified by it; but the wicked do not understand and are condemned because their minds are blinded to the truth of the opening of the word. We find this purification spoken of by the apostle Paul.

“²⁵ Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it; ²⁶ That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word, ²⁷ That he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish.” Ephesians 5:25-27

Before Christ presents the church to himself he will perfect it with the washing of the water of the word, so it is a cleansed and glorious church. Through the ages the church has fallen away from the truth of the apostolic Bible teachings. Therefore, at the end time the real meaning of the word that is written must be restored to the church so that she can be without spot of wrinkle.

“¹¹ And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers; ¹² For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ: ¹³ Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ:” Ephesians 4:11-13

It is through the ministry of the word, restored by the prophet of Malachi 4:5-6 and then ministered by the five fold ministry, that the church is purified and brought to the stature of the perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ. The purified people that are awaiting ultimate salvation in the rapture are the Bride Church. The Israeli people are awaiting their two prophets who will come and reveal who the messiah is to them, but they are in no wise the bride of Jesus Christ.

“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

Once the church is washed and without spot or wrinkle, then raptured, the tribulation sets in and the restored Israeli sacrificial system is taken away by the Antichrist. Again, many view these verses as though they are directly in order, one by one, but prophecy is never that way. As we saw in verse 2, there was a span of 3,000 years. There are 1,260 in the 3 ½ year Great Tribulation. Then there are an additional 30 days on top of it that the abomination of desolation (worshipping of the Antichrist in the temple) is set up.

“Blessed is he that waiteth, and cometh to the thousand three hundred and five and thirty days.” Daniel 12:12

There are an additional 45 days that one is considered blessed if he makes it through that time. There is a remnant of people that survive and live through the tribulation period. Just as Noah was preserved and lived through that judgement these believers will survive and live during the millennial reign of Christ as those whom the immortal saints rule over.

In conclusion, we acknowledge the importance of the opening of the word in the end time. It is through that opening of the word that the Bride is given a revelation and through that revelation they are purified and made white and brought unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ.

[1] 55-0109e , Beginning And Ending Of The Gentile Dispensation, Rev. William Marrion Branham

“And at that time, Michael shall stand, the great prince.” Michael was Christ, of course, Who fought the Angelic wars in Heaven, with the devil. Satan and Michael fought together, or fought against each other, rather.

63-0728 , Christ Is The Mystery Of God Revealed, Rev. William Marrion Branham

Notice Lucifer, in the last days, is doing as he did at first. What did Lucifer do? The first thing that Lucifer done to separate the fellowship of God and man, he wanted to build him a united kingdom, a greater splendor and seemingly more cultured, a greater kingdom than Michael, Christ had.

[2] 64-0418b , A Paradox, Rev. William Marrion Branham

Christ is the Word. We all know the anointing is Christ, that comes on the Word, that makes the Word live. Is that right? [Congregation says, “Amen.”—Ed.] That is the anointing. Christ is the anointing, the Spirit that comes upon the Word, that quickens the Word, to make it live. Now, the Word is in your heart. You believe in Divine healing, whatevermore. See? And Christ, the anointing, coming to His Body. See the—the connection there?