Dan 12:9 | KingComments | STEP | Daniel does not quite understand the message yet. He would like further clarification. He has not yet understood what we can understand, about these appointed times. Nor is it clear to him how things will proceed. Here again we see how fearless Daniel asks about the meaning of what is not clear to him. That is an example to us. We may go to the Lord with all our questions, whether they relate to our daily needs or God’s plan with the world. If our hearts desire fellowship with God, we will submit all our questions to Him and look forward to His answer ( ). The heart that lives in fellowship with God is interested in all things God is interested in. Daniel is told that these communications are not intended for him (cf. ). He will not experience that time, at least not in his life. He will be one of those who have insight who shine in the sky. It will be a long time before the end will really come for him. When that time will have come, it will be a time of purging, purifying and refining (cf. ). During this time of trial, which has a purging, purifying [literally: white making] and refining effect on the remnant, the wicked will increasingly act wickedly (cf. ). The apostate Jews seem to have been meant with the wicked here. They have no understanding of the seriousness of the time in which they live: that the coming of Christ is imminent and that for them this means judgment. However, there are those who have insight into the times in which they live. They know that when Christ comes, this means judgment for their enemies and that this results in their liberation. This prospect will lead them to a life of purity and holiness (cf. ). Then Daniel receives an additional communication on the duration of the period from half of the last year-week. Two events are mentioned as the time from which the calculation is to be made: the removal of the regular sacrifice, i.e. the daily burnt offering, and the setting up of the abomination of desolation i.e. an idol image instead of the regular sacrifice. The first is the removal of God’s due and the basis on which He can dwell with His people. But a person cannot do without an object of worship. This is provided for by the second event: the placing of an idol image. With this God is not only removed, but replaced, so that there will be no more thought of Him. We have already come across these two events before ( ). They introduce the time of great tribulation, which we have seen will last three and a half years, or “forty-two months” ( ), or “twelve hundred and sixty days” ( ), which is forty-two months times thirty days. Now we read here about a period that lasts thirty days longer, while counting from the same time. That means that, after three and a half years of great tribulation have passed, there will be another 30 days with a special purpose. The great tribulation is over when the antichrist and the king of the North are judged by the coming of the Lord Jesus. That means liberation for the people. But it does not mean that all enemies have already been defeated. There are still enemies, especially the enemy from the remotest parts of the north with his allies, who are so audacious as to attack Israel when it has entered the promised rest of the Messiah ( ). But that will be to their own destruction ( ). “The power of the holy people” ( ) can no longer be broken because the Lord Jesus is their King. We see an example of these things in the government of Solomon, the prince of peace. During the first days of his reign as the prince of peace, the last stumbling blocks of his kingdom were removed by him in judgment. Then there is another additional period of forty-five days. Probably this is about the completion of the restoration of the entire people after the great tribulation. Then all enemies will have been dealt with, and all the people will live in the land in peace and serve God. That is what the faithful Jew looks forward to. That is the blessing that is part of everyone who keeps waiting. Perseverance is the proof of faith that is severely tested ( ). That perseverance will be richly rewarded.

‏ Daniel 12:9

Last Teaching

Daniel does not quite understand the message yet. He would like further clarification. He has not yet understood what we can understand, about these appointed times. Nor is it clear to him how things will proceed. Here again we see how fearless Daniel asks about the meaning of what is not clear to him.

That is an example to us. We may go to the Lord with all our questions, whether they relate to our daily needs or God’s plan with the world. If our hearts desire fellowship with God, we will submit all our questions to Him and look forward to His answer (Hab 2:1). The heart that lives in fellowship with God is interested in all things God is interested in.

Daniel is told that these communications are not intended for him (cf. 1Pet 1:12). He will not experience that time, at least not in his life. He will be one of those who have insight who shine in the sky. It will be a long time before the end will really come for him. When that time will have come, it will be a time of purging, purifying and refining (cf. Dan 11:35).

During this time of trial, which has a purging, purifying [literally: white making] and refining effect on the remnant, the wicked will increasingly act wickedly (cf. Rev 22:11). The apostate Jews seem to have been meant with the wicked here. They have no understanding of the seriousness of the time in which they live: that the coming of Christ is imminent and that for them this means judgment. However, there are those who have insight into the times in which they live. They know that when Christ comes, this means judgment for their enemies and that this results in their liberation. This prospect will lead them to a life of purity and holiness (cf. 1Jn 3:3).

Then Daniel receives an additional communication on the duration of the period from half of the last year-week. Two events are mentioned as the time from which the calculation is to be made: the removal of the regular sacrifice, i.e. the daily burnt offering, and the setting up of the abomination of desolation i.e. an idol image instead of the regular sacrifice. The first is the removal of God’s due and the basis on which He can dwell with His people. But a person cannot do without an object of worship. This is provided for by the second event: the placing of an idol image. With this God is not only removed, but replaced, so that there will be no more thought of Him.

We have already come across these two events before (Dan 8:11 ; Dan 11:31). They introduce the time of great tribulation, which we have seen will last three and a half years, or “forty-two months” (Rev 13:5), or “twelve hundred and sixty days” (Rev 12:6), which is forty-two months times thirty days. Now we read here about a period that lasts thirty days longer, while counting from the same time. That means that, after three and a half years of great tribulation have passed, there will be another 30 days with a special purpose.

The great tribulation is over when the antichrist and the king of the North are judged by the coming of the Lord Jesus. That means liberation for the people. But it does not mean that all enemies have already been defeated. There are still enemies, especially the enemy from the remotest parts of the north with his allies, who are so audacious as to attack Israel when it has entered the promised rest of the Messiah (Eze 38:2-6 ; 15-16). But that will be to their own destruction (Eze 39:1-4). “The power of the holy people” (Dan 12:7) can no longer be broken because the Lord Jesus is their King.

We see an example of these things in the government of Solomon, the prince of peace. During the first days of his reign as the prince of peace, the last stumbling blocks of his kingdom were removed by him in judgment.

Then there is another additional period of forty-five days. Probably this is about the completion of the restoration of the entire people after the great tribulation. Then all enemies will have been dealt with, and all the people will live in the land in peace and serve God. That is what the faithful Jew looks forward to. That is the blessing that is part of everyone who keeps waiting. Perseverance is the proof of faith that is severely tested (Rev 13:10 ; Rev 14:12). That perseverance will be richly rewarded.