Daniel 12 (3)

Introduction
At the end of this last vision, Daniel is left baffled. He has heard well, and he has recorded all that he heard. But he has not understood, at least, not as fully as he might have liked. He will have to be content with this, however, for, as we shall see, it did not please the Lord to give Daniel any clearer insights than these into the events that were to come. And if Daniel could not understand these, we should be careful about presuming to know more than he. Some things of God must remain secret. Otherwise, we will end up trusting more in our wits than in Him.

Read Deuteronomy 29.29.

Read Daniel 12.5-8.

Think it through.
1.  The two angels on either side of the river (probably the Tigris) may have been the “princes” assigned to the Medes and the Persians – angelic beings charged with overseeing the affairs of this great empire. We notice that there are mysteries into which they long to look (cf. 1 Pet. 1.10-12). One angel asked a question of the Messenger, Who was, as it were, walking on the water of the river. What was that question? What is implied in the word fulfillment? The Messenger has His hands in heaven and His feet on earth (cf. Jn. 1.50, 51). Why is it important that we know this? I assume that the answer, given in verse 7, must be describing the time from the giving of the vision to the fulfillment of all its components. Many commentators interpret the phrase time, times, and a half time, as meaning three-and-a-half years, referring to a period just prior to the return of Christ. I find it difficult to glean that meaning from this answer. When we consult Daniel 7.25, where this phrase also occurs, it is again difficult – at least as I read the text – to deduce three-and-a-half years before the return of Christ. The phrase occurs in Revelation 12.14, where it seems to refer to something entirely different. What else might this phrase imply?

2.  The phrase time, times, and a halftime, is qualified by the remainder of verse 7: “and when the power of the holy people has been completely shattered, all these thingsshall be finished.” To what period does this seem to refer? Daniel heard everything clearly, but he did not understand. He requested further clarification in verse 8. His question was literally, “What shall be the final outworking of all these things?” He was not asking for more details concerning what he’d already heard. He understood that only additional revelation from God would enable him to understand what he had heard. This suggests an approach to growing in our understanding of God’s Word. Meditate on 1 Corinthians 2.12, 13 (where “spiritual things” refers to Scripture). How should this encourage us in our continued work of reading, meditating on, and studying the Scriptures?

Meditate.
“And if the prophet himself heard and did not understand, what will be the case with those people who presumptuously expound a book that has been sealed, and sealed until the time of the end, a book that is shrouded with many obscurities?” Jerome (347-420 AD)

Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, that we might know the things that have been freely given to us by God. These things we also speak, not in words which man’s wisdom teaches but which the Holy Spirit teaches, comparing spiritual things with spiritual. 1 Corinthians 2.12, 13

These were more fair-minded than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness, and searched the Scriptures daily to find out whether these things were so. Acts 17.11

Lord, I know I will only grow in Jesus as I submit to more of His Word. Help me to improve my time in Your Word by…

Pray Psalm 27.7-14.
God calls us to seek His face and to wait on Him, strengthened in heart and full of courage. How will you wait on the Lord today?

Psalm 27.7-13 (Joanna: Immortal, Invisible God Only Wise)
Hear, Lord, when we cry and be gracious, we pray!
Lord, do not deny us Your favor this day!
Our help, our salvation, though others may fall,
Preserve our good station when on You we call.

Lord, teach us; Lord, lead us because of our foes!
Hear, Lord, when we plead for release from their woes.
Had we not believed all Your goodness to see,
Our heart sorely grieved and in turmoil would be.

Wait, wait on the Lord; persevere in His grace.
Hold fast to His Word; seek His radiant face.
Be strong, set your heart to abide in His Word;
His grace He imparts; therefore, wait on the Lord.

T. M Moore

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Except as indicated, Scripture taken from the New King James Version. © Copyright 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved. All psalms for singing adapted from The Ailbe Psalter. All quotations from Church Fathers from Ancient Christian Commentary Series, General Editor Thomas C. Oden (Downers Grove: InterVarsity Press, 2006.