21/05/2023 Daniel 12:5-10
Daniel 12:5 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.
the bank colᵉlah
(mound) Interestingly this word generally
means a mound of earth; it is translated mount
8 times, meaning a siege-works raised up to take the walls of a city (Eg So the king of the north
shall come, and cast up a mount Daniel 11:15). The other word
usually used for bank in the OT (saphah
lip; language; speech; shore; edge; side; border)
generally refers to an edge or border. It is most often translated lip or
lips (as bordering the mouth) (Eg Psalm 119:171),
and language and speech come from its meaning of the lips that speak. The river
banks could then be seen as its lips. Eg Genesis 41:17
And Pharaoh said unto Joseph, In
my dream, behold, I stood upon the bank (the lip) of the river:
So
we get the idea here that these two, one on each side of the river, are up on
the banks which could have been like raised levee-banks alongside the river,
often built next to rivers that traverse flat plains.
the river yᵉor The river here would be the Tigris, named as
the Hiddekel in Daniel 10:4. It seems that Daniel has remained at this river
from the beginning of this passage dealing with this vision for Israel. However,
it can be noted that this word yᵉor
(of Egyptian origin) is a different word from that used elsewhere in Daniel. In
Ch.8, uwbal (stream; river)
is used, while nahar is used in Daniel 10:4.
The word used 4 times in Ch.12 (yᵉor)
generally refers to the Nile (thus the Egyptian origin of the word), although
it can refer to a river or stream in general. There does not appear to be anything
significant about the different terms used.
other two These two, one each side of the river, can be assumed to be two angels. There doesnt seem to be any significance in them being on opposite sides of the river, other than possibly it permitted Daniel to hear their words more clearly since they were calling out to each other. Therefore Daniel was meant to hear their words.
Daniel 12:6 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?
And [one] said It is not made clear whether this is an angel speaking or actually Daniel speaking to the man clothed in linen. Literally it says: And said . It is logical to assume that this could be Daniel speaking.
the man clothed in linen This would refer to the man clothed in linen whom Daniel saw as he stood next to the river Hiddekel (Tigris) in Daniel 10:4-6 4And in the four and twentieth day of the first month, as I was by the side of the great river, which [is] Hiddekel; 5Then I lifted up mine eyes, and looked, and behold a certain man clothed in linen, whose loins [were] girded with fine gold of Uphaz: 6His body also [was] like the beryl, and his face as the appearance of lightning, and his eyes as lamps of fire, and his arms and his feet like in colour to polished brass, and the voice of his words like the voice of a multitude.
This man (in Daniel 10:4) does appear to be an appearance of Christ in the OT (a Christophany) although it cannot be certain. Therefore, this man in Vs 6 above is also likely (yet not certain) to be Christ. Otherwise it would be the angel of Daniel 10:10-14 who is possibly Gabriel (note Daniel 8:16).
clothed in linen This man (or a being in the form of a man) was dressed in linen (typical of that required for the priesthood, although it appears that certain angels also wore linen as per Ezekiel 9:2).
Jesus is declared to be a priest.
Hebrews 3:1 Wherefore, holy brethren, partakers of the heavenly calling, consider the Apostle and High Priest of our profession, Christ Jesus;
upon the waters of the river or above the waters of the river, that is, in some sense, hovering there above the water.
In Daniel 10:5-6 Daniel lifts up his eyes to look at this man which might indicate that this man is above Daniel. This is also likely in Vs 6 above.
How long as in Daniel 8:13, How long is more of an interrogative, a verbal question-mark, rather than actual words. Therefore the end of these wonders is being questioned, probably with the idea of How long?,
wonders marvels; extraordinary things
the end This is derived from a term meaning to be cut off. Literally: ? (How long) to the cut-off of these wonders (extraordinary things)?
Most likely Daniel, or possibly one of the angels, asks the man dressed in linen, How long will it be before these extraordinary things cease? It is quite possible that it is Daniel asking this question, following on from Vs 5 above. (Then I Daniel looked . And said to the man .)
Daniel 12:7 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.
the man clothed in linen Most likely a Christophany (an OT appearance of Christ) or possibly the angel (who may be Gabriel) who has spoken this prophecy to Daniel (Daniel 11:1-2). This man in linen is above the waters, probably hovering there (see Vs 6 above).
his right hand and his left hand The right hand was always seen as the hand of strength, power and authority, while the left hand was generally seen as the lesser hand, or the clumsy or awkward hand, or (in some cultures) the unclean hand.
The right hand stood for utmost authority.
Matthew 26:64 Jesus saith unto him, Thou hast said: nevertheless I say unto you, Hereafter shall ye see the Son of man sitting on the right hand of power, and coming in the clouds of heaven.
The word right derives from just, fair, in conformity with moral law, legitimate, lawful. The Greek term for right is dexios from which we get dexterous (skilful, nimble). On the other hand, the left hand is generally seen as inferior to the right hand; it was clumsy and awkward. The French word for left is gauche which also means clumsy or awkward.
he held up his right hand and his left hand unto heaven Lifting hands up to heaven, though, had little to do with which hand it was, although, if only one hand, it was more usual to see the right hand rather than the left. (This was probably due to the right hand being generally stronger and more dexterous.) Lifting up one or both hands to heaven or God denoted worship of God, or a commitment made before God as witness. Even God can lift up His hand as witness to Himself.
Deuteronomy 32:40 For I (God) lift up my hand to heaven, and say, I live for ever.
Lifting up your hand for someone could denote acting on behalf of that person. Effectively you would be doing what your hand could do for or against that person.
2 Samuel 20:21 a man of mount Ephraim, Sheba the son of Bichri by name, hath lifted up his hand against the king
Micah 5:9 Thine hand shall be lifted up upon thine adversaries, and all thine enemies shall be cut off.
And God can lift up His hand for or against man.
Ezekiel 20:5-6 5And say unto them, Thus saith the Lord God; In the day when I chose Israel, and lifted up mine hand unto the seed of the house of Jacob, and made myself known unto them in the land of Egypt, when I lifted up mine hand unto them, saying, I [am] the Lord your God; 6In the day [that] I lifted up mine hand unto them, to bring them forth of the land of Egypt into a land that I had espied for them, flowing with milk and honey, which [is] the glory of all lands:
Both hands lifted up could (but not necessarily) indicate a more serious promise or commitment is being made.
sware by him that liveth for ever While one hand is sufficient for swearing by the name of God (note the swearing in of jurors in a law court), both hands lifted up could suggest a stronger or more important swearing considered necessary given the importance of what was being promised here.
Both hands lifted up here to heaven would clearly indicate that this man dressed in linen was invoking the authority of God, not necessarily in worship, though, but to invoke the authority of God by swearing an oath in His name.
Deuteronomy 6:13 Thou shalt fear the Lord thy God, and serve him, and shalt swear by his name. (And by no other gods name!)
Even God, when He wishes to swear to the certainty of His promises, can swear by none greater than Himself.
Hebrews 6:13 For when God made promise to Abraham, because he could swear by no greater, he sware by himself,
Swearing a promise using the authority of Gods name is generally accepted as the highest order of commitment that any person (or being) can possibly make.
Revelation 10:5-6 5And the angel which I saw stand upon the sea and upon the earth lifted up his hand to heaven, 6And sware by him that liveth for ever and ever, who created heaven, and the things that therein are, and the earth, and the things that therein are, and the sea, and the things which are therein, that there should be time no longer:
Some might say that, as this man swore this in the name of the eternal God, that he could not have been Jesus, yet keep in mind that even God can swear by His own name (Hebrews 6:13).
for a time, times, and an half That is, 3½ years, half the 7-year tribulation (the 2nd half in this case) = 1260 days = 42 months.
In Daniel 7, where he records a vision that culminates with the future antichrist, a similar phrase is used.
Daniel 7:25 And he shall speak [great] words against the most High, and shall wear out the saints of the most High, and think to change times and laws: and they shall be given into his hand until a time and times and the dividing of time.
Note, though, that time & times in Vs 7 above grammatically has the idea of an appointed time, while time & times in Daniel 7:25 has the idea of the duration of time.
to scatter to shatter;
break; dash to pieces.
While some commentaries suggest that this referred to the great dispersion (the
scattering) of the Jewish people after 70 AD, the term
actually means to be dashed to pieces, completely broken up, something that
would describe Israel after God has completed His testing and trying of them
before He declares them righteous. They must be absolutely and totally broken
before they can become Gods people, forever righteous, and the 2nd
half of the tribulation will break and purify as nothing else can.
. 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)
power hand;
strength; power.
to scatter
(shatter) the power of the holy people This has the idea of the holy people (Israel) being absolutely powerless to be able to do anything about the
tribulation God has caused to be thrust upon them. There is nothing they can do
to avoid it. They must go through these trials in order to be purified. There
is no alternative pathway to righteousness at all.
all these [things] shall be finished The process of purification must continue until the process is completed and God has accomplished the end of His covenant with Israel Seventy weeks are determined upon thy people and upon thy holy city, to finish the transgression, and to make an end of sins, and to make reconciliation for iniquity, and to bring in everlasting righteousness, and to seal up the vision and prophecy, and to anoint the most Holy. (Daniel 9:24)
There is no short cut to avoid the penalty of sin. Not only did Jesus die an agonising death on the cross for our sins, we also must be prepared to take responsibility for it as well. 1 Peter 2:21-25 21For even hereunto were ye called: because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow his steps:22Who did no sin, neither was guile found in his mouth: 23Who, when he was reviled, reviled not again; when he suffered, he threatened not; but committed [himself] to him that judgeth righteously: 24Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed. 25For ye were as sheep going astray; but are now returned unto the Shepherd and Bishop of your souls.
As the saying goes, there is no gain without pain.
And, there is no victory without a battle and no battle without a cost.
And the cost has to be paid before we can claim the victory.
The Bible has declared that this will be accomplished
and these things will be brought to an end.
Daniel 12:8 And I heard, but I understood not: then said I, O my Lord, what [shall be] the end of these [things]?
the end end; latter; last. The final stage of the process, that which happens to denote the end of these wonders (Vs 6 above), that which denotes that all these [things] shall be finished (Vs 7 above). Cambridge refers to it as the closing stage of these things. It is a different term to the end in Daniel 12:4 (to the time of the end) and Daniel 12:6 (the end of these wonders) where it has the idea of being cut off, the cut-off point.
Thus, the end in Vs 8 above would refer to the last event on the time-line before it is all accomplished.
Daniel heard the words but did not understand (did not comprehend) what it meant. So he asked, My Lord, what is going to happen at the end of these wonders (so I might know when the end draws nigh)? In a way Daniel could be asking, How might we know that it is actually the vision when the time comes? What will demonstrate that it is the time of the end? How will we recognise this when it happens?
It is clear that Daniel lacks discernment to understand what he is recording, and the angel gives him little extra to assist, by informing him that it is for the end times and that there is no need for Daniel to understand it at this stage (see Vs 9 below).
Daniel 12:9 And he said, Go thy way, Daniel: for the words [are] closed up and sealed till the time of the end.
Go thy way or Depart. That is, dont ask any more questions; do not enquire further. The angel tells Daniel that he has been told what he needs to know for now, noting that he has previously been told that the words (the recorded vision) are to be shut (to remain hidden or secret) and sealed (to prevent unauthorised reading) until the time of the end. shut up the words, and seal the book, [even] to the time of the end (Daniel 12:4) Now the angel effectively repeats this statement: for the words are closed up and sealed till the end of time.
It is as if Daniel is being reprimanded by repeating the order already given in Daniel 12:4 (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.) so go away and dont ask any more questions, for no more answers are to be given at this point in time.
Daniel 12:10 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 9:24 Seventy weeks are determined upon thy people and upon thy holy city, to finish the transgression, and to make an end of sins, and to make reconciliation for iniquity, and to bring in everlasting righteousness, and to seal up the vision and prophecy, and to anoint the most Holy.
be purified be purified;
purged; cleansed.
The same term is translated purge
in Daniel
11:35 And [some] of them of
understanding shall fall, to try them, and to purge, and to make [them]
white, [even] to the time of the end: because [it is] yet for
a time appointed. (with
the idea of being purged from sin)
The LXX has αγιασθωσι hagiazo (sanctified; made holy; be consecrated; to be set apart for God) The same Greek word is translated are sanctified in Hebrews 10:14 For by one offering he hath perfected for ever them that are sanctified.
The purging or purifying from sin is by the blood of Christ.
Hebrews 9:14 How much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without spot to God, purge your conscience from dead works to serve the living God?
made white White represents cleanness, purity, innocence or righteousness; thus they would be regarded as righteous before God.
Isaiah 1:18 Come now, and let us reason together, saith the Lord: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool.
Spiritual whiteness is the consequence of the washing of the blood of Christ.
Revelation 7:13-14 13And one of the elders answered, saying unto me, What are these which are arrayed in white robes? and whence came they? 14And I said unto him, Sir, thou knowest. And he said to me, These are they which came out of great tribulation, and have washed their robes, and made them white in the blood of the Lamb.
Psalm 51:7 Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean: wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow.
Note that some of those who served God in Antiochus day would fall (be martyred) and be made spiritually white.
. to make [them] white
(Daniel 11:35)
tried to be refined in the fire as silver or gold is refined.
Malachi 3:2 But who may abide the day of his coming? and who shall stand when he appeareth? for he [is] like a refiners fire, and like fullers soap:
The remnant who call upon the name
of the Lord will be refined (see Joel 2:32). The remnant appears to be
described by Zechariah as being a third, although two
parts could simply mean two portions representing the larger number by
far than the one single remaining portion. But clearly the remnant who live
will be a significantly smaller group than those who die.
Zechariah
13:8-9 8And it shall come to pass, [that] in all the land,
saith the Lord, two parts (literally two portions) therein
shall be cut off [and] die; but the third shall be left therein. 9And
I will bring the third part through the fire, and will refine them as silver is
refined, and will try them as gold is tried: they shall call on my name, and I
will hear them: I will say, It [is] my people:
and they shall say, The Lord [is] my God.
God will give to you according to the way you choose to live your life.
Psalm 18:25-26 25With the merciful thou wilt shew thyself merciful; with an upright man thou wilt shew thyself upright; 26With the pure thou wilt shew thyself pure; and with the froward thou wilt shew thyself froward.
the wicked shall do wickedly The wicked ones shall continue to do wickedly; no amount of purifying, whitening and trying will make any difference to those who choose to remain wicked.
none of the wicked shall understand Not one of the wicked ones will be able to understand (have discernment) about the words in this vision (because they have chosen to be evil).
but the wise shall understand But those who are wise will understand because they seek the Lord.
Proverbs 28:5 Evil men understand not judgment: but they that seek the Lord understand all [things].
Effectively, God will deal with us according to our free-will choice on whom we will choose to serve (note Joshua 24:14-15). Also note that how we treat others will lead others to treat us the same way. It all comes down to our freedom to choose!
Luke 6:31 And as ye
would that men should do to you, do ye also to them likewise.
To Messages and Teachings page
List of all my posts on this site