Daniel Chapter 12: The end is near!

The King James Version (KJV) is mostly used in these lessons. Click here to access the KJV online.

Sadly, many Christians today make an egregious error by declaring finished and completing one of the most critical timelines in Scripture.  Consequently, they will be unprepared and taken by surprise when the final moments unfold.

Pinpointing the end

Yahuwah has always wanted everyone to be saved. He wants none to be caught unawares by the end of the world. Prophecy is His gift to the final generation so that all may know when the Saviour is near. Yahushua told His disciples:

Now learn a parable of the fig tree; When his branch is yet tender, and putteth forth leaves, ye know that summer is nigh: So likewise ye, when ye shall see all these things, know that it is near, even at the doors. Verily I say unto you, This generation shall not pass, till all these things be fulfilled. (Matthew 24:32-33, KJV)

The prophecy of Daniel 11 is significant because it identifies the King of the North as the Ottoman Empire, the King of the South as Egypt, and the “Willful” King as France. These, in turn, reveal that the “time of the end” began in 1798 and the “time of trouble” began in 1922.

We are now living in the Time of Trouble! The end is very, very close.

But the book of Daniel does not end there. There is still one more chapter. Daniel 11 lays the foundation for Daniel 12, which gives the believers today crucial knowledge of final events so that none need be caught unaware.

“At that time …”

“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.

“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.

“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 12:1-3, KJV)

Daniel 12:1 is the climax toward which all of Daniel 11 has been building. At the time identified in verse one, Michael “stands up.” His people are facing a time of trouble such as the world has never seen, and He will not take it sitting down. Verses two and three summarize the conclusion of the great controversy that has been waging between good and evil for thousands of years. Some will continue to rebel, and their lot will be shame and everlasting contempt. Others will choose salvation and shine as the stars forever and ever.

“But when is the end?”

“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.

“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.

“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 12:4-6, KJV)

Like anyone, Daniel wanted to know what would happen in the future, but the prophecies given were not for his day. Still, he could not help but want to learn more. When, in vision, he saw two beings stand on either bank of the Hiddekel River, he immediately asked for more information. It is reasonable to assume that the beings he saw were Gabriel (who had been previously commissioned to teach the aged prophet) and Michael, the “man clothed in linen.”

The word “one” is supplied in verse six in the King James Version. It could just as easily have been translated, “And I said to the man …” Daniel had been shown the full sweep of time from his day clear down to the Second Coming. But the most important question remained unanswered: When will this happen, and when does it end?

Michael responds

“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.

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

“And he said, Go thy way, Daniel: for the words are closed up and sealed till the time of the end.” (Daniel 12:7-9, KJV)

Michael understood the yearning in the heart of Daniel for complete understanding. He was not going to play word games with the prophet. He answered the question: everything would be finished after a time, times and a half.

This may seem confusing, but it honestly answered a straightforward question. Daniel asked, “How long shall it be to the end of these wonders?” And Michael told him: A time, times, and half a time, or three and a half years.

This is essential information. Earth’s history would climax in a three-and-a-half-year period. However, the one piece of information missing from Michael’s answer was when the three and a half years would start.

Daniel wanted to know that, too and pressed for more understanding, but the knowledge was not for him. He was gently told that the prophecy would not be understood until the time of the end.

That time is now! As the prophecies of Daniel 11 reveal, the “time of the end” began in 1798. The sincere seeker for truth can now understand this prophecy.

Prerequisite for receiving light

“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, KJV)

The soul is purified as it embraces advancing light. This is the entire purpose of the promised Latter Rain. Every child of Yah is responsible for actively seeking out the truth and accepting every ray of light from Heaven. There has been a veritable explosion of light since 1798, and the rays of light continue to shine. With every beam of light received, still, more can be discerned and grasped. At no point on this side of Heaven will anyone be able to claim he or she has arrived at All Truth.

Many have gratefully accepted more light, but sadly still more have turned their backs on it and angrily denounced the advanced truths of the feasts, the lunar Sabbath, the actual shape of the earth, and much more. Those who turn their back on advancing light, those who cling stubbornly to the dim light given our fathers, will not understand the truths contained in Daniel 12.

Michael promised Daniel that those who accepted advancing light would understand the prophecy but warned that “none of the wicked shall understand.” The wicked here referenced are not worldlings. Worldly people do not care about the Bible, and they certainly give no thought to the prophecies of Daniel. Therefore, the “wicked” are professed followers of Yahuwah, those who choose to cling to error. Advanced light will never be given to those who stubbornly reject it. Therefore, a correct understanding of Daniel 12 is reserved solely for those who humbly accept advancing truth.

Timeline to the end!

“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, KJV)

Here is the answer to Daniel’s question! In His sermon on the mount, Yahushua asked, “What man is there of you, whom if his son ask bread, will he give him a stone? Or if he ask a fish, will he give him a serpent?” (Matthew 7:9-10, KJV) Daniel had asked a question and, even though he did not understand the answer, an answer was still given.

The word “sacrifice” in the above text is a supplied word. The word “daily” comes from tamiyd and means, “continually: regularly … Both ideas – regularity and continuousness – are present in the word.”² During the long centuries of spiritual darkness when rays of light were few, many Christians assumed that the “continual” here spoken of was referring to the daily sacrifices offered to Yah under the old covenant.

However, advancing light has revealed a deeper meaning. The continuous without interruption refers to time and the method by which it is calculated, the moon. The unchangeable nature of the moon was used as an example when Yahuwah was declaring the enduring nature of His promises to David: “Once have I sworn by my holiness that I will not lie unto David. His seed shall endure forever, and his throne as the sun before me. It shall be established forever as the moon and as a faithful witness in heaven.” (Psalms 89:35-37, KJV)

The Sabbath, being established at Creation, is to be calculated by the calendar established at Creation: the luni-solar calendar. Obedience to the divine commands purifies and sanctifies the soul. Disobedience desolates it. The abomination that desolates the soul is established when the continual is taken away. This was witnessed when, in the fourth century, Constantine I enforced the use of the pagan calendar, rejecting the Biblical method of time-keeping. The Dark Ages that followed directly resulted from this abomination that truly desolated the soul.

This action will be witnessed again shortly when a universal Sunday law will be enforced upon the pain of death.

Revelation 13 reveals the final conflict will be over worship:

“And I beheld another beast coming up out of the earth; and he had two horns like a lamb, and he spake as a dragon.

“And he exerciseth all the power of the first beast before him, and causeth the earth and them which dwell therein to worship the first beast, whose deadly wound was healed.

“And he … deceiveth them that dwell on the earth by the means of those miracles which he had power to do in the sight of the beast; saying to them that dwell on the earth, that they should make an image to the beast, which had the wound by a sword, and did live.

“And he had power to give life unto the image of the beast, that the image of the beast should both speak, and cause that as many as would not worship the image of the beast should be killed.

“And he causeth all, both small and great, rich and poor, free and bond, to receive a mark in their right hand, or in their foreheads:

“And that no man might buy or sell, save he that had the mark, or the name of the beast, or the number of his name.” (Revelation 13:11-17, KJV)

The world is on the verge of catastrophe. These horrendous events will burst upon multitudes as an overwhelming surprise. The very next thing to happen is the sounding of the Trumpets, as described in Revelation 8 and 9.

Under the fifth trumpet, also known as the first woe, the abomination of desolation will be established. When demons in the form of extraterrestrials overrun the earth, the pope will be exalted to be earth’s representative. It will only be logical for him to be given leadership of the new, one-world religion. In this new position of ultimate power, he will, at that time, impose a universal Sunday law.

All who choose to honor the Creator by worshipping Him on His holy seventh-day Sabbath, calculated by the lunisolar calendar He established at Creation, are already facing hardship when trying to get time off work. However, the difficulties they face now are nothing to compare to what lies ahead. When the might of the state is combined with the church's decree to establish a universal law imposing a false worship day on pain of death, then the continuous without interruption will have effectively been taken away, and the abomination that desolates will be established.

This law does not even have to enforce Sunday only. True believers who seek accommodation for their worship by the lunisolar calendar will be viewed as agitators and troublers of the people. Conformity to societal norms will be desired by the masses when an alien invasion threatens the existence of all. Allowance could easily be made for Jews and Saturday-Sabbatarians who worship on the seventh day of the pagan/papal Gregorian calendar. But no such allowance will be made for those who stand loyal to the Creator and want to worship Him on His method of time-keeping, the lunisolar calendar of Creation.

The abomination of desolation will be established when a false calendar and a false day of worship are imposed by law. This is the event that starts the final countdown. Michael told Daniel that there would be 1,290 days following this event.

The three and a half years between the Universal Sunday Law and the close of probation will be a time of intense persecution for Yahuwah’s people. But Yahuwah will give them divine strength and wisdom. None will be able to refute their arguments in favor of the lunar Sabbath. The attention of the people will thus be brought to these all-important issues. None will remain ignorant of what is at stake.

The Loud Cry

Yah’s faithful will not be silent in this time of emergency. They will unite with the three angels of Revelation 14 and warn the world of the dire consequences of conforming to the dictates of the man of sin and the presumption of worshipping Yahuwah on a false day of worship.

Persecution will increase during this time. It is necessary, however, to draw the world's attention to the issue at hand.

All of this transpires during the 1,260 days (or three and a half years) foretold in Daniel 12:7. Michael told Daniel, “When he shall have accomplished to scatter the power of the holy people, all these things shall be finished,” and it will be. After a universal Sunday law has been decreed, probation will close three and a half years later. And then will come the seven last plagues.

Daniel 12:7 gives a timeline of 1,260 days. Verse 11 gives a timeline of 1,290 days. That is a difference of one month:

 1,290 days
-1,260 days
      30 days

The month following the close of probation will be the “great” time of trouble. It is called “great” not because of its length but because it is during these 30 days that the “wrath of Yahuwah … is poured out without mixture into the cup of his indignation” (Revelation 14:10, KJV) on those who persist in defiance and rebellion against the divine law. During this time, Yahuwah’s faithful will be sheltered by divine protection. They have trusted in the Almighty and shall abide safely under His wings. For the wicked, the seven last plagues will be the worst judgments ever falling on mankind in the earth's history. They will be so severe that if they were drawn out longer than 30 days, no life would be left.

The "great" time of trouble when the seven last plagues are being poured out will last only 30 days, or there will be no life left.

The saints glorified!

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

Precious promise! When the seventh plague falls, it is over. Yahuwah and His people have triumphed! The difference between the 1,290 days and the 1,335 days is 45 days. During this time, those who have honored Yahuwah by staying faithful to Him in the face of imminent death will be honored.

The Revelator foretold this blessed event.

Behold, I will make them of the synagogue of Satan, which say they are Jews, and are not, but do lie; behold, I will make them to come and worship before thy feet, and to know that I have loved thee. Because thou hast kept the word of my patience, I also will keep thee from the hour of temptation, which shall come upon all the world, to try them that dwell upon the earth. (Revelation 3:9 & 10, KJV)

During the 45 days, the wicked that have so vigorously persecuted Yahuwah’s children will come and worship at the feet of the faithful. They will be honored in Heaven, but Yahuwah also wants them to be honored on earth. They have stood faithfully before the whole world, upholding the honor of Yahuwah and the divine law. They have not surrendered their wills to evil men inspired by demons. In the face of death, they have faithfully given earth’s final warning and many who would otherwise have been lost have been saved through their self-sacrificing efforts. It is Yahuwah’s pleasure that they receive a foretaste of the glory that will be theirs in Heaven.

By the time probation closes, Yah's people will know that the Second Coming is only two and a half months away. This will encourage them to stand firm through Jacob's Time of Trouble while the plagues are being poured out and their execution appears imminent.

The end of days

“But go thou thy way till the end be: for thou shalt rest, and stand in thy lot at the end of the days.” (Daniel 12:13, KJV)

Daniel is now standing in his lot. The prophecies given 2,500 years ago are now being fulfilled. Soon—sooner than you can imagine—the Saviour will return to take His faithful, waiting children home. But before that time, the world must be warned.

Daniel 12 must be interpreted as taking place after 1922. The final battle is over worship and only those who remain loyal to the Creator will, in the end, be saved.

Thus saith [Yahuwah], Keep ye judgment, and do justice: for my salvation is near to come, and my righteousness to be revealed.

Blessed is the man that doeth this, and the son of man that layeth hold on it; that keepeth the sabbath from polluting it, and keepeth his hand from doing any evil.

^… Thus saith [Yahuwah] unto the eunuchs that keep my sabbaths, and choose the things that please me, and take hold of my covenant;

Even unto them will I give … an everlasting name, that shall not be cut off.

Also the sons of the stranger, that join themselves to [Yahuwah], to serve him, and to love the name of [Yahuwah], to be his servants, every one that keepeth the sabbath from polluting it, and taketh hold of my covenant;

Even them will I bring to my holy mountain, and make them joyful in my house of prayer: their burnt offerings and their sacrifices shall be accepted upon mine altar; for mine house shall be called an house of prayer for all people. (Isaiah 56:1-2, 4-7, KJV)

Putting the 1260-day time period solely in the past destroys the warning Yahuwah intends Daniel 12 to be.

Those who insist that the timelines of Daniel 12 were fulfilled over 1,260 years during the Dark Ages are clinging to erroneous interpretations. By refusing to advance with the light, they are as deceitful as guard dogs that refuse to sound an alarm when danger is near. It pacifies the awakened mind, soothing it back to sleep with the assurance that the Second Coming may be near but certainly is not imminent.

His watchmen are blind: they are all ignorant, they are all dumb dogs, they cannot bark; sleeping, lying down, loving to slumber.

Yea, they are greedy dogs which can never have enough, and they are shepherds that cannot understand: they all look to their own way, every one for his gain, from his quarter.

Come ye, say they, I will fetch wine, and we will fill ourselves with strong drink; and to morrow shall be as this day, and much more abundant. (Isaiah 56:10-12, KJV)

The Day of Yahuwah is here now! We are now living in the Time of Trouble. Very few events yet remain between now and when Yahushua will appear in the clouds of Heaven. Now is the time to seek Yahuwah, learn of Him, and embrace the precious rays of divine truth shining with ever-increasing brilliance from the eternal throne.