Diving into Daniel: A Time of Trouble in the Future
Daniel 12:1-4; Luke 23:39-43 - You will live for eternity. The choice you make as to what type of eternity you will endure or enjoy is contingent on looking up to Him and gaining insight.
““Now at that time Michael, the great prince who stands guard over the sons of your people, will arise. And there will be a time of distress such as never occurred since there was a nation until that time; and at that time your people, everyone who is found written in the book, will be rescued. Many of those who sleep in the dust of the ground will awake, these to everlasting life, but the others to disgrace and everlasting contempt. Those who have insight will shine brightly like the brightness of the expanse of heaven, and those who lead the many to righteousness, like the stars forever and ever. But as for you, Daniel, conceal these words and seal up the book until the end of time; many will go back and forth, and knowledge will increase.””
Daniel 12:1-4 NASB1995
Well, I’ve finally reached the last chapter of Daniel. I had no idea when I started diving into this book of history and prophecy that it would take me more than two months to get through this amazing book. I have a completely different perspective of Daniel now than before I started. But we still have to finish it! Today I’m looking at the first four verses of chapter 12, which continues the prophecy of future events at the end of chapter 11.
Michael, the great prince who stands guard over the people of Israel, will arise at this time. I believe I’ve answered this question before, but who is Michael? Let’s look at the answer from Gotquestions.org:
Michael the archangel is described in the Bible, in the books of Daniel, Jude, and Revelation, as a warrior angel who engages in spiritual combat. The word archangel means “angel of the highest rank.” Most angels in the Bible are portrayed as messengers, but Michael is described in all three books as contending, fighting, or standing against evil spirits and principalities (Daniel 10:13; 21; Jude 1:9; Revelation 12:7). We do not have a full picture of any angel, and only two are named in the Bible (Gabriel is the other). Scripture only gives us hints of their movements during human events, but it is safe to say that Michael the archangel is a powerful being.
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The prophet Daniel is told that Michael the archangel is “the great prince who protects your people” (Daniel 12:1). Daniel’s people are the Jews, and the fact that Michael “protects” them suggests that God has set various holy angels over various countries or people groups. The demons seem to have a similar hierarchy (see Daniel 10:20). The fact that Michael is a “great prince” indicates that he has authority in the spiritual realm. There are others—Daniel 10:13 says that Michael is “one of the chief princes.”
Michael the archangel has, it seems, a prominent role in the events of the end times. Daniel was told by the angel of the Lord that, during the time of the end, Michael will “arise” and there would be a time of unsurpassed trouble—a reference to the Great Tribulation (Daniel 12:1). Israel is guaranteed protection during this time, which will be followed by a great resurrection of the dead—some to everlasting life and others to everlasting shame (Daniel 12:2). The rapture of the church will be accompanied by “the voice of the archangel” (1 Thessalonians 4:16); this could be a reference to Michael, but Scripture does not specifically name him here.
Satan would be Michael’s counterpart over on the side of evil. Many casual (and ignorant) Christians and nonbelievers think that Jesus would be the counterpart to Satan, but Satan is not God but rather a fallen angel (Lucifer) who was of high rank in the heavenly realms. Michael arises at the time of the Great Tribulation. That is the period of time at the second half of the Tribulation, which is about 3.5 years into the seven years total. I like this commentary from Enduring Word:
At that time: This does not mean that what is described in Daniel 12:1 happened immediately after what the events [are] in Daniel 11:36-45. It means that it happened in the same era.
Michael shall stand up: The angel Michael is often associated with spiritual battle (Daniel 10:13, Daniel 10:21, Jude 1:9, and Revelation 12:7). Since Michael is called the archangel (Jude 1:9), he is Satan’s true opposite. Satan is not the opposite of Jesus; he is the opposite of Michael, this high-ranking angel.
The great prince who stands watch over the sons of your people: In addition to his role as a spiritual warrior, Michael has a special job in protecting Israel. God appointed Michael as a spiritual guardian over Israel.
There shall be a time of trouble: This refers to the time of persecution for Israel and world calamity known as the Great Tribulation. This period is also called the time of Jacob’s trouble in Jeremiah 30:7.
Such as never was since there was a nation, even to that time: The Jewish people have known many a time of trouble through their history. From the horrors at the fall of Samaria and Jerusalem to the terrors wrought by Antiochus Epiphanes, to the destruction of Jerusalem by the Romans, to the persecutions from the church during the Dark Ages, to the pogroms of Europe, to the 20th Century Holocaust, it often seems that all Israel’s history has been a time of trouble. Yet this time of trouble will be different. This will be a worse time of trouble than Israel has ever seen before.
Jesus quoted this passage in Matthew 24:21: For then there will be great tribulation, such as has not been since the beginning of the world until this time, no, nor ever shall be. With great sadness, we must say that the Bible teaches that the worst has yet to come for Israel and the Jewish people.
This phrase “establishes its connection with the final or ‘great’ tribulation above mentioned, for there can manifestly be only one ‘time of trouble, such as never was since there was a nation even to that same time.’ ” (Philip Newell)
Revelation 12:13-17 tells us what makes this time so terrible. It describes the fury of the devil directed against the Jewish people during this time. The trumpets, seals, and bowls of Revelation all described the horrific conditions of the world in general during this time. The Jewish people will be targets of the full fury of the devil and his antichrist during this period, and will live in a world that is in incredible upheaval because of the judgment of God.
“The Jew has always been a target of Satan. He has sought to destroy them because he knew that God has ordained to accomplish His purposes through this nation. And thus Satan has attempted in times past to destroy the nation of Israel in order to thwart the purposes of God.” (James Smith)
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And at that time your people shall be delivered: Despite the terrors of that time, deliverance is assured. No matter how great the attack is against the Jewish people, God promises to preserve them. He will never break His promise to Abraham: And I will establish My covenant between Me and you and your descendants after you in their generations, for an everlasting covenant, to be God to you and your descendants after you (Genesis 17:7).
Every one who is found written in the book: This promise of deliverance is not for every last person of Jewish heritage, but for these who are found written in the book. Not every person of Jewish heritage will be saved, yet Israel as a whole will be known as a people who trust in Jesus as their Messiah, and truly turn to the Lord (Romans 11:25-27).
Fun times are ahead, but perhaps not in our lifetimes! World events are always making “End Times” watchers think that the worst is happening right now, but the Tribulation/Great Tribulation apparently will make events like WWII seem like quiet, peaceful times in comparison. And Israel will be in the middle of the mayhem! But everyone who is found written in the book (of life) will be rescued and this will include a remnant of the people of Israel who turn to the Lord.
So there is some confusion from various groups of Christians about the Resurrection of the dead described in Daniel 12 (and in various places in the New Testament). Some believe that this final resurrection is the only post-death event and our bodies along with our souls “sleep” in their tombs/graves/urns until that time occurs. This clearly contradicts what Jesus said to the thief on the cross in the Gospel of Luke and I’m not sure how those who do not see a temporary spiritual resurrection can justify that belief:
“One of the criminals who were hanged there was hurling abuse at Him, saying, “Are You not the Christ? Save Yourself and us!” But the other answered, and rebuking him said, “Do you not even fear God, since you are under the same sentence of condemnation? And we indeed are suffering justly, for we are receiving what we deserve for our deeds; but this man has done nothing wrong.” And he was saying, “Jesus, remember me when You come in Your kingdom!” And He said to him, “Truly I say to you, today you shall be with Me in Paradise.””
Luke 23:39-43 NASB1995
Gotquestions.org also has a good answer on this:
First, for the believer in Jesus Christ, the Bible tells us that after death believers’ souls/spirits are taken to heaven, because their sins were forgiven when they received Christ as Savior (John 3:16, 18, 36). For believers, death means being “away from the body and at home with the Lord” (2 Corinthians 5:6–8; Philippians 1:23). However, passages such as 1 Corinthians 15:50–54 and 1 Thessalonians 4:13–17 describe believers being resurrected and given glorified bodies. If believers go to be with Christ immediately after death, what is the purpose of this resurrection? It seems that, while the souls/spirits of believers go to be with Christ immediately at death, the physical body remains in the grave “sleeping.” At the resurrection of believers, the physical body is resurrected, glorified, and reunited with the soul/spirit. This reunited and glorified body-soul-spirit will be the state of existence for believers for eternity in the new heavens and new earth (Revelation 21—22).
So is it really true that nonbelievers will be punished for eternity? Doesn’t that seem a bit harsh? This is one of the biggest complaints against Christian belief. When I was wandering in my secular humanist wilderness, I thought that this idea was extremely unfair. There are lots of “good” people, who never harmed a fly, who will be consigned to everlasting contempt because they didn’t buy into this idea of God’s wrath and punishment or even into the idea of God. But there’s the trap - some modern denominations even believe that hell is empty because a God of love would not do this. Then what was the point of Jesus’ tortuous death and resurrection? Just let everyone into paradise? God is multi-faceted - He is a God of love, of compassion, of mercy, slow to anger, of grace but He is also a God of wrath and perfect judgment and power. His ways are higher than our ways. And no human (past, present and future) is “good”.
I like this explanation in Enduring Word:
Many of those who sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake: Some think this refers to the resurrection of Israel as a nation. But the plainest meaning is that it refers to the resurrection of the body in general.
Some to everlasting life, some to shame and everlasting contempt: The Bible clearly teaches two resurrections, one for the saved and one for the damned (John 5:29, Revelation 20:4-6, and Revelation 11-15). If we really believed every one of us would live forever, it would profoundly change our life.
Everlasting contempt: The terror of hell never ends. There is not blissful annihilation after some period of punishment. This passage denies a rising doctrine within the church: a modified annihilationism that teaches that unjustified sinners are sent to Hell and they suffer torment for a while, but then their beings perish for eternity.
Revelation 20:10 also certainly describes eternal punishment for the Devil and the Antichrist. “There would be no way possible in the Greek language to state more emphatically the everlasting punishment of the lost than here in mentioning both day and night and the expression ‘forever and ever,’ literally ‘to the ages of ages.’” (John Walvoord)
Logically, Hell must be eternal, because it is where imperfect beings must pay a continual penalty for their sins because they cannot ever make a perfect payment. Principles behind Old Testament sacrifice remind us that an imperfect payment for sins must be a continual payment for sins.
Many of those who sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake: The Scriptures as a whole teach us that there are not only many resurrected. There is evidence that the Hebrew word for many in Daniel 12:2 can also be used for all. “The emphasis is not upon many as opposed to all, but rather on the numbers involved.” (Joyce Baldwin)
As well, the Bible states that all are raised but not all at the same time or in the same manner (Revelation 20:5-6).
“The wicked also shall ‘come forth,’ but by another principle, and for another purpose; they shall come out of their graves like filthy toads against this terrible storm.” (John Trapp)
This makes evangelism and missionary work of utmost importance. It also tells us that the decisions we make, for good or for bad, reverberate through eternity, not just in a mortal lifetime. I shudder to think that we both walked away from faith for a number of years, drawn by the evil lies of secularism. With all gratitude to God, He brought us back before we died from an accident or some other tragedy in this life. As I’m writing this today, the news feeds are full of the tragic images and stories of the people who were on the Air India flight that crashed just after takeoff. There were probably many on-board who didn’t know Jesus or rejected Him. Our lives are fragile and hanging by a thread.
I absolutely love this next verse in this passage in Daniel, repeated below, so you don’t have to scroll up to the top:
Those who have insight will shine brightly like the brightness of the expanse of heaven, and those who lead the many to righteousness, like the stars forever and ever.
Those who have insight are those who know what is important in this life and in this universe: The triumph of Jesus over sin and death! If we have insight into that greatest historical event, we can shine brightly in even the darkest of times, to bring others to His righteouness like stars that last forever. We don’t have much time!!
Here are some gems on this verse from Precept Austin:
Adoniram Judson a famous missionary to Burma wrote that "A life once spent is irrevocable. It will remain to be contemplated through eternity… the same may be said of each day. When it is once past, it is gone forever. All the marks which we put upon it, it will exhibit forever… each day will not only be a witness of our conduct, but will affect our everlasting destiny… How shall we then wish to see each day marked with usefulness! It is too late to mend the days that are past. The future is in our power. Let us, then, each morning, (enabled by God's Spirit) resolve to send the day into eternity in such a garb as we shall wish it to wear forever. And at night let us reflect that one more day is irrevocably gone, indelibly (forever) marked."
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From Vernon C. Grounds: Some say that life is like the flickering flame of a candle. When the flame is snuffed out, the light is gone forever. They believe that when we breathe our last breath, we are totally extinguished—as if we had never been!
British writer Arthur Porritt gives this sad description of how atheist Charles Bradlaugh was buried: “No prayer was said at the grave. Indeed, not a single word was uttered. The remains, placed in a light coffin, were lowered into the earth in a quite unceremonious fashion as if carrion were being hustled out of sight.” Porritt said that he came away “heart-frozen,” realizing how the “loss of faith in the continuity of human personality after death gives death an appalling victory.”
Life is not a brief candle-flame that death will forever extinguish. Christians in particular can rejoice that Christ “abolished death and brought life and immortality to light through the gospel” (2 Timothy 1:10), that He is “the resurrection and the life,” and that all who believe in Him “shall never die” (John 11:25-26).
Because of God’s power and grace exhibited at Calvary, we will receive bodies like Jesus’ resurrection body, and we “shall shine . . . like the stars forever” (Daniel 12:3). Praise God! We’re not flickering candles, but shining stars! Vernon C. Grounds
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From Julie Ackman - The Lake Michigan shoreline (a short drive from where I live) is dotted with lighthouses built to enable ship captains to navigate into safe harbors. The structures are varied in size, shape, and color, but each has unique charm and beauty. Pictures of the lighthouses are featured in books and calendars, and some people collect replicas and other lighthouse items. But lighthouses were not built just to be admired; they were built to hold lights that guide sailors to safety. A lighthouse is most useful and appreciated when, in the darkness of night, only its light can be seen—not the structure itself.
When Jesus sent out His disciples, He called them "the light of the world" (Mt 5:14-note). He also indicated that their task was not to draw attention to themselves, but to do good works that would cause people to recognize God's goodness and glorify Him.
Jesus said that just as a lamp's purpose is to give light, we also are to let our light shine (Mt 5:15, 16-see notes Mt 5:15; 5:16). We're most effective when we shine brightly in the darkness, guiding people who need to find safe harbor in Christ.
For a light to be effective, it has to be shining in a dark place.
The heavenly messenger who is telling Daniel about this lengthy prophecy closes out his words by telling Daniel to close and seal up the book until the end of time. One more commentary from Enduring Word:
Shut up the words, and seal the book: To shut up the words implied that the words should be kept safely until the time when they were needed. Seal the book has the double sense of authenticating the message and preserving it.
Until the time of the end: Daniel’s prophecy certainly was of some value in his own day. But there would come a day, the time of the end, when his prophecy would be of even more importance. Therefore, it was important to shut up the words, and seal the book until the time of the end.
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Many shall run to and fro, and knowledge shall increase: Here, Daniel describes a characteristic of the time of the end. Many take this prediction as being fulfilled in the travel (run to and fro) and information explosions (knowledge shall increase) of our modern age.
Many shall run to and fro, and knowledge shall increase: This has more the idea of searching after knowledge rather than rapid forms of transportation.
“The idea is that people would run about trying to find answers to important questions, especially in reference to future events.” (Leon Wood)
“The correct sense is that ‘many shall search it through and through,’ and that as a consequence ‘knowledge of the book itself shall be increased.’ ” (Philip Newell)
Shut up the words, and seal the book: Daniel has revealed enough to us so that the book really can be sealed. From Daniel 11:36 to Daniel 12:3, we see:
A world ruler, utterly opposed to God.
A world religion, based on the abomination of desolation.
A world war, which defeats the ruler.
A time of great tribulation for Israel lasting three and one-half years.
Deliverance for the people of God after the tribulation.
Resurrection and judgment.
The reward of the righteous.
I noticed some interesting observations in this commentary: In this day and age of the internet and world travel, the answers to most questions (if there is an answer) can be found doing a quick inquiry in a search engine. Artificial Intelligence is making this even easier, by providing answers even if you didn’t ask about something. We are all searching for knowledge but the answers must always be taken with a grain of salt and guided by insight into the Word of God. Be especially wary of keyboard warriors who are filled with contempt and pride and will lead many astray through their posts and comments.
My next devotional will finish the verses in Daniel 12 (5 through 13). I will then summarize what I learned from this amazing OT book before moving on to my next Bible book. I have picked out Paul’s Epistle to the Philippians to analyze after I finish Daniel.
Heaven on Wheels Daily Prayer:
Dear Lord - Help me to be a light that is shining in dark places. I am thrilled to know that those with insight into Your Word will be as bright as stars. Thank you for the great commentaries that I have read about Daniel and for this last prophecy that is yet to be fulfilled. Amen.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Gotquestions.org was accessed on 6/12/2025 to review the answers to the questions, “Who was the Archangel Michael”, and “What happens to believers after death?”
Enduring Word commentary by David Guzik is used with written permission. The extracts have had minor modifications to formatting to improve readability.
Precept Austin was accessed on 6/12/2025 to review commentary for Daniel 12:1-4