Daniel 11:36-12:3. What period is covered in this passage? What clues tell us that?
This seems to be the Tribulation period, coupled perhaps with the seven preceding verses. His words sound much like Paul’s in II Thessalonians 2, speaking of the man of sin who will come, and like John’s in the Revelation 13 passage describing the “beast”, and like Jesus’ in Matthew 24.
He will exalt himself above every god.
He will speak monstrous things.
He will come to his end and no one will help him.
This will be an unprecedented time of trouble at this period in history.
Everyone found written in “the book” will be rescued.
There will be two separate resurrections, to life, and to disgrace.
Daniel 11:36-40. Who is “The King?”
The flow of the text seems to be leading the reader to think this is another “king of the North”, as indeed it was originally, Antiochus Epiphanes. But by the time we get to verse 40, a change has taken place. Thousands of years have passed, actually, and that same “king” is back, strong-willed, Satan-filled, determined to finish what he started, bring the entire world under his control!
A change, I say? Yes, in verse 40 he who had been in ancient days the “King of the North” is now being attacked by the King of the North and the King of the South simultaneously! A Middle Eastern coalition led by Syria? A northern African coalition led by Egypt?
Daniel 11:41. How does one explain the presence of Edom and Moab in a “last days” passage?
Moab and Edom and portions of Ammon are said to “escape”. I wrote of this in a former work and explained it by the proposition that they had escaped hundreds of years before by actually going out of existence. That’s as far as I could see it then. I have some better conclusions now.
First you must understand the dilemma here. If you are following the text you must have surmised by now that this passage is an end-times scenario. By the end times, and actually quite some time ago, Edom and Moab and the old Ammonite nation disappeared from the human race, per prophecies of Isaiah and others. How can they re-appear here?
There is this one line of explanation: Just as Babylon did not meet its final doom, though it was predicted to fall immediately many centuries ago, and will be revived to meet its final fate as described in Revelation, so, perhaps, these three nations. They could slowly arise and repopulate, and then face the wrath of God at Jesus’ coming. Assyria also, though not scheduled for judgment again, is an end-time player, yet nowhere to be seen (as an independent nation) as I write in 2016.
One other possibility, and I find this the most intriguing at present:
The word “countries” is not in the original, and in many translations. Could it be that the angel is speaking here of the territory of these three nations, the boundaries of which would roughly cover modern Jordan? (“Amman” just happens to be the capital of that country.) Jordan has changed loyalties through the years, but has often been a good neighbor in the region. Will God allow Jordan to be spared?
Daniel 12:11-12. How long is the Tribulation, according to the angel in Daniel?
It seems that a seven-year period is still to be fulfilled, per the chapter 9 prophecy. Here we see only half of that period. In Revelation, that half is known as the Great Tribulation by New Testament scholars.
Here it looks like the covenant is broken by antichrist, no sacrifices are allowed. Then some ambiguity. Is it now 1,290 days (3 and ½ years) until the abomination of desolation is set up, or are the set-up and the broken covenant happening at the same time? If the former, the 1,290 days is the first half of the Tribulation’s seven years. If the latter, the second half.
I think most prefer the latter. That makes verse 12 quite interesting to us. If 1,290 days is the full amount of the Great Tribulation, the worst of the worst of history, what about those extra 45 days mentioned in verse 12? Since such a blessing is placed upon those who live through it, could it be that these last6 weeks will be horror piled on horror, and only the strongest of God’s people will be able to endure it.
I guess you see I do not subscribe to the theory that so-called “Tribulation saints” are some second-class citizens who just didn’t make it first time around. Not a hint in Scripture about such a thing, fyi.
Daniel 12:13. What do you think is the reference to Daniel’s “allotted portion.”?
The latter part of Ezekiel speaks of allotments of territory to this and that person or group. And Jesus told His apostles He went to prepare a “place” for us. Can we surmise that there is indeed a place for every true child of God, though a pilgrim here, and wandering?
I guess you see I do not subscribe to the theory that so-called “Tribulation saints” are some second-class citizens who just didn’t make it first time around. Not a hint in Scripture about such a thing, fyi.
6. Daniel 12:13. What do you think is the reference to Daniel’s “allotted portion.”?
The latter part of Ezekiel speaks of allotments of territory to this and that person or group. And Jesus told His apostles He went to prepare a “place” for us. Can we surmise that there is indeed a place for every true child of God, though "a pilgrim here, and wandering"?
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