DANIEL 12
Read Daniel 12:1-13
In the last chapter Daniel was given a glimpse of what was to come in terms of human history. Now, with language very reminiscent of the Book of Revelation, he is told about the last days. There will be a time of distress to come, Daniel is told, but there are words of comfort as well. Those whose names are written in the book will be delivered to everlasting life (v2). The fate of others is shame and everlasting contempt. We see here what the New Testament tells us clearly in the words of Jesus; that not all are saved. In the Sermon on the Mount Jesus said, ‘Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it. (Matthew 7:13-15)
There is a strong hint that someone terrible will rise to a position of great power. Revelation calls this person, ‘the Antichrist’; here it is ‘the abomination that causes desolation’ (v11). But as the New Testament tells us, for those that believe, salvation is assured. ‘Many will be purified, made spotless and refined’. The Book of Daniel only tells us that this will be the case, not how. But the New Testaments opens it up for us and we learn there that it is because of Jesus on the cross paying the price of our sins, taking them upon himself, that we are made spotless and purified.
Daniel is given the encouragement that he has served well and is told that he can ‘go on your way’ because he will receive his ‘allotted inheritance’. Interestingly, this language of inheritance is the language that is used in the New Testament. Paul tells us again and again that we who believe are adopted into God’s family and receive the inheritance of God’s natural son, Jesus Christ, which is eternal life in his presence.
The Book of Daniel shows us that God is sovereign over all the events of the world. The early chapters saw God leading and guiding Daniel and his three associates through the minefield of life in a foreign land, in a foreign culture, and yet still be faithful to the Lord their God. The latter chapters show that God is sovereign over the events of world history and also over the great battle between good and evil on a cosmic scale, a subject the Book of Revelation also deals with.
The Book of Daniel prepares us for God’s faithfulness in allowing the people of Israel to return to the Promised Land, to understand that judgement is not final, that God is gracious and merciful and there is hope of reconciliation after sin. But the Book of Daniel also prepares us for the salvation to come in Jesus Christ and it anticipates his coming in the New Testament to deal with the issue that took God’s people into exile in the first place – sin!