Daniel 12

Daniel 12

Vernon McGee - By what authority do we call this period the Great Tribulation Period? By the authority of the Lord Jesus, because He used the same language in speaking of the Great Tribulation that Daniel uses here. He said that this would be a brief period, a time of trouble, and that there would never be a time like it before or afterward. This is the time the Lord Jesus called the Great Tribulation Period. He knew what He was talking about, and we will accept what He said (see Matt. 24:15–26). “At that time” identifies the time frame as the time of the end (Dan. 11:35, 40; 12:4) and the latter days (Dan. 10:14). This is now the end of the vision given to Daniel, and it ends with the Great Tribulation Period. Dr. Robert Culver wrote in Daniel and the Latter Days, p. 166: “Another expression, ‘at the time of the end’ (11:40), seems to indicate eschatological times. I do not feel that this evidence, taken by itself, can be pressed too far, for obviously the end of whatever series of events is in the mind of the author is designated by the expression, ‘time of the end.’ This is not necessarily a series reaching on to the consummation of the ages. However, it is quite clear from 10:14, which fixes the scope of the prophecy to include ‘the latter days,’ that the ‘time of the end’ in this prophecy is with reference to the period consummated by the establishment of the Messianic kingdom.” “Michael” is identified for us here. He is the only angel given the title of archangel (see Jude 9). His name means “who is like unto God?” He is the one who is going to cast Satan out of heaven (see Rev. 12:7–9). (ED: BUT THAT IS NOT THE TIME OF DISTRESS DESCRIBED IN DANIEL 12:1 FOR THIS DISTRESS IS ON EARTH, NOT IN HEAVEN). He is the one who protects the nation Israel and stands in her behalf, as Daniel makes clear here. His strategy is outlined by John in Revelation 12:14–16. “For the children of thy people.” This is positively the nation Israel. Otherwise the language has no meaning whatsoever. “And there shall be a time of trouble.” This is the Great Tribulation Period as our Lord so labeled it in Matthew 24:21. The believing remnant of Israel will be preserved (see Matt. 24:22; Rom. 11:26) (Thur the Bible) Gleason Archer - The opening words of this chapter—“At that time”—refer to the fortunes of God’s covenant people during this period of the career of Antichrist. The closing verses of chapter 11 deal exclusively with his military and political career, described in broad and general outline. But his internal policy toward the community of God’s people within his empire has not so far been referred to. Here we are told that it will be characterized by a policy of brutal oppression and persecution surpassing in severity any tribulation through which Israel—or perhaps any other nation—has ever passed. “Such as has not happened from the beginning of nations until then” sounds like a generalization of broadest scope, reaching all the way back to the beginnings of ordered society. It is highly significant that our Lord Jesus in the Olivet Discourse (Matt 24:21) picks up and enlarges on this prediction, saying: “For then there will be great distress [thlipsis] unequaled from the beginning of the world [hoia ou gegonen ap’ archēs kosmou—which corresponds very closely to the Theodotion rendering of Dan 12:1: thlipsis hoia ou gegonen aph’ hou gegenētai ethnos, ‘distress such as has not happened from the beginning of a nation’] until now—and never to be equaled again.” Quite evidently Jesus took this prophecy in Daniel as relating to the Last Days and particularly to the Great Tribulation with which our present church age is destined to close. (Expositor's Bible Commentary - 1985 edition) Andrew Hill - The phrase “at that time” (v. 1a) links this section to the previous chapter, specifically, “the time of the end,” when the kings of the South and the North engage in battle (11:40). The reference to the archangel Michael also connects 12:1–4 with chs. 10–11, since he was first introduced in 10:13 and named again in 10:21. Michael is described as a “great prince” (Heb. śar gādôl) and protector (Heb. ʿmd; “the Hebrew text here suggests one who stands up ‘over’ or ‘beside’ or ‘for’ the people” [Seow, 186]), or guardian angel of the nation of Israel—“essentially a fighter” (Baldwin, 1203). Seow, 186, observes that the entire historical overview of 11:2–45 is framed by the presence of Michael and that he is “subliminally present throughout that historical recitation,” since we were told that he is involved in the fight against the supernatural patrons of the world empires of Persia and Greece (10:21). He apparently functions in the dual roles of celestial commander of the heavenly host standing as guardian over the people of Israel, as well as the chief angel who stands in the divine council and represents his people Israel before God. The historicist interpreter understands this unparalleled “time of distress” (v. 1b) as the enormity of the persecution of the Jews by Antiochus IV (e.g., Lucas, 294; Redditt, 190). The futurist interpreter equates this “time of distress” with the “great tribulation,” the cataclysmic wrath of God poured out against unbelieving Israel and the entire world at the end of the age just before the second coming of Jesus Christ (e.g., Miller, 314–15; cf. Rev 6–16). The revealing angel promises deliverance for “everyone whose name is found written in the book” (v. 1c). This book or scroll is to be distinguished from the “Book of Truth” that the revealing angel unveils to Daniel (10:21), and from the “books” of past deeds that provide the basis for God’s judgment of individual and nations (7:10). The figurative reference to “the book” is usually equated with “the book of life,” in which all the saints are enrolled (cf. Ex 32:33; Ps 69:28; Mal 3:16; Php 4:3; Rev 3:5; 20:12). (Expositor's Bible Commentary - revised edition) David Malick - The Great Tribulation Rescue: At the end time when Michael the great protective angel of Israel arises and when Israel is experiencing the greatest trouble of her history everyone whose name is written in the book of life will be rescued Da 12:1 1) At the end time Michael the great prince/angel over the sons of Israel will arise [to protect them?] Da 12:1a 2) At that end time when Michael arises there will be a time of trouble for the nation Israel which has never been so great 12:1b 3) At that end time when Michael arises and there is great trouble for the nation of Israel there will be a rescue of everyone whose name is found written in the book [of life]64 12:1b J Dwight