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Daniel 12

Daniel’s final vision places severe trouble within God’s appointed limits and looks beyond death to resurrection and judgment.

Daniel receives a final message about a time of unmatched trouble for his people, deliverance for those written in the book, and resurrection to life or contempt. Michael stands for the people, while the wise are promised lasting brightness. Beside a river, Daniel hears a question about when these wonders will end. He admits he does not understand. The answer gives measured periods of distress, keeps the words sealed, and promises Daniel rest and an inheritance.

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1“At that time Michael will stand up, the great prince who stands for the children of your people; and there will be a time of trouble, such as never was since there was a nation even to that same time. At that time your people will be delivered, everyone who is found written in the book.
2Many of those who sleep in the dust of the earth will awake, some to everlasting life, and some to shame and everlasting contempt.
3Those who are wise will shine as the brightness of the expanse. Those who turn many to righteousness will shine as the stars forever and ever.
4But you, Daniel, shut up the words and seal the book, even to the time of the end. Many will run back and forth, and knowledge will be increased.”
5Then I, Daniel, looked, and behold, two others stood, one on the river bank on this side, and the other on the river bank on that side.
6One said to the man clothed in linen, who was above the waters of the river, “How long will it be to the end of these wonders?”
7I heard the man clothed in linen, who was above the waters of the river, when he held up his right hand and his left hand to heaven, and swore by him who lives forever that it will be for a time, times, and a half; and when they have finished breaking in pieces the power of the holy people, all these things will be finished.
8I heard, but I didn’t understand. Then I said, “My lord, what will be the outcome of these things?”
9He said, “Go your way, Daniel; for the words are shut up and sealed until the time of the end.
10Many will purify themselves, and make themselves white, and be refined, but the wicked will do wickedly; and none of the wicked will understand, but those who are wise will understand.
11“From the time that the continual burnt offering is taken away and the abomination that makes desolate set up, there will be one thousand two hundred ninety days.
12Blessed is he who waits, and comes to the one thousand three hundred thirty-five days.
13“But go your way until the end; for you will rest, and will stand in your inheritance at the end of the days.”
World English BibleRead in NIV in Psalmlog →Highlighted verses are the most connected.
Key verses
Daniel 12:2Resurrection extends the vision beyond survival through trouble, revealing everlasting life and everlasting contempt as distinct outcomes.
Daniel 12:1The promise of deliverance names those written in the book while acknowledging trouble without precedent.
Daniel 12:3The wise and those who turn others to righteousness receive lasting honor beyond the distress described around them.
Where this chapter reaches

Isaiah shares the image of the dead rising, while John also describes resurrection with distinct outcomes of life and judgment. Matthew shares Daniel’s language of unmatched trouble and the righteous shining; Revelation shares Michael, the book associated with deliverance, and a measured period of distress.

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After reading the whole chapter

What do you notice about Daniel’s unanswered questions and the promise given to him at the end?

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How does the promise of resurrection shape your reading of the trouble described here?

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Questions people ask about Daniel 12

Who is Michael in Daniel 12?

Michael is called “the great prince who stands for the children of your people.” His role here is to stand for Daniel’s people during an unmatched time of trouble. The chapter presents him as a heavenly protector, without explaining his origin or identifying him as the man clothed in linen.

What do the 1,290 and 1,335 days mean in Daniel 12?

The 1,290 days are counted from the removal of the continual burnt offering and the setting up of the abomination that makes desolate. A blessing follows for the person who reaches 1,335 days. The chapter does not explain the additional forty-five days or give enough information to establish calendar dates.

Does Daniel 12 teach resurrection from the dead?

Verse 2 describes people sleeping in the dust who awake, some to everlasting life and others to shame and everlasting contempt. This is resurrection language with contrasting final outcomes. The chapter does not explain every detail of the resurrection’s scope or timing, but its horizon extends beyond death.

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What the Bible says about death →What the Bible says about fear →What the Bible says about patience →

Cross-reference data from OpenBible.info (CC BY). Scripture from the World English Bible (public domain). Arc diagram after Chris Harrison and Christoph Römhild (2007).