We are coming to the end of the angel’s prophecy (cp. Daniel 11:2-4). Yet, not only of the angel’s prophecy, but we are near the end of the Book of Daniel, as well. Presently, we are involved in a study of the time of the end, which, when placed in context with the Seventy Weeks Prophecy (Daniel 9:24-27), is the time of the final week of that prophecy, or the time of the final seven years of the 490 years that were cut off and decreed for the nation of the Jews and Jerusalem (Daniel 9:24). Thus, it was the time of the coming of the Messiah (Daniel 9:25) and the final week, in which he confirms the New Covenant with the Jews, whose hearts the Lord touches (cp. Daniel 9:27). Particularly, we are at the time, when the Messiah would be cut off (Daniel 9:26; cp. 11:44-45). “At THAT time…” (Daniel 12:1).
Daniel “looked” and saw two angels, one on his side of the river and the other on the far side of the river (Daniel 12:5). The river, remember is the Hiddekel (Daniel 10:4), which runs with the Euphrates (Genesis 2:14), and is, therefore the Tigris in Babylon, where Daniel spent most of his life. Daniel tells us that one of the men (angels) called out to the Man,[1] who was clothed in linen and who stood upon the waters of the river (Daniel 12:6; cp. 10:5-6), and he asked him, “How long… to the end of these wonders?” Which wonders? All the wonders mentioned, the coming of the Messiah, the time he would meet his end, the resurrection and the judgment that would come afterward, all of these wonders depend upon one, namely, the surprising wonder that Messiah would deliver his people by his death (cp. Daniel 11:44-45; 12:1). In other words, the angel asked Michael, the Messiah, the Man in linen, who stood upon the waters of the river, how long it would be before he would accomplish this great wonder (Daniel 12:6). According to Daniel 9:26-27, it would be in the middle of the week
Accordingly, Daniel heard the Man in linen (Michael, the Messiah) answer the inquiry by holding up both his hands to heaven and swearing by the One who lives forever: “(it will be) for a time, times and a half, and when he would have completed the task of breaking the power of the holy people, all these things would be finished” (Daniel 12:7; cp. John 19:30). In other words, it would come to pass in a year (time), and an additional two years (times) and a half year (a half of a time), or as the Apocalypse puts it, 1260 days (360 days x 3 + 180 days = 1260 days; cp. Revelation 12:6).[2] Put another way, the Messiah would come upon the scene and preach the New Covenant for 1260 days, and confirm it (Daniel 9:27) with blood, vis-à-vis the crucifixion. This time, however, represents only half of the final week of the Seventy Weeks Prophecy (cp. Daniel 9:27)!
Daniel, of course, didn’t understand (Daniel 12:8), because the words of this prophecy were shut up until the time of the end, when “knowledge” would increase via the Gospel (Daniel 12:4). Nevertheless, he asked the angel with him for clarification. Not surprisingly, however, Daniel was told once more to go his way, because the understanding he desired could not be given until the time of the end (Daniel 12:9).
Nevertheless, the angel did add a few things about the time of the end, which could be understood, but only in the context of the Messiah being cut off (Daniel 9:26) and delivering his people in the process (Daniel 12:1). The angel declared, “Many would be purified and made white and tried… but the wise would understand” (Daniel 12:10). In other words, they would be delivered (Daniel 12:1). However, the wicked would continue to do wickedly, just as always, and never come to an understanding of the evil they do (Daniel 12:10). However, from the time the Daily Sacrifice is take away (cp. Daniel 9:27) until the abomination that makes desolate is set up, there would be 1290 days. But, what does this mean?
The Daily Sacrifice that is taken away (cp. Daniel 12:11 and 9:27) is the Messiah. He is cut off and taken away from the land of the living (physical life). Nevertheless, he will also declare a firm covenant, not only for 1260 days, but for an additional 1290 days to make the “week” (the seventieth week of the Seventy Weeks Prophecy) complete. This would be done through Jesus’ Apostles and the week would end with the stoning of Stephen in Acts 7.[3] However, instead of ending with the seventieth week complete, the angel adds: “Blessed is he that waits and comes to the 1335 days” (Daniel 12:12)! What does this mean?
The key to understanding where these days fit is that a “blessing” is given. What blessing would that be? In the context of Jesus public ministry, no one really understood the Gospel he preached, but those who followed him believed he must be the Messiah, because of the works he did. They understood what they SAW, but not what they HEARD. The blessing would be to come to understand what Jesus preached. If this is logical and true, then we can count 1335 days[4] from the beginning of Jesus’ ministry, the day in which he claimed “The Spirit of the Lord is upon me…” (Luke 4:18), and go forward 1335 days to the end, and we would arrive at Pentecost after the crucifixion, when the Spirit of the Lord fell upon the disciples of Jesus, at which time they UNDERSTOOD the Gospel (see Acts 2).
Finally, the angel told Daniel a third time to go his way, for he will come to his own end soon enough, but he would later stand in his portion at the time of the judgment, “at the end of the days” or at the end of the grace period offered the unrepentant Jews, during the days when the Gospel was preached by Jesus’ witnesses (Daniel 12:13; cp. 12:1-4).[5]
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[1] Remember, this “Man” was the same, before whom Daniel had absolutely no strength, not even to stand or remain awake (Daniel 10:8-9) and had to be strengthened by the angel who delivered the prophecy to Daniel (cp. Daniel 10:10, 16-18). The Man in linen (Daniel 10:5) was Michael (Daniel 10:13), whom we have come to understand is the Messiah.
[2] See my earlier study: Daniel’s 70 Weeks Prophecy and the 1260 DAYS.
[3] See my earlier study: The 70 Weeks Prophecy and the 1290 DAYS.
[4] See my earlier study: The 70 Weeks Prophecy and the 1335 DAYS.
[5] See my previous study: The Time of the End.
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