Daniel 12:5-13

Wait and Go Your Way

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5Then I, Daniel, looked and saw two others standing there, one on this bank of the river and one on the opposite bank.

6One of them said to the man dressed in linen, who was above the waters of the river, “How long until the fulfillment of these wonders?”

7And the man dressed in linen, who was above the waters of the river, raised his right hand and his left hand toward heaven, and I heard him swear by Him who lives forever, saying, “It will be for a time, and times, and half a time. When the power of the holy people has finally been shattered, all these things will be completed.”

8I heard, but I did not understand. So I asked, “My lord, what will be the outcome of these things?”

9“Go on your way, Daniel,” he replied, “for the words are closed up and sealed until the time of the end.

10Many will be purified, made spotless, and refined, but the wicked will continue to act wickedly. None of the wicked will understand, but the wise will understand.

11And from the time the daily sacrifice is abolished and the abomination of desolation set up, there will be 1,290 days.

12Blessed is he who waits and reaches the end of the 1,335 days.

13But as for you, go on your way until the end. You will rest, and then you will arise to your inheritance at the end of the days.”

Berean Standard Bible

Read aloud

Daniel sees two figures on opposite banks of the river. One asks the man in linen above the water how long it will be until these wonders are fulfilled. The man raises both hands toward heaven and swears by the One who lives forever: a time, times, and half a time. When the holy people’s power has been shattered, these things will be completed.

Daniel hears but does not understand. He asks what the outcome will be and is told to go on his way, because the words are sealed until the end. Many will be purified and refined. The wicked will continue in wickedness and will not understand, but the wise will understand.

The answer names 1,290 days from the removal of the daily sacrifice and the setting up of the abomination of desolation. A blessing is given to the one who waits and reaches 1,335 days. Daniel is not given every explanation he seeks.

He does receive a personal promise: he will rest and then arise to his inheritance at the end of the days. Following the previous passage’s promise that the dead will awaken, these words look beyond Daniel’s remaining work to his future with God. His life will not end in uncertainty about whether God remembers him.

Questions

1 What question is asked by the river?

AnswerOne of the figures asks how long it will be until the wonders are fulfilled. The man in linen answers with an oath by the One who lives forever.

2 Why does Daniel ask another question?

AnswerHe hears but does not understand. He asks what the outcome of these things will be.

3 What difference is described between the wicked and the wise?

AnswerThe wicked continue acting wickedly and do not understand, while the wise understand. Many will be purified, made spotless, and refined.

4 What personal promise does Daniel receive?

AnswerHe will rest and then arise to his inheritance at the end of the days. God’s promise reaches beyond Daniel’s remaining lifetime.

What This Means for Us

Daniel can go on his way without solving every question because God has promised him an inheritance. The final word to him is personal assurance after visions of upheaval and suffering.

When your family talks about death or the future, make room for questions you cannot answer. You can say “I don’t know” without surrendering what God has made clear. His promise of life gives us reason to remain faithful now and hope beyond the years we can see.

Prayer

God who lives forever, thank You for remembering Your people beyond the end of their days. Help us be honest about what we do not understand and faithful with what You have shown us. Give our family hope in the life You promise. Amen.

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