Глава 12

1–3. Revelation about the final destinies of the world. 4–13. Conclusion of the book. Daniel 12:1. And at that time Michael will arise, the great prince who stands for the sons of your people; and a time of trouble will come, such as has not happened since men existed until now; But at that time all of your people who are found written in the book will be saved. Daniel 12:2. And many of those who sleep in the dust of the earth will awaken, some to eternal life, others to everlasting reproach and disgrace. Dan.12:3. And the wise will shine like the lights in the firmament, and those who turn many to the truth will shine like the stars, forever and ever. The protector of the Jewish people in the era of grave disasters that they will have to endure from Antiochus Epiphanes will be the Archangel Michael, the “prince” and patron of the Jews (Dan. 10:13, 21). Only through the intercession of this “great prince” will they be saved from final destruction. But just as Antiochus, the enemy and persecutor of the Jewish people, resembles the last and most cruel enemy of Christianity - the Antichrist, so exactly the difficult time experienced by those chosen from the people of God under him serves as a prototype of the last times of the existence of the New Testament church - a prototype of the sorrow of the times of the Antichrist. It is to this era, the time of the end of the world, that revelation moves on. It is depicted as a time of sorrow unprecedented since the existence of the world, which cannot be said about the disasters caused to the Jews by Antiochus Epiphanes, and which, on the basis of the testimony of Jesus Christ, refers to the end of the world (Matthew 24:21, 22). In this difficult time, only “those who are written in the book of life” will be saved (cf. Ex.32:32; Ps.69:29; Phil.4:3; Rev.3:5; Rev.13, etc.), i.e. all those righteous and true members of the people of God whom the Lord has appointed to eternal life. Like the living, some “from those who sleep in the dust of the earth” will rise to eternal life, and others to eternal torment (John 5:29; 1 Cor. 15:51–53; 1 Sol. 4:16). The first will shine like the lights of heaven (Matt. 13:43; 1 Cor. 15:40–42). Dan.12:4. And you, Daniel, hide these words and seal this book until the time of the end; many will read it, and knowledge will increase.” The revelation ends with the command addressed to the prophet to “hide your words,” that is, to take care to carefully preserve this vision. And since it was the last in a series of all other visions, simultaneously with the first order the second one was given: “seal the book” - take care of the same preservation of all previously received revelations. By preserving them in their original purity and inviolability, the “knowledge” of the ways of the Lord will increase. Dan.12:5. Then I, Daniel, looked, and behold, there were two others standing, one on this side of the river, the other on that side of the river. Dan.12:6. And one said to the man in linen clothing, who stood over the waters of the river: “When will the end of these wonderful incidents?” Dan.12:7. And I heard how a man in linen clothing, who was above the waters of the river, raising his right and left hands to the sky, swore to the One who lives forever that at the end of time and times and half a time, and after the complete overthrow of the power of the holy people, all this would be accomplished. The revelation could end with this requirement. But then there would be a lack of explanation regarding the duration of the predicted events, and meanwhile, by analogy with the vision of Chapter 8. the prophet might have expected such an explanation. And it is, indeed, given, and twice. For the first time, one of the celestials, who proposed to her husband in linen clothes, asked the question: “When will the end of these wonderful incidents?” If by the latter, judging by the context, we mean the resurrection of the dead (Dan. 12:2), then the answer of the husband in linen clothing: “at the end of a time and times and half a time ... all this will be accomplished,” as clearly hinting at Dan. 7:25, indicates the duration of the Antichrist’s activity. With such an understanding, the meaning of his words is this: the resurrection of the dead will immediately follow the time of the Antichrist. Daniel 12:8. I heard this, but did not understand, and therefore said: “My lord! what will happen after this? The Prophet did not understand the answer, and accordingly, to the question: “what will happen after this,” he is asked to be content with what is open and to leave the concern of resolving perplexities regarding the incomprehensible in revelation. The understanding of this latter belongs to future times, for which the revelation must be carefully preserved. Dan.12:9. And he answered: “Go, Daniel; for these words are hidden and sealed until the time of the end. Daniel 12:10. Many will be purified, made white and refined in temptation; But the wicked will do wickedly, and none of the wicked will understand, but the wise will understand. Dan.12:11. From the time the daily sacrifice ceases and the abomination that makes desolate is set up, one thousand two hundred and ninety days will pass. Daniel 12:12. Blessed is he who waits and reaches one thousand three hundred and thirty-five days. The prophet's mental gaze cannot penetrate into the future of the New Testament Church. As if to compensate for this, the duration of the suffering of his people is pointed out to him, a thought about which could torment and disturb him. Dan.12:10, as parallel to Dan.11:35, and Dan.12:11, as being in direct correlation with Dan.11:32 of the same chapter, clearly show that the speech of the celestial dweller concerns the activities of Antiochus Epiphanes, his persecution of the Jewish people. Accordingly, the numerical data in Daniel 12:11–12 should determine its duration. The latter is equal to 1,290 and 1,335 days. The beginning of the counting of these days refers to “the time of the end of the daily sacrifice and the establishment of the abomination of desolation,” which took place on the 15th of Haslev, 145 (1 Mac. 1:54). On the 25th of Haslev, 148, the altar in the Jerusalem temple was restored, and on this day the Jews offered sacrifice to God on the newly built altar (1 Mac. 4:52). This event must be recognized as the final point for the period indicated by the Angel. But since the period of time between the desecration of the church by Antiochus (15th Haslev 145) and its restoration (25th Haslev 148) is 3 years and 10 days, or 1,105–1,102 days, then the difference between this number of days announced by the Angel - 1,290 days is equal to 185–188 days, and between 1,290 and 1,335 days – another 45 days. In order to explain this discrepancy, it is assumed that 185–188 days passed until Antiochus, having heard in Persia that his troops directed against the Jews under the command of Lysias had been defeated, and the Jews had destroyed the altar he had desecrated, built a new one, and restored their sanctuary - he was frightened and alarmed, coming to the realization that the failures that had befallen him constituted punishment from above ( 1 Mac.6:5–13), and then Antiochus’ illness continued for the next 45 days (1 Mac.6:9); ending with death in 149. If we recognize this last as the end of a period of 1,335 days, then to some extent the words of the Angel will become clear: “blessed is he who waits and reaches 1,335 days.” The death of Antiochus Epiphanes put an end to the religious persecution of the Jews and is therefore considered as a gratifying, joyful event. You might be interested in: