The Book of Daniel: Prophecy PAST, PRESENT & FUTURE (Chapter 12: Verses 5-8)

Hello Friends!

Welcome back to our Encouraging Concepts Bible study series focused on the powerfully PROPHETIC picture portrayed in the Old Testament book of Daniel painted as a panoramic landscape of World History in FIVE successions “written” in ardent ADVANCE some 2,600 years ago… “The Book of Daniel: Prophecy PAST, PRESENT & FUTURE!”

The Book of Daniel: Prophecy PAST, PRESENT & FUTURE (Chapter 12: Verses 5-8)

⁵ Then I Daniel looked, and, behold, there stood other two, the one on this side of the bank of the river, and the other on that side of the bank of the river. ⁶ And one said to the man clothed in linen, which was upon the waters of the river, How long shall it be to the end of these wonders? ⁷ And I heard the man clothed in linen, which was upon the waters of the river, when he held up his right hand and his left hand unto heaven, and sware by him that liveth forever that it shall be for a time, times, and an half; and when he shall have accomplished to scatter the power of the holy people, all these things shall be finished. ⁸ And I heard, but I understood not: then said I, O my Lord, what shall be the end of these things? – Daniel 12:5-8

OPENING POINTS TO PONDER: It is very IMPORTANT to ultimately “understand” that this perfect PROPHECY has particular “people” parameters and “time” traits of which are limited to the HISTORY of the nigh nation of “Israel” and eagerly encompasses their looming “latter days” beginning from the “Babylonian” co-opted CAPTIVITY until their destined DESTRUCTION as diligently declared by the angelic assistant “Gabriel” sent from “heaven” itself:

Now I am come to make thee understand what shall befall thy people in the latter days: for yet the vision is for many days – Daniel 10:14

And in those times there shall many stand up against the king of the south: also the robbers of thy people shall exalt themselves to establish the vision; but they shall fall – Daniel 11:14

Ultimately, ALL of these “finished” events were finally FULFILLED by the trying “time” of insolent “Israel’s” salacious SCATTERING scant “power of the holy people” as was aptly “accomplished” rogue ransacking by the Roman Empire in the yielded – Year 70 A.D.

Side BY Side!

“Then” the devoted “Daniel” had longingly “looked” to overtly OBSERVE these “two other” angelic assistants as each “one” solemnly “stood” on the OPPOSING broad “bank of the river” respectively:

Then I Daniel looked, and, behold, there stood other two, the one on this side of the bank of the river, and the other on that side of the bank of the river – Daniel 12:5

BIBLICAL BACKGROUND: The devoted “Daniel” had earlier SEEN a very similar “vision” on specifically the “four and twentieth day” of the “first month” while he was abiding “by the side” of this “great river” named “Hiddekel” as such:

And in the four and twentieth day of the first month, as I was by the side of the great river, which is Hiddekel – Daniel 10:4

As “Daniel” was “by the side” of the “great river” named “Hiddekel” (Tigris) he righteously RECEIVED a vivid “vision” derived during the “Jewish” practice of Passover and the Feast of Unleavened Bread of which BOTH fell upon the “four and twentieth day” of the “first month” celebrated on Nisan, April 24 precisely. WHY? Perhaps he was at the banks of this “great river “ for a justified – Jewish FEAST!

Incidentally, this Biblically HISTORICAL waterway is also mentioned in the Old Testament book of Genesis poised prior to the world-wide Great Flood deluge:

And the name of the third river is Hiddekel: that is it which goeth toward the east of Assyria. And the fourth river is Euphrates – Genesis 2:14

A solemnly SPECIFIC geographical “great river” of which remains after the global CATASTROPHE caused by the Great Flood to the “east of Assyria” that Sovereignly SPECIFIES the luminous – LITERAL Location!

How LONG?

“And” then “one” of these heavenly hosts “standing” beside the raging “river” aptly ASKED the great “Gabriel” cordially “clothed in linen” specifically “how long” it would be until the enduring “end of these wonders” pictured within this profound PROPHECY proclaimed:

And one said to the man clothed in linen, which was upon the waters of the river, How long shall it be to the end of these wonders? – Daniel 12:6

HISTORICAL HINTS: Since any other use of the tremendous “time” frame greatly “given” unto the devoted “Daniel” in this poignant PROPHECY definitely does NOT concern any “Gentile” gate, this “one” no doubt must be questioning the unprecedented “trouble” to come upon these particular “people” performed HISTORICALLY in the year 70 A.D. complete. This tumultuous “time of trouble” totaled unparalleled severe SUFFERING for insolent “Israel” and the tremendous timing of all “these” woeful “wonders” is of great IMPORTANCE to the “Jewish” jurisdiction. WHY? Because during that agonizing “appointed time” the bemoaning “believers” of the coming “Christian” cause set within the nigh New Testament era would indeed be – CAREFULLY Considering!

Finally FINISHED!

“And” now “Gabriel” further clarifies the matter of TIMING as to precisely when absolutely “all these things shall be finished” unto the hallowed “holy people” showcasing their great SIGNIFICANCE by raising “his right hand and his left hand” on high in solemnly “swearing” as such according to the great “God of heaven” of Whom “liveth forever” eternal:

And I heard the man clothed in linen, which was upon the waters of the river, when he held up his right hand and his left hand unto heaven, and sware by him that liveth forever that it shall be for a time, times, and an half; and when he shall have accomplished to scatter the power of the holy people, all these things shall be finished – Daniel 12:7

HISTORICAL HINTS: The great IMPORTANCE of this “time” trusted event coupled with the PRECISE details of these trying “times” told rightly justified this angelic CONFIRMATION for commencement. And the apt answer to this perfect PROPHECY provided has within it TWO appropriate aspects addressed:

FIRST ~ The defined DURATION of this “time of trouble” to come – TROUBLE is Told!

SECOND ~ The definite DATE determining it as “finished” in full – FINISHED in Full! 

These “holy people” held by their great “God” are rightly represented here by the “nation” of insatiable “Israel” of whom would be Sovereignly sent as “scattered” seed tossed throughout the entire “earth” to completely CONCLUDE this perfect PROPHECY promised. Therefore, this horrible HISTORICAL herald would be faithfully FULFILLED when insolent “Israel” was solemnly “scattered” abroad in the yielded year – 70 A.D.

TRANSITION of Times ~ Old TO New!

Incidentally, this terrible “time, times, and an half” narrative represents rightly the “time and times and the dividing of time” mention EARLIER by the devoted “Daniel” for yet “another” anticipated “horn” of which would aptly “arise” directly “out of” the terrifying “ten horns” heralded as formulating from the FOURTH belligerent “beast” touted within HISTORY as those tumultuous “ten kings” in kind…

And the ten horns out of this kingdom are ten kings that shall arise: and another shall rise after them; and he shall be diverse from the first, and he shall subdue three kings. And he shall speak great words against the most High, and shall wear out the saints of the most High, and think to change times and laws: and they shall be given into his hand until a time and times and the dividing of time – Daniel 7:25

THEOLOGICAL THOUGHTS: This PROPHETIC particular province was exposited EXACTLY within these tumultuous “times” by virtue of the “thousand two hundred and threescore days” dictated DIRECTLY as the “time, and times, and half a time” being solely synonymous with the fomented “forty and two months” of which confident CLARIFICATION is plainly provided by the purposed Prophet “Daniel” of the Old Testament and is faithfully followed by the ardent Apostle “John” of the New Testament succinctly…

Little children, it is the last time: and as ye have heard that antichrist shall come, even now are there many antichrists; whereby we know that it is the last time. They went out from us, but they were not of us; for if they had been of us, they would no doubt have continued with us: but they went out, that they might be made manifest that they were not all of us – 1 John 2:18-19

And the woman fled into the wilderness, where she hath a place prepared of God, that they should feed her there a thousand two hundred and threescore days… And when the dragon saw that he was cast unto the earth, he persecuted the woman which brought forth the man child. And to the woman were given two wings of a great eagle, that she might fly into the wilderness, into her place, where she is nourished for a time, and times, and half a time, from the face of the serpent – Revelation 12:6 & 13-14

And I saw one of his heads as it were wounded to death; and his deadly wound was healed: and all the world wondered after the beast. And they worshipped the dragon which gave power unto the beast: and they worshipped the beast, saying, Who is like unto the beast? who is able to make war with him? And there was given unto him a mouth speaking great things and blasphemies; and power was given unto him to continue forty and two months – Revelation 13:3-5

And “these” anticipated “antichrists” of such PROPHETIC antiquated anarchy had woefully “went out from us” during the “last time” of torrid TRANSITION rightly referring to the approaching Roman ruling religious rite of the Pontifical Papacy looming within the “continued” course of the culminating – Chided CHURCH!

Therefore, these woeful “wonders” leading up “until” the sordid “scattering” of the “holy people” in the year 70 A.D. would confidently commence for a total “time, times, and an half” of “time” which is simply a “Hebrew” constructed colloquialism consistent with HISTORICAL precision proclaimed – 3½ Years!

PROPHETIC PROMISE: The prophet “Moses” provided a powerful PROPHECY pictured in the pages of the Old Testament concerning this horrible “desolation” to come upon “Israel” long before it was to occur in the harkened HISTORY hallows…

The Lord shall bring a nation against thee from far, from the end of the earth, as swift as the eagle flieth; a nation whose tongue thou shalt not understand; A nation of fierce countenance, which shall not regard the person of the old, nor shew favour to the young: And he shall eat the fruit of thy cattle, and the fruit of thy land, until thou be destroyed: which also shall not leave thee either corn, wine, or oil, or the increase of thy kine, or flocks of thy sheep, until he have destroyed thee… And ye shall be left few in number, whereas ye were as the stars of heaven for multitude; because thou wouldest not obey the voice of the Lord thy God. And it shall come to pass, that as the Lord rejoiced over you to do you good, and to multiply you; so the Lord will rejoice over you to destroy you, and to bring you to nought; and ye shall be plucked from off the land whither thou goest to possess it. And the Lord shall scatter thee among all people, from the one end of the earth even unto the other; and there thou shalt serve other gods, which neither thou nor thy fathers have known, even wood and stone. And among these nations shalt thou find no ease, neither shall the sole of thy foot have rest: but the Lord shall give thee there a trembling heart, and failing of eyes, and sorrow of mind: And thy life shall hang in doubt before thee; and thou shalt fear day and night, and shalt have none assurance of thy life – Deuteronomy 28:49-51 & 62-66

And the PROPHETIC promise proclaimed by the perfect Prophet our “Lord Jesus Christ” Himself in the New Testament showcases such a “scattering” would overtly occur inside of “Jerusalem” within His very own “Jewish” jaded groping “generation” of whom would be terribly “trodden down of the Gentiles” greatly within the halls of HISTORY heralded…

And they shall fall by the edge of the sword, and shall be led away captive into all nations: and Jerusalem shall be trodden down of the Gentiles, until the times of the Gentiles be fulfilled – Luke 21:24

That particular PROMISE is the unprecedented terrifying “time of trouble” that completely CRUSHED unsuspecting “Israel” as their justified judgement – Righteous RUIN!

Wondering WHEN?

“And” now seeing how “Daniel” definitely did NOT completely comprehend this powerfully PROPHETIC exchange he had “heard” heralded thus far, he yet AGAIN consults with “Gabriel” for further clarification concerning the eerie “end of these things” confidently to come:

And I heard, but I understood not: then said I, O my Lord, what shall be the end of these things? – Daniel 12:8

THEOLOGICAL THOUGHTS: There was some particular event that was NOT uniformly “understood” by the devoted “Daniel” and therefore he deeply DESIRES to derive “what” the specific starting and eventual ending points of this HISTORIC hinderance…

Of which salvation the prophets have enquired and searched diligently, who prophesied of the grace that should come unto you: Searching what, or what manner of time the Spirit of Christ which was in them did signify, when it testified beforehand the sufferings of Christ, and the glory that should follow. Unto whom it was revealed, that not unto themselves, but unto us they did minister the things, which are now reported unto you by them that have preached the gospel unto you with the Holy Ghost sent down from heaven; which things the angels desire to look into – 1 Peter 1:10-12

However, as “we” shall DISCOVER during “our” next “study” session, the aged “Daniel” is Divinely DENIED any more further insightful “knowledge” or unique “understanding” expanded during this mandated “manner of time” appointed – Sovereign SILENCE!

Praise the Lord Jesus Christ!

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Blessings!
Shane K. Morin <><

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