Daniel 12:
1 “At that time Michael shall stand up, the great prince who stands watch over the sons of your people; and there shall be a time of trouble, such as never was since there was a nation, even to that time. And at that time your people shall be delivered, every one who is found written in the book.
"And at that time”- What time? The time of the end, the time of trouble such as never was before; the same time to which our Lord refers in Matthew 24:21.” (Gaebelein) — “Michael shall stand up”-Michael the archangel, as has already been observed, was ever reputed the guardian of the Jewish people." (Clarke) Michael means "who is as God," and indeed Jesus is "one with God in the church. His title, as prince and potentate, is expressive of His sovereignty. He comes and stands up for the [spiritual] Israel of God." (Sutcliffe) "The meaning seems to be, as after the death of Antiochus the Jews had some deliverance, so there will be yet a greater deliverance to the people of God, when Michael your prince, the Messiah shall appear for your salvation." (Wesley) "And there shall be a time of trouble, such as never was since there was a nation, even to that time..." The prophet "speaks of the times of the last wars of antichrist against the true church, when Gog and all his multitude shall perish in the war of the Lamb. Ezekiel 39. But in those days the saints who have the mark or the name of God on their foreheads, which is the same as having them written in the book of life, shall survive the final days of visitation on the last and worst enemies of the church." (Sutcliffe) "And at that time your people shall be delivered, every one who is found written in the book..." of life, wherein is recorded the names of the faithful since the creation of the world.
2 “And many of those who sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, some to everlasting life, some to shame and everlasting contempt.
When the Lord comes again for the salvation of His people, this earth will be destroyed along with the living wicked (2 Pet 3:10-13). And then will be fulfilled our blessed hope: we who are alive and remain will by no means precede those who are asleep. For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And thus we shall always be with the Lord. (1 Thes 4:15b-17) “But the rest of the dead did not live again until the thousand years were finished.” (Rev 20:5a)
3 “Those who are wise shall shine like the brightness of the firmament, and those who turn many to righteousness like the stars forever and ever.
Verse 3 describes how to secure your place in the first resurrection—that of the just, rather than the unjust. Believe and get about the business of sharing God’s Word with others.
4 “But you, Daniel, shut up the words, and seal the book until the time of the end; many shall run to and fro, and knowledge shall increase.”
“Reader! do not overlook the sweetness of this verse. As Daniel would not live to see the accomplishment of these things, it was enough for him to be made the medium, the instrument in the Lord's hand, of giving this prophecy to the Church." (Hawker's Poor Man's Commentary) Still none can clearly understand until the appointed time. "'They were accordingly to be kept in most perfect security until the time of the end, when God’s own providence would make all plain.’ — Terry. All past exegesis proves the truth of Daniel’s statement here. This is one prediction which every scholar must acknowledge has been proved literally true. More books have been written concerning this prophecy of Daniel than on any other book of Scripture, yet only those who are very ignorant can think that they have even yet solved all its enigmas. The book is still at least partially sealed.” (Whedon's Commentary) Many have run to and fro on this subject, but at the time of the end, true knowledge will increase. Finally, we shall know, even as we are known by Him.
5 Then I, Daniel, looked; and there stood two others, one on this riverbank and the other on that riverbank. 6 And one said to the man clothed in linen, who was above the waters of the river, “How long shall the fulfillment of these wonders be?” 7 Then I 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 shall be for a time, times, and half a time; and when the power of the holy people has been completely shattered, all these things shall be finished.
“In this state of perplexity, Daniel looked and saw two other personages standing on the two sides of the river, and between them and the angel who had conversed with Daniel a colloquy or conversation ensues, respecting the time necessary to accomplish these things, Daniel 12:5-7. They are introduced as interested in the inquiry as to the time of the continuance of these things - that is, how long it would be to the end of these wonders… To this natural inquiry, the angel [Messenger of Yahweh- dressed in white, likely the Lord Jesus] who had conversed withe Daniel gives a solemn answer Daniel 12:7, that the period would be ‘a time, and times, and an half;’ and that all these things would be accomplished, when He to whom reference was made had finished his purpose of scattering the holy people.” (Albert Barnes) This is the time of Jacob’s trouble.
"Alas! For that day is great, so that none is like it; and it is the time of Jacob’s trouble, but he shall be saved out of it." (Jeremiah 30:7)
The Man clothed in linen said that it would be “for a time, times, and half a time; and when the power of the holy people has been completely shattered, all these things shall be finished.” (7) During this period, the children of God will no longer look unto the flesh but unto the Spirit. This period is that period in which Michael the archangel will stand up for, or assist and sustain, God's people during a time of trouble “such as never was since there was a nation, even to that time.”
8 Although I heard, I did not understand. Then I said, “My Lord, what shall be the end of these things?”
Although I heard, I did not understand. — “He understood not the full significance of the language employed - ‘a time, and times, and an half.’ This would make it probable that there was something more intended than merely three years and a half as the period of the continuation of these troubles. Daniel saw, apparently from the manner of the angel, as well as from the terms which he used, that there was something mystical and unusual in those terms, and he says, therefore, that he could not understand their full import. — 'My Lord, what shall be the end of these things?’ —- Indicating great anxiety to know what was to be the termination of these wonders.” (Albert Barnes)
9 And he said, “Go your way, Daniel, for the words are closed up and sealed till the time of the end. 10 Many shall be purified, made white, and refined, but the wicked shall do wickedly; and none of the wicked shall understand, but the wise shall understand.11 And from the time that the daily sacrifice is taken away, and the abomination of desolation is set up, there shall be one thousand two hundred and ninety days.
Jesus took away the daily at His death and the abomination that makes desolate is the destruction of the temple. Yes, it was the Lord's hand but it was through Rome with wicked motives. Beginning in 70AD, Rome’s little horn likely raised it ugly head at the end of this period— 1,290 days or perhaps prophetic years— that heavenly messenger is describing. I suspect that at the end of this period referenced, the antichrist began to think of Peter as the rock upon which Jesus would build His church. But He did not say that He was going to build His church on Peter. Rather He said, “And I also say to you that you are Peter, and on this rock [the revelation that I am the the Son of God] I will build My church, and the gates of Hades shall not prevail against it.” (Matthew 16:18)
12 “Blessed is he who waits, and comes to the one thousand three hundred and thirty-five days. 13 But you, go your way till the end; for you shall rest, and will arise to your inheritance at the end of the days.”
Each generation must wait- until an individual dies or until the Lord comes again in glory. Blessed are the ones died in the Lord and blessed are those who are found eagerly awaiting His Coming. Now, Daniel, rest in peace until that day. But let US study the prophecies, rightly dividing the Word of Truth, looking for for patterns in Israel of old that can be applied to this future time.
“The opening and closing chapters of the book of Daniel have several themes in common: Both are placed in the context of an attack on the glorious holy mountain by the king who came from the north, and both feature the ultimate victory of God and his faithful remnant. Both present a period of test that results in the faithful becoming wise and reaching a glorified destiny. And similarities extend to common phrases, such as ‘the end of the days/time’ (Daniel 1:15, 18; 12:13), and the words ‘to rise/stand’ (1:5; 12:1, 13) and ‘to understand’ (1:17, 20; 12:10). The following structure, consisting of three parts, may be proposed for this chapter: 1. The rise of Michael (12:1-4) 2. Waiting for the end (12:5–12; the longest part) 3. The rise of Daniel (12:13) According to the proposed structure, the rise of Michael is a precondition for Daniel's resurrection at the time of the end, when the prophet will receive his allotted inheritance. Some translations set verses 1-3 of this chapter as poetry. The middle part deals with a topic that is vitally important in chapters 10–12 – that is waiting for the end to come.” (Daniel— Wisdom to the Wise by Zdravko Stefanovic)