This Daniel 12 Bible study contains outlines, cross-references, Bible study discussion questions, and applications. Visit our library of inductive Bible studies for more in depth inductive studies on this and other books of the Bible you can use in your small group.
Daniel 12 Bible Study Commentary and Inductive Questions
Daniel 12 Bible Study Video
Daniel 12 Bible Study Podcast
Outline
I. A time of trouble and the final resurrection (1-4)
II. The time of the end (5-12)
I. A time of trouble and the final resurrection (1-4)
Discussion Questions
• Verse 1 says, “at that time.” At what time?
• What is Michael’s relationship with Israel?
• What is the “time of trouble?” How will this trouble be different from any other in history?
• What will be the end result for the Jews?
• What book is referred to (1)?
• What does it mean to “sleep?”
• What can we learn from verse 2 about the resurrection? Who will resurrect?
• How does knowledge of the future resurrection influence your life now?
• In what ways are the wise like stars?
• How can you shine like a star in your culture? Your neighborhood? Your family?
• What does it mean for Daniel to shut up the words and seal the book? Until when?
• What does the phrase “many shall run to and fro, and knowledge shall increase” mean?
Cross-References
Revelation 12:7 – Now war arose in heaven, Michael and his angels fighting against the dragon. And the dragon and his angels fought back.
Matthew 24:29 – Immediately after the tribulation of those days the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light, and the stars will fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens will be shaken.
Revelation 20:4-6 – They came to life and reigned with Christ for a thousand years. The rest of the dead did not come to life until the thousand years were ended. This is the first resurrection. Blessed and holy is the one who shares in the first resurrection! Over such the second death has no power, but they will be priests of God and of Christ, and they will reign with him for a thousand years.
John 11:25-26 – Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live, and everyone who lives and believes in me shall never die. Do you believe this?”
John 6:40 – For this is the will of my Father, that everyone who looks on the Son and believes in him should have eternal life, and I will raise him up on the last day.”
Philippians 2:15 – That you may be blameless and innocent, children of God without blemish in the midst of a crooked and twisted generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world.
Verse by Verse Commentary
1. At that time – This refers back to Daniel 11:40, which says “at the time of the end.” Daniel 11 gives an overview of what the Jews would face in the future. First, they would face hundreds of years of trials, turmoil, and war. A vile person (Antiochus IV Epiphanes) would dominate and persecute them. He was a foreshadow of an even worse antichrist to come. The prophecy then zooms forward from the time of Antiochus IV to the “time of the end,” which is still yet future to us. The seventieth week (the final seven years) of Daniel’s prophecy is still yet to happen. In those seven years, the antichrist will rise up and take world dominion. It will be a “time of trouble” like none before.
2. Michael shall arise – Michael is one of the chief archangels. Here his role as protector of the Jews is revealed. Here we see a glimpse behind-the-scenes into spiritual warfare. Angels are members of God’s army. As their commanding general, He assigns them missions. Michael’s mission would be related to protecting the Jews. Presumably, God sends many angels around the world to different countries with unique missions.
God’s assignment of Michael to the Jews at the time of the end shows us that He is not finished with them yet. He still has amazing things in store for them. Other passages (Romans 11:26-27, Revelation 11:13, Zechariah 13:8-9) teach us that God still plans to save a large number of the Jews in the future. It is a reminder of God’s grace. Though the people of Israel have rebelled against the Lord many times in the past and rejected God’s own Son, He always preserves a remnant. Ultimately, He will restore the nation as a group (though not every individual) to Himself. Thus, while Satan will be working through the antichrist to carry out his plans, God will not be absent. He will be bringing His plan for His people to fruition.
3. There shall be a time of trouble, such has never been –
The “time of trouble” is often referred to as the “tribulation.”
Jesus mentioned this frightening time in Matthew 24:21 –
For then there will be great tribulation, such as has not been from the beginning of the world until now, no, and never will be. And if those days had not been cut short, no human being would be saved. But for the sake of the elect those days will be cut short.
The tribulation is also known by other names in Scripture including The Great Tribulation (Matthew 24:21), “Time of Trouble,” (Daniel 12:1), “Jacob’s Trouble” (Jeremiah 30:7), “Great and Terrible/Awesome Day of the Lord” (Joel 2:31).
The seven-year period will be divided into two parts. While the first part may be relatively peaceful and prosperous, the second half will begin with the abomination of desolation and things will go downhill quickly.
Revelation paints a bleak picture. Intense persecution will come upon all believers as they will refuse to follow the antichrist. War, famine, and disease will run rampant. But the trouble will go beyond man-made disasters. God will pour out a series of twenty-one supernatural judgments upon the world that will be living in open defiance of Him. Some of these will include earthquakes, oceans turning to blood, hail, poisoned water supply, extreme heat, extreme cold, and boils (Revelation 6-16). The scale, intensity, and frequency of disasters will be worse than anything the world has ever seen before. For those alive during that time period, it will feel as if the world is ending (because it is).
Joel tells us that these things will conclude with the return of the Lord.
Joel 2:31 – The sun shall be turned to darkness, and the moon to blood, before the great and awesome day of the Lord comes.
Reflect – Why will God release these judgments and increase the trouble facing the world at that time?
4. But at that time your people shall be delivered – This statement gives hope! All is not lost.
God’s purposes run deep. While He will bring these plagues upon the world in order to judge it, that is not the only reason. The Lord will use these events for great. They will act as a wake-up call to many. Each plague will be a warning that worse is still to come upon those who continue to live in rebellion. Together with the judgments, an invitation to repent will go out. Through angels (Revelation 14), two special witnesses (Revelation 11), and 144,000 evangelists (Revelation 7), the light will still shine. And because the darkness will be darker than ever before, so the light will shine brighter.
Hard-hearted people do not change their minds and trust in God easily. The Lord will use these plagues to wake people up and shock them out of their apathy. Few, if any, agnostics will remain. Battle lines will be drawn. Everyone will be forced to take a side.
And God’s people shall be delivered. Daniel must have been encouraged to hear this promise. Though Israel would face terrible trials over the centuries, God would not abandon them. In the end, His divine purpose is for her salvation. Huge numbers of Jews will be saved (Revelation 7). And these in turn, will bring the gospel to the world as untold multitudes of Gentiles from every tribe and tongue will turn to the Lord (Revelation 7:9-12).
Application – Remember God’s faithfulness. Even in the darkest storms, He has a divine purpose. All things work together for good to those who love Him (Romans 8:28). The tribulation will be a frightening and painful time. And yet God will use it to bring salvation to millions. In like manner, God desires to use trials in your life for good. Diamonds are made through intense heat and pressure. Our Father does not seek to use trials to overwhelm us but to refine us and to create something beautiful. So when you face trials, don’t despair. Trust in the Lord and remember that His love never fails. Every one of God’s good promises to you will be fulfilled.
Joshua 23:14 – Not one word has failed of all the good things that the Lord your God promised concerning you. All have come to pass for you; not one of them has failed.
5. Final resurrection –
There will be two resurrections. The first is a resurrection to life and the second is a resurrection to eternal punishment.
Daniel 12:2 – And many of those who sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, some to everlasting life, an