"... And at that time shall Michael stand up, the great prince which standeth for the children of thy people: and there shall be a time of trouble, such as never was since there was a nation even to that same time: and at that time thy people shall be delivered, every one that shall be found written in the book..." Dan 12:1

Many believe at first reading of this prophecy that it is connected and confined to Christ coming in the end of the physical world, as they would link it to a future resurrection and judgment. However, there were no chapters in the original manuscript of Daniel's prophecy, these were added much later by the translators. Then to understand what is meant by the phrase AT THAT TIME we must go back to the eleventh chapter which is part of the context.

Therefore, it should be plain within the many references within the historical context that this prophecy is pointing to the end of the Law Dispensation along with the Apostolic Age, and not to a futuristic scenario to yet take place at the end of the world. "And at that time shall Michael stand up, the great prince which standeth for the children of thy people:"Dan 12:1

Jesus did not "stand up" in this context for His people when He came into the world as the lowly Lamb of God. But rather He suffered shame and death for them, and there made Himself of no reputation. Even though while on earth he did the works that no man had done before, His superlative glory was to be revealed later when He would be exalted a Prince and Savior to spiritual Israel. Therefore His exaltation and power was to be (spiritually) manifested at a later time because He went unto The Father.

"... Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me, the works that I do shall he do also; and greater works than these shall he do; because I go unto my Father..." John 14:12.

Rabbinical traditions constantly refer to Michael as "the great High Priest in Heaven" as well as that of "the great prince and conqueror". It seems resonable from this that they personify the Divine power and typify the Messiah, and therefore Michael is no other than our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.

"Of this personage (Michael) many things are spoken in the Jewish writings. Rabbi Judah Hakkodesh says `Wherever Michael is said to appear the glory of the Divine Majesty is always to be understood.' So it seems as if they considered Michael in sort as we do, the Messiah manifested in the flesh."

"There can be properly only one Archangel, one chief or head of all the angelic host. Nor is the word devil, as applied to the great enemy of mankind ever found in the plural; there can be but one monarch of all fallen spirits. Michael is this Archangel and head of the angelic orders; the Devil, Great Dragon or Satan is head of all the diabolic orders. When these two hosts are opposed to each other, they are said to act under these two chiefs as leaders, hence in Revelation 12:7, it is said, Michael and his angels fought against the Dragon and his angels. The word MICHAEL (in Hebrew) seems to be compounded of MI (WHO), KI (LIKE), EL (GOD) - HE WHO IS LIKE GOD. Hence by this personage many understand to be the Lord Jesus." (Adam Clarke Commentary.) - See also Jude 1:9)

"And there shall be a time of trouble, such as never was since there was a nation even to that same time:"

The nation is the nation of the Jews, and the time referred to refers to the "beginning of sorrows" spoken of by Jesus in the 24 chapter of Matthew and other places, and to the seige of Jerusalem by Titus Vespasian and the tribulation upon the Jews that continued throughout this 3 1/2 year period and ended in the total destruction of this city along with its people.

"And at that time thy people shall be delivered, every one that shall be found written in the book."

This was written to show that the final deliverence of God's children who had been held under the legal bondage of the Law Dispensation would now be complete and this calamity and final physical dissolution of that city which stood as the center of her worship system and economy would be the signal that attended this.

"And many of them that sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, some to everlasting life, and some to shame and everlasting contempt."

To my mind this refers to the dead condition of that economy which had, spiritually speaking, been dead and buried in the carnal elements of the earth now quite some time. This prophecy was uttered by Jesus many times in His pronouncements and parables before the Jews and in direct statements made to the Scribes and Pharisees with whom He contended:

" Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! because ye build the tombs of the prophets, and garnish the sepulchres of the righteous, And say, If we had been in the days of our fathers, we would not have been partakers with them in the blood of the prophets. Wherefore ye be witnesses unto yourselves, that ye are the children of them which killed the prophets. Fill ye up then the measure of your fathers. Ye serpents, ye generation of vipers, how can ye escape the damnation of hell? Wherefore, behold, I send unto you prophets, and wise men, and scribes: and some of them ye shall kill and crucify; and some of them shall ye scourge in your synagogues, and persecute them from city to city: That upon you may come all the righteous blood shed upon the earth, from the blood of righteous Abel unto the blood of Zacharias son of Barachias, whom ye slew between the temple and the altar. Verily I say unto you, All these things shall come upon this generation..." Matt 23-13.

The awakening of some to life and glory would also be attended by the awakening of some to shame and contempt: Christ said that he came not to bring peace (as the Jews were looking for), but rather to bring division upon earth: where the natural family would be divided, and the sheep would be divided and separated from the goats. His fan was in His Hand, and he was to thoroughly purge His floor, and would gather the wheat unto His garner and burn up the chaff with unquinchable fire. If He had not come and spoken unto them, and done the works who none but the Son of God could do, they had not had sin, but now they had no cloak for their sin. (John 15:22)

This could also apply to the judgment that takes place personally within every quickened child of God at His Kingdom and appearing when the warfare between the flesh and Spirit begins, so they can no longer do the things that they would.

"..And they that be wise shall shine as the brightness of the firmament; and they that turn many to righteousness as the stars for ever and ever..."

These wise ones were the Apostles and their followers, who were the first to trust in Jesus. As compared to the former lights and stars of the Old economy, there was to be none. As the light of the noon day sun surpasses the pale light of the moon (the law) so here it is so represented. John describes this in Rev. 12:1.

"... And there appeared a great wonder in heaven; a woman clothed with the sun, and the moon under her feet, and upon her head a crown of twelve stars:

"...To open their eyes, and to turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan unto God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins, and inheritance among them which are sanctified by faith that is in me..." Acts 26:18.

"... But thou, O Daniel, shut up the words, and seal the book, even to the time of the end: many shall run to and fro, and knowledge shall be increased.." ver 4

These things were shut up and sealed as the word specifically says "even to the time of the end" The "time" of the end would embody the time of Christ's coming into the world during which time these things would begin to be revealed by Him and His Apostles, and this time would end with the consummation of that Age:

"...All these things spake Jesus unto the multitude in parables; and without a parable spake he not unto them:
That it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophet, saying, I will open my mouth in parables; I will utter things which have been kept secret from the foundation of the world..."

"... For there is nothing hid, which shall not be manifested; neither was any thing kept secret, but that it should come abroad..." Mark 4:22.

"... Now to him that is of power to stablish you according to my gospel, and the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery, which was kept secret since the world began, But now is made manifest, and by the scriptures of the prophets, according to the commandment of the everlasting God, made known to all nations for the obedience of faith..." Rom 16:25-26.

"...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.
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?

"..How long shall it be to the end of these wonders?..."

This expression is to be considered following the expression "..and they that turn many to righteousness as the stars for ever and ever..."

This period was to comprise about 35+ years, beginning at the ministry of the Apostles at and after Penecost, when through the operation of The Spirit, many were turned to righteousness, and following to the destruction or consumation of the Jewish nation. Again, this calculation is consistent with the 3 1/2 symbology in other places, (a time denoting 10 years, ( 10 being a completeness or fixed period of time in God's Purpose of salvation in Christ); We then further have the symbolic language of times for 20 years, and half a time representing 5 years which adds up to 35 years) - or 3.5 x 10 = 35 years - and which here represents the span of the Apostolic Age. This is in answer to the question of the one who asked "How long shall it be to the end of these wonders? (ver 6) that is, from the beginning of the work of those "who turn many to righteousness", which could point to no other than the Apostles and their ministry after Christ's intercesssion, resurrection and ascension.

"... 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..."Rev 12:14.

This again would cover the Apostolic Age (about 35 years, which is half of 70 years) in which the followers of Jesus suffered much from Jewish and also Gentile persecutors, and at the end of the age the saints fled from Jerusalem during its 3 1/2 year seige, being forewarned by Christ of its destruction:

"... When ye therefore shall see the abomination of desolation, spoken of by Daniel the prophet, stand in the holy place, (whoso readeth, let him understand:) Then let them which be in Judaea flee into the mountains..." Matt 24:15-16.

The total period of the "last days" of the demise of the old economy and the ushering in of the New would thus cover a total period of about 70 years (from Christ's birth until the destruction of Old Jerusalem)

Again, this period is embraced in Daniel 9:27:

"... And he shall confirm the covenant with many for one week: and in the midst of the week he shall cause the sacrifice and the oblation to cease, and for the overspreading of abominations he shall make it desolate, even until the consummation, and that determined shall be poured upon the desolate..."

Here keeping the symbology consistent with a week (a heptad) representing seven or sevens, in this case one week would then be 70 years (10 x 7 = 70 years).

Jesus was confirming the covenant with His people (which covenant was made with The Father in Eternity) by and during His incarnation and Life as He was manifested as The Son of God in the likeness of sinful flesh - and after His death and resurrection and ascension to Glory He sent His Spirit, The Comforter to be with His Apostles and their disciples throughout the Apostolic Age. This would represent the confirmation of the one week.

In the midst or middle of the week He legally and effectually caused the typical sacrifice that was made under the law covenant to forever cease by sacrificing Himself as an acceptable offering once and for all time for the sins of His people. Jesus was about 34 or close to 35 years of age at this time, which would fit into the time frame stated in the prophecy of Daniel.

The signs that attended this - was that at His death darkness covered the earth, and the the veil of the Temple was rent, which signified that the way into the holiest of holies was now open and manifest and that His people had now full and free access with boldness to approach unto the throne of grace through Him. (Matt 27:45, Heb 4:16.)

"... For, behold, the darkness shall cover the earth, and gross darkness the people: but the LORD shall arise upon thee, and his glory shall be seen upon thee.
And the Gentiles shall come to thy light, and kings to the brightness of thy rising..." Isa 60:2-3.

The "overspreading of abominations" by the wickedness of the Jews and the further intrusions of the Romans made this forsaken place only more desolate as she was left in her sins and her evil men "waxed worse and worse" even until their final end when they perished in her final consummation. (2 Tim 3:13, Rev 14:8, 2 Pet 3:10.

"... 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 for ever 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..."

The "power of the holy people" seems to me to be the office and commission given unto the Apostles to go into all the world (in distinction to the Jewish world only) and preach where the Spirit directed them, which was fully accomplished by them before the "time,times, and an half" were fulfilled. Paul says so at least two or three times:

"...Which was preached to every creature which is under heaven; whereof I Paul am made a minister..."Col 1:23.

"...For the hope which is laid up for you in heaven, whereof ye heard before in the word of the truth of the gospel; Which is come unto you, as [it is] in all the world; and bringeth forth fruit, as [it doth] also in you, since the day ye heard [of it], and knew the grace of God in truth:"Col 1:5-6.

"...Now to him that is of power to stablish you according to my gospel, and the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery, which was kept secret since the world began, But now is made manifest, and by the scriptures of the prophets, according to the commandment of the everlasting God, made known to all nations for the obedience of faith:"Rom 16:25-26

Paul seemed quite sure that the Gospel had been preached and therefore made known to all nations. If not, why did he say in these passages that it had?

"... And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations; and then shall the end come.

When ye therefore shall see the abomination of desolation, spoken of by Daniel the prophet, stand in the holy place, (whoso readeth, let him understand:)........." Matt 24:14-15.

OAB