# Daniel Chapter 12
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## Summary
Daniel's vision continues and he is told that the great prince Michael will arise and a great time of trouble will occur in which Daniels people will be delivered. There will be an awakening of many who sleep in the dust some to everlasting life some to shame and everlasting contempt. Daniel is charged to shut up these words and seal the book until the end time appointed.

Daniel observes two others standing on opposite sides of the stream and someone questions the man about the time left. The answer given is unclear and Daniel does not understand. He enquires further but is told to go his way for the words are sealed until the time of the end. 1290 days is specified as the time from when the 'abomination that makes desolate' is established. The man suggest Daniel shall rest and stand in his allotted place at the end of the days. 

## Imagery and Theme's

As is often the case with prophetic utterances the vision in Daniel 12 is particularly unclear and vague about certain aspects. For example 12:2[^1] is almost sufficiently vague to point towards the final judgement but yet the qualifying aspect 'many' rather than 'all' suggests this isn't about this particular time.

As such one could equally infer those who 'sleep in the dust of the earth' might equally allude to Israels position of dishonour among the nations. As such the contrasting elements of everlasting life and everlasting contempt may be the notion that some (like Daniel) remained faithful. These individuals may well be remembered for their faithfulness to the God of Abraham. Others may not have done and so bring contempt upon themselves for permitting the 'sleep' to rob them of their identity.

Whilst I suspect both possibilities are wrong this has given me pause to consider the importance of imagination when handling cryptic texts. I do not feel this is something which we can conclusively decide upon with any degree of certainty and so there is an invitation to imagine possibilities.

Regardless of whether the abomination of desolation is a person or a thing, we can conclude something from the final three chapters of Daniel, specifically that he predicted the following:

1. A future ruler will make a treaty with the people of Israel.
2. The terms of this treaty will be for a “week”—which we take to be a period of seven years.
3. Midway through this time, the ruler will gather his troops and put an end to the sacrifices and offerings in the temple.
4. At that time the ruler will desecrate the temple, setting up some type of sacrilegious object.
5. The desecration of the temple will continue until the judgment of God is finally meted out on the ruler and his followers, 1,290 days (3½ years and 1 month) later.

This bears striking resemblance to Antiochus IV who setup an altar to Zeus in the Temple and sacrificed a pig on the altar. Yet Antiochus did not enter into a covenant with Israel. There are some who consider this is still requiring fulfilment, yet there is no temple any longer so it is perhaps likely that the abomination that causes desolation has been and passed. 

Daniel is certainly an interesting book and one which offers both an interesting template for life as an exile, but also beautiful and suggestive imagery which is fuel for the imagination. As with any apocalyptic or prophetic literature it should be handled with care and lightly. After all we only see in part.

[^1]: [Daniel 12:2](https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Daniel+12%3A2&version=ESV)