Daniel 12

1-4 End of Speech – Resurrection of the Dead

1 Continuation of Speech by “one in human form”: Michael shall arise, there will be a period of anguish, and those whose names are written in the book will be delivered.

2-3 Many will rise to everlasting life, and some to shame and contempt.

4 But Daniel must keep the words secret and the book sealed until the end.

5-13 Daniel’s Final Vision

5-7 Daniel sees two others standing, one of whom asks the man in linen how long it would be until the end of these wonders, and he replied that it would be time, two times, and half a time. Three-and-a-half is half of seven, the symbol for a period of testing.

Jamieson Fausset and Brown: The holy city is trodden by the Gentiles forty-two months (Revelation 11:2), so the exercise of the power of the beast (Revelation 13:5). The two witnesses preach in sackcloth 1260 days, and remained unburied three days and a half: so the woman in the wilderness: also the same for a "time, times, and a half" (Revelation 11:3,9,11, 12:6,14).

8-10 Daniel hears, but asks for understanding, and is told to go his way, for the words are to remain sealed until the end. Many will be purified, but the wicked will continue to act wickedly.

11-12 From the time the regular burnt offering is taken away and the abomination of desolation is set up shall be 1,290 days (3-1/2 years). Happy are those who persevere 1,335 days.

According to a commentary by Charles Dailey, it was 3-1/2 years plus 30 days between the time of the “Abomination of Desolation” in June of 168 B.C. – when the temple was polluted during the invasion of Antiochus – until the purification of the temple by Judas Maccabeus in December 165 B.C., then another 45 days until the death of Antiochus IV in the spring of 164 B.C.

13 But you go your way and rest, for “you shall rise for your reward at the end of the days.”