Another Look at Daniel

Editor’s Comments: Coincidences do happen and here’s one in this issue of TKC. It appears that your editor and correspondent Rob MacDormond both had the same thought to write on Daniel 12. Fortunately, they take different directions so we are publishing both viewpoints.

The book of Daniel deals with prophecies about the empires that rose after Daniel, the coming of Jesus Christ the Messiah, and the eventual fulfillment of end time prophecies to the great resurrection to come. Much commentary of this has been written already in Israel Truth publications, but it may help to summarize some of those views and maybe add some of my own insights. The main subject of this article is the twelfth chapter of Daniel.

The first part of the chapter mentions a time of great trouble, unequaled in history, when Michael the archangel would fight for Israel. Following that, a great resurrection from the dead would occur. This would refer to the beginning of the reign of Jesus Christ on the planet. Starting in verse seven, the timing of these events is given. “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 forever 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“. Daniel 12: 7. The angel held up two hands, meaning the period was doubled. Three and a half times doubled is seven times. A time is 360 years (complete circle). Therefore seven times is 2520 years. It has been pointed out that this period stretched from 604 B.C. to 1917 A.D. The year 604 B.C. was probably when the first abomination of desolation occurred in the temple at Jerusalem, when an idol was set up in the temple and images of heathen gods were drawn on the temple walls. (Ezekiel 8: 5-11). The year 1917 A.D. was when the liberation of Jerusalem from gentile domination was accomplished by Britain. According to the angel, there would follow a period of the scattering of the power of the holy people (Israel). This happened following the First World War as nations in the British Empire achieved their independence, and after the Second World War, Britain`s power was reduced even more, and the Empire became a Commonwealth. Today Britain is regarded as just another European country, not an empire. The United States was propelled to superpower status following the Second World War, but is now losing its power due to financial troubles. I believe the Third World War will bring down our power completely.

Daniel did not understand the prophecy, so he asked for clarification in verse eight. In answer, the angel gave him two time periods to consider. He said, “And from the time that the daily sacrifice shall be taken away, and the abomination that maketh desolate set up, there shall be a thousand two hundred and ninety days. Blessed is he that waiteth, and cometh to the thousand three hundred and five and thirty days”. Daniel 12: 11-12. The angel had said the words would be closed up and sealed until the time of the end (verse 9). I do not believe we are quite there yet and I believe the full understanding of the prophecy will come to us in the next few years. However, it has been pointed out in Israel Truth literature that the year 1917 A.D. was the same as the year 1335 in the Muslim calendar, again drawing our attention to the liberation of Jerusalem by the British. Much analysis of the numbers 1290 and 1335 was made in Howard Rand’s book “Study in Daniel”, too much to mention in this article. However, I would like to write about some of Rand’s interpretations in a future article.

How long will it be until the power of the holy people is completely scattered? A footnote in my Bible says the Hebrew word translated scattered actually means shattered. I thought the U.S.A. was on the verge of attacking Iran, which could have drawn us all into a final war in the Middle East. However, it appears that time has not quite arrived. President Obama seems to be totally against any such invasion. Americans are tired of Middle East wars and want the economy fixed. Yet, no matter what any of us want, there will not be any lasting peace until Jesus Christ is on the throne ruling over the nations. Any plan that leaves Him out of the picture will fail.