Daniel 12:5-7
You know something about a Christian believer who died in November 1992. But what you know about him is largely based on fiction, and not on fact. The fiction you probably know about is based on the writing of Ian Fleming, who wrote the James Bond series. The quartermaster (named “Q” by Fleming) provided the fictional James Bond with all sorts of intriguing inventions for spy craft.
But as often occurs, truth is stranger than fiction. “Q” is based on the real-life person named Charles Fraser-Smith.[i] Smith was a Christian missionary in Morocco who took his family home to Britain when World War II threatened his missionary work. One Sunday, as he reported on his mission field, he included illustrations of bricolage (the French word for “do-it-yourself” projects). In the congregation that morning were officers from the British Ministry of Supply. After the service, they met with Fraser-Smith to offer him one of the strangest jobs on earth: devising inventions that could be used by spies and resistance fighters. Charles Fraser-Smith took the job, and his record of ingenious, creative devices is almost beyond belief. As a believer, he was troubled by the way he was portrayed by Ian Fleming. And so he produced his own memoirs, including his clear, Christian testimony.
On one occasion, Fraser-Smith was confronted with the need to place alarms within precision Swiss watches. He greatly appreciated the work of the Swiss in producing precision lenses for his miniature telescopes. These had been a great asset in gathering intelligence behind enemy lines. So Fraser-Smith invited two Swiss watch specialists to dinner and described the need to them: spies (often in the throes of exhaustion) needed precision Swiss watches fitted with two alarms to awaken them from slumber. As he sat at dinner with the specialists that evening, he was delighted to see they began to make sketches on napkins and to say, “Leave it with us for a couple of days.” He did so, and they produced precision watches with alarms to awaken the slumbering.[ii]
Throughout the Book of Daniel, we have seen a precision greater than that of Swiss watches. As we have marveled over this precision, we have seen the practical applications that awakened us and sometimes alarmed us. Like Paul’s admonition, “It is high time to awaken from sleep” (Romans 13:11), the Book of Daniel has often startled us to wakefulness and watchfulness. Our text today, Daniel 12:5-7, is no exception. Here we learn to watch and wait for the Sovereign Lord who will fulfill His promises and accomplish His purposes.
Overview
As we learned in a previous message, Daniel 11:45-12:3 portrays a sweeping panorama of future events: a coming battle of cosmic proportions, a time of trouble the like of which the world has never seen, the demise of the Antichrist, the description of the everlasting destinies of human beings and the urgent need to shine the Gospel light in this present darkness. In Daniel 12:7 we learn that this will not be an eternal struggle. No indeed, our text promises us, “all these things shall be finished.”
This confident certainty arises from the theme of the Book of Daniel: “…to the intent that the living may know that the most High rules in the kingdom of men, and gives it to whomever he will, and sets up over it the basest of men” (Daniel 4:17). Today’s text in Daniel 12:5-7 portrays the Most High God who reigns as the powerful ruler over all. And for our comfort, we learn of His promised resolution of all things: accomplishing His purpose and plan.
The Powerful Ruler over All: The Most High God Who Reigns
“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? 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 swore by him that lives 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 12:5-7)
Which river was this? Who was the man clothed in linen? Who are the other two who spoke with him, and what did they ask him? And what was meant by his answer? What would be finished?
The River
Daniel’s name means, “God is My Judge.” He was sitting beside the Tigris [Hiddekel] River. This is an area that the Greeks named “Mesopotamia” (from [mesos] meaning “middle” and [potamos] meaning “rivers”). Mesopotamia was between the rivers of the Tigris and Euphrates. Comprising an area of 130,000 square miles, this area is about the size of Illinois, Indiana, and Ohio combined.[iii]
The Occasion
According to Daniel 10:1-4, this vision (recorded in Daniel chapters 10-12) occurred during Nisan (the first month on the Jewish calendar – March/April on our calendar). Daniel had been fasting for three full weeks during this Passover season. Perhaps Daniel had chosen Passover, a powerful reminder of Israel’s deliverance from Egypt, to pray for Israel’s coming deliverance from Babylon. About the man clothed in linen, Daniel wrote, “Then I lifted up mine eyes, and looked, and behold a certain man clothed in linen, whose loins were girded with fine gold of Uphaz: His body also was like the beryl, and his face as the appearance of lightning, and his eyes as lamps of fire, and his arms and his feet like in color to polished brass, and the voice of his words like the voice of a multitude.” (Daniel 10:5-6)
The Man in Linen
Comparing Scripture with Scripture, we see here a reference to Jesus Christ. You can see this by comparing this description with Revelation 1:12-19. There Jesus Christ identified Himself saying, “Fear not; I am the first and the last: I am He that lives, and was dead; and, behold, I am alive for evermore, Amen; and have the keys of hell and of death” (Revelation 1:17-18). Revelation 1:8 refers to Him as “The Almighty.” He is the Sovereign Lord, the Most High God, who reigns over the kingdoms of men. True to form, this passage reflects the fact that He is the God who reveals, rescues and reigns.[iv]
This is a crucial reminder for us in our day. Our God reveals! So it is time to search His Word. You will find answers there for the problems and difficulties you are facing today. 1 Corinthians 10:11 tells us what to look for as we read the Old Testament: “Now all these things happened unto them for examples: and they are written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the world are come.” Don’t miss that phrase, “upon whom the ends of the world are come.” That is you, and that verse refers to this present age. Keep studying God’s revelation carefully.
Don’t be like those who will not endure sound doctrine but seek after teachers who will merely tickle their ears (2 Timothy 4:3). Be like the psalmist in Psalm 119:16 who wrote, “I will delight myself in Thy statutes; I will not forget Thy Word.” Why? It is because the God who reveals is also the One who rescues us. He is our Rock and Fortress. Trust Him. Take hope in Him. Rest your soul is His unfailing care. And submit to Him, for He is the God who reigns. Here we learn to watch and wait for the Sovereign Lord who will fulfill His promises and accomplish His purposes.
This is the Sovereign Lord who gave Himself as the only sacrifice for the sins of mankind. He reveals the rescue plan of the God who reigns. You can be rescued by running to the One who died for your sins and rose again. And His promise is true: “Whoever will call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved” (Acts 2:21).
The Two Others and Their Question
The conversation that Daniel overheard was between two angels and the Lord Christ. The angels asked, “How long shall it be to the end of these wonders?” This is not the same question that Jesus’ disciples asked in Matthew 24:3 (and Luke 21:7), “Tell us, when shall these things be? and What shall be the sign of Thy coming, and of the end of the world?” The question was not “How long will it be until these events occur?” The question was a much more pointed question, asked out of concern for the people of Israel during the coming time of trouble that will try everyone on the face of the earth (Revelation 3:10).
These Wonders: The Worst Time of Trouble
In an earlier message[v], we learned about the worst time of trouble that will take place on the earth. Jesus described it this way: “For then shall be great tribulation, such as was not since the beginning of the world to this time, no, nor ever shall be [again]” (Matthew 24:21).
Revelation 6:13-15 describes this horrible time in terms of cataclysms; it will be as if the earth and skies become unhinged, breaking loose in fury. It is difficult to know whether it is speaking of large meteors or asteroids colliding with the earth. But it is clear that earth’s entire atmosphere will be troubled when earthquakes disturb every mountain on the planet. And how will the people respond? From the highest kings to the lowest peasants, they will try to hide themselves in mountain dens saying to the mountains and rocks, “Fall on us, and hide us from the face of Him that sits on the throne, and from the wrath of the Lamb:” (Revelation 6:16). Is it any wonder that the angels were concerned enough to ask, “How long will it be to the end of these wonders?”
Like Charles Fraser-Smith seeking Swiss watches with alarms, we are seeking answers today. Our society has grown sleepy in its sensual lusts. We know that it is high time to awaken out of sleep. How can we be watchful, to watch for the Lord and pray, even as we watch the world wallow in wickedness?
The Promised Resolution of All Things: God’s Purpose and Plan
“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 swore by him that lives 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 Lord Christ, the man clothed in white linen, held up His right hand and His left hand to make a promise. We are familiar with raising one hand to swear an oath as a witness in court. But raising both hands is highly unusual in our culture just as it was in their culture. What led to this unique approach to making a promise? The severity of the prophecy led to this confident display of certainty. In other words, this coming Tribulation period will be so horrific, so devastating, that THE big question will be, “When will this end?”
Just try to imagine that: a period of time when just trying to stay alive is so difficult that – hour by hour – the question will be, “When will this be over?” Those who are alive on the earth during this time will thank God for the doubly certain promise of Daniel 12:7. Just think of it: one Member of the Trinity raises both of His hands to make an oath by another Member of the Trinity; He swore an oath “by Him that lives forever.” Perhaps the writer of Hebrews had Daniel 12:7 in mind when he wrote Hebrews 6:17-20. God wanted to show His children (“the heirs of promise”) the unchanging nature of His promise. So He made an oath by Himself in order to give His people strong comfort and an anchor for the soul.
Note that Christ’s answer was not, “Well, we will just have to see.” He did not say, “I’m not sure; let’s just wait to find out.” Surpassing the precision of a Swiss timepiece, He said, “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). He explained that the last half of the time of trouble – sometimes known as “The Great Tribulation” would be a time, times, and half a time (or 3 ½ years). You will remember that in Daniel 9:24 we learned, “Seventy weeks are determined upon thy people and upon thy holy city, to finish the transgression, and to make an end of sins, and to make reconciliation for iniquity, and to bring in everlasting righteousness, and to seal up the vision and prophecy, and to anoint the most Holy.” This verse described 70 prophetic years, and Daniel 12:7 relates to the last 7 of those years. 3 ½ years is the “half of the week” (Daniel 9:27). Here we see the Sovereign Lord accomplishing His purposes; this is the promised resolution of all things.
Miller wrote, “The phrase ‘a time, times and half a time’ reveals the duration of the period (discussed earlier at 7:25; also 4:16, 25, 32). Lacocque states: ‘As in 7:25, the tribulation will last three and a half years, the time corresponding to the second half of the week mentioned in 9:27, or 1,260 days (if each month has 30 days).’ Thus the sovereign Lord of the universe is promising directly and emphatically that the Antichrist’s horrors (the “time of distress” of 12:1) perpetrated upon God’s people and the whole world will last but a brief time—three and a half years. Saints of the tribulation period may count on the verity of this pledge.’[vi] This corresponds to the 42 months (1260 days) prophesied in Revelation 11:1-3 and following. During these disastrous days, the people of Israel will learn to turn to their true Messiah. We see what our Sovereign Lord will finish during this time: “… and when he shall have accomplished to scatter the power of the holy people, all these things shall be finished.” (Daniel 12:7) This turning to the Lord is described in Zechariah 12-14.
What do we learn from Daniel 12:5-7? Here we learn to watch and wait for the Sovereign Lord who will fulfill His promises and accomplish His purposes. He is the God who reveals, rescues and reigns. Trust in Him. Rest your soul in Him. Wait for Him. He will bring all these things to pass … with an accuracy surpassing that of the most precise Swiss timepiece.
Pastor Gordon Dickson, Calvary Baptist Church, Findlay, Ohio www.cbcfindlay.org
[i] Charles Fraser-Smith Wikipedia accessed at https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Charles_Fraser-Smith
[ii] Charles Fraser-Smith,”The Secret War of Charles Fraser-Smith” Exeter: Paternoster Press, 1991, pp. 81-83
[iii] Alfred J. Hoerth, “Archaeology and the Old Testament” Grand Rapids: Baker Academic, 1998, p.32
[iv] Our God Reveals, Rescues and Reigns, accessed at https://www.cbcfindlay.org/our-god-reveals-rescues-and-reigns/
[v] Your Tragic End? Or Your New Beginning? https://www.cbcfindlay.org/your-tragic-end-or-your-new-beginning/
[vi] Stephen R. Miller, Daniel, vol. 18, The New American Commentary (Nashville: Broadman & Holman Publishers, 1994), 323. (Citing Lacocque, Daniel, p. 249)