Daniel 12

The Worst Trouble the World Has Ever Seen

1-2 "'That's when Michael, the great angel-prince, champion of your people, will step in. It will be a time of trouble, the worst trouble the world has ever seen. But your people will be saved from the trouble, every last one found written in the Book. Many who have been long dead and buried will wake up, some to eternal life, others to eternal shame.

3  "'Men and women who have lived wisely and well will shine brilliantly, like the cloudless, star-strewn night skies. And those who put others on the right path to life will glow like stars forever.

4  "'This is a confidential report, Daniel, for your eyes and ears only. Keep it secret. Put the book under lock and key until the end. In the interim there is going to be a lot of frantic running around, trying to figure out what's going on.'

5-6  "As I, Daniel, took all this in, two figures appeared, one standing on this bank of the river and one on the other bank. One of them asked a third man who was dressed in linen and who straddled the river, 'How long is this astonishing story to go on?'

7  "The man dressed in linen, who straddled the river, raised both hands to the skies. I heard him solemnly swear by the Eternal One that it would be a time, two times, and half a time, that when the oppressor of the holy people was brought down the story would be complete.

8  "I heard all this plainly enough, but I didn't understand it. So I asked, 'Master, can you explain this to me?'

9-10  "'Go on about your business, Daniel,' he said. 'The message is confidential and under lock and key until the end, until things are about to be wrapped up. The populace will be washed clean and made like new. But the wicked will just keep on being wicked, without a clue about what is happening. Those who live wisely and well will understand what's going on.'

11  "From the time that the daily worship is banished from the Temple and the obscene desecration is set up in its place, there will be 1,290 days.

12  "Blessed are those who patiently make it through the 1,335 days.

13  "And you? Go about your business without fretting or worrying. Relax. When it's all over, you will be on your feet to receive your reward."

Daniel 12

1 “At that time Michael,
the great prince who watches over your people,t
will arise.t
There will be a time of distress
unlike any other from the nation’s beginningt
up to that time.
But at that time your own people,
all those whose names aret found written in the book,
will escape.

2 Many of those who sleep
in the dusty ground will awake –
some to everlasting life,
and others to shame and everlasting abhorrence.s

3 But the wise will shine
like the brightness of the heavenly expanse.
And those bringing many to righteousness
will be like the stars forever and ever.

4 “But you, Daniel, close up these words and seal the book until the time of the end. Many will dash about,ts and knowledge will increase.”
5 I, Daniel, watched as two others stood there, one on each side of the river.t6 One said to the man clothed in linen who was above the waters of the river, “When will the end of these wondrous events occur?”

7 Then I heard the man clothed in linen who was over the waters of the river as he raised both his right and left hands to the skyt and made an oath by the one who lives forever: “It is for a time, times, and half a time. Then, when the power of the one who shatterss the holy people has been exhausted, all these things will be finished.”
8 I heard, but I did not understand. So I said, “Sir,t what will happen after these things?”9 He said, “Go, Daniel. For these matters are closed and sealed until the time of the end.10 Many will be purified, made clean, and refined, but the wicked will go on being wicked. None of the wicked will understand, though the wise will understand.11 From the time that the daily sacrifice is removed and the abomination that causes desolation is set in place,t there are 1,290 days.12 Blessed is the one who waits and attains to the 1,335 days.

13 But you should go your wayt until the end.s You will rest and then at the end of the days you will arise to receivet what you have been allotted.”s