The Truth about Daniel 11:36-45 & 12

Daniel 11:36-45 & 12

It is important to read Daniel 2 and 7 to get a grasp of the topic beforehand. The controversial Daniel 11:36-45 can be understood more clearly by examining the thematic chiasm in Chapters 2 through 7.

A – Daniel 2: Four temporary kingdoms will have dominion before the eternal kingdom of God is established

B – Daniel 3: God’s law and judgment cancels out Nebuchadnezzar’s decree and judgment

C – Daniel 4: God rules over the kingdom of man and gives dominion to whomever he wishes

C1 – Daniel 5: God rules over the kingdom of man and gives dominion to whomever he wishes

B1 – Daniel 6: God’s law and judgment cancels out the law of the Medes and Persians

A1– Daniel 7: Four temporary kingdoms will have dominion before the eternal kingdom of God is established

The Five Kingdoms are listed in the following order: (1) Babylon, (2) Media-Persia, (3) Greece, (4) Rome, and (5) The Kingdom of God.

According to Matthew 21:44 and Luke 20:18, Jesus is the fulfillment of Daniel 2:34-35 as the crushing stone. The fifth kingdom is the eternal kingdom of God (See Daniel 2:34-35, 44-45; 7:9-14, 18, 22, 26-27). The New Testament shows that  Jesus inaugurated the fifth kingdom at his first coming and is enthroned at the right hand of the Father (Matthew 26:64, Acts 2:32–36, Mark 14:62, Daniel 7:13, Psalm 110:1). This kingdom was inaugurated during the Roman Empire. Jesus is in Heaven ruling with his joint heirs from above. This is a partial fulfillment and not the complete fulfillment in which we await for at his second coming. This is called “the already, but not yet theology”. The Kingdom of God is here, but it hasn’t progressed to its full expression yet.

The inauguration of the kingdom of God by Jesus Christ did not bring the destruction of the Roman Empire. Symbolically, a “kingdom” consists of four elements: a king, servants, land, and a visiting angel-in the Book of Daniel (See Daniel 10:13, 20, 21; 12:1). To “shatter” a kingdom, does not mean that all of these elements need to be removed; only the removal of one element can end a kingdom. This would look like God removing the sovereignty of that king and giving it to another king. For example, this occurred when God removed the universal sovereignty of Babylon and gave it to Medo-Persia in Dan 5:30–31; 9:1. However, the kingdom of Babylon continued to exist within the second kingdom in the form of Persian dominion.  In Daniel’s model, Babylon was “destroyed” and replaced by the second-kingdom Medo-Persia. The same occurred for the fourth-kingdom (Roman Empire) and was replaced by the kingdom of God with Christ as its king. The fourth-kingdom Roman Empire continued to exist as a subordinate kingdom within the Messianic Kingdom, just like Babylon continued to exist as a subordinate kingdom to Medo-Persian Empire. Daniel 2:44 supports this model. See below.

Daniel 2:44 ⁴⁴ And in the days of those kings the God of heaven will set up a kingdom that shall never be destroyed, nor shall the kingdom be left to another people. It shall break in pieces all these kingdoms and bring them to an end, and it shall stand forever,

Furthermore, we see that these beasts are combined in the Book of Revelation in some form to persecute the saints. Although they lost dominion, they received an extended life in Daniel 7:12- ¹² As for the rest of the beasts, their dominion was taken away, but their lives were prolonged for a season and a time. This is consistent with the persecution during the Church age. In Daniel 2:40-45, the fourth kingdom (Rome) is made of iron mixed in with clay indicating that it will be a divided kingdom full of strong, but weak kings. In Daniel 7:19- 28 the Fourth kingdom has ten horns (figurative for completeness) if taken literal Julius Cesar is listed as the first emperor, Vespasian would be tenth emperor, and Titus the eleventh, so  justification would be through estimation. However, this should be taken figurative since its apocalyptic/prophetic literature at the time of its writing and that the “the other horn” is never refer to as the eleventh horn. The three weak kings were Galba, Otho, and Vitellius due to their short reigns. Vespasian is the one in focus here since he is leading the charge to attack the saints. This will occur for a 3.5 year period. This number can be considered figurative due to the genre of this specific text since it reflects the whole Church age in Revelation and Christ is covenant confirmed for longer than 7 literal years.

Daniel 11:36-45

³⁶ “And the king (King Herod) shall do as he wills. He shall exalt himself and magnify himself above every god, and shall speak astonishing things against the God of gods (YAHWEH).

Note: This King is not described from the North or the South. It is easy to say that this is the King of Israel since the prophecy is centered on God’s People.

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·         Daniel 9:26-27 ²⁶And after the sixty-two weeks, an anointed one (Jesus) shall be cut off and shall have nothing (Not to himself, but for his elect). And the people (Jews) of the prince(Jesus)who is to come (JEWS) shall destroy the city(Jerusalem) and the sanctuary(Temple). Its end shall come with a flood, and to the end there shall be war.Desolations are decreed. ²⁷ And he(Jesus) shall make a strong covenant (New Covenant of Christ) with many for one week, and for half of the week he shall put an end to sacrifice and offering(forever). And on the wing (at the peak) of abominations (caused by the Jews) shall come one (Vespasian/Titus/Roman armies) who makes desolate, until the decreed end is poured out on the desolator (Jews/Jerusalem/Temple).”

·         Isaiah 10:22-23 ²² For though your people Israel be as the sand of the sea, only a remnant of them will return. Destruction is decreed, overflowing with righteousness. ²³ For the Lord God of hosts will make a full end, as decreed, in the midst of all the earth. NOTE: This context is about Assyria, but it definitely alludes to the 70 AD judgment as well.

³⁷ He shall pay no attention to the gods of his fathers (Jews/Yahweh), or to the ONE beloved by women (Jesus is the One adored by women. Any woman would be happy to be his mother)He shall not pay attention to any other god, for he shall magnify himself above all. ³⁸ He shall honor the god of fortresses (Power, Might, and Military Dominance) instead of these. A god whom his fathers did not know (idol) he shall honor with gold and silver, with precious stones and costly gifts.(His military conquest will be driven by and funded by money/resources).

NOTE-Herod was Edomite and natural enemy to Israel. He hated any competition for the throne. This included the Messiah who was set to be born from a virgin. All the women in the era desired to be the Mother of the Messiah. In addition, Herod was fuelled by military might and money. See Hag 2:7-Christ is the desire of all nations; Matt 2:1-18; Jer. 31:51.

 ³⁹ He shall deal with the strongest fortresses (Temple-see Daniel 11:31, Ezekiel 24:25) with the help of a foreign god. Those who acknowledge him he shall load with honor. He shall make them rulers over many and shall divide the land for a price.

NOTE: King Herod rebuilt the Temple as a Stronghold for Caesar (Mark 13:1). Images of Roman idols were placed in honor of Caesar for worship purposes. Also, Herod gave out land to accomplices in order to control it for his own purposes.

⁴⁰ “At the time of the end (The End of the Old Covenant Age), the king of the south (Mark Anthony/Cleopatra) shall attack him (Herod), but the king of the north (Caesar Augustus) shall rush upon him (Mark Anthony/Cleopatra) like a whirlwind, with chariots and horsemen, and with many ships. And he (Herod) shall come into countries and shall overflow (see army as flood imagery in Daniel 9:26C; 11:10; 11:22; 11:26) and pass through. 

NOTE: This is the beginning of the Battle of Actium 30BC.Rome wins and comes to power. Herod is used as a puppet king for Caesar Augustus.

⁴¹ He (Herod)  shall come into the glorious land (Judea-Daniel 11:16). And tens of thousands shall fall, but these shall be delivered out of his hand: Edom and Moab and the main part of the Ammonites (they formed an alliance with Rome). ⁴² He shall stretch out his hand against the countries, and the land of Egypt shall not escape (See Ezekiel 29:15-Past fulfillment because Egypt was still a superpower in the Past). ⁴³ He (Herod) shall become ruler of the treasures of gold and of silver and all the precious things of Egypt (resources-Grain Supply), and the Libyans and the Cushites (surrendered as allies to Rome) shall follow in his train (footsteps).

 ⁴⁴ But news from the east and the north (North-Herod’s son trying to take the throne and East –Jesus’ Birth in Matthew 2:1-3, 15-16-Between 6BC and 4BC) shall alarm him, and he shall go out with great fury to destroy and devote many to destruction (Matthew 2:16-18). ⁴⁵ And he shall pitch his palatial tents (encampment) between the sea (the Dead and the Mediterranean Seas) and the glorious holy mountain (Jerusalem). Yet he shall come to his end, with none to help him (died due to painful disease, not long enough to kill Christ-Died in 4 BC). 

Daniel 12

¹ “At that time (The end of Jerusalem and the Temple/70 AD) shall arise Michael, the great prince who has charge of your people. And there shall be a time of trouble, such as never has been since there was a nation till that time (Note-This figurative language about the events of 70AD’s turmoil, destruction, and persecution, not the dispensationalist Seven Year Great Tribulation into the future-See my blog on the critique of Seven Year Tribulation- See Matthew 24:21, Ezekiel 5:9, Exodus 10:4-6, and 2 Kings 18:5 for comparison).

But at that time your people shall be delivered, everyone whose name shall be found written in the book. (Echoes Matthew 24:22, Mark 13:20).

 ² And many (not all-This is not second coming, but it points to it as a greater fulfillment) of those who sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, some to everlasting life, and some to shame and everlasting contempt. ³ And those who are wise shall shine like the brightness of the sky above; and those who turn many to righteousness, like the stars forever and ever (See Matthew 13:43). 

NOTE: This is a partial fulfillment occurred in Matthew 27:52-53.This would include those who died in the past who went straight to Heaven with Christ and the Power of the New Covenant while the dead wicked goes to Hades and the living wicked are condemned in status. However, some were resuscitated and went into to the city of Jerusalem. This prophecy’s greater fulfillment will come to fruition at judgment day. See below.

Matthew 27:52-53 ⁵² The tombs also were opened. And many bodies of the saints who had fallen asleep were raised, ⁵³ and coming out of the tombs after his resurrection they went into the holy city and appeared to many.

⁴ But you, Daniel, shut up the words and seal the book, until the time of the end. Many shall run to and fro, and knowledge shall increase.” (This book is opened in Revelation 5 by the Slain Lamb-Jesus).

⁵ Then I, Daniel, looked, and behold, two others stood, one on this bank of the stream and one on that bank of the stream. ⁶ And someone said to the man clothed in linen, who was above the waters of the stream, (NOTE: This sounds like the two angels from Genesis 18 who accompanied the pre-incarnate Christ with Abraham when it was time for Sodom & Gomorrah’s destruction-See Revelation 11:8).

“How long shall it be till the end of these wonders?” ⁷ And I heard the man clothed in linen, who was above the waters of the stream; he raised his right hand and his left hand toward heaven and swore by him who lives forever that it would be for a time, times, and half a time, and that when the shattering of the power of the holy people comes to an end all these things would be finished. NOTE: Ethnic Israel was attacked and destroyed by Rome from 67 AD to 70 AD.

⁸ I heard, but I did not understand. Then I said, “O my lord, what shall be the outcome of these things?” ⁹ He said, “Go your way, Daniel, for the words are shut up and sealed until the time of the end. (See Revelation 5)

¹⁰ Many shall purify themselves and make themselves white and be refined, but the wicked shall act wickedly. And none of the wicked shall understand, but those who are wise (the elect) shall understand. NOTE: This talk about the redemptive work of Christ in the believers’ life called sanctification in New Covenant terms. See Revelation 22:10.

¹¹ And from the time that the regular burnt offering is taken away (by Christ’s sacrifice-Theological/Spiritual way of eliminating regular burnt offerings) and the abomination that makes desolate (the destruction of the Temple by Roman armies-Physical way of eliminating regular burnt offerings) is set up, there shall be 1,290 days.¹² Blessed is he who waits and arrives at the 1,335 days. ¹³ But go your way till the end (of the age). And you shall rest and shall stand in your allotted place at the end of the days.”

NOTE: In the Book of Revelation, the number is 1,290 drops to 1,260. It decreased by 30. (See Matthew 24:22). Thirty is the age Christ started his ministry. This would indicate that the events of 70AD draw us closer to the end of the Old Covenant age. Christ will preserve his people during this Great Tribulation. An interesting interpretation is that if you subtract 1,290 from 1,335 days, you get the number 45. This is God’s way of saying that persecution and suffering isn’t forever we are a lot closer than you think. Take comfort in this. The number 45 is used to explain God’s provision during the Great Tribulation in 70 AD. This number is also used for Joshua and the Hebrews time in the wilderness. Christ will walk his saints through the Church age in times of persecution and tribulation.

Joshua 14:10 ¹⁰ And now, behold, the Lord has kept me alive, just as he said, these forty-five years since the time that the Lord spoke this word to Moses, while Israel walked in the wilderness. And now, behold, I am this day eighty-five years old.

Another interesting fact is that the 1,290 days and 1,335 days. Both equal 12 if you count each number individually, twelve tribes and twelve apostles. 1+2+9+0=12; 1+3+3+5=12.