Daniel Chapter 12
Showing all 13 verses for Daniel Chapter 12.
The People's Bible is written by people, for the people. Each verse below shows:
"And at that time shall Michael stand up, the great prince which standeth for the children of thy people: and there shall be a time of trouble, such as never was since there was a nation even to that same time: and at that time thy people shall be delivered, every one that shall be found written in the book. "
"At that time Michael, the great prince who stands guard over your people, will rise up; there will be a time of trouble unlike anything since nations began - but at that time your people will be rescued, everyone whose name is found written in the book."
However dark or unprecedented your own crisis feels, you are not facing it unwatched or unprotected - there is someone standing for you even when you can't see it. Being 'written in the book' isn't about perfection; it's about genuinely belonging to what's true and good, and that belonging holds even through the worst trouble.
"And many of them that sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, some to everlasting life, and some to shame and everlasting contempt. "
"And many of those who sleep in the dust of the earth will wake up - some to everlasting life, and some to shame and everlasting contempt."
I want you to live now knowing that this isn't all there is - not as a threat, but as a reason to take your choices, your kindness, your integrity seriously, because they matter beyond this one lifetime. Don't live carelessly as if nothing you do echoes forward; and don't live in fear either, because love and honesty are always the safest path through.
"And they that be wise shall shine as the brightness of the firmament; and they that turn many to righteousness as the stars for ever and ever. "
"And those who are wise will shine like the brightness of the sky, and those who lead many people towards righteousness will shine like the stars, forever and ever."
The people I honour most aren't the ones who accumulated the most power or territory - they're the ones who quietly helped someone else find their way towards what's good and true. If that's the kind of life you're living, even in obscurity, know it's seen and it shines.
"But thou, O Daniel, shut up the words, and seal the book, even to the time of the end: many shall run to and fro, and knowledge shall be increased. "
"But you, Daniel, keep these words secret and seal up the scroll until the time of the end; many will rush about here and there, and knowledge will increase."
Some things in life aren't meant to be fully understood right away - it's alright to sit with mystery rather than needing every answer immediately. Trust that clarity comes in its right time, and don't be anxious that you can't see the whole picture today.
"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. "
"Then I, Daniel, looked and saw two other beings standing there - one on each bank of the river."
I notice even the small details of a scene, the ordinary furniture of a moment - and I want you to notice the small details of your own life too, rather than rushing past them looking only for the big dramatic answers.
"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? "
"One of them asked the man clothed in linen, who was above the waters of the river, 'How long will it be until the end of these astonishing events?'"
It's alright to ask 'how long?' - even heavenly beings ask it in this vision. I don't need you to pretend patience you don't feel; bring me your honest impatience and your longing for things to be resolved, and I will meet you there.
"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 for ever 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. "
"And I heard the man clothed in linen, who was above the waters of the river, raise both his right hand and his left hand towards heaven and swear by the One who lives forever, that it would be for a time, times, and half a time; and when the power of the holy people is finally broken, all these things will be completed."
I swear to you, as solemnly as anything can be sworn, that your hardest trials have a real limit - they are not endless, even when the exact date isn't given to you in advance. Hold on to the certainty of an end, even without the certainty of a calendar.
"And I heard, but I understood not: then said I, O my Lord, what shall be the end of these things? "
"I heard this, but I didn't understand it; so I said, 'My lord, what will be the outcome of all this?'"
You're allowed not to understand everything, even things I've shown you directly - Daniel himself didn't get it all, and that's alright. Bring me your confusion honestly, the way he did, rather than pretending a clarity you don't actually have.
"And he said, Go thy way, Daniel: for the words are closed up and sealed till the time of the end. "
"He replied, 'Go on your way, Daniel, because these words are closed up and sealed until the time of the end.'"
Sometimes my answer to your honest question is simply 'not yet, and that's alright' - not because I'm withholding something cruelly, but because you're not meant to carry everything all at once. Go on your way in peace even without every answer in hand.
"Many shall be purified, and made white, and tried; but the wicked shall do wickedly: and none of the wicked shall understand; but the wise shall understand. "
"Many will be purified, cleansed, and refined, but the wicked will keep on doing wickedly; none of the wicked will understand, but the wise will understand."
The same hard season can refine one person and harden another - the difference isn't the difficulty itself, it's what you choose to do with it, again and again. I'm asking you to let your hardships soften and clarify you, rather than letting them make you bitter or blind.
"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. "
"From the time the daily sacrifice is stopped and the abomination that causes desolation is set up, there will be one thousand two hundred and ninety days."
I count your days too, even the hardest ones - nothing you endure escapes my notice or measurement. When suffering feels shapeless and endless, remember it's actually being tracked and bounded, even if only I can see the full number.
"Blessed is he that waiteth, and cometh to the thousand three hundred and five and thirty days. "
"Blessed is the person who waits patiently and reaches the thousand three hundred and thirty-five days."
Waiting well, without giving up or growing bitter, is itself a genuine achievement worth calling 'blessed' - I don't only honour dramatic acts of faith, I honour quiet endurance too. If all you're doing right now is holding on, that counts, and I see it.
"But go thou thy way till the end be: for thou shalt rest, and stand in thy lot at the end of the days. "
"But as for you, go on your way until the end comes; you will rest, and then rise again to your place at the end of the days."
Whatever grand or confusing things you've witnessed in your life, in the end my word to you is this simple: keep going, rest is coming, and your place is kept for you. You don't need to solve every mystery or win every battle - you just need to keep walking faithfully until you get there.