Daniel, page 9

                            CHAPTER TWELVE

     The conclusion of the last vision given to Daniel. The chapter
looks to the close of the Jewish economy and the coming of the
Messiah, during the rule of the Roman Empire. The book of Daniel does
not extend beyond the roman empire period and the establishment of
the Kingdom (Church) of Christ.

(vs 1) "time of trouble" -- The end of the Jewish nation, climaxing
            with the destruction of Jerusalem in A.D. 70. Jesus spoke
            of this destruction in Matthew 24:21; Mark 13:19.
       "Written in the book" -- Christ spoke of the disciples' names
            being written in heaven, Lk. 10:20; See Phil. 4:3.

(vs 2) "Many....shall awake? -- Some claim this refers to the
            resurrection at the end of time, but Daniel says, "many,"
            not "all," shall awake. In the final resurrection "all
            that are in the tombs shall hear his voice and they shall
            come forth" (Jn. 5:28).

(vs 3) The time of the gospel. Verse 10 indicates the same period of
            time. Of those converted to the Lord (those who were
            awakened) many were faithful, many were not; many
            purified themselves, many became wicked in apostasy.

(vs 7) "breaking....the holy people" -- God was to permit the Roman
            armies to overrun Israel. God's grace was removed from
            Israel, the holy people. See Rom. 11:20-24.

(vs 11) The end of the Old Covenant worship. Christ removed the
            continual burnt offering when He died upon the cross.
            (Col. 2:14).
        The destruction of Jerusalem in "desolation," A.D. 70.

     SUMMARY: Daniel was given a glimpse into the future concerning
the rise and fall of four great world-wide kingdoms, including the
Babylonian. The other three kingdoms (Medo-Persian, 536 B.C.;
Grecian, 331 B.C.; and Roman, 146 B.C.) are depicted by various
symbols, along with various tribulations brought upon the Jews by
kingdoms, especially the terrible atrocities of Antiochus Epiphanes
(175-163 B.C.). The Everlasting kingdom is shown as the small stone
in Nebuchadnezzar's dream (chapter 2); the Kingdom (7:13, 14) coming
during the time of the "terrible beast" in chapter 7; and the various
qualities of the Kingdom as described in 9:24. The book closes with
more references to Christ's Kingdom (The Church), chapter 12.
     Perhaps the outstanding lesson for us today is that Daniel
offers extensive proof of the inspiration of the Old Testament.
Daniel indeed could not have foretold the detailed events without
Divine assistance, for many of the events he discusses were spoken of
some 400-500 years before the event took place. Truly, GOD SPOKE
THROUGH DANIEL.
     The Kingdom WAS established by Christ, during the time which
Daniel foretold (The Roman empire Period), and it has become a world-
wide Kingdom exactly as God planned it and then brought it into
existence.

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