There's no reason for us to waste our time reading the psychotic hallucinations that constitute the next few chapters. There are various hypotheses about this. It may be that whoever wrote this (again, it was long after these things purportedly happened) consumed psychedelic mushrooms. He may have had schizophrenia. Or maybe this is just a style of literature that was popular at the time. (Any of these may also account for Ezekiel.) In any case, I will show you Chapter 12 because it is obviously a very direct inspiration for Revelation and some of the verses are often cited by Christian eschatologists.
Note, however, the timing in verse 11. We weren't supposed to wait more than 2,000 year for this, but only a little less than four years from "the time the daily sacrifice is abolished." That actually happened long before this was written, with the destruction of the first Temple, but presumably it was restored under Cyrus before this was written so it may indeed be a prophecy. However, the second Temple was destroyed in 70 CE, which means this should have happened in 74 or 75 CE. Obviously, it didn't.
12 “At that time Michael, the great prince who protects your people, will arise. There will be a time of distress such as has not happened from the beginning of nations until then. But at that time your people—everyone whose name is found written in the book—will be delivered. 2 Multitudes who sleep in the dust of the earth will awake: some to everlasting life, others to shame and everlasting contempt. 3 Those who are wise[a] will shine like the brightness of the heavens, and those who lead many to righteousness, like the stars for ever and ever. 4 But you, Daniel, roll up and seal the words of the scroll until the time of the end. Many will go here and there to increase knowledge.”
5 Then I, Daniel, looked, and there before me stood two others, one on this bank of the river and one on the opposite bank. 6 One of them said to the man clothed in linen, who was above the waters of the river, “How long will it be before these astonishing things are fulfilled?”
7 The man clothed in linen, who was above the waters of the river, lifted his right hand and his left hand toward heaven, and I heard him swear by him who lives forever, saying, “It will be for a time, times and half a time.[b] When the power of the holy people has been finally broken, all these things will be completed.”
8 I heard, but I did not understand. So I asked, “My lord, what will the outcome of all this be?”
9 He replied, “Go your way, Daniel, because the words are rolled up and sealed until the time of the end. 10 Many will be purified, made spotless and refined, but the wicked will continue to be wicked. None of the wicked will understand, but those who are wise will understand.
11 “From the time that the daily sacrifice is abolished and the abomination that causes desolation is set up, there will be 1,290 days. 12 Blessed is the one who waits for and reaches the end of the 1,335 days.
13 “As for you, go your way till the end. You will rest, and then at the end of the days you will rise to receive your allotted inheritance.”
Footnotes
- Daniel 12:3 Or who impart wisdom
- Daniel 12:7 Or a year, two years and half a year
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