Ds – Dani’el’s Vision of Isra’el’s Future 10:1 to 12:13

Dani’el’s Vision of Isra’el’s Future
10:1 to 12:13

Dani’el is one of the most significant books in the Bible in terms of the chronology of future events because it contains essential information concerning the key figures and time sequences of the far eschatological future. It is difficult to understand prophetic chronology without consulting the book of Dani’el. There are visions in Dani’el that detail what YHVH would do beginning in the sixth century BC until the Messianic Kingdom. Thus, Dani’el can be seen as the foundation for the key themes of biblical prophecy. Dani’el did not attempt to write history when he wrote his book; rather, he was developing a theme.³⁵⁷ Therefore, the book was not written in chronological order (to see link click Ac – Dani’el from a Messianic Jewish Perspective: The Chronology).

So far, each chapter in Dani’el has been a self-contained unit. In contrast, the next section consists of three chapters. It contains Dani’el’s final and most detailed prophecy that is without parallel in Scripture.³⁵⁸ Indeed, the vision contained in Chapters 10-12 spans from Dani’el’s own time all the way to the resurrection of the dead. This will occur after the Great Tribulation, at the Second Coming of Messiah (see the commentary on Ezeki’el Ea – The Valley of the Dry Bones). The references to known historical events in this vision were so precise that critics of the Bible claim the chapters must have been written after the prophecies were fulfilled. Their argument provides food for thought for amillennialists and, in fact, for all three branches of covenant theology, which insist that a significant portion of prophecy in the TaNaKh must be interpreted allegorically in relation to the Church but not literally in relation to Isra’el. Both critics and amillennialists should begin to acknowledge that many of Dani’el’s prophecies have already been fulfilled literally since they were written down. Similarly, the remaining prophecies will be fulfilled literally, not allegorically or symbolically.³⁵⁹ This final vision of Dani’el can be seen in the following outline.

A. The Arrival of an Angel – 10:1 to 11:1 (Dt)

B. Prophecies Already Fulfilled – 11:2-35 (Du)

1. Alexander the Great – 11:2-20 (Dv)

2. Antiochus Epiphanes – 11:21-35 (Dw)

C. The Mystery of the Olive Tree (Dx)

D. Prophecies Yet to be Fulfilled (Dy)

1. The Antichrist – 11:36-45 (Dz)

2. The Future of Isra’el – 12: 1-13 (Ea)