Daniel 12:3,4 - Those who are wise will shine

12:3

There will be very difficult times, but this is no reason for despair, nor for hiding in a hole. “Those who are wise will shine like the brightness of the heavens”, this reminds us of Phil 2:15. And there will be those “who lead many to righteousness”. We need to have a clear Biblical understanding of difficult times that will arise, and our role to live as Christ’s disciples in the midst of those times. We are on the side that wins! As Rev 13:10 says, “this calls for patient endurance and faithfulness on the part of God’s people”.

12:4

Daniel is then told to roll up the scroll and seal it until the time of the end. This is a clear indication that the message related to a time far ahead. It does not mean that the word was physically sealed, for the words were contained in the Hebrew Scriptures, and Jesus and John clearly knew about them! The sealing up means that the meaning and relevance would not be appreciated until the time of the end (and this does not necessarily just mean the very end, but the frequent very difficult times that Israel and parts of the church have often endured). Many would look in all sorts of places for knowledge, but the word of God is the only place that true knowledge is to be found.