Daniel 12:8-10 - Go your way, Daniel

12:8,9

Daniel did not understand what the answer meant, and so he asked for clarification. He did not receive any! At least not in the form he expected or in the way that we would like. He is simply told to “go your way”, because the word is “sealed until the end of time”. The meaning would only become apparent when relevant events started happening. If we look at the life of Jesus as recorded in the gospels we can see how so much of Old Testament prophecy was fulfilled, yet before Jesus actually came no one would have predicted what would happen. Shortly before the ascension Jesus had been speaking to His disciples and they asked “at this time are you going to restore the kingdom to Israel?” (Acts 1:6). Jesus told them it was not for them to know, but that they are to get on with preaching the gospel (Acts 1:7,8). With events of the end it is futile to be trying to work out the when. When these events begin to occur, or partial fulfillments of them, then the meaning and relevance of Daniel’s words will start to become apparent. In the meantime we are to get on with trusting and obeying God today.

12:10

There is not simple outcome. Not everyone will be saved, nor will everyone go to hell. “Many will be purified, made spotless and refined”. “But the wicked will continue to be wicked”.  The wicked will not understand, but the wise will. Many will be saved, but many will not. It is not for us to know the exact “split”. It is for us to get on with the task that God has given to us to do.