Day 221: Daniel 10-12

Daniel has seen and heard a lot. He gets extraordinary visions of fantastical beasts and events. I get the impression that these experiences drain him physically and emotionally. And now, at the very end of the book he says:

I heard, but I did not understand. So I asked, “My lord, what will the outcome of all this be?” (12:8)

This is sort of the way I feel when I read books of prophecy like this. I read, but I do not understand. I, too, ask the question, "So what's the bottom line?"

Here's the answer Daniel receives:

He replied, “Go your way, Daniel, because the words are rolled up and sealed until the time of the end. 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." (12:9-10)

I'm no scholar when it comes to understanding Old Testament prophecy but it seems to me that this is a description of the Christian era that will come many centuries in the future for Daniel. Because of Jesus "many will be purified, made spotless and refined." While Jesus' grace is offered to all people "the wicked will continue to be wicked." This brings to mind the parable Jesus tells of the wheat and tares growing together until the time of the harvest.

The last few verses of Daniel contain some numbers of days and a reference to something called "the abomination that causes desolation." To be honest, I have no idea what these things mean. The thing is, it seems to me that these are the kinds of things that get the most attention. People try to add up all the numbers and figure out the dates and times that things are going to happen and they NEVER get it right! Even Jesus told us that he didn't know when the end would be but he, and Daniel both say, basically, that's not important. What's important for us to know is that God has it under control.