Daniel 10 - 12
A man talks to Daniel in a vision.
The man tells Daniel about kings in the future.
The man tells Daniel about the time of the end.
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Daniel 10
A man talks to Daniel in a
vision.
The Persians' name for Daniel was "Belteshazzar". When Cyrus was king of
Persia for 3 years, Daniel had a vision. His vision was a message from God.
The vision was true, and it was about a long time of trouble. Daniel
understood what the vision meant.
[1] In the third year of Cyrus king of Persia a thing was
revealed unto Daniel, whose name was called Belteshazzar; and the thing was
true, but the time appointed was long: and he understood the thing, and had
understanding of the vision.
At that time,
Daniel had been mourning (feeling very sad) for 3 weeks. He did not eat any bread or
meat or drink any wine. He did not anoint himself (put on special oil) until
3 weeks was finished.
[2] In those days I Daniel was mourning three full weeks.
[3] I ate no pleasant bread, neither came flesh nor wine in my mouth,
neither did I anoint myself at all, till three whole weeks were fulfilled.
The river named Hiddekel is also named the Tigris River. The
Tigris River starts in the country of Turkey. It flows through
Iraq and empties into the Persian Gulf. It runs very close to
another river -- the Euphrates River. The land around these
rivers is very green, and there are many farms there.
Map and photo from
Wikipedia.com
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It was the first
month on the 24th day. Daniel was beside the large river named Hiddekel.
[4] And in the four and twentieth day of the first month, as I was by the
side of the great river, which is Hiddekel;
He looked up and saw a man wearing linen clothes.
He was wearing gold around his waist. The gold was from the place named
Uphaz. The man's body looked like a jewel named beryl. His face was
bright like lightning. His eyes were like lamps of fire. His arms and feet
were the same color as polished brass. His voice sounded like many people
were talking.
[5] Then I lifted up mine eyes, and looked, and behold a certain man clothed
in linen, whose loins were girded with fine gold of Uphaz:
[6] His body also was like the beryl, and his face as the appearance of
lightning, and his eyes as lamps of fire, and his arms and his feet like in
colour to polished brass, and the voice of his words like the voice of a
multitude.
The men that were with Daniel did not see the vision, but they felt very
afraid. The men ran away to hide.
[7] And I Daniel alone saw the vision: for the men that were with me saw not
the vision; but a great quaking fell upon them, so that they fled to hide
themselves.
Daniel was by himself and saw the vision. He felt weak and was not strong.
He became very pale and lost his normal color.
[8] Therefore I was left alone, and saw this great vision, and there
remained no strength in me: for my comeliness was turned in me into
corruption, and I retained no strength.
He heard the man's voice, then he fell asleep. He
was asleep with his face on the ground.
[9] Yet heard I the voice of his words: and when I heard the voice of his
words, then was I in a deep sleep on my face, and my face toward the ground.
A hand touched Daniel. The hand set him up on
his knees and on the palms of his hands.
[10] And, behold, an hand touched me, which set me upon my knees and upon
the palms of my hands.
The man talked to Daniel. He told him that God
loved him very much. He told him to understand and be proud. God sent him to
Daniel. Daniel heard him and felt afraid.
[11] And he said unto me, O Daniel, a man greatly beloved, understand the
words that I speak unto thee, and stand upright: for unto thee am I now
sent. And when he had spoken this word unto me, I stood trembling.
The man told him
not to be afraid. Back in the past, when Daniel decided to understand
and follow God, God heard his prayers. The man has come to answer Daniel's
prayers.
[12] Then said he unto me, Fear not, Daniel: for from the first day that
thou didst set thine heart to understand, and to chasten thyself before thy
God, thy words were heard, and I am come for thy words.
The angel of the kingdom of Persia had blocked the
man for 21 days. But Michael, one of the leaders of the angels, came to
help. The man stayed with the kings of Persia. Now he has come to help
Daniel understand the vision. He will show him what will happen to the Jewish people
before the end. The end won't happen for a long time.
[13] But the prince of the kingdom of Persia withstood me one and twenty
days: but, lo, Michael, one of the chief princes, came to help me; and I
remained there with the kings of Persia.
[14] Now I am come to make thee understand what shall befall thy people in
the latter days: for yet the vision is for many days.
After the man talked, Daniel bowed down and put his face on the ground. He
couldn't speak.
[15] And when he had spoken such words unto me, I set my face toward the
ground, and I became dumb.
After that, someone who looked like an angel
touched his lips. Then Daniel opened his mouth and talked. He
talked to the man. He told him he was very weak. He asked how he could talk
to the man when he is weak and has only a little breath.
[16] And, behold, one like the similitude of the sons of men touched my
lips: then I opened my mouth, and spake, and said unto him that stood before
me, O my lord, by the vision my sorrows are turned upon me, and I have
retained no strength.
[17] For how can the servant of this my lord talk with this my lord? for as
for me, straightway there remained no strength in me, neither is there
breath left in me.
Then the one who looked like a man touched Daniel
again. He made him strong. The man told him not to be afraid. He
should be peaceful and strong. Then Daniel felt stronger and told the man to
talk to him.
[18] Then there came again and touched me one like the appearance of a man,
and he strengthened me,
[19] And said, O man greatly beloved, fear not: peace be unto thee, be
strong, yea, be strong. And when he had spoken unto me, I was strengthened,
and said, Let my lord speak; for thou hast strengthened me.
The man asked
Daniel if he knew where he came from. He said now he will go back to
fight against the prince of Persia. After he's gone, the prince of
Greece will come. But first, he will show him the truth. No one
helps him except Michael, the angel.
[20] Then said he, Knowest thou wherefore I come unto thee? and now will I
return to fight with the prince of Persia: and when I am gone forth, lo, the
prince of Grecia shall come.
[21] But I will shew thee that which is noted in the scripture of truth: and
there is none that holdeth with me in these things, but Michael your prince.
Daniel 11
The man tells Daniel about kings in the
future.
The man continued to talk to Daniel. When
Darius (of the group of people called the Medes) was king for one year, the
man stood and supported him.
[1] Also I in the first year of Darius the Mede, even I,
stood to confirm and to strengthen him.
Now he will show Daniel the truth. There will be 3
kings in Persia. Then the 4th king will be much richer than all of them.
He will use his strength and riches to fight with the area of Grecia
(Greece).
[2] And now will I shew thee the truth. Behold, there shall stand up yet
three kings in Persia; and the fourth shall be far richer than they all: and
by his strength through his riches he shall stir up all against the realm of
Grecia.
A strong king will stand up. He will rule over many
people. He will be very dominant. He will do what he wants.
[3] And a mighty king shall stand up, that shall rule with great dominion,
and do according to his will.
When the king stands up, his kingdom will be
broken. It will be divided into 4 parts. The parts will go toward the 4
winds of heaven. The king's descendants will not have a part of the kingdom.
The parts of the kingdom will be picked up by other people.
[4] And when he shall stand up, his kingdom shall be broken, and shall be
divided toward the four winds of heaven; and not to his posterity, nor
according to his dominion which he ruled: for his kingdom shall be plucked
up, even for others beside those.
The king of the southern part will be strong.
One of his leaders will become stronger than he is. He will be in control of
a big kingdom.
[5] And the king of the south shall be strong, and one of his princes; and
he shall be strong above him, and have dominion; his dominion shall be a
great dominion.
After a few years, the southern part and the northern part will join
together. The king of the southern part will have a daughter. She will
travel to see the king of the northern part to make an agreement. But neither of them will
keep power. She will be given up along with her father and the people who brought her to power
and made her strong.
[6] And in the end of years they shall join themselves together; for the
king's daughter of the south shall come to the king of the north to make an
agreement: but she shall not retain the power of the arm; neither shall he
stand, nor his arm: but she shall be given up, and they that brought her,
and he that begat her, and he that strengthened her in these times.
One of her family
members will become powerful in the south. He will have an army, and he will
go to the north. He will defeat the king of the north.
[7] But out of a branch of her roots shall one stand up in his estate, which
shall come with an army, and shall enter into the fortress of the king of
the north, and shall deal against them, and shall prevail:
He will capture people in the north.
He will take them to Egypt. He will take the statues that they worship,
their leaders, and their valuable items. He will stay in the north longer
than the king of the north.
[8] And shall also carry captives into Egypt their gods, with their princes,
and with their precious vessels of silver and of gold; and he shall continue
more years than the king of the north.
The king of the
south will go back to his land.
[9] So the king of the south shall come into his kingdom, and shall return
into his own land.
The sons of the king of the north will start to
make an army. They will come together and have a big army. They will go
south all the way to the king of the south's strong home.
[10] But his sons shall be stirred up, and shall assemble a multitude of
great forces: and one shall certainly come, and overflow, and pass through:
then shall he return, and be stirred up, even to his fortress.
The king of the south will feel angry and upset. He
will attack the sons of the king of the north. He will send a big army and
capture the army from the north. He will be happy that he defeated many ten
thousands, but he will not be more strong.
[11] And the king of the south shall be moved with choler, and shall come
forth and fight with him, even with the king of the north: and he shall set
forth a great multitude; but the multitude shall be given into his hand.
[12] And when he hath taken away the multitude, his heart shall be lifted
up; and he shall cast down many ten thousands: but he shall not be
strengthened by it.
After some years, the king of the north will come
back. He will have a bigger army and more riches than before.
[13] For the king of the north shall return, and shall set forth a multitude
greater than the former, and shall certainly come after certain years with a
great army and with much riches.
At the same time, others will fight against the
king of the south. The man told Daniel that some of his own people
will try to help them. But they will all fail.
[14] And in those times there shall many stand up against the king of the
south: also the robbers of thy people shall exalt themselves to establish
the vision; but they shall fall.
The king of the north will attack. He will go up
over the walls around the cities. The army and people in the south will not
be able to stand against him. Even the best soldiers will not be able to
defeat him.
[15] So the king of the north shall come, and cast up a mount, and take the
most fenced cities: and the arms of the south shall not withstand, neither
his chosen people, neither shall there be any strength to withstand.
The king of the north will be able to do anything
he wants. No one will be able to stand against him. He will be in control of
that beautiful land.
[16] But he that cometh against him shall do according to his own will, and
none shall stand before him: and he shall stand in the glorious land, which
by his hand shall be consumed.
He will go into the kingdom. He will give the king
of the south a new wife. But she will not support the king of the north. She
will support the south.
[17] He shall also set his face to enter with the strength of his whole
kingdom, and upright ones with him; thus shall he do: and he shall give him
the daughter of women, corrupting her: but she shall not stand on his side,
neither be for him.
Then he will go to the islands. He will capture
many people. A prince will defeat him. The king will feel less proud.
[18] After this shall he turn his face unto the isles, and shall take many:
but a prince for his own behalf shall cause the reproach offered by him to
cease; without his own reproach he shall cause it to turn upon him.
He will start to go back to his own land. He
will have problems on the way back to his land. No one will find him.
[19] Then he shall turn his face toward the fort of his own land: but he
shall stumble and fall, and not be found.
The new king of the north will try to get more
money from taxes. But after a few days, he will be destroyed. He will not be
destroyed in a war or because someone was mad at him.
[20] Then shall stand up in his estate a raiser of taxes in the glory of the
kingdom: but within few days he shall be destroyed, neither in anger, nor in
battle.
Then there will be another king of the north. He will be a very bad person.
The people in the north will not respect or honor this king. He will become
the king by dishonest ways.
[21] And in his estate shall stand up a vile person, to whom they shall not
give the honour of the kingdom: but he shall come in peaceably, and obtain
the kingdom by flatteries.
He will defeat many armies. Also, the prince of the covenant will be broken.
[22] And with the arms of a flood shall they be overflown from before him,
and shall be broken; yea, also the prince of the covenant.
He will make agreements but he will trick the ones
he made the agreements with. He will come up and become strong with only a
small group of people.
[23] And after the league made with him he shall work deceitfully: for he
shall come up, and shall become strong with a small people.
He will enter into a rich part of the area. He will
do things that his ancestors have never done. He will give the people things
that he got from other places. He will plan how to defeat strong places. But
this will not last long.
[24] He shall enter peaceably even upon the fattest places of the province;
and he shall do that which his fathers have not done, nor his fathers'
fathers; he shall scatter among them the prey, and spoil, and riches: yea,
and he shall forecast his devices against the strong holds, even for a time.
He will become strong and brave and fight the king
of the south. He will have a big army, and the king of the south will also
have a big army. But he will not win because someone will betray him.
Someone who eats with the king will kill him. His army will be big. Many
people will die.
[25] And he shall stir up his power and his courage against the king of the
south with a great army; and the king of the south shall be stirred up to
battle with a very great and mighty army; but he shall not stand: for they
shall forecast devices against him.
[26] Yea, they that feed of the portion of his meat shall destroy him, and
his army shall overflow: and many shall fall down slain.
Both of the kings will plan to do bad
things. They will not be honest with each other. But it won't help them
because the end will come when God says it will come.
[27] And both these kings' hearts shall be to do mischief, and they shall
speak lies at one table; but it shall not prosper: for yet the end shall be
at the time appointed.
One of the kings will go back to his land. He will
be very rich. His heart will be against God's promise to Israel. He will do
things and then go back to his own land.
[28] Then shall he return into his land with great riches; and his heart
shall be against the holy covenant; and he shall do exploits, and return to
his own land.
At God's time, he will go
back to the south. But it won't be the same as the times before.
[29] At the time appointed he shall return, and come toward the south; but
it shall not be as the former, or as the latter.
Chittim may have been the place
we now call Cyprus. |
Soldiers will
come on boats from the place named Chittim. They will fight against him. He
will be sad and return to his land. He will not obey God's laws. He will
treat well the other people who do not obey God's laws.
[30] For the ships of Chittim shall come against him: therefore he shall be
grieved, and return, and have indignation against the holy covenant: so
shall he do; he shall even return, and have intelligence with them that
forsake the holy covenant.
His soldiers will damage the strong sanctuary. They will take away the daily
sacrifice. They will set up something to destroy completely. The
king will talk well to people who do not obey God's laws. They will think he
thinks well of them. But the people who obey God will be strong and do
great things.
[31] And arms shall stand on his part, and they shall pollute the sanctuary
of strength, and shall take away the daily sacrifice, and they shall place
the abomination that maketh desolate.
[32] And such as do wickedly against the covenant shall he corrupt by
flatteries: but the people that do know their God shall be strong, and do
exploits.
The people who understand a lot will teach other
people. But they will be killed with swords and fire. They will die after
being captured for many days.
[33] And they that understand among the people shall instruct many: yet they
shall fall by the sword, and by flame, by captivity, and by spoil, many
days.
When they fall,
they will get helped a little. Many hypocritical people (people who talk one
way but behave a different way) will join them.
[34] Now when they shall fall, they shall be holpen with a little help: but
many shall cleave to them with flatteries.
Some of the people who had understanding will fall.
They will fall to make them white until the time of the end. God knows when
the time of the end will be.
[35] And some of them of understanding shall fall, to try them, and to
purge, and to make them white, even to the time of the end: because it is
yet for a time appointed.
The king will do whatever he wants. He will say
that he is higher above every god. He will talk badly against the Lord God.
He will be successful until his time is over. God's will will be done.
[36] And the king shall do according to his will; and he shall exalt
himself, and magnify himself above every god, and shall speak marvellous
things against the God of gods, and shall prosper till the indignation be
accomplished: for that that is determined shall be done.
The king will not respect God like his ancestors
and women did. He will say that he himself is higher and greater than God.
[37] Neither shall he regard the God of his fathers, nor the desire of
women, nor regard any god: for he shall magnify himself above all.
But he will worship a different god that his
ancestors never knew. He will worship this new god with gold, silver,
jewels, and other valuable items.
[38] But in his estate shall he honour the God of forces: and a god whom his
fathers knew not shall he honour with gold, and silver, and with precious
stones, and pleasant things.
He will worship a strange god. He will say the
strange god made him stronger. Other people will worship the strange god.
The king will put these people in powerful positions.
[39] Thus shall he do in the most strong holds with a strange god, whom he
shall acknowledge and increase with glory: and he shall cause them to rule
over many, and shall divide the land for gain.
At the time of the end, the king of the
south will push the king of the north. The king of the north will attack him
like a swirling wind. The king of the north will have chariots, soldiers who
ride horses, and many ships. He will enter countries, overflow the
countries, and then continue to pass them.
[40] And at the time of the end shall the king of the south push at him: and
the king of the north shall come against him like a whirlwind, with
chariots, and with horsemen, and with many ships; and he shall enter into
the countries, and shall overflow and pass over.
They will reach the holy land. They will defeat
many countries. But some countries will escape them. The countries who will
escape are Edom, Moab, and Ammon.
[41] He shall enter also into the glorious land, and many countries shall be
overthrown: but these shall escape out of his hand, even Edom, and Moab, and
the chief of the children of Ammon.
The king will defeat other countries. He will
defeat Egypt.
[42] He shall stretch forth his hand also upon the countries: and the land
of Egypt shall not escape.
He will take control over
the valuable gold and silver in Egypt. He will also defeat the people in
Libya and Ethiopia.
[43] But he shall have power over the treasures of gold and of silver, and
over all the precious things of Egypt: and the Libyans and the Ethiopians
shall be at his steps.
He will hear news from
the east and north. He will be afraid of what he hears. He will be very
angry. He will go to those areas with plans to destroy them.
[44] But tidings out of the east and out of the north shall trouble him:
therefore he shall go forth with great fury to destroy, and utterly to make
away many.
He will build large tabernacles between the sea and
the holy mountain. But he will be ended and
defeated. No one will help him.
[45] And he shall plant the tabernacles of his palace between the seas in
the glorious holy mountain; yet he shall come to his end, and none shall
help him.
Daniel 12
The man tells Daniel about the time of
the end.
At that time, the angel, Michael,
will stand up. He is the great prince of the angels. He helps the children
of Israel. There will be a time of trouble. It will be worse than ever
before. Then the people will be set free. These are the people
whose names are written in the book.
[1] And at that time shall Michael stand up, the great
prince which standeth for the children of thy people: and there shall be a
time of trouble, such as never was since there was a nation even to that
same time: and at that time thy people shall be delivered, every one that
shall be found written in the book.
Many of the people who died and
were buried will wake up. Some of them will wake up and live forever. Some
will wake up and be ashamed. They will be hated forever.
[2] And many of them that sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, some
to everlasting life, and some to shame and everlasting contempt.
The people who were smart will shine and will be
bright like the sky. The people who help others obey God will be like stars
forever.
[3] And they that be wise shall shine as the brightness of the firmament;
and they that turn many to righteousness as the stars for ever and ever.
He told Daniel to be quiet and seal the book.
He should seal it until the time of the end. Many people will run back and
forth, and they will know more.
[4] But thou, O Daniel, shut up the words, and seal the book, even to the
time of the end: many shall run to and fro, and knowledge shall be
increased.
Daniel said that he looked and saw 2 men by the
river. One man was on his side of the river, and the other man was on the
other side of the river.
[5] Then I Daniel looked, and, behold, there stood other two, the one on
this side of the bank of the river, and the other on that side of the bank
of the river.
Daniel talked to the man who wore linen. The man
was on the water of the river. Daniel asked him how long it would be until
the end of the things he saw.
[6] And one said to the man clothed in linen, which was upon the waters of
the river, How long shall it be to the end of these wonders?
The man raised his hands to heaven. He swore in
God's name. He said it would be a time, times, and a half. When God scatters
the power of the holy people, it will be finished.
[7] And I heard the man clothed in linen, which was upon the waters of the
river, when he held up his right hand and his left hand unto heaven, and
sware by him that liveth for ever that it shall be for a time, times, and an
half; and when he shall have accomplished to scatter the power of the holy
people, all these things shall be finished.
Daniel heard what the man said, but he did not
understand him. He asked him when it would be the end.
[8] And I heard, but I understood not: then said I, O my Lord, what shall be
the end of these things?
The man told him to go away. He said the words are
closed and sealed up until the end time.
[9] And he said, Go thy way, Daniel: for the words are closed up and sealed
till the time of the end.
He said that many good people will be pure and
white. They will be tested. The bad people will do bad things. The bad
people won't understand but the good people will understand.
[10] Many shall be purified, and made white, and tried; but the wicked shall
do wickedly: and none of the wicked shall understand; but the wise shall
understand.
"...and the abomination that maketh
desolate set up"..
This was also written about back in Chapter 9 of this book.
People who study the Bible have different opinions on what this
is. No one knows for sure, but it is something very bad that
will cause destruction in the end times.
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The man says there will be 1,290
days after the daily sacrifice is taken away. That is the time after the
thing that causes destruction is set up.
[11] And from the time that the daily sacrifice shall be taken away, and the
abomination that maketh desolate set up, there shall be a thousand two
hundred and ninety days.
The man says that people who wait
are blessed. They will wait 1,335 days.
[12] Blessed is he that waiteth, and cometh to the thousand three hundred
and five and thirty days.
The man told Daniel to go until the
end. He will rest and stand with his reward at the end of the days.
[13] But go thou thy way till the end be: for thou shalt rest, and stand in
thy lot at the end of the days.