Daniel 12
What Happens in This Chapter
The one speaking to Daniel finishes his message. He tells of Michael standing up, a time of great trouble, people waking from the dust, and the wise shining. Daniel is told to seal the words until the time of the end, and he hears two counts of days, 1,290 and 1,335. Daniel says he does not understand, and he is told to go his way, rest, and rise at the end of the days.
Plain reading written for kids. Short sentences, everyday words, one idea at a time.
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.
1At that time Michael will stand up. Michael is a great prince who watches over your people. There will be a time of terrible trouble. Nothing that bad has happened since nations began. But at that time your people will be saved. Everyone whose name is written in the book will be saved.
2And many of them that sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, some to everlasting life, and some to shame and everlasting contempt.
2Many people who are asleep in the dust of the ground will wake up. Some will wake to life that never ends. Others will wake to shame that never ends.
3And 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.
3Wise people will shine like the bright sky. Those who help many people live right will shine like the stars, forever and ever.
The KJV word here is "firmament." It means the wide open sky above us.
4But 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.
4But you, Daniel, close up these words. Seal the book shut until the time of the end. Many people will hurry here and there. What people know will grow.
5Then 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.
5Then I, Daniel, looked. I saw two others standing there. One stood on this side of the river. The other stood on the far side.
6And 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?
6One of them spoke to the man dressed in linen cloth. That man was above the water of the river. He asked, "How long until these wonders are finished?"
7And 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.
7The man dressed in linen raised his right hand and his left hand toward the sky. He made a promise by God, who lives forever. I heard him say it would last a time, times, and half a time. When the strength of God's holy people is fully broken, all this will be done.
8And I heard, but I understood not: then said I, O my Lord, what shall be the end of these things?
8I heard him, but I did not understand. So I asked, "My lord, how will all this end?"
9And he said, Go thy way, Daniel: for the words are closed up and sealed till the time of the end.
9He said, "Go on your way, Daniel. These words are shut and sealed until the time of the end."
10Many 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.
10Many people will be made clean and pure, and they will be tested. But bad people will keep doing bad things. None of them will understand. But the wise will understand.
11And 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.
11The daily gift given to God will be taken away. Then the hated thing that empties the temple will be set up. From that time there will be 1,290 days.
The "daily sacrifice" was a gift offered to God at the temple every day. The "abomination that maketh desolate" was a hated thing set up there that left the temple empty of worship.
12Blessed is he that waiteth, and cometh to the thousand three hundred and five and thirty days.
12Happy is the one who waits and reaches the end of the 1,335 days.
13But go thou thy way till the end be: for thou shalt rest, and stand in thy lot at the end of the days.
13But you, Daniel, go on your way until the end comes. You will rest. Then at the end of the days you will rise and receive your share.
"Stand in thy lot" is old English for receiving the share, or portion, that belongs to you.
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