End-Time Secrets of Daniel 8–12

Chapter 5

Gabriel told Daniel in the twelfth chapter, “But thou, O Daniel, shut up the words, and seal the book, even to the time of the end” (vs 4). How close is the “time of the end” to the end? If it is more than one generation, it’s far. Jesus said that all the signs He presented (including Daniel 8, 11 and 12 and Matthew 24:15) would occur within one generation (Matthew 24:34). That seems to be a good place to begin.

Shutting up the words and sealing the book simply meant it wouldn’t be understood until that end-time. Gabriel had just completed giving Daniel the chazown vision when he made the above statement (12:4).

Additional timing messages for that vision would yet be given (12:5-13) – by Jesus Himself. Yet, they too would be sealed. That barrier to understanding encompassed Daniel and all of God’s people for the next 2500 years! This unique and crucial fact helps frame chapters 8–12. Repeated allusions to the chazown vision messages occur in Revelation, but they also were not to be open to comprehension until the “time of the end.”

When does this “time” refer to? Are we close enough to the end to be part of that increase in knowledge? The Bible explains itself if we look carefully. The Hebrew for the words “the end” is eth qets. This relates to an extremity of time. Its Old Testament use, however, is very special, conveying a message related to a time of judgment. It also draws upon a period when a people will be waiting for a wedding. The contextual imagery portrays a time when the great controversy between good and evil is closing. It represents a time when punishment of the wicked occurs and God’s people are ready for the marriage to the Lamb. It is a time of finality. This terminus is illustrated when the “end” of all flesh occurred at the flood (Genesis 6:13) or when the “end” of Israel came (Ezekiel 7:2-6). It is also used in the context where the results of the wedding ceremony will “know no end” in God’s kingdom (Isaiah 9:7).

“The words of the angel to Daniel relating to the last days were to be understood in the time of the end. At that time, ‘many shall run to and fro, and knowledge shall be increased.’ ‘The wicked shall do wickedly: and none of the wicked shall understand; but the wise shall understand.’ Dan. 12:4, 10.”[1]

If we believe we are in the time of the end, and most readers will, the time has arrived to fully grasp what the eth qets means. Incredible clues have already been given to us, telling that it would be during the time of judgment and when God’s people are preparing in a special way to live with Jesus throughout eternity. We will discuss later in greater detail the timing of the judgment. However, to help us now, that time of final legal activity would occur after the end of the 2300 atonement evenings and mornings of Daniel 8:14.

“The message itself [Revelation 14:6-7] sheds light as to the time when this movement is to take place. It is declared to be a part of the ‘everlasting gospel’ and it announces the opening of the judgment. The message of salvation has been preached in all ages; but this message is a part of the gospel which could be proclaimed only in the last days, for only then would it be true that the hour of judgment had come. The prophecies present a succession of events leading down to the opening of the judgment. This is especially true of the book of Daniel. But that part of his prophecy which related to the last days [eth qets], Daniel was bidden to close up and seal ‘to the time of the end.’”[2] After the judgment was opened at the end of the 2300 evenings and mornings (atonement years), another time period would occur that, for Daniel and all others, was shut to understanding until that time came.

Let’s now look at some of the eth qets insights Gabriel shared with Daniel. The remarkable chazown vision began in 8:1-12. Then Gabriel, on behalf of Daniel, asked Jesus, who was right there with them at the Ulai River, “How long shall be the vision?” (8:13). Jesus answered by not really answering. He gave that popular 2300-evening-and-morning prophecy in 8:14 (again, we’ll deal with that later). Daniel was not satisfied (8:15). Jesus requested that Gabriel explain the “2300” mareh prophecy further – “make him understand!” But, amazingly, Gabriel began to explain verses 1-12, the chazown prophecy. Why? Because that was foundational to understanding the “2300” prophecy, which finally continued in chapter 9.

The reason the above paragraph is introduced here is to give a very brief background to something Gabriel now says in the middle of his explanation of the chazown vision. There, he helps us understand the eth qets. There are two crucial things he observed.

First, “Understand O son of man [speaking of Daniel – an honorable way to address Daniel – he was favored of God]: for at the time of the end [eth qets] shall be the vision [chazown]” (Daniel 8:17).

Did you catch that? At the eth qets (the end) will be the chazown vision. So everything that Daniel hears regarding that vision (which intermittently goes to the end of chapter 12) will be after the “2300” prophecy. In addition, the words “son of man,” though here addressed to Daniel, draw upon its only use in the Old Testament of a divine personage found in Daniel 7:12. That imagery refers to the glorified Son of Man in the executive judgment scene.

Gabriel goes on with the second amazing revelation: “And he said, Behold, I will make thee know what shall be in the last end [future] of the indignation [God’s wrath]: for at the time appointed the end shall be” (8:19). That’s powerful. Let’s study it further.

The Hebrew word for “last end” is acharyth and refers here to the prophetic future. In this context Daniel would be given specifics of what would occur in the future around the time of the zaam – God’s wrath. When is that? That is answered in the book of Revelation. It is well after the “2300” prophecy ends. It is talked about in several places, including within the third angel’s message of Revelation 14 and in 16:18-20.

Now comes the most important information. “At the time appointed the end shall be” (8:19).

If we know when the time appointed is (that’s specific), we will know when the eth qets is. Isn’t that incredible? Little clues are being dropped by Jesus and Gabriel to make sure that we make no mistake as to when the end of time is. What is the word for time appointed? Mowed. If we can understand when the mowed is, we will know when the eth qets is!

Will we be able to figure that out – that is, when the mowed is? Remember what Gabriel said at the beginning of the verse. “I will make thee know.” He promised. That answer does come in a most wonderful way, but not for many years. In fact, it is so important and sensitive and full of legal and great controversy themes, Jesus will personally tell Daniel. Because there is so much other information that we need to go over to understand Jesus’ response, we will visit that story later. But to give a hint, it is carefully and thoroughly answered in chapter 12. In fact, Gabriel’s questions of 8:13 waited years for the answers, which are found right in that same chapter. They, too, were personally answered by Jesus.

Let’s go over what we have learned in little thought packages:

1.   After the 2300 evening and morning prophecy ends, there would be a special period of time called“a time appointed” (mowed).

2.   That period was sealed from understanding until the end of time.

3.   That time, at the end of time, was called eth qets or “the end” – at the time of judgment and when all is ready for the wedding.

4.   Thus, a puzzle is opened up for us: If we can figure out when that “appointed time” (mowed) occurs, we will know when the eth qets or “the end” really is.

5.   God told us exactly how we can time this in Daniel 12.

6.   This period is when the everlasting covenant begins to be completed.

7.   It comes when God’s wrath begins to be poured out.

We must now begin, once again, with the first part of Daniel 8 as Gabriel starts to unfold the chazown vision. Recall that chapters 8–12 are a unit. Now that we’ve noted the end-time, everlasting covenant setting, we can study more deeply the prophetic messages. Though the great controversy theme will start and develop there as a preface to Revelation, it is crucial to grasp a great legal opus unfolding. This swells as a giant wave approaching the shore or the crescendoing sound of a beautiful orchestra till, finally, by the end of Revelation all charges brought by Satan against God will have been settled, all promises to God’s people to escape his accusations will have been judicially resolved.

Franklin S. Fowler Jr., M.D.; Prophecy Research Initiative © 2009