What is the meaning of Daniel 12:8? I heard Daniel, the faithful prophet, has just listened to the angelic explanation about “the time of the end” (Daniel 12:4-7). • He isn’t dreaming or imagining; he physically “heard,” underscoring the literal transmission of God’s revelation, just as Moses “heard” the LORD’s voice at Sinai (Exodus 20:22) and John “heard behind [him] a loud voice like a trumpet” (Revelation 1:10). • Hearing anchors the vision in objective reality. God’s word comes from outside the prophet, never from private speculation (2 Peter 1:20-21). • The text therefore assures us that the astonishing events just described—tribulation, resurrection, reward (Daniel 12:1-3)—are guaranteed, just as surely as Daniel heard the angel’s voice. but I did not understand Daniel’s honesty is refreshing: receiving revelation does not automatically confer full comprehension. • Earlier he “was exhausted and sick for days” and “was appalled by the vision; it was beyond understanding” (Daniel 8:27). • Even New-Testament saints looked back on prophecy “trying to determine the time and circumstances” (1 Peter 1:10-12). • His lack of understanding highlights the vastness of God’s plan; finite minds often grasp only fragments (Isaiah 55:8-9). • For believers today, this reminds us that humility is the right response when Scripture’s mysteries outstrip our insight. We stand on Daniel’s shoulders yet still “see in a mirror dimly” (1 Corinthians 13:12). So I asked Daniel doesn’t walk away confused; he seeks clarity from the heavenly messenger. • Throughout Scripture, servants of God ask follow-up questions—Abraham about Sodom (Genesis 18:23), Jeremiah about the field at Anathoth (Jeremiah 32:24-25), Zechariah in his night visions (Zechariah 1:9). • God welcomes sincere inquiry when it flows from faith, not unbelief. “Call to Me and I will answer you and tell you great and unsearchable things you do not know” (Jeremiah 33:3). • Daniel models the posture of a disciple: hearing, admitting limits, and then petitioning for fuller light. My lord, what will be the outcome of these things? Daniel’s focus zeroes in on the consummation—the practical result of the prophetic timetable. • His address “my lord” shows respectful submission, similar to John’s deference to the elder in Revelation 7:13-14. • The word “outcome” (or “end”) echoes the disciples’ question, “What will be the sign of Your coming and of the end of the age?” (Matthew 24:3) and the apostles’ query, “Lord, will You at this time restore the kingdom to Israel?” (Acts 1:6-7). • Daniel wants to know how the timeline resolves: the shattering of the holy people (Daniel 12:7), the resurrection (12:2-3), and the promised inheritance (12:13). • The angel’s forthcoming answer (12:9-13) will affirm that the prophecies are sealed until the last days but will certainly culminate in purification for the righteous and everlasting contempt for the wicked—underscoring that history is headed to a literal, predetermined climax. summary Daniel 12:8 shows a devoted servant who hears God’s voice, admits his limits, seeks clarification, and fixes his heart on the ultimate fulfillment of God’s plan. His candid question legitimizes our own longing to understand prophecy, while his humility reminds us to trust the God who schedules the end from the beginning. |
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