Daniel 12:7 - Verse Explanation
Verse Spotlight
Picture this: a man dressed in linen, standing above the waters, makes a dramatic gesture, raising both hands toward the sky. It’s like he’s making a powerful promise, swearing by the eternal one! This isn’t just casual talk; it's a solemn declaration about time—a mysterious countdown. He mentions 'a time, times, and half a time,' hinting at a period of struggle but also hope. The moment is charged with emotion; it feels like the air is thick with anticipation. You can almost sense the weight of his words—the promise that everything will come to a conclusion when the holy people face their hardest times. It’s a moment that makes you lean in and pay attention because it’s about the end of a struggle and the beginning of something new.
Who Wrote It
The book of Daniel was written by—you guessed it—Daniel himself! He lived during a time of exile, when his people were taken away from their homeland and faced immense pressure to abandon their faith. Daniel was passionate about sharing the dreams and visions he received from God, which often revealed future events. He included this specific detail about the man in linen because it emphasizes the hope that comes even in dire circumstances. Daniel knew firsthand what it meant to cling to hope amidst chaos, and he wanted to remind his readers, including us today, that there’s always a light at the end of the tunnel.
What It Means
Picture this: a man dressed in linen, standing above the waters, makes a dramatic gesture, raising both hands toward the sky. It’s like he’s making a powerful promise, swearing by the eternal one! This isn’t just casual talk; it's a solemn declaration about time—a mysterious countdown. He mentions 'a time, times, and half a time,' hinting at a period of struggle but also hope. The moment is charged with emotion; it feels like the air is thick with anticipation. You can almost sense the weight of his words—the promise that everything will come to a conclusion when the holy people face their hardest times. It’s a moment that makes you lean in and pay attention because it’s about the end of a struggle and the beginning of something new.
Where and When
When Daniel wrote this, the world around him was filled with uncertainty and fear. His people were under foreign rule, their homeland was in ruins, and many were questioning their beliefs. The timing here is crucial because it reflects the struggles of the Jewish people who felt abandoned and defeated. It was a time of oppression, and Daniel’s words were like a beacon of hope, promising that even in darkness, there would be a resolution. Understanding this backdrop helps you see why the assurance of a conclusion to suffering was so powerful and necessary for his audience.