Daniel 12:11

Daniel 12:11 is a pivotal verse in Daniel's final apocalyptic vision, providing a specific timeline related to significant end-time events. It details a period following the cessation of the daily temple sacrifice and the establishment of a desecrating act.

Context of Daniel 12:11

This verse is part of the concluding section of the Book of Daniel, where the prophet receives detailed revelations concerning the future, particularly the end times and the resurrection. Chapter 12 specifically deals with the great tribulation, the deliverance of God's people, and the resurrection of the dead. The angel is providing Daniel with further clarification on the timing of these momentous events, building upon earlier prophecies found in chapters 7-11. The phrase "the daily sacrifice" refers to the regular offerings made in the Jerusalem Temple, a central part of Old Testament worship. Its cessation signifies a profound disruption of religious practice.

Key Themes and Messages

• Prophetic Timelines: The verse presents a precise duration of "a thousand two hundred and ninety days." This numerical specificity, along with other timelines in Daniel (e.g., the 1,260 days in Daniel 12:7 and the 1,335 days in Daniel 12:12), emphasizes the exactness of God's prophetic plan, even if its interpretation is complex.
• The Abomination of Desolation: This is a critical prophetic marker. Historically, it found a partial fulfillment when Antiochus IV Epiphanes desecrated the Jerusalem Temple in 167 BC by sacrificing a pig on the altar and erecting an idol. However, Jesus explicitly referred to a future fulfillment of the "abomination of desolation, spoken of by Daniel the prophet" in Matthew 24:15, indicating a more significant, eschatological event related to the tribulation period and the antichrist. This future event is also strongly linked to Daniel 9:27, concerning a covenant and its breaking.
• Cessation of Worship: The taking away of the "daily sacrifice" signifies a forceful interruption of established religious practice, often by an oppressive power. This can be understood as a sign of extreme spiritual and physical tribulation.

Linguistic Insights

The phrase "abomination that maketh desolate" (Hebrew: shiqqûts shômêm) is highly significant. Shiqqûts refers to something detestable or abominable, often an idol. Shômêm means to be appalled, desolated, or laid waste. Together, it conveys an idolatrous act that brings about destruction or desolation, emphasizing the gravity of the spiritual defilement and its dire consequences.

Practical Application and Reflection

While the precise timing and identity of future events remain subjects of theological discussion, Daniel 12:11 calls believers to several important reflections:

• Vigilance and Discernment: Understanding these prophecies encourages believers to be watchful and discerning of world events, recognizing that God is sovereign over history and that His plan will unfold as predicted.
• Endurance in Tribulation: The mention of a period of desolation reminds us that followers of God may face severe trials. The message of Daniel consistently points to God's ultimate deliverance for His faithful people, even through intense persecution.
• Hope in God's Sovereignty: Despite the somber nature of these prophecies, the overarching message of Daniel is one of God's ultimate triumph over evil and the establishment of His eternal kingdom. This provides hope and assurance that God is in control, and that those who endure to the end will be blessed, as indicated in the very next verse, Daniel 12:12.