12:1 | "'That's when Michael, the great angel-prince, champion of your people, will step in. It will be a time of trouble, the worst trouble the world has ever seen. But your people will be saved from the trouble, every last one found written in the Book. |
12:2 | Many who have been long dead and buried will wake up, some to eternal life, others to eternal shame. |
12:3 | "'Men and women who have lived wisely and well will shine brilliantly, like the cloudless, star-strewn night skies. And those who put others on the right path to life will glow like stars forever. |
12:4 | "'This is a confidential report, Daniel, for your eyes and ears only. Keep it secret. Put the book under lock and key until the end. In the interim there is going to be a lot of frantic running around, trying to figure out what's going on.' |
12:5 | "As I, Daniel, took all this in, two figures appeared, one standing on this bank of the river and one on the other bank. |
12:6 | One of them asked a third man who was dressed in linen and who straddled the river, 'How long is this astonishing story to go on?' |
12:7 | "The man dressed in linen, who straddled the river, raised both hands to the skies. I heard him solemnly swear by the Eternal One that it would be a time, two times, and half a time, that when the oppressor of the holy people was brought down the story would be complete. |
12:8 | "I heard all this plainly enough, but I didn't understand it. So I asked, 'Master, can you explain this to me?' |
12:9 | "'Go on about your business, Daniel,' he said. 'The message is confidential and under lock and key until the end, until things are about to be wrapped up. |
12:10 | The populace will be washed clean and made like new. But the wicked will just keep on being wicked, without a clue about what is happening. Those who live wisely and well will understand what's going on.' |
12:11 | "From the time that the daily worship is banished from the Temple and the obscene desecration is set up in its place, there will be 1,290 days. |
12:12 | "Blessed are those who patiently make it through the 1,335 days. |
12:13 | "And you? Go about your business without fretting or worrying. Relax. When it's all over, you will be on your feet to receive your reward." |