Daniel 12:8-10
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Daniel's question, "what shall be the end of these things?" isn't just about when things will conclude, but how they will conclude. He heard the angel's answer about time, but realized he didn't grasp the full meaning or the ultimate outcome of all these unfolding events. This shows that even those receiving divine revelations grapple with understanding the deep implications of God's plan.
I heard, but I did not understand. Then I said, “O my lord, what shall be the outcome of these things?” He said, “Go your way, Daniel, for the words are shut up and sealed until the time of the end. Many shall purify themselves and make themselves white and be refined, but the wicked shall act wickedly. And none of the wicked shall understand, but those who are wise shall understand.
English Standard Version (ESV)
Daniel has just heard a mysterious answer about a time, times, and half a time, but he confesses he doesn't understand its meaning or how it relates to the visions he's seen. He then directly asks the angelic messenger for clarification on the ultimate outcome of these bewildering events, indicating his profound confusion and desire for clarity.
Imagine receiving a divine revelation, only to realize you don't fully grasp it. Daniel's confession here is incredibly human.
Daniel has just heard a response to a question about the duration of a significant event involving a sanctuary and the suppression of daily sacrifices. The answer given was "a time, and times, and half a time." Yet, Daniel admits, "I heard, but I did not understand." This isn't a failure on his part, but a testament to the profound and sometimes mysterious nature of God's prophetic messages. Even those closest to God's unfolding plans can experience confusion. The key is that Daniel doesn't stop there; his confusion leads him to a deeper inquiry.
This highlights that faith isn't about having all the answers, but about trusting God even when we don't understand the details. Daniel's response shows it's okay to be confused, but it’s not okay to stop seeking understanding and clarity from the divine source.
Daniel's second question isn't just about timing; it's about the ultimate outcome and meaning.
Daniel's follow-up question, 'O my lord, what shall be the end of these things?' reveals his earnest desire to grasp the purpose behind the prophecy. He’s not just asking when something will happen, but what will be the final result, the ultimate meaning of these unfolding events. The commentators suggest he's asking about the culmination of the 'wonderful things' mentioned earlier and the end of suffering for God's people.
This points to a crucial aspect of spiritual maturity: moving beyond just understanding the mechanics of prophecy to understanding its ultimate goal. Daniel's focus is on the finality and the resolution of God's purposes. This is the kind of perspective that helps us navigate difficulties – knowing that God is working towards a definitive, purposeful end.
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Understand the original words
satam / chatham · Hebrew Verb
To be closed off or hidden away, indicating that the prophetic revelation is reserved for a specific time ordained by God and is not meant to be fully grasped until that moment arrives.
barar · Hebrew Verb
The theological concept of being cleansed from sin or impurities through testing or discipline. In the prophetic context, it represents the spiritual preparation and sanctification of the righteous amidst suffering.
rasha · Hebrew Noun/Adjective
Those who persist in rebellion against God and refuse His ways. They are characterized by their spiritual blindness and their rejection of God's wisdom.
sakal · Hebrew Adjective/Noun
Those who possess spiritual insight granted by God, enabling them to understand His truth and remain faithful even in times of trial. This wisdom is not mere intellectual ability but a moral and spiritual orientation toward God.
Daniel's profound confusion highlights a core tension in prophetic literature: the difficulty of grasping divine timelines and future events, even when they are revealed. This sense of not fully understanding, but earnestly seeking clarity, resonates with many who grapple with life's uncertainties and God's unfolding plan.
c. 167 BC
Antiochus IV Epiphanes Persecutes Jews
The Seleucid ruler Antiochus IV Epiphanes attempts to suppress Jewish religion and forcibly Hellenize the population. This includes desecrating the Jerusalem Temple, leading to widespread Jewish resistance.
c. 164 BC
Maccabean Revolt Intensifies
The Jewish Maccabean Revolt gains momentum, fighting for religious freedom and independence against Seleucid rule. These struggles form a backdrop for understanding prophecies about future tribulations and divine intervention.
c. 160 BC
Traditional Dating of Daniel's Composition
Scholarly consensus often places the composition of the Book of Daniel in the mid-2nd century BC, during or shortly after the Maccabean crisis. This context suggests the book addresses contemporary fears and hopes.
Unknown - Late Second Temple Period— this verse
Daniel Receives Prophetic Visions
The prophet Daniel receives a series of complex visions, including the one in Daniel 12, which describe future empires, tribulations, and divine judgment. These visions are often interpreted through the lens of historical events like the Maccabean revolt and later Roman dominance.
c. AD 60-70
Early Christian Interpretation of Daniel
During the tumultuous period leading up to and including the destruction of Jerusalem, early Christians like Peter and Paul interpret parts of Daniel's prophecies, particularly those concerning the end times and the coming of the Messiah.
This passage directly references Daniel's prophecies, highlighting how even prophets searched and struggled to understand the full meaning of their own words concerning Christ's suffering and glory, much like Daniel's confusion here.
Luke 21:7In this parallel account, Jesus' disciples ask a similar question about the timing of the temple's destruction and the signs of the end, reflecting the same earnest desire to grasp the outcome of future events that Daniel expresses.
2 Timothy 3:1This verse describes how difficult and challenging times will come in the 'last days,' echoing the sense of impending, yet not fully understood, upheaval that Daniel is grappling with in his vision.
John 16:13Jesus speaks of the Holy Spirit guiding believers into all truth, a promise that speaks to the ultimate understanding of God's mysterious plans, which Daniel is seeking and will eventually receive through further revelation.
ellicottDaniel 12:8: "And I heard, but I understood not: then said I, O my Lord, what shall be the end of these things?"
(8) I understood not.— He did not understand the answer given in Daniel 12:7 . The question did not seem to have had any reply. It had been asked how long the end should continue, and the answer had been only the obscure words, “time, times, and an half.” What shall be the end?—Daniel refers to the “wonderful things” mentioned in Daniel 12:6, and using a different word for “end,” ask…
jfbDaniel 12:8: "And I heard, but I understood not: then said I, O my Lord, what shall be the end of these things?"
- understood not—Daniel "understood" the main features of the vision as to Antiochus (Da 10:1, 14), but not as to the times. 1Pe 1:10-12 refers mainly to Daniel: for it is he who foretells "the sufferings of Christ and the glory that should follow"; it is he who prophesies "not unto himself, but unto us"; it is he who "searched what, or what manner of time the Spirit of Christ in hi…
Daniel's question, "what shall be the end of these things?" isn't just about when things will conclude, but how they will conclude. He heard the angel's answer about time, but realized he didn't grasp the full meaning or the ultimate outcome of all these unfolding events. This shows that even those receiving divine revelations grapple with understanding the deep implications of God's plan.
Daniel has just heard a mysterious answer about a time, times, and half a time, but he confesses he doesn't understand its meaning or how it relates to the visions he's seen. He then directly asks the angelic messenger for clarification on the ultimate outcome of these bewildering events, indicating his profound confusion and desire for clarity.
Daniel has just heard a mysterious answer about a time, times, and half a time, but he confesses he doesn't understand its meaning or how it relates to the visions he's seen. He then directly asks the angelic messenger for clarification on the ultimate outcome of these bewildering events, indicating his profound confusion and desire for clarity.
"I heard, but I did not understand. Then I said, “O my lord, what shall be the outcome of these things?” He said, “Go your way, Daniel, for the words are shut up and sealed until the time of the end. Many shall purify themselves and make th…" — Daniel's question, "what shall be the end of these things?" isn't just about when things will conclude, but how they will conclude. He heard the angel's answer about time, but realized he didn't…
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Last reviewed October 2026
