The Last Vision

In context

In the first year of Darius the Mede, Daniel reads in Jeremiah’s words that Jerusalem’s ruin will last seventy years, and he prays, confessing his people’s sins: “we do not present our petitions before you for our righteousness, but for your great mercies’ sake” (Daniel 9:1–18; Jeremiah 25:11–12; 29:10). Gabriel comes “about the time of the evening offering” with a message of “seventy weeks” and an “Anointed One” (the WEB’s note says the word can also be translated “Messiah”), which readers have understood in different ways (Daniel 9:21–27).

In the third year of Cyrus, after three weeks of mourning, Daniel sees a man clothed in linen by the Hiddekel (the Tigris). A hand touches him, and he hears, “Greatly beloved man, don’t be afraid. Peace be to you. Be strong” (10:1–19). Then he hears of Michael, and of kings of Persia and Greece and long wars to come (10:13; 11:1–4).

The last chapter says, “Many of those who sleep in the dust of the earth will awake, some to everlasting life, and some to shame and everlasting contempt” (12:2), and ends, “go your way until the end; for you will rest, and will stand in your inheritance at the end of the days” (12:13). Jesus spoke of “the abomination of desolation, which was spoken of through Daniel the prophet” (Matthew 24:15).