Hi
@Wish-it . Let's see what you got.
If it's all history what's the significance of Dan 8.17...
Here is the verse:
Daniel 8:17 - "So he came near where I stood: and when he came, I was afraid, and fell upon my face: but he said unto me, Understand, O son of man: for at the time of the end shall be the vision."
The phrase 'time of the end' in Daniel 8:17 is referring to the end of Daniels 70 week prophecy, not the end of the world. It covers a span of time ranging from the beginning of the Fourth Kingdom, with the reign of Julius Caesar, to Titus and destruction of Jerusalem in 70 AD.
Here is the verse:
Daniel 8:19 - "And he said, Behold, I will make thee know what shall be in the last end of the indignation: for at the time appointed the end shall be."
Daniel 8:19 is a little more specific.
The 'indignation' is still the same time period, but the 'end of the indignation' is the Crucifixion itself with the destruction of Jerusalem coming a few decades later. The Crucifixion happens at an appointed time that was foretold in many verses in Daniel.
The Battle of Actium, in 11:30, is when the indignation time period begins:
Daniel 11:30 - "For the ships of Chittim shall come against him: therefore he shall be grieved, and return, and have indignation against the holy covenant: so shall he do; he shall even return, and have intelligence with them that forsake the holy covenant."
It is around that time that King Herod is set up in Judea. That is who is being alluded to as 'forsaking the holy covenant'. In fact, King Herod and his dynasty is referred to in the very next verse:
Daniel 11:31 - "And arms shall stand on his part, and they shall pollute the sanctuary of strength, and shall take away the daily sacrifice, and they shall place the abomination that maketh desolate."
Forces, i.e. King Herod, came from Octavian Augustus and Mark Antony. Herod's dynasty would go on to eventually pollute the Sanctuary of God, in other words crucify Jesus. The 'abomination that maketh desolate' was the Crucifixion. The daily sacrifice was no longer accepted after that point. Everything lines up perfectly.
Daniel 11:36 - And the king shall do according to his will; and he shall exalt himself, and magnify himself above every god, and shall speak marvellous things against the God of gods, and shall prosper till the indignation be accomplished: for that that is determined shall be done.
The king in Daniel 11:36 is King Herod. His dynasty would prosper until the end of the indignation, i.e., until the Crucifixion and the 70AD siege.
Daniel 12:1 - "And at that time shall Michael stand up, the great prince which standeth for the children of thy people: and there shall be a time of trouble, such as never was since there was a nation even to that same time: and at that time thy people shall be delivered, every one that shall be found written in the book."
I used to believe Daniel 12:1 was future, however I now believe it is just a continuation of chapter 11.
- Michael stand's up: He is always standing up in the Book of Daniel and ready to do battle. There is nothing unique about that.
- A time of trouble: Jacob's Trouble (Jeremiah 30:7).
- People shall be delivered: The finished work of the cross is just that. It is finished.
- Everyone written in the book: The book was written before the world began.
Next verse:
Daniel 12:2 - "And many of them that sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, some to everlasting life, and some to shame and everlasting contempt."
Daniel 12:2 is just referring to the small sample of people that were resurrected after Jesus died:
Matthew 27:50-53 - "Jesus, when he had cried again with a loud voice, yielded up the ghost. And, behold, the veil of the temple was rent in twain from the top to the bottom; and the earth did quake, and the rocks rent; And the graves were opened; and many bodies of the saints which slept arose, And came out of the graves after his resurrection, and went into the holy city, and appeared unto many."
It is basically a 'preview' of the final two resurrections in our future.
Daniel 12:4 - "But thou, O Daniel, shut up the words, and seal the book, even to the time of the end: many shall run to and fro, and knowledge shall be increased."
Daniel 12:4 is about the end of the Old Testament and the words being 'sealed' as in no more words are going to be added. Daniel was one of the books of the OT. 'Knowledge increased' is about *THE* knowledge of the Old Testament and its prophecies, teachings, etc.
'The knowledge', as opposed to knowledge in general.
...which mentions "the time of the end, the time of wrath, time of distress".
Yep, the end of Jerusalem and the Temple and the people of God who lived there at the time.
Maybe Dan 11 is all prophecy for the future "time of the end", where God is providing clues as to what will proceed prior to His coming.
If we interpret Daniel 11 in that manner, then God basically flushed the Israelites and the Jews down the toilet centuries before Jesus even showed up. It does not make sense from a ton of standpoints and perspectives. Moreover, it is incredibly disrespectful to those who God considered a Holy Nation and Holy People at the time.