Go to Related Reading
About this book

Daniel

About this book
Chapter 12

1 “At that time Michael, the great prince who watches over your people,⁠ will arise.⁠ There will be a time of distress unlike any other from the nation’s beginning up to that time.⁠ But at that time your own people, all those whose names are found written in the book, will escape.⁠ 2 Many of those who sleep in the dusty ground will awake—some⁠ to everlasting life, and others to shame and everlasting abhorrence.⁠ 3 But the wise will shine like the brightness of the heavenly expanse.⁠ And those bringing many to righteousness will be like the stars forever and ever.⁠ 4 “But you, Daniel, close up these words and seal the book until the time of the end.⁠ Many will dash about, and knowledge will increase.”⁠ 5 I, Daniel, watched as two others stood there, one on each side of the river. 6 One said to the man clothed in linen who was above the waters of the river, “When will the end of these wondrous events occur?” 7 Then I heard the man clothed in linen who was over the waters of the river as he raised both his right and left hands to the sky and made an oath by the one who lives forever:⁠ “It is for a time, times, and half a time.⁠ Then, when the power of the one who shatters the holy people has been exhausted, all these things will be finished.” 8 I heard, but I did not understand. So I said, “Sir, what will happen after these things?” 9 He said, “Go, Daniel. For these matters are closed and sealed until the time of the end. 10 Many will be purified, made clean, and refined, but the wicked will go on being wicked. None of the wicked will understand, though the wise will understand. 11 From the time that the daily sacrifice is removed and the abomination that causes desolation is set in place, there are 1,290 days. 12 Blessed is the one who waits and attains to the 1,335 days. 13 But you should go your way until the end. You will rest, and then at the end of the days you will arise to receive what you have been allotted.”

Texts in conversation

Compare Daniel 12:1 and Shepherd of Hermas 69:3

Hebrew Bible · Early Christian

Share:

Summary

In Daniel, Michael is the great prince who watches over Israel. In the Shepherd of Hermas, Michael has a similar authority over believers, and he places the law in their hearts and then examines whether they have obeyed it.

Passages

Daniel 12:1

Hebrew Bible
1 “At that time Michael, the great prince who watches over your people, will arise. There will be a time of distress unlike any other from the nation’s beginning up to that time. But at that time your own people, all those whose names are found written in the book, will escape. 2 Many of those who sleep in the dusty ground will awake—some to everlasting life, and others to shame and everlasting abhorrence. 3 But the wise will shine like the brightness of the heavenly expanse. And those bringing many to righteousness will be like the stars forever and ever. 4 “But you, Daniel, close up these words and seal the book until the time of the end. Many will dash about, and knowledge will increase.”
200–101 BCE (scholarly estimate) Read in Daniel

Shepherd of Hermas 69:3

Early Christian
2 “Listen,” he said, “this great tree that overshadows plains and mountains and all the earth is the law of God given to the whole world; and this law is the Son of God proclaimed to the ends of the earth. But the people who are under its shadow are those who heard the preaching and believed in Him. 3 And the great and glorious angel is Michael, who has power over these people and is their leader. For he is the one who places the law in the hearts of believers; that is why he examines those to whom he gave it, to see if they have followed it. 4 But you see each person’s rods; for the rods are the law. You see many rods made useless, and you will recognize all those who have not followed the law, and you will see each person’s place in turn.”
90–140 CE (scholarly estimate) Read in the Shepherd of Hermas

References

“... The angel Michael is guardian of nations, especially of Israel, sometimes in that capacity also functioning as judge. Here he represents angelic mediation of the law, an idea already established in Christianity. The great angel has already appeared as both mediator and chastiser. Some commentators take this angelic figure in Hermas to be a Christ figure confused here with a traditional Jewish treatment of Michael, since he gives the law into the people's hearts, elsewhere sends the Shepherd to Hermas, and seems to have a great deal of authority. ...”
Carolyn Osiek, The Shepherd of Hermas: A Commentary, Herm (Minneapolis: Augsburg Fortress, 1999), 204.

References are not endorsements of their contents. Read each reference in full to understand its author's intentions in using these texts.

Your feedback

Daniel 12:1 and Shepherd of Hermas 69:3

Leave a comment

Your questions and comments are welcome!

Comments

Glossary

Search the Library