Daniel 12:8

Daniel 12:8 says, And I heard, but I understood not: then said I, O my Lord, what shall be the end of these things?  The question so far had come from one of the angels, but now Daniel himself asked a question.  He did not understand what was being said.  If we find ourselves with questions about God's word, the best thing to do is go to the Source.  We may rely on other Christians or the writings of other Christians, but we need to look to God through the leadership of the Holy Spirit for the ultimate answer.  Verse nine adds, And he said, Go thy way, Daniel: for the words are closed up and sealed till the time of the end.  Daniel was not given a definite time frame for these things to happen, but was told to go his way.  Daniel was also told that the words were closed up and sealed until the time of the end, which I would interpret as the second coming of Christ.  I believe that we like Daniel must simply go our way until that time comes.  Our concern is to be living faithfully for Christ and spreading His gospel without concern about His return.  It is already an assured fact and will occur when God deems the time to be right.  It may be in our lifetime or not, but we are to live each day knowing that when the end comes we will be with God forever.  Verse ten continues, Many shall be purified, and made white, and tried; but the wicked shall do wickedly: and none of the wicked shall understand; but the wise shall understand.  I believe that this is a reference to being purified by faith in Christ, which is the only way to be purified before God.  Those who understand this are wise, but those who wicked will not understand salvation by faith in Christ alone.  It is not that they cannot understand, but that they will not.  Verse eleven states, And from the time that the daily sacrifice shall be taken away, and the abomination that maketh desolate set up, there shall be a thousand two hundred and ninety days.  This seems to be a reference to the time of the rule of the antichrist immediately before the return of Christ.  It will be a terrible, but limited time.  Those who remain faithful to God may suffer terribly, but the suffering will be but temporary, whereas the deliverance will be everlasting.  Verse twelve adds, Blessed is he that waiteth, and cometh to the thousand three hundred and five and thirty days.  Those who remain faithful during this time will be blessed, not because of their suffering, but because of their faith.  Verse thirteen continues, But go thou thy way till the end be: for thou shalt rest, and stand in thy lot at the end of the days.  Daniel was told to go his way and wait.  He would be dead long before these prophecies came to pass, but his resurrection was assured at the end of the days, the second coming of Christ.  We today need to go our way till the end, whether it be in our lifetime or years after our death.  Our victory, like that of Daniel, is assured either way.