12:5 我─但以理觀看,見另有兩個人站立:一個在河這邊,一個在河那邊。
12:6 有一個問那站在河水以上、穿細麻衣的說:「這奇異的事到幾時才應驗呢?」
12:7 我聽見那站在河水以上、穿細麻衣的,向天舉起左右手,指著活到永遠的主起誓說:「要到一載、二載、半載,打破聖民權力的時候,這一切事就都應驗了。」
12:8 我聽見這話,卻不明白,就說:「我主啊,這些事的結局是怎樣呢?」
12:9 他說:「但以理啊,你只管去;因為這話已經隱藏封閉,直到末時。
12:10 必有許多人使自己清淨潔白,且被熬煉;但惡人仍必行惡,一切惡人都不明白,惟獨智慧人能明白。
12:11 從除掉常獻的燔祭,並設立那行毀壞可憎之物的時候,必有一千二百九十日。
12:12 等到一千三百三十五日的,那人便為有福。
12:13 「你且去等候結局,因為你必安歇。到了末期,你必起來,享受你的福分。」
Then I, Daniel, looked, and behold, two
others stood, one on this bank of the stream and one on that bank of the
stream. And someone said to the man
clothed in linen, who was above the waters of the stream, “How long shall it be
till the end of these wonders?” And I
heard the man clothed in linen, who was above the waters of the stream; he
raised his right hand and his left hand toward heaven and swore by him who
lives forever that it would be for a time, times, and half a time, and that
when the shattering of the power of the holy people comes to an end all these
things would be finished. 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. And from the time that the regular burnt
offering is taken away and the abomination that makes desolate is set up, there
shall be 1,290 days. Blessed is he who
waits and arrives at the 1,335 days. But
go your way till the end. And you shall rest and shall stand in your allotted
place
**********
這是最後的異象,天使談論異象應驗的時間,並要但以理去安息等候末期。預言重點不是像算命一樣,要人預先明白一切的細節。而是要人得著激勵與安慰,在熬煉中堅持清淨潔白,終究可以明白預言背後的意義(靠自己親身體驗)。
整卷但以理書的主題就是「上帝在歷史的表象背後掌管一切,而且將贏得 最後勝利」。但以理書提到的由尼布甲尼撒到安提阿哥四世這些君主,都想靠自己的力量建立不朽或重要的帝國,但卻彼此牽制消長。上帝雖然沒有直接介入,但卻在歷史背後掌握至高的主權並引導歷史的發展,即使是罪惡悖逆的行為也能被上帝化為祝福。上帝從來都沒有對這個世界失去控制,從過去到永遠都是如此。
也因為有如此的認識,我們不害怕任何暴政或獨裁、甚至是敵基督的勢力,因為這一切都將過去,世上的一切到主耶穌再來時,都要更新!一切的惡勢力都要過去,惟有上帝的國永遠長存,我們只管遵行並實踐上帝國的公義,以盼望的心來向主呼求:「阿們!主耶穌啊,我願你來!」