Daniel 12  Easy-to-Read Version

12 “Daniel, at that time the great prince Michael will stand up. Michael is in charge of your people. There will be a time of much trouble, the worst time since nations have been on earth. But Daniel, at that time every one of your people whose name is found written in the book of life will be saved. ² There are many who are dead and buried.^[a] Some of them will wake up and live forever, but others will wake up to shame and disgrace forever. ³ The wise people will shine as bright as the sky. Those who teach others to live right will shine like stars forever and ever.^[b]

⁴ “But you, Daniel, keep this message a secret. You must close the book and keep this secret until the time of the end. Many people will go here and there looking for true knowledge, and the true knowledge will increase.”

⁵ Then I, Daniel, noticed two other men. One man was standing on my side of the river, and the other was standing on the other side. ⁶ The man who was dressed in linen was standing over the water in the river. One of the two men said to him, “How long will it be before these amazing things come true?”

⁷ The man dressed in linen and standing over the water lifted his right and left hands toward heaven. And I heard him make a promise using the name of God who lives forever. He said, “It will be for three and one-half years.^[c] The power of the holy people will be broken, and then all these things will finally come true.”

⁸ I heard the answer, but I really didn’t understand. So I asked, “Sir, what will happen after all this comes true?”

⁹ He answered, “Go on about your life Daniel. The message is hidden. It will be a secret until the time of the end. ¹⁰ Many people will be made pure—they will make themselves clean. But evil people will continue to be evil. And those wicked people will not understand these things, but the wise people will understand them.

¹¹ “The daily sacrifice will be stopped. There will be 1290 days from that time until the time that the terrible thing that destroys is set up. ¹² The one who waits for and comes to the end of the 1335 days will be very happy.

¹³ “As for you, Daniel, go and live your life until the end. You will get your rest. At the end you will rise from death and receive your share of the promise.”