Daniel chapter 12 contains prophecies concerning events in "the time of the end," and we can find references to this chapter in the words of Christ.
Daniel receives revelation about the time of the end by the angel that appeared to him in Daniel 10:5: "Now I have come to make you understand what will happen to your people in the latter days, for the vision refers to many days yet to come." Daniel 10:14.
This angel revealed that he is in a fight with the prince of Persia and then the prince of Greece, and he has been helped by the angel Michael. The angel gives revelation of future kings and the events involving them. This angel gives revelation concerning a particular king of a distinctive character who will be challenged by other kings at "the time of the end": "Then the king shall do according to his own will: he shall exalt and magnify himself above every god, shall speak blasphemies against the God of gods, and shall prosper till the wrath has been accomplished; for what has been determined shall be done... At the time of the end the king of the South shall attack him; and the king of the North shall come against him like a whirlwind, with chariots, horsemen, and with many ships; and he shall enter the countries, overwhelm them, and pass through." Daniel 11:36, 40).
This "time of the end" involves a particular future period of a number of events that are revealed in Daniel Chapter 12.
Daniel 12:1 begins with the words "at that time," which would refer back to the "time of the end" reference in 11:40, a reference that will be made again: "But you, Daniel, shut up the words, and seal the book until the time of the end," Daniel 12:4. The angel Michael is referenced as standing up and being the "great prince" who watches over Israel. It is at that time, that, as the Septuagint (the Greek translation of the Old Testament, abbreviated as the LXX) says, "There shall be a time of tribulation, such tribulation as has not been from the time that there was a nation on earth until that time," Daniel 12:1.
Jesus quoted this verse from the LXX with a slight change. Matthew 24:21 says, "For then there will be great tribulation, such as has not been since the beginning of the world until this time, no, nor ever shall be." The point is the same. It will be the worse of times on earth. Jesus called it the "great tribulation."
Michael is protector of the nation of Israel. There will be a deliverance of Israel "at that time" which corresponds to the "time of tribulation": "And at that time your people shall be delivered, every one who is found written in the book," Daniel 12:1 Israel will be subjected to persecution, but a remnant shall be protected and delivered.
We read of this protection, in which Israel, identified as the "woman" in Revelation 12, is protected for a distinct period of time, a period of time referenced in Daniel 12:7 and Revelation 12:6: "Then the woman fled into the wilderness, where she has a place prepared by God, that they should feed her there one thousand two hundred and sixty days." This 1260 days is also represented in Revelation 12:14 by the words "a time and times and half a time": "the woman was given two wings of a great eagle, that she might fly into the wilderness to her place, where she is nourished for a time and times and half a time." So the 1260 days is the same as time, times, and half a time in Revelation 12:7, because they refer to the same length of protection of the woman. The "time, times, and half a time" is referenced in Daniel 12:7: "Then I heard the man clothed in linen, who was above the waters of the river, when he held up his right hand and his left hand to heaven, and swore by Him who lives forever, that it shall be for a time, times, and half a time; and when the power of the holy people has been completely shattered, all these things shall be finished." 1260 days is 3 1/2 years according to a 360-day year; and the same period referenced as a "time, times and half a time" must be "a year, 2 years, and half a year, equaling 3 1/2 years.
This time period is the "time of the end" and the "great tribulation." The deliverance is at the end of that tribulation, which lasts for 1260 days or time, times, and half a time. The deliverer is Jesus, at his second coming, just as he told his disciples in answer to their questions: "after the tribulation of those days...they will see the son of man coming in the clouds..." Matthew 24:29-30.
In connection with that time, there will a resurrection of the dead. Daniel 12.2 speaks of "many of those who sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake." This is a clear reference to a physical kind of resurrection. Jesus is obviously making reference to Daniel in that he speaks of both resurrections: "Do not marvel at this; for the hour is coming in which all who are in the graves will hear His voice and come forth—those who have done good, to the resurrection of life, and those who have done evil, to the resurrection of condemnation." John 5:28-29 The Revelation reveals that the resurrection of the righteous is separated by 1000 years from that of the unrighteous. The first resurrection is in connection with the coming of Christ at the time of the end.
Daniel 12:2 speaks of some being raised to "everlasting Life." Here and the next verse may be the only references in the Old Testament to everlasting life. Daniel 12:3 speaks of certain ones who "turn many to righteousness" that will shine "like the stars forever and ever." Jesus spoke of everlasting life many times as that which he would give to those who believe in him for it: "For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life." John 3:16
Daniel 12: 3 says that the "wise" and the evangelist will shine. There must be some sort of glory obtained and displayed for these in the resurrection. All of us can be "Wise" with respect to the word of God but not all will turn many to righteousness.
Jesus said that at the end of the age, "the righteous will shine forth as the sun in the kingdom of their Father." Matthew 13:43
This would seem to agree with what the Apostle Paul said, "For what is our hope, or joy, or crown of rejoicing? Is it not even you in the presence of our Lord Jesus Christ at His coming? For you are our glory and joy." 1 Thessalonians 2:19-20
Daniel 12:4 says to "Seal the Book until the time of the end." This must signify that the prophecy of Daniel is complete and must be secured and not altered. It's fulfillment and understanding will be the time of the end, being that time of trouble referenced in 12:1. This does not mean we do not read it and seek to understand it. But how all the events will play out will be best discerned as they happen. Daniel 12:4 says that "many shall run to and fro and knowledge shall increase." I know that some believe this speaks of our age of modern travel and internet access to information, but I believe this refers to the increase in understanding of prophetic Scripture in the time of the end, for those who seek it. "To and fro" appears several times in the Old Testament and just speaks of going back and forth. There will be by some who will seek out the word of God to understand what's happening, and these will be the "wise" of Daniel 12:10. Compare this understanding with Amos: "12 They shall wander from sea to sea,
And from north to east; They shall run to and fro, seeking the word of the LORD,
But shall not find it." Amos 8:12 In Amos, we see that the word of God is in view, but in that case, they will seek but not find. But in the time of the end, many will go here and there seeking the word of God and they will understand.
In Daniel 12:5-13, the angel reveals to Daniel that the duration of the things revealed is "a time, times, half a time." Then it will be over. The time of the end is during that duration. That duration is a year, 2 years, and half a year, being 3 1/2 years. This is understood by the 70th Week of Daniel (Daniel 9:27), being 7 years, and from the mid-point of that 7 years onward is 3 1/2 years, being the time of the great tribulation.
Revelation 12:1-6 speaks of the woman who is protected 1260 days, being 3 1/2 years. Revelation 12:14 says that same protection is for as long as Daniel says in 12:7.
Revelation 13:5-7 speaks of the persecution of the saints for 42 months by the "beast," being 3 1/2 years: "And he was given a mouth speaking great things and blasphemies, and he was given authority to continue for forty-two months. Then he opened his mouth in blasphemy against God, to blaspheme His name, His tabernacle, and those who dwell in heaven. It was granted to him to make war with the saints and to overcome them. And authority was given him over every tribe, tongue, and nation. Revelation." 13:5-7
The beginning point of the time of the end, the great tribulation, and the reign of the beast is the "abomination of desolation" and the daily sacrifice taken away: Daniel 12:11. This originates from Daniel 9:27 (the LXX), and Jesus makes reference to this as the beginning of the great tribulation, as Jesus said "when you see the Abomination of Desolation spoken by Daniel standing in the Holy Place ... [vs21] for then there will be great tribulation..." Matthew 24:15, 21 Daniel 12:11 makes reference again to this event that Daniel 9:27 made reference to: "And from the time that the daily sacrifice is taken away, and the abomination of desolation is set up," Daniel 12:11. Daniel 9:27 (LXX) says, "...in the midsts of the week my sacrifice and drink-offering shall be taken away: and on the temple shall be the abomination of desolations; and at the end of the time an end shall be put to the desolation." Daniel 12:11-12 has extra days beyond the 1260 days of the great tribulation, but we don't know with any certainty what they are for, but one could conjecture that they are periods of restoration and judgment upon Israel first and then the nations after Christ's return, with view to the transition into the reign of Christ.
Daniel 12:13 reveals that Daniel will die before these things come to past, but he will be resurrected to receive his inheritance in the kingdom. This was the hope of Israel, and it is our hope: life from the dead, life everlasting in the kingdom of God. Jesus said, "I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in Me, though he may die, he shall live. And whoever lives and believes in Me shall never die. Do you believe this?" John 11:25-26 This resurrection will come at the "time of the end," being the end of great tribulation. Just as was revealed in Daniel chapter 12.
