Daniel 12:7

7. Gabriel held up both hands to heaven in order to strengthen his oath by this double appeal to Jehovah. (Compare Genesis 14:22; Exodus 6:8.) Even yet in Syria the strongest oath is by the blood taken from the arm, because the arm represents strength. To uplift the arm suggests swearing by one’s blood and proffering it in its strength as an inviolable covenant with God (Trumbull, Blood Covenant, p. 236). The angel swears by the ever-living Jehovah (compare Daniel 4:34) that it should be for a time, times, and a half. (See notes Daniel 7:25; Daniel 9:27.) Interpreters differ as to whether this merely means to reaffirm the truth of the statement previously made (Daniel 7:25) or whether, in the providence of God, another cycle corresponding to the former as the seventy weeks of Daniel corresponded to the seventy years of Jeremiah should be hinted at here. Even though we explain this strictly according to the historical method, as pointing to the three and a half years which elapsed from the defilement of the sanctuary to the death of Antiochus, we can yet accept it as the prototype of another cycle of suffering which should lengthen into centuries until full deliverance through the Messiah should come (Matthew 24:30; Matthew 24:34; Revelation 12:14).

And when he shall have accomplished, etc. R.V., “and when they have made an end of breaking in pieces the power of the holy people, all these things shall be finished.” This refers primarily to Antiochus Epiphanes and the adversaries of God’s people who stood with him against the Maccabean patriots; but this does not exclude its continuous application to the suffering saints in every great crisis of the Christian Church. God rules, and therefore right must ultimately triumph. Notwithstanding this “breaking” of the saints nay often because of the rack and the sword and the fire the power of Jehovah shall be exalted, and beyond even the blessed “end” which Daniel saw shall come another “end,” more triumphant still, when the heavenly Son of man shall enter fully into his kingdom.