KEYS OF THE KINGDOM STUDY GUIDES
Daniel Twelve • “From Disappointment to Appointment”
Introduction
Our journey in the book of Daniel is almost complete. It has been a rich journey.
Through the study of Daniel’s stories, we have become aware of the spiritual
keys of the Master. These keys can prepare us for the times of trial and test-
ing–the times God warned us about in the Daniel prophecies.
Our final spiritual key is one of perspective: What appears like a “disappoint-
ment” can really be an “appointment,” or opportunity provided by God. What can
help us truly discern the difference? A connection so close with the Master that
we begin seeing things from His perspective allowing us to discern the difference
between a “disappointment” and an “appointment.”
Read Daniel 12:4
1. When would some of Daniel’s prophecies be understood?
Note: Daniel is an “end time” book. While Daniel and others throughout history
could understand the stories and the lessons they teach about spiritual victory, some
of the prophecies even Daniel did not initially understand. Some of them, he would
never understand. At the end of time, however, “knowledge would increase” con-
cerning Daniel’s prophecies. In addition, people would “run to and fro.” This is refer-
ring to the study of Daniel's prophecies. People would “run to and fro” through the
Bible in order to put together an understanding of the prophecies. In today’s lesson
we will see how this came true in the mid-nineteenth century.
Read Daniel 12:5-7
2. What does this passage describe?
Note: This is an official ceremony–notice the following components:
a. Two heavenly beings standing by a river; one on each side
b. Another man clothed in linen above the river
c. The hand of the linen clothed man was raised in a solemn oath
d. The oath has to do with the unsealing or opening of the book of Daniel
According to Daniel 12:7, when would the final time prophecies be unsealed?
Note: After God’s people were shattered during the “time and times and half a time,”
all these things (the rest of the prophecies in Daniel) would be “finished.”
3. When was the “time and times and half a time” of Daniel 7:25 completed?
Note: In our study of Daniel seven, we saw that this was the 1260 year time period of the
little horn, or papal Rome. This was a time during which the Papacy would persecute
God’s faithful remnant. It lasted from 538 AD - to 1798 AD
Read Daniel 12:8
4. Did Daniel understand all this?
Read Daniel 12:9,10
5. Who would understood and when?
Note: The full understanding would come to those who were righteous (“purified,”
“made white,” and “refined”) at the “time of the end.” The wise would understand, but
not the wicked. The wise are those who go through the time of purifying, being made
white and refined.
Read Daniel 12:11,12
6. What new time prophecies were now revealed to Daniel?
Note: The 1290 and the 1335 day prophecies.
7. When were they to start? (verse 11)
Note: From the time “the daily is taken away” and the “abomination that maketh deso-
late” is set up.
Read Daniel 8:11,12
8. Who especially attacked the daily services conducted by Christ in the heavenly
sanctuary (reference Hebrews 8) and set up an earthly counterfeit?
Note: As we have already studied, the Papacy attacked the “daily.”
9. What “host” was given to the Papacy that permitted it to attack the daily and set
up an earthly counterfeit?
Note: This verse indicates that “an army” (host) was “given” to the Papacy. With this
power, they would effectively meet their objectives.
10. Who gave an army over to the Papacy at the time of its rise to power?
Note: History points in but one direction: The army of Clovis the Frank. The Pope bap-
tized Clovis in 496 AD with the admonition: “Adore that which once thou hast burned
(the Christians).” Clovis used his armies to do just that. In 507 AD, under the direction
of the Papacy, he routed the Visigoths, a tribe who was teaching “heresy.” In 508 AD
they were fully defeated and Clovis was honored by the Pope by being named: “Counsel”
and “Eldest Son of the Church.” The Papacy utilized this new found power to rid itself of
it’s “enemies,” set up a false system of worship (an “abomination”), and “cast truth to the
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ground” (Daniel 8:11,12). This gives us the date for verse 12 when the “daily sacri-
fice shall be taken away, and the abomination that maketh desolate” is set up. This
date of 508 AD is earlier than the date of 538 AD of Daniel 7:25 when the saints
“shall be given into his hand until a time and times and the dividing of time.”
508 AD is thus the start date for the 1290 and 1335 day prophecies of Daniel 12.
Let’s review the dates and prophecies we’ve already discovered in previous studies
along with these new prophecies utilizing 508 AD as our start date.
The Time Prophecies of Daniel
490 yrs (9)
7yrs
31/2 31/2
27 31 34 508 538
457 BC
Jesus’ death
Jesus’ baptism
Gospel to Gentiles
Clovis’ army used
Papal full power
The “time of the end” thus began in the late 1700’s. At this time God’s people would
begin to understand the book of Daniel. It would be “unsealed.” In addition, His peo-
ple would be tried and tested around the time of 1843 and 1844.
“But you Daniel, shut up the words and seal the book until the time of the end, many
shall run to and fro and knowledge [of the book of Daniel] shall increase.” Daniel
12:4
11. What did people begin to say about the book of Daniel?
“About the time of the end, a body of men will be raised up who will turn their atten-
tion to the prophecies…” Sir Isaac Newton, 1642-1727
“In 1818 a recent convert to Christianity came to the shocking conclusion that Jesus
Christ would personally and visibly return to earth to set up His eternal kingdom in
about twenty five years --- 1843. That conclusion filled William Miller with both joy
and uneasiness.” From George Knight, Millennial Fever, jacket cover.
Was William Miller the only one who came to this conclusion? A man named George
Bush, along with others agreed with William Miller on the date!
Keys of the Kingdom Study Guides • Daniel 12
Dr. George Bush, professor of Hebrew and oriental literature in the New York City Uni-
versity, in a letter addressed to William Miller, made some important statements relative
to his calculation of the prophetic times (published in the Advent Herald and Signs of the
Times Reporter, Boston, March 6 and 13, 1844). Dr. Bush wrote:
“Neither is it to be objected, as I conceive, to yourself or your friends, that you have de-
voted much time and attention to the study of the chronology of prophecy, and have la-
bored much to determine the commencing and closing dates of the great periods. If these
periods are actually given by the Holy Ghost in the prophetic books, it was doubtless with
the design that they, Mede, Sir Isaac Newton, Kirby, Scott, Keith and a host of others
who have long since come to substantially your conclusions on this head. They all agree
that the leading periods mentioned by Daniel and John, do actually expire about this age
2300 yrs (8:14) of the world, and it would be a strange logic that would convict you of heresy for holding
in effect the same views which stand forth so prominent in the notices of these eminent
1335 yrs (12:12) divines. Your results in this field of inquiry do not strike me so far out of the way as to
1290 yrs (12:11) affect any of the great interests of truth or duty.” (Emphasis by editor)
1260 yrs (12:7) ENGLAND - Edward Irving, an Englishman came to the conclusion that the prophecies
of Daniel pointed to the time of the end. Three hundred ministers in the Church of Eng-
land and six hundred nonconformist ministers began preaching the Second Coming.
1798 1843
1844 AD
“Thomas B. Macaulay, the famous historian and member of parliament, recorded in 1844
Papal wound
that the number of those who believed in an imminent return of Christ included men
‘distinguished by rank, wealth, and ability …noblemen,’ he added, ‘and members of par-
liament, have written in defense of it.’” From C. M. Maxwell, Tell it to the World.
What GERMANY - Johann Bengel in Germany almost simultaneously came to the same con-
happened clusion and became a preacher of the Second Coming.
in 1843? SOUTH AMERICA - Manuel de Lacunza, a Roman Catholic priest in South America
wrote under the pen name of Juan Josafa Ben-Ezra. As this Godly man began to study
the prophecies pointing to the time of the end, he came to believe that Jesus was coming
very, very soon.
SWEDEN, DENMARK, NORWAY - The public preaching of the word was outlawed in
these countries just after 1800. What did God do? He inspired child preachers by the
hundreds to proclaim the soon coming of Jesus.
ASIA - Dr. Joseph Wolf, a Jew converted to Christianity, he believed that Christ was
coming in the early 1800’s. As Joseph had learned about Jesus, he knew that this was no
ordinary man. When he asked his father about it, he was told to never talk about it again.
That wasn’t good enough for Joseph, and he became a Christian. He became a missionary
to the world and traveled throughout Asia proclaiming the Second Coming of Jesus.
SUMMARY - At the end of the 1260 years of Daniel 12:7, a renewed interest in the Sec-
ond Coming of Christ swept America and Europe and was felt in the farthest missionary
outposts in Asia and Africa.
12. How sincere were these people?
“Hearts were filled with joy and holy excitement as thousands took their stand for Jesus.
Through the preaching of one of the advent preachers, William Miller, the Methodist
Page 3 Keys of the Kingdom Study Guides • Daniel 12

churches gained 40,000 new members and the Baptists 45,000.” From C. Mervyn Read Luke 24:13-21
Maxwell, Tell it to the World.
16. What was the response of the disciples to this event? How did Jesus stay in-
“Dear Sir - Enclosed is my commission as Justice of the Peace, which I have no fur- volved in their lives?
ther use for, believing as I do beyond a doubt that the Lord is coming on the 10th day
(10/22) of the seventh Jewish sacred month 1844.” Note: The disciples had believed that Christ was going to “redeem Israel” in a literal
sense. They believed that He would be the conquering king. When He died they were
“I believe the Lord will come on this seventh month of this sacred year; therefore I do sorely disappointed. Jesus came incognito and walked and talked with them. He listened
not wish to remain Justice of the Peace any longer.” Wm. S. Hershey to their disappointments and discouragement, but did not reveal Himself physically to
“As the date of the present number of the Herald is our last day of publication before them.
the tenth day of the seventh month, we shall make no provision for issuing a paper
for the week following.”Advent Herald Read Luke 24:25-27
“Believing as I most sincerely do, that the Lord Jesus Christ will, in a few days, come 17. What did Jesus finally do?
in the clouds of heaven, I retire from this shop; as I am determined, God being my
helper, that my works shall correspond with my faith.” Newburyport shop owner Note: He gave them a personal Bible study about Himself starting in Genesis and going
through the entire Old Testament.
As a result of their study of Daniel’s prophecies, these people believed that Christ
would return on October 22, 1844, the end of the 2300 year prophecy of Daniel 8:14, Read Luke 24:28-33
and after the end of the 1335 year prophecy of Daniel 12:12. How sweet the message
of Christ’s return was to these sincere people. Thousands had accepted Christ and 18. What happened as a result?
given up all to follow Him.
Note: They came to recognize Him as a result of His Bible study with them. The disap-
13. Was there a bitter aspect to their expectations? (Did Jesus return in 1844?) pointment they experienced turned into an “appointment” and they “rose up that very
hour” to share with others their newfound discovery.
“I waited all Tuesday (October 22), and dear Jesus did not come, -- I waited all the
forenoon of Wednesday… but after 12 o’clock I began to feel faint… my natural As the disappointed believers of 1844 saw what had happened at the time of Christ’s first
strength was leaving me very fast and I lay prostrate for two days without any pain - coming, they took confidence and began to diligently study their Bibles. Perhaps like
sick with disappointment.” Henry Emmons Christ’s disciples, they had misunderstood the Scriptures. Perhaps their “disappointment”
was really an “appointment.”
“Our fondest hopes and expectations were blasted, and such a spirit of weeping came
over us as I never experienced before. It seemed that the loss of all earthly friends A review of the book of Daniel will give us another illustration of the importance of
could have been no comparison. We wept and wept till the day dawn.” Hiram Edson looking beyond “disappointments” to find God’s “appointments.”
14. How did those people, who were from many different denominations, re-
Chapter Disappointment Appointment
spond when Christ did not return as expected?
There were four responses: Daniel 1 Taken captive 1,500 miles from To demonstrate faith to the whole
home–given all types of things world through obedience under
a. Some gave up religion completely in an attempt to manipulate them the most trying times.
b. Others set new dates for the Second Coming to worship false “gods.”

c. Most churches gave up on the study of “prophecy”

Daniel 2 Threatened with death and
d. Small numbers began searching their Bibles again lumped with those who had no
real connection with God.
Let’s look at the findings of those that continued to study the prophecies.
Read Luke 23:45,46,54
15. What happened to Jesus? Daniel 3 To see most of God’s people
bow down to the false statue,
thus rejecting God’s law and
bringing worldwide disdain.
To save the lives of those who did
not know God and show the king
the dream God had given him
revealing 2,500 years of history in
advance.
To stand for God even though
everyone else did not. To see Him
face-to-face in the fiery furnace.
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bringing worldwide disdain.
Daniel 4 To study with the king for many
years, yet not see him make a
solid decision for Christ.
Daniel 5 To see a young man who had
probably been named after him
prove unfaithful and be de-
stroyed.
Daniel 6 To be accused of treason and
thrown in the lions den–all for
not following a law of man that
would have compromised his
walk with God.
Daniel 7 A little horn is seen that would
persecute God’s saints and seek
to have them killed as a result of
false laws and judgments.
Daniel 8 The little horn would cast the
truth about God and His sanctu-
ary to the ground.
Daniel 9 To not understand the 2,300 year
prophecy and to be over-
whelmed with the thought that
God’s sanctuary on earth would
never be rebuilt.
Daniel To be overwhelmed with a sense
10 of the great, behind-the-scenes
struggle between Christ and
Satan.
Daniel To see the carnage and disaster
11 that would befall world empires
and kings.
Daniel To know that he would never
12 fully understnd what had been
shown to him.
face-to-face in the fiery furnace.
To care for the king until he fi-
nally accepted God and came to
his senses.
To stand through the judgment
and represent God when the next
world power took control.
To stand for God in the lions den
and demonstrate his loyalty to
God and the king.
That God’s people would be
faithful until death and would
ultimately be judged worthy and
faithful and given the kingdom.
God’s sanctuary would be
cleansed at the end of time and
His truth restored.
To understand the part of the
2,300 year prophecy that related
to his people and to see a wonder-
ful picture of the plan of salva-
tion.
To be personally ministered unto
by Gabriel and Jesus, and to be
assured that Michael was his
Prince.
To understand that Christ would
enter human history and thus be
able to fully deliver His people.
To recongnize that at the end of
time, a group of people would
understand and enthusiastically
share the book of Daniel with
others. Though tested and often
disappointed, God’s people would
ultimately prevail.
Keys of the Kingdom Study Guides • Daniel 12
disappointed, God’s people would
ultimately prevail.
In each chapter of Daniel, God’s people would experience “disappointments” that were
really God’s “appointments.” God has always allowed disappointments to purify people
for service for him. The spiritual keys we’ve discovered in this book would keep them in
constant connection with the Master and as a result, His people and His plan would ulti-
mately prevail.
As helpful as these findings were, what finding especially brought hope and clarity? It
was their study of Daniel twelve and Revelation ten! It “positioned” their disappointment
and showed them that it was really an “appointment” within time and history.
Notice the striking parallels they found and the conclusions to which their study of the
Scriptures led:
Daniel 12:4-13 Revelation 10:1-11
Daniel a sealed book (9) An unsealed book seen (2)
By a body of water (5) By a body of water (2)
A solemn oath (7) A solemn oath (6)
Prophecies (7,11,12) Time prophecies (6)
“time of the end” (9) “time… no longer” (6)
A trial and test (10) A trial and test (10,11)
An appointment to share with the world (11)
Their “disappointment” was an event foretold by Daniel and John. This was an event that
was to be both sweet and bitter. But praise God, they would find that their “disappoint-
ment” really was an “appointment.” Their disappointment was just like that of the disci-
ples in Luke twenty-four and it would lead them on a deep study of the Bible. Through a
deep study of Revelation, their understanding and love for Jesus would only grow. The
disappointment had really been a magnificent “appointment.” An “appointment” with Je-
sus!
Let Us Summarize
1. Have you sensed that our study of Daniel has been an “appointment” for you?
Why?
2. Do you desire to share the discoveries you’ve made with others? Who? How?
When?
3. Do you, through additional study, desire to discover more about the Christ of the
book of Revelation?
Page 5 Keys of the Kingdom Study Guides • Daniel 12

Suggested Memory Text

“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 under-
stand.” Daniel 12:10

Next Time
We encourage you to continue your exploration of prophecy by studying the
companion book to Daniel: The book of Revelation. A study of Revelation will
enhance your knowledge of the book of Daniel and build upon what you learned
thus far. We would also suggest you continue into deeper studies of Daniel and
share with your friends what you have learned. You now have the basic tools to
understand this fascinating and faith building book.

Review Keys of the Kingdom

1. Giving my heart to God!
2. Staying connected to Him
3. Increasing faith by prophecy study
4. Memorizing and claiming God’s promises
5. Asking for and living in the Spirit
6. Acting immediately on truth
7. Being sealed by God and used by Him
8. Allowing God to change me
9. Sending my sins to judgment now
10. Praying for patience and persistence
11. Restoring my covenant experience by confession and repentance
12. Practicing persistent prayer while trusting God
13. Trusting God to handle my life’s details
14. Discerning God’s appointment in what seems like a disappointment