Daniel 8:19
And he said, Behold, I will make thee know what shall be in the last end of the indignation: for at the time appointed the end shall be.
Original Language Analysis
Cross References
Historical Context
Daniel's audience faced questions: How long will judgment last? Has God forgotten His promises? Gabriel's answer—judgment has a fixed end—encouraged covenant hope. For Babylonian exiles, the seventy-year period was nearly complete (9:2). For later Jews under Antiochus, this vision promised that persecution would end precisely on schedule (2,300 evenings and mornings). Church history confirms the pattern—every persecution has ended, often exactly when God predetermined. This builds confidence in divine sovereignty and covenant faithfulness.
Questions for Reflection
- How does knowing that indignation has an appointed end encourage faithfulness during suffering?
- What does God's predetermined timing for judgment's end teach us about His sovereignty over seemingly chaotic historical events?
- In what ways does Christ's first and second coming bracket the 'appointed time' of the church age, defining our present experience?
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Analysis & Commentary
Gabriel's announcement "I will make thee know what shall be in the last end of the indignation" interprets the vision's time frame. "Indignation" (Hebrew: za'am, זַעַם) means divine wrath or anger—God's justified response to covenant breaking. The phrase "last end" (Hebrew: acharit, אַחֲרִית) means "latter time" or "final outcome." Gabriel reveals that the vision concerns not merely future political events but the completion of God's judgment on His people's disobedience.
"For at the time appointed the end shall be" emphasizes divine sovereignty over history. The Hebrew mo'ed (מוֹעֵד, "appointed time") refers to fixed, predetermined periods. God hasn't left history to chance; He has appointed specific times for judgment and deliverance. This comforts suffering believers—persecution isn't random but operates within divinely set boundaries. Evil prospers only as long as God permits, and He has predetermined its end.
Theologically, this reveals God's covenant faithfulness. Israel's exile wasn't divine abandonment but covenant discipline with a predetermined end. Similarly, the church's tribulation has appointed limits. Christ's first coming inaugurated the "last days" (Hebrews 1:2), beginning the end of indignation. His return will complete it, ending all persecution forever. Living in this "already but not yet" tension, believers trust God's appointed times, knowing all suffering is temporary and purposeful.