Daniel’s final vision begins in Daniel 10:12-14 with a visitation by an angel in the year 536 BC after Daniel had fasted for three weeks. The information Daniel receives at this time is recorded at the end of chapter 10 and continues into Daniel 11-12. The details in chapter 11 reveals history from Daniel’s day in 536 BC with the Persian emperor Cyrus ruling and continues up through the Macabbean Revolt against Antiochus Epiphanies in 168 BC. The details and information contained in this revelation moves past the days of the New Testament and continues again with the rise of the anti-Christ (Daniel 11:36), a still future event.

This revelation/vision came to Daniel the same year that Zerubbabel led the Babylonian exiles back to Jerusalem. There they will build the altar and lay the foundation for the Jerusalem temple when they arrive (Ezra 4:1-5). These returning Jews immediately begin to face opposition from the Samaritans who lived in the land of Israel. The trouble these returning Jews were facing was only the beginning of a long, long period of opposition, resistance and affliction the Jews and believers would face over the next 2,500+ years. We ourselves still live in the midst of the prophecies of Daniel 11-12 with many events clearly having already occurred historically, but many events still wait for their season in time to be fulfilled. Ultimately, we will see the Lord and share his victory.

The word ESCHATOLOGY comes from the Greek word εσχατος eschatos, which means “last” or “final”.  Although we commonly refer to it as the study of end times, eschatology is more specifically the study of last things, because much more is involved than just the end of the world. Eschatology includes any part of Scripture that speaks of future events (that is, future in terms of when it was written). In the study of eschatology the prophecies that have already been fulfilled are used as a basis for understanding prophecies that are still in the future today.