And at that time shall Michael stand up, the great prince which standeth for the children of thy people: and there shall be a time of trouble, such as never was since there was a nation even to that same time: and at that time thy people shall be delivered, every one that shall be found written in the book.
Compare Daniel 12:4; Daniel 12:13. As Daniel 12:6-7 refer to Daniel 8:25; - i:e., to the time of Antichrist-so the subsequent verses, Daniel 12:8-12, treat of the time of Antiochus (cf. Daniel 12:11 with Daniel 11:31): thus are put together in one summary view the two great periods of distress-the typical period of Antiochus, and the antitypical one of Antichrist. The political resurrection of the Jews under the Maccabees is the starting-point of transition to the literal resurrection about to follow the destruction of Antichrist by Christ's coming in glory. The language passes here from the nearer to the more remote event, to which alone it is fully applicable.
At that time - typically, toward the close of Antiochus' reign; antitypically, the time when Antichrist is to be destroyed at Christ's coming.
Shall Michael stand up, the great prince which standeth for the children of thy people - the guardian angel of Israel ("thy people," Daniel 10:13). The transactions on earth affecting God's people have their correspondences in heaven, in the conflict between good and bad angels; so at the last great contest on earth which shall decide the ascendancy of Christianity (Revelation 12:7-10). An archangel, not the Lord Jesus; because he is distinguished from "the Lord" in Jude 1:9.
There shall be - rather, 'it shall be.'
A time of trouble, such as never was since there was a nation even to that same time - partially applicable to the time of Antiochus, who was the first subverter of the Jews' religion, and persecutor of its professors, which no other world-power previously had done. Fully applicable to the last times of Antichrist, and his persecutions of Israel restored to Palestine. Satan will be allowed to exercise an unhindered, unparalleled energy (Isaiah 26:20-21, "the indignation;" Jeremiah 30:7; Matthew 24:21: cf. Daniel 8:24-25; Daniel 11:36). And at that time thy people shall be delivered - (Romans 11:26). The same deliverance of Israel as in Zechariah 13:8-9, "I will bring the third part ... through the fire, and will refine them as silver." The remnant in Israel shall be spared, as not having joined in the anti-Christian blasphemy of worshipping the beast and his image, and of receiving his mark in the forehead or in the hand (Revelation 14:9-10). This remnant is not to be confounded with those who have confessed Christ before His second coming, "the remnant according to the election of grace" (Romans 11:5), who form part of the church of the first-born, and who will share HIS millennial reign in glorified bodies; but the spared remnant of Israel in the flesh (Isaiah 10:21) will only know the Lord Jesus when they see Him, and when the spirit of grace and supplication is poured out on them (Tregelles).
Every one that shall be found written in the book - namely, of God's secret purpose, as destined for deliverance (Psalms 56:8; Psalms 69:28; Luke 10:20; Revelation 20:15; Revelation 21:27). Metaphor from a muster-roll of citizens, or register of genealogy in which whosoever is not found written is removed from participation in civic rights (Nehemiah 7:5).