Daniel 12:1

Michael … the great prince i.e. the patron-angel of Israel (Daniel 10:13; Daniel 10:21).

stand up as champion and defender (Daniel 11:1; cf. Daniel 10:13). Hitherto the power of the -prince" of Greece has been unchecked: now Michael interposes, for his people's final deliverance.

standeth for i.e. protects (Esther 8:11; Esther 9:16).

a time of trouble The expression seems borrowed from Jeremiah 30:7 (where also Israel is spoken of as -saved from it").

such as never was since, &c. cf. Exodus 9:18; Exodus 9:24; Joel 2:2; Mark 13:19 (" Matthew 24:21).

shall be delivered The period of deliverance here spoken of is the same as the period of redemption described in Daniel 7:18; Daniel 7:26-27; Daniel 9:24.

written in the book viz. of life, the register of the living: in Psalms 69:28 (cf. Psalms 87:6; Exodus 32:32) applied to the register of living members of the Theocratic community, which God is represented as keeping. Here, however, the expression is used, not of those living in the present life, but of those destined to share in the glorious life of the end; it is the register of the citizens of the Messianic kingdom" (Hitz.), including both those who enter it while yet living, and those (Daniel 12:2) who enter it after their resurrection. Cf. Isaiah 4:3, where those who are worthy to survive the approaching judgement are described as -written down unto life[i.e. a glorified, but still earthly life] in Jerusalem." The same figure occurs in Enoch xlvii. 3 (-the books of the living were opened before Him"), cviii. 3 (the names of the wicked -will be blotted out of the book of life, and out of the books of the holy ones"); and, applied in a Christian sense, in Philippians 4:3; Revelation 3:5; Revelation 13:8; Revelation 17:8; Revelation 20:12; Revelation 20:15; Revelation 21:27; cf. Luke 10:20; Hebrews 12:23, Enoch civ. 1 (-your names are written before the glory of the Great One").