Charles Ellicott Commentary Daniel 12:7

"And I heard the man clothed in linen, who was above the waters of the river, when he held up his right hand and his left hand unto heaven, and sware by him that liveth for ever that it shall be for a time, times, and a half; and when they have made an end of breaking in pieces the power of the holy people, all these things shall be finished." — Daniel 12:7 (ASV)

Held up his right hand ...—In general, a person when swearing lifted up the right hand only (Deuteronomy 32:40). Both hands are represented here as being raised up, so as to give greater importance to the words. (See Note on Revelation 10:5, and Compare to Daniel 4:34.)

A time, times ...—See Note on Daniel 7:25; and observe that any reference to the period of the persecution under Antiochus is impossible, on account of the difference between the measures of time. (See Daniel 7:14.)

To scatter. —The ancient versions (not the Septuagint, however) appear to have understood this to mean the dispersion of Israel , and seem to have connected the “end,” of which Daniel speaks, with the cessation of the dispersion of Israel, or, in other words, to have regarded it as a prediction of the re-gathering of Israel, which would immediately precede the coming of Elias. (See the remarks of Theodoret on the passage).

But by “holy people” are meant, more probably, those who shall suffer in the last days (Compare to Daniel 7:25, the saints). The word “scatter” means to break in pieces, as in Psalms 2:9 and similar passages.

So that the words imply that the end will not come till “the shattering of the power of the saints” has been accomplished, or till persecution appears to have stamped out all that remains of godliness. This makes the prophecy accord with Daniel 7:25 and the parallel passages in the New Testament.