Neville Goddard on Daniel 12:6

Executive Summary

Neville Goddard interprets the question 'How long...?' from Daniel 12:6 on two distinct levels. On one level, he provides a numerical calculation for the answer given in scripture, 'a time, times, and half a time,' equating it to a 1260-day period for an internal spiritual drama to unfold. On a more metaphorical level, he uses a paraphrase of the verse to represent the 'vast, severe anguish' of the human journey—the necessary experience in a world of limitation before one awakens to their true identity as the Father. Notably, Neville once confessed that he did not know the meaning of this passage, indicating his understanding developed over time.

Key Concepts

• The central question of Daniel 12:6 is, 'How long shall it be to the end of these wonders?'
• The scriptural answer, 'a time, times, and an half,' is interpreted numerically as 1260 days.
• This 1260-day period represents the duration of a spiritual drama that unfolds within the individual.
• The starting point for this period is not specified.
• Metaphorically, the question 'How long?' symbolizes the anguish of the human experience before one remembers their divine glory.
• The ultimate purpose of this journey is to find the Father, which is the discovery of one's own divine identity.

Detailed Explanation

Neville Goddard offers a specific numerical interpretation of the timeframe mentioned in response to the question in Daniel 12:6, 'How long shall it be to the end of these wonders?'. He explains that the answer, 'a time, times, and an half,' corresponds to a precise duration based on ancient methods of counting. A 'time' was considered a year of 360 days. Therefore, 'a time' (one year), 'times' (two years), and 'half a time' (half a year) calculates to 360 days, plus 720 days, plus 180 days, for a total of 1260 days. This period, he states, is the length of the spiritual drama that unfolds within a person, though scripture provides no specific starting point for this count.

Beyond the numerical calculation, Neville also interprets the question from Daniel 12:6 in a deeply personal and metaphorical way. He paraphrases the verse as, 'How long, how vast, how severe the anguish ‘ere we find the Father.' In this light, the question ceases to be about a literal duration and instead becomes an expression of the profound suffering and forgetting inherent in the human experience. It represents the journey through the 'horrors of the world' and the 'world of the dead' that one must endure before remembering the divine glory they possessed before.

The purpose of this arduous journey is the discovery of the Father. This is not the finding of an external God, but an awakening to one's own true identity. Neville emphasizes that you will not meet someone you call Father; rather, someone—the Son—will appear before you and call you Father. This revelation of the Son is what brings the memory of one's own divine identity to the surface, ending the long period of anguish and answering the question of 'how long'.

Important Quotes

“How long to the end of these wonders?” (Daniel 12:6) Not a statement is made as to when you begin to count, but: “ ‘how long will it be to the end of these wonders?’ …And he who stood above the water said to him: ‘A time, times, and half a time.’” (Daniel 12:6, 7)

— The Pattern Man

After I confessed I did not know the meaning of that particular passage, a lady in the audience said to herself,

— Seedtime And Harvest

“How long, how vast, how severe the anguish ‘ere I find that glory were long to tell.” [Daniel 12:6]

— You Dare To Assume

“How long, how vast, how severe the anguish ‘ere we find the Father were long to tell.” (Daniel 12:6)

— God’s Plan Of Redemption 1970

Related Concepts

This interpretation connects directly to several core teachings found in the source material:

• The Promise: The 'end of these wonders' and the unfolding of the spiritual drama over 1260 days refer to the fulfillment of God's Promise. The discovery of oneself as the Father, revealed by the Son, is the culmination of this Promise.
• I AM: The journey through anguish to 'remember the glory that I saw before' is the process of awakening to one's true identity as God, or I AM. Finding the Father is the ultimate realization of one's own being.
• Consciousness: The experience of passing 'through all the horrors of the world' describes a journey through various states of consciousness. The final awakening is a radical shift in consciousness to the state of being the Father.

Common Misunderstandings

• A Literal Prophecy: The 1260-day period should not be mistaken for a literal, historical timeline with a fixed start date. The source material explicitly states, 'Not a statement is made as to when you begin to count,' indicating it is an internal, spiritual timeframe.
• Finding an External God: The 'finding of the Father' is not about meeting a separate, external deity. The sources clarify this by stating, 'You will never come into the presence of someone that you will call Father. You will come into the presence of someone who will call you Father.' The discovery is internal.

Practical Applications

The source material presents this teaching as an explanation of the spiritual journey's purpose and duration, rather than a specific technique to be applied. For a student, the practical application is one of understanding and perspective. It frames the 'anguish' and challenges of human life not as meaningless suffering, but as a necessary and finite prelude to the profound discovery of one's own divine identity as the Father. This understanding can provide context and endurance for the spiritual path.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the numerical meaning of 'a time, times, and half a time'?

According to Neville's explanation of ancient counting, it represents a period of 1260 days (360 + 720 + 180), which he identifies as the duration of an inner spiritual drama.

Does Neville provide a specific start date for this 1260-day period?

No. The source material explicitly states that scripture gives no indication of when to begin counting this period.

What is the metaphorical meaning of the question 'How long?' in Daniel 12:6?

It metaphorically represents the 'vast and severe anguish' of the human journey, the experience of limitation and forgetting one's divine glory before awakening to the identity of the Father.

How does one 'find the Father' according to this teaching?

One finds the Father not as an external being, but by discovering that they are the Father. This realization occurs when the Son appears in one's consciousness and calls them Father.