Daniel 11:33
And they that understand among the people shall instruct many: yet they shall fall by the sword, and by flame, by captivity, and by spoil, many days. And they that understand among the people shall instruct many: yet they shall fall by the sword, and by flame, by captivity, and by spoil, many days.
The verse stands among the wonderful prophecies of Daniel 7-12 that unveil the mysteries of ages to come, entrusted to Daniel as God's ambassador. Even Daniel himself did not fully grasp it, for it was commanded to be shut up and sealed until the time of the end. With that command came the assurance that Daniel would rest and then stand in his lot and place at the end of the days, in the closing period of this world's history.
Those who understand among the people will teach and instruct many, yet they will fall by sword and flame and endure captivity, spoil, and loss for many days. That tribulation is the suffering of God's people during the Dark Ages in the period of the 1,260 prophetic days, or years, from 538 to 1798. Active persecution did not continue through the whole of those 1,260 years, but was shortened for the sake of God's people.
The verse belongs to the prophecies of Daniel 11 that are nearing their final and complete fulfillment amid growing trouble among the nations before Jesus comes. Its scenes of trouble are about to take place and will soon take place. The history of the prophecy to which it belongs has nearly reached its fulfillment, yet much of that history will be repeated, and scenes like those it describes will occur again as the world enters the time of trouble. It is connected with messages coming to churches to reach people who are being deceived.