The End Times Wrap Up
Daniel 12:1-13 "The Time of the End" The End Times; The end of days
1"At that time Michael, the great prince who protects your people, will arise. There will be a time of distress such as has not happened from the beginning of nations until then. But at that time your people—everyone whose name is found written in the book—will be delivered. 2Multitudes who sleep in the dust of the earth will awake: some to everlasting life, others to shame and everlasting contempt. 3Those who are wise will shine like the brightness of the heavens, and those who lead many to righteousness, like the stars for ever and ever. 4But you, Daniel, roll up and seal the words of the scroll until the time of the end. Many will go here and there to increase knowledge."
5Then I, Daniel, looked, and there before me stood two others, one on this bank of the river and one on the opposite bank. 6One of them said to the man clothed in linen, who was above the waters of the river, "How long will it be before these astonishing things are fulfilled?"
7The man clothed in linen, who was above the waters of the river, lifted his right hand and his left hand toward heaven, and I heard him swear by him who lives forever, saying, "It will be for a time, times and half a time.b When the power of the holy people has been finally broken, all these things will be completed."
8I heard, but I did not understand. So I asked, "My lord, what will the outcome of all this be?"
9He replied, "Go your way, Daniel, because the words are rolled up and sealed until the time of the end. 10Many will be purified, made spotless and refined, but the wicked will continue to be wicked. None of the wicked will understand, but those who are wise will understand.
11"From the time that the daily sacrifice is abolished and the abomination that causes desolation is set up, there will be 1,290 days. 12Blessed is the one who waits for and reaches the end of the 1,335 days.
13"As for you, go your way till the end. You will rest, and then at the end of the days you will rise to receive your allotted inheritance."
Questions
What does chapter 12 say the angel Michael will be doing during the awful period known as the Great Tribulation?
What does verse 2 say about the doctrine of resurrection? What will happen to those who are made to "awake"? Verse 3 gives a glimpse of what eternity holds for believers? What is that?
Why is the resurrection an important and necessary component of the gospel? Why do you think it is so often overlooked?
According to verse 3, what is the proper task of God's people living before "the end of the days"?
How did the "man clothed in linen" respond to Daniel's concern (verses 8–13)?
Given the stark reality and certainty of coming judgment, how will you pray differently this week? For unsaved friends, neighbors, co-workers? For world leaders? Why doesn't this truth sober us more?
What changes should you make in how you live in light of the Scripture's teaching about eternal rewards for faithful earthly service?
Do you ever grow impatient waiting for Christ's return? To what area of faithfulness is God calling you as you wait?
If salvation is secure in Christ, why does the Bible focus on God's people living holy lives?
Daniel ends with a call for endurance to the end. What other passages of Scripture call believers to persevere?
If you were to select a key verse to memorise from Daniel 12, which verse would it be?
Message: https://youtu.be/v0nysqHv88g
Last week I watched a movie about a train. It had Denzel Washington in it. Unstoppable is a 2010 American action thriller film directed and produced by Tony Scott and starring Denzel Washington and Chris Pine. It is based on the real-life CSX 8888 incident, telling the story of a runaway freight train and the two men who attempt to stop it.
Twenty years ago, on May 15, 2001, an incident happened in Ohio that involved a runaway CSX freight train. The identification number on the locomotive was #8888 which resulted in the incident becoming known as the 'Crazy Eights Incident.' Due to an operator error at a rail yard just outside of Toledo, the engine began rolling on its own with no engineer inside. Before long, it was barreling down the track at 51 mph along with its 47 cars, some of which were loaded with hazardous chemicals. As you can imagine, panic set in. Not only was there the fear of a derailment in a populated area, but two of the tanker cars were filled with phenol, a toxic liquid that can cause severe problems if touched or inhaled. Derailers were put on the tracks in an unpopulated area to try and force the train off the tracks, but the runaway engine plowed right over them. Officials tried shooting an emergency fuel cutoff switch, but it was no use. Finally, a plan was devised where two engineers took another engine and drove it to a secondary track that was alongside the out-of-control train's path. After the train roared past, they pulled behind it and carefully accelerated until they were just behind the last car. Easing ever closer, they heard the clack of their engine locking onto the last car. They immediately applied the brakes until they were able to slow the train down enough where another engineer could jump into the front engine and shut it down. I guess they all were glad that they didn't come off the rails on the crazy train…
For a lot people, the world seems like one big a ride on a crazy train; the Virus, the very real threat of war with China, division, the fear of an economic collapse. Bigger government and the rise of soft Marxism and the anti Christian feel of hard secularism. We wonder at times where the engineer is on this train that is barreling down the track. Daniel comes along and shows us that the Chief Engineer is right where He has always been—in the place of sovereign control. He is moving the train of human history down the track of time and will bring us into the station of His everlasting kingdom.
We come to the last chapter in Daniel, which is chapter 12. The last three chapters are a prophetic vision of the future that is given to Daniel for the sake of God's people. The prophecy that is revealed in this section provides a detailed glimpse of the future from the time of Daniel all the way up to the end of the world when Jesus returns to establish His kingdom. The setting for Daniel 12 is the 'time of the end,' a phrase that is used several times in the final two chapters of the book. The Hebrew word 'end' is used at least 10 times in the last two chapters. Daniel is being shown what will happen at the time of the end. The final chapter of Daniel concerns the time of the end, or the end of human history as we know it. History is linear, which means it has a beginning and an end. History is moving toward a future in which the kingdom of this world becomes the kingdom of Jesus Christ. And this is the overarching message of Daniel 12, which is all about God's promise of everlasting life for His weary people. No matter how bad things may get, the people of God are to live with the hope of His promise. The eschatological hope of the people of God is what keeps them looking up.
Perhaps you prefer to not think about it the end of the world. Maybe it seems so unrelated to the stack of stuff that stares you in the face every day. You are fully aware of the fact that the world as we know it will end one day, but you're confident that it won't be tomorrow. That's probably where a lot of us are. While it is certainly true that we must not be preoccupied with 'end times' in an unhealthy way, we do need to think about it in a biblical and realistic way. Jesus would not have had so much to say on the subject of judgment and the end of the age were it not a future reality. On one occasion, His disciples asked Him a question, the same question that many of us are curious about now—"What will be the sign of Your coming, and the end of the age?" And interestingly enough, He directed the disciples to the prophecy of Daniel. Upon reading the verses that make up this final chapter of Daniel, it seems obvious to the reader that the theme is the end of the age. In fact, the Hebrew word 'end' is used 10 times in the last two chapters. Daniel is being shown what will happen at the time of the end. According to Daniel 12, it will be a time of future tribulation, a time of final separation, a time of divine preservation, as well as a time of personal consolation.
1—A time of TRIBULATION (12:1)
"At that time shall arise Michael, the great prince who has charge of your people. And there shall be a time of trouble, such as never has been since there was a nation till that time. But at that time your people shall be delivered, everyone whose name shall be found written in the book."
The Tribulation period is the final seven years of history that leads up to the return of Jesus Christ and the establishing of His millennial kingdom on earth. Just why exactly is the tribulation described as being a period of seven years? In answer to that question, we need to go back to what Daniel is told in 9:24-27, or the prophecy of the seventy weeks. In verse
27, the final prophetic week is the seventieth which is a seven year period of time. Three and a half years into it, Antichrist will commit the 'abomination of desolation' which signals the half-way point. That is followed up by a time of great tribulation for the nation of Israel. Israel's defender
Verse 1 begins by saying, "A that time shall arise Michael, the great prince who has charge of your people." In what will be a time of unparalleled hardship, Daniel's prophecy is intended to be a comforting promise. The Antichrist will be a vicious persecutor of God's people. The nation of Israel will be surrounded and outnumbered by her enemies. Yet she will not be without defense. Michael the archangel will stand up in the last days to fight on Israel's behalf.
"At That Time"—means during the time of the end; the mid point of the seventieth week; 'Great Tribulation'
Revelation 12:7—"Now war arose in heaven, Michael and his angels fighting against the dragon. And the dragon and his angels fought back…"
So when Daniel is told about a future time when Michael the archangel stands up on behalf of God's people, it is this spiritual conflict that is being referred to. The ongoing war that rages between the forces of heaven and hell will reach its peak during the tribulation period.
Israel's distress
Sometime after Michael arises to do battle against the devil and his angels, notice that verse 1 goes on to say, "And there shall be a time of trouble, such as never has been since there was a nation till that time." Michael and the angels of heaven will fight against Satan, they will prevail over them, and Revelation 12:9 says the dragon will be cast out of heaven. The result will be an increased conflict on the earth because Satan will know that his time is short. He will then be permitted to make his final move, which will involve the Antichrist and a wave of persecution that will be unleashed against Israel. Other Old Testament prophets spoke of the same thing. For instance: Jeremiah 30:7—"Alas! That day is so great there is none like it; it is a time of distress for Jacob; yet he shall be saved out of it."
Matthew 24:21—"For then there will be great tribulation such as has not been from the beginning of the world until now, no, and never will be."
Mark 13:19—"For in those days there will be such tribulation as has not been from the beginning of the creation that God created until now, and never will be."
Daniel 9:24 will all be fulfilled when the tribulation period is over and the kingdom belongs to Christ. What are those purposes? The seventy weeks are in order for God:
• to finish the transgression
• to put an end to sin
• to atone for iniquity
• to bring in everlasting righteousness
• to seal both vision and prophet
• to anoint a most holy place
Partially, this was accomplished in the first coming of Christ through His death
and resurrection. A fountain of salvation has been opened up for Gentiles. However, Israel rejected her Messiah. The apostle Paul says in Romans 11:25 that a partial hardening has come upon Israel, until the fullness of the Gentiles has come in. Romans 11:26—"And in this way all Israel will be saved as it is written, 'The Deliverer will come from Zion, He will banish ungodliness from Jacob."
Israel in this time will come to repentance and faith.
For the unbelieving world, it will be a time of judgment and reckoning. God's wrath against the sinful rebellion of man is the theme of these chapters. We encounter Jesus Christ who is poised to take back control of the earth.
Nations rise up against nation, lawlessness and political chaos. When the third seal is broken, a rider on a black horse has a pair of scales in his hand. The cost of a quart of wheat is a denarius. Due to rising inflation and collapsing financial markets, the cost of food will skyrocket. When the fourth seal is broken, a rider on a pale horse is named Death, and all of hell follows with him. A quarter of the earth's population dies by the sword, famine, pestilence, and various plagues.
David Jeremiah—"Satan and the Antichrist would like nothing better than to have a worldwide plague under way at the beginning of the Tribulation to further their argument for a one-world government led by a seemingly benevolent, peace-loving dictator."
The last half of the tribulation will be a time of great distress on earth like never before.
Matthew 24:22—"And if those days had not been cut short, no human being would be saved. But for the sake of the elect, those days will be cut short."
The tribulation will be a time unlike any in history, a time of distress for Israel. But notice Daniel is also told in verse 1, "But at that time your people shall be delivered, everyone whose name shall be found written in the book."
"Delivered"—words means to be rescued; to slip away
Deuteronomy 4:30-31—"When you are in tribulation, and all these things come upon you in the latter days, you will return to the Lord your God and obey His voice. For the Lord your God is a merciful God. He will not leave you or destroy you or forget the covenant with your fathers that He swore to them."
The distress of that time will be unlike any other God will not forget the promises He made, but will preserve a remnant. Revelation 7 refers to 12,000 from every tribe of Israel who are 'sealed' by God. The seal identifies them as God's own possession, thereby shielding and protecting them from wrath.
"Your people shall be delivered, everyone whose name shall be found written in the book."
The book being referenced there is the book of life. It is only those whose names are written in the book of life who escape the future judgment. That is true for the remnant of Israel then, and it is true now for every man, woman, boy, and girl.
Revelation 20:11 Then I saw a great white throne and Him who sat upon it, from whose presence earth and heaven fled away, and no place was found for them.12 And I saw the dead, the great and the small, standing before the throne, and books were opened; and another book was opened, which is the book of life; and the dead were judged from the things which were written in the books, according to their deeds.13 And the sea gave up the dead which were in it, and death and Hades gave up the dead which were in them; and they were judged, every one of them according to their deeds.14 Then death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire. This is the second death, the lake of fire.15 And if anyone's name was not found written in the book of life, he was thrown into the lake of fire.
2—A time of SEPARATION (12:2-3)
"And many of those who sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, some to everlasting life, and some to shame and everlasting contempt. And those who are wise shall shine like the brightness of the sky above; and those who turn many to righteousness, like the stars forever and ever."
24 "Truly, truly, I say to you, he who hears My word, and believes Him who sent Me, has eternal life, and does not come into judgment, but has passed out of death into life.
25 Truly, truly, I say to you, an hour is coming and now is, when the dead will hear the voice of the Son of God, and those who hear will live.26 For just as the Father has life in Himself, even so He gave to the Son also to have life in Himself;27 and He gave Him authority to execute judgment, because He is the Son of Man.28 Do not marvel at this; for an hour is coming, in which all who are in the tombs will hear His voice,29 and will come forth; those who did the good deeds to a resurrection of life, those who committed the evil deeds to a resurrection of judgment.
Everyone is headed somewhere. The only question that remains is this one, "Where exactly are you headed?"
At the time of the end, many who sleep in the dust of the earth—that is, those who have died and have experienced physical death—shall awake. Some will awake to everlasting life, while some will awake to shame and everlasting contempt.
John 6:40—"For this is the will of My Father, that everyone who looks on the Son and believes in Him should have eternal life, and I will raise him up on the last day."
Daniel is told in verse 3: "And those who are wise shall shine like the brightness of the sky above; and those who turn many to righteousness, like the stars forever and ever."
3 - A Time of Annunciation
The 'wise' are those who trust Christ. The Bible says that the fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom. The wise are those who respond in obedient faith to His Word. The wise are also witnesses in the way that they turn many to righteousness. They will shine for all eternity!
4—A time of PRESERVATION (12:4-10)
"But you, Daniel, shut up the words and seal the book until the time of the end. Many shall run to and fro, and knowledge shall increase.' Then I, Daniel, looked, and behold, two others stood, one on this bank of the stream and one on that bank of the stream. And someone said to the man clothed in linen, who was above the waters of the stream, 'How long shall it be till the end of these wonders?' And I heard the man clothed in linen, who was above the waters of the stream; he raised his right hand and his left toward heaven and swore by him who lives forever that it would be for a time, times, and half a time, and that when the shattering of the power of the holy people comes to an end all these things would be finished."
Daniel is told in verse 4 to shut up the words and 'seal' the book until the time of the end. The idea is preservation, not concealment.
The NIV speaks of it as a scroll rolled up and sealed.
Rolled and sealed scrolls were common records of transaction in this age, particularly for land and title deeds. Revelation speaks of a scroll with seven seals. As each seal is unsealed, more of the catastrophes that are come upon the earth are revealed.
"I heard the man clothed in linen, who was above the waters of the stream; he raised his right hand and his left toward heaven and swore by him who lives forever that it would be for a time, times, and half a time, and that when the shattering of the power of the holy people comes to an end all these things would be finished." Alistair Begg says this speaks of three things:
• The gravity of what has been revealed; the Man in linen lifts both hands in an oath to the One who lives forever
These things are going to occur. Nothing can stop them occurring. It is God's plan that is being revealed.
• The mystery of what has been revealed; the reference is to a time, times, and half a time (Dan. 7:25) it is a mystery how all these things will work out. But as they do work out you will look back in the books of Daniel and Revelation and see just how precisely God has worked it all out.
• The certainty of what has been revealed;
The sealing of the scroll is a royal seal. No one can stop it happening. Not even Satan.
An not that it is when the shattering of the power of God's people comes to an end that all these things will be finished "Shattering"—to break; to dash to pieces
Daniel 7:25—"He shall speak words against the Most High, and shall wear out the saints of the Most High, and shall think to change the times and the law; and they shall be given into His hand for a time, times, and half a time."
David Jeremiah—"When we think of persecution, we often think of the Roman Empire and the brutal assaults on Christians by emperors like Nero who were determined to eradicate the church. But the most intense period of persecution in the history of the church is occurring around the world today.
2 Timothy 3:12—"All who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution."
John 16:33—"These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world."
Jesus told His disciples the same thing: Matthew 24:21-22—"Then there will be great tribulation such as has not been from the beginning of the world until now, no, and never will be. And if those days had not been cut short, no human being would be saved. But for the sake of the elect those days will be cut short."
8: "I heard, but I did not understand. Then I said, 'O my lord, what shall be the outcome of these things?' He said, 'Go your way, Daniel, for the words are shut up and sealed until the time of the end."
James Boice says this is the most encouraging word for him. If Daniel didn't fully understand the things shown him, don't you get upset.
"Go your way, Daniel, for the words are sealed."
This means, it is a done deal. It is on permanent record. As you see it happen, it will then make sense. But until it happens:
"Many shall purify themselves and make themselves white and be refined, but the wicked shall act wickedly. And none of the wicked shall understand, but those who are wise shall understand."
5—A time of CONSOLATION (12:11-13)
"And from the time that the regular burnt offering is taken away and the abomination that makes desolate is set up, there shall be 1,290 days. Blessed is he who waits and arrives at the 1,335 days. But go your way till the end. And you shall rest and shall stand in your allotted place at the end of the days."
These numbers are hard to understand. We know that the final period of the tribulation is 1,260 days which is three and half years. But why the extra 30 days, followed by 45 more? Let me tell you with all the authority I can muster, this is answered in three firm words: "I don't know!"
Look at the practical admonition given to Daniel in the very last verse of the book
—"But go your way till the end. And you shall rest and shall stand in your allotted place at the end of the days."
"Go your way till the end." Daniel, fulfill your present responsibilities in life.
Daniel is told to be faithful to carry out his responsibilities until the end of his days.
You and I are responsible to do what ew are responsible to do.
While you and I see the world around us galloping toward the day of judgment, we must not lose sight of our present responsibilities as the people of God. Rather than being stargazers, the Lord tells us to be soul-winners. Paul admonished the Thessalonians in this way:
2 Thessalonians 3:13 do not grow weary in doing good."
How are you doing in your present responsibilities? This truth of a coming kingdom ought to motivate you to work, to serve, and to live your life with a sense of accountability. When the Lord Jesus returns for His church at the time of the end, the time for gospel work will be over. Now is the time for us to engage in mission endeavors. Now is the time for us to invest in our children. Now is the time for us to take seriously the responsibility of discipleship.
2 Peter 3:10-12—"But the day of the Lord will come as a thief, and the heavens will pass away with a roar, and the heavenly bodies will be burned up and dissolved, and the earth and the works that are done on it will be exposed. Since all these things are thus to be dissolved, what sort of people ought you to be in lives of holiness and godliness, waiting for and hastening the coming day of God."
1 John 3:2-3—"Beloved, we are God's children now, and what we will be has not yet appeared; but we know that when He appears we shall be like Him, because we shall see Him as He is. And everyone who thus hopes in Him purifies himself as He is pure."
Verse 13 says, "Go your way till the end, Daniel. You will rest and stand at your allotted place."
Rest, then Resurrection!
Do you know what you have to look forward to as a believer? Rest and resurrection! And Reward. 'allotted place.' assigned portion, an inheritance. It is the same Hebrew word used in the book of Joshua to describe the division of the promised land among each of the twelve tribes of Israel. Daniel is told to go his way till the end of his life on earth. After that, he will rest and be raised to stand in his own allotted place of eternal reward. One of these days, when it is all said and done, faithful believers from every generation will be resurrected and will rule with Jesus Christ in the coming kingdom. O, how I long for His return! In His first coming, He came to atone for sins and to die on the cross as the substitute for sinners. Phillip Bliss said it well:
"Man of Sorrows," what a name For the Son of God who came
Ruined sinners to reclaim! Hallelujah! what a Savior!
When He comes, our glorious King, To His kingdom us to bring,
Then anew this song we'll sing Hallelujah! what a Savior!
My friend, there is coming a time in the future, at the time of the end, when pain and sorrow will be no more. Death and dying will be no more. Sin will be banished, the world will be made new, and the Lord Himself will wipe away every tear from our eyes. And one of these days, as I am taking a stroll in my new body through the streets of New Jerusalem, I imagine I will bump into Daniel. And I'll tell him, "I read your book! I even took a year to preach my way through it." Then we'll sit down at the table with all of God's saints from every age and sing to Him who is seated on the throne, "Worthy is the Lamb!"
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