We have reached the last week in our series on Daniel, I hope that it has unlocked some of the mystery of what Daniel was shown by God and provides a good foundation for understanding prophecies about the return of Jesus in the New Testament at the end of the age when the Antichrist is revealed.
Jeremiah had prophesied that the Jews would go into captivity for 70 years. This was fulfilled in 605 BC by Nebuchadnezzar. Then in 539 BC the empire of Babylon came to an end when the Medes and Persians invaded the city of Babylon and killed Nebuchadnezzar’s son Belshazzar. Daniel remembered the prophecy of 70 years captivity and realised that the 70 years were coming to an end. He began to seek the Lord, confessing his sin and the sins of his people and was given a vision. An Angel explained that there would be 70 weeks until a sixfold purpose of God was completed and this would begin at the command to rebuild Jerusalem in 445 BC about 90 years after Daniel’s lifetime.
Last time we learned how the 70 year captivity came to an end in 535 BC when King Cyrus issued an edict for the Jews to go home to Jerusalem and rebuild the temple exactly as prophesied by Jeremiah.
Daniel 12 gives us with even more information about what the World will be looking like and it is very much like our World today. That is why we urge people to get ready.
Daniel chapter 10-12 are part of the same final vision that was given to Daniel. In these chapters we see the truth of the prophetic word given by the fact that much of it has already been fulfilled and we are given a great insight into an unseen world that directs governments on the Earth. Ephesians 6 teaches us to put on the full armour of God because the Devil rules with military might to war against the Saints of God and you cannot stand against him in your t-shirt and jandals. Paul urges us,
Ephesians 6:10-13
Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might. Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places. Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.
Daniel 12:1
“At that time Michael shall stand up, The great prince who stands watch over the sons of your people; And there shall be a time of trouble, Such as never was since there was a nation, Even to that time. And at that time your people shall be delivered, Every one who is found written in the book.
V1 tells us there will be a tremendous persecution against the Jewish people and at that time, In fact it says and Jesus confirmed in
Matthew 24:21
For then there will be great tribulation, such as has not been since the beginning of the world until this time, no, nor ever shall be.
The Great Tribulation will be worse than anything the nation of Israel has ever faced before and will ever see again. When we know the history of Israel and the trouble it has endured from the Assyrians, the Persians, the Greeks, the Romans, the Muslims, the Nazis, and even the Church, we can barely imagine what it is going to be like. Yet we see the whole world today turning against Israel with the chants of « From the River to the Sea » in the universities and great cities of the world and even by the leader of one of our main political parties all heralding a rapid rise in anti semitism across the globe that could soon see bloodshed like never before on a scale far worse than October 7th last year.
We are told that at that time the archangel Michael who watches over the nation of Israel shall stand up to withhold the forces of evil rising against him. This tells us that the origin of this evil hatred of the Jews is not human, it is demonic
But the Lord remains on the side of Israel and V1 also tells the Jews will be delivered, everyone written in the Book of Life. Choose your side wisely. Do not join your voice with those chanting « From the River to the Sea » but choose today to stand with Israel and the Lord. Michael had to fight the King of Persia for 3 weeks to get through to Daniel while he fasted and prayed, this will be a time when the Kingdom of Darkness is unleashed on Israel and only the intervention of Michael and the praying and fasting true Church of God can withstand it.
Yes the Jews will be delivered, those whose names are written in the book and even as a whole, Israel will turn to the Lord when they realise with great sadness that Jesus is their Messiah.
Zechariah 12:10-14
“And I will pour on the house of David and on the inhabitants of Jerusalem the Spirit of grace and supplication; then they will look on Me whom they pierced.
Here is a proof that Jesus is the Lord God Almighty as the Lord says it’s me whom they pierced.
Yes, they will mourn for Him as one mourns for his only son, and grieve for Him as one grieves for a firstborn. In that day there shall be a great mourning in Jerusalem, like the mourning at Hadad Rimmon in the plain of Megiddo. And the land shall mourn, every family by itself: the family of the house of David by itself, and their wives by themselves; the family of the house of Nathan by itself, and their wives by themselves; the family of the house of Levi by itself, and their wives by themselves; the family of Shimei by itself, and their wives by themselves; all the families that remain, every family by itself, and their wives by themselves.
It will be such a sad day in Israel the day they realise that Jesus, the one who they rejected and called to be crucified, is their Messiah. But the Lord will give them grace in that day because he is good, merciful and kind.
Did you know that the House of David (Judah), the House of Shimei (Benjamin) and the House of Levi are in Israel today but the other tribes are lost or indistinguishable. These particular tribes is another sign that points to the end of the age and the Great Tribulation being at the door.
Now look at
Daniel 12:2-3
And many of those who sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, Some to everlasting life, Some to shame and everlasting contempt. Those who are wise shall shine Like the brightness of the firmament, And those who turn many to righteousness Like the stars forever and ever.
There will be a resurrection of the Blessed and a resurrection of the Damned. Every one of us will live forever. This life is not all there is. God has put eternity in your heart.
Your last breath on this Earth is not the end of your existence.
There is a Heaven but there is a Hell. These are sobering words. Hell will not be a party.
The Lord will judge us as sheep or as goats. The Lord judges your sin at two places. At the Cross or in Hell.
It will do is no good to fight against this truth. It is wise for us to simply accept this truth because no one can stand against the Lord. Even Daniel collapsed and passed out in his holy presence. We are wise if we go against the tide, proclaim the Gospel and turn people to righteousness. Hillary Barry was on Seven Sharp this week supporting Drag Queen’s teaching kids and attacking Christian fundamentalists with bitter words disguised as sweet. But I’m sad to say that you are a fool if you think you can stand with people who are against the Bible and ultimately against the Lord. Better be wise and turn people to righteousness instead. Get involved with Churches and organisations that are seeking to bring people into righteousness, that is to Christ.
Daniel 12:4-7
“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.”
The book of Daniel had been sealed until the end times but we are seeing in our lifetimes it unfolding before our eyes. This has not always been the case. Before 1948, when the Jews were scattered all over the world it was difficult to anticipate the scale of the increase in travel and knowledge. Then when commercial flights started in the 50’s, the number of people travelling the globe skyrocketed. With the invention of the global Internet in the 90’s knowledge began to increase at a rapid rate. Now with artificial intelligence, the progression of knowledge has outstripped the ability of the human mind to keep up. We are living in the time when many run to and fro and knowledge have exploded, who can deny it? Now we are understanding the book of Daniel in a way we never could before.
Then I, Daniel, looked; and there stood two others, one on this riverbank and the other on that riverbank. And one said to the man clothed in linen, who was above the waters of the river, “How long shall the fulfillment of these wonders be?” Then 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 to heaven, and swore by Him who lives forever, that it shall be for a time, times, and half a time; and when the power of the holy people has been completely shattered, all these things shall be finished.
The book was sealed but Daniel had another question, he was not entirely satisfied. Imagine getting to the final chapter of a riveting book only for you to find you weren’t allowed to read it. It’s like watching one of those TV series when just as it gets to the exciting climax, the « to be continued » comes up on the screen. Lord you can’t do this to me, I need to at least have a clue what’s going to happen !
So the Angel told Daniel how long this final time would last. A time, times and half a time refers to 3.5 years.
We have heard something very similar about the 70th week in
Daniel 9:27
Then he shall confirm a covenant with many for one week; But in the middle of the week He shall bring an end to sacrifice and offering. And on the wing of abominations shall be one who makes desolate, Even until the consummation, which is determined, Is poured out on the desolate.”
Even though the power of the holy people will be completely shattered, and it will appear as though it is all over for Israel,
God will not allow his covenant people to be wiped out. At that moment everything will reach its final fulfilment and God and his people will have the Great Victory.
Daniel 12:8-10
Although I heard, I did not understand. Then I said, “My lord, what shall be the end of these things?” And he said, “Go your way, Daniel, for the words are closed up and sealed till the time of the end.
Daniel didn’t understand. He was not allowed to know. He was told to go his way. The meaning of these prophecies would become more evident at the very end. It was sealed and has been for nearly 2500 years. But now we are seeing it come true. We are privileged to have an understanding of what the meaning of these prophecies is even in the last few years. Christians understand more now than ever before.
Many shall be purified, made white, and refined, but the wicked shall do wickedly; and none of the wicked shall understand, but the wise shall understand.
As we see the prophecies coming true and the coming Great Tribulation will have a purifying effect on the Righteous. But the Wicked will be piling up great wrath upon themselves on Judgement Day. Isn’t that what we are witnessing today, that wickedness as defined by the Word of God is getting worse and worse. People of the World do not believe and do not understand or feel any fear of God’s Judgement. They think they can continue living the way they do forever. The wheat is being separated from the chaff. Now is not the time to be playing games with God when the World is moving towards the precipice. Our attitude should be that we need to focus more on living for God.
Daniel 12:11-13
“And from the time that the daily sacrifice is taken away, and the abomination of desolation is set up, there shall be one thousand two hundred and ninety days. Blessed is he who waits, and comes to the one thousand three hundred and thirty-five days. “But you, go your way till the end; for you shall rest, and will arise to your inheritance at the end of the days.”
Everything is set up waiting for the man of perdition, the Antichrist to be revealed. How far are we away from someone stepping out from the shadows and emerging on the world scene to sign a covenant with many for one week? The World is desperate for peace and none of the world leaders we can see look like they can deliver. Very soon we may see this person step forward we must keep a watch out!
Revelation tells us that the abomination of desolation will be an image of the Antichrist that he will set up in the temple in Jerusalem. The temple has not been rebuilt yet but it will be. In fact the covenant the Antichrist makes could well be exactly that, to rebuild the temple. Peace between the Muslims and Jews would be welcomed all over the World. A temple for all to worship in. Jesus said “destroy this temple and in three days I will raise it up.” This Antichrist, claiming to be Jesus could make a very similar statement.
Jesus said
Matthew 24:15-16
“Therefore when you see the ‘abomination of desolation,’ spoken of by Daniel the prophet, standing in the holy place” (whoever reads, let him understand), “then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains.
So as we wrap up our series let’s summarise some of the key points one last time.
We have learned the meaning of Nebuchadnezzar’s dream of the statue. The ancient civilisations of Babylon, Medo-Persia, Greece and Rome impress man with their value and strength just like the gold, silver, bronze and iron of the statue. However we learned that Heaven has an opposite perspective on these same 4 empires. Instead the 4 empires are inhumane Beasts. They get more grotesque and fearsome as history progresses.
We discovered that the ancient Babylonian harlot religion described in Revelation 17 has never gone away. Incredibly, the ancient throne of Satan mentioned in the letter to the Pergamon church was moved to a museum in Berlin in 1930 and was an inspiration for Adolf Hitler and even though Hitler was defeated,
a one world religion of tolerance is emerging in our lifetimes and this should be another warning to us to get ready for the soon return of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.
Last week we learned how the Greek Empire which expanded rapidly under Alexander the Great was later divided among his four generals - Ptolemy, Cassander, Seleucus and Antigones - exactly as Daniel 11 had prophesied.
The worst of the kings of these 4 dynasties came from the North, Antiochus Epiphanes who was a type of Antichrist. Antiochus Epiphanes captured Jerusalem in 167 BC, stopped the sacrifices and desecrated the Temple by offering the sacrifice of a pig on an altar to Zeus.
However, this cannot be the same abomination of desolation that Jesus referred to later in Matthew 24 when answering the disciples questions about the signs for the end of the age because Jesus was speaking of a future abomination of desolation at the end of the age and not from the past.
In conclusion
- A future King of the North will make a treaty with the people of Israel.
- The terms of this treaty will be for a “week”—which we take to be a period of seven years.
- Midway through this time, the ruler will gather his troops and put an end to the sacrifices and offerings in the temple.
- At that time the ruler will desecrate the temple, setting up some type of sacrilegious object, the image of himself.
- The desecration of the temple will continue until the judgment of God is finally meted out on the Antichrist and his followers, 1,290 days (3½ years and 1 month) later.
Then the Son of Man, Jesus will come on the clouds, defeat the Antichrist and his False Prophet with the breath of his mouth and throw them in the Lake of Fire.
Then Jesus will judge the nations. It would be a good guess that the Judgement of the Nations takes 45 days between the 1290th day and 1335th day. Blessed is he who waits, and comes to the one thousand three hundred and thirty-five days. They shall enter the millennial Kingdom and reign with Christ. Daniel is told that he will rise and take full part in those end of days. Remember, the dead shall rise first, then those who are alive shall be caught up at Christ’s coming to be forever with the Lord.
Amen!
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