The Great Tribulation

God is faithful to bless and build HIS Church, not through the craftiness and cunning of man’s words, but through the faithful preaching of and obedience to the truth of God’s Word.

we’ve been 23 weeks in the book of Daniel. We’ve covered some incredible topics, and truths - some deep, some wide, some confusing, and some controversial, AND YET - God has GROWN us in this time! PRAISE HIS NAME! And thank you for being a church that loves the Word of God, and the God who inspired this Word!

Amen!

If we continue to follow the context of Daniel 11 where we left off last week, we come to chapter 12 with the Grecian empire and the horrific rule of Antiochus Epiphanes fresh on our minds.

Daniel 11:45 tells us of his death...”Yet he shall come to his end, with none to help him”

Even with that death at the end of Chapter 11, the final vision does not come to a close until the 5th verse of Chapter 12. So that’s one of those unfortunate chapter breaks really...

So we follow the flow of the major prophecies, beginning with the empire of Babylon, and we then move to Medo-Persia, then Greece…which would be consistent with Daniel 2, & Daniel 7 and 8, and when we consider that flow as we look at verse 1 of chapter 12 that says, “at that time shall arise Michael the great prince who has charge over your people. And there shall be a time of trouble, such as never has been since there was a nation till that time.”, It would NOT be natural to think that this is a future event to us, but rather something that takes place around the time of that next empire in line after ancient Greece. What empire is that?

Or at least, a continuation of the trouble the Jews will face under Antiochus.

Antiochus, whom Daniel 11 featured, would bring desolation and set up an abomination in the temple of the Jews, and kill thousands upon thousands of Jewish people, simply because he hated them and was thirsty for their blood.

v36 of chapter 11 says of Antiochus that “He shall prosper till the indignation is accomplished; for what is decreed shall be done.”

So, once again, this is all working according to God’s timeline.

But then, Michael, considered the guardian angel of Israel, will rise up, and there shall be a time of trouble - potentially distinct from the time of Antiochus, such has never been seen since there was a nation till that time.

What is this time of trouble? That’s the question

The most popular view - which by the way is not always the correct view - is that this is referring to a time of tribulation for the Jewish people that is still in our future. Particularly that this is none other than the latter half of a 7 year period just before the physical return of Jesus, immediately after a secret rapture of the church.

This is often spoken synonymously with other prophecies like “The Time of Jacob’s trouble, in Jeremiah 30, and the tribulation spoken of in Matthew 24 by Jesus himself.

Now, I do struggle with this. And I am extremely frustrated by commentators as I’ve been studying Daniel, because not many agree on very much.

But my conviction is set on interpreting Scripture by being contextual, and always asking...

what was the original authors intent…not what do I want this to mean for me.

Since much of interpreting Daniel 12’s prophecy is done in light of Matthew 24, I thought, let’s take a look there again.

In Matthew 24:2 Jesus predicts the destruction of the Jewish temple.

“You see all these, do you not? Truly, I say to you, there will not be left here one stone upon another that will not be thrown down.”

In v3 the disciples ask him when these things will take place, and what are the signs that will accompany the end of the age. (Now when YOU and I hear “end of the age”, we think - end of the world, but there have been many ages that have come and gone since the world began), so don’t pigeon hole yourself if it’s not necessary.

Also, who is Jesus speaking to in Matthew 24?

v3 says - His disciples came to him privately.

So, when v9 says “then they will deliver you up to tribulation and put you to death”

Who’s he speaking to? The disciples

v15 - “So when you see the abomination of desolation spoken of by the prophet Daniel, standing in the holy place (let the reader understand), 16 then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains.

Who is it that is expected to see this abomination and then have the opportunity to flee?

The disciples, and those who would hear or read the warnings as they passed them along.

And then there are many other places in Matthew 24 that speak of local parameters, which I’ve mentioned before.

The point being, if Matthew 24’s tribulation is speaking of Christ’s coming to judge national Israel, the city of Jerusalem, and the temple, then we need not think that Daniel 12 is a day in our future, but a day in our past - the very same day that Christ speaks of in Matthew 24.

In case you’re curious, i do believe Matthew 24:36 to the end of the chapter does very likely speak of Christ’s return at the end of the world, because even that day he said not even he, or the angels, knew the day or the hour. But for the rest, Jesus was precisely predicting a day for that generation.

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.

Matthew 24:21 and Daniel 12:1 sound almost identical

Daniel said it would be tribulation like never before. But Jesus added the words “and never will be.” Would Jesus have referenced a time so horrible that nothing past, present, or future would compare to it, if it were a final tribulation on earth. A final tribulation, by nature, has nothing after it to compare to…correct?

Moving on.

Daniel 12:1 mentions deliverance for God’s people. Let’s notice who this is for...

for those whose names are found written in the book.

There are a few things that hearing the words “book of life” should cause us to think of as Christians…based on this text, and the 8 times we see it in the New Testament.

God’s precise and intentional involvement in His plan to save sinners.

The predestining grace of God over His Bride, the Church.

Here’s what a study of the book of life is not for...

It’s NOT a witnessing tool...

So if you tell someone to believe in the Lord so that they can be written there, you’re abusing and misusing the Scripture. Don’t do it.

The angel is telling Daniel that deliverance will come for the people of God out of the midst of this great time of trouble. And because God is sovereign, and has written names in HIS book, we can be confident that many will come.

Look at Daniel 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. 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.

Now, this is the deliverance mentioned earlier. I do not believe this is speaking of the rapture - nor do I believe this is looking at the final resurrection or the eternal state.

A resurrection does take place at the very end of human history, but that is not a spiritual resurrection.

1 Timothy 4:1 I charge you in the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who is to judge the living and the dead, and by his appearing and his kingdom.

But notice the missional imperative that is given in Daniel 12 in conjunction with the time of trouble.

Deliverance will come for those of Israel who are the true church, those whose names are in the book.

During this time of deliverance many will come awake unto everlasting life, and others to everlasting contempt.

This is no more needing to refer to an actual bodily resurrection than Ezekiel's vision of dry bones is.

Or Ephesians 2:5 even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ

This time in history was a time in which hearts were darkened. The Jews had rejected and crucified the promised Messiah. As the Gospel of the Kingdom began to be preached, the people heard and many believed.

then look at v3. 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.

Daniel is being told that not only will the Jews be delivered from that trouble, but there will be a spiritual awakening - and a people who take up the mantle of gospel proclamation and lead others to righteousness.

We see this in the coming of Christ, the birth of the church, the commissioning of the Apostles, the Gospel brought to the gentiles in the book of Acts- Oh the many many many souls who came awake unto everlasting life during that time.

New City, do you not long to see that kind of awakening again? May it be so, and may we be wise, and shine like the stars leading many more to believe on Christ for the forgiveness of sins.

Having come to the end of the final vision, Daniel is now told to seal it up until the time of the end.

This is not to say the end of the world, but the time of the end when these prophecies will culminate.

Then it says “Many shall run to and fro, and knowledge shall increase.”

Most people look at this and think - air travel, and computers, and AI…, but is that really what Daniel is talking about?

This phrase indicates a desire for knowledge, running to and fro, looking to connect the pieces, but unable to because the time is not right, but then knowledge shall increase.

These predictions about the Messiah were for many years from Daniel’s day, and until the events began to take place, it would not make sense.

Which makes Revelation’s words quite interesting in comparison

Revelation 22:10 And he said to me, “Do not seal up the words of the prophecy of this book, for the time is near.

Seems that where Daniel’s words were meant to be in his future, and would only be understood closer to the first coming of Christ, - John’s visions were in his near future, soon to take place, and the people receiving his words would have understanding as to what they meant - so do not seal it up.

Interesting right?

Then in v5-7 we see another figure speaking, possibly to the preincarnate Son, “How long shall it be till the end of these wonders?”

When in doubt, ask the man in linen...

He gave his answer in 7 - 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.

And then v8 is where I, personally, have settled the entire matter in my heart. My Go-to prophecy decoder.

“I heard, but I did not understand” Amen??

What does seem clear is that God is the one who brings an end to the trouble of His people. Whether this is a 3.5 year period, or simply a time that is cut short for the sake of the elect, as it says in Matthew 24, God is the one writing the entire story.

Then Daniel asks “What shall be the outcome of these things?”

And to this he is given the answer, “Go your way, Daniel, for the words are shut up and sealed until the time of the end.”

In other words, when the time is right, knowledge will increase and this will all make sense. For now, don’t worry about the times and seasons, just serve the Lord with all your heart.

And there’s many that need to hear this today! Go your way, dear Christian, and do not worry. The Lord is in control.

But then a partial answer is perhaps given to him. Whether this is to be understood as being during the persecution under Antiochus, or under Nero in the 1st century, or in general what it will be like to live for Christ in this world, this is true. v10.

Some will be pure, and some will be wicked.

Some will understand, but the wicked will act wickedly and be foolish.

This 1290 and 1335 days seems to look back once more to the time of Antiochus, but again, there’s a lot of debate there. The point being, once again, God controls the times and the seasons of it all, so endure to the end trusting in Him.

And this is where we must turn to the Gospel in order to understand what this is saying, because who is actually pure in this world? Who among each of us can say that apart from the grace of Christ, we ourselves are not also wicked, or act wickedly.

“None of the wicked shall understand, but those who are wise shall understand.”

And what is it that needs to be understood in all of this…in all of Daniel’s words from Chapter 1 to 12? It’s that Jesus is our light in a dark world of tyrannical leaders. Jesus is the greater Daniel who kept himself from all the temptations of the world, not eating of the delicacies, but purposing in His heart to do all the Father’s will. Jesus is the crusher of Satan’s head, that stone sent from heaven to destroy the wisdom of this world with the foolishness of a simple gospel preached. Jesus is the worthy one, who imputes his righteousness to those who trust in Him, and even purifies us through the most troubling times because blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness sake. It is knowing Jesus that is the most wise thing we could do in this world, and it is ONLY those who truly know and truly live for Christ who have full assurance of their inheritance in heaven.

The opening chapter of Daniel detailed the deportation of Daniel and the Jews from their homeland, into exile. And that’s us…a people who live in a temporary but necessary place between birth, and our reward in glory.

Look at v13. “But go your way till the end. And you shall rest and shall stand in your allotted place at the end of the days.”

Just like Daniel, we live in exile, as strangers in this land, but those who rest in Christ have an allotted place in glory, seated in heavenly places with Christ Jesus, and with nothing to fear. And what’s our Mission? Be wise, and be a soul winner, shine like the brightness of the sky above, and seek to turn many hearts to Jesus, not excluding your own.