The Prophecies of Daniel - Is the End Near? - Session 8 Brilliant End for God's People The Time of the End

The Church of Divine Guidance (CDG) Sunday morning adult bible study group is involved in a study of chapters 7-12 of the book of Daniel. In light of all the things that are going on in the Middle East today many Christians and others are wondering if these things are fulfillment of prophecy and a sign that the end is near. It is not my intent to prove or disprove what people are saying about whether these things are the fulfillment of prophecy or not. My goal is to equip you through study so you can make your own determinations.

Introduction

Last week in Session 7  we talked about some of the details that Gabriel gave Daniel about what was going to happen to his people (the Jews) after the return to their land from exile.  We talked about the kings of the North (Syria) and South (Egypt) and the conflicts of these kingdoms and their affect on  the nation of Israel, culminating with the greatest atrociousness committed by Antiochus-Epiphanes who banned the daily sacrifices and desecrated the Temple.    

In the last part of our session Gabriel told Daniel how this "vile contemptible person" (who has been identified as Antiochus) meets his end.  However when talking about this person Gabriel seemed to be talking about another person also because he talked about things that Antiochus did not do.  The conflicts between the kings of the North and South have been proven by history as have some of the things done by and under the rule of Antiochus however there are other things that Gabriel says he will do that he did not do before his death.  So we concluded that Gabriel was talking about a person that would come at the end of the world, Antichrist.   That person would do evil things like Antiochus but he would do even more evil things.

Now let's get into our study for today.

Daniel 12 The Time of the End

1. The king's defeat and the deliverance of the godly comes through the intervention of Michael, "the great prince"  How do you envision this intervention will take place?

Daniel 12:1 (HCSB) At that time Michael the great prince who stands watch over your people will rise up. There will be a time of distress such as never has occurred since nations came into being until that time. But at that time all your people who are found written in the book will escape.

2. How can this victory and the messenger's description of the resurrection encourage us during times of tribulation or persecution?

If we are believers in Jesus Christ and are saved we have the promise of everlasting life even if we die during times of persecution, tribulation, accidents, sickness, or natural death, in a ressurection of our bodies no matter what condition they were in when we died.

Daniel 12:1-3 (HCSB)1 At that time Michael the great prince who stands watch over your people will rise up. There will be a time of distress such as never has occurred since nations came into being until that time. But at that time all your people who are found written in the book will escape.2 Many of those who sleep in the dust of the earth will awake, some to eternal life, and some to shame and eternal contempt.3 Those who are wise will shine like the bright expanse ⌊of the heavens⌋, and those who lead many to righteousness, like the stars forever and ever.

Saint Michael the Archangel from
 http://christthekingmilitia.com/

This is prophecy Concerning the Great Tribulation of Israel. It is things done or caused to happen by the Antichrist to Israel.   It is clear in Gabriel's description that this is Israel's tribulation, but  it is a time of divine indignation over all the earth as well; so others will suffer. It is the belief of many in the church that the church will be "raptured"( "seize", "snatch" or "take away"),  will not go through this period.  There is some disagreement in Christianity about this but that is not the object of this study.  For some idea of what the Rapture could be like (although fiction because nobody really know what it will be like if in fact there is a rapture) you might want to read "Left Behind:  A Novel of the Earth's Last Days" by Tim LaHaye, or pre-order the DVD of the movie, Let Behind which is  based on the book.

The period ends in a bodily resurrection to "everlasting life".   Verse 2 is the first scriptural usage of this term (everlasting life) —a common one in the New Testament. It is not, however, the first reference to a bodily resurrection. There are references to bodly resurrection in:

Job 19:26 (NKJV) And after my skin is destroyed, this I know, That in my flesh I shall see God,

Psalm 16:10 (NKJV) For You will not leave my soul in Sheol, Nor will You allow Your Holy One to see corruption. (the second part of the verse is a prophetic reference to the Messiah)

Hosea 13:14 (NKJV) "I will ransom them from the power of the grave; I will redeem them from death. O Death, I will be your plagues! O Grave, I will be your destruction! Pity is hidden from My eyes.

The resurrection of the ungodly is also spoken of here but not to everlasting life but "to shame and everlasting contempt"

3. Why do you think Daniel is given the instruction to seal the scroll "until the time of the end"?

Daniel 12:4 (HCSB)4 “But you, Daniel, keep these words secret and seal the book until the time of the end. Many will roam about, and knowledge will increase.”
If we look at verse 9 we will see that it has to do with the protection and authentication of the message not an attempt to keep a secret from Daniel or those who will read his prophecy.

Daniel 12:9 (HCSB) He said, “Go on your way, Daniel, for the words are secret and sealed until the time of the end.

The events themselves would reveal the mean of the prophecies or predictions and will confirm their truth.  Gabriel would say no more however we will see that there will be some hints at time or events but they are only hints and the true meaning will not be revealed until the events actually happen.  Remember even Jesus did not know the time of his second advent or Second Coming.

 Mark 13:32 (NKJV) "But of that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father.

4. Daniel's natural question after seeing this vision is "How long will it be before these astonishing things are fulfilled?". How would you paraphrase the answer he received in?

Daniel 12:5-7 (NKJV) ⁵  Then I, Daniel, looked; and there stood two others, one on this riverbank and the other on that riverbank. ⁶  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?" ⁷  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.

First of all the answer doesn't come from another angel but from someone who is different from them. The man clothed in linen appears to be the pre incarnate Son of God himself and the questions are referred to him by the angels.

The consummation is to take place when the three and one-half times (31/2 years; 1, 260 days, 42 months) so frequently mentioned in Daniel's previous prophecies run out. Refer to Session 5 for a discussion on the "seventy sevens" (490 years) and the apparent gap between the 69th and 70th

weeks.

Here is what the Wycliffe Bible Commentary says about that apparent gap:

Other important reasons for supposing a gap here are: (1) Jesus placed the culminating week, with its "abomination" in the times of final Antichrist, just before His second advent (Matthew 24:15 (NKJV) "Therefore when you see the 'abomination of desolation,' spoken of by Daniel the prophet, standing in the holy place" (whoever reads, let him understand),). (2) Daniel 7:25 (NKJV) (He shall speak pompous words against the Most High, Shall persecute the saints of the Most High, And shall intend to change times and law. Then the saints shall be given into his hand For a time and times and half a time.), which describes what appear to be the very same events as those of Daniel 9:27 (NKJV) (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."), the seventieth week, is certainly a prophecy of the times of final Antichrist. (3) The period of three and one-half times or years (the second half-week of v. 27) is often mentioned elsewhere in Scripture and always in an eschatological setting (Rev 11:2, 3; 12:6, 14). (4) The six things to be accomplished in the seventy weeks, which we talked about earlier, equire the second advent of Christ, and the restoration and conversion of Israel.

Daniel 9:27 (HCSB) He will make a firm covenant with many for one week, but in the middle of the week he will put a stop to sacrifice and offering. And the abomination of desolation will be on a wing of the temple until the decreed destruction is poured out on the desolator.”

So these things prophesied in verses 1-3 will happen after this 31/2 period.

5. How did the angel respond to Daniel’s concern?


Daniel 12:10-13 (HCSB)10 Many will be purified, cleansed, and refined, but the wicked will act wickedly; none of the wicked will understand, but the wise will understand.11 From the time the daily sacrifice is abolished and the abomination of desolation is set up, there will be 1,290 days.12 The one who waits for and reaches 1,335 days is blessed.13 But as for you, go on your way to the end; you will rest, then rise to your destiny at the end of the days.”

The final section of the Book of Daniel seems to give a general chronology of this time of the end.

For more on Daniel 12:10 See 1 Corinthians 2:14 (HCSB) But the unbeliever does not welcome what comes from God’s Spirit, because it is foolishness to him; he is not able to understand it since it is evaluated spiritually.

Of particular note is the time period of 1,290 days specified in Daniel 12:11, just 30 days beyond half of the last seven-year period of foretold history. Why the extra 30 days? The reason is uncertain, though some have suggested that they refer to the time of judgment for the nations mentioned by Jesus in Matthew 25:31-46, which is the judgement of all the nations, as following the Great

Tribulation period.

Then in 12:12 there's an additional 45 days.  What does that mean?

Daniel 12:11 This carries prophecy from the middle of the seventieth week (1260 days) through the first thirty days of the Millennium to follow, perhaps to the end of some "mopping up" period. Millennium or thousand year reign of Christ is described in Revelation 20:2-7.

Revelation 20:2-7 (HCSB) ²  He seized the dragon, that ancient serpent who is the Devil and Satan, and bound him for 1,000 years. ³  He threw him into the abyss, closed it, and put a seal on it so that he would no longer deceive the nations until the 1,000 years were completed. After that, he must be released for a short time. ⁴  Then I saw thrones, and people seated on them who were given authority to judge. ⌊I⌋ also ⌊saw⌋ the people who had been beheaded because of their testimony about Jesus and because of God’s word, who had not worshiped the beast or his image, and who had not accepted the mark on their foreheads or their hands. They came to life and reigned with the Messiah for 1,000 years. ⁵  The rest of the dead did not come to life until the 1,000 years were completed. This is the first resurrection. ⁶  Blessed and holy is the one who shares in the first resurrection! The second death has no power over them, but they will be priests of God and of the Messiah, and they will reign with Him for 1,000 years. ⁷  When the 1,000 years are completed, Satan will be released from his prison

This can be very confusing so let's not get caught up in the number of days or try to figure out if they are actual days or figurative days.  Let's not try to figure out when they have started, if at all, or when they will start.  What is important to us is that when they start we will know them because the very end starts with a covenant between the Antichrist and Israel and once that happens the Antichrist will break it, and when he breaks it the exact time from the time of the covenant and it's breaking will be the time to the end.  If the 31/2 years is actual or not is not important it's the time from the covenant to it's breaking.  

What is more important than trying  to figure out exactly when the end will come is to realize that it will come.  We know that because most of what is in the prophecies of Daniel have already happened and we can document it by history.  Many of the things in Revelation have also happened and can be documented.  If those things which were prophesied so long ago have happened then we can have confidence in those things which have not been fulfilled being fulfilled in the future, not matter how far in the future.

Next week Faith !!!!! 

According to Christian Bible Reference Site the word faith appears in the Old Testament 2 times in the King James Version, and 4 times in the New International Version, and 4 times in the Holman Christian Standard Bible.  There are many instances of faith in the Old Testament, Abraham, David, Job, and the prophets are examples of people with faith and who's actions prove that they had faith

but in Hebrew which the primary language of the original Old Testament the word is only appears a very few times.  In stark contract the word translated faith appears in the New Testament 245 times in the King James Version, 254 times in the New International Version, and 244 times in the Holman Christian Standard Bible.  The New Testament is is the story of the New Covenant under which Christians live so faith was very important to the writers of the New Testament and consequently to us.

We are going to define faith, differentiate it from the kind of faith the both believers and non-believers have, identify the object of the faith of the believer, learn the difference between faith as the world, and many who expose to be Christians, and saving faith which is the faith that results in salvation.  I preached a sermon last year on faith and I have written about it in my blogs and website so we have plenty of material to study biblical faith and how to apply it in our lives.  So come with all your questions about faith next week.  We'll spend as much time as we need to because faith is one of the pillars of Christianity.  

For more on Daniel see below.

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