Greetings to you all greatly beloved of God and welcome to another episode of our daily study of the Scriptures. We bless the name of the Lord God for the gift of life and for His benefits on us each new day. Welcome to November and happy Sunday to you all. Praise be to God!
In our today’s episode 582, we shall be examining the final chapter of the book of Daniel Chapter 12 titled:
What You Need To Know About The End Of The Age
At the climax of the world crisis mentioned in Daniel 11:44-45, that was when Arch Angel Michael would intervene as explained in Daniel Chapter 12:1
Daniel 12:1 KJV
And at that time shall Michael stand up, the great prince which standeth for the children of thy people: and there shall be a time of trouble, such as never was since there was a nation even to that same time: and at that time thy people shall be delivered, every one that shall be found written in the book.
Thereafter, the Bible says that many of those who have already died will live again (resurrection of the dead): some will enjoy eternal life, and some will suffer eternal disgrace.
Those who would enjoy eternal life are those who believed the Gospel of the Kingdom of God as brokered to us by Christ Jesus and those who reject God in this manner, will suffer eternal disgrace, says the Bible.
Then Daniel was instructed to shut up the words and seal the book to the time of the end. Read Daniel 12:4 and also compare that to Isaiah 29:10, Isaiah 29:11 and Revelation 22:10. After sealing it, many people would run to and fro trying to unravel the content but they would end up wasting their time. The content and, meaning can only be laid bare at the end of the age.
The truth is, there are some things you need to keep to yourself till the time they are needed to be let out.
Then, a big question was asked in verse 6:
“How long will it be until these amazing events come to an end?”
There was an answer immediately in verse 7.
The angel raised both hands toward the sky and made a solemn promise in the name of the Eternal God. I heard him say, “It will be three and a half years. When the persecution of God’s people ends, all these things will have happened.”
You will see this prophecy already given in Daniel 7:25. It was the 1260-year period of the little horn’s supremacy, which ended in AD 1798.
Daniel did not understand this prophecy and therefore, he asked again in verse 8: How will it all end?
And the angel answered and said in verses 9-10:
He answered, “You must go now, Daniel, because these words are to be kept secret and hidden until the end comes. Many people will be purified. Those who are wicked will not understand but will go on being wicked; only those who are wise will understand.
That was a powerful statement. The wicked will not understand because they would have been clouded in their mind to know the truth. Only those whose minds have been renewed as advised by Paul in Romans 12:2-3 will be able to comprehend and the Bible says they would be purified.
Further time periods were mentioned in verses 11-12
According to Dr. Akpa (a Professor of New Testament), the 1,290 and 1,335 year prophecies (both which also ended in AD 1798) are two time prophecies that deal with events in Europe (powered by French Kings, especially Clovis) that paved the way for the Papacy to come to prominence between AD 463 and 508. This led to the uprooting of the 3 horns by AD 538. (Read Daniel chapter 7 again).
He further added that, by AD 1798, it was at the peak of the French Revolution that General Berthier of France captured Pope Pius VI and took him into exile to Valence, France, where he died in AD 1799, bringing to a temporary stop to the 1,260 year period of Papal domination.
Parting words for Daniel
In verse 13, And you, Daniel, be faithful to the end. Then you will die, but you will rise to receive your reward at the end of time.
Note that Daniel died in old age. Studying the Bible properly, we will find out that he served for about 70 years counting from the time he was taken to Babylon alongside the first 3000 captives and from there, the counting of 70 years of Israel’s captivity begins. Remember he was a young boy of around 20 or thereabout when he was presented to the King Nebuchadnezzar alongside his three friends. So, adding that to the 70 years in captivity, Daniel’s total age would be around 90 years or more. What a reasonable service to God and mankind.
What have we learnt so far from the book of Daniel?
We have learnt that:
There would be a world ruler, utterly opposed to God. Read chapter 11:28-45
There would be a world religion, based on the abomination of desolation.
There would be a world war, that would defeat this ruler.
There would be a time of great tribulation for Israel lasting three and one-half years. Daniel 12:7; 7:25
There would be deliverance for the people of God after the tribulation.
There would be resurrection and judgment.
The reward of the righteous.
That God can use you at any age and prepare you for His assignment on earth.
To be continued…stay tuned and stay blessed.
Let us Pray as we declare the following words of faith together:
I have complete confidence in the Gospel of the Kingdom of God. I declare I am saved and safe through Christ. My thoughts are renewed by the Holy Spirit daily to bring out the best of God in me serving as a source of blessings to my generation, in Jesus name.
Bible Readings For Today: Ezekiel Chapters 20, 21, 22 & 23 with Psalms 123 & 124
I call you blessed now and always.
Sunday November 01, 2020 (DDMI)