SCRIPTURE: DANIEL 12
THE END TIMES (vs. 1-13)
EVENTS OF THE END TIMES:
- It will be a worst time of distress and Michael, the great prince will arise to protect the people. But at that time, everyone whose name is found written in the book will be delivered. (v. 1)
- Multitudes who sleep in the dust of the earth will awake: some to everlasting life, others to shame and everlasting contempt. (v. 2)
- Those who are wise will shine like heaven’s brightness, and those who lead many to righteousness are like the stars forever and ever. (v.3)
Daniel saw two people, one stood on the bank of the river and the other one on the opposite bank. One of them said to the man clothe in linen who was above the waters of the river: “How long will it be before theses astonishing things are fulfilled?” (v. 6) The lifted his right and left hands towards heaven replied: “It will be for a time, times and half a time. Then the power of the holy people has been finally broken, all these things will be completed.” (v. 7) Many 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. From the time that the daily sacrifice is abolished and the abomination that cause desolation is set up, there will be 1,290 days. Blessed is the one who waits for and reaches the end of the 1,335 days.” (vs. 10-12)
THOUGHTS:
God assures His servant that the living believers will be delivered and the ones who die will be resurrected to shine in glory. We may experience affliction or tribulation but God still is in control. Believers have the responsibility to win others to Christ, to be holy, to wait on the Lord and rest in the comfort of God’s sovereignty. Remember that faithfulness to God has a rich reward not in this life but in the life to come.
Daniel did not fully understand what his vision might mean. He was to look forward to the time when he would rise to receive and share eternal life with God. God does not reward everything to us in this life. We must be contented with the partial picture and wait until he will tell us all we need to know.