1 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.
("At that time" is talking about the previous verse in chapter 11. "...yet he shall come to his end, and none shall help him." That was the last part of the last verse.
This confirms that this person they are referring to here has not yet arrived on the world political scene. It's definitely not Antiochus Epiphanes because Michael hasn't stood up yet. -- Not to my knowledge, anyway.
When Michael "stands up" there shall be a "time of trouble" that has never happened before. Again, this is the "Great Tribulation" Jesus spoke of.
This is an encouraging verse because it says "thy people shall be delivered". If your name is in the book and you happen to be alive at that time, you'll be delivered, one way or the other. These are exciting times, people! And nothing to be afraid of if you've done your homework!)
2 And many of them that sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, some to everlasting life, and some to shame and everlasting contempt.
3 And they that be wise shall shine as the brightness of the firmament; and they that turn many to righteousness as the stars for ever and ever.
(How do we "turn many to righteousness"? Well, considering that humans have no righteousness of their own, we turn them to Jesus! We share the Good News of salvation.)
4 But thou, O Daniel, shut up the words and seal the book, even to the time of the end: many shall run to and fro, and knowledge shall be increased.
(This book has been "sealed" until now. Now is when things will begin to open up so the people that need to know will be able to read and understand it.
"many shall run to and fro" - just look up and imagine how much sky traffic is going by all the time these days, not to mention the cars running to and fro.
"knowledge shall be increased" - Until 1900, knowledge was doubling every 100 years but now, they say our knowledge is doubling every13 months!)
5 Then I Daniel looked, and behold, there stood other two, the one on this side of the bank of the river, and the other on that side of the bank of the river.
6 And one said to the man clothed in linen, which was upon the waters of the river, How long shall it be to the end of these wonders?
7 And I heard the man clothed in linen, which was upon the waters of the river, when he held up his right hand and his left hand unto heaven, and sware by him that liveth for ever that it shall be fore a time, times, and an half: and when he shall have accomplished to scatter the power of the holy people, all these things shall be finished.
(A "time" is a year, according to other Bible prophecy. This "time of trouble" will last 3 1/2 years.)
8 And I heard, but I understood not: then said I, O my Lord, what shall be the end of these things?
9 And he said, Go thy way, Daniel: for the words are closed up and sealed till the time of the end.
10 Many shall be purified, and made white, and tried; but the wicked shall do wickedly: and none of the wicked shall understand; but the wise shall understand.
11 And from the time that the daily sacrifice shall be taken away, and the abomination that maketh desolate set up, there shall be a thousand two hundred and ninety days.
(As we read in chapter 11:31, the Antichrist will take away the daily sacrifice and they shall place the abomination that maketh desolate. The time remaining after that will be 1,290 days. That's a little more than 3 1/2 years.)
12 Blessed is he that waiteth, and cometh to the thousand three hundred and five and thirty days.
(If you're still alive at that time, you will be blessed!)
13 But go thou thy way till the end be: for thou shalt rest, and stand in thy lot at the end of the days.
Thus concludes the book of Daniel. Most of the prophecies contained in Daniel have been fulfilled. Like a cup of coffee that's full almost all the way to the brim, there is only a little tiny drop of prophecy yet to be fulfilled! And we may be here to see it!
No comments:
Post a Comment