Daniel 12 reminds me of teaching Sunday school to 5th graders. I know they have the understanding of eleven year olds, and at the same time, I know God’s Wisdom can continue to guide them their entire life. The enormity of changes, opportunities, and temptations ahead are beyond their comprehension, but I still try to look ahead when I teach. In today’s chapter, Daniel is being instructed about the end times. Daniel had survived and thrived in Babylonian captivity and seen God’s hand of protection and judgment and yet he is told, “There will be a time of distress such as has not happened from the beginning of nations“. To those of us that have never experienced real hardships, the level of horror is unimaginable. He is assured that God’s promise will be fulfilled, “But at that time your people everyone whose name is found written in the book will be delivered“. This is a monumental concept. The area I was born had two major religions. Most of the families I knew were either Catholic, or Jewish. Most considered their religion to be akin to ethnicity. Many were Irish-Catholic, or Russian Jews. Most believed you could not change this heritage any more than you could change the country of your ancestors. Please understand that God does not have any grand-children. God gives each of us free-will to choose to believe, or to deny Him. Your parents’ faith is not inherited. Your decision determines if your name is written. I believe it is irrevocable at the moment of death. Is your name there?
At these end-times, the dead shall be resurrected, “Multitudes who sleep in the dust of the earth will awake: some to everlasting life, others to shame and everlasting contempt“. Much like Middle School days, we can influence our peers now. Are you one of “those who lead many to righteousness“? It appears that some of God’s wisdom is not revealed, because it will not make sense yet. “Daniel, roll up and seal the words of the scroll until the time of the end. Many will go here and there to increase knowledge“. Why will there be a lack of knowledge? I believe those saved in Christ will be removed prior to the tribulation. Daniel’s words will be hidden, waiting for those remaining.
Daniel recounts a conversation between the angels and the Lord Himself, “How long will it be before these astonishing things are fulfilled?” The answer is important, “It will be for a time, times and half a time“. I believe this expression means three and a half years. Something will happen halfway through the final seven year period of Satan’s rein on Earth. The Antichrist will enter the rebuilt Temple in Jerusalem and he will declare himself to be god, this is called “the abomination that causes desolation“. Revelation 11:15 says, the seventh trumpet will sound and all hell will break lose on earth. It is interesting that Daniel adds, “I did not understand“. But the Lord said, “The words are rolled up and sealed until the time of the end“. I believe they are left for those that come to faith during the last seven years. Jesus does not instruct His followers to stockpile for the tribulation, He says, “keep watch… be ready, because the Son of Man will come at an hour when you do not expect Him” (Matthew 24). The Lord tells Daniel to “Go your way“. That is, you honor God, these words will be found by those “purified, made spotless and refined” through the tribulation. Even as Christ returns, “the wicked will continue to be wicked“. Some disagree about when or if the church will be taken up before the tribulation, but the book ends with this promise for Daniel (and I believe for me too), “You will rest, and then at the end of the days you will rise to receive your allotted inheritance“.Friend, will you follow His wisdom now, or wait until the end times to get the knowledge left behind?