The Time of the End
September 11, 2019
Commentary
This passage reveals Four promises about Israel’s future (vv. 1-3).
1. There will be a time of trouble (v. 1). This is the same time of trouble described already in detail in Daniel 11:36-45. It will be a time of great trouble and tribulation, especially for the Jewish people and for the land of Israel. Jesus quoted this passage in Matthew 24:21 when he said, “For there will be great tribulation, such as has not been from the beginning of the world until now, no, and never will be.” Zechariah 13:8 tells us that during this time of trouble 2/3rds of the people will be cut off and perish and 1/3rd will be left alive. This first prediction is pretty grim, but…
2. There will be deliverance (v. 1). God will send Michael, the general of his heavenly armies, who is personally in charge of standing up for God’s chosen people. God’s promise to his people is that everyone whose name is found written in the book will be delivered.
3. There will be a resurrection (v. 2). This is a resurrection of two parts: some will live forever with God in heaven, but most will be forever separated from God. We must remember that we are all eternal beings. Everyone you meet is destined to spend eternity in either heaven or hell. It’s important to be prepared for your eternity.
4. There will be a part to play (v. 3). The wise will shine like the sun in the sky, and those who “turn many to righteousness” will shine like the stars. God wants us to be personally involved in his plan for the ages.
In the verse 4, Daniel was told to carefully preserve this book. Shut up and seal does NOT mean hide it. It means make sure this gets carefully written down and copied so future generations can read it. In the end times many will be looking for truth, and knowledge about God’s purposes and plans will increase.
Application
Do you often consider eternal life? What are you doing today to prevent those you know from spending eternity separated from God? What are you doing to “turn many to righteousness”?
Daniel 12:1– 4 (NET)
1 “At that time Michael, the great prince who watches over your people, will arise. There will be a time of distress unlike any other from the nation’s beginning up to that time. But at that time your own people, all those whose names are found written in the book, will escape.
2 Many of those who sleep in the dusty ground will awake— some to everlasting life, and others to shame and everlasting abhorrence.
3 But the wise will shine like the brightness of the heavenly expanse. And those bringing many to righteousness will be like the stars forever and ever.
4 “But you, Daniel, close up these words and seal the book until the time of the end. Many will dash about, and knowledge will increase.”
Illustration: Jack Wyrtzen’s Testimony
Jack Wyrtzen, the founder and director of Word of Life Fellowship often quoted verse two of this chapter as an encouragement to witness. It was my privilege to be closely associated with him, in ministry, for over 35 years as my wife and I served with him on the Word of Life staff. As he would lead a testimony meeting he would often say, “Let the redeemed of the Lord say so, whom He has redeemed from the hand of the enemy” (v. 2). Then he would tell how one of his buddies (George Shilling) in the Mounted Calvary would faithfully witness to him and give him tracts and Gospels of John. He would often rip them up or store them in his locker but finally one day the Lord got though to him and he was marvelously saved. Starting on the street corners of New York City He became one of the world’s greatest evangelists. (Lou Nicholes, Word of Life Fellowship).