Daniel 12:1-13

The book of Daniel ends with the conclusion of the vision that had started in chapter ten.  Chapter eleven gave specifics of what was going to happen with the nation of Israel during the time of Greek domination and then jumped ahead a couple of thousand years to begin the description of the end of times where Israel would be invaded and dominated by the Anti-Christ.  This chapter continues on that theme giving more specific details that seem to align with that which would be revealed about 650 years later to the Apostle John in the book of Revelation.

A TIME OF RETRIBUTION AND RESURRECTION: Daniel’s vision concludes with a time of great retribution being poured out on the children of Israel and the entire world.  This time of judgment will be more severe and far reaching than any of the judgments Israel has seen to this point in her history.  This is like the final pains of child birth right before the amazing joy of receiving a new son or daughter.  There will be great pain and suffering and then it will all culminate with the return of Christ to the earth and the resurrection of those who have placed their faith in Him.  Some will arise to everlasting joy while others will arise to everlasting judgment based on whether or not they have trusted on the work of Christ for the forgiveness of sins.


A TIME OF REVELATION AND RESTORATION: As Daniel requests to have greater understanding of this vision, he is told to seal up the book.  This seems to indicate that these events are far away in Daniel’s time, but they are much closer in our current time.  This vision could be unsealed any day now and all these events could begin to take place.  The number of days is given for these judgments which are the last three and a half years that correspond to the Great Tribulation referred to in the book of Revelation.  After this time of great testing there will be a time of salvation and great restoration like the children of Israel have never seen before in the past.  Daniel is made aware of the fact that troublesome days lie ahead for his people but he is also promised days of hope that are beyond any blessings they have experienced and demonstrate God’s ability to fulfill His promises.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Isaiah 54:1-17

Hope is a wonderful blessing from God, without which we would be vulnerable to all kinds of destructive tendencies in our lives.  Today’s society is marked by depression, anger, fear, anxiety and self-righteousness, in large part, because of the sense of hopelessness that prevails in our culture.  Isaiah writes to a people who are about to be taken into captivity because of their sin.  God knows that they will feel rejected, threatened and hopeless so He reveals His future plans for the nation in order to give them hope in the midst of the coming trial.  Hope is the expectation of good based upon the promises of God.  Many times when our lives are marked by the sins mentioned above it is because we have forgotten or failed to focus upon the promises of God’s Word. THE PROMISE OF GOD: From the very first day that God revealed His plan for the nation of Israel, He promised numerous descendants.  God chose Abraham, not because he was more righteous than any of the other people of his
Read more

1 Timothy 1:3-7

As I urged you when I was going to Macedonia, remain at Ephesus so that you may charge certain persons not   to teach any different doctrine,   nor   to devote themselves to myths and endless   genealogies, which promote   speculations rather than the stewardship from God that is by faith.    The aim of our charge is love   that issues from a pure heart and   a good conscience and   a sincere faith.    Certain persons, by   swerving from these, have wandered away into   vain discussion, desiring to be teachers of the law,   without understanding either what they are saying or the things about which they make confident assertions.   There will always be false teachers that come into the church attempting to distract people from the truth and destroy people’s faith.  When this happens, it is the job of spiritually mature leaders to confront these false teachers and correct their teachings.  However, it is important that this correction be accomplished with the right motives and methods. 
Read more

1 Timothy 2:11-15

Let a woman learn quietly   with all submissiveness.    I do not permit a woman to teach or to exercise authority over a man; rather, she is to remain quiet.    For Adam was formed first,   then Eve;   and Adam was not deceived, but   the woman was deceived and became a transgressor.    Yet she will be saved through   childbearing—if they continue in   faith and love and holiness, with self-control. There is certainly controversy and confusion about this passage in many churches today.  The idea of a distinction between men and women and their roles in the family and church certainly goes against the flow of many cultures around the world.  Some would argue that the literal and plain teaching of this passage is no longer applicable to today’s culture.  However, it is always dangerous to discard biblical teaching or try to interpret Scripture based on the cultures in which we live.  Certainly, the Spirit who inspired this text was aware of the many changes that would occur in future cul
Read more