A Time of Trouble
“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……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.” Revelation 12:1,4
The time frame of Revelation, Chapter 12, is before the antichrist’s destruction, but after he has subdued and put most of the nations of the world under his dominion. He is situated in Jerusalem, making himself as a god to be worshipped and ruling ruthlessly, particularly over the people of Israel. To give the prophet Daniel some comfort concerning the outcome of his people, the Jews, the angel who has been prophesying to Daniel all this time reminds him that God is keenly aware of the distresses of the people of Israel and will dispatch Michael, the archangel, to stand for them against the attacks of Satan made by way of the antichrist. Even with Michael’s help, the Jews will still face hardships and troubles unlike any known to man previously. Jesus said to His disciples when answering their question about the signs of His coming again, “..then shall be great tribulation, such as was not since the beginning of the world to this time, no, nor ever shall be” (Matthew 24:21). It will be worse than the Holocaust, 9-11, or any of the great wars. However, deliverance will come.
When Jesus returns at the end of the seven years of tribulation, He will restore Israel to its former glory and place of divine favor. Israel will then recognize Jesus as the Messiah. Eternal life will be granted just as it is now by repentance and faith in Christ. Many will be saved, but there will be those who do not repent and trust Christ just as there are Gentiles who have rejected the only means of salvation. All who have rejected Christ, Jew or Gentile, will spend eternity apart from God suffering shame and everlasting punishment. The wise ones, though, those who came to saving faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, will outshine the sun (Revelation 12:3), forgetting the past tribulations and looking forward to an eternity of praise and glory with Christ the King forever and ever. Those who lead others to faith in Christ will glitter and twinkle like the stars in the heavens with their light never ceasing to shine (verse 3).
After Daniel was given this information, he was told to “shut up the words, and seal the book” until the time of the end. The prophecy of the end times was given to Daniel during the first year of the reign over Babylon by Darius, the Persian, around 539 B.C. It has been 2,560 years since this prophecy was given. The events that have taken place from 539 B.C. such as the rise and fall of the Greek empire, the reign of Antiochus IV Epiphanes, a madman who is known as the antichrist of the Old Testament and a foreshadowing of the antichrist who has yet to appear, the Roman Empire, and the birth, death, and resurrection of Jesus, the Messiah, have all come to pass just as the angel foretold. Because of the accuracy of Daniel’s writings, we have no reason to doubt about future prophecy concerning the end times. We are assured that everything will happen just as prophesied. We don’t know all the details nor do we know when these things will take place, but that is not our focus. Our focus should be on being prepared and leading others to be prepared because Jesus said in Matthew 24:44: “Therefore be ye also ready: for in such an hour as ye think not the Son of man cometh.”
At the time of the revealing of this prophecy by the angel to Daniel, he was the only one permitted to have this information. He was instructed by the angel to seal this prophecy, even to the time of the end. However, Daniel’s writings were included in the Bible when the words of scripture were being compiled into the Old Testament making his prophecy available to whomever had opportunity to read it. So what does it mean to “shut up the words and seal the book”? It means that the prophecy was not to be fully understood by people until the end times. The revelation of it is meant for those who will be living at the time of the end and will experience the events that will transpire at that time. As the end times draw nearer, people seek the meaning of Bible prophecy using technological advances and much speculation. Everyone is curious about it, particularly as we see events unfolding in the world which seem to fit in with many of the signs that Jesus foretold in Matthew 24. Those who are living during the time of the antichrist and who are diligent to understand what is happening will be made aware of and comprehend the prophecy.
I wrote these notes seven years ago, and everything that has happened since that time has only intensified the soon prospect of the coming time of trouble. We have experienced events that none of us have ever lived through. The rejection of Christ and the gospel grows greater each day by more and more people. I have seen articles on line that shock me at the boldness of those who would shake their fists in God’s face as if they dared Him to respond to their evil. Rest assured, He will in due time. How do I know that? I know that because the Bible tells me so. The words of scripture have proven true in my life and in the lives of all those who name the name of Christ. Just because some folks say they don’t believe the Bible doesn’t negate its truth. Every word of scripture will come to pass just as God intended. It is the duty of every believer to stand on God’s word and don’t let the scoffers cause you to fear or be dismayed for “…greater is He that is in you (and me) than he that is in the world”(I John 4:4).