6th Meeting Continued Daniel Chapter 12

Daniel chapter 12 opens with Michael, the great prince. Since chapter 9 of Daniel we have met Gabriel, a pre-incarnate Christ, and Michael. Michael is the Angel who protects the Jews and the land of Israel. This chapter deals with the time of the anti-christ, and like chapter 11 is quite detailed on what is to happen. However, this is the anti-christ of the Fourth Kingdom. The one who will arise from within the ten kingdoms of the old Roman Empire, not one of the Roman Empire kings, so this is still future. Daniel was told to close up his book and seal it not to be opened until the time of the end. In the Olivet Discourse when Jesus says "When you see the Abomination that causes desolation standing in the Holy Place, let the reader of Daniel know and understand". This means that the time of the end Daniel was told to wait for is now upon us. The man clothed in Linen, who was above the waters of the river is Jesus. He is the one who said the length of time was to be time, times and a half a time (Daniel 12:7). There are two different numbers of days mentioned in Daniel 12:11-12. The first is 1,290 days, when divided by 360(the number to calculate prophetic years) you will get 3.5 years which is equal to time, times and half a time. There are many interpretations to what all this means. We have to remember that God is in control and it will go the way God wants it to go. Bible prophecy can only explain what has already happened after the fact. This is why the Jewish leaders could tell King Herod where the Christ was to be born. It was only after the wise men were in Jerusalem looking for the child, that they could show the birthplace. In teaching my Sunday school class on the Triumphant Entry of Christ, I read Chapter 53 of Isaiah, and asked them who this was. They all said Jesus. Then I pointed to the board and told them that this is Palm Sunday, less than a week before the day that proved that Isaiah was talking about Jesus. Then I asked them again who was Isaiah talking about. This showed that less than a week before the prophecy took place, no one could know who Isaiah was talking about. Bible prophecy can only advise the signs, but does not give there order. We can guess, but we can not say for a fact how it will all unfold. God is in control and He will make everything happen in His time. This is why there are so many schools of thought on how the End will come about. The problem with the schools of thought is, they don't allow God to take bits and pieces of each idea. I think that this will be closer to how the End will come. Only by looking at all the prophecies together, instead of only the ones that back our agenda, are we going to get a clearer idea of how it may come about. God is God, Jesus said in Matthew 7:17 "I have not come to do away with the law or the prophets, but to fulfill. Every cross of the "T" and every period will be fulfilled". This is why I have trouble with putting things in some kind of order. It seems when I try that, everytime I find one verse that seems to order things, I find others that seem to counterdict that order. God can not counterdict Himself and the Bible is All God's Word!! This is what is important to remember. If you are saved, by believing that Jesus died for your sins and rose again, and by His ressurection you also will rise. This is what is important, how this comes about does not make a difference, because you will be with Jesus in Heaven. This should always be our focus.