Title: Great Tribulation (Daniel 12:1)
Contents
Lesson 119 The Great Tribulation (Daniel 12:1)
12:1
At that time Michael, the great army that guards your nation, will rise, and there will be troubles like never before, since the nation was founded until then, and at that time all your people, all who are written in the book, will be saved.
“At that time,” he said. In one verse, the word “at that time” is recorded three times. "At that time" is an eschatological word and refers to the end times. It is said that the antichrist will appear at the end of the seventy weeks. The Antichrist exalts himself and forces people to worship him as God. Those who oppose it will face tremendous persecution from the Antichrist. At the same time, there will be a great war.
“A great army, Michael, will rise up to escort your people.” He said, "Great Michael." King Gun (君) was written on the great dae. In Jude 9, Michael is called the archangel. What is the role of Overlord Michael? "Escorting your people." The archangel Michael protects and protects Daniel's people, the people of Israel.
Please see 10:13.
"But the Persian army stopped me for twenty days, so I stayed there with the kings of the Persian kingdom, and Michael one of the commanders came and helped me."
Overlord Michael helped the angel Gabriel defeat all the evil spirits. So the angel Gabriel was able to bring God's answer to Daniel.
Let's look at the words of 10:20-21.
"He said, "Why do you know that I have come to you? Now I am going back to fight the Persians, but after I have gone out, the Greeks will come, but I will first show you what is written in the truth. Whoever helps me against them is your army. Only Michael."
It is said that the great army Michael and the angel Gabriel will work together to drive out all evil forces.
Please see the text again. “There will be tribulation.” The Antichrist will persecute those who do not worship him. Eventually, those who oppose him will join forces to fight him. As a result, there will be great tribulation on this earth called the War of Armageddon.
Let's see what kind of tribulation it is. “This will be a tribulation like never before since the founding of the world.” Historically, Israel has gone through numerous tribulations since the establishment of the nation. How much persecution did they suffer from Pharaoh, king of Egypt, while they were slaves in Egypt? They were taken captive to Babylon and suffered unspeakable suffering for seventy years. During the Persian period, Prime Minister Haman tried to kill Mordecai and all the Jews. And how many Jews did Antiochus Epiphanes, king of the north, kill? Also, in A.D. 70, the Roman general Titus and his soldiers came in and destroyed the temple in Jerusalem without leaving a single stone on it. In this century, 6 million Jews were killed by the German tyrant Hitler. “It will be a tribulation like never before since the nation was founded.” In this way, the Jews have experienced numerous tribulations throughout history, but in the last week of the seventy weeks, the tribulation they will face is greater than all these things.
Jesus also told his disciples what would happen in the last days on the Mount of Olives. Let's look at the words of Matthew 24:21-22.
“For there will be great tribulation at that time, such as has not been from the creation of the world until now, and will never be again.
What events did you say will occur after the great tribulation?
Let's look at the words of Matthew 24:29-30.
“In that day, immediately after the tribulation, the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light, and the stars will fall from the sky, and the powers of the heavens will be shaken. Then the sign of the Son of Man will be seen in heaven, and then all the peoples of the earth will mourn, and they You will see him coming on the clouds with power and great glory."
Our Jesus also said that on the day the Lord comes again on the clouds, there will be great tribulation right before him. Zechariah is already talking about how great the tribulation is.
Please see the words of Zechariah 13:8-9.
“Two-thirds will be cut off from all this land, says the LORD, and a third will remain there; and I will cast the third into the fire, refined as silver, refined as gold, and tested as gold; and they will call on my name, and I will hear. This is my people, and they will say, The LORD is my God."
There will be so much tribulation that two-thirds of the people on earth will die.
But there is good news. Please see the second half of 12:1. “At that time, all of your people who are written in the book will be saved.” The book here refers to the book of life. All who are washed with the blood of the Lamb of God, Jesus Christ, whose names are written in the book of life, will be saved without any residue.
There is something we can learn from this text today. Just because we are a chosen people does not mean that we are free from tribulation. Jesus said in John 16:33. “In the world you will have tribulation.” In this world, we have to live knowing that we will face tribulation. Daniel was also thrown into the lions' den. But didn't God send the angel Michael to shut the lion's mouth? Daniel's three friends were also thrown into the fiery furnace. But God sent the angel Michael to keep the flame from consuming them. Also, Jacob's son Joseph was sold into Egypt as a slave. Later, he even went to jail. But God protected Joseph in the midst of tribulation. And he worked so that the trials that Joseph suffered were combined to make his life richer. We too can face tribulation. But God does not leave us alone. When you fall down because you can't bear a heavy burden on your own, God will send an angel. He will save us from our troubles.
Of course, sometimes God leads us on the path of martyrdom. Please see the words at 11:35.
"And some of the wise among them will perish and be tried and purified and made white to the end time, for there is an appointed time."
It is said that those who kept the faith suffered persecution and were destroyed. It was through martyrdom that we glorified God. Seeing it, other people will live as an opportunity to strengthen their faith. God does not leave us alone; He protects us from tribulation. He works so that the afflictions we face may work together to enrich our lives. Of course, in some cases, it leads us to the path of martyrdom. But at that time, He also grants us great faith to bear it. Those who have been martyred will go to heaven and receive a great reward corresponding to it.
Please see the words of Revelation 7:9-17.
“After these things I saw a great multitude, from every nation, tribe, people, and tongue, that no one could number, clothed in white, with palm branches in their hands, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, crying with a loud voice, “Salvation is upon the throne. To our God who sits, and to the Lamb.” And all the angels stood around the throne and the elders and the four living creatures, and fell on their faces before the throne and worshiped God, saying, Amen, praise and glory and wisdom and thanksgiving and honor and power and strength. To this our God forever and ever. Amen. One of the elders answered and said to me, "Who are these in white, and where do they come from?" I said, "You know, my lord." He said to me, "These are those who come out of the great tribulation. They washed their garments and made them white in the blood of the Lamb. Therefore they were before the throne of God and served God day and night in his temple; and he who sat on the throne will tent over them, and they will neither hunger nor thirst again. No heat shall scorch them, for the Lamb in the midst of the throne will be their shepherd and lead them to springs of water of life, and God will wipe away every tear from their eyes.”
The Lord will crown you with the crown of triumph, and you will sit on your throne and reign in the Lord for ever and ever. But what about those who are not written in the book of life, those who forsake the faith and are rebellious?
Please see Revelation 20:15.
“Whoever was not written in the book of life was thrown into the lake of fire.”
The Antichrist, who persecuted, harassed, and abused the elect, and all his followers, will be thrown into the lake of fire.
Through faith in Jesus Christ, our names are already written in the book of life. God will be with us today. He will not leave us alone. I hope you will win today with faith while thinking about this precious fact. Sometimes we may have tribulation. But the victory is already ours. The archangel Michael, sent by God, is faithfully escorting us. I wish you a blessed day today, overcoming all circumstances with strong steps and winning.