The Ultimate Deliverance
The Ultimate Deliverance
As we come to the end of the Book of Daniel, we see our ultimate destiny. Why did God make us? We were created so that we can be with God forever without any separation. Are you looking for any other deliverance? This is it. Will your name be found in the Book of Life – those who have been delivered? Daniel’s name was found and I pray the same for you and me.
Daniel 12: 1-13
1 "At that time Michael, the great prince who protects your people, will arise. There will be a time of distress such as has not happened from the beginning of nations until then. But at that time your people—everyone whose name is found written in the book—will be delivered. 2 Multitudes who sleep in the dust of the earth will awake: some to everlasting life, others to shame and everlasting contempt.
3 Those who are wise [a] will shine like the brightness of the heavens, and those who lead many to righteousness, like the stars forever and ever. 4 But you, Daniel, close up and seal the words of the scroll until the time of the end. Many will go here and there to increase knowledge." 5 Then I, Daniel, looked, and there before me stood two others, one on this bank of the river and one on the opposite bank. 6 One of them said to the man clothed in linen, who was above the waters of the river, "How long will it be before these astonishing things are fulfilled?"
7 The man clothed in linen, who was above the waters of the river, lifted his right hand and his left hand toward heaven, and I heard him swear by him who lives forever, saying, "It will be for a time, times and half a time. [b] When the power of the holy people has been finally broken, all these things will be completed."
8 I heard, but I did not understand. So I asked, "My lord, what will the outcome of all this be?" 9 He replied, "Go your way, Daniel, because the words are closed up and sealed until the time of the end. 10 Many will be purified, made spotless and refined, but the wicked will continue to be wicked. None of the wicked will understand, but those who are wise will understand.
11 "From the time that the daily sacrifice is abolished and the abomination that causes desolation is set up, there will be 1,290 days. 12 Blessed is the one who waits for and reaches the end of the 1,335 days. 13 "As for you, go your way till the end. You will rest, and then at the end of the days you will rise to receive your allotted inheritance."
Here are my observations in addition to the ones you may have:
1. This last chapter of Daniel is a continuation of the previous chapter especially Daniel 11: 36 – 45. If you read it carefully, the events described moves from what will happen in the near future referring to the rulers after Alexander the Great to one who will come at the end of time. In order words, the prophecy switches from the immediate conquest to a description of the activities of the antichrist. I will agree with some observers that Daniel 11:36- 12:13 refers to the end of the age and not just end of a dynasty such as that of Antiochus the last brutal ruler of Alexander’s divided kingdom.
2. Daniel 12:1-3 supports this position because the prophecy now goes into the tribulation period to the opening of the Book (the Book of Life as in Revelation). “But at that time your people—everyone whose name is found written in the book—will be delivered”. What are the people delivered from? Some say the tribulation of the end. But I believe it is the ultimate deliverance from life of separation from God. I submit to you that we are already in the tribulation which will continue to increase in intensity vs. 10. I know I am saying something that is contrary to the traditional interpretation. As we look around, we see every sign of the antichrist and it is becoming clearer every day as it manifests in the government, leaders, people and etc.
3. The antichrist in general is a spirit of the end times and John tells us it is already in the world and how we can spot it. “Dear children, this is the last hour; and as you have heard that the antichrist is coming, even now many antichrists have come. This is how we know it is the last hour. …21I do not write to you because you do not know the truth, but because you do know it and because no lie comes from the truth. 22Who is the liar? It is the man who denies that Jesus is the Christ. Such a man is the antichrist—he denies the Father and the Son. 23No one who denies the Son has the Father; whoever acknowledges the Son has the Father also.1 John 2:20-24.
4. Note also that those who are dead will be delivered too. Jesus showed us the example when he rose from the dead. Likewise all who “sleep” die in Christ will be resurrected. Whoever said that the gospel was only presented in the New Testament? Daniel sounds like the New Testament and it is because it points us all to Christ, our Great Deliverer.
5. We see an example of the assurance of salvation. Daniel was promised eternal life in vs. 13. What a joy to know that it is not just a dream but reality that one day we with Daniel we “will rise (if we are dead before the end) to receive our allotted inheritance”. Does this excite you? It does to me.
So what that we will rise again! What about now you may ask? John tells us what to do for now. 24"See that what you have heard from the beginning remains in you. If it does, you also will remain in the Son and in the Father. 25And this is what he promised us—even eternal life” 1 John 2:24-25. Do you get it? We are to keep on keeping on. Basically, we are to abide, attached to Christ at all times through the Holy Spirit.
We are to be led by the Holy Spirit and live lives that demonstrate the presence of God who is in us. Remember, our God is sovereign so let us show His sovereignty in our lives. It calls for all submission, humility, acceptance and abandonment to the will and purposes of God. Lord, have your way in my life and let your will be done. Is this your prayer? Let’s live it out on a daily basis by God’s grace. It means we stop blaming others and trust God for everything. Amen
Thank you for journeying with me in this study of the Book of Daniel. May the Lord bless you. Amen.
As we come to the end of the Book of Daniel, we see our ultimate destiny. Why did God make us? We were created so that we can be with God forever without any separation. Are you looking for any other deliverance? This is it. Will your name be found in the Book of Life – those who have been delivered? Daniel’s name was found and I pray the same for you and me.
Daniel 12: 1-13
1 "At that time Michael, the great prince who protects your people, will arise. There will be a time of distress such as has not happened from the beginning of nations until then. But at that time your people—everyone whose name is found written in the book—will be delivered. 2 Multitudes who sleep in the dust of the earth will awake: some to everlasting life, others to shame and everlasting contempt.
3 Those who are wise [a] will shine like the brightness of the heavens, and those who lead many to righteousness, like the stars forever and ever. 4 But you, Daniel, close up and seal the words of the scroll until the time of the end. Many will go here and there to increase knowledge." 5 Then I, Daniel, looked, and there before me stood two others, one on this bank of the river and one on the opposite bank. 6 One of them said to the man clothed in linen, who was above the waters of the river, "How long will it be before these astonishing things are fulfilled?"
7 The man clothed in linen, who was above the waters of the river, lifted his right hand and his left hand toward heaven, and I heard him swear by him who lives forever, saying, "It will be for a time, times and half a time. [b] When the power of the holy people has been finally broken, all these things will be completed."
8 I heard, but I did not understand. So I asked, "My lord, what will the outcome of all this be?" 9 He replied, "Go your way, Daniel, because the words are closed up and sealed until the time of the end. 10 Many will be purified, made spotless and refined, but the wicked will continue to be wicked. None of the wicked will understand, but those who are wise will understand.
11 "From the time that the daily sacrifice is abolished and the abomination that causes desolation is set up, there will be 1,290 days. 12 Blessed is the one who waits for and reaches the end of the 1,335 days. 13 "As for you, go your way till the end. You will rest, and then at the end of the days you will rise to receive your allotted inheritance."
Here are my observations in addition to the ones you may have:
1. This last chapter of Daniel is a continuation of the previous chapter especially Daniel 11: 36 – 45. If you read it carefully, the events described moves from what will happen in the near future referring to the rulers after Alexander the Great to one who will come at the end of time. In order words, the prophecy switches from the immediate conquest to a description of the activities of the antichrist. I will agree with some observers that Daniel 11:36- 12:13 refers to the end of the age and not just end of a dynasty such as that of Antiochus the last brutal ruler of Alexander’s divided kingdom.
2. Daniel 12:1-3 supports this position because the prophecy now goes into the tribulation period to the opening of the Book (the Book of Life as in Revelation). “But at that time your people—everyone whose name is found written in the book—will be delivered”. What are the people delivered from? Some say the tribulation of the end. But I believe it is the ultimate deliverance from life of separation from God. I submit to you that we are already in the tribulation which will continue to increase in intensity vs. 10. I know I am saying something that is contrary to the traditional interpretation. As we look around, we see every sign of the antichrist and it is becoming clearer every day as it manifests in the government, leaders, people and etc.
3. The antichrist in general is a spirit of the end times and John tells us it is already in the world and how we can spot it. “Dear children, this is the last hour; and as you have heard that the antichrist is coming, even now many antichrists have come. This is how we know it is the last hour. …21I do not write to you because you do not know the truth, but because you do know it and because no lie comes from the truth. 22Who is the liar? It is the man who denies that Jesus is the Christ. Such a man is the antichrist—he denies the Father and the Son. 23No one who denies the Son has the Father; whoever acknowledges the Son has the Father also.1 John 2:20-24.
4. Note also that those who are dead will be delivered too. Jesus showed us the example when he rose from the dead. Likewise all who “sleep” die in Christ will be resurrected. Whoever said that the gospel was only presented in the New Testament? Daniel sounds like the New Testament and it is because it points us all to Christ, our Great Deliverer.
5. We see an example of the assurance of salvation. Daniel was promised eternal life in vs. 13. What a joy to know that it is not just a dream but reality that one day we with Daniel we “will rise (if we are dead before the end) to receive our allotted inheritance”. Does this excite you? It does to me.
So what that we will rise again! What about now you may ask? John tells us what to do for now. 24"See that what you have heard from the beginning remains in you. If it does, you also will remain in the Son and in the Father. 25And this is what he promised us—even eternal life” 1 John 2:24-25. Do you get it? We are to keep on keeping on. Basically, we are to abide, attached to Christ at all times through the Holy Spirit.
We are to be led by the Holy Spirit and live lives that demonstrate the presence of God who is in us. Remember, our God is sovereign so let us show His sovereignty in our lives. It calls for all submission, humility, acceptance and abandonment to the will and purposes of God. Lord, have your way in my life and let your will be done. Is this your prayer? Let’s live it out on a daily basis by God’s grace. It means we stop blaming others and trust God for everything. Amen
Thank you for journeying with me in this study of the Book of Daniel. May the Lord bless you. Amen.
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