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 aniel
12 is the end of a vision
which began in Daniel 10:1. Daniel had wanted a better understanding
of the Antichrist and the events that surrounded him. This information
was not found in the visions given in chapters 7 and 8, so Daniel
had asked for an explanation of some missing details. In Daniel
10,
we discovered that an angel had been sent to give these details.
The angel had been delayed because a fallen angel or demon had
tried to stop him and Michael the archangel had to help him
escape. Daniel 10 was an exciting chapter because it was there
that we were given an unusual glimpse into an invisible world
that surrounds us every day, a world that our invisible God
created. Then in Daniel 11 this unnamed angel started giving
Daniel the additional information he had wanted. It was a long
chapter with many details about the empires of Medo-Persia and
Greece. The critics of the Bible agree that these details are
true to history. Daniel 11 focused on the portions of history
that would help all of us understand this future evil man whom
scripture calls the Antichrist. At the end of our last study,
the Antichrist was surrounded by armies and was defeated.
The
End Time.
As
we come to the final chapter in the book of Daniel, we find
that God’s angel is still explaining the future to Daniel,
but now has jumped back in time.
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At
that time Michael shall stand up, The great prince who
stands watch over the sons of your people; And there shall
be a time of trouble, Such as never was since there was
a nation, Even to that time. And at that time your people
shall be delivered, Every one who is found written in
the book. (NASB) Dan. 12:1 |
This happened before in Daniel 7. “At this time”
refers to the middle of the Tribulation period (see Dan. 12:7)
and is a jump backwards to Daniel 11:36. In Daniel 11:39 we
discovered that the Antichrist will gain his great power from
another god, and in our coming study of the book of Revelation
we will discover that Satan is this “god.”
We
also find in Revelation 12:7-8 that Michael will be active during
the Tribulation.
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And
war broke out in heaven: Michael and his angels fought
with the dragon; and the dragon and his angels fought,
but they did not prevail, nor was a place found for them
in heaven any longer. (NASB) Rev. 12:7-8 |
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