Daniel Unlocked #86. Daniel’s Conclusion, Three Time Prophecies and Epilogue.
Scripture has a pattern of moving in circles. For instance, the first three chapters of Genesis are mirrored in the last three chapters of Revelation. Genesis begins with creation, there is a marriage of our first parents, the devil is introduced, and the ‘fall’ occurs, and the earth is cursed. Revelation plays creation in reverse. In Chapter 20 we see the end of satan, the marriage supper of the Lamb occurs, the curse is declared to be gone and we see the creation of the new earth. Even the seven last plagues run the days of creation backwards.
Daniel began with an attack on the glorious holy mountain by the king of the north (Babylon) and the subsequent capture of Israel. The book of Daniel concludes, in contrast, with Michael standing up to deliver God’s people from end-time Babylon. That is, as shown all through Daniel, in the end, the very end, God works everything out in favour of His people. As we have seen, too, Daniel and his companions remain faithful to God and display unparalleled wisdom amid the trials and challenges of the exile. Likewise, when facing tribulation, God’s end-time people also will remain faithful, especially during “a time of trouble, such as never was since there was a nation” (Dan. 12:1). Like Daniel and his friends in Babylon, they will display wisdom and understanding. They will not only experience wisdom as a personal virtue but will be committed, because of that wisdom, to lead others to righteousness. Notice that Jesus “stands up” to deliver His people FROM the time of trouble not before it as some erroneously believe. Some will die or be put to death, and thus, go back to the dust, but they will be raised to eternity.
As the biblical text says, “And many of them that sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, these to everlasting life, but others to disgrace and everlasting contempt.” (Dan. 12:2 NASB).
As we shall see, Revelation 20:4 and 5 will put 1,000 years between those two resurrections. However, for now, note that every chapter of Daniel so far has begun by mentioning the ruler of a pagan nation. Daniel 12:1 likewise begins with a ruler, but unlike every other chapter the ruler is a divine prince who rises to deliver God’s people from the hands of their enemies. As we glimpsed in our study of Daniel 10, Michael is the same powerful heavenly being who appears to Daniel at the Tigris River. There He emerges as the heavenly representative of God’s people. He also appears elsewhere in Daniel as the Son of man (Daniel 7), the Prince of the host (Daniel 8), and Messiah the Prince (Daniel 9). Thus Michael—whose name means “who is like God?”—must be none other than Jesus Himself. We have discussed previously the significant scriptural evidence that points to Michael as the preincarnate Son of God.
It is important to note the timing of Michael’s intervention. According to Daniel 12:1, it occurs “at that time” (Dan. 12:1). This expression refers to the time just mentioned in Daniel 11:40–45. This is the period of time that extends from the fall of the papacy in 1798 to the resurrection at the end of time (Dan. 12:2). Two important aspects of Michael’s work can be inferred from the verb “stand” utilized in Daniel 12:1 to describe His action. First, the verb “stand” evokes the rise of kings to conquer and rule. The verb also primarily connotes a military sense. It shows that Michael acts as a military leader who protects His people and leads them in a special way during the last stages of the great controversy. Second, the verb “stand” also points to a judgment setting. Michael “stands” to act as an advocate in the heavenly tribunal.
As the Son of man, He comes before the Ancient of Days to represent God’s people during the investigative judgment (Dan. 7:9–14). Thus, Michael’s rising or standing evokes the military and judicial aspects of His work. In other words, He is invested with the power to defeat God’s enemies and with the authority to represent God’s people in the heavenly tribunal. Think about what it means to know that Michael stands in our behalf, even now. What hope should that give you? Think about what it means to have Jesus as your lawyer (advocate) in the court room of heaven. If your case is in His hands then you can’t lose. There is no voice in heaven or earth that can accuse any beleiver in Jesus. “There is therefore no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus” Romans 8:1.