July 3: AT THAT TIME… (part 1)
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. Daniel 12:1
The book of Daniel began with God’s people going into Babylonian captivity due to their disobedience. Daniel’s incredible and unlikely prophetic writings of successive kingdoms from Babylon moving forward – all the way up to the time that Christ would return to establish His everlasting kingdom – were so accurately detailed, that later historians accused an anonymous writer of composing the account after the fact. But the discovery of the Dead Sea Scrolls in 1947 brought proof of the existence of Daniel’s book* centuries before skeptics had thought possible.
In our time, the vast majority of the world is again in Babylonian captivity, spiritually speaking. But before the Lord returns to gather His people for heaven – to claim His faithful living ones and to resurrect those who died in faith – all people alive on earth will be given opportunity to escape Babylonian captivity. Daniel’s writings are much more than a record of royal intrigue and divine miracles. This record reveals Christ and the sure promise of His kingdom, the everlasting kingdom of righteousness. Daniel weaves multiple themes into his meticulously accurate historical record and heaven-sent visions of the future: themes of worship and obedience, persecution and perseverance, judgement and deliverance. Daniel’s writings lay a necessary foundation for understanding Revelation. The message of God across the millennia of human history is not only cohesive, but filled with the blessed hope (Titus 2:13) of the Savior’s return!
The most detailed of Daniel’s visions is contained in the final three chapters of his book. Michael’s name is mentioned near the beginning of the vision (10:13,21), and appears again at the end (12:1). He is the number one (Commander in Chief) of the angel army. He is the (not “an”) archangel of 1 Thessalonians 4:16 whose voice has the power to raise the dead. He performed an early, special resurrection for Moses (Jude 9). Michael means Who Is As God (another name for Christ). Soon He shall stand up. The resurrected Lord who has been seated at the right hand of God serving as High Priest will rise to His feet. He will change into a kingly robe from a priestly one. What does this mean for us? It signifies the close of the pre-advent judgement (see Daniel 7:26-27), the same event as the cleansing of the sanctuary, which began in 1844 (see 8:14). When the review is complete of each case of all, living and dead (2 Timothy 4:1) who have made a covenant with the LORD (Psalm 50:5, Romans 14:10, 2 Corinthians 5:10), Michael shall stand up. There is an hour and day and month and year (Revelation 9:15) beyond which the character of every person is fixed, not going to change, and set for eternity. Jesus will know before He comes exactly who He is coming for (Matthew 25:32; Revelation 22:11).
“And behold, I am coming quickly, and My reward is with Me, to give to every one according to his work.” Blessed are those who do His commandments, that they may have the right to the tree of life, and may enter through the gates into the city. Revelation 22:12,14
*(and the other OT books were represented in the Dead Sea Scrolls, with the exception of Esther)