July 5: AT THAT TIME… (part 3)
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 term that time has corresponding Scriptures that shine light upon its location on God’s time line. It is directly on the heels of the preaching of the three angels’ messages of Revelation 14:6-12. These messages regarding worship go out to the world with a loud voice (v.7) and then a loud cry to God’s people scattered across the world in the various institutions that comprise spiritual Babylon: After these things I saw another angel coming down from heaven, having great authority, and the earth was illuminated with his glory. And he cried mightily with a loud voice, saying, “Babylon the great is fallen, is fallen, and has become a dwelling place of demons, a prison for every foul spirit, and a cage for every unclean and hated bird! “Come out of her, my people!” (18:1,2,4a; see also Jeremiah 50:39; 51:37) The chaotic situation of the world will cause a great shaking, and many will be spiritually awakened.*
Isaiah speaks of that time when [The LORD] shall set up a banner for the nations (see Isaiah 11:11-16), and that banner or ensign is Jesus! His people will come together from the four corners of the earth (v.12), and all of the petty disputes between true believers will go out the window (v.13). There will be one, unified flock, purified by the truth (see John 10:16; 16:13; 17:21). In spite of the economic and political pressure levied against the people of God (Revelation 13:15-17), even to the point of a death decree, those with God’s seal will have resisted the mark of the beast and are inexplicably weathering the ensuing chaos (see Psalm 91). Going forward, the news of God’s people will be a fascination carried by the secular media (see Matthew 10:18; Mark 13:9; Luke 21:12; 1 Peter 3:15). Isaiah put it this way: But they shall fly down upon the shoulders of the Philistines toward the west (Isaiah 11:14a). The winsome news unwittingly carried by the secular press will draw still more into the fold. God will use the traditional enemies of His people, the Philistines of old and the modern press (the Philistines of today), to continue the spread of His invitation. Together they shall plunder the people of the East (14b). The foundation of the Eastern religions is the lie of the undying soul, introduced by Satan to Eve (Genesis 3:4). In recent decades, Eastern religions have permeated western culture, thus adding to the maze of false teachings regarding death.
*For thus says the LORD of hosts: “Once more (it is a little while) I will shake heaven and earth, the sea and the dry land; and I will shake all nations, and they shall come to the Desire of All Nations, and I will fill this temple with glory,” says the LORD of hosts. Haggai 2:6-7