October 20: WHEN SINFUL PEOPLE ARE BLESSED
Then I heard the man clothed in linen, who was above the waters of the river, when he held up his right hand and his left hand to heaven, and swore by Him who lives forever, that it shall be for a time, times, and half a time; and when the power of the holy people has been completely shattered, all these things shall be finished. Daniel 12:7
Today’s verse contains one of seven references* to the time period that the papacy ruled over the nations during the Dark Ages, during which God’s faithful followers would be driven into the wilderness (Revelation 12:6,14) and cruelly persecuted. Those who paid homage to the dragon were allowed to live their earthly lives without persecution.
The question comes to mind: Why would God allow His people to be completely shattered? It is because He is trying to save people for eternity. He is anxious and ready to bless, but there is always the deadly danger of presumption that arises when sinful people are blessed. Moses explained it to the Israelites this way: Beware that you do not forget the LORD your God by not keeping His commandments . . . lest—when you have eaten and are full, and have built beautiful houses and dwell in them; and when your herds and your flocks multiply, and your silver and your gold are multiplied, and all that you have is multiplied; when your heart is lifted up, and you forget the LORD your God who brought you out of the land of Egypt, from the house of bondage . . . then it shall be, if you by any means forget the LORD your God and follow other gods, and serve them and worship them, I testify against you this day that you shall surely perish. (Deuteronomy 8:11-14,19) Yet, His people so easily and repeatedly walked directly into the snares set by the enemy of souls, glamorously presented by the surrounding heathen nations.
In today’s verse, Jesus swears by Himself that He will get to the business of wrapping this whole thing up after the time limit that He has set. The lesson has been repeated enough: When sinful humans are blessed by God, they are tempted to think “My power and the might of my hand have gained me this wealth” (v.17). Self-reliance displaces reliance upon the Lord. This is self-deception, and it has a sinister way of multiplying among all of us. But a conscious choice to live in obedience to Him is divinely strengthened and honored as a safeguard against Satan’s traps.
. . .all these things shall be finished. The wrap-up that is now taking place is the real-time fulfillment of the yearly event of Atonement (see Hebrews 9:7). Jesus entered the Most Holy Place in the heavenly sanctuary in 1844** to finalize the salvation of those who are saved. It is a cleansing in the sanctuary of the record of sin for all the saved who have ever lived. Each name that stays in the Book of Life has a corresponding record of sin that is blotted out. But those who name the name of Christ yet continue in sin will discover the opposite. We are living in the judgment hour, and a special work of cleansing is also taking place among His people alive on the earth. Keen awareness of God’s will is replacing ignorance. The everlasting gospel (Revelation 14:6) will be clearly understood in its fullness before Jesus returns to claim His people.
The fear of the LORD is clean, enduring forever; the judgments of the LORD are true and righteous altogether. Psalm 19:9
*Daniel 7:25; 12:7; Revelation 11:2,3; 12:6,14;13:5
**Daniel 8:14 The beginning date for this prophecy and the prophecy of Daniel 9:25 is found in Ezra 7:7