Hello everyone.
Today I’m back to share the second part of our series on Daniel 12. In our last blog post in this series, we established who Michael is.
We will now begin to discuss what Michael, who is Jesus, is doing in Daniel 12.
“And at that time shall Michael stand up, the great prince which standeth for the children of thy people: and there shall be a time of trouble, such as never was since there was a nation even to that same time: and at that time thy people shall be delivered, every one that shall be found written in the book.”
From what has Michael stood up? As we begin to answer this question, let us first go back to John 5:25-29.
“Verily, verily, I say unto you, The hour is coming, and now is, when the dead shall hear the voice of the Son of God: and they that hear shall live.
For as the Father hath life in himself; so hath he given to the Son to have life in himself;
And hath given him authority to execute judgment also, because he is the Son of man.
Marvel not at this: for the hour is coming, in the which all that are in the graves shall hear his voice,
And shall come forth; they that have done good, unto the resurrection of life; and they that have done evil, unto the resurrection of damnation.” John 5:25-29 (KJV)
(Please note that “Son of Man” is a term that Jesus used to refer to Himself. John 3:13-16 )
Please now note that the Son of Man in the texts below from Daniel 7 has joined the Ancient of Days, who is in a scene of judgment. We have seen, in John 5:22, that the Son of Man has been given authority to execute judgment. Please also notice that Daniel 7:14 reveals that supreme authority and dominion are vested in the Son of Man.
“I beheld till the thrones were cast down, and the Ancient of days did sit, whose garment was white as snow, and the hair of his head like the pure wool: his throne was like the fiery flame, and his wheels as burning fire.
A fiery stream issued and came forth from before him: thousand thousands ministered unto him, and ten thousand times ten thousand stood before him: the judgment was set, and the books were opened…
I saw in the night visions, and, behold, one like the Son of man came with the clouds of heaven, and came to the Ancient of days, and they brought him near before him.
And there was given him dominion, and glory, and a kingdom, that all people, nations, and languages, should serve him: his dominion is an everlasting dominion, which shall not pass away, and his kingdom that which shall not be destroyed.” Daniel 7:9-10, and 13-14 (KJV)
Revelation 1:5-8 tells us that Jesus will come in the clouds and that glory and dominion are His forever.
According to all that we have looked at in these texts, we can conclude that Michael is standing up from a scene of judgment.
In our next blog post in this series, we will discuss the time of trouble that is mentioned in this same verse in which Michael stands up (Daniel 12:1).
For the rest of this blog post, we will discuss what it means to be written in “the book” mentioned in Daniel 12:1. We can see in this verse that it is those whose names are written in this book who are delivered when judgment is executed.
Let us now go to Philippians 4:3:
“And I intreat thee also, true yokefellow, help those women which laboured with me in the gospel, with Clement also, and with other my fellowlabourers, whose names are in the book of life.” Philippians 4:3 (KJV)
In this text, Paul states that he has family in Christ whose names are in “the book of life.”
Let us now look at some more Bible texts to establish what the book of life is.
“He that overcometh, the same shall be clothed in white raiment; and I will not blot out his name out of the book of life, but I will confess his name before my Father, and before his angels.” Revelation 3:5 (KJV)
From this verse, we can see that people who are overcomers are the ones whose names will remain in the book of life. What have overcomers overcome?
“And the great dragon was cast out, that old serpent, called the Devil, and Satan, which deceiveth the whole world: he was cast out into the earth, and his angels were cast out with him.
And I heard a loud voice saying in heaven, Now is come salvation, and strength, and the kingdom of our God, and the power of his Christ: for the accuser of our brethren is cast down, which accused them before our God day and night.
And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony; and they loved not their lives unto the death.” Revelation 12:9-11 (KJV)
It is sin, which Satan tempts us to participate in, that the overcomers in Revelation 3:5 have overcome. They have overcome through Jesus’ strength (Jesus is the “Lamb of God which taketh away the sins of the world.” John 1:29 (KJV) ) and they have heartfelt testimonies of God’s mercies and goodness.
Without Jesus, the thought of overcoming sin is just that: a thought, and an impossible goal. Without Jesus, there is no hope of overcoming sin. With Jesus, there is every bit of hope that we can and will overcome sin as we bask in His love and surrender to and cooperate with His loving efforts to save us.
“And there shall in no wise enter into it any thing that defileth, neither whatsoever worketh abomination, or maketh a lie: but they which are written in the Lamb’s book of life.” Revelation 21:27 (KJV)
In the verse above, which refers to life in the glorious, happy, loving atmosphere of life in the earth made new (Revelation 21:1-4), I hear God telling us: “You will be safe here. There will be nothing to fear. There will be no predators, no criminals, and no liars: only those who are written in my book of life. Here, there will only be those whose hearts are filled with pure, selfless love.”
The book of life records the names of God’s faithful people. Jesus invites us to bask in His love and live an overcoming life with Him. He wants to place our names in His book of life. He wants the verdict of each of our lives to be one that He can celebrate with us.
Please listen to His loving appeal followed by His loving promise:
“Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me.
To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with me in my throne, even as I also overcame, and am set down with my Father in his throne.” Revelation 3:20-21 (KJV)
Let’s accept Jesus’ loving invitations: let’s allow Him access to our hearts and watch as He transforms us.
Blessings and courage.
Learn and Grow 4ever 