Hello everyone.
In this blog post, we will begin to discuss the time of trouble mentioned in Daniel 12:1. This is a sobering time that lies ahead of us. The good news is that Jesus will never abandon those who put their trust in Him. His faithfulness to His children is forever. Though there are dark valleys and extreme challenges ahead, God’s purposes for His children cannot be defeated.
This study will take at least two blog posts.
“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.” Daniel 12:1(KJV)
To understand further what this time of trouble entails, we must apply a principle found in Isaiah 28:10:
“For precept must be upon precept, precept upon precept; line upon line, line upon line; here a little, and there a little…” Isaiah 28:10 (KJV)
Following this principle, we will compare scripture with scripture as we seek to ascertain what the “time of trouble” in Daniel 12:1 refers to.
When we go back to Daniel 7:24-27, we find that the dominant entity that emerges (the little horn) from among the ten horns is an entity that engages in activities that are against God: one of these activities being the persecution of His saints. The activities of the little horn power invite the judgments of God; God makes an end to its dominion and sets up His own, everlasting, kingdom.
Let us now begin to get a broader knowledge of the background and activities of the little horn power. To do this, we will visit Revelation 12. Please take a moment to read Revelation 12:1-6.
Before we proceed to ascertain the meaning of the verses we have just read, I want to take a moment to remind everyone that God is love. God is against everything that is against us, but He is for us. Whenever anyone, who has ignorantly or willfully, been involved in something that was against God repents and turns to Him, He instantly accepts this person. Keeping this powerful and comforting truth in mind, we will now proceed with our study.
Revelation 12 begins with a scene of a pregnant woman who is soon to give birth. The woman is “clothed with the sun,” she has “the moon under her feet,” and on her head, she has “a crown of twelve stars.” Revelation 12:1 (KJV) For the sake of time, we won’t go into the symbolism of the woman’s attire and of her standing on the moon, but I do encourage you to take a look at this resource for an explanation of this symbolism.
Who does the woman represent?
“I have likened the daughter of Zion to a comely and delicate woman.” Jeremiah 6:2 (KJV)
“…and say unto Zion, Thou art my people.” Isaiah 61:16 (KJV)
The woman represents God’s church.
The story in Revelation continues, as the dragon waits to devour the child whom the woman is carrying in her womb. Who is this child?
“And she brought forth a man child, who was to rule all nations with a rod of iron: and her child was caught up unto God, and to his throne.” Revelation 12:5 (KJV)
In a Messianic prophecy in Isaiah 9:6-7, we read:
“For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.
Of the increase of his government and peace there shall be no end, upon the throne of David, and upon his kingdom, to order it, and to establish it with judgment and with justice from henceforth even for ever. The zeal of the LORD of hosts will perform this.” Isaiah 9:6-7 (KJV)
From these verses in Isaiah, we can see that Jesus is a Ruler: Someone with authority and power. In Revelation 12:5, we saw that the “man child…was to rule all nations with a rod of iron.”
In Acts 1:9 we read that Jesus “was taken up; and a cloud received him out of their sight.” (To read the entire account of Jesus ascension detailed in Acts 1, please read Acts 1:1-12.)
In Revelation 12:5, the man child “was caught up unto God, and to his throne.”
The man child in Revelation 12:5 is none other than Jesus.
Now that we have established that the woman represents God’s church, and the man child represents Jesus, we want to ascertain who the dragon is.
We do not have to wonder for long, because if we go a few verses further in Revelation 12, the Bible tells us exactly who the dragon is. (Please especially note that Michael is in conflict with the dragon.)
“And there was war in heaven: Michael and his angels fought against the dragon; and the dragon fought and his angels,
And prevailed not; neither was their place found any more in heaven.
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.” Revelation 12:7-9 (KJV)
The dragon is none other than Satan himself. Satan is at war with God and with God’s church.
As I bring this blog post to a close, what I am about to share in our next blog post in the “Bible Prophecy Studies” series is very difficult to learn, but in an honest pursuit of truth, truth must be accepted- even when it shakes us to our cores. I have experienced times when God has given me deep conviction. Conviction is an uncomfortable feeling. Repentance is a lifechanging experience. God is in the process of saving us from sin: both willful sin and sins of ignorance.
I am not here to judge anyone. I will state the truth in love, and I pray and trust that God will wrap His loving, tender, and strong arms around every sincere, seeking, maybe even crying and trembling, soul from any and every walk of life.
Blessings and courage. ❤
Learn and Grow 4ever 