May 10, 2006

Reading through the Bible in one Year:1 Samuel 22:1-26:25; Luke 20:1-38

Good Evening Brothers and Sisters,

Today we are wrapping up the book of Daniel, tomorrow we will start the book of Job. 

"“Now at that time Michael, the great prince who stands guard over the sons of your people, will arise. And there will be a time of distress such as never occurred since there was a nation until that time; and at that time your people, everyone who is found written in the book, will be rescued. “Many of those who sleep in the dust of the ground will awake, these to everlasting life, but the others to disgrace and everlasting contempt. “Those who have insight will shine brightly like the brightness of the expanse of heaven, and those who lead the many to righteousness, like the stars forever and ever. “But as for you, Daniel, conceal these words and seal up the book until the end of time; many will go back and forth, and knowledge will increase.” Then I, Daniel, looked and behold, two others were standing, one on this bank of the river and the other on that bank of the river. And one said to the man dressed in linen, who was above the waters of the river, “How long will it be until the end of these wonders?” I heard the man dressed in linen, who was above the waters of the river, as he raised his right hand and his left toward heaven, and swore by Him who lives forever that it would be for a time, times, and half a time; and as soon as they finish shattering the power of the holy people, all these events will be completed. As for me, I heard but could not understand; so I said, “My lord, what will be the outcome of these events?” He said, “Go your way, Daniel, for these words are concealed and sealed up until the end time. “Many will be purged, purified and refined, but the wicked will act wickedly; and none of the wicked will understand, but those who have insight will understand. “From the time that the regular sacrifice is abolished and the abomination of desolation is set up, there will be 1,290 days. “How blessed is he who keeps waiting and attains to the 1,335 days! “But as for you, go your way to the end; then you will enter into rest and rise again for your allotted portion at the end of the age.”" (Daniel 12:1-13, NASB95) ^[1]

There is an incredible amount of prophecy in these verses.  It's interesting that at the end of the prophecy concerning the immediate future of Israel we get a prophecy that is looking past the immediate future into the far future at the return of Christ.  We could take time to take the passages apart and discuss all the ramifications of the prophecies.  The truth of the matter is that a lot of the interpretation of this passage is speculation.

We return to the rapture again in verse 1.  We have discussed whether the rapture will be pre or post, or whether it will happen sometime during the middle of the tribulation.  According to this verse, if it were to be taken as stand alone, there is little doubt that God's people are going to experience a good portion of the tribulation before being raptured.  For those who don't believe in the rapture, I am open for opposing interpretations of this passage. 

Another way that this can be viewed is that times are going to get so bad that it will seem as if there was never such a time of distress.  I disagree with this view because of the discussion on the tribulation that is in Revelation and on what Jesus teaches about it in Matthew 24. 

"But we do not want you to be uninformed, brethren, about those who are asleep, so that you will not grieve as do the rest who have no hope. For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so God will bring with Him those who have fallen asleep in Jesus. For this we say to you by the word of the Lord, that we who are alive and remain until the coming of the Lord, will not precede those who have fallen asleep. For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive and remain will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so we shall always be with the Lord. Therefore comfort one another with these words." (1 Thessalonians 4:13-18, NASB95)

"All Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness; so that the man of God may be adequate, equipped for every good work." (2 Timothy 3:16-17, NASB95) ^[2]

One other thing that is discussed in this passage is the resurrection of the believers.  That doesn't take place until just before the great white throne judgment according to Revelation.  If that is the case, and if the rapture takes place at approximately the same time, or before if Paul was right, then we are looking at Christians or believers going through the tribulation.  There are many who disagree with this view.  We can also be comforted knowing that believers will rise from the dead.  Some today try to say that once they die, they stay dead, again, they will have difficulty explaining away these verses.  If we believe that the scriptures are inspired of God and that we are to study them, then I believe that as believers we are responsible for hacking away at passages like this one and at least considering the ramifications of the views expressed.  Sure, many are in disagreement on exactly what this passage teaches.  I feel confident that we can all agree that Daniels vision validates the rapture, or resurrection of believers.  That Daniels vision validates that the same thing that Jesus taught in Matthew 24 and Revelation are also taught in the Old Testament, and that every believer can rest in the fact that one day we will bodily rise from the dead to join God in heaven.

I am not going to address the days that are listed because of the extreme difficulty of explaining the unexplainable.  One thing that I will comment on them is that God has a specific number of days that are set before He returns.  We don't know what it is, only the Father does, the best plan is to stay ready.  The parable of the marriage supper in the New Testament alludes to this idea.  The brides at the supper did not have any idea when the groom was going to come to claim them.  Neither do we know when Jesus will return.

All comments are welcomed.

Father, as we consider Your Word, open our eyes so that we can understand and apply them to our lives.

In Him,

Joe Turner.