A Time of Trouble

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.
And many of those who sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, some to everlasting life, some to shame and everlasting contempt.
Those who are wise shall shine like the brightness of the firmament, and those who turn many to righteousness like the stars forever and ever.
[Daniel 12:1-3 NKJV]

This 'End Time' prophecy from the Book of Daniel, has, like so many prophetic voices attracted a huge variety of interpretations. What is meant by this or that utterance? The only answer that can be relied upon is in the Bible itself. Daniel has difficulty with the Archangel Michael's prophecy to him, so he relates the answer that is given to him:

Then I said, “My lord, what shall be the end of these things?” And he said, “Go your way, Daniel, for the words are closed up and sealed till the time of the end. Many shall be purified, made white, and refined, but the wicked shall do wickedly; and none of the wicked shall understand, but the wise shall understand.
“And from the time that the daily sacrifice is taken away, and the abomination of desolation is set up, there shall be one thousand two hundred and ninety days. Blessed is he who waits, and comes to the one thousand three hundred and thirty-five days.
“But you, go your way till the end; for you shall rest, and will arise to your inheritance at the end of the days.”
[Daniel 12:8b-13 NKJV]

It seems that whatever the trouble may be, The Lord's people need patience and must wait, knowing that in the end will be an inheritance and rest. Blessed is he who waits.

Intriguingly, a time frame is given between the setting up of the abomination of desolation and the end of the days - between one thousand two hundred and ninety days and one thousand three hundred and thirty five days. This would appear to be forty-five days, which on the basis of Scripture numerology speaks of 'preservation', 'the temple' and 'pillars'.

From what I have read on this subject, Daniel 12 is the resolution of a number of prophetic visions building a revelation which shows the statement in Daniel 8:14b; "then the sanctuary shall be cleansed.” In other words, The Lord is working - He will have His Holy church; His temple made without hands, but that the work requires our patience, for God is doing this in His time. Blessed is he who waits. As the song says, There may be trouble ahead, but while there's music and moonlight and love and romance, let's face the music and dance. Wait on the Lord.

Blessed are you when they revile and persecute you, and say all kinds of evil against you falsely for My sake. Rejoice and be exceedingly glad, for great is your reward in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you.
[Matthew 5:11-12 NKJV]

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A Shelter In The Time of Storm
Lyrics by: Vernon John Charlesworth   Music by: Ira David Sankey
Performed by: Ray Walker & the Dallas Adult Christian Choir

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RUN TODAY'S RACE
Monday 21st September 2020
"The Lord is my rock," my encircling guard. Where did the Psalmist learn this truth? In the school of silent waiting upon God. The Rock of Ages is the great sheltering encirclement; we are watched over by the mother-guardianship of God.

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