Time Is Almost Up, Are You Preparing?

Day 1

1At that time Michael, the great prince who stands watch over your people, will rise up. There will be a time of distress such as never has occurred since nations came into being until that time. But at that time all your people who are found written in the book will escape.
DANIEL 12:1 (CSB)

Commentary

We start off at the tail end of a prophecy which is described in the previous chapter of the book of Daniel. It is the prophecy of the remaining empires that would rule over Jerusalem in the remainder of history, ending with the final antichrist and his kingdom.

What is written here is about Daniel’s people, the Jewish people, at the time of the end. The archangel Michael, who is the angel who watches over Israel, will rise up in battle over the demonic forces sweeping in. It will be a time when the battle in Heaven is extreme and it will affect creation greatly. Jesus also spoke a little about it in Matthew 24, and you can read the book of Revelation for greater detail.

21For at that time there will be great distress, the kind that hasn’t taken place from the beginning of the world until now and never will again.22Unless those days were cut short, no one would be saved. But those days will be cut short because of the elect.
MATTHEW 24:21-22 (CSB)

We see the angel promise Daniel that those of his people, who are written in the book, will escape. Jesus also states this in the passage above, that those days will be cut short for the elect of Israel. God’s purpose during that time is to save the remnant of Israel and bring them to Him.

Christians have studied these passages for centuries, but what makes our day so important is that these events are quite possibly right around the corner. Never have we lived in such a time when prophetic passages of the Bible are converging and coming together as our Lord told us they would. As we study this chapter, we’ll see how important our role as believers in Jesus is, and will be going forward.

32“Learn this lesson from the fig tree: As soon as its branch becomes tender and sprouts leaves, you know that summer is near.33In the same way, when you see all these things, recognize that he is near ​— ​at the door.
MATTHEW 24:32-33 (CSB)

Soul Search

Have I been studying Bible passages that pertain to the end of this age?

Prayer

Heavenly Father, You have given us Your sure Word, which guides our steps and offers us the information we need to know about how history as we know it ends. You don’t want us to be scared or worried, because You have revealed Your awesome plan to all who will read it and keep Your Words in their hearts. Thank You, Lord! In Jesus’ name, I pray. Amen

Day 2

2Many who sleep in the dust of the earth will awake, some to eternal life, and some to disgrace and eternal contempt.
DANIEL 12:2 (CSB)

Commentary

This verse teaches us about the resurrection of the dead, something that is written about throughout Scripture, for all who know Jesus. (Some examples: Isaiah 26:19, Ezekiel 37:12-14, John 11:25, 1 Corinthians 15:21, Revelation 20:5-6)

In fact, there are two types of resurrection: the resurrection of the dead in Christ to eternal life and the resurrection of the dead not in Christ (the wicked) to eternal torment in the Lake of Fire. Scripture seems to speak of at least three different times when the resurrection of the dead happens. There may be a fourth occasion. It’s debated when the Old Testament saints are resurrected. Is it at the rapture of the Church or at the end of the Tribulation?

Resurrection of the Dead In Christ & Rapture of Church

51Listen, I am telling you a mystery: We will not all fall asleep, but we will all be changed,52in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised incorruptible, and we will be changed.
1 CORINTHIANS 15:51-52 (CSB)
Resurrection of the Tribulation Saints
4Then I saw thrones, and people seated on them who were given authority to judge. I also saw the souls of those who had been beheaded because of their testimony about Jesus and because of the word of God, who had not worshiped the beast or his image, and who had not accepted the mark on their foreheads or their hands. They came to life and reigned with Christ for a thousand years.5The rest of the dead did not come to life until the thousand years were completed. This is the first resurrection.6Blessed and holy is the one who shares in the first resurrection! The second death has no power over them, but they will be priests of God and of Christ, and they will reign with him for a thousand years.
REVELATION 20:4-6 (CSB)
Resurrection of the Wicked
11Then I saw a great white throne and one seated on it. Earth and heaven fled from his presence, and no place was found for them.12I also saw the dead, the great and the small, standing before the throne, and books were opened. Another book was opened, which is the book of life, and the dead were judged according to their works by what was written in the books.13Then the sea gave up the dead that were in it, and death and Hades gave up the dead that were in them; each one was judged according to their works.14Death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire. This is the second death, the lake of fire. 15And anyone whose name was not found written in the book of life was thrown into the lake of fire.
REVELATION 20:11-15 (CSB)

The resurrection of the dead promised in Scripture is not a single-day event, but something that will take place in stages at times which God has already appointed for His purpose. As believers, we have this wonderful hope, the Blessed Hope of Jesus’ glorious appearing to take us home! This is great news that we should be sharing with others.

Soul Search

Do I find joy and hope in the fact that one day all believers will be perfected, body, soul, and spirit?

Prayer

Heavenly Father, what You promise is so awesome that it’s hard to fully comprehend. But I know that what You promise will come true because You cannot lie nor can You break Your promises. Let me use this hope that You have given me as motivation to seek out the lost. In Jesus’ name, I pray. Amen

Day 3

3Those who have insight will shine like the bright expanse of the heavens, and those who lead many to righteousness, like the stars forever and ever.
DANIEL 12:3 (CSB)

Commentary

This is a key verse for us, as followers of Jesus in these last of the last days. You and I should be studying the Bible and understanding what we can about these future events. With such God-given wisdom, insights, and hope, we can be a people teaching others what is to come and how they can find hope and salvation in Jesus Christ.

Now is not a time to sit on the sidelines. God has placed you here at this time and place for a purpose. It seems more and more possible that the 7-year Tribulation is right around the corner. You and I must be sharing what the Bible says with those in our lives because we don’t know when that trumpet will sound to take us believers home or when they will die.

In this world that is growing ever more hopeless, you and I have the eternal hope of Jesus that we can share with them.

1About the times and the seasons: Brothers and sisters, you do not need anything to be written to you.2For you yourselves know very well that the day of the Lord will come just like a thief in the night.3When they say, “Peace and security,” then sudden destruction will come upon them, like labor pains on a pregnant woman, and they will not escape.4But you, brothers and sisters, are not in the dark, for this day to surprise you like a thief.5For you are all children of light and children of the day. We do not belong to the night or the darkness.6So then, let us not sleep, like the rest, but let us stay awake and be self-controlled.7For those who sleep, sleep at night, and those who get drunk, get drunk at night.8But since we belong to the day, let us be self-controlled and put on the armor of faith and love, and a helmet of the hope of salvation.9For God did not appoint us to wrath, but to obtain salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ,10who died for us, so that whether we are awake or asleep, we may live together with him.11Therefore encourage one another and build each other up as you are already doing.
1 THESSALONIANS 5:1-11 (CSB)

Soul Search

Am I fearlessly informing those around me about what is coming, who is coming?

Prayer

Heavenly Father, let me not be shy or fearful, but bold to share the prophetic Word You have given us. Take this heart of mine and fill it so full of love for those around me that it pains me greatly not knowing if they are saved or not. Lead me to those who need to hear Your Gospel message. In Jesus’ name, I pray. Amen

Day 4

4“But you, Daniel, keep these words secret and seal the book until the time of the end. Many will roam about, and knowledge will increase.”5Then I, Daniel, looked, and two others were standing there, one on this bank of the river and one on the other.6One of them said to the man dressed in linen, who was above the water of the river, “How long until the end of these wondrous things?”7Then I heard the man dressed in linen, who was above the water of the river. He raised both his hands toward heaven and swore by him who lives eternally that it would be for a time, times, and half a time. When the power of the holy people is shattered, all these things will be completed.8I heard but did not understand. So I asked, “My lord, what will be the outcome of these things?”9He said, “Go on your way, Daniel, for the words are secret and sealed until the time of the end.
DANIEL 12:4-9 (CSB)

Commentary

When Daniel was given this information, it was far from the time of the end, so he didn’t understand and was instructed to seal up the words; they were not for his generation or the many after. That all changed when Jesus walked the earth and even more so when the apostle John was prompted by our Lord to write the Revelation of Jesus Christ. Which is the final book of the Bible and one that takes the foundation God laid down with Daniel and some of the other prophets and expounds upon it with greater detail. If you want to better understand the 3 1/2 years (times, time, and half a time), study Revelation. Especially chapters 13-19.

In our day, we are able to see the forming of the things God said would take place; we’re a people who can have an understanding that our ancestors could not. We have Israel as a nation-state once more; we are witnessing wars and rumors of wars, extreme weather events, and we can see the technologies that are paving the way for global government and eventually the Mark of the Beast.

This final revelation would be for a time when knowledge would increase and people would roam about. I believe, in context, that this means a time when Scripture could be easily studied by anyone, and understanding of Bible prophecy would increase exponentially. A time such as ours, where many are roaming about in the Word of God to find out why the things we are witnessing in the world are happening.

Soul Search

Am I taking advantage of the fact that I have the best and easiest access to God’s Word that any generation has ever had?

Prayer

Heavenly Father, if I am not hungry to take in Your every Word, then reveal to me what is wrong and give me that hunger. I want to be someone who those around me can come to as times grow more chaotic, someone who will know exactly where to point them in Your Bible for the answers they seek. In Jesus’ name, I pray. Amen

Day 5

10Many will be purified, cleansed, and refined, but the wicked will act wickedly; none of the wicked will understand, but those who have insight will understand.11From the time the daily sacrifice is abolished and the abomination of desolation is set up, there will be 1,290 days.12Happy is the one who waits for and reaches 1,335 days.13But as for you, go on your way to the end; you will rest, and then you will rise to receive your allotted inheritance at the end of the days.”
DANIEL 12:10-13 (CSB)

Commentary

God’s patience and loving grace have given us thousands of years for people to seek Him and trust in Him for salvation. So while the time that has passed seems like a very long time, God has a perfect plan in place and Jesus will not return even one second too soon or too late.

For you and me, we’re to be a people who understand what is going on. As Jan Markel often says, “this world is not falling apart, but instead everything is falling into place”. The world stage is being set for God’s final act against evil.

Those who don’t know Him can see that something is not right, but have no idea what is really going on. But you and I understand that what is happening has been foretold by God and that it’s not only the end of history as we know it, but more importantly the beginning of all the wonderful things that the Lord has promised for the believer in Jesus.

Daniel is given another time frame, which is a little over the 3 1/2 years previously given. Perhaps this extra time is for the judging of the nations that Jesus spoke of in Matthew 25, beginning at verse 32.

For those elect of God (who come to Jesus during the Tribulation), they will reach this 1,335th day and on that day they will enter into the Millennial Kingdom of Jesus that will be established on this earth, where He will rule and reign from the throne of David in Jerusalem, fulfilling every remaining prophecy regarding Messiah. And as the cherry on top, you and I, as born-again believers will be there with them, ruling over the people with Jesus.

So while things are tough and getting tougher now, we can look forward to sharing in God’s victory over Satan and evil. Brothers and sisters, be strong in the Lord and prepare yourself and those around you for the coming of our Great God and Savior, Jesus Christ!

12“Look, I am coming soon, and my reward is with me to repay each person according to his work.13I am the Alpha and the Omega, the first and the last, the beginning and the end.
REVELATION 22:12-13 (CSB)

Soul Search

Am I ready?

Prayer

Lord Jesus, You have told us repeatedly that You are coming back quickly, that when we begin to see the things You told us to look for regarding the last days, to look up because our redemption draws near. Thank You, Lord, for the hope that we have in You. Embolden me to be sharing that hope with everyone around me. In Your mighty and wonderful name, I pray. Amen