Sermon Manuscript

Daniel 12:1; Time of Great Trouble ~ 20230205~ Pastor Rodney Zedicher ~ Ephraim Church of the Bible ~ www.ephraimbible.org

02/05_Daniel 12:1; Time of Great Trouble; Great Prince, Great Deliverance Audio available at: http://www.ephraimbible.org/Sermons/20230205_dan12_1.mp3

We are going to jump back in to our study of Daniel after a bit of a break. We are in Daniel 12. Daniel 12 records the end of a vision given to Daniel that began in chapter 10. Chapter 10 gives the spiritual warfare in the heavenlies and the supernatural strengthening of Daniel to receive this message as the backdrop of the revelation. This is a heavy message, and Daniel would need God’s strengthening touch. Chapter 11 verses 2-20 sweep through the coming 360 years of the future history of God’s people and God’s promised land from Daniel’s day, up to the time of Antiochus IV Epiphanes, a leader who will reign for a brief 11 years, and he is the focus of verses 21-35. Then in verses 36 to the end, the focus leaps forward to the far distant future, to the time of the end, to a coming leader who will be a terrible persecutor God’s people.

Your People in The Latter Days

In Daniel 10, the messenger said this about why he came:

Daniel 10:14 and came to make you understand what is to happen to your people in the latter days. For the vision is for days yet to come.”

This message chronicles future history from Daniel’s day to the end times, but its primary focus is on ‘what is to happen to your people in the latter days’; the Jewish nation in days yet to come.

Foreshadowed in Antiochus

Daniel 11:30-35 is talking about Antiochus, but they foreshadow what this coming future persecutor will do.

Daniel 11:30 ...[he] shall turn back and be enraged and take action against the holy covenant. He shall turn back and pay attention to those who forsake the holy covenant. 31 Forces from him shall appear and profane the temple and fortress, and shall take away the regular burnt offering. And they shall set up the abomination that makes desolate. 32 He shall seduce with flattery those who violate the covenant, but the people who know their God shall stand firm and take action. 33 And the wise among the people shall make many understand, though for some days they shall stumble by sword and flame, by captivity and plunder. 34 When they stumble, they shall receive a little help. And many shall join themselves to them with flattery, 35 and some of the wise shall stumble, so that they may be refined, purified, and made white, until the time of the end, for it still awaits the appointed time.

The Willful King

Verse 36 begins directly talking about this future king;

Daniel 11:36 “And the king shall do as he wills. He shall exalt himself and magnify himself above every god, and shall speak astonishing things against the God of gods. He shall prosper till the indignation is accomplished; for what is decreed shall be done. 37 He shall pay no attention to the gods of his fathers, or to the one beloved by women. He shall not pay attention to any other god, for he shall magnify himself above all. 38 He shall honor the god of fortresses instead of these. A god whom his fathers did not know he shall honor with gold and silver, with precious stones and costly gifts. 39 He shall deal with the strongest fortresses with the help of a foreign god. Those who acknowledge him he shall load with honor. He shall make them rulers over many and shall divide the land for a price. 40 “At the time of the end, the king of the south shall attack him, but the king of the north shall rush upon him like a whirlwind, with chariots and horsemen, and with many ships. And he shall come into countries and shall overflow and pass through. 41 He shall come into the glorious land. And tens of thousands shall fall, but these shall be delivered out of his hand: Edom and Moab and the main part of the Ammonites. 42 He shall stretch out his hand against the countries, and the land of Egypt shall not escape. 43 He shall become ruler of the treasures of gold and of silver, and all the precious things of Egypt, and the Libyans and the Cushites shall follow in his train. 44 But news from the east and the north shall alarm him, and he shall go out with great fury to destroy and devote many to destruction. 45 And he shall pitch his palatial tents between the sea and the glorious holy mountain. Yet he shall come to his end, with none to help him.

This king of the North (north of Jerusalem), is a self exalting king, a king who does as he wills and blasphemes the one true God. He will enter the glorious land, the land of Israel, and set up headquarters between Jerusalem and the Mediterranean sea.

This is the coming prince in chapter 9 who will:

Daniel 9:27 And he shall make a strong covenant with many for one week, and for half of the week he shall put an end to sacrifice and offering. And on the wing of abominations shall come one who makes desolate, until the decreed end is poured out on the desolator.”

This is the arrogant little horn from chapter 7 who ‘made war with the saints and prevailed over them, until the Ancient of Days came’ (7:21-22).

Daniel 7:25 He shall speak words against the Most High, and shall wear out the saints of the Most High, and shall think to change the times and the law; and they shall be given into his hand for a time, times, and half a time.

Michael Shall Arise

Daniel 12 continues the story, but looks at the events from the perspective of heavenly warfare.

Daniel 12:1 “At that time shall arise Michael, the great prince who has charge of your people. And there shall be a time of trouble, such as never has been since there was a nation till that time. But at that time your people shall be delivered, everyone whose name shall be found written in the book.

Michael in chapter 10, one of the chief princes, came to the aid of the messenger and helped him in his conflict with the prince of Persia. Michael is called ‘your prince’ in 10:21, who contends by the side of this messenger. Here Michael is said to be ‘the great prince who has charge of your people’, the Jews. In Jude, Michael is called ‘the archangel’ or chief angel, who contends with the devil. In Revelation 12 it is Michael and his angels who are fighting against the dragon and his angels. It seems Michael’s specific responsibility is the Jewish people. The first thing communicated is that the great prince Michael, the one responsible for the Jews, is on duty, standing in their defense.

The Time of Trouble

The messenger describes this time that Michael stands up as ‘a time of trouble, such as never has been since there was a nation till that time.’ Jesus echoes these words in Matthew 24

Matthew 24:21 For then there will be great tribulation, such as has not been from the beginning of the world until now, no, and never will be.

And in Mark 13

Mark 13:19 For in those days there will be such tribulation as has not been from the beginning of the creation that God created until now, and never will be.

The Lord says in Jeremiah 30

Jeremiah 30:4 These are the words that the LORD spoke concerning Israel and Judah: 5 “Thus says the LORD: We have heard a cry of panic, of terror, and no peace. 6 Ask now, and see, can a man bear a child? Why then do I see every man with his hands on his stomach like a woman in labor? Why has every face turned pale? 7 Alas! That day is so great there is none like it; it is a time of distress for Jacob; yet he shall be saved out of it.

That day, that time of Jacob’s trouble, that great tribulation, there is none like it; the likes of such has not been from the beginning of the world and will never be. Such trouble on Israel has never been since there was a nation, and never will be after it. As unthinkable as this sounds, nothing in history compares to it.

Epic Battle of Revelation 12-13

Let’s look at the pictorial imagery in Revelation 12 of this epic battle

Revelation 12:1 And a great sign appeared in heaven: a woman clothed with the sun, with the moon under her feet, and on her head a crown of twelve stars. [this is Israel] 2 She was pregnant and was crying out in birth pains and the agony of giving birth. 3 And another sign appeared in heaven: behold, a great red dragon, with seven heads and ten horns, and on his heads seven diadems. 4 His tail swept down a third of the stars of heaven and cast them to the earth. And the dragon stood before the woman who was about to give birth, so that when she bore her child he might devour it. 5 She gave birth to a male child, one who is to rule all the nations with a rod of iron, but her child was caught up to God and to his throne, [this is the Messiah, Jesus] 6 and the woman fled into the wilderness, where she has a place prepared by God, in which she is to be nourished for 1,260 days. [that’s 3 ½ years] 7 Now war arose in heaven, Michael and his angels fighting against the dragon. And the dragon and his angels fought back, 8 but he was defeated, and there was no longer any place for them in heaven. 9 And the great dragon was thrown down, that ancient serpent, who is called the devil and Satan, the deceiver of the whole world— he was thrown down to the earth, and his angels were thrown down with him. 10 And I heard a loud voice in heaven, saying, “Now the salvation and the power and the kingdom of our God and the authority of his Christ have come, for the accuser of our brothers has been thrown down, who accuses them day and night before our God. 11 And they have conquered him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony, for they loved not their lives even unto death. 12 Therefore, rejoice, O heavens and you who dwell in them! But woe to you, O earth and sea, for the devil has come down to you in great wrath, because he knows that his time is short!” 13 And when the dragon saw that he had been thrown down to the earth, he pursued the woman who had given birth to the male child. 14 But the woman was given the two wings of the great eagle so that she might fly from the serpent into the wilderness, to the place where she is to be nourished for a time, and times, and half a time. 15 The serpent poured water like a river out of his mouth after the woman, to sweep her away with a flood. 16 But the earth came to the help of the woman, and the earth opened its mouth and swallowed the river that the dragon had poured from his mouth. 17 Then the dragon became furious with the woman and went off to make war on the rest of her offspring, on those who keep the commandments of God and hold to the testimony of Jesus. And he stood on the sand of the sea.

Revelation 13:1 And I saw a beast rising out of the sea, with ten horns and seven heads, with ten diadems on its horns and blasphemous names on its heads. 2 And the beast that I saw was like a leopard; its feet were like a bear's, and its mouth was like a lion's mouth. And to it the dragon gave his power and his throne and great authority. 3 One of its heads seemed to have a mortal wound, but its mortal wound was healed, and the whole earth marveled as they followed the beast. 4 And they worshiped the dragon, for he had given his authority to the beast, and they worshiped the beast, saying, “Who is like the beast, and who can fight against it?” 5 And the beast was given a mouth uttering haughty and blasphemous words, and it was allowed to exercise authority for forty-two months. [again 3 ½ years] 6 It opened its mouth to utter blasphemies against God, blaspheming his name and his dwelling, that is, those who dwell in heaven. 7 Also it was allowed to make war on the saints and to conquer them. And authority was given it over every tribe and people and language and nation, 8 and all who dwell on earth will worship it, everyone whose name has not been written before the foundation of the world in the book of life of the Lamb who was slain. 9 If anyone has an ear, let him hear: 10 If anyone is to be taken captive, to captivity he goes; if anyone is to be slain with the sword, with the sword must he be slain. Here is a call for the endurance and faith of the saints.

Throughout the history of Israel, the dragon has been seeking to devour the seed of the woman, from Cain who killed Abel, to the Pharaoh who ordered the execution of the male children, to Haman who sought to exterminate the Jews in the time of Mordecai and Esther, to Herod who by slaughtering the children sought to exterminate the one born king of the Jews, culminating in the cross, on which the spotless Lamb of God was lifted up to die.

Because his efforts failed and the promised seed of the woman is now resurrected, seated at the right hand of the Majesty on High, the dragon turns his fury toward the woman Israel.

The blasphemous beast is allowed to make war on and conquer the saints for three and a half years. Many will seal their testimony with their own blood. The saints are called to endure to the end.

Zechariah 13; 2/3 destroyed; 1/3 preserved and refined

Zechariah tells us:

Zechariah 13:7 “Awake, O sword, against my shepherd, against the man who stands next to me,” declares the LORD of hosts. “Strike the shepherd, and the sheep will be scattered; I will turn my hand against the little ones. 8 In the whole land, declares the LORD, two thirds shall be cut off and perish, and one third shall be left alive. 9 And I will put this third into the fire, and refine them as one refines silver, and test them as gold is tested. They will call upon my name, and I will answer them. I will say, ‘They are my people’; and they will say, ‘The LORD is my God.’”

According to Zechariah, this is a time of purging and purifying. Two thirds of Israel will be destroyed, and the remaining third are those who will go through the fire and be refined; God will so pour out his grace on them, that they will look on him whom they have pierced (12:10), will call on the name of the LORD, and he will take them as his people and he will be their God.

Promise of Deliverance for those Written in the Book

Michael your prince shall arise. There shall be a time of unequalled trouble. But some of your people shall be delivered, those whose names shall be found written in the book. Did you know God has a book? In Exodus 32, Moses begs God to forgive the sins of his people, or else blot me out of the book that you have written. Hebrews (12:23) talks about the assembly of those who are enrolled in heaven. Revelation (3:5) promises the overcomer ‘I will never blot his name out of the book of life. I will confess his name before my Father and before his angels’. In Revelation 20 the books were opened and the dead were judged according to what they had done. ‘If anyone's name was not found written in the book of life, he was thrown into the lake of fire.’ Paul refers to his co-workers as those ‘whose names are in the book of life’ (Phil.4:3). Jesus said to his disciples to whom he had given authority:

Luke 10:20 Nevertheless, do not rejoice in this, that the spirits are subject to you, but rejoice that your names are written in heaven.”

Did you know that God has a book? The book of life! If you belong to Jesus, your name is written in it, and it will never be blotted out. In fact, your name has been ‘written before the foundation of the world in the book of life of the Lamb who was slain’ (Rev.13:8; 17:8; 21:27)

A Call To Endure

There is coming a time of greater tribulation than the world has ever seen or will ever see. But God has appointed a mighty angel to stand over his people. And there shall be a great deliverance. Every one whose name is written in the book of life shall be delivered. What that deliverance looks like may be different than we expect; deliverance could look like escape on the wings of an eagle, escape through a secret valley, or we conquer the enemy ‘by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony, for they loved not their lives even unto death’ (Rev.12:11)

This is a call for the endurance and faith of the saints. Keep holding on to Jesus, trusting in Jesus, no matter what the cost. It will be worth it. Take heart that your names have been written in his book.

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2023.02.05 Sermon Notes

Daniel 12:1; Time of Great Trouble

What is to happen to your people in the latter days

Daniel 10:14; 11:35, 40

Michael who has charge over your people

Daniel 10:13, 21; 12:1; Jude 9; Revelation 12:7

A time of trouble such as never has been

Daniel 12:1; Matthew 24:21; Mark 13:19; Jeremiah 30:4-7;

The epic battle; the dragon seeks to destroy the seed of the woman

Revelation 12-13; Genesis 3:15

Two-thirds will perish; one-third will be refined

Zechariah 13:7-9; 12:10

Deliverance for those written in the book

Exodus 32:32; Hebrews 12:23; Revelation 3:5; 20:12, 15 Philippians 4:3; Luke 10:20; Revelation 13:8; 17:8; 21:27

A call for endurance

Revelation 12:11; 13:10

Revelation 12:11 And they have conquered him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony, for they loved not their lives even unto death.

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Pastor Rodney Zedicher ~ Ephraim Church of the Bible ~ www.ephraimbible.org