home>> daniel>>
session 10 >>
session 11
Session#11:
The Tribulation and Triumph of the Kingdom
Download
Session #11 The tribulation and the triumph of the Kingdom Audio,
Handout and Study Notes.
Download 'The
Tribulation and Triumph of the Kingdom ' Bible
Verse Hand Book to compliment
this Session in the Daniel End Time Series, for students that maybe
do not have their own Bible.
VIEW
'The Tribulation and Triumph of the Kingdom '
Bible Verse Handbook online
Session 11The Tribulation and Triumph of the Kingdom (Dan.
12)
I. INTRODUCTION AND OUTLINE OF DANIEL 12
The victory of God’s people over the Antichrist (12:1-3)
Details about the Great Tribulation (12:4-13)
In Daniel 12, a mighty angel assured Daniel of the ultimate triumph
of God’s kingdom related to the Great Tribulation. The most
dramatic, powerful, and important generation in history is coming.
Details of the end times were shown to Daniel so that God’s
people would prepare themselves.
God wants His people to be resolved to be faithful, before deception,
lawlessness, and persecution escalate. In Matthew 24, Jesus warned
the Church more about deception in the end times than tribulation
(Mt. 24:4-5, 11, 24; Mk. 13:5-6, 22; Lk. 21:8; 2 Thes. 2:3; 1 Tim.
4:1; 2 Tim. 3:13).
4“Take heed that no one deceives you. 5For many
will come…and will deceive many …11Then many false prophets
will rise up and deceive many…12lawlessness will abound…
(Mt. 24:4-12)
The deception that will trouble the Church in the end times will
not mostly be about embracing a false eastern religion. I believe
the distorted grace message is the primary issue of deception.
Many use biblical terminology—love, justice, and grace—but
without an accurate biblical definition. The primary deceptions
are those which challenge the truths about the nature of Jesus and
His leadership over our lives in calling us to embrace a godly life
of obedient love for God.
Jesus spoke of people being overcome with fear (Lk. 21:26) in the
end times—even some of His own people—because they do
not understand what the Word says about what is to happen in their
generation. God’s people must be equipped with knowledge of
His end-time plans so that they are not overcome with fear, deception,
or confusion, but have confidence in His leadership.
25“And there will be…on the earth distress
of nations, with perplexity, the sea and the waves roaring; 26men’s
hearts failing them from fear and the expectation of those things
which are coming on the earth…27Then they will see the Son
of Man coming…with power. (Lk. 21:25-27)
II. THE CONTEXT: THE ANTICHRIST
The Antichrist will be a king, or political leader, (11:36) in
the generation of Israel’s deliverance at the end (12:1-3).
He will invade Israel and establish his “headquarters”
near Jerusalem (11:45). The fact that the Antichrist will prosper
will confuse many. They will assume that he has God’s favor
on him because he will prosper (for a short season)—in military,
economic, popularity, etc.
36“The king shall…shall prosper till the
wrath has been accomplished…”45“He shall plant
the tents of his palace between the seas [Mediterranean
Sea and Dead Sea] and the glorious holy mountain
[Jerusalem] yet, he shall come
to his end, and no one will help him.” (Dan. 11:36, 45)
The Antichrist shall come to an end: no matter
his wealth, the size of his army, or how invincible he seems, no
human armies will be able to protect him from his God-ordained destruction.
8Then the lawless one [Antichrist] will
be revealed, whom the Lord will consume with the breath of His mouth
and destroy with the brightness of His coming. (2
Thes. 2:8)
III. THE VICTORY OF GOD’S PEOPLE OVER THE ANTICHRIST
(DAN. 12:1-2)
Daniel 12:1-2 describes the full and final deliverance of Israel
and the resurrection of the saints.
This passage assures us of God’s sovereign power and of eternal
rewards for those who are faithful. The choices that people make
at this time will be a matter of life or death in time and eternity.
45“He [the Antichrist] shall
plant the tents of his palace…[near] the
holy mountain [Jerusalem] yet, he shall come to his end… 12:1“At
that time Michaelshall stand up, the great prince who stands watch
over the sons of your people [Israel];
and there shall be a time of trouble [the Great
Tribulation], such as never was since there was
a nation even to that time. And at that time your people [Israel]
shall be delivered…2Many of those who sleep in the dust of
the earth shall awake[resurrection],
some to everlasting life, some to shame and everlasting contempt.”
(Dan. 11:45-12:2)
After describing the Antichrist’s invasion of Israel (11:45),
the angel encouraged Daniel by assuring him that Michael will rise
up to help Israel and that the martyrs willrise up in the resurrection.
At that time: Several things occur in the same
time frame—the Antichrist has his headquarters near Jerusalem
and is then killed (11:45), Michael stands up (12:1),the Great Tribulation
occurs and Israel is delivered spiritually and militarily (12:1),the
resurrection occurs (12:2).Some scholars think this most severe
“time”of tribulation was fulfilled in 70 AD when Jerusalem
was destroyed. Yet the tribulation and death toll of the two World
Wars far surpassed what occurred in 70 AD.
Great Tribulation: This is the verse that Jesus
referred to when speaking of the Great Tribulation (Mt. 24:21).
Trouble “such as there never was” qualifies this as
a very unique time in history.
15“Therefore when you see the ‘abomination
of desolation,’ spoken of by Daniel the prophet…21For
then there will be great tribulation, such as has not been since
the beginning of the world until this time, no, nor ever shall be.”
(Mt. 24:15-21)
The Abomination of Desolation is the central political
and religious event that will reveal the nature and timing of the
Antichrist’s emergence onto the world stage. The abomination
occurs when the Antichrist puts his image in the Jerusalem temple,
demanding to be worshiped (Dan. 8:13; 9:27; 11:31; 12:11)
As described by Paul (2 Thes. 2:3-4)
As described by John (Rev. 13:11-18).
Jesus referred directly to Daniel 12:1 in Matthew 24:21—tribulation
such as has not been since the beginning of the world or since this
time or ever again. It will continue for 3½ years. It will
be a totally unique time in history, referred to as “the”
Great Tribulation (Rev. 7:14).
14He said to me, “These are the ones who come
out of the great tribulation…”
(Rev. 7:14)
There will be an unprecedented number of martyrs in the end times.
I do not believe it will be the majority of the Church, but the
number will be large enough to make every believer face the possibility
of losing their life for Jesus, causing all to decide if they are
serious about Him.
Michael shall stand up: Michael is an angelic
prince, or archangel, (Jude 9); his assignment is to protect and
stand watch over Israel. Michael “shall stand up”—he
will arise to action. This indicates that an unprecedented increase
of angelic activity will be manifest in the end times,as Michael
leads a multitude of angels under his leadership. The book of Acts
gives insight into the ministry of angels. Daniel saw how Michael
intervened in the conflict in his generation (Dan. 10:12-14).
Michael and his angels will cast Satan and his demons out of heaven
in the end times (Rev. 12:7-9). John elaborated on Michael standing
up in the end times as prophesied in Daniel 12:1. Satan and his
demonic principalities currently operate in the heavenly realm (Eph.
2:2; 6:12).
7And war broke out in heaven: Michael and his angels
fought with the dragon; and the dragon and his angels fought, 8but
they did not prevail, nor was a place found for them in heaven any
longer. 9So the great dragon was cast out, that serpent of old,
called the Devil and Satan…he was cast to the earth, and his
angels were cast out with him…12Woe to the inhabitants of
the earth… The devil has come down to you, having great wrath,
because he knows that he has a short time.” (Rev. 12:7-12)
Your people shall be delivered: Daniel saw the
Son of Man ruling with His saints (7:13-14, 27). The nations of
the earth will surround Jerusalem with the intention of destroying
the Jewish people. Israel will be delivered from their sin and unbelief
and from the hostility of Satan and the Gentiles.
13“One like the Son of Man, coming with the clouds…14To
Him was given dominion…and a kingdom…27Thekingdom…shall
be given to…the saints of the Most High.” (Dan.
7:13-14, 27)
2I will gather all the nations to battle against Jerusalem;
the city shall be taken…and the women ravished. Half of the
city shall go into captivity, but the remnant of the people shall
not be cut off from the city. 3Then the LORD will go forth and fight
against those nations. (Zech. 14:2-3)
IV. THE RESURRECTION (DAN. 12:2)
The Scripture teaches the resurrection of the righteous and the
damned.Many believers will be martyred in the end times (11:33-35),
but they only sleep until Jesus awakens them (12:2). In the resurrection,
whatever blessings of money, friends, promotions, and reputation
that the faithful lose by standing for truth will be multiplied
in the resurrection 100-fold plus more (Mk. 10:29-30).
2Many of those who sleep in the dust of the earth shall
awake [resurrection], some to
everlasting life, some to shame and everlasting contempt. 3Those
who are wise shall shine like the brightness of the firmament, and
those who turn many to righteousness like the stars forever.”(Dan.
12:2-3)
A believer is raised from the dead—that is, from their decomposed
flesh, with the same DNA. Their body will be physically resurrected
with their personal DNA in “perfection of beauty” of
spiritually, physically, and emotionally with their personality,
gifting, temperament, etc.
Shame: Some will be resurrected to eternal shame
and contempt. This includes angry feelings of scorn and regret,
along with feeling worthless or despicable. We all deserve shame,
but the Man who will deliver the nations from the Antichrist bore
our shame and gave us His own righteousness as a free gift. Only
those who refuse His gift will bear their own shame forever.
9…punished with everlasting destruction from
the presence of the Lord…
(2 Thes. 1:9)
All of the dead will be raised—Jesus will speak to call forth
all the godly and ungodly from history.
28Do not marvel at this; for the hour is coming in
which all who are in the graves will hear His voice29and come forth—those
who have done good, to the resurrection of life, and those who have
done evil, to the resurrection of condemnation.
(Jn. 5:28-29)
Revelation 20 teaches two resurrections occurring at different
times. The resurrection of the righteous will occur at Jesus’
return and the resurrection of the wicked at the end of the Millennium.
4I saw thrones, and they [saints,
Rev. 19:14] sat on them, and judgment was committed
to them. Then I saw the souls of those who had been beheaded…who
had not worshiped the beast…and they lived and reigned with
Christ for a thousand years. 5But the rest of the dead did not live
again until the thousand years were finished. This is the first
resurrection. (Rev. 20:4-5)
Notice that the timing of the last trumpet corresponds with the
timing of the resurrection, the rapture and rewards. The first resurrection
will occur when Jesus returnsat the sound of a great trumpet (Mt.
24:31; 1 Cor. 15:52; 1 Thes. 4:16; Rev. 10:7; 11:15; cf. Isa. 27:13;
Zech. 9:14).
52…in 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 shall be changed.
(1 Cor. 15:52)
15The seventh angel sounded…loud voices in heaven,
saying, “The kingdoms of this world have become the kingdoms
of our Lord…”18Your wrath has come, and the time of
the dead, that they should be judged, and that You should reward
Your servants…” (Rev. 11:15-18)
16TheLord Himself will descend…with the trumpet
of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. 17Then we who are
alive…shall be caught up[raptured]…to meet the Lord.
(1 Thes. 4:16-17)
The mighty angel’s last exhortation is in verse 3—it
encourages us that “it is worth it” to be wise. The
wise make strong choices to be loyal to truth—the truth about
the nature of who Jesus is (as fully God and fully Man and the only
way to salvation) and truth about His leadership in our life (as
we set our heart to obey Him by seeking to walk in righteousness).
3“Those who are wise shall shine like the brightness
of the firmament, and those who turn many to righteousness like
the stars forever.” (Dan. 12:2-3)
Jesus emphasized God’s promise from Daniel 12:3 of the righteous
shining like stars (Mt. 13:43).
43“Then the righteous will shine forth as the
sun in the kingdom of their Father.” (Mt. 13:43)
41…for one star differs from another star in
glory. 42So also is the resurrection of the dead. (1
Cor. 15:41–42)
Whoever does and teaches God’s commands will be “called
great” in the age to come (Mt. 5:19). The life choices of
the wise will be “called great” by the Lord Himself.
Some call it “fellowship” when believers socialize,
but the movies they watch, the video games they play, the jokes
they tell, and the people and things they talk about often promote
darkness more than true godly fellowship.
19Whoever…breaks one of the least of these commandments,
and teaches men so, shall be called least…but whoever does
and teaches them, he shall be called great in the kingdom.
(Mt. 5:19)
|