“At that time Michael, the great prince who protects your people, will
arise. There will be a time of distress such as has not happened from the
beginning of nations until then. But at that time your people—everyone whose
name is found written in the book—will be delivered. Multitudes who sleep in the dust of the earth will awake: some to
everlasting life, others to shame and everlasting contempt. Those who are wise
will shine like the brightness of the heavens, and those who lead many to
righteousness, like the stars for ever and ever.
If you want
to get confused, read Daniel chapter 10-11.
This prophetic book has been used and abused by many – and I do mean
many – preachers on the television and radio waves of our time. They stand in front of the television cameras
with the slicked back hair, the sweaty brow, and the greasy lips – talking
about how a billion
I am not going to pretend to know
all of the details of these chapters.
Several years ago I did a paper on them – and after rereading it, it’s
still confusing. The immediate history
which followed Daniel’s time with
But as you continue to peruse through Daniel chapter 11, it appears that this is referring to more than just Old Testament times. Jesus refers to these words of Daniel and applies it to the End of the World. Daniel even mentions “at the time of the end.” So when chapter 12 starts out by saying “at that time,” it seems to be referring to a specific time - to the End Time. This makes the text fitting for our third of four End Times worship services to round out the Church Year. On this Saints Triumphant Sunday Daniel specifically makes mention of what God will do for His saints –
At That Time
I. Michael will arise
What is the first thing that Daniel predicts will happen “at that time”? At that time Michael, the great prince who protects your people, will arise. Michael actually means “who is like God?” It is a fitting name for him, since he definitely has a close connection to God – being called an archangel of the Lord. In the old hymnal we used to say prior to the Lord’s Supper that we sing with all of the “archangels” – but the Scriptures only name one archangel – and so we took that specific phrase out of our new liturgy since we aren’t sure whether there is more than one archangel or not. Michael is only mentioned in a handful of passages in Daniel and Jude and probably 1 Thessalonians as well. The book of Daniel is unique in that it shows how angels take a behind the scenes role in protecting God’s people and influencing government figures. “This Present Darkness” is a book written years ago that makes an interesting attempt at describing this behind the scenes battle of angels and demons – although it does seem to treat prayer as a Means of Grace. Daniel calls Michael a “great prince.” Jude has him arguing with the devil over the body of Moses. It seems obvious from Scriptures that this specific angel is more powerful than most – which also insinuates that there are ranks of angels. Daniel tells us that during the final days of this planet’s existence Michael will arise to protect God’s people.
What will
he protect them from? There will be a time of distress such as
has not happened from the beginning of nations until then. That word for distress means to be caught
between a rock and a hard place. The
safety zone – according to Daniel – will get tighter than it ever has
been. Think about that concept – the
distress – the safety zone – will grow narrower – the time will be tight. As I think about what is happening in our
society and to our country – I can’t help but see things getting tighter and
tighter. The president of
Nation will rise against nation, and
kingdom against kingdom. There will be famines and earthquakes in various
places. All these are the beginning of birth pains. “Then you will be handed
over to be persecuted and put to death, and you will be hated by all nations
because of me. At that time many will turn away from the faith and will betray
and hate each other, and many false prophets will appear and deceive many
people. Because of the increase of wickedness, the love of most will grow cold,
He goes on to say how one main Anti-christ
– as well as false Christs and false prophets will be
able to perform false miracles. The
thing that is really terrifying is that this deterioration of society and the
world is not just a result of sinful men being sinful. Paul writes in 2 Thessalonians 2:9 that, “The coming of the lawless one will be in
accordance with the work of Satan displayed in all kinds of counterfeit
miracles, signs and wonders.” He
also writes to the Ephesians in
The sad thing is that we are so blind to this – that we are so arrogant as to think we can get by on our own. We don’t realize that if God lifted the chains for just one minute – Satan would have us writhing in pain with boils – just as he did with Job. We don’t recognize how weak we really are – even as Christians. We underestimate how important it is to be baptized – to have the Holy Spirit dwelling in our fragile and weak bodies. We forget that God described us as having been dead in sin. We don’t think about the fact that in New Testament times the devil was regularly able to possess people and they were helpless to do anything about it. We go off to work and let our children go to school without even so much as offering a prayer for their safety and protection. We imagine ourselves to be the captains of our own fate – the masters of our destiny. We are even told that we can do anything we set our heart to. The preachers on the television tell us that faith is as easy as a simple decision – as if the devil’s grip were just lightly holding on to our shirt sleeves and can be shaken off with the simple will of man. This is a terrible underestimation of our own weakness and the devil’s own strength. Satan was given some of the greatest beauty and power from the Lord at one time. He is no weakling – not even in the ranks of the angels.
In spite of our arrogance and ignorance, God in His mercy does not leave us to stand in this war by ourselves. In order to defeat Satan and make sure His people are triumphant, God calls on someone more powerful than man – and more powerful than most if not all of the angels. Today’s text says, At that time Michael, the great prince who protects your people, will arise. The Lord Almighty calls on the archangel – the great prince of the Lord – to come and fight for us – as the times get tighter. He says to Michael, “go and protect my people.” So Michael goes and protects – along with many other angels as well. There is a realm behind this realm. There are angels and demons floating among us. I don’t how many. I don’t think I want to know. What I do want to know – and what I want you to know – is what God promises us – that Michael and his angels are protecting us in the midst of distress. This is not a carte blanche promise from God that Michael will keep you from skinning your knee on the sidewalk, breaking your arm on your bike, or being tempted from Satan. It does mean that Michael will help to keep things under control. He will not allow Satan to have a heyday on you – to torture you beyond what your faith could handle. That’s all your faith needs to hear. The times will get worse. Worse times call for stronger measures – and the cavalry has come. His name is Michael – who is like the Lord. The Lord Almighty – which means literally “the Lord of armies” – angel armies – will call in the big hitters – the big guns – to fight on our side. Take comfort in this. Pray for this. Trust in it.
II. God’s people will be delivered
As you go through this distress – if the End Times are upon us – God’s second promise get even better at that time. At that time your people—everyone whose name is found written in the book—will be delivered. Ultimately, God promises a final deliverance from this world. The word that Daniel uses for “delivered” can also mean “to give birth.” Isn’t that an interesting concept then? Think of how distressful it is for a baby to slip out of that womb and enter the world! The baby goes from a comfortable and constant climate into a cold and cruel world. The exact opposite happens to God’s people at the end of time. They go from a cold and cruel world into a perfect and holy heaven. Paul writes in 2 Corinthians 5:4, “while we are in this tent, we groan and are burdened, because we do not wish to be unclothed but to be clothed with our heavenly dwelling, so that what is mortal may be swallowed up by life.”
How can we know that we will be delivered at that time? Daniel writes that your name must be found written in the book. What an interesting picture! What does it mean? Throughout the Old Testament records were constantly written down and dug out at different times. When the temple was being rebuilt – it was a searching of the archives that found the original order of Cyrus which authorized it’s building. (Ezra 6) When the Israelites had returned from captivity, Barzillai wanted to be a part of the priesthood. But since his family records could not be found, he was excluded from the priesthood. (Ezra 2) It was a late night reading of records that led to the praise of Mordecai and the humiliation of the vile Haman in the book of Esther. One of the greatest kings of the Old Testament – Josiah – used the written records of the Old Testament to lead a reform of the fallen Israelites. So when Daniel made mention of names being written in a book - it was a great illustration to show that the LORD would not lose track of the Israelites – no matter where they were – even in the land of Babylon – where Daniel was. No matter where you are – no matter what you are being put through – as long as your name is written in God’s book – He won’t forget about you on Judgment Day. You will be delivered.
If you stop
to think about it – this idea of having your name written or not written in a
book of life – is really a helpless picture on our end. When you go to National Cathedral you can
write your name in the guest register so that you are officially archived as
having been there. But it’s not like
this book of life is sitting somewhere on top of
Ephesians 1:4-7; For he chose us in him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight. In love he predestined us to be adopted as his sons through Jesus Christ, in accordance with his pleasure and will— to the praise of his glorious grace, which he has freely given us in the One he loves. In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God’s grace
James
1 Corinthians 1:30 It is because of him that you are in Christ Jesus, who has become for us wisdom from God—that is, our righteousness, holiness and redemption.
God’s writing is completely connected to the wisdom of knowing why Christ went to the cross – to die for the sins of the world. Without that sacrifice there would be no book of life and no names written therein. God puts our name in His book by putting His name and His reputation and His blood on us. This is why baptism and faith that accompanies it are so important. In this application of the Gospel within time and place God puts His holiness on us and completes the purchase He made on the cross. He makes us His property – as we are baptized “in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.” If you are wondering if your name is written in the book, God tells you to look to Christ – look to your baptism – and believe in what they promise.
The book of life is a beautiful picture because it has nothing to do with earthquakes, wars, suffering and death. It has nothing to do with what you’re feeling or going through or do in this life. It has everything to do with what Christ has done and what the Holy Spirit has given to you. When you believe and are baptized, your name is most definitely written in the book of life, which cannot be lost in fire, earthquake, or any other disaster. It’s a picture of permanence. Isaiah 49:15 says, “Can a mother forget the baby at her breast and have no compassion on the child she has borne? Though she may forget, I will not forget you!” When you are a baptized believer in Christ, He will not forget where you are – or what you are going through. No matter how bad things get – take comfort in the fact that your name is written in the book of life.
III. There will be eternal consequences
Friends in Christ, do not lose sight of this picture; because out of all the things that happen in this world, false prophets, beheadings, immorality, the ripping apart of the family and our society as we know it, they will pale in comparison to what will happen on Judgment Day. Multitudes who sleep in the dust of the earth will awake: some to everlasting life, others to shame and everlasting contempt. If you thought the things that happen prior to Judgment Day were bad – the picture of hell is worse. As if fire were not a terrifying enough way of describing hell – Daniel takes the picture of hell to a new low. He calls it everlasting shame and contempt. Imagine the whole world being exposed to the vile of your life – the way you lived on this earth – seeing your sins first hand – and having to eternally live with the shame of everyone knowing who you really are. Is that what he means by shame? And what does he mean by contempt? Does he mean that we will live with an eternal contempt and hatred of God – or that we will be under an eternal contempt of God? Or is it referring to the hatred and contempt of the cohabitants of hell – everyone hates each other? Whatever it will be – will not be good. Many will go there. If you forget what God has done for you and lose hold of Christ, so will you. It’s bad enough to live a few minutes or days or years knowing that some people can’t stand you – but imagine living the rest of your life being the brunt of such anger and hatred. What a sad picture!
This is why I implore you – dear
saints – to listen to Daniel’s promises today.
In the midst of a flaming world on the way to hell and under the control
of Satan, you are a sinner who has been plucked from the gates of hell -
anointed and baptized into Christ – and made a dear child of God. You have been clothed with the righteousness
of Christ. Your sins have been
forgiven. You have the archangel Michael
on your side. Therefore Judgment Day is
something you can look forward to.
Daniel says you will rise to everlasting LIFE. Those
who are wise will shine like the brightness of the heavens, and those who lead
many to righteousness, like the stars for ever and ever. What a beautiful picture this is! Think of how awesome it would have been for
Peter, James and John to see the resurrected Moses and Elijah on top of the
mount of Transfiguration. When Moses
came down from
As we live during these times – it is not hard to believe that “that time” - could be any day. Yet I have a bad feeling that things are still going to get a lot worse as “that time” approaches. In light of it all, it’s easy to worry. Yet Daniel’s words today say to us, “don’t worry.” What happens at THAT TIME depends on what you have at THIS TIME – right now. Don’t forget what you’ve got – dear Christians. You’ve got God’s promise that Michael will protect you. You’ve got God’s guarantee of wisdom and life IN CHRIST. With these promises, God wants you to be assured that you are holy through His blood – you are Saints in His sight. With these promises, God wants to assure you that you will be Triumphant “at that time.” Amen.