Daniel 12:1-3: Basic Points on the End Times

"But go your way till the end. And you shall rest and shall

stand in your allotted place at the end of the days." Daniel 12:13

Let's be honest here: we don't like talking about the end times. Because there are so many opinions on the matter, we often give up trying to solve the puzzle, asking, "What's the point in even researching these things if so many people have so many different opinions?" But is that really how we ought to approach scripture? Although there are many different opinions on these matters (and sometimes they are presented very pridefully, I will admit), should that not motivate us more to determine what scripture reveals to us? Well, this morning, I'm not going to discuss all of the "eschatological opinions," but what I will do is give you the basics, that is, the fundamental, undeniable facts about the end times. By the end of this post, you should be able to answer the question, "What can we all agree about the end times?" Though I personally believe that we should diligently look into tribulation and millennialist viewpoints (ultimately because scripture does speak on these things), let us start this morning with the basics.

In Daniel 12, we see God giving Daniel some final words on the "end times." Throughout many of the past 11 chapters, God has given Daniel visions on what will happen in the days to come, but here, we find God wrapping it all up. He starts off with speaking of how, in the end times, Michael will arise. Who's this "Michael" guy? There are many opinions, but put simply, Michael is most likely the "angelic representative"* of the people of God. Next, we find two great truths about the eschaton (eschaton = end times):

Firstly, the end times will consist of a time of great trouble. Many think that this "time of trouble, such as never been since there was a nation till that time," (Daniel 12:1b). Many believe that there will be a literal seven-year "Great Tribulation." Others think that this "time of trouble" consists more generally of a time in which God's people will be persecuted and evil will reign on the earth, such as the day and age we live in right now between the two comings of Christ (the "interadvent age"). Either way, scripture is clear: in the end times, a time of great trouble will happen, whatever that may look like.

Secondly, God's people will be delivered from this time of great trouble. "But at that time your people shall be delivered, everyone whose name shall be found written in the book" (Daniel 12:1c). From further revelation, we understand that this "book" spoken of is the Lamb's Book of Life in Revelation 13:8, in which the names of God's people were written "before the foundation of the world." God's point here is this: his people, that is, those who call upon his name (Rom. 10:13), who are written in the Lamb's Book of Life, will be delivered from the time of trouble. They need not fear because God will deliver them.

Let us note that the people of God who will be delivered include both those who have already past and those who are still alive during the end times. "And many of those who sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, some to eternal life..." (Daniel 12:2a). Those who are still alive during the tribulation will be delivered from it, and those who have past before it will "awake....to everlasting life." In the end times, God's people will be brought to everlasting life, whether they past long ago or are still alive. What great hope for our loved ones who have past, yet in their lifetime called upon the name of Christ!

Thirdly, the wicked will not be delivered from this time of great trouble. Those who have refused to call on the name of Christ will awake "to shame and everlasting contempt." God has been patient with men (2 Peter 3:9), but eventually, he will be patient no longer. Many presume on God's grace, but there will come a day when those who have not hidden themselves in Christ will bear the full weight of the wrath of God for their sin. In that day, they will seek death, but death will not be found among them (Rev. 9:6). The wrath of God will be so unimaginably awful that they will ask for the mountains and hills to fall upon them (Rev. 6:16). What great motive for us to evangelize to those who do not yet know Christ!

Fourthly, our "application of the eschaton" is to be faithful to the end. Daniel is told in the very last verse of the book, "But go your way till the end. And you shall rest and shall stand in your allotted place at the end of the days." Notice both the responsibility of man and the sovereignty of God here. Though Daniel's place in heaven is "allotted" to him, he is still called to "go your way," that is, be faithful unto death (see Rev. 2:10). Likewise, this is our application of the end times. The point here is clear: though the end times will be full of great trouble, God's people are called to remain faithful to him, no matter how difficult it may get. For in doing so, we have our salvation assured to us: "“But the one who endures to the end will be saved” (Matthew 24:13).

Lastly, in the end times, Christ will come again and fulfill all things. Thanks to further biblical revelation, we know that in the end times, Christ will come again. "And while they were gazing into heaven as he went, behold, two men stood by them in white robes, and said, 'Men of Galilee, why do you stand looking into heaven? This Jesus, who was taken up from you into heaven, will come in the same way as you saw him go into heaven'" (Acts 1:11-12). Though let us realize that when he comes this second time, he will not come to die but to judge: innocent will be the judgment for those who have clothed themselves in Christ's righteousness, guilty will be the verdict for those who have neglected God's free gift of salvation. Though many disagree on when Christ will come again in regards to the eschaton,** this is clear: Christ will come again, and he will fulfill what was spoke of him in all of scripture.

In the end, we must not forsake the clarity of scripture. Although many pastors and scholars disagree on their "eschatological opinion," we cannot deny these fundamental truths, namely that:

1) The end times will consist of great trouble.

2) God's people will be delivered from this trouble.

3) The wicked will not be delivered from this trouble.

4) God's people ought to remain faithful amidst this trouble.

5) Christ is coming again (to justify his people and to condemn the wicked)!

For Christians, these truths are incredibly hopeful, knowing that there will be trials in the final days, yet God will rescue us from them. What greater hope is there than to know that the very sovereign God who decreed a time of great trial will be the very same God who delivers us from it! What an almighty, wise, sovereign, and gracious God we serve!

*Credit where credit is due: I took this term from the ESV study Bible.

**If there is one thing that I am personally convinced of regarding the end times (other than the things listed above), it is that Christ will come after the great time of trouble. In my opinion, Revelation 5 makes this evidently clear.