A Time to Come
Daniel 12:1-6
And at that time shall Michael stand up, the great prince which standeth for the children of thy people: and there shall be a time of trouble, such as never was since there was a nation even to that same time: and at that time thy people shall be delivered, every one that shall be found written in the book.And many of them that sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, some to everlasting life, and some to shame and everlasting contempt.
It is important to note that at the time appointed Michael, the prince of the people, will stand up. Indeed, he is described as Israel's prince which stands for the children of the people. Then comes the time known as Jacob's trouble. I just want to talk for a minute about Daniel and his vision of when the Lord arrived. We see Daniel here with the rest of the captives by a beautiful river. The scenery is lovely, yet Daniel is stretched out as one dead. He is upset; he is morning. He does not know what is going on. Is this not the scene we see in Heaven during Revelation 22:2 where the river runs beside the trees for the healing of the nations. Yet we see the oddest thing is found in Revelation 21:4. He has to say there will be no more sorrow, nor any more pain, and God will wipe every tear from their eyes. Imagine if you will, Daniel missing the king so much. You may wonder what happened here. Just like in the Korean dramas, we see the young woman pining beside the river crying because her lover is gone. Then, we see him coming to meet her through the trees. He wraps his arms around her and tells her to stop crying now because he is there, and she is safe. They are never parted again. This is the picture here.
And they that be wise shall shine as the brightness of the firmament; and they that turn many to righteousness as the stars for ever and ever.But thou, O Daniel, shut up the words, and seal the book, even to the time of the end: many shall run to and fro, and knowledge shall be increased.
How can you go someplace beautiful without someone you love. In Germany they have the oft-repeated saying, that they 'would not like to pay the light bill in large places.' Let me tell you something, if someone you love is there you would move Heaven and earth to pay every bill. Imagine for the financially minded, being in a place where there are no fees. The people with him slunk away because as you may already know some fees are much too high to be borne. Imagine also the Lord saying to these wise and righteous, 'you are my light bill.' See now what seemingly causes the seals to be loosened. Remember the Lamb that has been slain is the only one which can open the sealed scroll of judgment in Revelation 5:5. However, it is important to see that many "run to and fro" both then and even now. It is this running as Daniel did that signifies their distress. To what end will this be? Matthew 24:7-12 speaks of the perilous times that come as the nations' rise and famines come with earthquakes in divers' places. In their distress God provides for those that seek him; he will cause knowledge to be increased. 1 Corinthians 1:30 assures that he has been made unto us wisdom. Therefore, he alone will establish and strengthen his people. Daniel has been commanded to do two things: "shut up the words and seal the book."
Then I Daniel looked, and, behold, there stood other two, the one on this side of the bank of the river, and the other on that side of the bank of the river. And one said to the man clothed in linen, which was upon the waters of the river, How long shall it be to the end of these wonders?
Thereby God will make it so that he alone is the revealer of all that is to come. So many do not wish to seek him even now. But the ones who do he calls them blessed in the first part of the text. The wise and those who turn others to himself are described as shining like the stars and even as the heavens. In the beginning of Psalm 19:1, he made them show off his handiwork. Thus, we see these believers walking in their created as well as their consecrated purpose. Here Daniel sees more people than the ones currently speaking with him. Two men, one on either side of the river, call to each other regarding the length of time of the vision. There is also a third man seen upon the face of the waters. Genesis 1:2-3 tells how the earth was without form and void; then the spirit moved upon the face of the deep. Now, he is seen moving in the deep matters in this way again. Creation was a process which took some time to complete. Here, the Spirit asks how long these things will be before the time appointed. He swears by himself in Hebrews 6:13 for he can swear by none greater. Therefore, this is the eternal covenant made with the house of Abraham and the church forever. He swears by himself of the new things to come.