10-12-2025 The Time of the End
Text: Daniel 12:1-10
A while back we studied the Book of Daniel where we learned he was a prophet that told kings what their dreams meant, and he was privileged to see what was going to happen in the end times. This morning, I want to revisit what Daniel has to say about the Great Tribulation. Our text is from Daniel 12:1-10 where Daniel wrote: “(1) And at that time shall Michael stand up, the great prince which stand for the children of your people: and there shall be a time of trouble, such as never was since there was a nation even to that same times: and at that time your people shall be delivered, everyone who shall be found written in the Book. (2) And many of them who sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, some to everlasting life, and some to shame and everlasting contempt. (3) 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. (4) 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. (5) Then I, Daniel, looked and behold, there stood other two, the one this side of the bank of the river, and the other on that side of the bank of the river. (6) And one said to the Man clothed in linen, Who was upon the waters of the river, How long shall it be to the end of these wonders? (7) And I heard the Man clothed in linen, Who was upon the waters of the river, when He held up His right hand and His left hand unto Heaven, and swore by him Who lives forever that it shall be for a time, times, and an half; and when he (the antichrist) shall have accomplished to scatter the power of the holy people, all these things shall be finished. (8) And I heard, but I understood not, then said I, O my Lord, what shall be the end of these things? (9) And He said, Go your way, Daniel: for the words are closed up and sealed till the time of the end. (10) Many shall be purified, and made white, and tried; but the wicked shall do wickedly: and none of the wicked shall understand; but the wise shall understand.”
Verses 1-3 show us that Daniel has been given a chance to see ahead to what we know today will be the Tribulation. He tells us in verse 1 and was later confirmed by Jesus in Matthew 24:21 that it will be a time of great distress, unequaled from the beginning of the world. There will be a time of evil and great suffering in the days ahead for even the people of God. But God has tempered that suffering with the promise that all believers will be rescued if their name in written in the Book. Your name is entered into the Book only when accept Jesus into your heart and you put your faith and trust in Him. In the end, some will rise to everlasting life, and some will rise to shame and everlasting contempt.
Those who win souls to Jesus will rise and receive eternal rewards. People in the entertainment world try to be stars only to find that their stardom is temporary. But with God, we can be eternal stars by being wise and leading many to His righteousness. When we share our Lord with others, we become radiantly beautiful in God’s sight.
Sealing up the words in the scroll in verse 4 meant that its was to be kept safe and preserved until God’s proper time. God wants believers from all times to look back on His work in history and find hope. Daniel didn’t understand the exact meaning of the times and events in his vision, and the whole book will not be understood until the end of this earth’s history. Hindsight can be a beautiful tool for understanding events in our lives; however, we must depend on God as we live day to day.
Verse 4 also tells us that in the end times “many shall run to and fro.” All we have to do is look around and see that we have arrived at this point. Everyone is on the move with busy schedules that dominate their family and work lives. Because of the unprecedented speed and ease of travel, we can go anywhere in a matter of minutes or hours. The highways are always crowded, thousands of people are frequent flyers, and the time of speed and travel today are greater than they were at any other period in history. It’s sad, though, that many of us are too busy to take time for God. When we don’t set aside time for God, we risk our eternal life because we put aside what we need to do to assure our eternal life. We all need to ask ourselves if we’re too busy to take time for God and if that answer is yes, then start today to make changes. Regular church attendance is important but so is taking time daily to read your Bible and pray for guidance on how to live the kind of life that reflects God to the world.
Verse 4 also tells us that ‘knowledge will be increased.” Again, we are surely in this point. Look at the increase in scientific, medical, and technical knowledge. We have unprecedented space travel, advances in dealing with critical diseases, and an explosion in technical knowledge with the computer age and artificial intelligence. New communication breakthroughs continue to change our lives. Since knowledge multiplies, acceleration of knowledge will continue to increase. Every area of life is now affected and fulfills this prophecy so many years ago.
In verse 5 Daniel sees two angels on either side of the Hiddekel – or Tigris - River. In verse 6 when he sees a ‘Man clothed in linen’ who is Jesus Christ, and asks Him how long it will be when what he sees in his vision with be fulfilled. Verse 7 confirms that it is Jesus because no angel ever swore an oath to God.
The phrase ‘for a time, times, and a half’ means 3½ years which is the last half of the Great Tribulation when the antichrist will bring tremendous persecution on the world, especially to Israel. Verse 7 further says when the antichrist ‘shall have accomplished to scatter the power of the holy people, all these things shall be finished’ meaning that the antichrist will scatter the people of Israel. So Jesus Himself shows when the events of Daniel’s vision will unfold. Verse 9 confirms that what Daniel has seen belongs to the future meaning the prophecies will occur in the ‘end times.’
The phrase ‘none of the wicked shall understand’ in verse 10 shows us that the wickedness in the world will increase despite increased enlightenment because the wicked have no desire to understand the ways of God. They’re always learning but are never able to come to the knowledge of the truth. Education doesn’t improve morality and the wicked will find ways to be even more wicked. But the phrase ‘but the wise will understand’ refers to those who truly know the Lord, their Bible, and avidly search and study the Scriptures knowing it’s the Word of God. This helps us to understand that troubles and persecution make very little sense when we experience them. Sometimes, loved ones are taken from us, disease destroys our quality of life, and evil situations confront us. A happy ending or a specific lesson learned may not always occur as a result of our suffering. Sometimes however, God wants to teach us through suffering. If we endure and are open to His work in us He can use life’s hardships to purify and refine us.
So as we look around we can see the Bible is coming true. We can see that we are living in the end times. But we don’t have to worry if we have Jesus Christ for we will be blessed in the ‘time of the end’ because we are purified by the blood that was shed for us on the cross. We’re part of the wise who have come to understand the path to salvation. Everyone on this earth has the choice to be spiritually blessed or spiritually blind. But there is only one choice that will lead to eternal life in the light of the glory of Jesus Christ. The other choice will lead to eternal life in eternal darkness.
Until we meet again, may God bless you and keep you, may He shine His light on you, show you grace, and give you peace in all the days ahead.