It’s Time
Book of Daniel Series
6/22/2025
Text: Daniel 12 (CSB)
Introduction
How many people like watching professional fighting? Boxing or UFC in particular?
In the beginning of the fight, you always have the ring announcer come out and introduce the fighters. In the UFC, it’s Bruce Buffer. He is iconic with his introductions.
I’m going to have a little fun this morning.
I’m going to introduce this morning’s final installment of the Book of Daniel’s series like Bruce Buffer would-
LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, This is THE MAIN EVENT!
This fight will be observed and judged by God the Father HIMSELF
AND NOW, IT’S TIIIIIIIME! 7 Years for the undisputed rulership of the universe.
First, fighting out of this corner, This fighter is a deceiver, murderer, and professional con artist. He miserably lost the last time these two fighters met on Calvary’s, and has been craving this rematch for over 2000 years. Fighting out of hell’s fire, the devil himself, the evil serpent known as satan.
Now in this corner, fighting out of Heaven’s eternity, With a perfect record of absolute victory over sin, death, and the grave, He’s the Lion of Judah, the Savior who never taps out, and the One who’s coming back to finish the fight! The last time these two met, he crushed his opponent with a loss so decisive that no matter what happens now, HE has already won. Presenting the reigning, defending, undisputed, champion of the Universe The Alpha and Omega, Jesus the Christ.
As you can see, I have an active imagination and a very large nerd side.
This morning, we’re ringside for the cosmic showdown revealed in Daniel 12, where God’s Word pulls back the final curtain on the end times.
It needs to be noted right from the outset-
Much of this will happen after the event we know as the Rapture- when God takes Christians out of the world, ending the church age. God then turns 100% of HIS focus on Israel.
Daniel 12 is our fight card, showing the role of Michael, the rise of evil, the wisdom of the faithful, and the champion’s ultimate victory. Let’s dive into this chapter. We are going to go through it section by section, but lets start with a word of prayer.
Prayer- My LORD GOD- the El Shaddai- LORD of Heaven’s Armies, send us the Holy Spirit to prepare us for this fight as the church age comes to an end. Help us be bold in our witness for you, and win as many souls as we can before we meet you in the air.
I. The Time of Distress and Michael’s Stand (Daniel 12:1)
Scripture: “At that time Michael, the great prince who stands watch over your people, will rise up. There will be a time of distress such as never has occurred since nations came into being until that time. But at that time all your people who are found written in the book will escape.”
Daniel 12 opens with a dramatic scene: Michael, the archangel, rises up. This is a pivotal moment in time that we need to see.
Michael, called “the great prince who stands watch over” Israel, is God’s appointed guardian of His covenant people.
His “rising up” signals a divine shift—a declaration that the final end-time battle has begun.
Why does Michael rise? The text points to “a time of distress such as never has occurred.”
Considering the horrors that the Jewish people have had to endure throughout the centuries, that’s a pretty significant statement.
This is referring to the Great Tribulation, a period of unprecedented trouble Jesus referenced in Matthew 24:21. Michael stands to protect God’s people amid rising evil.
Think of a fighter, sitting on his stool, standing because the bell is about to ring. This isn’t just Michael standing at attention; it’s a battle cry, marking the onset of the ultimate conflict.
The distress being experienced by Israel today is driven by the spirit of the Antichrist, who opposes God’s plan and persecutes His people. A key sign of this antichrist spirit is the rise of antisemitism, which we see increasing today.
Hatred toward the Jewish people has long been a gauge of what is happening and the level of the warfare going on in the spiritual realm. Daniel 12:1 tells us that it intensifies as the end nears.
Michael rises as God’s warrior against this evil, ensuring the escape of those “found written in the book”—the book of life, symbolizing all people who are saved by God’s grace.
I believe when Michael rises, this is that ringside bell announcing that the fight is about to begin.
This points us at Rev 12, which says that Michael and God’s angels fight against the devil and his angels.
This is the point at which these evil beings lose any access to God’s throne and are finally cast out of heaven forever.
Yes, satan has access to God’s throne- he is the accuser of the saints (Rev 12:10), and his current access is seen in Job 1-2, and in Zech 3.
So now Michael gets to finally boot them out of heaven. I imagine he has been waiting to do this for thousands of years.
Then the scriptures tell us
Rev 12:12 Woe to the earth and the sea, because the devil has come down to you with great fury, because he knows his time is short.
That time- 7 years of tribulation coming upon the earth, but focused against God’s people.
As I was preparing the message, I had a thought.
I don’t know if this is for certain, but I was reminded what 1 Thess 4 says concerning the rapture-
1Th 4:16 For the Lord himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the archangel’s voice, and with the trumpet of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first.
What is with the shout and the trumpet?
After studying Daniel 12, I think at God’s command, Michael rises and gives a war cry,and sounds that trumpet. It’s to signify the final war has begun.
God being a good Father, get his people out the war zone- that’s the rapture.
My friends, look up, for your redemption draws nigh.
Application: Church, we’re not yet in the Tribulation, but we see the stage being set. Antisemitism, social unrest, and people believing that evil is good? They are all indications that the end times are here.
This calls us to pray for Israel, stand against the hatred being spread, and trust that God has angelic forces like Michael fighting for His people.
That’s what God is calling us to do right now.
Be ready. Check yourself- is their oil in your lamp? Is the wick trimmed and ready to meet Jesus when HE comes? (Matthew 25 Homework)
Remember also to intercede for Israel. Spend time in this battle on your knees in prayer.
Become a soldier in God’s end-time army until that trumpet calls us home.
That’s when we will see-
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II. The Resurrection (Rapture) and Reward of the Faithful (Daniel 12:2-3)
Scripture: “Many of those who sleep in the dust of the earth will awake, some to eternal life, and some to disgrace and eternal contempt. Those who have insight will shine like the brightness of the sky’s expanse, and those who lead many to righteousness, like the stars forever and ever.”
Verse 2 introduces two things- the rapture and the resurrection. This is one of the Old Testament’s clearest references to the bodily resurrection of the dead.
Some will awake to “eternal life”—the destiny of the righteous—while others face “disgrace and eternal contempt.” This points to the Sheep and Goats judgment at the end of the tribulation, where believers receive eternal life and the unrighteous face eternal separation from God.
Verse 3 highlights “those who have insight.” These are believers who understand God’s truth and live it faithfully. Cross-reference this with Daniel 11:32-33, which says, “The people who know their God will be strong and take action. Those who have insight among the people will give understanding to many.”
These insightful ones, even amid persecution, share God’s truth and lead others to righteousness. Daniel 12:10 reinforces this, stating, “those who have insight will understand.” This insight isn’t worldly knowledge but spiritual discernment—knowing God’s Word and His prophetic plan.
This is key to us- it points to God beginning to call and prepare some of us to be really able to give an answer for the hope that we have.
This is a special outpouring of The Holy Spirit in the end times for us to be able to witness, and for our words to have an extra power to bring conviction and repentance from sin.
You know how there are people that you have as contacts or friends on social media that you barely know, or they were a friend of a friend that added you? I have a lot of “friends” like that.
Do you know what? Many people have been reaching out to me lately on messaging apps asking about God, what the bible teaches, and how to be saved. Young people, middle ages, older….the Holy Spirit is starting to move to bring in the end times harvest.
What we all need to be right now-
Illustration: Picture a lighthouse in a storm. Those with insight are like that lighthouse, shining God’s truth to guide others through the darkness of the end times. Their faithfulness saves them and leads others to righteousness. Their reward? They’ll “shine like the stars forever and ever.” What a glorious promise!
What do we do- be ready.
Application: Are we growing in spiritual insight through God’s Word and the Holy Spirit? .
Are we sharing the gospel to lead others to righteousness? In these last days, let’s be lighthouses, shining brightly for Christ.
The third thing we see in Daniel 12
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III. Sealed Prophecy turning into End-Time Understanding (Daniel 12:4, 9)
Scripture: Vs 4“But you, Daniel, keep these words secret and seal the book until the time of the end. Many will roam about, and knowledge will increase.” (v. 4)
Vs 9 “He said, ‘Go on your way, Daniel, for the words are secret and sealed until the time of the end.’” (v. 9)
In these two verses, God tells Daniel to “seal the book” because the full meaning of these prophecies won’t be clear until “the time of the end.”
Think about that for a moment.
The great Christian thinkers and apologists, Augustine, Thomas Aquinus, Martin Luther, John Calvin, and Jacob Arminius, CW Lewis did not have the same understanding of these scriptures that we will in the last days by this unique outpouring of the HOLY SPIRIT.
This last outpouring is not going to be like the Pentecostal revivals of the past- everyone hooping and hollering, rolling on the floor, or having some guy knocking us over. It’s going to be a very practical infilling of power and ability to understand the scriptures and the boldness and ability to proclaim them clearly.
Are you ready?
Let’s look at the phrase “many will roam about, and knowledge will increase.” This suggests a time of rapid technological advancement or a global search for truth, characteristic of the end times.
I’ve said this before (hold up phone). Pretty much anything you want to know is a Google Search away.
For example- During my sermon prep, I asked Grok, Twitters AI, to give me the exact formula needed to launch a 1 ton satellite from Space X in Texas to Mars on Friday at noon. It spit out the exact 5 pages of complex maths formula and fuel requirements necessary in about 5 seconds.
Even 10 or 15 years ago, that would have taken a NASA supercomputer days to calculate.
Pretty cool huh? That shows how fast our technology is growing, and with AI it’s mind boggling how fast everything changes. We are probably less than a decade at this point from having an AI driven autonomous robot doing our housework for us.
That’s just human knowledge.
What Daniel is telling us is that as the end approaches, the Holy Spirit will give believers a greater understanding of these prophecies and how they tie in with what we see in the world.
Those living in the time of their fulfillment—possibly us—will see Daniel’s words come alive with clarity. The “insightful” of verse 10 will understand because they rely on God’s Spirit, not human wisdom.
Illustration: For years, Bible prophecy has been like a puzzle with pieces scattered all over the floor for centuries. Daniel received the pieces, but only in the end times will the full picture come together.
Today, with global events—wars, moral decline, technological leaps—we’re seeing those pieces align.
Application: Are we studying God’s Word to understand the times? Are we open to the Holy Spirit’s guidance to discern prophetic truth? Let’s be diligent students of Scripture, ready to see God’s plan unfold.
The fourth thing we see here in Daniel 12
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IV. The Great Tribulation and the Millennial Kingdom (Daniel 12:11-12)
Scripture: “From the time the daily sacrifice is abolished and the abomination that causes desolation is set up, there will be 1,290 days. Happy is the one who waits for and reaches 1,335 days.”
Verses 11 and 12 provide specific timelines that spark much discussion.
In our understanding of the End Times, verse 11’s “1,290 days” points to the Great Tribulation, a three-and-a-half-year period of intense persecution under the Antichrist, which begins with the “abomination that causes desolation” (see Daniel 9:27, Matthew 24:15).
This is when the Antichrist defiles the temple, halts sacrifices, and declares himself god.
Verse 12 mentions “1,335 days,” an additional 45 days beyond the 1,290.
This has been widely debated over the years of what and why are these 45 days necessary to start the Millennial Kingdom—Christ’s 1,000-year reign on earth (Revelation 20:4-6)?
Those extra 45 days likely represent the judgment of the nations, described in Matthew 25:31-46, where Jesus separates the sheep (the righteous) from the goats (the unrighteous) before establishing His kingdom. Those who “wait” and remain faithful through this period are “happy,” entering the Millennial Kingdom with Christ.
The second thing that will be happening is the healing of the Earth. Remember, at this point, the Earth is a hellscape of judgment, fire, famine, and possibly nuclear war. God will be moving and bringing life back to the earth so those who are going to live on the earth during the Millennium will have a paradise.
Ask yourself- Are we living with the expectancy of Christ’s return? Are we encouraging others to endure in faith?
This is the finish line for us. The last stretch is grueling, but crossing it brings victory. The 1,290 days are the tough race of the Tribulation; the extra 45 days are the final push to the glory of Christ’s kingdom.
Illustration: Those of us who have had to run for a living- ie military members know that when you see the finish line, you put every amount of energy left and sprint to the finish line.
That brings us to the last point of Daniel 12
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V. The Assurance of Reward (Daniel 12:13)
Scripture: “But as for you, go on your way to the end; you will rest, and then you will rise to receive your inheritance at the end of the days.”
The chapter closes with God speaking directly to Daniel: “Go on your way to the end.” God assures Daniel that his work is done, and he will “rest” until he rises to receive his “inheritance” at the resurrection. In our eschatology, we believe the rapture occurs before the Tribulation (1 Thessalonians 4:16-17), meaning believers, including Daniel, will be raised to meet Christ in the air and later return with Him to reign in the Millennial Kingdom. This verse promises a reward for those who stay faithful to the end.
Application: My friends, be encouraged- God sees your faithfulness. Whether you’re serving quietly, praying fervently, or sharing the gospel, your labor isn’t in vain. Are you living for the eternal reward promised to those who endure?
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Conclusion
Daniel 12 is a clarion call for us today. Michael’s rise reminds us that God is sovereign over the battles of the end times, even as evil like antisemitism, wars and rumors of wars grow.
Those with insight provided by the HOLY SPIRITs power will shine by living and sharing God’s truth. The sealed prophecies are becoming clearer, urging us to study Scripture and seek the Spirit’s guidance. The timelines of the Tribulation and Millennial Kingdom point to Christ’s ultimate victory. And the promise to Daniel assures us that faithfulness leads to eternal reward.
All rise
Call to Action: Let’s commit to being the insightful who understand and shine. Pray for Israel and the persecuted. Study God’s Word diligently. Share the gospel boldly. Live with the hope of Christ’s return, knowing our inheritance awaits. Will you stand with me today and say, “Lord, make me faithful until the end”?
Prayer/ “Battle Belongs”
Pray for fellowship
