The Great Tribulation Series

When the book of Daniel opened, we met a young man, no more than a middle-school-aged student. Now, as Daniel closes, we see a man who is advanced in years and probably around his mid-80s. Daniel has dared to stand alone for God in a hostile environment. He has clearly shown us that a powerful spiritual life does not require ideal conditions in which to thrive and flourish.

Daniel worked a high-end government job when the government wrote rules that attempted to outlaw his faith. Daniel had access to the “White House” of his day and the President’s cabinet of Persia and Babylon. And, Daniel stood alone for God in an intimidating environment! After all, they threw him into a den of lions just for praying! Daniel teaches us that we can grow into godliness even in the darkest of places.

Find Daniel 12 and Revelation 7 with me, if you will. Both Daniel 12 and Revelation 7 are prophecies, and they are complicated. The prophetic pieces of your Bible are there to cause you to give hope in Jesus even more.

Daniel teaches us that we are to be faithful to Christ even in the most difficult times of life. Remember, Daniel teaches us that we can grow into godliness even in the darkest of places. Daniel teaches us that God is in control of our world and we find our real, lasting hope by looking to Him. For one more time, let’s climb into God’s “time machine” and see the future with Daniel, the Great!

Today’s Scripture

“At that time shall arise Michael, the great prince who has charge of your people. And there shall be a time of trouble, such as never has been since there was a nation till that time. But at that time your people shall be delivered, everyone whose name shall be found written in the book. 2 And many of those who sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, some to everlasting life, and some to shame and everlasting contempt. 3 And those who are wise shall shine like the brightness of the sky above; and those who turn many to righteousness, like the stars forever and ever. 4 But you, Daniel, shut up the words and seal the book, until the time of the end. Many shall run to and fro, and knowledge shall increase” (Daniel 12:1-4).

“Then one of the elders addressed me, saying, ‘Who are these, clothed in white robes, and from where have they come?’ 14 I said to him, ‘Sir, you know.’ And he said to me, ‘These are the ones coming out of the great tribulation. They have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb.

15 ‘Therefore they are before the throne of God,

and serve him day and night in his temple;

and he who sits on the throne will shelter them with his presence.

16 They shall hunger no more, neither thirst anymore;

the sun shall not strike them,

nor any scorching heat.

17 For the Lamb in the midst of the throne will be their shepherd,

and he will guide them to springs of living water,

and God will wipe away every tear from their eyes’” (Revelation 7:13-17).

Today, I want to speak to you about a time coming for all of us known as the Great Tribulation. God shows us a hope even in a seemingly hopeless time.

1. Trouble is Coming

“At that time shall arise Michael, the great prince who has charge of your people. And there shall be a time of trouble, such as never has been since there was a nation till that time. But at that time your people shall be delivered, everyone whose name shall be found written in the book” (Daniel 12:1).

The Bible repeatedly says that trouble is coming, serious trouble is coming.

1.1 Daniel’s Vision

Daniel’s dreams were given to him by God to tell Him what was about to happen. God controlled Daniel’s dreams in order to communicate to Daniel what was about to happen on the world’s stage. It’s a vision to warn us of difficult days to come and to prepare ourselves for the coming difficult days.

1.2 Michael

“Michael, the great prince” is one who stands watch over God’s people. Earlier in Daniel, we witness Michael standing against demonic forces to fight in places we cannot see (Daniel 10:3). Now, the little New Testament book of Jude tells us that Michael is an archangel (Jude 9). An archangel is a chief angel and Michael is the only archangel mentioned in your Bible. There may be more but Michael is the only archangel named. The Bible says it will be the archangel’s very voice that will cry out from heaven when Jesus Christ comes again and God’s people are resurrected from the dead (1 Thessalonians 4:16). Because he is the first angel, he has the big privilege of announcing the Second Coming. Because he is the first angel, he has big responsibilities, including fighting on your behalf in spiritual warfare. Again, Michael is positioned to stand watch over God’s people in a time of severe trouble.