Month: August 2020

A Deep Dive into Daniel — Part 25 — Many Shall Run To and Fro

Marcus Walker Van EveryLeave a comment

“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 12:4

Today I get to focus — in my opinion — on one of the most easily misinterpreted verses in the prophetic word.

Daniel 12:4 [see above]

For years I heard teachers and pastors interpret this verse as a prophetic prediction of the advancements of modern civilization in the last days — such as fast-paced international travel [running to and fro] and the acceleration of internet technology [increase in knowledge]. Many have used this one verse as a proof text to demonstrate how the technological advancements of the 20th Century are signs of the fulfillment of this prophecy.

But is that what the LORD was communicating here? Is that how Daniel would have understood this verse? Does this verse predict increased travel and technology at the end of the age, or is it something else altogether?

Let’s take a closer look.

Clues about the Future

Before we consider the meaning of Daniel 12:4, I would like to compare a few common interpretive approaches when reading the prophetic word — especially apocalyptic literature.

Some try to interpret these prophetic passages with a modern-day mindset by imposing the present worldview onto the Scriptures. This is especially prevalent in passages from the book of Revelation, where the supernatural and symbolic imagery is often reinterpreted through modern lenses. For example …

  • Some speculate that the 3rd Trumpet in Revelation is a nuclear warhead, described as a “great star burning like a torch fell from heaven” [Rev. 8:10].
  • Some suggest that the demonic locusts that John saw in Revelation 9 are descriptions of modern-day helicopters because of the following language — “the noise of their wings was like the noise of many chariots with horses rushing into battle” [Revelation 9:9].
  • Others ponder whether satellite television or the internet is implied in Revelation 11, allowing the whole world to see the dead bodies of the two witnesses. “For three and a half days all peoples and tribes and tongues and nations will view their bodies and will not permit them to be laid in a tomb” [Revelation 11:9].

Those who hold such views argue that the prophets often saw visions containing futuristic images that they could not explain to their original audience. So they just used extravagant, symbolic language from their own day in an attempt to describe what they saw of the future.

Personally, I give the Biblical authors much more credit than that. While I do not doubt that prophets like Daniel and the Apostle John often received visions that they could not fully grasp or comprehend, I also believe that the Scriptures have been divinely orchestrated and integrated by the Holy Spirit by using patterns, themes, numbers, symbols, and key figures of speech to connect the entire Bible using key points of intersection. In other words, nothing is random in the Scriptures. Every word is strategically placed to help provide the deeper meaning and correct interpretation. We must always use Scripture to interpret Scripture and be careful of imposing our own imaginations on the text.

On the other extreme, however, many read Biblical prophecy as purely symbolic and spiritual — as having no greater literal, or supernatural fulfillment. Those who hold such a view would consider the locust army in Revelation 9 as nothing more than an allegorical representation of a deeper spiritual truth. In other words, these “locusts” neither represent anything literal nor supernatural nor future for that matter, but only can be applied in some abstract spiritual sense.

Once again, this interpretive method falls short, failing to acknowledge that all symbols and allegories in Scripture point us both to greater supernatural realities and literal future fulfillments.

So how should we interpret these prophetic visions of the future? Can the Bible give us any clues about the future?

I do believe we can infer some things about the future from the prophetic word, but we must be careful to distinguish our conjecture and speculation from what we find explicitly in the text.

I will provide one example of how the prophetic word could provide a connection to our present day by way of implication. Consider the words of Jesus.

“And you will hear of wars and rumors of wars. See that you are not alarmed, for this must take place, but the end is not yet. For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom, and there will be famines and earthquakes in various places.”

Matthew 24:6-7

I have considered that Jesus’ words could be speaking of a unique future generation that has the capacity to hear news reports (rumors) of wars, revolutions, and natural disasters in “various places” around the world. Of course it seems unlikely that Jesus and the disciples had the capacity to receive such worldwide reports in their day. News surely traveled much slower in the First Century.

Yet here we are in our present day with the ability to receive up-to-date news reports all over the world at the click of a button. Perhaps Jesus was giving us a clue about the unique capacity for the final generation.

So while I do affirm that the Scriptures may sometimes provide clues to us about the future and especially about the end of the age, I do not believe Daniel 12:4 has anything to do with predicting the internet age.

I believe it has everything to do with the mysteries of the prophetic word being unlocked and unsealed in this final generation so that we are able to exercise wisdom and lead many to righteousness!

Many Shall Go To and Fro

What did the LORD mean to convey to Daniel when He said that “many shall run to and fro?” Was God giving us a clue about future travel habits of the world in the last days, or was He referring to something else?

As always, we must allow the context of the passage and entire book determine the meaning of this verse. We must remember that Daniel had just received some of the most important prophetic visions in history. He was shown the details of key events and coming judgments that exclusively apply to the last days — or the time of the end.

To Daniel, much of what he witnessed in these visions was too overwhelming for him to process, which is why the LORD had to consistently remind him that these prophetic visions would ultimately be fulfilled in the last days.

And because these prophecies would not be fully discernible until the last days, the LORD told Daniel to seal up the visions until a future generation emerges that is ready to unseal and understand them. This wasn’t the first time Daniel was commanded to seal up his visions.

“The vision of the evenings and the mornings that has been told is true, but seal up the vision, for it refers to many days from now.”

Daniel 8:26

So if these visions have been sealed for the final generation, then what does it mean that many will run to and fro?

Simply, this verse means that many generations of believers will scour these prophetic texts and intently go back and forth, back and forth, throughout the Scriptures in search of their meaning. Of course, prior to the revelation of Christ and the New Testament, few would have any chance of accurately interpreting these prophecies. There were too many missing puzzle pieces at that time.

But as Jesus and the Apostles began to expand upon the testimony of the Biblical prophets, more revelation was given and more keys provided to unlocking these mysteries. And that is precisely what has happened now for the past 2,500 years!

Many have been digging and searching the Scriptures — going back and forth in God’s holy word — prayerfully seeking answers to these prophetic mysteries. This running to and fro is instructive for us today, reminding us how to approach and interpret the Bible. We always use Scripture to interpret Scripture. We go back and forth and find the context clues that connect the prophetic word, and God begins to reveal the meaning of the more difficult mysteries. Now that we have the entire Bible to draw from, the prophetic word can and should be read and understood.

Knowledge Shall Increase

It is also interesting that the LORD prophesied to Daniel that “knowledge shall increase” in the last days, as these prophecies are unsealed. This certainly includes the concept of progressive revelation — which basically describes how God has revealed Himself to mankind progressively throughout history, culminating with the revelation of His Son Jesus Christ. It is at the 2nd Coming of Christ that the LORD will be fully revealed in glory!

“Long ago, at many times and in many ways, God spoke to our fathers by the prophets, but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed the heir of all things, through whom also he created the world.”

Hebrews 1:1-2

I find it interesting — in contrast to Daniel — that the LORD strictly commanded John not to seal up the book of Revelation. “Do not seal up the words of the prophecy of this book, for the time is near.” [Revelation 22:10]

I believe the closing of the New Testament was the beginning of God’s unlocking and unsealing of the prophetic word, including Daniel. As God’s people have sought to understand the prophecies of the Bible, we have seen a tremendous increase in knowledge and prophetic understanding in these last days.

I do believe Daniel’s prophetic visions have been unsealed and can now be interpreted by the Holy Spirit for the serious student of God’s word. If we are willing to put in the time to “run to and fro” through the Scriptures, then our “knowledge will increase” and our understanding of these prophecies will expand to new depths.

So many principles could be applied in this regard. The principle of stewardship, for example, which reminds us to be faithful with little and God will give us more. The principle of obedience, which tells us that if we obey what we do know, then God will disclose more of Himself to us [see John 14:21].

Jesus consistently reminds us … “he who has ears let him hear!”

We must always remember that when our knowledge of God and His word does increase and our understanding of the prophetic word grows deeper, it is never for the sake of mere knowledge. God wants us to take what we know and show the world how His prophetic word is true and is being fulfilled before our very eyes! He wants us to be His witnesses and share the gospel of Jesus Christ to a lost and dying world! He commands us to go and make disciples of all nations — teaching them everything that He commanded us to do!

Even so, Lord Jesus, come!

A Deep Dive into Daniel — Part 24 — The Last Day the Dead are Raised

Marcus Walker Van EveryLeave a comment

“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. 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.“

Daniel 12:2-3

One of the most convincing proofs of the supernatural origin of the Bible is discovered in the mystery of how all 66 books of the Bible — written by 40 different human authors in at least 3 languages, on three different continents, and spanning nearly 2000 years — create an multidimensional, integrated message system from God that coalesces into one divinely inspired Book. The Bible is the true account of all things past, present, future. That is why by definition it is inerrant, infallible, and authoritative.

Few of the Biblical writers ever knew one another, much less lived contemporaneously with one another, and yet when you put all the pieces of Scripture together you begin to see no mere human invention. You see the living Word of God! Ponder for a moment the ways God has validated His message to the world …

  1. Unsearchable complexity
  2. Powerful simplicity
  3. Internal consistency
  4. External corroboration
  5. Historical integrity
  6. Living testimony
  7. Prophetic accuracy
  8. Clear design

You realize that the Word of God is unparalleled and unprecedented and unequalled among the works of men. It is the true lens through which we view reality. More amazing still — from beginning to end — the testimony of the Holy Spirit points to one Person — the Creator of the Universe — and reveals the One True God in the Lord of Jesus Christ.

Daniel 12 provides an opportunity to take a Biblical subject like the resurrection of the dead and demonstrate how the testimony of Jesus, the prophets, and the Apostles not only are in perfect agreement but also form a comprehensive and coherent picture of this future supernatural event.

Notice how I said future?

That is called an element of timing, which is significant when studying Biblical prophecy because either something has already happened and been fulfilled in history or it is still yet future. And to make matters even more fascinating, sometimes it’s both!

So how can I say definitively that the resurrection of the dead is a prophetic event that has not yet occurred?

And what else can we learn about the resurrection from the testimony of Jesus and the Biblical prophets? [For some deeper background material on the topic of the Resurrection feel free to check out this post]

The End of the Days

Notice how Daniel correlates bodily resurrection to everlasting life and contrasts it with everlasting death. God provides white robes of righteousness as coverings of glory and praise for His people, while those who have rejected The LORD and His Anointed will be ashamed and lay naked before the LORD and His divine judgment.

Before we turn our attention to the words of Jesus — our Authority on the resurrection — I would like to point out that the Lord Jesus told personally told Daniel when the resurrection would occur [Daniel 10:1-9 & 12:1-13]. First of all, the resurrection of the dead clearly follows this time of great tribulation — called Jacob’s Trouble. Despite the many tragedies that have beset God’s people historically — from the Babylonians, to the Romans, to the Mohammedans, and on to the holocaust of Nazi Germany — none of them will equal this time of distress. It is unprecedented and will be accompanied by signs and wonders on earth and in the heavens that cannot be mistaken.

The LORD’s very last recorded word to Daniel was in regard to his future hope of resurrection when he will one day again stand upon the earth to receive his inheritance. The LORD told Daniel this would happen at the “end of the days.“

“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

And of course we would expect Jesus to confirm this, since He was the one that informed Daniel to begin with.

So what do we find?

“For I have come down from heaven, not to do my own will but the will of him who sent me. 39And this is the will of him who sent me, that I should lose nothing of all that he has given me, but raise it up on the last day. 40For this is the will of my Father, that everyone who looks on the Son and believes in him should have eternal life, and I will raise him up on the last day … No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws him. And I will raise him up on the last day.”

Jesus Christ — John 6:38-40, 44

For emphasis the Lord Jesus mentions the timing of the resurrection of the dead three times in 6 verses. The resurrection occurs “ON THE LAST DAY!”

Jesus said to her, “Your brother will rise again.” Martha said to him, “I know that he will rise again in the resurrection on the last day.” Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live,  and everyone who lives and believes in me shall never die. Do you believe this?” She said to him, “Yes, Lord; I believe that you are the Christ, the Son of God, who is coming into the world.”

[John 11:23-27]

The Return of Jesus and the Resurrection of the Dead

Now that it has been established that the resurrection of the righteous will occur on the last day at the end of the age, let’s find out what else coincides with the resurrection of the dead. Few people realize that Jesus’ parable of the wheat and the tares is a direct expansion upon Daniel’s prophecy about the resurrection of the dead. Consider the parallels.

Then he left the crowds and went into the house. And his disciples came to him, saying, “Explain to us the parable of the weeds of the field.” 37He answered, “The one who sows the good seed is the Son of Man. 38The field is the world, and the good seed is the sons of the kingdom. The weeds are the sons of the evil one,39and the enemy who sowed them is the devil. The harvest is the end of the age, and the reapers are angels. 40Just as the weeds are gathered and burned with fire, so will it be at the end of the age. 41The Son of Man will send his angels, and they will gather out of his kingdom all causes of sin and all law-breakers, 42and throw them into the fiery furnace. In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth. 43Then the righteous will shine like the sun in the kingdom of their Father. He who has ears, let him hear.”

Matthew 13:36-43

Notice both Daniel and Jesus link together the resurrection the dead and the day of recompense, as the wicked will receive their punishment and the righteous their reward, which is nothing short of the Kingdom! Jesus reminds us that this is the end of the age.

“Truly, truly, I say to you, an hour is coming, and is now here, when the dead will hear the voice of the Son of God, and those who hear will live. For as the Father has life in himself, so he has granted the Son also to have life in himself. And he has given him authority to execute judgment, because he is the Son of Man. Do not marvel at this, for an hour is coming when all who are in the tombs will hear his voice and come out, those who have done good to the resurrection of life, and those who have done evil to the resurrection of judgment.”

[John 5:25-29]

Interestingly enough, Jesus also uses descriptive terms in his parable like “harvesting” and “gathering” at the hands of the angels, who are called “reapers,” which should invoke all kinds of images from the Scriptures. For sake of time I will share three.

“And then they will see the Son of Man coming in clouds with great power and glory. And then he will send out the angels and gather his elect from the four winds, from the ends of the earth to the ends of heaven.“

Mark 13:26-27

“Now concerning the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and our being gathered together to him, we ask you, brothers, 2not to be quickly shaken in mind or alarmed, either by a spirit or a spoken word, or a letter seeming to be from us, to the effect that the day of the Lord has come. 3Let no one deceive you in any way. For that day will not come, unless the rebellion comes first, and the man of lawlessness is revealed, the son of destruction“

2 Thessalonians 2:1-3

Then I looked, and behold, a white cloud, and seated on the cloud one like a son of man, with a golden crown on his head, and a sharp sickle in his hand.15And another angel came out of the temple, calling with a loud voice to him who sat on the cloud, “Put in your sickle, and reap, for the hour to reap has come, for the harvest of the earth is fully ripe.” 16So he who sat on the cloud swung his sickle across the earth, and the earth was reaped.17Then another angel came out of the temple in heaven, and he too had a sharp sickle. 18And another angel came out from the altar, the angel who has authority over the fire, and he called with a loud voice to the one who had the sharp sickle, “Put in your sickle and gather the clusters from the vine of the earth, for its grapes are ripe.” 19So the angel swung his sickle across the earth and gathered the grape harvest of the earth and threw it into the great winepress of the wrath of God. 20And the winepress was trodden outside the city, and blood flowed from the winepress, as high as a horse’s bridle, for 1,600 stadia.

Revelation 14:14-20

The Biblical record is exhaustive.

The resurrection of the dead takes place on the last day — at the end of the age — when the Son of Man comes on the clouds in all His glory to harvest the earth by His holy angels. The resurrection of the dead is inextricably connected to the triumphal return of Jesus Christ to the earth to judge the living and the dead, reward His saints, and establish His Kingdom.

And if you can affirm everything I have said up unto this point, then you must affirm that the Rapture of the church must also take place at the end of the age on the last day when Jesus returns from heaven in power and glory!

How can I be so sure?

Because in the same way that the harvest of the earth and the judgment of the wicked and the rewarding of the saints are inextricably linked to the resurrection of the dead, there is another event that coincides with the resurrection of the dead — namely the rapture — which you will see is simply another name for the “gathering” of God’s people at the end of the age.

I leave you with two crucial passages to ponder.

“I tell you this, brothers: flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God, nor does the perishable inherit the imperishable. 51Behold! I tell you a mystery. We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, 52in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised imperishable, and we shall be changed. 53For this perishable body must put on the imperishable, and this mortal body must put on immortality.”

1 Corinthians 15:50-53

“But we do not want you to be uninformed, brothers, about those who are asleep, that you may not grieve as others do who have no hope. 14For since we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so, through Jesus, God will bring with him those who have fallen asleep. 15For this we declare to you by a word from the Lord, that we who are alive, who are left until the coming of the Lord, will not precede those who have fallen asleep. 16For the Lord himself will descend from heaven with a cry of command, with the voice of an archangel, and with the sound of the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. 17Then we who are alive, who are left, will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so we will always be with the Lord. 18Therefore encourage one another with these words.”

1 Thessalonians 4:13-18

A Deep Dive into Daniel — Part 23 — Is Your name in the book of life?

Marcus Walker Van EveryLeave a comment

“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

So many people are under the illusion that they are “getting away” with all kinds of corrupt deeds and deceitful schemes, simply because they haven’t been “caught.” Others live secret lives in the shadows and presume that their shameful deeds remain hidden in the darkness. As long as evil deeds aren’t exposed, it is easy to assume they remained unknown.

But did you know that the true record of history and the record of our lives is being written down and will one day be made known to all? You see, there always is a record. A paper trail. A witness. No matter how hard a fugitive tries to cover his tracks, the law is always close on his heels, waiting for him to slip up.

It’s the young man deleting the history on his laptop to “erase” the pornography – but there is always a record. It’s the corrupt businessman who defrauds his clients for personal gain — there is always a record. It’s the spineless politician immersed in scandal and treason — there’s always an email. It’s the unfaithful husband erasing his text messages with another woman — the record is still there.

These examples serve as a sobering reminder that our actions have consequences and that God is not mocked. We will reap what we sow.

But what about corrupt and cruel people who never seem to get caught? What of the ones who “get away” — who never are brought to justice in this life? Why would a good and just God allow such a thing to happen?

Maybe we are looking at this all wrong. Our eternal reckoning far outweighs our temporary one, and the courts of heaven are far superior to human courts. We cannot forget the testimony of God’s word that reminds us how everything will be exposed and how everyone will give an account to God in the end.

“For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart. And no creature is hidden from his sight, but all are naked and exposed to the eyes of him to whom we must give account.”

Hebrews 4:12-13

My point is this.

Nobody really gets away with anything — ever!

You see there is a record being written of your life and mine. Just as sure as the emails, texts, calendars, posts, conversations, bank statements and business dealings tell the story of our lives, heaven is also keeping a record of our lives. And this record — being of eternal value — is supreme to the stories we like to invent about ourselves and portray to the world.

God’s record is perfect because He is both omniscient and omnipresent. His record is exhaustive. Every minute of every hour of every day is recorded in heaven. The words we speak, the things we do, and even the very thoughts and intentions of our hearts will be weighed before our Creator on that Day. For He knows us completely.

I am fully convinced that each of us has a book written in heaven with our name on it and by which we will be held accountable before God. As a matter of fact, I believe there is significant Scriptural evidence that there are different kinds of books on record in the heavenly repository that are used for different purposes.

And as we will see, the most essential of them all is the Lamb’s book of life.

Books In Heaven

Before we take a look at the book of life, it is worth noting that other heavenly scenes depict the opening of books — plural — especially as it pertains to judgment. This is why I believe there are other books besides the book of life. I will provide one Old one New Testament reference to demonstrate the Biblical idea of how heaven keeps records of our lives.

“As I looked, thrones were placed,
and the Ancient of Days took his seat;
his clothing was white as snow,
and the hair of his head like pure wool;
his throne was fiery flames;
its wheels were burning fire.
A stream of fire issued
and came out from before him;
a thousand thousands served him,
and ten thousand times ten thousand stood before him;
the court sat in judgment,
and the books were opened.”

Daniel 7:9-10

“Then I saw a great white throne and him who was seated on it. From his presence earth and sky fled away, and no place was found for them. 12And I saw the dead, great and small, standing before the throne, and books were opened. Then another book was opened, which is the book of life. And the dead were judged by what was written in the books, according to what they had done.

Revelation 20:11-12

As you can see, presumably there are many books that will be used to publicly proclaim our personal record and pronounce judgments according to what we have done in this life. The Lord will also give rewards to the faithful according to what is written in the books.

THE BOOK OF LIFE

On the other hand, the Scriptures speak of the book of life in exclusive terms, which is why I believe the book of life is unique, as the most important book of all the records in heaven. What we discover is that in the end, the book of life only contains the names of the faithful, who have been redeemed by the blood of the Lamb — Jesus Christ.

From beginning to end the just shall live by faith, which means that the patriarchs and prophets believed in the promised Messiah looking forward in faith, while we are saved in the same way but by looking back on the finished work of Christ in faith.

The Testimony of Moses

So Moses returned to the LORD and said, “Alas, this people has sinned a great sin. They have made for themselves gods of gold. 32But now, if you will forgive their sin—but if not, please blot me out of your book that you have written.” 33But the LORD said to Moses, “Whoever has sinned against me, I will blot out of my book.”

[Exodus 32:31-32]

The Testimony of King David

“Your eyes saw my unformed substance;
in your book were written, every one of them,
the days that were formed for me,
when as yet there was none of them.“

Psalm 139:16

“Pour out your indignation upon them,
and let your burning anger overtake them.
25May their camp be a desolation;
let no one dwell in their tents.
26For they persecute him whom you have struck down,
and they recount the pain of those you have wounded.
27Add to them punishment upon punishment;
may they have no acquittal from you.
28Let them be blotted out of the book of the living;let them not be enrolled among the righteous.“

Psalm 69:24-28

Names will be Blotted Out

Both Moses and David describe the book of life as containing a roll of names that apparently have the potential to be blotted out — erased so to speak. There are several ways to look at this.

If our names are written in the book of life and enrolled with the righteous the moment we believe and are saved, then these verses seem to suggest that a believer can be blotted out, or removed, from the book of life. There are some serious theological and soteriological problems with this view on the basis of the eternal security of the believer.

There are legitimate arguments from different perspectives that would suggest that a person can deliberately forfeit his/her salvation and walk away from his/her relationship with Christ — what we would call apostasy — while others affirm that once a man is born again he cannot be “unborn,” nor can anyone snatch him out of the hand of God. In other words he is eternally secure.

I am of the persuasion that once a man is born again then nothing can separate him from the love of God in Christ Jesus [Romans 8:36-39], and he can believe the promise that God will bring to completion His great work of salvation in us on the Day of Christ Jesus [Philippians 1:6].

By taking into consideration the eternal security of the believer, I believe a better understanding of the book of life is that every name is written in the book of life from the beginning — demonstrating God’s desire that all men would be saved and come to a knowledge of the truth. In other words, the opportunity for salvation is made available to all mankind, but only those who exercise faith in Christ will be saved. The consequence of those who reject God’s free gift of eternal life and so perish in unbelief is that their names are effectively and ultimately blotted out of the book of life.

Jesus concludes as much in His teachings and in His letter to the church in Sardis.

And he said to them, “I saw Satan fall like lightning from heaven. 19Behold, I have given you authority to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy, and nothing shall hurt you.20Nevertheless, do not rejoice in this, that the spirits are subject to you, but rejoice that your names are written in heaven.”

Luke 10:18-20

“The one who conquers will be clothed thus in white garments, and I will never blot his name out of the book of life. I will confess his name before my Father and before his angels.”

Revelation 3:5

Testimony of the Prophets

“Then those who feared the LORD spoke with one another. The LORD paid attention and heard them, and a book of remembrance was written before him of those who feared the LORD and esteemed his name. 17“They shall be mine, says the LORD of hosts, in the day when I make up my treasured possession, and I will spare them as a man spares his son who serves him. 18Then once more you shall see the distinction between the righteous and the wicked, between one who serves God and one who does not serve him.”

Malachi 3:16-18

“In that day the branch of the LORD shall be beautiful and glorious, and the fruit of the land shall be the pride and honor of the survivors of Israel. 3And he who is left in Zion and remains in Jerusalem will be called holy, everyone who has been recorded for life in Jerusalem, 4when the Lord shall have washed away the filth of the daughters of Zion and cleansed the bloodstains of Jerusalem from its midst by a spirit of judgment and by a spirit of burning.”

Isaiah 4:2-4

This book of remembrance demonstrates the distinction between the righteous and the wicked, between those who have been recorded for life in Jerusalem and those who will be cast out of the heavenly city.

The Lamb’s Book of Life

The Scriptures also qualify the book of life as the Lamb’s Book of Life. I often envision the names of all the saints permanently engraved in the precious blood of the Lamb, never to be blotted out. Our enteral destiny is directly dependent upon whether or not our names are found written in the Lamb’s Book of Life.

“Also it (the Beast) was allowed to make war on the saints and to conquer them. And authority was given it over every tribe and people and language and nation, and all who dwell on earth will worship it, everyone whose name has not been written from the foundation of the world in the book of life of the Lamb who was slain.”

Revelation 13:7-8

 “And the sea gave up the dead who were in it, Death and Hades gave up the dead who were in them, and they were judged, each one of them, according to what they had done. 14Then Death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire. This is the second death, the lake of fire. 15And if anyone’s name was not found written in the book of life, he was thrown into the lake of fire.“

“And he carried me away in the Spirit to a great, high mountain, and showed me the holy city Jerusalem coming down out of heaven from God  … But nothing unclean will ever enter it, nor anyone who does what is detestable or false, but only those who are written in the Lamb’s book of life.“

Revelation 20:13-15, 21:10, 27

There is but one condition to have your name written in the Lamb’s Book of Life — faith in Jesus Christ. We are saved by God’s grace through faith in His only Son — the Lamb of God of takes aways the sins of the whole world.

Is your name in danger of being blotted out from this book? If not, would you trust Jesus Christ today and secure your place among the righteous?

In my next post, I will circle back around to how the resurrection of the dead is connected to the end of the age and the return of Christ in glory.

A Deep Dive into Daniel — Part 22 — The Day of Deliverance

Marcus Walker Van EveryLeave a comment

“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.”

The Prophet Daniel — 12:1

It is worth taking closer look at Daniel 12:1. Here we read two contrasting outcomes in this one verse. On the one hand, there will be unprecedented tribulation and distress resulting in the hardship, persecution, and death of many faithful saints, but on the other hand God makes a promise to deliver His people “at that time” — those whose name is written in the book.

So which is it? Does God allow His people to suffer through the great tribulation or are they delivered out of it?

The answer is both. That is the essence of what it means to be delivered — redeemed — ransomed — rescued — saved! God is our Deliverer in every respect of the word, and He has promised to deliver His people from peril, bondage, evils, dangers, and great distress.

Obviously we must acknowledge the multiple layers, concepts, and applications of deliverance. Clearly the core of our Christian faith emphasizes the spiritual application, such as being saved from the wages of our sin and death and from the satanic bondage of this present age. Our spiritual deliverance is an immediate reality to all who believe in Christ. We possess eternal life the moment we trust Christ and are “saved.” This is only one form of deliverance, however, as salvation also is a process that plays out in real time!

We cannot forget that the Biblical accounts of Scripture did not take place in a vacuum, but rather in literal space and time. The Bible provides true eye-witnesses testimony about God’s mighty acts of deliverance for His people within the bigger story of redemptive history. These serve both as examples and foreshadows of things to come in the last days. Consider …

  1. Noah delivered through the flood
  2. Lot saved from Sodom
  3. Joseph delivered from captivity
  4. Moses and the Israelites protected from the plagues and delivered from Egypt
  5. Joshua at Jericho and his long-day at Gibeon [Joshua 10]
  6. David delivered from Goliath
  7. Daniel saved in the Lions Den
  8. Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego saved through the fiery furnace
  9. Paul rescued from all his trials and tribulations

“If by turning the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah to ashes he condemned them to extinction, making them an example of what is going to happen to the ungodly;7and if he rescued righteous Lot, greatly distressed by the sensual conduct of the wicked 8(for as that righteous man lived among them day after day, he was tormenting his righteous soul over their lawless deeds that he saw and heard);9then the Lord knows how to rescue the godly from trials, and to keep the unrighteous under punishment until the day of judgment.”

2 Peter 2:6-9

Our ultimate deliverance, therefore, is the completion of our salvation on THE Day of deliverance — a Day yet future — a unique Day when Christ returns from heaven to wage war against the wicked and simultaneously rescue His glorious bride in triumph!

This is the Day of deliverance that Daniel and all the prophets ultimately envision and emphasize. All things prophetically culminate on this Day — aka the Day of the LORD — a Day both of fierce vengeance and sweet deliverance.

“For the day of vengeance was in my heart, and my year of redemption had come.”

Isaiah 63:4

There is no contradiction here in Daniel 12:1. It is a broad brush stroke of the last 3.5 years of Daniel’s 70th Week, which is also known as the great tribulation.

And someone said to the man clothed in linen, who was above the waters of the stream, “How long shall it be till the end of these wonders?” 7And I heard the man clothed in linen, who was above the waters of the stream; he raised his right hand and his left hand toward heaven and swore by him who lives forever that it would be for a time, times, and half a time, and that when the shattering of the power of the holy people comes to an end all these things would be finished.“

Dan 12:6-7

There will be great tribulation and trouble for God’s people followed by great deliverance and salvation at the coming of the Son of Man. Many of God’s people — both Jew and Gentile alike — will suffer and die during the great tribulation as faithful witnesses for Christ, while also a believing remnant will be preserved and endure to the end. So whether we endure and remain faithful to the end of our lives or we endure to the end of the age — it remains true that God’s people will be saved, or delivered, in the end.

“Then they will deliver you up to tribulation and put you to death, and you will be hated by all nations for my name’s sake. 10And then many will fall away and betray one another and hate one another. 11And many false prophets will arise and lead many astray. 12And because lawlessness will be increased, the love of many will grow cold. 13But the one who endures to the end will be saved.“

[Matthew 24:9-13]

OUr DELIVERANCE IS ALREADY HERE and NOT YET

We know that Jesus says, “whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life and does not come into judgment, but has passed from death to life” [John 5:24], which means that salvation is an immediate reality and possession for those who believe. We also know, however, that the God’s ultimate plan of redemption will not be accomplished until Christ returns from heaven to establish His eternal kingdom on earth.

This is why we must acknowledge our salvation as being already here in one sense but at the same time not yet! We have been saved. We are being saved. We will be saved in the end.

“Now I would remind you, brothers, of the gospel I preached to you, which you received, in which you stand, and by which you are being saved, if you hold fast to the word I preached to you—unless you believed in vain.”

1 Corinthians 15:1-2

“Beloved, we are God’s children now, and what we will be has not yet appeared; but we know that when he appears we shall be like him, because we shall see him as he is.”

1 John 3:2

And it is that Day — the Day Jesus appears in all His glory — that we will be changed and will receive resurrected bodies and become like Christ, seeing Him as He truly is!

I will leave you with some foundational passages that speak of this Day of Deliverance and provide some details to Daniel’s prophecy.

“For these are days of vengeance, to fulfill all that is written … And there will be signs in sun and moon and stars, and on the earth distress of nations in perplexity because of the roaring of the sea and the waves, 26people fainting with fear and with foreboding of what is coming on the world. For the powers of the heavens will be shaken. 27And then they will see the Son of Man coming in a cloud with power and great glory. 28Now when these things begin to take place, straighten up and raise your heads, because your redemption is drawing near.”

[Luke 21:22, 25-28]

“Therefore we ourselves boast about you in the churches of God for your steadfastness and faith in all your persecutions and in the afflictions that you are enduring. This is evidence of the righteous judgment of God, that you may be considered worthy of the kingdom of God, for which you are also suffering—6since indeed God considers it just to repay with affliction those who afflict you,7and to grant relief to you who are afflicted as well as to us, when the Lord Jesus is revealed from heaven with his mighty angels 8in flaming fire, inflicting vengeance on those who do not know God and on those who do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus. 9They will suffer the punishment of eternal destruction, away from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of his might, 10when he comes on that day to be glorified in his saints, and to be marveled at among all who have believed, because our testimony to you was believed.”

2 Thessalonians 1:4-10

Next time we will discover more about the book of life and how it ties into the prophetic word and the end of the age. Until then, I will leave you with Isaiah’s mention of the book of life.

“In that day the branch of the LORD shall be beautiful and glorious, and the fruit of the land shall be the pride and honor of the survivors of Israel. 3And he who is left in Zion and remains in Jerusalem will be called holy, everyone who has been recorded for life in Jerusalem, 4when the Lord shall have washed away the filth of the daughters of Zion and cleansed the bloodstains of Jerusalem from its midst by a spirit of judgment and by a spirit of burning.”

Isaiah 4:2-4

A Deep Dive into Daniel — Part 21 — The Time of Jacob’s Trouble

Marcus Walker Van Every7 Comments

“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

We are now entering into the final chapter of Daniel’s prophetic testimony — chapter 12. Despite the convenience of Biblical chapter and verse, it is always worth noting that the book divisions were not in the original text of Scripture but were added by scribes much later. The unfortunate consequence of these man-made divisions is that many times the reader fails to read the Scripture through chapter divisions to see the contextual connections between chapters.

Daniel 12 is a perfect example. Instead of interpreting this passage independently of chapter of 11, we must read it as the natural extension of chapters 9-11 and the culmination of the entire book. Chapter 11 sets the context for the first three words in chapter 12 — “at that time.”

At what time?

At the time of the rise of that evil prince to come, the “little horn” — the king of the North. We learn that the little horn — Antichrist — will exercise authority for 3.5 years, or 42 months [Daniel 7:25, Revelation 13:5].

At the time of the great tribulation on the earth and fierce warfare among the stars in heaven. This time of unparalleled distress is also called Jacob’s Trouble [Jeremiah 30:7]. Daniel plainly tells us that this time of unprecedented travail will begin with the abomination that causes desolation in the holy sanctuary [Temple], revealing the man of lawlessness and initiating the final kingdom of Antichrist — the Beast.

Daniel also repeatedly framed this time of Jacob’s trouble as a period of a “time, times, and half a time” — which is 3.5 years, or 42 months. This is precisely the same amount of time that is given for the ministry of the two witnesses, the trampling down of Jerusalem [Revelation 11] and the satanic persecution of the saints.

So when Daniel says “at that time,” he is referring in general to this unique and final 7-year period in the future — the 70th week — but more specifically to the final half of the week.

More significant still is the culmination of the great tribulation — aka Jacob’s Trouble. Jesus says that it is immediately after the great tribulation of those days when the Son of Man will return in power and great glory [Matthew 24:29-31] to destroy the Beast and judge the ungodly in wrath. Furthermore, the return of Yeshua — King of Israel — will signify the final deliverance and divine reward for all of God’s people — both Jews and Gentiles — and the establishment of God’s eternal kingdom on earth.

MICHAEL THE GREAT PRINCE

“The woman fled into the wilderness, where she has a place prepared by God, in which she is to be nourished for 1,260 days. 7Now war arose in heaven, Michael and his angels fighting against the dragon. And the dragon and his angels fought back, 8but he was defeated, and there was no longer any place for them in heaven. 9And the great dragon was thrown down, that ancient serpent, who is called the devil and Satan, the deceiver of the whole world—he was thrown down to the earth, and his angels were thrown down with him.”

Revelation 12:6-9

Daniel again mentions Michael — the archangel who has been assigned by God to have charge over His people Israel. As the time of Jacob’s trouble begins, the LORD will send Michael to engage the heavenly front and thwart Satan’s plan to annihilate the Jews. In the same way that I see the 144,000 sealed servants supernaturally protecting and providing for the remnant of Israel on the earth, I also see Michael and his heavenly host protecting Israel in the unseen heavenly realm.

Michael is one of the “chief princes,” who came to help the angel Gabriel in spiritual conflict against the adversarial princes of Persia and Yavan. Jude also tells us that he disputed with the devil over the body of Moses [Jude 1:9].

Other than that, we know relatively little about this chief prince and archangel over God’s people. When the LORD allotted the nations according to the number of the sons of God after Babel [Deuteronomy 32:8-9], He at the same time chose Jacob for His portion — Israel as His allotted inheritance. It was likely at this time that God put Michael in charge of His people.

A Wilderness Place Prepared by God

As Michael defeats the dragon and casts him and his angels to the earth, the dragon — aka Satan — will begin thrashing his tail in a fit of rage. Many have speculated if this heavenly expulsion of the devil is connected to the abomination of desolation on earth and the revealing of the Antichrist — the son of destruction.

I believe this makes the most sense, as all the satanic forces from heaven, the earth, and under the earth are unleashed upon the world. The great tribulation will be the ultimate culmination and concentration of evil the world has ever seen. Once the dragon is cast down to earth, he will be infuriated with God and God’s people. Satan will know at that point that his time is short — namely 3.5 years — and therefore he will waste no time venting his wrath at the holy people.

First the dragon will pursue the Jews, pouring what is described as water like a rive to sweep them away in a flood. Since Revelation 12 is pregnant with symbolism, I interpret this raging river to be a flood of Gentile armies who will invade Israel, sweep across the land, and surround Jerusalem. For this reason, Jesus warns those living in Jerusalem and Judea in those days to flee to the mountains to escape the reach of the Beast.

At the same time, God will provide supernatural assistance to the Jews in order to get them to safety in a place prepared by God in the wilderness.

“But the woman was given the two wings of the great eagle so that she might fly from the serpent into the wilderness, to the place where she is to be nourished for a time, and times, and half a time.”

Rev 12:14

Although I am not certain, I have reason to believe that the “two wings of the great eagle” could be a reference to Michael the archangel supernaturally swooping down to carry the children of Israel to their wilderness refuge. There is another “eagle” mentioned in Revelation 8:13, who announces the coming three woes of the trumpet judgments 5-7. “Then I looked, and I heard an eagle crying with a loud voice as it flew directly overhead, ‘Woe, woe, woe to those who dwell on the earth, at the blasts of the other trumpets that the three angels are about to blow!’”

Here in Revelation 12, John mentions a “loud voice in heaven” making a similar announcement concerning the coming woes on the earth. “But woe to you, O earth and sea, for the devil has come down to you in great wrath, because he knows that his time is short!” [Revelation 12:12]

Of course the voice of the archangel is also connected to the triumphant return of Jesus to earth at the last trump, so my speculation is that these announcements and actions are directly connected to Michael the archangel in charge over God’s people.

“For the Lord himself will descend from heaven with a cry of command, with the voice of an archangel, and with the sound of the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first.”

1 Thessalonians 4:16

Once again, the duration of Jacob’s trouble is provided as a time, times, and half a time — or 3.5 years. The remnant of Israel will be delivered and supernaturally protected and nourished in the wilderness during the great tribulation. Many have speculated about the location of the “wilderness” as either Petra in southern Jordan or Mount Sinai in Saudi Arabia. My guess is that it will be in the wilderness of Sinai where the Lord will supernaturally provide for Israel just as He did in their 40 years of wilderness wanderings.

Once the dragon realizes that God has frustrated his plans and supernaturally delivered Israel from his hands, he will turn his rage toward Christians, which is why the Lord consistently calls his disciples to endure to end.

“Then the dragon became furious with the woman and went off to make war on the rest of her offspring, on those who keep the commandments of God and hold to the testimony of Jesus. And he stood on the sand of the sea … And the beast was given a mouth uttering haughty and blasphemous words, and it was allowed to exercise authority for forty-two months. It opened its mouth to utter blasphemies against God, blaspheming his name and his dwelling, that is, those who dwell in heaven. Also it was allowed to make war on the saints and to conquer them. And authority was given it over every tribe and people and language and nation.”

Revelation 12:17, 13:5-7

Believers are called to endure the great tribulation and will overcome by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of our testimony — the gospel of truth. True believers will not be ashamed of Christ or His gospel and will not shrink back from Satan’s wrath in the last day, as we are called to love not our lives even unto death.

In closing I will leave you with some thoughts to ponder. Since Gentile believers are grafted in to Israel and brought into the commonwealth of Israel through Christ, then do we enjoy the covenant blessings and promises to Israel?

And what does it mean when Daniel says, “at that time your people shall be delivered, everyone whose name shall be found written in the book?”

I will attack these questions next time.

Until then … Maranatha!

We are Rediscovering our True Heroes

Marcus Walker Van Every4 Comments

“Follow my example, as I follow the example of Christ.”

1 Corinthians 11:1

I virtually grew up with a baseball bat in my hands. Hitting a baseball always came naturally to me. God gifted me with this unique ability, and I was fortunate enough to play at a high level and meet some amazing people along the way. I love the game of baseball and it remains a big part of my life even to this day.

Having played baseball at a high level, I have a deeper appreciation for the best professional hitters in the game. And although I admire what these big-leaguers can do at the plate, I would not say that any of them are my heroes — nor should I.

I also love music and have been given multiple musical gifts. Being a musical jack-of-all- trades and a master of none, I also have come to appreciate the best singers and musicians in the industry for their amazing talents. But again, I can appreciate a musician’s gift without calling him or her a hero.

You see, one of the many misfortunes of American Pop culture is that we have come to confuse giftedness and talent with heroism. We prop up our American idols everywhere and paste pictures of them on our walls and sell out their stadiums because we need heroes to follow. We desire to associate with greatness and to ascend to that greatness.

The only problem is that greatness is not measured by how far someone can hit a baseball or how skillfully another can play the guitar. Frankly, greatness has nothing to do with talent and ability. Some of the most talented people in the world are the most egotistical, selfish, vile people you will ever meet.

Giftedness does not automatically translate into greatness.

Real heroes are not judged by how talented or rich or beautiful or famous they are.

True greatness is measured by self-sacrifice and serving others, just as Christ came to demonstrate Himself.

And Jesus called them to him and said to them, “You know that those who are considered rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their great ones exercise authority over them. But it shall not be so among you. But whoever would be great among you must be your servant, and whoever would be first among you must be slave of all. For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”

Mark 10:42-45

One of the true blessings that has emerged from the COVID-19 debacle is that we have been reminded how irrelevant and superficial our pop culture heroes really are, and we have rediscovered the real heroes in our life.

I don’t necessarily blame these famous public figures for thinking more highly of themselves than they ought. We are the ones who have fed their egos and idolized them to a fault. But at the end of the day, we had to learn that sports figures and entertainers and musicians and actors are not our heroes — they never were.

The true heroes in life are what I call “real” people. Everyday, ordinary people who are making a difference in the lives of those around them. True heroes are those who maybe weren’t born with exceptional athletic or musical ability, but they are exceptional people. They wake up everyday and make a conscious choice to do what is right and to love others and to help others and to be kind and compassionate to those around them.

True heroes are …

  • The single parents who sacrifice their dreams to work two jobs just so their children will have a better life. Oh, and without complaining.
  • The teachers and school administrators who are underpaid and overworked but still sacrifice time with their own families to make a difference in the lives of countless other families.
  • The coaches who spend countless hours preparing their players for the game but are always willing to give a few more hours to help prepare their players for life.
  • The police officers who put their lives on the line every single day and yet are hated and unappreciated by many in their own communities.
  • The fire fighters, first responders, doctors, nurses, and healthcare providers who put themselves at risk and see the worst of the worst, while holding it all in when going home to their families at night.
  • The stay-at-home moms who are trying to manage a house, raise three kids, cook, clean, provide taxi services, do homework, and still have enough energy to welcome their husbands home with a smile.
  • The dads who leave home at 5 am and work til dark just to put food on the table and provide for their families, while at the same time keeping a good attitude and staying strong for their children to see what true manhood looks like.
  • The pastors of churches big and small — many of them working bi-vocationally — who pour out their hearts in praying and sermon preparation and planning and discipling and administrating and visiting and counseling etc… only to struggle with regular bouts of doubt and discouragement and even depression.
  • The men and women in the armed services who often move their families all over the world and serve multiple combat tours, only to come back home with PTSD and a family that is falling apart.
  • Our Immigration/Customs and Boarder Patrol agents who are on the front lines in stopping human trafficking and the relentless drug cartels from funneling kidnapped children and deadly drugs across our boarders.

I could on and on …

True heroes are difference makers in the lives of those around them. True heroes are willing to give of themselves, not take from others. True heroes are humble and kind and considerate of others. True heroes are courageous and strong in the face of adversity. True heroes work hard and don’t complain. True heroes understand that the world is much bigger than themselves. True heroes are willing to sacrifice their very lives for the benefit of others.

You see, we can live without superstar athletes and American idols. But we can’t live without the true heroes in our lives.

I thank God for allowing me to rediscover who the true heroes of my life are.

Now go be a real hero and make a real difference in the lives of others.

And be sure to thank the real heroes that God has placed in your life.

A Deep Dive into Daniel — Part 20 — The King of the North [Conclusion]

Marcus Walker Van EveryLeave a comment

“And he shall pitch his palatial tents between the sea and the glorious holy mountain. Yet he shall come to his end, with none to help him.”

Daniel 11:45

Daniel chapter 11 provides one of the most detailed accounts of the political and military campaign of the Antichrist — aka the King of the North. So far we have learned that the Antichrist will emerge as a little horn, on the periphery, but will grow in power and advance through intrigue and deception.

We learned that the King of the North will begin expressing his dominance in the Middle East, specifically targeting Egypt — the King of the South. After dealing an initial military blow to Egypt, the King of North will return a second time only to discover that Egypt has called for reinforcements, forcing him to retreat in a fit of rage.

At this point the King of the North will vent his anger against the holy covenant and the people of Israel, setting up the abomination that causes desolation in the Temple. This blasphemous act of self-exaltation will trigger the Great Tribulation and the final 3.5 years of history. Many of God’s people, who know their God, will be trampled and persecuted by the Antichrist by fire, sword and captivity. This will be both the time of Jacob’s trouble and a call for the endurance of the saints and those who hold to the testimony of Jesus.

Other Scriptures confirm that the saints — the true believers and followers of Yahweh and His Anointed Yeshua — will be worn out by the Antichrist for this appointed time of 3.5 years.

“He shall speak words against the Most High,
and shall wear out the saints of the Most High,
and shall think to change the times and the law;
and they shall be given into his hand
for a time, times, and half a time.”

Daniel 7:25

And someone said to the man clothed in linen, who was above the waters of the stream, “How long shall it be till the end of these wonders?” And I heard the man clothed in linen, who was above the waters of the stream; he raised his right hand and his left hand toward heaven and swore by him who lives forever that it would be for a time, times, and half a time, and that when the shattering of the power of the holy people comes to an end all these things would be finished.“

Daniel 12:6-7

Then I was given a measuring rod like a staff, and I was told, “Rise and measure the temple of God and the altar and those who worship there, but do not measure the court outside the temple; leave that out, for it is given over to the nations, and they will trample the holy city for forty-two months.“

Revelation 11:1-2

“And when the dragon saw that he had been thrown down to the earth, he pursued the woman who had given birth to the male child. But the woman was given the two wings of the great eagle so that she might fly from the serpent into the wilderness, to the place where she is to be nourished for a time, and times, and half a time.“

Revelation 12:13-14

“And the beast was given a mouth uttering haughty and blasphemous words, and it was allowed to exercise authority for forty-two months. It opened its mouth to utter blasphemies against God, blaspheming his name and his dwelling, that is, those who dwell in heaven. Also it was allowed to make war on the saints and to conquer them. And authority was given it over every tribe and people and language and nation …”

Revelation 13:5-7

One Last Clash with Egypt

“At the time of the end, the king of the south shall attack him, but the king of the north shall rush upon him like a whirlwind, with chariots and horsemen, and with many ships. And he shall come into countries and shall overflow and pass through.”

Daniel 11:40

At the time of the end … certainly speaks of the latter portion of the Great Tribulation [3.5 years], which culminates with the Day of the LORD.

Apparently Egypt will be one of the few Middle Eastern nations that is able to initially resist the Antichrist. As the King of the North continues to grow in power, Egypt will make one last desperate attempt to attack him but to no avail. The language here clearly shows a shift in dominance from their previous encounter, when the King of the North was forced to retreat. By this time, the Beast will have amassed a significant army, as he is able to “come into countries and overflow and pass through.“

Other prophecies concerning Egypt align well with this scenario.

“I will give over the Egyptians
into the hand of a hard master,
and a fierce king will rule over them,
declares the Lord GOD of hosts.”

Isaiah 19:4

Back to Ground Zero

“He shall come into the glorious land. And tens of thousands shall fall, but these shall be delivered out of his hand: Edom and Moab and the main part of the Ammonites. He shall stretch out his hand against the countries, and the land of Egypt shall not escape. He shall become ruler of the treasures of gold and of silver, and all the precious things of Egypt, and the Libyans and the Cushites shall follow in his train”

Daniel 11:41-43

After the Antichrist decimates Egypt, he will easily take Put and Cush — Sudan and North Africa — as they will surrender and throw in with the fierce king. Once Egypt and Northern Africa is subdued, the Beast will refocus his attention to the glorious land of Israel, set up his headquarters right outside of Jerusalem, and gather his armies there for the final battle of Armageddon [Revelation 16-17] — aka the war of Gog of Magog [Ezekiel 38-39].

The Antichrist will pitch his palatial tents between the Mediterranean Sea and the “glorious holy mountain” — Zion in Jerusalem. This will be the last stand of the Antichrist as he prepares to make war with the Lamb — the King of kings. Everything comes back to Zion, which is why that will be the battle ground for the final war to end all wars.

Many passages are connect the Day of the LORD with the judgment of Egypt, Magog, Cush, Put etc…

The word of the LORD came to me: “Son of man, prophesy, and say, Thus says the Lord GOD:

Wail, ‘Alas for the day!’
For the day is near,
the day of the LORD is near;
it will be a day of clouds,
a time of doom for the nations.
A sword shall come upon Egypt,
and anguish shall be in Cush,
when the slain fall in Egypt,
and her wealth is carried away,
and her foundations are torn down.

Cush, and Put, and Lud, and all Arabia, and Libya, and the people of the land that is in league, shall fall with them by the sword.“

Ezekiel 30:1-5

“Behold, I am against you, O Gog, chief prince of Meshech and Tubal. 4And I will turn you about and put hooks into your jaws, and I will bring you out, and all your army, horses and horsemen, all of them clothed in full armor, a great host, all of them with buckler and shield, wielding swords. 5Persia, Cush, and Put are with them, all of them with shield and helmet;6Gomer and all his hordes; Beth-togarmah from the uttermost parts of the north with all his hordes—many peoples are with you.”

Ezekiel 38:3-6

Interestingly, modern-day Jordan (Edom/Moab) will be delivered out of the hand of the Antichrist, apparently of some divine purpose, and there will be some news from the east (possibly China) and the north (possibly Russia) that will alarm the Beast. Perhaps he knows his time is short and therefore he will “shall go out with great fury to destroy and devote many to destruction” [Daniel 11:44].

Yet when King Jesus returns from heaven in power and great glory, He will slay the Beast and decimate the armies of evil. His end will come and there will be none to deliver him from the wrath of the Lamb! Jesus is coming to deliver His people, liberate Jerusalem, and crush His enemies with a rod of iron and trample them in the fury of God’s wrath.

Perhaps no one describes the end of the Antichrist better than the Apostle Paul.

“Since indeed God considers it just to repay with affliction those who afflict you,7and to grant relief to you who are afflicted as well as to us, when the Lord Jesus is revealed from heaven with his mighty angels 8in flaming fire, inflicting vengeance on those who do not know God and on those who do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus. 9They will suffer the punishment of eternal destruction, away from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of his might, 10when he comes on that day to be glorified in his saints, and to be marveled at among all who have believed, because our testimony to you was believed …

And then the lawless one will be revealed, whom the Lord Jesus will kill with the breath of his mouth and bring to nothing by the appearance of his coming.”

2 Thessalonians 1:6-10, 2:8

Next time I will begin to unpack the last chapter of Daniel.

A Deep Dive into Daniel — Part 19 — The King of North [Act II]

Marcus Walker Van EveryLeave a comment

“And some of the wise shall stumble, so that they may be refined, purified, and made white, until the time of the end, for it still awaits the appointed time.“

Daniel 11:35

I left off my last post in the middle of Daniel’s 70th week, as the King of the North — aka the Antichrist — retreats from Egypt only to invade Jerusalem and sets up the abomination that causes desolation. This demonic act of defiance in the holy Temple will be the primary sign of the end of the age, triggering the final 3.5 years of the great tribulation.

The remaining portion of Daniel 11 & 12 is the foundational Old Testament description of the career of the Antichrist during the great tribulation. As “there shall be a time of trouble, such as never has been since there was a nation till that time” [Daniel 12:1].

I will continue on a verse by verse exposition of Daniel 11:32-39.

“He shall seduce with flattery those who violate the covenant, but the people who know their God shall stand firm and take action.”

Daniel 11:32

The Antichrist — emulating his father the devil — will be a master of the arts of seduction and deception. Once he shows his true colors and profanes the Temple in Jerusalem, he will quickly convince many surrounding nations to join him in his elimination of God’s people. All the initial players in this “covenant” will align themselves with the Beast against Israel, which is why Jesus makes it imperative that His people flee the city at that time.

“But when you see the abomination of desolation standing where he ought not to be (let the reader understand), then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains. 15Let the one who is on the housetop not go down, nor enter his house, to take anything out, 16and let the one who is in the field not turn back to take his cloak. 17And alas for women who are pregnant and for those who are nursing infants in those days! 18Pray that it may not happen in winter. 19For in those days there will be such tribulation as has not been from the beginning of the creation that God created until now, and never will be.“

Mark 13:14-19

In contrast to those who are seduced by the Antichrist to attack Israel, the remnant of believers on the earth “who know their God shall stand firm and take action.” This is why repeatedly in the book of Revelation Jesus gives a call for the endurance of the saints. Anyone who desires to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted by the Antichrist and his forces.

“And the wise among the people shall make many understand, though for some days they shall stumble by sword and flame, by captivity and plunder.34When they stumble, they shall receive a little help. And many shall join themselves to them with flattery, 35and some of the wise shall stumble, so that they may be refined, purified, and made white, until the time of the end, for it still awaits the appointed time.”

Daniel 11:33-35

The great tribulation will serve many purposes in God’s ultimate plan of redemption — not the least of which will be to refine, purify, and identify the true remnant of God’s people. It will be through the fires of persecution and tribulation that God’s people will be given the privilege to suffer with Christ, testify of Christ, depend upon Christ, and be made pure for the glory of Christ.

We have seen that the Antichrist will be given authority to conquer the saints for 3.5 years and will wear out God’s people in relentless persecution [see Daniel 7:21-25, Revelation 13:1-8]. In these last days, our primary ministry will be to evangelize the lost and make many understand how God’s prophetic word is unfolding before our very eyes. By resisting the Beast and his satanic system, the saints will be declared public enemy #1. This is precisely why the spirit of antichrist always manifests in hatred and hostility toward Jews and Christians.

If anyone has an ear, let him hear:

If anyone is to be taken captive,
to captivity he goes;
if anyone is to be slain with the sword,
with the sword must he be slain.

Here is a call for the endurance and faith of the saints.

Revelation 13:9-10

Daniel reminds us that God always has and always will preserve a faithful remnant of martyrs until the appointed time of the end. During the Great Tribulation, we will overcome by the blood of the Lamb and the word of our testimony, and our robes will be made white in the blood of the Lamb.

Then one of the elders addressed me, saying, “Who are these, clothed in white robes, and from where have they come?” 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.

Revelation 7:13-14

The Proud Act of Self-Exaltation

“And the king shall do as he wills. He shall exalt himself and magnify himself above every god, and shall speak astonishing things against the God of gods. He shall prosper till the indignation is accomplished; for what is decreed shall be done. 37He shall pay no attention to the gods of his fathers, or to the one beloved by women. He shall not pay attention to any other god, for he shall magnify himself above all.”

Daniel 11:36-37

These two verses provide the clearest Biblical description of the literal act of abomination that causes desolation. The very moment that the King of the North [Beast] enters the holy place in Jerusalem and exalts himself and magnifies himself above every god — especially the God of gods — he will unabashedly be spitting in the face of the Almighty. Daniel emphasizes this brash act of blasphemy as the sign of the end of the age.

He shall magnify himself above all in self-exaltation. He will rage against the LORD and His Anointed — Jesus Christ — only to be destroyed in the end.

“Let no one deceive you in any way. For that day will not come, unless the rebellion comes first, and the man of lawlessness is revealed, the son of destruction, who opposes and exalts himself against every so-called god or object of worship, so that he takes his seat in the temple of God, proclaiming himself to be God.”

2 Thessalonians 2:3-4

The God of Fortresses

“He shall honor the god of fortresses instead of these. A god whom his fathers did not know he shall honor with gold and silver, with precious stones and costly gifts. He shall deal with the strongest fortresses with the help of a foreign god.” 

Daniel 11:38-39a

The Antichrist on one hand will magnify himself above the One True God and claim supremacy over all other “so-called” gods, but on the other hand he will pay tribute and honor the “god of fortresses” and receive help from a “foreign” god. This seems contradictory on the surface, which has given interpreters some challenges in understanding the theology of the Antichrist.

This apparent contradiction goes away, however, once we understand and apply the Islamic context to the profile of the Antichrist. The foundational teaching of Islam is that there is no other god but Allah and that Mohammed is his prophet. Any recognition of any other God or gods is utter blasphemy in Islam and the highest offense to Muslims.

Of course, at the time Daniel wrote this prophecy, the creation of Islam was still over 1,000 years removed in the future. So to Daniel’s original audience, the god of fortresses would be a “foreign” god who the fathers did not know. Allah was unknown in Daniel’s day and therefore foreign.

But as the Islamic Caliphate emerged and spread like a ruthless beast across the Middle East in the 7th Century A.D., Islam established itself using terror and total subjugation. In other words, I believe the Muslim god Allah provides the best explanation for the “god of fortresses,” which only reinforces the certainty that the Antichrist will come from a Muslim context.

So while the Antichrist will exalt himself above Yahweh and the Lord Jesus and all other pagan gods, he will at the same time honor the foreign god Allah — the god of fortresses.

Divide the Land for a Price

“Those who acknowledge him he shall load with honor. He shall make them rulers over many and shall divide the land for a price.”

Daniel 11:39b

One of the recurring descriptions of the end-times Antichrist is that he will divide the land of Israel for financial gain. Satan’s motivation is not primarily monetary, however, but spiritual. As God has laid claim to the Promised Land as His eternal dwelling place and given it to His people as an inheritance, the Evil One is motivated to steal the land and parcel it out to the enemies of Israel. This is one way the Antichrist will attempt to defy God because he knows how significant the land of Israel is in God’s ultimate plan of redemption.

As the Antichrist takes Jews and Christians into captivity and plunders the land, he will distribute the land among the hostile Muslim nations. The Scriptures echo this travesty in several places.

O God, do not keep silence;
do not hold your peace or be still, O God!
2For behold, your enemies make an uproar;
those who hate you have raised their heads.
3They lay crafty plans against your people;
they consult together against your treasured ones.
4They say, “Come, let us wipe them out as a nation;
let the name of Israel be remembered no more!”
5For they conspire with one accord;
against you they make a covenant—
6the tents of Edom and the Ishmaelites,
Moab and the Hagrites,
7Gebal and Ammon and Amalek,
Philistia with the inhabitants of Tyre;
8Asshur also has joined them;
they are the strong arm of the children of Lot. Selah

Who said, “Let us take possession for ourselves
of the pastures of God.”

Psalm 83:1-8, 12

This is what the Lord GOD says: On that day, thoughts will arise in your mind, and you will devise an evil plan. 11You will say, ‘I will go up against a land of unwalled villages; I will come against a tranquil people who dwell securely, all of them living without walls or bars or gates— 12in order to seize the spoil and carry off the plunder, to turn a hand against the desolate places now inhabited and against a people gathered from the nations, who have acquired livestock and possessions and who live at the center of the land.’

Ezekiel 38:10-12

“For behold, in those days and at that time, when I restore the fortunes of Judah and Jerusalem, I will gather all the nations and bring them down to the Valley of Jehoshaphat. And I will enter into judgment with them there, on behalf of my people and my heritage Israel, because they have scattered them among the nations and have divided up my land.”

Joel 3:1-2

In my next post, I will finish the 11th chapter of Daniel.