In the book of Daniel, Daniel shared how Gabriel told him about the king of the north, and said, “He shall enter also into the glorious land, and many countries shall be overthrown: but these shall escape out of his hand, even Edom, and Moab, and the chief of the children of Ammon. He shall stretch forth his hand also upon the countries: and the land of Egypt shall not escape. But he shall have power over the treasures of gold and of silver, and over all the precious things of Egypt: and the Libyans and the Ethiopians shall be at his steps. But tidings out of the east and out of the north shall trouble him: therefore he shall go forth with great fury to destroy, and utterly to make away many. And he shall plant the tabernacles of his palace between the seas in the glorious holy mountain; yet he shall come to his end, and none shall help him”, and in chapter twelve and verse one of his book Daniel said, “at that time shall Michael stand up” where we read,
And at that time shall Michael stand up, the great prince which stands for the children of your people: and there shall be a time of trouble, such as never was since there was a nation even to that same time: and at that time your people shall be delivered, every one that shall be found written in the book.
The verse reads, “And at that time shall Michael stand up, the great prince which stands for the children of your people:” Daniel began with the words, “and at that time” or “and at the time period or season” “shall Michael stand up” which means “will Michael, whose name means ‘who is like God’ and is one of, the chief, or the first archangel who is described as the one who stands in time of conflict for the children of Israel, arise, endure and remain”, “the great prince” or “the intense and important leader, ruler, chief, chieftain and official” “which stands for the children” which means “who rises and is established on behalf of the offspring and progeny” “of your people” or “belonging to your, Daniel’s, human beings”. Daniel shared how “Michael the archangel” would arise at this time on behalf of Daniel’s people Israel.
The verse goes on to say, “and there shall be a time of trouble, such as never was since there was a nation even to that same time:” Daniel continued with the words, “and there shall be” or “and there will exist and come to be”, “a time of trouble” which means “a season, experience and occurrence pertaining to straits, distress and vexation”, “such as never was” or “which not at any time before existed” “since there was a nation” which means “from the time when it happened and occurred for a people group, troop or collection of people to exist” “even to that same time” or “indeed up until that equal season or time period”. Daniel said a time period of great distress and vexation would arise that was unequaled by any previous time of the collection of people groups.
Finally the verse says, “and at that time your people shall be delivered, every one that shall be found written in the book.” Daniel concluded this verse with the words, “and at that time” or “and at that occurrence, occasion and experience” “your people shall be delivered” which means “your, Daniel’s, human beings, Israel, will exist as rescued and saved”, “every one that shall be found written” or “each, the whole and all of the people who will exist as inscribed and engraved” “in the book” which means “within the missive, document and writing”. Daniel ended this verse by sharing that at this occurrence Daniel’s people of Israel would be rescued who were inscribed within the missive or document.
When we think through the words in this verse, we learn through Daniel about a time when “Michael the archangel” will be dispatched to the world on behalf of Israel because of a “time of trouble” that is unlike any time previously experienced by mankind. This “time” was spoken of by Jesus who said, “For then shall be great tribulation, such as was not since the beginning of the world to this time, no, nor ever shall be.” (See Matthew 24:21) John the apostle wrote in the book of Revelation, “And there was war in heaven: Michael and his angels fought against the dragon; and the dragon fought and his angels, and prevailed not; neither was their place found any more in heaven. And the great dragon was cast out, that old serpent, called the Devil, and Satan, which deceives the whole world: he was cast out into the earth, and his angels were cast out with him.”(Revelation 12:7-9) Because these things are fulfilled in both the spiritual and natural world, God is deeply involved. His plan was to offer salvation to mankind through His Son Jesus who died on the cross for the sins of everyone and was raised from the dead after three days. When we put our faith and trust in Him as our “Savior and Lord”, He will forgive our sins, grant us everlasting life and give us the wisdom of His Holy Spirit to trust in Him with the “exceeding great troubles” that will arise in the world.
Next time Daniel says, “many of them that sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake”, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.
Until tomorrow…there is more…
See more devotionals on the website "thewordfortodaywithray.com" or look for the daily devotional book “Equipped for Battle – From Generation to Generation”, the marriage book “So, You Want to Be Married”, “One Year in the Sermon on the Mount” and the new poetry book "Random Mushrooms Volumes I and II" and the new novel "Elizabeth County" in all major bookstore sites, http://www.amazon.com ; http://www.barnesandnobles.com ; download to e-books, and find it locally at www.mrzlc.com/bookstore. All references are from "Strongs Concordance".
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