Tribulation-1
End Times • Sermon • Submitted • Presented
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The 2 witnesses. A dearth of End Time teaching.
Handouts: Events during Day of the Lord & Last days of History (basis of Tribulation studies)
Tonight we begin a new series of studies based on Daniel’s prophesied 70th week (or the (Great?)Tribulation
Why did God give us so much information of the end times (even for during the time we believe we will be gone)?
Deuteronomy 29:29 (LSB) “The secret things belong to Yahweh our God, but the things revealed belong to us and to our sons forever, that we may do all the words of this law.
Tonight we begin to study Daniel’s prophesied 70th week.
We believe 69 of the 70 weeks of years have been fulfilled.
We are currently in a pause between the 69th and 70th week.
But we look for events such as the chart on your handout portrays.
This 3rd vision occurs when Daniel is probably 82 years old.
Daniel 9:20–27 (LSB) Now while I was speaking and praying, and confessing my sin and the sin of my people Israel, and presenting my supplication before Yahweh my God in behalf of the holy mountain of my God, 21 and while I was still speaking in prayer, then the man Gabriel, whom I had seen in the vision previously, touched me in my extreme weariness about the time of the evening offering. 22 Then he made me understand and spoke with me and said, “O Daniel, I have now come forth to give you insight with understanding. 23 “At the beginning of your supplications the word was issued, so I have come to tell you, for you are highly esteemed; so understand the message and gain understanding in what has appeared. 24 “Seventy weeks have been determined for your people and for your holy city, to finish the transgression, to make an end of sin, to make atonement for iniquity, to bring in everlasting righteousness, to seal up vision and prophecy, and to anoint the Holy of Holies. 25 “So you are to know and have insight that from the going out of a word to restore and rebuild Jerusalem until Messiah the Prince, there will be seven weeks and sixty-two weeks; it will be restored and rebuilt, with plaza and moat, even in times of distress. 26 “Then after the sixty-two weeks the Messiah will be cut off and have nothing, and the people of the prince who is to come will destroy the city and the sanctuary. And its end will come with a flood; even to the end there will be war; desolations are decreed. 27 “And he will make a firm covenant with the many for one week, but in the middle of the week he will make sacrifice and grain offering cease; and on the wing of abominations will come one who makes desolate, even until a complete destruction, one that is decreed, is poured out on the one who makes desolate.”
In this vision a “man” named Gabriel is the messenger.
Surely he is an angel.
If we keep reading into chapter 10 we discover…
A 4th (and final) vision few years later
Daniel 10:1–21 (LSB) In the third year of Cyrus king of Persia, a word was revealed to Daniel, who was named Belteshazzar; and the word was true and one of great conflict, but he understood the word and had an understanding of what had appeared. 2 In those days, I, Daniel, had been mourning for three entire weeks. 3 I did not eat any tasty food, nor did meat or wine enter my mouth, nor did I use any ointment at all until the entire three weeks were fulfilled. 4 And on the twenty-fourth day of the first month, while I was by the bank of the great river, that is, the Tigris, 5 I lifted my eyes and looked, and behold, there was a certain man dressed in linen, whose loins were girded with a belt of pure fine gold of Uphaz. 6 His body also was like beryl, his face had the appearance of lightning, his eyes were like flaming torches, his arms and feet like the gleam of burnished bronze, and the sound of his words like the sound of a multitude. 7 Now I, Daniel, alone saw the vision that appeared, but the men who were with me did not see the vision that appeared; nevertheless, a great terror fell on them, and they ran away to hide themselves.
8 So I alone remained and saw this great vision that appeared; yet no might remained in me, for my outward splendor turned to a deathly pallor, and I retained no might. 9 But I heard the sound of his words; and as soon as I heard the sound of his words, I fell into a deep sleep on my face, with my face to the ground. 10 Then behold, a hand touched me and set me shaking on my hands and knees. 11 And he said to me, “O Daniel, man of high esteem, understand the words that I am about to speak to you and stand upright, for I have now been sent to you.” And when he had spoken this word to me, I stood up trembling.
12 Then he said to me, “Do not be afraid, Daniel, for from the first day that you gave your heart to understand this and to humble yourself before your God, your words were heard, and I have come in response to your words. 13 “But the prince of the kingdom of Persia was standing against me for twenty-one days; then behold, Michael, one of the chief princes, came to help me. Now I had been left there with the kings of Persia. 14 “Now I have come to give you an understanding of what will happen to your people in the last days, for the vision pertains to the days yet future.”
15 Now when he had spoken to me according to these words, I turned my face toward the ground and became speechless. 16 And behold, one in the likeness of the sons of men was touching my lips; then I opened my mouth and spoke and said to him who was standing before me, “O my lord, as a result of the vision that appeared, pains have come upon me, and I have retained no might. 17 “Now how can such a servant of my lord talk with such as my lord? As for me, right now no might stands within me, nor does any breath remain within me.” 18 Then this one with the appearance of a man touched me again and strengthened me. 19 And he said, “O man of high esteem, do not be afraid. Peace be with you; gather strength and be strong!” Now as soon as he spoke to me, I received strength and said, “May my lord speak, for you have strengthened me.” 20 Then he said, “Do you know why I came to you? But I shall now return to fight against the prince of Persia; so I am going forth, and behold, the prince of Greece is about to come. 21 “However, I will tell you what is inscribed in the writing of truth. Now there is no one who exerts strength with me against these forces except Michael your prince.
Here we not only meet another (the same with a different manifestation?) angel, but we are introduced to angelic conflict.
Spirit Filled Life Study Bible Chapter 10
10:13 This is one of the clearest OT examples that demonic armies oppose God’s purposes and that earthly struggles often reflect what is happening in the heavenlies, and that prayer with fasting may affect the outcome. The prince . . . Persia would be the head of the spiritual forces marshaled on behalf of sinful Persia, especially in relation to its destructive interaction with God’s people. Michael is a senior angel. The exact nature of the conflict and why the messenger could not defeat the prince are not stated.
Complete Biblical Library Daniel–Malachi (Chapter 10)
10:12–13. The one in white linen first encouraged Daniel not to be afraid. As v. 2 points out, Daniel had spent three weeks humbling himself, determined to seek understanding from the Lord. God heard his petition the very first day, and this messenger came in response to Daniel’s words. But he did not arrive immediately because the prince of the Persian kingdom resisted him for the entire three weeks. This was because he was detained over against the king of Persia, that is, by the hostility of the king of Persia. This implies demonic forces can be at work in godless political systems. This does not mean, however, that every city, region or political system has its own demon. It should be noted also that Jesus, by his death on the Cross, defeated Satan and “disarmed the powers and authorities” (Col. 2:15; Heb. 2:14f; cf. 1 John 3:8).
The prince of Persia was probably a demon who was used by the king of Persia, or else was sent by Satan to influence him against Israel. But this prince of Persia could not stand against Michael, who is called here “one of the chief princes,” but is recognized in Jude 9 as the archangel, the one chief angel. God assigned him to help Israel (10:21; 12:1). Note, however, that Daniel was not aware of the battle Michael was waging, nor did he have any part in it—or contribute to Michael’s victory in any way.
Not only am I currently reading a fictional account of angelic conflict, but I have a startling question:
Could the “restrainer” not only be a Holy Ghost-filled church, but angels removed from the battle lines with demons?
We do not talk much about angels, mainly just demons.
But, as Chuck Black says in the footnotes on the 2nd book:
The Reality of Angels Are angels real, or are they just the creation of man’s imagination and belong in the fantasy category with elves, goblins, hobbits, and fairies? According to Scripture, angels are very real, with specific purposes and responsibilities. The Bible references angels nearly three hundred times. In ancient texts they are called “watchers,” and in 1 Corinthians 4:9 the apostles are called a “spectacle” to the world, to men, and to the angels. But angels do more than just watch us. God’s angels are ministers, messengers, warriors, worshipers, and instruments of judgment.
Black, Chuck. Rise of the Fallen: Wars of the Realm, Book 2 (p. 271). The Crown Publishing Group. Kindle Edition.
Why do we not discuss them?
What part do they play?
Hebrews 1:14 (LSB) p`Are they not all ministering spirits, sent to render service for the sake of those who will inherit salvation?
Events of The Tribulation
The faithful in Christ’s churches will be kept from this time of trial
Lk 21:36; Jn 14:1–3; 2Co 5:2, 4; Php 3:20–21; 1Th 1:10; 4:16–18; 5:8–10; Rev 3:10
Will begin after the restrainer is taken out of the way
2Th 2:6–8
Will begin after the mystery (secret power) of lawlessness intensifies
2Th 2:7–8
Will begin after a great rebellion against the faith occurs
2Th 2:3
The Antichrist (the man of lawlessness) will appear
Da 9:26–27; 2Th 2:3–10; Rev 13:1–18; 16:2; 17:9–18; 19:19–20
Will begin with the opening of the seven seals
Rev 6:1 - 8:1