THE END TIME IS NOW

 ANCHOR OF LIFE DAILY DEVOTIONAL GUIDE For SATURDAY, 31ST DECEMBER, 2022.

Topic: THE END TIME IS NOW

MEMORIZE: "And at that time shall Michael stand up, the great prince which standeth for the children of thy 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 thy people shall be delivered, every one that shall be found written in the book" (Daniel 12:1).

SCRIPTURE READING: Daniel 12:1-4

“1 And at that time shall Michael stand up, the great prince which standeth for the children of thy 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 thy people shall be delivered, every one that shall be found written in the book.2 And many of them that sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, some to everlasting life, and some to shame and everlasting contempt. 3 And they that be wise shall shine as the brightness of the firmament; and they that turn many to righteousness as the stars forever and ever. 4 But thou, O Daniel, shut up the words, and seal the book, even to the time of the end: many shall run to and fro, and knowledge shall be increased.”

EXPOSITION:

The prophecy is specifically "for the children of thy (Daniel) people, the Jews even though it gives information useful to the church too.

1. THE ANGELIC MICHAEL

a. Angel Michael belong to the highest hierarchy of the angels in heaven. He is called "the great prince" (v1), one of the Chief princes (Daniel 11:13) and the arch angel (Jude 9) with many angels under him (Revelation 12:7).

b. He was assigned by God to defend or to "stand" for Israel, v1. He is always mentioned in warfare and conflict when the interest of Israel was to be protected (see the verses above). The peak of his warfare will be when he and his angels will face Satan himself and all his demons and send them out of the heavenly places. This will happen during the great tribulation, Revelation 12:7.

c. Note that for every Nation, we have an arch angel assigned and Satan mimicks this divine organization or hierarchy in the evil world too, Ephesians 6:12. The hierarchical structures, both holy and diabolical, in the spiritual narrows down from nations,  regions, communities to families and individuals. "He that is with us is greater than he that is in the world". So "fear not" if you are a child of God and a praying saints because warfare is the only language in the spirit realm.

2. THE ANGUISH MOMENT

a. Since the church is not in view, the last days for the Jews takes off with the great tribulation, v. 1.

b. It is a time of trouble and the severest they have ever and will ever face. Think of the holocaust of about 100 years ago when over 6 million Jews were gassed to death. They are yet to recover from it. That will be a child's play compared to the trouble of the great tribulation, v1.

3. THE ASCENDED MESSIAH

a. The Messiah who literally and physically ascended to heaven after His resurrection will descend after the great tribulation physically on the planet earth, v12c.

b. He will deliver the Jews from the great trouble of the great tribulation and punish their tormentors under the leadership of the Antichrist,  v12. "Thy (Daniel) people (the Jews) shall be delivered",  v12c.

c. Who are those that shall be delivered. "Many" (v3) and not all the Jews. How?

d. All the righteous Jews dead and alive at the time of the great tribulation will be admitted into the Millennial reign of Christ.  The dead righteous Jews will resurrect and the living righteous Jews will all be part of the millennial reign. Of course, the NT saints who missed the rapture but eventually successfully repent and passed through the iron furnace of the great tribulation will also be admitted to the Millennial reign. Those who will be born during the Millennial reign and would repent and live righteously will also have a place in the Millennial reign. In short, the admitted people are only those "whose names are in the book of life".

d. After the 1000 years, all the dead sinners, Jews or non Jews, will be resurrected to the resurrection of "shame and everlasting contempt", v2. 

4. ASSURANCES AND MANIFESTATIONS

a. There is assurance of reward for those who are soul winners, v3. They are called "wise". Are you wise? 

b. How do we know the last days or the "time of the end"? "Many shall run to and fro and knowledge shall be increased", v4. As a result of Internet and social media, the increment and search for more knowledge is incomparable to any age. We are at the "end of the times".

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY: The greatest loss is to be missing in the Lamb's book of life.

PRAYER POINTS:

1. Lord, let the Holy Spirit sink this truth that we are in the last day in my subconscious mind.

2. Lord, give me all the needed help so that my name will not be missing in the Book of life.

3. Give me the spirit of wisdom that wins many others to Christ.

4. Help your Church to be always ready for the coming of the Lord.

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DAILY BIBLE READING IN A YEAR –  Revelation 19-21.