What must we do to receive the seal of the Living God?
(Daniel 12:1-13; Eph. 2:15; 1 Tim. 5:24; Rev. 1:7; 13:5; 14:13; 22:11) Blog 22-28 Mar. 2020
Prepared by Richard A. Marin: Present Truth PO Box 700, Fallbrook CA 92088-0700 USA
REVIEW: In Daniel we learned that God plans to restore his lost dominion, king, sanctuary, and people on earth; that the Bible must be its own interpreter if we are to properly understand the book; and that God’s plan of operation with humanity is “time, test, results.” The restoration of God’s kingdom on earth will come only through crisis and divine intervention (“the big bang” test).
Daniel’s four prophetic outlines build upon each other, teaching us that from the prophet’s time four world empires would emerge followed by ten kings, followed by a blasphemous “little horn,” followed by an atheistic regime, and a renewed king of the north that will attempt to avert the “crisis and deliverance” plan of God.
Chapter ten revealed the nature of the “big bang” restoration, which is Jesus as high priest interceding for his people on judgment day. This he can only do because, as Prince of the everlasting covenant, he fulfilled the six requirements given Daniel 9:24 by living a perfect human life and dying an atoning death for our sins.
The Time of the “Big Bang” (Daniel 12:1-4; Prov. 11:30; Rom. 8:17-18; Eph. 2:15; Heb. 2:10; Rev. 13:8)
1. When does Michael stand up for the deliverance of God’s people? When the new king of the North (American Pentecostalism) plants its temple in the Holy Place between the Lavar & the Most Holy Place (Mt Zion, where God’s people must enter to receive the blotting out of their sins & the seal of God Rev. 7)
2. What event comes with Michael’s “standing up”? A time of trouble worse than any previous one.
3. Who will be delivered at that final time of trouble? All God’s people whose names remain in the book of life.
4. Who wrote the book of life and what does it contain? Jesus wrote it for it is the book of the life of the Lamb, a record of his perfect life & atoning death on earth & all who are in him by faith are included.
5. What is Daniel 12:2 talking about? It tells of a special resurrection in which those who died believing the messages of Revelation 14:6-12 (see v. 13) together with Christ’s vilest persecutors (Matt. 26:64; Rev. 1:7) will be raised at the voice of God (Rev. 16:17) to see Christ coming in the clouds of glory.
6. At the time of the special resurrection what do God’s people receive according to verse 3? Glorification, making them shine as the stars for eternity.
7. When does Gabriel tell Daniel that his prophesies will be unsealed and widely proclaimed? At the time of the end, 1798 forward.
The Man upon the Water (Daniel 12:5-10; 7:25; Eccl. 12:13-14; Rev. 22:11; )
8. Who else besides Jesus appears to Daniel at the Hiddekel River? Two other persons; probably the Father & the Holy Spirit.
9. Why did Jesus raise his hands while stating the facts contained here? Because he was making a covenant oath in the name of the Everlasting Father that the time prophesies contained in this book had only one unchangeable application.
10. When asked “How long shall be the end of these wonders?” what did Jesus reply? That the 1260 years of Papal supremacy must be fulfilled & then all these things would take place.
11. When applying the 1260-day symbol consistently what else can we learn about this period? That God’s two witnesses prophesy in sackcloth during this time (Rev. 11:3); that the New Testament church like Elijah is fed in the wilderness (Rev. 12:6); & that the beast of Revelation 13 reigns for this period (see v. 5).
12. What did Daniel ask when perplexed by Jesus answer? “What [not when] shall be the end of these things?”
13. Despite saying that these things were sealed until the time of the end, what event did Jesus point to as the conclusion of the whole matter? God’s final judgment decision that separates the righteous & the wicked (the “big bang” in each of Daniel’s stories & prophesies).
14. What New Testament passage parallels Daniel 12:10? And what does it mean? Revelation 22:11 that shows how God’s final judgment will irrevocably determine the cases of all & that there will be only two classes – the righteous & the wicked.
The Man Dressed in Linen Concludes (Daniel 12:11-13; 8:11-14; Psa. 7:8; Eccl. 9:5-6; 1 Tim. 5:24)
15. How are we to understand the time period of 1290 days in verse 11? That is the number of years from the taking down from heaven the ministry of Jesus in forgiving sins & the setting up of “the abomination of desolation” (placing forgiveness in the hands of earthly priests) (508 AD) until the time of the end (1798 AD).
16. How are we to understand the time period of 1335 days in verse 12? That is the number of years from the setting up of “the abomination of desolation” (508 AD) until the time for God’s final judgment & the heavenly sanctuary to be cleansed (1843 AD)
17. What is Daniel told in verse 13? That he will rest in the tomb until his resurrection when he will be given the crown of everlasting life (there is no intermediate life of the soul in heaven but rather the dead rest in the grave) & that his prophecies will have their desired effect in the last days.
18. Since we are now living in the time of God’s final judgment that offers the blotting out of our forgiven sins, what must we do to receive the seal of the Living God? We must follow Jesus by faith into heaven’s Most Holy Place, praying “Judge me, Oh God,” while depending like Daniel on the mercy of God & sending our sins beforehand to judgment through fervent prayer.