Usually a prophesy will give you glimpse into your life with something going on or something God is inviting you into in the future. It is not the full-length version of step-by-step action steps and thoughts along the way. Rather, it is the summarized down version so that you can understand and by faith, align your expectations and life with the plan of God.
Daniel received a prophesy like this about end-times. It is in quotes to signify that it was given to Him from a messenger that had come to him when he had prayed and fasted–setting his heart to understand.
What lasts years and involves tons of detailed about the final end-times is summarized down for him in a few concluding paragraphs in Daniel 12:1-13. Of this, Daniel 12:1-4 (MEV) says,
“And at the time Michael shall stand up, the great prince who stands guard over the sons of your people. And there shall be a time of trouble such as never was since there was a nation even to that time. And at that time your people shall be delivered everyone who shall be found written in the book. Many of those who sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, some to everlasting life, but others to shame and everlasting contempt. Those who are wise shall shine as the brightness of the expanse of heaven, and those who turn the many to righteousness as the stars forever and ever. 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.”
The essence is that Michael, the great prince, will be standing up during the great trouble, guarding the people of God. At that time, the people of God who know Christ (are written in the book), will be delivered from judgement. Those who are in Christ will be judged through Christ’s judgement already issued and paid at the cross.
Also, many will awake from sleeping into the valley of decision. It is a time of final harvest. Some to everlasting life and others to everlasting contempt. In this, we know that contempt is at the root of those who do not receive Christ as their Savior. Contempt is not a lack of understanding, a drifting or even an offense towards God. Rather, contempt is a joining with evil in a hate or abhorrence towards God.
Over and over, the Word of God and history shows us that God is not mocked – we reap from the kingdom we sow into. If we continually sow into another kingdom than God’s, rather than reaping peace, contentment and freedom from our enemies, we reap lack, poverty, craving and want. Violence reaps violence and darkness brings more darkness and distress.
However, the Lord made a way of escape. Even for the most vile like those of Nineveh, the “bloody city” that was “full of lies” whose evil and violence made people shudder and even Jonah run in the opposite direction.
Jonah ran probably both out of fear and because he ultimately knew that even they could escape judgement in God’s mercy. As they repented and turned their lives, they could reap from a different Kingdom.
Nahum 1:6-7 (MEV) asks, “Who can stand before His anger? Who will rise up before His burning wrath? And answers, “The Lord is good, a stronghold in the day of distress; and He knows those who take refuge in Him.”
Those who repent and turn to Him, inherit the Kingdom of God. Instead of reaping from former actions, judgments end at the cross and we reap bounty from the Kingdom of God through Jesus. His death makes the way, not only for our salvation and eternal life, but for all the promises associated with it in this world.
We get a whole new life that reaps blessing rather than judgement. Because of this, we do not only want to just barely make it into the kingdom, but rather live out of this kingdom of blessing in wisdom. We want our actions and lives to align with this Kingdom.
It says that the wise in the end times will instruct or teach many. In other words, the wise in the Lord will disciple other believers in the truth and how to follow the Lord. They will have eternal impact. It also says that they will be honored by shine brightly. And those who lead many to righteousness will shine like the stars for eternity.
We know from this what will get us the “gold stars” sort of speak. When we participate in discipling believers in the truth or lead people to come to know the Lord, it will have eternal impact that will impact not only them for eternity but us as well. We reap eternal rewards for our kingdom impact.
As we walk through life, we are called to take dominion. When we advance, we are either eating from the Tree of Life and building up the kingdom of Light and bringing it forth or we are eating from the Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil, exulting self and building the dominion of darkness in the land. Or, we are lukewarm and make no difference at all. We get tossed to and fro, refusing to take a side as we do not take any action.
As we are looking for God’s Kingdom rule to come, in Luke 17:24, Jesus says that we should not run here or there to see the Kingdom come. He said, “For just as the lightning flashes and lights up the sky from one end to the other, so will be the Son of Man in His day.…” (Luke 17:24, NIV)
Again, in Daniel 12:4 we are reminded that in the end times, “Many shall run to and fro, and knowledge shall increase.” It is in becoming still and seeking to know Him that we find Him and not in running from place to place to encounter Him.
Knowledge here is the Hebrew word daath, Strongs #1847, and it is the same word as used in Genesis 2:9 in reference to the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. There will be an increase of people choosing knowledge and exalting themselves above God, rather than trusting in Him in humility.
Knowledge can be wonderful when it leads us closer to the Lord or we use it to glorify Him. We are to love the Lord with all our heart, mind, soul and strength. An example from the Bible of it being used well is when the craftsman hired to work on the temple used their skill and knowledge build the temple. It was an incredible work and it glorified Him, leaving people in awe of the workmanship. And ultimately, it is God who teaches us knowledge (Psalm 94:10).
The temptation in gaining knowledge is that, just like when they chose the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, we could use it to exalt ourselves above God in self-sufficiency rather than glorify God through it.
In this, knowledge becomes a hinderance for us and results in pride. People who struggle with spiritual pride like the Pharisees, are wanting to use their knowledge to look good spiritually and be perfect rather than being broken and repentant over their sin. We (speaking of myself here as I struggle with always wanting to fix myself rather than repent in my brokenness) reap out of what we sow and become hard, dry and rigid in our spirituality because of it.
The other temptation that can happen is that we mistake knowledge for action. We learn and learn but don’t move from what we hear and understand to what we implement. We have good intentions but we deliberate and argue our points, but when it comes to action, we make excuses. We instead turn to gaining more knowledge. Like in a dream that I had about myself as I was reading book after book – like a honey bear who found the pot of honey, we keep looking for more and more as an end rather than a means to action.
This is such a problem for Christians that James confronts it. He tells us that having faith without having any works is dead. It is our actual actions that matter moreso than what we know. Knowledge without corresponding action for good in making a difference with it is a waste and hinderance to us. Just as we can crave more and more money or other desire, we can crave more and more knowledge with no gain.
The gain only comes as we use our knowledge towards some good purpose that glorifies God. We put our hands to what our heart prompts and we make a difference with what we know. One author writes, “I’ve learned that whenever I feel a sense of conviction about an issue, I just need to start moving in the direction I believe I should go, even when I’m uncertain.” [1]
This author quotes Harriet Tubman who was a woman of action. She certainly would have been justified with many reasons why she couldn’t step forward. Yet, she did anyways and made a difference. He quotes from her, “Every great dream begins with a dreamer. Always remember, you have within you the strength, the patience, and the passion to reach the stars and change the world.”{2]
Coming back to what I mentioned earlier, when we take action on where we have a prompting or conviction, we are advancing the Kingdom of God and bringing His dominion in the land. In doing so, we push back the darkness and bring His light. Ultimately, when the Lord returns, He will bring the fullness of His light and all darkness will be dispelled (judged).
The Lord fills the heaven and earth. He will first come in power through His people and bring His glory on earth, establishing His Kingdom order, until the knowledge of the Lord fills the earth as the waters cover the sea. While it seems like evil is prevailing, the Lord will rule in our favor and His Kingdom will push out the darkness (Daniel 7:27).
“There’s going to be a wedding, it’s the reason why I am living to marry the Lamb” sings in the background.
Lord, we wait for the day with anticipation.
1-2. Maxwell, John C. and Hoskins, Rob. Change Your World: How Anyone, Anywhere Can Make a Difference. HarperCollins Leadership, Nashville, TN. 2021.
