A difficult time

March 18, 2022 (Friday)

 

End time prophecy used to be big when I was young. The church studied “eschatology” (study of the end times) from a “dispensational” perspective with a passion. Most of what I learned was catawampus (askew). As I grew older, I came to distrust the theological assumptions behind dispensationalism. For instance, the Old Testament (OT) had no bearing on Christianity (Dwight Pentacost “Things to Come” early editions).

 

Let’s crack open one teaching of the end times found in Daniel 12. “At that time, Michael the great leader who guards your people will take his stand. It will be a difficult time—nothing like it has ever happened since nations first appeared. But at that time every one of your people who is found written in the scroll will be rescued.” [Daniel 12:1 CEB] Daniel portrays a vast system of powers and principalities in the spiritual realm (see Colossians 1:16, 2:15, Ephesians 2:2, 6:12, 3:10, 1 Peter 3:22).

 

Notice there will be a time when the course of human history will be disturbed. Daniel describes it as a “difficult time.” This is also translated “trouble,” “distress,” and “anguish.” It has only been since about 1900 that this has been considered to be “end times.” For instance, John Wesley stated this “probably includes all the time of Christ, from his first to his last coming.” However, if we connect this difficult time to Jeremiah 30:7, we can understand it as unique in human history.

 

Jesus observed, “And you will hear of wars and threats of wars, but don’t panic. Yes, these things must take place, but the end won’t follow immediately.” [Matthew 24:6 NLT] The flow of human history will include wars. Jesus told us not to panic. Whatever Daniel was telling us about will be beyond what humanity has always experienced, especially for Israel.

 

Notice the “scroll.” We find a similar image in Psalm 69:28, “Erase their names from the Book of Life; don’t let them be counted among the righteous.” [NLT]. In the final judgement in Revelation 20:15 this “Book of Life” appears again, “And anyone whose name was not found recorded in the Book of Life was thrown into the lake of fire.” [NLT] Foreshadowing this resurrection and judgement, Daniel 12:2 states, “Many of those whose bodies lie dead and buried will rise up, some to everlasting life and some to shame and everlasting disgrace.” [NLT]

 

There are two types of judgement. Those whose works are judged (see 1 Corinthians 3:13) but their eternal salvation is based on Jesus’ blood and righteousness, call it “grace” (see Ephesians 1:7). The second group are those who are judged according to their works, “And the dead were judged by what was written in the books, according to what they had done.” [Revelation 20:12c ESV]

 

This begs one question: is your name written in the “Book of Life?”