Yes, the rumors of today being my birthday are correct. I am now 15. This is also the day I will wrap up the series on Daniel. If you have not been around to read them all then don't worry. I am compiling them, editing them, and making a book out of them. More info on that later.
Note: written from a pre trib viewpoint.
The Last Days, Daniel 12
The Vision of the Glorious Men that began back in chapter 10 is still rolling on in chapter 12. This vision has taken us from around 530 B.C. to a period of time that will happen in the near future. Daniel 12 gives us insight into what will happen after the anti-christ's demise. (Daniel 11:36-45) After his demise, the seven-year treaty of the Seventy Weeks prophecy is will be over and the seven-year tribulation is over. Now all that remains is the destruction of Mystery Babylon (Revelation 18), the final deliverance of Israel, and a great earthquake that will shake the earth. This is truly an exciting time that will occur after the tribulation.
Daniel 12 details the final days by saying:
1 “At that time Michael shall stand up,
The great prince who stands watch 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,
Every one who is found written in the book.
2 And many of those who sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake,
Some to everlasting life,
Some to shame and everlasting contempt.
3 Those who are wise shall shine
Like the brightness of the firmament,
And those who turn many to righteousness
Like the stars forever and ever.
This "...time of trouble..." (Verse 1) is referring to a period of time in between the anti-christ's demise and Christ's Glorious Appearing on a white horse. At that time, the final prophecies about the earth's last days shall be fulfilled. In this period, Armageddon, the final fight between good and evil will most likely occur although it is unsure exactly when in the tribulation it shall occur. Mystery Babylon will fall and is best described by Revelation 17:1-2
1 Then one of the seven angels who had the seven bowls came and talked with me, saying to me, “Come, I will show you the judgment of the great harlot who sits on many waters, 2 with whom the kings of the earth committed fornication, and the inhabitants of the earth were made drunk with the wine of her fornication.”
This "fornication" is not referring to the physical sin of fornication, but rather the act of going against God, fornicating against God, and rejecting the One True God. This is most likely a new worldwide religion that originates in the tribulation based on the description of Revelation 17. Revelation 6:17 says that Mystery Babylon is "....drunk with the blood of the saints..." meaning that it is against the Lord and will seek to destroy Christians who accept Christ after the Rapture of the church. This fornicating religion shall be defeated. Revelation 18:2 says:
2 And he cried mightily[a] with a loud voice, saying, “Babylon the great is fallen, is fallen, and has become a dwelling place of demons, a prison for every foul spirit, and a cage for every unclean and hated bird!
This religion that is a "...dwelling place of demons, a prison for every foul spirit, and a cage for every unclean and hated bird" will fall in the tribulation. Most likely it will fall after the anti-christ's demise as it occurs after the drying of the Euphrates River. Remember, the Euphrates will dry up directly before the anti-christ’s demise, therefore, we can conclude that this will happen after the anti-christ’s fall. This will pave the way for the Lord's Glorious Appearing. This destruction shall be a time of mourning for the rest of the world, but for the Christians it shall symbolize that Christ is coming and that Christ is coming soon!
In this time, an earthquake shall also occur. Following Armageddon, Revelation 16:17-21 says:
17 Then the seventh angel poured out his bowl into the air, and a loud voice came out of the temple of heaven, from the throne, saying, “It is done!” 18 And there were noises and thunderings and lightnings; and there was a great earthquake, such a mighty and great earthquake as had not occurred since men were on the earth. 19 Now the great city was divided into three parts, and the cities of the nations fell. And great Babylon was remembered before God, to give her the cup of the wine of the fierceness of His wrath. 20 Then every island fled away, and the mountains were not found. 21 And great hail from heaven fell upon men, each hailstone about the weight of a talent. Men blasphemed God because of the plague of the hail, since that plague was exceedingly great.
The earth will be shaken greater than ever before, this shall truly make this "...time of trouble..." the worst time of trouble ever on the earth. This earthquake shall even be great than the one in Revelation 6:12.
It is commonly thought that immediately after the seven years is over that Christ will come on His white horse. Many think this "...time of trouble..." (Verse 1) is referring to the tribulation. However, this “…time of trouble…” occurs after the anti-christ's demise and after the seven-year tribulation. We also know Christ will not come after the conclusion will come because of what Daniel 12:11-12 says:
11 “And from the time that the daily sacrifice is taken away, and the abomination of desolation is set up, there shall be one thousand two hundred and ninety days. 12 Blessed is he who waits, and comes to the one thousand three hundred and thirty-five days.
Based on the Seventy weeks prophecy we know that the tribulation will be a total of seven years. We also know that the antichrist “…shall in the middle of the week…bring an end to sacrifice and offering.” (Daniel 9:27) So we know that the first half will occur three and a half years in to the tribulation. From the day that the daily sacrifice is taken away it shall be one thousand two hundred and ninety days or around another three and a half years. Then it talks about one thousand three hundred and thirty-five days and this is distinctly forty-five days after the end of the seven-year period ends. In those forty-five days the final prophecies shall be fulfilled. Mystery Babylon shall be destroyed, the earth shall shake, then Satan will be bound, and the Millennium shall begin with Jesus Christ at the conclusion of those forty-five days.
The Scripture says, “blessed is he who waits, and comes to the one thousand three hundred and thirty five days.” What are they to wait for? Basically the Scripture is saying blessed be those who are faithful and wait for Christ and do not give up until He comes for them. The Scripture is telling those who come to Christ in the tribulation to be faithful all the way until Christ’s return.
Following the conclusion of the forty-fifth day Daniel 12:1-3 tells us what shall happen in that time (First five lines of verse 1 omitted):
And at that time your people shall be delivered, Every one who is found written in the book. 2 And many of those who sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, Some to everlasting life, Some to shame and everlasting contempt. 3 Those who are wise shall shine Like the brightness of the firmament, And those who turn many to righteousness Like the stars forever and ever.
At that time the Lord will come and deliver Israel, the nation He has not forsaken. The promises He has made to them shall be fulfilled. Everyone written in the Book of Life shall reign with Him. Everyone who is in the Book of Life shall see Satan bound we will rule with Him!
This time when the Rapture and tribulation shall happen is near. The time is here. The angel told Daniel to “…seal the book until the time of the end; many shall run to and fro, and knowledge shall increase.” “Sealing up the book” does not mean sealing it with wax, but rather that the words of this prophecy would not be able to be understood until many are running “…to and fro…” and knowledge both in science and God’s Word has increased. Today, those words are unsealed. Back in Daniel’s day he did not understand his own vision, but now we can understand most of what Daniel has said, seen, and prophesied. The time has come; people are running to and fro, knowledge has increased. That, along with much else signals the return of Jesus Christ, out Savior.
In that day when Jesus Christ comes we will be caught up with Him in the clouds. Every tear will be wiped away. Eventually, following the tribulation Israel shall be redeemed and restored and eventually New Jerusalem shall be created. We will reign for one thousand years with Christ and it will truly be awesome. Amen.
11 Therefore comfort each other and edify one another (with these words), just as you also are doing. (1Thessalonians 5:11) | 
