Prophecy of Hope

           In these final words spoken to Daniel the prophet, God speaks words of comfort, words intended to turn our sorrow into joy. Daniel predicts a time of trouble coming. Jesus confirms this in Matthew 24:21. It will be worse than any kind we shall ever experience in this life. The crisis affecting us today is small compared to what is coming. Yet the verse assures of the deliverance of God’s people whose names are written in the book of life.

Now, notice three points in this great prophecy of hope.

• The angel Michael is the instrument through whom the period of the great tribulation is initiated. I personally believe that this Michael, who is mentioned in Revelation 12:7 as fighting against the dragon which is Satan, is an archangel representing Jesus Christ who will deliver His people from the demonic-inspired tribulation provoked by Satan.
• The deliverance of God’s people occurs in the time of her greatest trouble – the great tribulation. God has chosen to bring about the salvation of His chosen ones by means of suffering. God does save men and women from suffering, but He also saves through suffering. Think of the deliverance of Israel from Egyptian bondage. God delivered His people from their suffering, but the deliverance of Israel came through suffering. Before we can be saved, we must be broken. We must stop trusting ourselves and rely only in God. There’s an important principle here: God’s power and deliverance come not through our strength but through our weakness! In this way, God’s power is manifested and His people most blessed.

• God’s hand divinely guides the course of human tragedy. It is never God’s intention for His people to suffer, but through His sovereignty He allows this for a twofold effect. Those who are righteous will be purged and purified by their suffering, prepared for the coming of the King and His kingdom. Those who are wicked will not understand what God is doing. Determined to destroy the righteous, and persisting in their sin, they reap the consequence of their behavior in the Day of Judgment.

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            The prophecy of Daniel is the revelation of God’s plan for the future. It predicts the severity of hardships that shall come, but also speaks of the hope of Jesus’ soon return.