The book of Daniel is an important and impressive anthology of divine revelation. The book is full of interesting dreams, visions and interpretations. These outline the march and purpose of history—the rise and fall of great empires, God’s involvement in human affairs, how God’s people are often oppressed, and how God intervenes to ensure protection, deliverance, and salvation for His children.

This prophetic book emphasizes that the Great Judge has control of all things in His hands and that truth will triumph and iniquity will be destroyed. The prophet Daniel’s record also presents good news for some and bad news for others.

Within this context, we will highlight a part of the last vision given to the prophet:

“But tidings out of the east and out of the north shall trouble him: therefore he shall go forth with great fury to destroy, and utterly to make away many. And he shall plant the tabernacles of his palace between the seas in the glorious holy mountain; yet he shall come to his end, and none shall help him. And at that time shall Michael stand up, the great prince which standeth for the children of thy people: and there shall be a time of trouble, such as never was since there was a nation even to that same time: and at that time thy people shall be delivered, every one that shall be found written in the book. And many of them that sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, some to everlasting life, and some to shame and everlasting contempt. And they that be wise shall shine as the brightness of the firmament; and they that turn many to righteousness as the stars for ever and ever” (Daniel 11:44–12:3).

In Daniel 11, God’s detailed account of world events to the end is presented. It is a reliable account drawn up by the Omniscient One—He who knows everything.

“The complicated play of human events is under divine control. Amidst the strife and tumult of nations, He that sitteth above the cherubim still guides the affairs of the earth.”1

In this regard, Daniel 11 is one of the most comprehensive descriptions found in the Old Testament. Studying this chapter, we discover details regarding the Roman Empire and the battles between the King of the North and the King of the South. These details also reflect the attacks on God’s people, thus displaying yet another picture of the battle waged against the faithful of God as described earlier in the preceding chapters of Daniel 7 and 8.

Taking into account the prophetic harmony that exists between the books of Daniel and of Revelation, we see in chapters 13 to 19 of Revelation, that papal Rome (as incorporated in the great Babylon) is identified as an apostate, oppressive and persecuting power against the people of God. In view of this, there is strong evidence in Daniel 11:44, 45 of a connection with that power (papal Rome) that rises against Heaven, against the truth, and against the children of God.

In the prophetic revelation of Daniel 11, there is a sequence of the rise and fall of kingdoms. Between ascents and falls, powerful iron Rome emerges. From pagan Rome, a new empire emerged: papal Rome. Papal Rome emerged after the Christian church decayed in piety and distanced itself from the divine truths that made it a separate and peculiar church.

In view of this, the church that should have remained pure—without merging with civil power—lost its purity and allied itself with the State. It presumptuously thought to change biblical truth by adding human traditions, mixing the sacred with the profane, imposing its will with the support of the weapons of the State—and all this in the name of faith. The apostate church became the ecclesiastical political empire of papal Rome.

Although there are many divergences in the interpretation of Daniel chapter 11, especially regarding the King of the North, most scholars of this prophecy agree that the power cited in the final two verses (Daniel 11:44, 45) is a persecuting power that will be regimented against God’s people, but it will be annihilated (Daniel 11:45). Yes, Michael the Great Prince stands up for the children of God. Thus, chapter 11 climaxes with the final attack on God’s people. But the good news is that victory is already guaranteed for the faithful followers of Jesus Christ. All those who love Jesus will win.

“And at that time shall Michael stand up, the great prince which standeth for the children of thy people: and there shall be a time of trouble, such as never was since there was a nation even to that same time: and at that time thy people shall be delivered, every one that shall be found written in the book” (Daniel 12:1).

When reading the above verse, some questions arise: Who is Michael? What time of trouble is this? What is the book and to whom is it ascribed? In answering these questions, it appears that God intervenes in a wonderful way in the last events in history and differentiates between His treatment of the saints and the wicked, in relation to His people and His enemies. Anyway, there is good news for some and bad news for others.

The word Michael means: “Who is like God?” The main biblical references about Michael are in Daniel 10:13, 21; 12:1; Jude 9 and Revelation 12:7.

“The words of the angel, ‘I am Gabriel, that stand in the presence of God,’ show that he holds a position of high honor in the heavenly courts. When he came with a message to Daniel, he said, ‘There is none that holdeth with me in these things, but Michael [Christ] your Prince.’ Daniel 10:21. Of Gabriel the Saviour speaks in the Revelation, saying that ‘He sent and signified it by His angel unto His servant John.’ Revelation 1:1. And to John the angel declared, ‘I am a fellow servant with thee and with thy brethren the prophets.’ Revelation 22:9, R. V. Wonderful thought—that the angel who stands next in honor to the Son of God is the one chosen to open the purposes of God to sinful men.”2

Therefore, Michael is another name given to Christ. He is the heavenly guardian of God’s people who will rise when the apostate power and its allies are focused on destroying the children of God.

“ ‘And at that time shall Michael stand up, the great prince which standeth for the children of thy people: and there shall be a time of trouble, such as never was since there was a nation even to that same time: and at that time thy people shall be delivered, everyone that shall be found written in the book.’ Daniel 12:1. When this time of trouble comes, every case is decided; there is no longer probation, no longer mercy for the impenitent. The seal of the living God is upon His people. This small remnant, unable to defend themselves in the deadly conflict with the powers of earth that are marshaled by the dragon host, make God their defense.”3

“When the third angel’s message closes, mercy no longer pleads for the guilty inhabitants of the earth. The people of God have accomplished their work. They have received ‘the latter rain,’ ‘the refreshing from the presence of the Lord,’ and they are prepared for the trying hour before them. Angels are hastening to and fro in heaven. An angel returning from the earth announces that his work is done; the final test has been brought upon the world, and all who have proved themselves loyal to the divine precepts have received ‘the seal of the living God.’ Then Jesus ceases His intercession in the sanctuary above. He lifts His hands and with a loud voice says, ‘It is done;’ and all the angelic host lay off their crowns as He makes the solemn announcement: ‘He that is unjust, let him be unjust still: and he which is filthy, let him be filthy still: and he that is righteous, let him be righteous still: and he that is holy, let him be holy still.’ Revelation 22:11. Every case has been decided for life or death. Christ has made the atonement for His people and blotted out their sins. The number of His subjects is made up; ‘the kingdom and dominion, and the greatness of the kingdom under the whole heaven,’ is about to be given to the heirs of salvation, and Jesus is to reign as King of kings and Lord of lords.”4

The book quoted at the end of Daniel 12:1, “thy people shall be delivered, every one that shall be found written in the book” refers to the book of life (Philippians 4:3; Revelation 20:15; etc.), also called the Lamb’s Book of Life:

“He that overcometh, the same shall be clothed in white raiment; and I will not blot out his name out of the book of life, but I will confess his name before my Father, and before his angels” (Revelation 3:5).

“And there shall in no wise enter into it any thing that defileth, neither whatsoever worketh abomination, or maketh a lie: but they which are written in the Lamb’s book of life” (Revelation 21:27).

The book of life contains the names of the children of God, those who were judged in the investigative judgment, who had their sins blotted out from the record books and were declared righteous by the great Judge. These names remained in the book and were not crossed out. Michael stands up for those whose names were written and remained in that book.

“When we become children of God, our names are written in the Lamb’s book of life, and they remain there until the time of the investigative judgment. Then the name of every individual will be called, and his record examined, by Him who declares, ‘I know thy works.’ If in that day it shall appear that all our wicked deeds have not been fully repented of, our names will be blotted from the book of life, and our sins will stand against us.”5

“And many of them that sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, some to everlasting life, and some to shame and everlasting contempt” (Daniel 12:2).

At Christ’s second advent, only the righteous will be resurrected (1 Thessalonians 4:16) and after the millennium, in the second resurrection, only the wicked will be resurrected for the final judgment (Revelation 20:5, 6). Therefore, the text above describes a mixed resurrection that occurs at the voice of God, shortly before the return of Jesus Christ. This resurrection is made up of the just and the unjust. The righteous are the faithful who died under the threefold angels’ message and the unjust are those who pierced Christ, including also the fiercest enemies of the truth.

We read in Revelation 1:7: “Behold, he cometh with clouds; and every eye shall see him, and they also which pierced him” sheds light on the understanding of this great truth. All those who were connected with Christ’s condemnation at His first advent as the Son of man are resurrected just before the second advent to witness His glorious return (Matthew 26:64).

“That voice [of God] shakes the heavens and the earth. There is a mighty earthquake, ‘such as was not since men were upon the earth, so mighty an earthquake, and so great.’ Revelation 16:17, 18. The firmament appears to open and shut. The glory from the throne of God seems flashing through. The mountains shake like a reed in the wind, and ragged rocks are scattered on every side. . . .

“Graves are opened, and ‘many of them that sleep in the dust of the earth . . . awake, some to everlasting life, and some to shame and everlasting contempt.’ Daniel 12:2. All who have died in the faith of the third angel’s message come forth from the tomb glorified, to hear God’s covenant of peace with those who have kept His law. ‘They also which pierced Him’ (Revelation 1:7), those that mocked and derided Christ’s dying agonies, and the most violent opposers of His truth and His people, are raised to behold Him in His glory and to see the honor placed upon the loyal and obedient.”6

Christ’s manifestation in the clouds of heaven marks the end of the history of sin and the beginning of eternity. On the Saviour’s glorious return, the eternal day will dawn for all of God’s faithful children. But this event that brings life and triumph to the winners marks the evening of the eternal night of sin for the wicked. It is the end of those who were unfaithful; the end of lovers of the world and sin.

“With earnest longing, God’s people await the tokens of their coming King. As the watchmen are accosted, ‘What of the night?’ the answer is given unfalteringly, ‘The morning cometh, and also the night.’ Isaiah 21:11, 12. Light is gleaming upon the clouds above the mountaintops. Soon there will be a revealing of His glory. The Sun of Righteousness is about to shine forth. The morning and the night are both at hand—the opening of endless day to the righteous, the settling down of eternal night to the wicked.”7

On that great day, the separation of humanity will occur. The difference between the just and the wicked will be seen very clearly, between those who do God’s will and those who do not.

The children of God who sleep in the dust of the earth will rise immortal and the living will be transformed, because “the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality” (1 Corinthians 15:52, 53).

The children of God will be brought forth to meet the King and the wicked will be destined for eternal destruction (Matthew 25:41).

“And they that be wise shall shine as the brightness of the firmament; and they that turn many to righteousness as the stars for ever and ever” (Daniel 12:3).

This verse reveals the reward of those who have shone as lights in the world. The righteous absorbed the truth and shared it. They were not selfish! The person who truly discerns the things of God knows the need to share this message with others. Divine wisdom leads one to be a propagator of the knowledge of God’s will, His ways, and His empowering love.

“In order to determine how important are the interests involved in the conversion of the soul from error to truth, we must appreciate the value of immortality; we must realize how terrible are the pains of the second death; we must comprehend the honor and glory awaiting the ransomed, and understand what it is to live in the presence of Him who died that He might elevate and ennoble man, and give to the overcomer a royal diadem.”8

“Though kings shall be cast down, and nations removed, the souls that through faith link themselves with God’s purposes shall abide forever. ‘They that be wise shall shine as the brightness of the firmament; and they that turn many to righteousness as the stars for ever and ever’ (Daniel 12:3).”9

The words of the prophecy point to two distinct groups: those who serve God and those who do not—and the fate of each group in the final controversy. Over the course of history, God’s people were mistreated and persecuted by the enemies of truth, but they were supported and sustained by the Lord.

One of the most impressive aspects of all this is that, from the manifestation of God’s enemies to the intervention of Michael the great prince, there is good news for some and bad news for others. Now, the significant question is: In the final scenes of the history of this world, where will you be? Among the saved or among the lost? Is the manifestation of Christ in glory good news or bad news for you?

“When the Son of man shall come in his glory, and all the holy angels with him, then shall he sit upon the throne of his glory: and before him shall be gathered all nations: and he shall separate them one from another, as a shepherd divides his sheep from the goats: and he shall set the sheep on his right hand, but the goats on the left. Then shall the King say unto them on his right hand, Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world. . . . Then shall he say also unto them on the left hand, Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels” (Matthew 25:31–34, 41).

My prayer is that we may be awarded the King’s welcome—the good news of deliverance and salvation. May we enjoy the privilege of dwelling with Christ and the redeemed through the endless centuries of eternity. AMEN!