CET: 7 The Sequence of Endtime Events According to the Prophet Daniel

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Chapter 7

The Sequence of Endtime Events According to the Prophet Daniel

Daniel 7, 9, & 12

[Note: This chapter is considered supplemental and not essential to understanding the material in Christ’s Endtimes Teaching. However, it will be especially helpful to those who have been taught the popular Pre-tribulation view of the Endtimes.]

A) Endtime Events According to Daniel 7

B) Endtime Events According to Daniel 9

C) Endtime Events According to Daniel 12

D) A summary of the sequence of Endtime events in Daniel

Primary Points

Daniel chapters 7, 9, and 12 each describe the same sequence of Endtime events as Christ’s Endtimes Teaching.
The teaching in all of these chapters applies to the Church.
The saints being described as being persecuted by the Antichrist include the Church.
Even Daniel’s “70^th week” includes God’s plan for the Church, because the Church is certainly included in the first “69 weeks” predicting Christ’s crucifixion.

As noted previously, it is common for Teachers to begin their presentation of the Endtimes in Daniel. However, for reasons given earlier (ch. 3, sec. C), it is best to start with Christ’s Endtimes Teaching. This is because His NT teaching helps us accurately interpret Daniel’s more obscure visions. This will be demonstrated throughout this chapter. For example, Jesus provided commentary on Daniel 9:27 when He said, “So when you see standing in the holy place ‘the abomination that causes desolation,’ spoken of through the prophet Daniel—let the reader understand” (Matt 24:15 NIV).

Daniel is a very complex book of prophecy. It tells us many things about the Antichrist’s Rise and Reign that will be discussed more in book #2 of the Endtimes Essentials series, The Beginning of Birth Pains. The focus of this chapter is primarily two things: 1) To establish Daniel’s prophecies as revelation for what the Church will experience in the Endtimes; ^[1] 2) Recognize that the sequence of Endtime events in Daniel agrees with Jesus and Paul.

A) Endtime Events according to Daniel 7

[Read Daniel 7:1-27]

In Daniel chapter 7 the Prophet is given a vision of Endtime events and an interpretation of his vision. If we compare this to Christ’s Endtimes Teaching, we again see the following four events being described: 1) The Beginning of Birth Pains, 2) Antichrist’s Claim to Be God, 3) The Greatest Persecution, and 4) Christ’s Return.

A.1) Daniel 7 is for the Church

This prophecy predicts a future king will arise who will speak against the Most High and oppress his saints (7:24-25 NIV ^[2]). This king will be the future Antichrist. In the Endtimes he will be waging war against the saints and defeating them (v. 21 NIV). The saints will be delivered into his hands for a time, times and half a time (NIV; 3.5 years; v. 25). These saints are referred to six times in this passage (vs. 18, 21, 22, 25, 27). Who are these saints whom the Antichrist will war against, be defeating, and oppress in the Endtimes? ^[3]

A popular view is that these saints are only Jews and do not include Christians in the Church. But three times the prophecy states these same saints of the Most High will receive the kingdom and will possess it forever (v. 18 NIV; cf. vs. 22, 27). The Church is certainly going to be a part of this eternal kingdom. Which is why verse 14 says this kingdom will include all nations and peoples, not just Jews. The saints who inherit the kingdom are the same saints who will be persecuted by the Antichrist. And those saints will not just be Jews, but will include Christians in the Church. ^[4]

The Hebrew word for saints in Daniel (qaddish: “holy ones, saints” ^[5]) means the same thing as the Greek word for saints in the NT (hagios “human beings consecrated to God” ^[6]). In the NT, the word saints consistently refers to the Church (almost 60 times). Therefore, NT revelation expands the biblical meaning of saints in the OT to include Christians from all nations and peoples (Dan 7:14 NIV).

Likewise, these saints in Daniel 7 who will be persecuted by the Antichrist are the same as the elect in Matthew 24 who will be handed over to be persecuted by the Antichrist (v. 9 NIV; cf. vs. 15, 21-22). And both references include the Church.

Therefore, contrary to popular teaching, this interpretation of Daniel 7 agrees with what we have seen in the previous three chapters. Both Jesus and Paul clearly taught the Church will experience The Beginning of Birth Pains, Antichrist’s Claim to be God, and The Greatest Persecution. Therefore, Daniel’s prophecy agrees with Jesus and Paul that the elect and saints in the Church will suffer the persecution of the Antichrist (cf. Matt 24:22, 24, 31).

A.2) The Beginning of Birth Pains in Daniel 7

In Christ’s Endtimes Teaching Jesus said that a major part of The Beginning of Birth Pains would be wars (Matt 24:6-7). Daniel 7 also speaks of these Endtime wars when he writes: The fourth beast is a fourth kingdom that will appear on earth. It will … devour the whole earth, trampling it down and crushing it (7:23 NIV). This future fourth beast depicts both the Antichrist and his Endtime Beast Empire. ^[7] In Daniel chapter 8 it says of the Antichrist: He will cause a shocking amount of destruction… he will destroy many without warning. Elsewhere we read He will attack the mightiest fortresses and still succeed in whatever he does (8:24-25; 11:39 NLT). These prophecies reflect the unprecedented wars that Jesus predicted.

A.3) Antichrist’s Claim to be God in Daniel 7

Christ taught that in the midst of these wars, His people will see standing in the holy place ‘the abomination that causes desolation,’ spoken of through the prophet Daniel (Matt 24:15 NIV). As noted in a previous chapter, the Apostle Paul also described this event as when the man of lawlessness is revealed and he sets himself up in God’s temple, proclaiming himself to be God (2 Thess 2:3-4 NIV). Likewise, Daniel 7 says that an Endtime king [Antichrist] will arise and speak against the Most High (vs. 24-25 NIV; cf. vs. 8, 20-21). It is because of these biblical descriptions of the abomination that causes desolation, that it is referred to as Antichrist’s Claim to be God throughout Endtimes Essentials.

A.4) The Greatest Persecution in Daniel 7

What did Jesus say would happen immediately after the Antichrist’s Claim to be God in the Jerusalem temple? His people are to flee because then there will be The Greatest Persecution (cf. Matt 24:16-21). What did Daniel say would happen immediately after the Antichrist’s Claim to be God? “He [the Antichrist] will speak against the Most High and then oppress his saints (v. 25 NIV). Earlier, the text said, this horn was waging war against the saints and defeating them (v. 21 NIV).

Daniel 7 states The saints will be delivered into [Antichrist’s] hands for a time, times and half a time (v. 25 NIV). This corresponds to other references in Scripture that The Greatest Persecution will last 3.5 Jewish years. In Daniel 12:7 we read It will be for a time, times and half a time. When the power of the holy people has been finally broken (NIV). Likewise, in Revelation 13, the saints are persecuted by Antichrist for 42 months (v. 5; cf. 11:2), all of which equal 3.5 Jewish years. ^[8]

A.5) Christ’s visible Return will stop The Greatest Persecution because it will include the Church’s Rescue

After the 3.5 years of The Greatest Persecution, Daniel says, “his [Antichrist’s] power will be taken away and completely destroyed forever” (7:26 NIV). How and when is the Antichrist’s power to persecute God’s people taken away? Daniel saw, one like a son of man, coming with the clouds of heaven (7:13 NIV). Christ’s visible Return will stop The Greatest Persecution because it will include the Church’s Rescue. Likewise, Jesus said the Son of Man will be coming on the clouds for the Church’s Rescue and to end The Greatest Persecution (Matt 24:30-31). Both Jesus and Daniel teach the Antichrist’s persecution of God’s saints and elect will be stopped by Christ’s Return and coming with the clouds of heaven (Dan 7:13; cf. Dan 7:21-22; 25-27). This is because Christ’s Return includes the Church’s Rescue. Both Jesus and Daniel also taught Christ’s Return would be visible to the whole world when He Rescues the Church.

Paul concurs with Daniel. He said, the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and our gathering together to Him … will not come unless the apostasy comes first, and the man of lawlessness is revealed (2 Thess 2:1, 3 NASB). Jesus, Paul, and Daniel agree that the Antichrist persecutes God’s saints before the real Christ rescues God’s saints.

Therefore, in Daniel 7 we have the same sequence of Endtime events taught by Christ and the Apostle Paul. Wars will lead to Antichrist’s Rise and his eventual Claim to be God. This will initiate The Greatest Persecution of God’s saints (Dan 7:25) and elect (Matt 24:21-22), which will include the Church. Only after this time will The Greatest Persecution be stopped by Christ’s visible Return.

B) Endtime Events according to Daniel 9

[Read Daniel 9:24-27]

In Daniel chapter 9 the Prophet is given another explanation of Endtime events. Verses 24-27 are some of the most well-known, controversial, and complex statements in Scripture. The primary purpose for discussing them here is again, 1) To establish Daniel’s prophecies as revelation for what the Church will experience in the Endtimes; and 2) Recognize that the sequence of Endtime events in Daniel agrees with Jesus and Paul.

B.1) Daniel 9 is for the Church

Daniel 9:24-27 is a key text for those who claim Endtime events have little if anything to do with the Church. This is based on the Angel Gabriel (cf. v. 21) telling Daniel (a Jew) that the prophecy is for your people and your holy city (v. 24), and to anoint the Most Holy Place (NIV). This obviously refers to the Jews, Jerusalem, and a Jewish temple. Likewise, the abomination that causes desolation … at the temple (v. 27 NIV) clearly applies to the Jews and Jerusalem. For these reasons many claim that Christians in the Church will not be present at all during Daniel’s Last 7 Years (“70th week”). But there are clear problems with this view.

First, the prophecy of the “69 weeks” clearly includes God’s plan for the Church. It culminates with the Anointed One (Christ) being put to death (v. 26). Does anyone want to claim that this prediction of the crucifixion of Christ does not apply to the Church in any way? ^[9] Of course not. Therefore, if the culmination of the “69 weeks” applies to the Church, then we can expect elements of the “70th week” to as well. There are no Scriptures that teach otherwise.

Secondly, it should be noticed that the very same abomination that causes desolation (Dan 9:27 NIV) is spoken of by Christ in the context of events that will include God’s elect people (Matt 24:22, 24, 31), which includes the Church. Jesus taught that the Church will “see … the abomination that causes desolation, spoken of through the prophet Daniel” (Matt 24:15 NIV).

Likewise, Paul taught the Church that:

The coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and our gathering together to Him … will not come unless the apostasy comes first, and the man of lawlessness is revealed, the son of destruction, who opposes and exalts himself above every so-called god or object of worship, so that he takes his seat in the temple of God, displaying himself as being God. (2 Thess 2:1, 3-4 NASB)

This is the very event being described in Daniel 9:27. Therefore, Paul taught that Christ’s Return and the Church’s Rescue will not happen until after: In the middle of the ‘seven’ he [Antichrist] will put an end to sacrifice and offering. And at the temple he will set up an abomination that causes desolation (Dan 9:27 NIV). Jesus and Paul clearly taught that the Church is on Earth for this event, Antichrist’s Claim to be God.

This illustrates something that should have been obvious. Gabriel did not say these events were only for the Jews as many assume. The fact that Gabriel says these events involve the nation of Israel does not require they cannot also apply to the Church. For example, he told Daniel the prediction of Christ’s crucifixion was for your people the Jews (v. 24). But obviously that did not mean it could not also apply to other people. In fact, so far in history, Gabriel’s prediction of Christ’s crucifixion in Daniel 9 has applied much more to the Church than the nation of Israel.

To insist there can be no overlap in God’s Endtime plan for the Church and Israel (Dispensationalism) is merely an unbiblical assumption that is nowhere supported by Scripture. In fact, the NT often melds God’s plan for the Jews and the Church together (cf. Rom 11:1-25; Eph 2:11-22). These NT texts refute a great deal of the dogmatism in “dispensational” and Pre-tribulational views on prophetic Scripture. ^[10]

B.2) The Beginning of Birth Pains and Antichrist’s Claim to be God in Daniel 9

Because Daniel 9 applies to God’s Endtime plan for the Church, it describes several things that Jesus said applied to God’s elect people in His Endtimes Teaching. First, there are two events described here that Jesus mentioned as well. Jesus said The Beginning of Birth Pains would include wars (cf. Matt 24:6-7). It is confirmed in Daniel 9 that War will continue until the end (v. 26 NIV).

Secondly, as noted above, both Jesus and Paul taught the Church will be present for ‘the abomination that causes desolation’ spoken of through the prophet Daniel (Matt 24:15; cf. Dan 9:27).

B.3) Understanding Daniel’s Last 7 Years

Daniel 9 says Seventy ‘sevens’ are decreed (v. 24 NIV) for a certain part of God’s prophetic plan. As most OT scholars explain, this OT language refers to seventy sets of seven years. This equals a total of 490 years (70×7). The text goes on to explain what will happen within these 490 prophetic years.

First, there would be a decree to restore and rebuild Jerusalem (v. 25 NIV). This is referring to the decree of Artaxerxes recorded in the book of Nehemiah authorizing the rebuilding of the city (cf. Neh 2:1-8). This occurred in 445 B.C., about 100 years after Daniel received this prophecy.

Second, after this decree, we are told there will be seven ‘sevens,’ and sixty-two ‘sevens’ (v. 25 NIV). This equals 69 periods of seven years or 483 years (7×7 + 62×7=69 “7’s”).

Thirdly, the prophecy states at the end of that time, the Anointed One will be put to death (v. 26 NIV). This clearly refers to the crucifixion of Jesus Christ. Remarkably, it has been demonstrated that this prophecy was literally fulfilled, perhaps even to the exact day. ^[11]

Next, the prophecy states: The people of the ruler who will come will destroy the city and the sanctuary (v. 26 NIV). The near and partial fulfillment of this prediction occurred in A.D. 70 when the Roman general Titus destroyed Jerusalem and desecrated the Jewish temple. However, Luke 21:20 and Revelation 11:1-2, the latter written in the A.D. 90’s, clearly describe the final and complete fulfillment of this prophecy.

Next, this prophecy states, The end will come like a flood: War will continue until the end, and desolations have been decreed (v. 26 NIV). This gives us a clue that the prophecy has fast-forwarded to the Endtimes. Indeed, what the prophecy says next definitely occurs in the Endtimes:

“He will confirm a covenant with many for one ‘seven.’ In the middle of the ‘seven’ he will put an end to sacrifice and offering. And at the temple he will set up an abomination that causes desolation, until the end that is decreed is poured out on him.” (Dan 9:27 NIV)

We know this prediction will be fulfilled in the Endtimes because in Christ’s Endtimes Teaching He said the Last Generation Church will see standing in the holy place ‘the abomination that causes desolation,’ spoken of through the prophet Daniel (Matt 24:15 NIV). This event has been discussed in the previous section.

The point to notice here is that verse 27 describes the last seven years of the prophesied 490 years. This is typically called “Daniel’s 70^th Week” because the other “69 Weeks” of the prophecy were fulfilled at Christ’s crucifixion. But it is more clearly “Daniel’s Last 7 Years,” and will be labeled this throughout the Endtimes Essentials. Because Daniel’s Last 7 Years occurs in the Endtimes, there has been an odd, but certain “gap” of almost 2,000 years between when the Anointed One will be put to death (v. 26), and what is being described in verse 27. Such “gaps” in what a biblical Prophet sees in the future is a common feature of biblical prophecy. ^[12]

Therefore, Daniel indicates there is one more period of 7 years to be fulfilled. The prophecy predicts several important Endtime events will occur during this time.

First, a ruler who will come will make a covenant with many (vs. 26-27). As discussed further in the next volume, The Beginning of Birth Pains, this will probably be Antichrist’s Religious Covenant with the unbelievers of the world.

The prophecy goes on to predict that in the middle of the seven years, or 3.5 years after making a covenant with many, the future Antichrist will put an end to sacrifice and offering. And at the temple he will set up an abomination that causes desolation (v. 27). This is what Jesus referred to as “’the abomination that causes desolation,’ spoken of through the prophet Daniel” (Matt 24:15 NIV). This will be discussed further in book #4: The Greatest Persecution.

C) Endtime Events according to Daniel 12

[Read Daniel 12:1-13]

C.1) Daniel 12 is for the Church

A suggested translation for Daniel 12:1 would be:

“In the endtimes, the Archangel Michael, the great military commander who protects the sons of your people, will stop protecting them. Then the saints will experience the anguish of being attacked by an enemy. That anguish will be greater than any that has happened since nations have existed.” ^[13]

The anguish of being attacked by an enemy translates the Hebrew word tsarah which can mean, “the anguish of a people besieged by an enemy.” ^[14] The fact that this anguish will be greater than any that has happened since nations have existed clearly refers to The Greatest Persecution.

The sons of your people clearly refers to Israel. Therefore, some have used this text to claim that only the Jews will experience The Greatest Persecution. It is true that they will be a part of it. The Antichrist will persecute the Jews in Israel. This is why Jesus said after, ‘the abomination that causes desolation,’ spoken of through the prophet Daniel … then let those [Jews] who are in Judea flee to the mountains (Matt 24:15-16 NIV).

But God will miraculously protect Israel from the Antichrist (cf. Rev 12:15-16) and then the dragon Satan, who will indwell the Resurrected Antichrist will wage war against the rest of Israel’s spiritual offspring the Church—those who keep God’s commands and hold fast their testimony about Jesus (Rev 12:17 NIV). This text will be explained further elsewhere. ^[15]

The point is that just because Daniel describes the Antichrist persecuting the nation of Israel does not mean he will not persecute the Church. In fact, further revelation in Scripture clearly tells us this persecution will include the Church.

Even in Daniel 12 we see the Church mentioned. In verse 2 we read:

At that time, your people—everyone whose name is found written in the book —will be delivered. Multitudes who sleep in the dust of the earth will awake (vs. 1-2 NIV).

A common error is to interpret your people here as only applying to Israel. But all of God’s people have their name … written in the book of life (cf. Exod 32:32; Luke 10:20; Phil 4:3; Heb 12:23; Rev 3:5; 13:8; 20:12; 21:27). The Book of Life is not just for the Jews. Likewise, this prophecy for your [Daniel’s] people clearly describes the Resurrection, another event that certainly applies to the Church!

The full revelation of Scripture tells us these promises include the Church. If your people in Daniel 12 that are in the Book of Life and will be resurrected can include the Church, then your people in Daniel 12 who will experience The Greatest Persecution can also include the Church.

C.2) The Greatest Persecution & the Church’s Rescue in Daniel 12

Again, the text warns the saints will experience the anguish of being attacked by an enemy. That anguish will be greater than any that has happened since nations have existed (v. 1). This is the same greatest persecution of God’s elect people that will be greater than any persecution since the world began, and it will never be equaled again” (Matt 24:21 ^[16]) that Jesus spoke of.

According to Jesus, what will happen Immediately after the completion of the greatest persecution (Matt 24:29)? Christ will send out His angels with a loud trumpet sound, and they will lift up and gather together God’s elect people from one end of the sky to the other, from everywhere on Earth (Matt 24:31 ^[17]).

What does Daniel 12 say will happen when God’s people experience anguish that will be greater than any that has happened since nations have existed (v. 1)?:

[A]t that time every one of your people whose name is written in the book will be rescued. [Also] Many of those whose bodies lie dead and buried will rise up, some to everlasting life and some to shame and everlasting disgrace. (Dan 12:1-2 NLT)

It would seem two events are being described here. First a rescue and then a resurrection. Rescued translates the Hebrew word mālat. Its “most prominent meaning is deliverance or escape from the threat of death.” ^[18] There is no better Hebrew word to describe the Church’s Rescue during The Greatest Persecution. Jesus warned the Church that after Antichrist’s Claim to be God, you will be handed over to be persecuted and put to death (Matt 24:9 NIV). Daniel 12 seems to be describing the rescue of living saints from being killed by rescuing them.

In addition, the resurrection that occurs at the time of Christ’s Return and the Church’s Rescue also seems to be described in Daniel 12: Many of those whose bodies lie dead and buried will rise up (v. 2). Putting the Church’s Rescue and Resurrection together fits Paul’s description of the same event:

For the Lord Himself will come down from Heaven, with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet call of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. (1 Thess 4:16 NIV)

Among the Many of those whose bodies lie dead and buried [and] will rise up (Dan 12:2), are the dead in Christ [who] will rise first (1 Thess 4:16). Although Paul immediately adds something that is not in Daniel 12: After that, we who are still alive and are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air [the Church’s Rescue] (1 Thess 4:17 NIV). Daniel 12 is describing the same event as the Apostle Paul.

There is one more description of The Greatest Persecution in Daniel 12. The Angel says: “It will be for a time, times and half a time [3.5 years]. When the power of the saints has been finally broken” (Dan 12:7 NIV ^[19]). This repeats the duration given for The Greatest Persecution throughout Daniel and Revelation.

D) A summary of the sequence of Endtime events in Daniel

It was demonstrated above that Daniel chapters 7, 9, and 12 teach the same sequence of Endtime events that we have seen from the NT. This can be listed in the following table:

The sequence of Endtime events according to Daniel

#	Endtime Event	References in Daniel
#	Endtime Event	7	9	12
➊	The Beginning of Birth Pains (War)	v. 23	26
➋	Antichrist’s Claim to be God	vs. 24-25a	27
➌	The Greatest Persecution	21, 25b		1, 7
➍	Christ’s Return	26	27d
➎	The Church’s Rescue			1-2

Likewise, we can illustrate these things in the following graphics:

It is very popular to claim that Daniel’s descriptions of the Antichrist’s activities have no relationship to the Church. For example, Walvoord writes on Daniel 9:24-27:[T]his chapter is specifically God’s program for the people of Israel… To make this equivalent to the church composed of both Jews and Gentiles is to read into the passage something foreign to the whole thinking of Daniel. (Daniel, 220).
But Walvoord says at Dan 7:18, “Although there has been considerable discussion as to the reference of ‘the saints,’ it would seem to include the saved of all ages” (Dan, 172). So, the Church is in the prophecies of Daniel!

In addition, it is argued in this chapter that NT revelation can add elements to our interpretation of Daniel’s prophecies. As noted above, Walvoord denies this regarding 9:24-27. But at 12:1 he admits:

Here Daniel is … revealing … what has always been the hope of the saints [resurrection]. This, of course, is enlarged in the New Testament with the added truth of the rapture of living saints [the Church]” (285). ↑
Throughout this chapter, the 1984 text of the NIV will be used where it translates the Hebrew qaddish as saints, just as the NASB does throughout Daniel. It is believed this helps us recognize that this is referring to the same saints referred to throughout the NT as including the Church. ↑
It will be noted here that Daniel 2:4-7:28 were originally written in Aramaic, not Hebrew. ↑
Young remarks on the use of saints in Daniel 7:These saints are not the Jews in distinction from the heathen (Maurer), nor “the Godfearing Jews who pass through the great tribulation” (Gaebelein)… The saints are the true members of the elect of God “the congregation of the New Covenant, consisting of Israel and the faithful of all nations; for the kingdom which God gives to the Son of Man will, according to v. 14, include those that are redeemed from among all the nations of the earth” (Keil). (157). ↑
BDB. ↑
BDAG. ↑
For more on Antichrist’s Beast Empire see The Beginning of Birth Pains. ↑
Hill notes regarding the reference to a time, times, and half a time in Daniel: “The expression is generally taken to mean a period of three and a half years (so Collins, Daniel, 322; who notes the word “time” [Aramaic ʿiddān] can mean “year” on the basis of [Dan] 8:14 and 9:27).” The duration of The Greatest Persecution is discussed further in the book The Greatest Persecution. ↑
Unfortunately, as a Pre-tribulationist, MacArthur does want to claim that this prediction of the crucifixion of Christ in Dan 9:26 does not apply to the Church in any way. He writes: “That prophecy of Daniel was given to and about Israel, and it seems inappropriate to involve the church in the last week (the seven-year Tribulation) when it clearly was not involved in the first 69” (Matt, Matt 24).But even the Pre-tribulationist Walvoord admits: “The natural interpretation of [Dan 9:26] is that it refers to the death of Jesus Christ on the cross” (229), which clearly applies to the Church. ↑
For more on the relationship between Israel and the Church in the Endtimes see “God’s Endtime Plan for Israel & the Church” in Advanced Studies on the Endtimes (ASE), ch. 11, available online at http://www.trainingtimothys.com. ↑
For more on the fulfillment of this prophecy concerning the timing of Christ’s crucifixion, see God’s Prophets, chapter 9.8, section B.9 online in the “Scholar’s Section” of the “Divine Revelation” section of the website at www.trainingtimothys.com ↑
For more on time gaps in biblical prophecy see ASE ch. 3, sec. A. ↑
The suggested translation of Dan 12:1 is: “In the endtimes, the Archangel Michael, the great military commander who protects the sons of your people, will stop protecting them. Then the saints will experience the anguish of being attacked by an enemy. That anguish will be greater than any that has happened since nations have existed.”In the endtimes (At that time NIV) refers to the Endtime events described in the previous verses in Daniel chapter 11. These predict activities of the Antichrist At the time of the end (11:40).
Archangel Michael, the great military commander. Michael is not just any Angel, but an Archangel (see NLT). Most versions refer to him as a prince here (NIV, NASB). But the Hebrew word is sar which can mean “a military commander” (cf. Josh 5:14-15; Judg 4:2; 1 Sam 17:55). This fits the context of spiritual warfare best.

Will stop protecting them translates the Hebrew word āmad which is the “basic term for ‘stand’” (TWOT, 673). However, BDB lists 12 times in the OT where āmad means: “stand still, stop, cease moving.” That fits the context best here. Michael will stop protecting. For more on this see the discussion of “the Restrainer” in ch. 15, sec C.

The saints reflects the fact that the people being described as being persecuted here, are the same saints that the Antichrist will be waging war against (cf. Dan 7:21), will oppress (7:25), and who will be delivered into the Antichrist’s hands for a time, times and half a time (7:25).

The anguish of being attacked by an enemy translates the Hebrew word tsarah which can mean, “the anguish of a people besieged by an enemy” (TWOT, 779; cf. Gen 32:7; Judg 2:15; 10:9). ↑
TWOT, 779; cf. Gen 32:7; Judg 2:15; 10:9. ↑
For more on Revelation 12 see appropriate section of book #4, The Greatest Persecution. ↑
For an explanation of the suggested translation of Matt 24:21 see ch. 3, sec. E. ↑
For an explanation of the suggested translation of Matt 24:29, 31 see ch. 3, sec. E and ch. 4, sec. C. ↑
TWOT, 507. ↑
This is the 1984 edition of the NIV which has saints instead of holy people. ↑

Chapter 7

The Sequence of Endtime Events According to the Prophet Daniel

Daniel 7, 9, & 12

Contents

Primary Points