JULY 30, 2025 – GREAT TRIBULATION

READ: Dan. 12:1-4 – … Those who are wise shall shine …

Chapter 11 describes what happens before Christ’s coming. Chapter 12 reveals what will take place during the New Testament era. Life will still not be easy for the church: “And there shall be a time of trouble, such as never was since there was a nation” (v.1).

In His end-times discourse of Matt. 24, Jesus refers to Dan. 11 and 12. In verse 15, He says: “And when you see the abomination of desolation spoken of by the prophet Daniel, standing in the holy place— whoever reads, let him understand.”

In Matt. 24:21, Jesus quotes Dan. 12:1: “For then there will be great tribulation, such as has not been since the beginning of the world until this time, no, and never shall be.” This was alsoalready foretold in Dan. 7.

The “abomination of desolation” under Antiochus Epiphanes foreshadows further persecutions. These afflictions began under Emperor Nero and continue today. They will last until the Last Day and intensify in the final times.

The antichrist will rise, and many will leave the church. Even within churches, worship of God may be replaced with worship of man.

We must cling to the Gospel, for then there will be deliverance on the Last Day for those written in the Book of Life: resurrection to eternal life in glory. But those who abandon the faith will rise to eternal condemnation (John 5:29, Matt. 25:34,46).

Daniel is told to seal up these words (v.4): to preserve them carefully for the end times so believers may endure and be saved..

Do we suffer persecution? How?

Sing: Ps. 28:4,5