Introduction
Did you know Daniel wrote about the 144,000 mentioned in Revelation 635 years earlier than John?
Daniel was shown the arrival of the Antichrist and the 144,000 coming into power at the same time.
A time is coming very soon called the Great Tribulation. God is going to allow Satan to rule over the whole earth with all his demonic power. The Antichrist is known as the ‘Man of Sin’, who is empowered by Satan. The Antichrist will claim he is the long-awaited Messiah. And with lying wonders and magic from Satan, the world will be deceived and believe him.
At the same time, as the Antichrist rises to power, God is going to anoint 144,000 people with knowledge of the truth. They will begin teaching about the true Messiah, Jesus, and most of the 144,000 will be killed along with the refined Christians by the Antichrist.
The Arrival of the Antichrist
Starting with Daniel Chapter 11 verse 31 The Antichrist goes into Jerusalem with his forces and halts the daily prayers and sacrifices. He will go into the temple, set up his abomination statue, and demand the people worship him and the statue. This causes the people, who know the truth, to run for their lives as the persecution begins against the Jews and Christians. Notice verse 33, highlighted in red. This is the 144,000 coming into power.
31 His forces will rise up and profane the fortified sanctuary, stopping the daily sacrifice. In its place they will set up the abomination that causes desolation 32 Then with smooth words he will defile those who have rejected the covenant. But the people who are loyal to their God will act valiantly. 33 These who are wise among the people will teach the masses. However, they will fall by the sword and by the flame, and they will be imprisoned and plundered for some time. 34 When they stumble, they will be granted some help. But many will unite with them deceitfully. 35 Even some of the wise will stumble, resulting in their refinement, purification, and cleansing until the time of the end, for it is still for the appointed time.
Daniel 11:31-35 ESV
The Antichrist, with his lying powers and smooth words, will deceive the whole world. However, the 144,000 who are sealed with truth and knowledge will only follow the true messiah.
The 144,000 will preach the truth all over the world. God is also going to test the Christians’ faith. Many Christians will stumble and fall and will be deceived for a short time so God can refine them.
Remember, John in the book of Revelation saw many beheaded saints in heaven and he couldn’t even count them. He was told by the angel they all came out of the Great Tribulation.
After this I looked, and behold, a great multitude that no one could number, from every nation, from all tribes and peoples and languages, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed in white robes, with palm branches in their hands, and crying out with a loud voice, “Salvation belongs to our God who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb!” And all the angels were standing around the throne and around the elders and the four living creatures, and they fell on their faces before the throne and worshiped God, saying, “Amen! Blessing and glory and wisdom and thanksgiving and honor and power and might be to our God forever and ever! Amen.” Then one of the elders addressed me, saying, “Who are these, clothed in white robes, and from where have they come?” I said to him, “Sir, you know.” And he said to me, “These are the ones coming out of the great tribulation. They have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb.
Rev. 7:9-14 ESV
Then I saw thrones, and seated on them were those to whom the authority to judge was committed. Also I saw the souls of those who had been beheaded for the testimony of Jesus and for the word of God, and those who had not worshiped the beast or its image and had not received its mark on their foreheads or their hands. They came to life and reigned with Christ for a thousand years.
Rev. 20:4 ESV
So, how long will this persecution last?
God wanted to make sure Daniel didn’t misunderstand how long the Antichrist would be allowed to persecute the Jews and Christians, So, the angel gave the timing two ways.
- time, times, and half a time = 3 ½ years
- 1,290 days = 3 ½ years
It is for a time, times, and half a time. Then, when the power of the one who shatters the holy people has been exhausted, all these things will be finished.
Daniel 12:7 ESV
From the time that the daily sacrifice is removed and the abomination that causes desolation is set in place, there are 1,290 days.
Daniel 12:9 ESV
Then Daniel was told to go his way because these events will only happen at the end of time.
But go your way till the end. And you shall rest and shall stand in your allotted place at the end of the days.
Daniel 12:13 ESV
In conclusion, Jesus warned about the Great Tribulation in Matthew 24 and he quotes Daniel.
So when you see the abomination of desolation spoken of by the prophet Daniel, standing in the holy place (let the reader understand), then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains. Let the one who is on the housetop not go down to take what is in his house, and let the one who is in the field not turn back to take his cloak. And alas for women who are pregnant and for those who are nursing infants in those days! Pray that your flight may not be in winter or on a Sabbath. For then there will be great tribulation, such as has not been from the beginning of the world until now, no, and never will be. And if those days had not been cut short, no human being would be saved. But for the sake of the elect those days will be cut short. Then if anyone says to you, ‘Look, here is the Christ!’ or ‘There he is!’ do not believe it. For false christs and false prophets will arise and perform great signs and wonders, so as to lead astray, if possible, even the elect. See, I have told you beforehand.
Matt. 24:15-25 ESV
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