Michael Stands Up: Hope in the Time of the End

A Sermon Blog Post Based on Daniel 12:1

Introduction: Our Journey Through Prophecy

This morning, we continue our journey through the book of Daniel—a journey that takes us from ancient empires to the very throne room of heaven. We’ve been exploring Daniel’s parallel prophecies, and today we come to one of the most significant moments in all of Scripture: the standing up of Michael, the great prince.

Our key text is Daniel 12:1:

“At that time Michael, the great prince, the protector of your people, shall arise. There shall be a time of anguish such as never has occurred since nations first came into existence. But at that time your people shall be delivered, everyone who is found written in the book.”

This verse speaks directly to us today. It addresses the great controversy between Christ and Satan, the final crisis of earth’s history, and the ultimate deliverance of God’s people. As we study this passage, my prayer is that the same Spirit who inspired the prophet Daniel would guide our minds, shape our thinking, and direct the direction our feet will take.

Part 1: Daniel’s Parallel Prophecies

Before we dive into Daniel 12, we need to understand the prophetic framework Daniel has been building throughout his book.

The Statue (Daniel 2)

King Nebuchadnezzar saw a great statue:

Head of gold → Babylon (605-539 BC)
Chest and arms of silver → Medo-Persia (539-331 BC)
Thighs of bronze → Greece (331-168 BC)
Legs of iron → Rome (168 BC – 476 AD)
Feet of iron and clay → Divided Europe
Stone cut without hands → The Second Coming of Christ

Notice that this prophecy begins with earthly powers, but concludes with God’s supernatural intervention. The stone strikes the statue and fills the whole earth. That’s good news! God always has the final word.

The Four Beasts (Daniel 7)

Daniel’s vision of four beasts coming up from the sea parallels the same empires:

Winged lion → Babylon
Bear raised on one side → Medo-Persia
Four-headed leopard → Greece
Indescribable beast with ten horns → Rome and its divisions
Little horn → Papal Rome

But Daniel 7 adds something Daniel 2 doesn’t include: the pre-advent judgment. Before the second coming, there is a heavenly courtroom scene where judgment is given in favor of the saints.

The Ram and Goat (Daniel 8)

Daniel 8 focuses on the timing of this judgment:

Ram with two horns → Medo-Persia
Goat with a notable horn → Greece
Little horn → Papal Rome (now attacking vertically, attempting to displace Christ’s heavenly priesthood)

Then comes the crucial question: “Unto 2,300 days, then shall the sanctuary be cleansed” (Daniel 8:14).

When we place these three prophecies side by side, we see an identical pattern:

Earthly powers arise and oppress God’s people
God intervenes through judgment in heaven
God intervenes through deliverance on earth

Application: The flow of human history, with its empires and conquests, can be terrifying. Every time a new power rises, there is bloodshed, slavery, oppression, and pain. But the message of these prophecies is clear—despite what earthly powers do, God always intervenes. He judges in heaven above, and He comes again to make all things new.

Part 2: The Prophecy of Daniel 10-12

Daniel 10, 11, and 12 form a single unit—the final vision given to Daniel. This is where we find the context for Michael’s standing up.

The Historical Framework (Daniel 11:1-39)

The prophecy begins with specific historical figures:

Cambyses II (530-522 BC)
Smerdis (522 BC) – the imposter
Darius I (521-485 BC) – “the fourth shall be far richer than all of them”
Xerxes (485-465 BC) – the Ahasuerus of Esther
Alexander the Great – the warrior king whose kingdom was divided toward the four winds

Then the prophecy moves through the divisions of the Greek Empire, the rise of Rome, and a special focus on the papacy as a blasphemous, self-exalting power that persecutes the saints.

The Time of the End (Daniel 11:40-45)

Verses 40-45 describe the final assault on God’s people. This is where we find the phrase “the time of the end.”

“At the time of the end the king of the south shall push at him, and the king of the north shall come against him like a whirlwind…” (Daniel 11:40)

This phrase appears six times in the book of Daniel and nowhere else in Scripture. It’s a uniquely Danielic expression that defines the period leading up to the final crisis.

The preposition “at” (Hebrew *b*) can mean either “in” or “at”—indicating that the time of the end is a period, not just a single moment.

Part 3: Who Is Michael?

We Adventists understand Michael to be Jesus Christ. But we need to be able to show this from Scripture, not just because someone told us so.

Evidence from Daniel 10

When Daniel sees the glorious being in Daniel 10:4-9, his response is overwhelming:

His strength left him
His complexion grew deathly pale
He retained no strength
He fell into a trance
He fell face to the ground

Comparison with Ezekiel’s Vision

Ezekiel 1:26-28 describes the appearance of God on His throne:

“Above the dome… there was something like a throne, in appearance like sapphire; and seated above the likeness of a throne was something that seemed like a human form.”

Ezekiel uses the language of approximation—”likeness,” “appearance,” “seemed like.” When he saw the glory of the Lord, he fell on his face.

Comparison with Revelation 1

John the Revelator sees Jesus in His glory:

“His head and his hair were white as white wool… his eyes were like a flame of fire, his feet were like burnished bronze… his voice was like the sound of many waters.”

John’s response? “When I saw him, I fell at his feet as though dead” (Revelation 1:17).

The pattern is consistent: When sinful humanity encounters the unveiled glory of God, we fall down. The being Daniel saw, the being Ezekiel saw, and the being John saw is the same—Jesus Christ.

Evidence from Revelation 12

“And war broke out in heaven. Michael and his angels fought against the dragon. The dragon and his angels fought back, but they were defeated, and there was no longer any place for them in heaven” (Revelation 12:7-8).

Michael is the commander of the armies of heaven. In Joshua 5, the commander of the Lord’s army receives worship—something only God can accept. In Jude 9, Michael contends with Satan over Moses’ body and resurrects him—an act of divine authority.

Conclusion: Michael is Jesus Christ in His role as Commander of the heavenly armies, fighting for His people, victorious over Satan, and possessing authority over life and death.

Part 4: When Does Michael Stand Up?

The “Time of the End” in Daniel

The phrase “time of the end” appears in:

Daniel 8:17 — “Understand, O son of man, for at the time of the end shall be the vision.”
Daniel 8:19 — “At the appointed time of the end it shall be.”
Daniel 11:35 — “Even to the time of the end.”
Daniel 11:40 — “At the time of the end shall the king of the south push at him.”
Daniel 12:4 — “Seal the book, even to the time of the end.”
Daniel 12:9 — “The words are closed up and sealed till the time of the end.”

The 1260 Years

Daniel 12:7 speaks of “a time, times, and a half”—three and a half years in prophetic language. Using the day-year principle (one prophetic day = one literal year), this equals 1,260 years.

Historically, this period represents the supremacy of papal Rome:

538 AD — The papacy’s power was established with the removal of the Ostrogoths
1798 AD — The papacy was overthrown when General Berthier took Pope Pius VI captive

What happens before Michael stands up?

After the 1260 years end (1798)
After the pre-advent judgment judges the papacy
After God brings judgment on the little horn power

Part 5: The Certainty of Judgment

Judgment Is Coming

“Because God has fixed a day on which he will judge the world in righteousness by the man whom he has appointed; and of this he has given assurance to all by raising him from the dead” (Acts 17:31).

The resurrection of Jesus is the guarantee that judgment is coming. Paul calls it “dunamis”—dynamite power! When dynamite goes off, nothing is ever the same again.

Judgment Is for Everyone

“We shall all stand before the judgment seat of Christ” (Romans 14:10).

No one is exempt. This is both good news and sobering news. We want God’s judgment on those who hurt us, but we want mercy for ourselves. Yet we all stand before the same judgment seat.

God Judges Secrets

“In the day when God shall judge the secrets of men by Jesus Christ” (Romans 2:16).

God doesn’t just judge our outward actions—He reads our hearts and minds. Nothing is hidden from Him. Like David, we must pray: “Search me, O God, and know my heart! Try me and know my thoughts! And see if there be any grievous way in me” (Psalm 139:23-24).

Conclusion: No Condemnation

The word “crisis” in Greek means judgment. The word “condemnation” in Greek is “krima”—we get the word “criminal” from it.

“There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus” (Romans 8:1).

If we are in Christ Jesus, we face no condemnation in the judgment. The pre-advent judgment is good news—it’s the vindication of God’s people before the watching universe.

Yes, there is a time of anguish coming. Yes, the final crisis will be intense. But Michael stands up. Jesus—our great Prince, our Commander, our Defender—stands up to deliver His people.

Everyone who is found written in the book will be delivered.

Closing Prayer

Our dear Heavenly Father, we thank You for the light of prophecy that guides us through dark times. We’re living in a world of darkness, a world of wickedness, a world that says, “We will not have this Man to rule over us.” But Father, we thank You that this prophecy is given to be a light in the darkness—so we don’t stumble, so we don’t fall, so we understand what is coming upon our world.

May we walk with confidence and invite others to walk with us in the light. As we study these matters, may the same Spirit that inspired Daniel rest upon us—guiding our minds, shaping our thinking, softening our hearts, and directing the direction our feet will take.

Thank You, Father, for hearing this prayer. In Jesus’ name we ask. Amen.

Key Takeaways:

Prophecy has a pattern — Earthly powers rise and fall, but God always intervenes with deliverance.
Michael is Jesus — Our Commander, our Defender, our Resurrected Lord.
The judgment is coming — It’s certain, it’s universal, and it reaches our secret thoughts.
There is no condemnation — For those who are in Christ Jesus, the judgment is not a threat but a vindication.
Michael stands up — In the time of the end, Jesus arises to deliver His people.

Will you be found written in the book when Michael stands up?

Micheal Stands Up Part 1 | Dr. Conrad Vine