| Highlights of Dawn | May 1959 |
The Great Tribulation
“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.” —Daniel 12:1
MICHAEL is one of the titles which the Scriptures assign to Jesus. In highly symbolic language the Apostle Paul wrote concerning Jesus’ return, saying, “The Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first.” (I Thess. 4:16) We read of “Michael the archangel,” so in this veiled manner Paul is applying the title Michael to Jesus at the time of his return.—Jude 9
In Daniel’s prophecy, the standing up of Michael is followed by the awakening of those who “sleep in the dust of the earth,” which is one of the Old Testament ways of describing the resurrection of the dead. Paul understood this sequence of events in the plan of God, so in writing about the return of Christ, when his authority would be exercised in the earth, figuratively described as the “voice of the archangel,” he also wrote that then “the dead in Christ shall rise first.”
The similarity of Daniel’s prophecy with Paul’s forecast of events at the time of Christ’s return and second presence, is substantial proof that the standing up of “Michael,” with the resultant time of trouble, refers to the work of Christ at his second advent. To the limited extent that Daniel himself understood this prophecy it must have been a great comfort to him, for it probably seemed to him from most of the other visions he received from the Lord that his own people, which also would be the people of the Lord, were destined to be a suffering, persecuted people.
But in this prophecy concerning Michael, there is a definite change. Here is a great one, a “prince,” who would stand “for the children” of Daniel’s people. Daniel’s people were now to have help, and to be given deliverance. But even so, the prophecy carried strange overtones, for at the time when a prince would stand for Daniel’s people, and when “every one” then “written in the book” would be delivered, there also would be a “time of trouble such as never was since there was a nation.”
While this does seem like a strange combination of events, it is in keeping with the general testimony of the prophecies relating to the time of Christ’s return. In nearly all of these prophecies we are told of trouble, of tribulation, and also of blessings—kingdom blessings of peace, and joy, and life. In many of the prophecies the “tribulation” is symbolically described as storms, fire, wind, a whirlwind, an earthquake, as well as other upheavals of nature.
Human Selfishness the Cause
DANIEL’S prophecy indicates that in large measure the foretold “time of trouble” is brought on by human selfishness; although the exercise of divine authority and power through “Michael” is also related to it. In previous articles we have noted the marvelous manner in which the foretold “increase of knowledge” and running “to and fro,” mentioned in verse 4, is being fulfilled in our day, and it is these developments which lead to and precipitate the “time of trouble such as never was since there was a nation.”
The “increase of knowledge” has aroused the backward nations of the earth to a realization of their low standards of living as compared with others, and this has led to the demanding of rights, and a display of willingness to fight for an equal share of earth’s bounties. What is true with respect to nations is also true of various groups of individuals within nations, hence the persistent struggle between capital and labor in many countries.
The “increase of knowledge” as seen in the many inventions and scientific developments of our day has equipped the nations for a more destructive struggle than the world has ever known. It has not only brought the nations of the whole earth within mere hours of travel distance from each other, but also within range of each other’s missiles of destruction. It is no longer necessary to send an army half way round the world, to attack another nation, for today the whole world stands within reach of the enemy’s guns, without the need of an army moving from its base.
Knowledge, and the ability to travel hundreds of miles an hour, are not in themselves evils; but in the hands of selfish man, they can, and will, lead to terrible havoc. Indeed, in the two World Wars of the present generation, modern methods of destruction have already destroyed countless millions of lives, and devastated many hundreds of cities and towns in Europe and Asia. But the horrible destruction wrought in these two wars was insignificant compared with what is now possible.
However, the wide-spread destruction of the last war could well be described as a “time of trouble such as never was since there was a nation,” for truly there had never been anything like it in the annals of history. Individual nations had suffered brutal attacks, it is true, but in the first and second World Wars, particularly the latter, practically every nation of the earth suffered.
Not all of the nations suffered the destruction of cities by bombs; but in one way or another all felt the impact, a shattering blow from which the world has never fully recovered. And now the nations are facing that which is still more dreadful. Even the United States will not escape the next onslaught of human selfishness. Listen today, for example, to the warnings being given over the radio and television, and through the public press, of what to expect; and the instructions as to the only way to survive.
“Civil Defense” authorities are feverishly circulating this information. They tell us that if we want to survive we must provide “shelters,” we must seal our basement windows so the radio active “fallout” will not be able to penetrate. They tell us that while the cities will be the main targets which the enemy will endeavor to destroy, with all the terrible loss of life that will involve, the “fallout” from the exploding of hydrogen bombs will also be deadly, and cover a much wider area. Scientists tell us that there is a definite possibility that the entire human race will be destroyed. Jesus foretold this very possibility in reply to questions put to him by his disciples as to what would be the signs of his second presence and the end of the age.
Days of Tribulation Shortened
A FEW days before Jesus was crucified his disciples asked him, “What shall be the sign of thy coming, and the end of the world?” (Matt. 24:3) In this question the Greek word which is translated “coming” actually means “presence,” and the Greek word translated “world” means “age.” Therefore, the question the disciples really asked was, “What shall be the sign of thy presence and the end of the age?”
It is important to take this correct translation into consideration if we are to understand Jesus’ reply. Instead of giving the disciples just one sign of his presence, he gave them many, which would be most confusing should we think of them all as occurring at a given moment of his return. The fulfillment of all the signs Jesus gave covers a period of a thousand years, the thousand years of his kingdom.
We would also encounter difficulty in understanding the signs given by Jesus as being indicative of the end of the world, especially if we had in mind the traditional end of the world, which is the destruction of the earth—a theory which is not taught in the Bible at all. But when we apply the “signs” to the closing period of an age,, and the opening up of a new age, then they are understandable.
Nearly all of what is recorded in chapters 24 and 25 of Matthew are “signs” which Jesus gave to his disciples, signs by which his people would be able to identify the time of his second presence on earth, and would know that the age was ending and that his kingdom of peace and righteousness would speedily be established. These signs are not always presented in the sequence in which they were to occur.
In Jesus’ introduction to many of the signs we find the word “then.” This does not mean that the event described necessarily follows the previously outlined sign. It is simply a reference to the time concerning which the disciples inquired when they asked, “What shall be the sign of thy presence, and of the end of the age?” So over and over again Jesus pinpointed this period concerning which they asked by his use of the word “then.”
Thus, in verses 21 and 22 we read, “Then [at the time of my second presence] shall be great tribulation, such as was not since the beginning of the world to this time, no, nor ever shall be.” (vs. 21) There seems little doubt that Jesus is referring to the prophecy of Daniel concerning a “time of trouble, such as never was since there was a nation.” (Dan. 12:1) It seems obvious, we think, that there could not be two periods of trouble, or tribulation that would be the greatest. This identical description of the “tribulation” by both Daniel and Jesus proves that they are referring to one and the same thing.
Besides, Jesus’ assurance that there would never be another time of tribulation so great further substantiates the fact that the prophecies speak of only this one “time of trouble, such as never was since there was a nation.” Since Jesus gave this to be one of the signs of the end of the age and of the time of his second presence, it indicates that the “Michael” of Daniel’s prophecy referred to him, and to the fact that when he “stood up” to exercise his authority in the earth there would be the foretold time of “great tribulation.”
“No Flesh Saved”
JESUS foretold how severe the “tribulation” would be, saying, “Except those days should be shortened, there should no flesh be saved.” (vs. 22) This is what our scientists and militarists are now telling us about the present situation which confronts the human race. The only difference is that Jesus foretold it nearly two thousand years before the wise men of this world found out about it.
And this in itself is significant. With the rapid increase of knowledge, science, and invention, the almost universal viewpoint presented by the philosophers of the world was that this great advancement would have a civilizing effect upon the human race, and that very soon wars would be a thing of the past. Those who thought otherwise, and said so, were looked upon as “prophets of doom.”
Those who believed the prophecies of the Bible stood alone in proclaiming the coming of a “time of trouble, such as never was since there was a nation.” Now the Bible has been proved right in its forecast of trouble. How it should increase our faith in the Bible to realize that Jesus foresaw and foretold this hydrogen age in which the human race, “all flesh,” stands in danger of being destroyed.
Jesus foretold that “all flesh” would be destroyed, “except those days should be shortened.” To this he adds that “for the elect’s sake those days shall be shortened.” (vs. 22) There is no equivalent Greek text for “sake.” Literally, the Greek text reads, “Through [or by means of] the elect, those days shall be shortened.”
The “elect,” or “chosen,” here referred to is, primarily, Jesus, the Michael who “stands up” and precipitates the “time of trouble,” and he will bring it to an end before all flesh is destroyed. The divine purpose in permitting this “great tribulation” is to destroy the “kingdoms of this world.” In the 2nd Psalm there is a prophecy concerning Jesus in which he is represented at the time of his second presence as dashing the nations to pieces “like a potter’s vessel.”—vs. 9
Associated with Jesus as the “elect,” who will live and reign with him a thousand years, are those who throughout the Gospel age have proved their worthiness for this high position by suffering and dying with Jesus. (II Tim. 2:11,12) Jesus made a wonderful promise to these, which we quote, “He that overcometh, and keepeth my works unto the end, to him will I give power over the nations: and he shall rule them with a rod of iron; as the vessel of a potter shall they be broken to shivers: even as I received of my Father.”—Rev. 2:26,27
It is clear from these prophecies that Jesus and his faithful footstep followers of the Gospel age, raised to life in the “first resurrection,” will, as the spiritual rulers in the new age, first be instrumental in destroying the “kingdoms of this world” in the time of “great tribulation.”
But it is not the divine intention to destroy the human race. God did not create the earth in vain, but formed it to be inhabited, so the “elect,” the glorified Jesus, and with him those who have proved worthy to share his authority and power, will intervene in world affairs in time to prevent the total destruction to which human selfishness ultimately would lead.—Isa. 45:18
In Luke’s report of Jesus’ prophecy concerning the time of his second presence and the end of the age, he quotes Jesus as saying that at that time there would be “distress of nations, with perplexity,” and that the hearts of the people would fail them for fear as they look ahead to the things coming upon the earth. (Luke 21:25,26) How true this is of conditions in the world today!
Little wonder that the hearts of the people are failing them for fear! With the experts saying that another full scale war might well mean the end of the human race, why should they not fear? The people do not know of Jesus’ promises that the “elect” of God would interfere with the mad rush of human selfishness in time to prevent this tragedy. And even if they did know it, very few would believe it. But those who can believe it have an assurance that dispels fear and enables them to look to the future with confidence.
As “Travail”
THE Apostle Paul, in a prophecy concerning the time of Christ’s second presence, speaks of it as the “day of the Lord,” the day in which the Lord intervenes in human affairs to establish his long-promised kingdom. Paul describes this “day” as one of destruction. We quote: “The day of the Lord so cometh as a thief in the night. For when they shall say, Peace and safety; then sudden destruction cometh upon them, as travail upon a woman with child; and they shall not escape. But ye, brethren, are not in darkness, that that day should overtake you as a thief.”—I Thess. 5:2-4
This prophecy confirms what we have noted, that the world did not expect the coming of a time of “tribulation,” but insisted that now, with so much knowledge and technological skills, we would have “peace and safety.” But despite this claim, destruction has already started. Paul says that it would come as “travail” upon a woman with child. This is in spasms, with periods of easement between. The first and second World Wars were two of these “spasms.”
Now mankind dreads the coming of the next “spasm” of destruction, for the people realize how destructive it will be. But we need not fear. The glorified Christ, the “elect,” has the situation well in hand, and in due time will bring the carnage to an end, which will be before “all flesh” is destroyed. Jesus, who so accurately foretold the present dilemma of the world, and who after his resurrection said, “All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth,” will know when and how to call a halt on the destruction being wrought by the raging nations.—Matt. 28:18
We are assured that the time will come, and soon, when the nations, humbled by their folly, bleeding and dying, will be glad to look to the Lord for help. And then the first requisite for the people to receive peace and life will be to recognize divine sovereignty in earth’s affairs. It will be then that the Lord will say to the raging nations, “Be still, and know that I am God: I will be exalted among the heathen [Gentiles], I will be exalted in the earth.”—Ps. 46:10
When, through the kingdom of Christ, God is exalted in the earth, there will flow out to the people those rich blessings of peace and joy and life so eloquently described by the prophecies of both the Old and New Testaments. Surely, then, we can be glad that “Michael” is now “standing up,” and although at first the world is filled with trouble, this is but a necessary prelude to the golden age of blessing so long envisioned by the sages, and so beautifully described by the “mouth of all God’s holy prophets since the world began.”—Acts 3:19-21