As we approach the end of this age, the spirit world is becoming more and more apparent. World events are not accidents, but are part of the overarching actions. The Sovereign God Jehovah is the world architect and His armies are far superior than all the armies of the world together. While our God will use human hands, He is not limited to their action in world affairs.
There are wonderful expressions in the Bible of our God’s appointment of His angels to watch over Jerusalem and the affairs of that city. Hundreds of times in the First and Second Testament, the Lord is named “The Lord of Hosts.” Twice in the Second Testament, He is called “The Lord of Sabaoth,” which has the exact same meaning, but in a stronger term. The terms mean that He is the “Lord of an Army” or “Lord of a Multitude.” This speaks of His Heavenly Host or His great armies of Heavenly angels. These terms have a military connotation and make it plain that the Lord will fight for right and that He will defend His will on this earth.
The prophet, Isaiah, writing by the revelation of God, stated that angels (watchmen) had been assigned over the walls of Jerusalem and that they would never depart until all their enemies and warmongers were destroyed. This promise is over 2,500 hundred years old and many great events have transpired under these angelic watchmen. Their duty has not been to stop all the transgressors, but to assure their ultimate defeat. The armies of many nations have come to their destruction in God’s time because of Jerusalem. This great revelation is clearly tied to the entire history from the time of Isaiah to the fulfillment of Israel’s glorious future. Read this passage carefully. “I have set watchmen upon thy walls, O Jerusalem, which shall never hold their peace day nor night: ye that make mention of the LORD, keep not silence, And give him no rest, till he establish, and till he make Jerusalem a praise in the earth. The LORD hath sworn by his right hand, and by the arm of his strength, Surely I will no more give thy corn to be meat for thine enemies; and the sons of the stranger shall not drink thy wine, for the which thou hast laboured: But they that have gathered it shall eat it, and praise the LORD; and they that have brought it together shall drink it in the courts of my holiness. Go through, go through the gates; prepare ye the way of the people; cast up, cast up the highway; gather out the stones; lift up a standard for the people. Behold, the LORD hath proclaimed unto the end of the world, Say ye to the daughter of Zion, Behold, thy salvation cometh; behold, his reward is with him, and his work before him. And they shall call them, The holy people, The redeemed of the LORD: and thou shalt be called, Sought out, A city not forsaken.” (Isaiah 62:6-12).
A multitude of devils and devil-possessed men have tried to assure this prophecy”s failure. The fulfillment is on perfect schedule. Our patience is still needed, but not for long. If angels can weep, these spirit creatures of God have no doubt shed a multitude of tears. Can you imagine these appointed angels looking down upon Jerusalem after Titus had decimated the city in A.D. 70? Think of what they must have experienced when the Romans renamed Jerusalem, Capitolina after they had rebuilt the city. These great creatures wasted no time continuing the Father”s plan and the day hasted when the name Capitolina was relegated to the ash pile. Over and over the fortunes of Jerusalem have fallen but risen again from defeat. God’s appointed watchmen have been faithful and the glory of their task is soon to triumph.
The statement, “give Him no rest till He establish and till He makes Jerusalem a praise in the earth,” shows the partnership between God and His people, the saints. He referred to everyone of His chosen remnant when He said, “Ye that make mention of the Lord, keep not silence.” We are the ones that He requested that we remind Him of His promise. Does God need to be reminded? Probably not, but nevertheless, His saints are His partners and He desires our constant fellowship in all His plans. As I write this article, I cannot help but stop to pray for the peace of Jerusalem. “May God soon remove every act of uncleanness from within the walls of the chosen city. O, God hasten the day of your coming to sit on the throne of David and establish the kingdom of your holiness to the ends of the earth. In Jesus” name.”
Daniel Saw the Final Triumph of These Angels
Angels are not supernatural as God the Creator. Every act they administer is subject to the Father”s plan and are sometimes allowed to be hindered by Satan or one of his angels. Fallen angels are just as powerful as God’s angels, but can be rebuked in the name of the Lord. The holy angels are organized and have different levels of authority and power. So are Satan”s angels. Daniel had experienced twenty-one days of fasting and prayer waiting for the angels of the Lord to defeat the angels of Satan. Finally, a stronger angel, even Michael, came to assist the first angel. The account of these events helps us understand the powers in the spiritual world. “And, behold, an hand touched me, which set me upon my knees and upon the palms of my hands. And he said unto me, O Daniel, a man greatly beloved, understand the words that I speak unto thee, and stand upright: for unto thee am I now sent. And when he had spoken this word unto me, I stood trembling. Then said he unto me, Fear not, Daniel: for from the first day that thou didst set thine heart to understand, and to chasten thyself before thy God, thy words were heard, and I am come for thy words. But the prince of the kingdom of Persia withstood me one and twenty days: but, lo, Michael, one of the chief princes, came to help me; and I remained there with the kings of Persia. Now I am come to make thee understand what shall befall thy people in the latter days: for yet the vision is for many days.” (Daniel 10:10-14).
Michael, the Archangel, To Stand Up For Israel
Daniel had special revelations about the very end of the “Times of the Gentiles” and the activity of Michael. Michael is called the one angel that stands for the people of Israel. It appears that Gabriel is the angel of the church, while Michael is the angel of the Jewish people. I believe those angels appointed by the Lord and revealed to Isaiah are still doing their job above the walls of Jerusalem. Now, in this great revelation of Daniel, Michael stands up and joins those angels to bring an end to all matters that relate to the people of the Lord’s chosen. It would appear that Michael has either stood forth or is preparing to do so. All I know to say to those that oppose Israel is, “Watch out for this mighty warrior.” Let”s deal with portions of Daniel 12. “And 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 even to that same time: and at that time thy people shall be delivered, every one that shall be found written in the book. And many of them that sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, some to everlasting life, and some to shame and everlasting contempt. And they that be wise shall shine as the brightness of the firmament; and they that turn many to righteousness as the stars for ever and ever.” (Daniel 12:1-3).
This does not occur until the “end of the age.” The words of this revelation make plain the time of its fulfillment. The Lord told Daniel, “But thou, O Daniel, shut up the words, and seal the book, even to the time of the end: many shall run to and fro, and knowledge shall be increased.” (Daniel 12:4). Angels are already fighting for the Jewish nation;, Jerusalem is part of their assignment, but soon the reinforcements will arrive to join the battle. Michael”s involvement is one of the last great acts before the Lord Himself descends from the Father”s presence to defeat the Antichrist and gather all the remnant of Israel.
This prophecy is absolutely to be fulfilled at the close of Jacob”s trouble and the seven years of the Great Tribulation. Jesus affirmed this great fact. He said, “For then shall be great tribulation, such as was not since the beginning of the world to this time, no, nor ever shall be.” (Matthew 24:21). The Son of God was probably quoting Daniel or at least referring to the same great truth. The truth is that Jesus is the totality of the Word, so Daniel was quoting the Son of God in advance of His coming. We call those great truths given in advance, “prophecy.” The Bible is full of such beautiful revelations.
This time is called the Day of the Lord and begins with the resurrection of the dead saints and the rapture of the living saints. Daniel said, “And many of them that sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake . . .” Isaiah also spoke of this using similar words, “Thy dead men shall live, together with my dead body shall they arise. Awake and sing, ye that dwell in dust: for thy dew is as the dew of herbs, and the earth shall cast out the dead. Come, my people, enter thou into thy chambers, and shut thy doors about thee: hide thyself as it were for a little moment, until the indignation be overpast. For, behold, the LORD cometh out of his place to punish the inhabitants of the earth for their iniquity: the earth also shall disclose her blood, and shall no more cover her slain.” (Isaiah 26:19-21).
Isaiah separates this resurrection time, showing the Rapture and then the tribulation of the earth, while the saints are secured in a prepared chamber (the wedding chamber). And, then, He shows our coming back to be His army as we, with Him, defeat the Antichrist kingdom. This kind of uniting and harmonizing the Scripture is what the Bible calls “rightly dividing the Word of God.” (II Timothy 2:15).
The Book of Revelation gives us a similar picture when we see the twenty-four elders in chapter four. This is the one time we see twenty-four elders numbered together in the whole Word of God. The picture is of both the Old Testament saints together with the New Testament saints being resurrected and raptured before the Great Tribulation.
Further truths in this great chapter of Daniel twelve shows the harmony of the writing of Daniel, Jesus, and John the Revelator. All three of their prophecies show the seventh week of Daniel as being seven years divided in the midst by the Antichrist’s revelation of himself in the Jewish tribulation temple. Each of these three gave clear declaration that the seven years would finish the “Gentile Times” and usher in the kingdom of Christ with a Jewish revival and restoration. Daniel had already given witness to this truth but now gives additional information. He stated, “Then I Daniel looked, and, behold, there stood other two, the one on this side of the bank of the river, and the other on that side of the bank of the river. And one said to the man clothed in linen, which was upon the waters of the river, How long shall it be to the end of these wonders? And I heard the man clothed in linen, which was upon the waters of the river, when he held up his right hand and his left hand unto heaven, and sware by him that liveth for ever that it shall be for a time, times, and an half; and when he shall have accomplished to scatter the power of the holy people, all these things shall be finished.” (Daniel 12:5-7). “Times, times, and half a time” represents the last three and one-half years of the seven year period.
Michael, The Angelic Prince
It is of grave importance to understand that this dark period called “Jacob’s Trouble” is under the supervision of a mighty prince acting for God to guarantee the survival of Israel. Daniel made it plain in the first verse of this twelfth chapter that all the proceedings cannot begin until Michael takes charge of the spiritual side of this all-out war. No spiritual victory can be won on this earth until it is first won in heaven. This period of time is set and the days are numbered right down to the final day. Michael, God’s anointed prince, is set to guarantee perfect fulfillment. “For ever, O LORD, thy word is settled in heaven.” (Psalm 119:89) and Michael is keeping the clock.
Look at the precise numbering that the great prayer warrior of twenty-five hundred years ago was given to set the boundaries for the Antichrist. It is important that you note these last words given to this prophet of God. “And I heard, but I understood not: then said I, O my Lord, what shall be the end of these things? And he said, Go thy way, Daniel: for the words are closed up and sealed till the time of the end. Many shall be purified, and made white, and tried; but the wicked shall do wickedly: and none of the wicked shall understand; but the wise shall understand. And from the time that the daily sacrifice shall be taken away, and the abomination that maketh desolate set up, there shall be a thousand two hundred and ninety days. Blessed is he that waiteth, and cometh to the thousand three hundred and five and thirty days. But go thou thy way till the end be: for thou shalt rest, and stand in thy lot at the end of the days.” (Daniel 12:8-13). Oh, for prayer warriors in our day that might wait on God for answers that lock up the spiritual world in perfect obedience.
It is beautiful that our God leaves nothing to chance. Michael is called “one of the chief princes” (Daniel 10:13); he is called “your prince” (Daniel 10:21) in addressing Daniel himself, and called “the great prince” in this twelfth chapter of Daniel (Daniel 12:1). Michael is also identified as the leader of God’s army of angels that defeat Satan and his angels immediately after the Rapture. Satan is cast out of Heaven in Revelation twelve. Both Daniel twelve and Revelation twelve guarantee this time as during the last one week of seven years, right before the glorious triumph of the Second Coming of Jesus Christ to reign on earth.
Angels Are Deeply Involved In the Book of Revelation
Once the Rapture of the Saints occurs in Revelation four, verse one, and the celebration around God’s throne begins, angels immediately begin to interact with the elders of the raptured saints. The whole proceedings from the beginning of chapter five is interlaced with the angels of God. The role of the angels is clearly different from the elders. Let’s try to distinguish the difference.
In Revelation chapter five, the great book of earth’s redemption is witnessed in the Father’s possession and held forth by His right hand. This book calls for one of Heaven’s strongest angels to set forth the purpose and proceedings of this book. The actions of this mighty God-sealed Book, written within and without, cannot just occur. Powers of great strength must set forth this truth and give testimony against all hindrances. Nothing can be left to speculation. There will be great powers seeking to hinder the proceedings. The devil has been the god of this world and he will not give up easily.
Listen to the Word of God. “And I saw in the right hand of him that sat on the throne a book written within and on the backside, sealed with seven seals. And I saw a strong angel proclaiming with a loud voice, Who is worthy to open the book, and to loose the seals thereof? And no man in heaven, nor in earth, neither under the earth, was able to open the book, neither to look thereon. And I wept much, because no man was found worthy to open and to read the book, neither to look thereon. And one of the elders saith unto me, Weep not: behold, the Lion of the tribe of Juda, the Root of David, hath prevailed to open the book, and to loose the seven seals thereof. And I beheld, and, lo, in the midst of the throne and of the four beasts, and in the midst of the elders, stood a Lamb as it had been slain, having seven horns and seven eyes, which are the seven Spirits of God sent forth into all the earth. And he came and took the book out of the right hand of him that sat upon the throne.” (Revelation 5:1-7).
What a picture of this inauguration of the seven years of Great Tribulation. It does not begin with the opening of the seven-sealed book, but with the proclamation of the book by a mighty angel. This book is the record of “the purchased possession.” The blood of Jesus has assured the proceeding of this book will be victory. The angel’s loud voice gave complete assurance that Satan and his evil host might hear. God, the Father is on His throne, the seven spirits (the Holy Ghost in His fullness of Revelation) are before the throne, angels, living creatures, and resurrected elders are also before the throne and the Crucified Lord is ready to receive and open the book. The process of redemption cannot fail.
The armies of the Heavenly Host are now united with the elders of the redeemed. This is the picture all through the Book of Revelation. Angels are constantly acting in fellowship with the elders. The angels appear to have more of a proclamation role, while we are witnesses to Satan’s failures and destruction.
Conclusion
As the triumph of the seven years of judgment and redemption is finished, an angel descends to lay hold on the devil and to place him in the bottomless pit and lock him up for a thousand years. “And I saw an angel come down from heaven, having the key of the bottomless pit and a great chain in his hand. And he laid hold on the dragon, that old serpent, which is the Devil, and Satan, and bound him a thousand years, And cast him into the bottomless pit, and shut him up, and set a seal upon him, that he should deceive the nations no more, till the thousand years should be fulfilled: and after that he must be loosed a little season.” (Revelation 20:1-3). God’s angels, mighty in power, are going to be deeply involved in the coming end times. Jerusalem will not be forgotten as all the proceedings of the Book of Revelation transpire. Once the earth is redeemed, then Israel will be gathered for the last time. Jesus, Himself, set forth this assurance. “Immediately after the tribulation of those days shall the sun be darkened, and the moon shall not give her light, and the stars shall fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens shall be shaken: And then shall appear the sign of the Son of man in heaven: and then shall all the tribes of the earth mourn, and they shall see the Son of man coming in the clouds of heaven with power and great glory. And he shall send his angels with a great sound of a trumpet, and they shall gather together his elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other.” (Matthew 24:29-31).
It is time to be sensitive to the Heavenly Host of angels, which will act for the Lord Himself in defense of all that must occur to finish His work and establish His kingdom on this earth.