The Final Showdown!

The Climax of Daniel’s Prophecies

Jesus is portrayed as Michael for the first time in history when Lucifer tried to usurp God’s throne (Rev.12:7-9). [See Lesson 11 for the identity of Michael]. Christ has conquered Satan through the cross: Revelation 12:11; 1 John 5:4.

In apocalyptic prophecy, Michael defends His people - e.g. in Daniel 10 Michael intervened when Satan was frustrating the rebuilding programme after the return from captivity. In the final showdown of the great controversy between Christ and Satan, Michael appears for His people in the Judgement and for their protection during the Time of Trouble and their final deliverance (c.f. Daniel 12:1).

Throughout Daniel’s historic and prophetic accounts are [1] A Tale of Two Cities (Babylon & Jerusalem), and [2] Contest of the Gods! (Satan and Christ). They represent a composite and typology of the great controversy. The prophecies in Revelation are built upon those in Daniel which contain a preview of end-time events. This final section of Daniel’s prophecies is more clearly understood by the extra light revealed by Christ in the Book of Revelation. They speak of the conflict between Babylon and Jerusalem; between the kingdom of Satan and the Kingdom of God; between false and true worship; between counterfeit and true doctrine. All that follows in the prophecies from now on enlarges upon these themes. The Sanctuary of God with the controversy raging around it is a microcosm of God’s Kingdom and the conflict between Christ and Satan. This great conflict began in heaven but will terminate when Michael stands up at the end of time. Satan is the chief antichrist and both he and his Babylonian puppet, the papacy, and all who yield to their influence will meet their nemesis in the final showdown of earth’s history (c.f. Daniel 7:9-14). 

The Final Showdown!

The prophecy of Daniel 11 was explained by Gabriel. It starts with trials of the Jews when they started to rebuild the Temple and Jerusalem during the 490 year period (Daniel 9:24-27). It continues with the experience of ‘spiritual Israel’ - i.e. the Christian Church during the remainder of the 2,300 years. Then the final crisis during “the time of the end” when the global church is called out of ‘spiritual Babylon’ (c.f. Revelation 14:6-12; 18:1-5).

(v. 1)
“At that time” Michael stands up for His people. That “time” is identified by commentators as “the time of the end”. Daniel 12 is a continuation of Daniel 11. They recognise Daniel 11:40-12:4 as the final section of this last prophecy: “At the time of the end …” (11:40) - i.e. from c. 1798 onwards.

Warning: it is unwise to speculate on details of prophecy in Daniel 11 that are undefined and not yet fulfilled - time will reveal their identity.

Michael Defends Us in the Judgement

Michael “stands up” for His people and there will be a “a time of trouble”; but they shall be delivered whose names are written in the Lamb’s Book of Life: Revelation 13:8; 21:27. The fact that their names are “found written in the book” implies a prior judgement of investigation: Daniel 7:10. This event convenes at the time of the end. The word “stand up” refers to Christ pleading our case in the Judgement: Isaiah 3:13,14. Within the context of Daniel 12:1,2 Michael’s intervention takes in the entire sweep from the Investigative Judgement through to the Close of Probation, the Time of Trouble, the 7 Last Plagues and the final deliverance.

Michael Defends Us in the Time of Trouble

The “time of trouble” comes further into focus in John’s vision where he saw four angels holding back the winds of strife until God’s servants were sealed in their foreheads: Revelation 7:1-3. The frontal lobe of the brain is where we make our decisions. It therefore refers to a true commitment to Christ. The Greek word for ‘seal’ is (sphragidos) which implies a mark of identity. We are to be sealed with “the seal of the living God” (Revelation 7:2) by the Holy Spirit for the day of redemption (Ephesians 4:30). This seal identifies those who truly belong to God and who turn away from wickedness: 2 Timothy 2:19. By “wickedness”, God refers to “those who do not serve Him”: Malachi 3:18. It is the choice they make.

Here we see ‘the contest of the gods’ in the struggle for our allegiance: The Sabbath/Sunday issue will be the test of whom we serve. The 4th Commandment is to keep the seventh-day holy, but it also identifies God as Creator and ruler of the universe (Exodul 20:8-11). Jesus says, “If you love Me, you will keep My commandments” - John 14:15. In contrast, the antichrist claims Sunday as her mark of authority. In contradistinction to Christ’s command, she commands us to keep Sunday instead of God’s true Sabbath:

“Question: Have you any other way of proving that the church has power to institute festivals of precept? 

Answer: Had she not such power she could not have substituted the observance of Sunday, the first day of the week, for the observance of Saturday, the seventh day, a change for which there is no scriptural authority” (An Abridgement of the Christian Doctrine, p. 58).

“Sunday is our mark of authority . . . The church is above the Bible, and this transference of Sabbath observance is proof of that fact” (Catholic Record, September 1, 1923).

“The observance of Sunday by the Protestants is an Homage they pay, in spite of themselves, to the authority of the (Catholic) Church” (Plain Talks About Protestantism of Today, p. 213).

“Perhaps the boldest thing, the most revolutionary change the Church ever did happened in the first century. The holy day, the Sabbath, was changed from Saturday to Sunday . . .  Not from any directions noted in the Scriptures, but from the Church’s sense of its own power . . . People who think that the Scriptures should be the sole authority, should logically become Seventh-day Adventists, and keep Saturday holy” (Saint Catherine Catholic Church Sentinel, May 21, 1995).

It can therefore be readily seen that the Sabbath is a sign of allegiance to Jesus while Sunday becomes a sign of allegiance to Antichrist! The Lord says that by keeping the Sabbath we identify ourselves with Him (Ezekiel 20:20). Christ’s last warning message to the Church, identifies His true saints who keep His Commandments & have the faith of Jesus (Revelation 14:12).

The composition and typology of the Books of Daniel and Revelation

Jerusalem vs. Babylon

• City of Peace vs. City of Rebellion & Confusion

• Kingdom of God vs. Kingdom of Satan

• The Lamb of God vs. The Serpent or Dragon

• Allegiance to God vs. Allegiance to Satan

• True Religion vs. False Religion

• Dominion of Jesus Christ vs. Dominion of Antichrist

• Worship of God vs. Worship of Satan

• God’s Sanctuary in Heaven vs. Counterfeit Sanctuary on Earth

• Jerusalem becomes victorious vs. Babylon is destroyed

• True Christian Sabbath is Saturday vs. Spurious Sabbath of Sunday

Michael Defends Us from the 7 Last Plagues

When Jesus ceases His ministry as our Great High Priest in the Heavenly Sanctuary, the Pre-advent Phase of Judgement will be ended and the decree will declare everyone’s destiny is now sealed: Revelation 22:11,12. Human probation will be closed, the winds of strife will be released and the 7 Last Plagues will be poured out (Revelation 15:1, 5-16:1). During that time, Jesus will be the refuge of His faithful people and protect them from their enemies and the plagues: Psalm 37:39,40; Psalm 91:1,2,7-10. They will be kept safe for ever: Psalm 37:27-29.

A Special Resurrection

(vs. 1,2)
A special resurrection takes place just before the general resurrection at Christ’s Second Coming. The words “many of them” and “some …” point to this fact. Whereas, in the general resurrection only the saved are raised (1 Thessalonians 4:16,17) while the wicked remain until 1,000 years later (Revelation 20:4-6). At the special resurrection, Caiaphas and those who pierced Jesus will be raised to see Him return in glory: Matthew 24:63,64; Revelation 1:7.

(v. 3)
Gabriel’s Closing Words to Daniel. This declaration projects Christ’s ‘Great Commission’ to His Church in Matthew 28:18-20. It refers to the global church of Christ in proclaiming His message to the world. Many would suffer or even lay down their lives for the cause but they are special to the Saviour (c.f. Daniel 11:32,33).

(v. 4)
The dual application of this prophetic verse no doubt includes the rapid increase of knowledge since the turn of the 19th century; but the primary focus refers to the unsealing of the Book of Daniel, specifically with reference to the last 5 chapters from “the time of the end”: - c.f. Daniel 12:9. The other prophecies had previously been understood.

The Epilogue

(vs. 5-7)
The question as to how long it would be until the end comes, when all these things would be finished, directs us to 1798 - i.e. the end of the 1,260 years of papal supremacy (“time, times and half a time” - i.e. 3½ prophetic years). The “time of the end” arrived at the end of the 1,260 years.

(vs. 8-10)
Michael Reassures the Prophet Daniel. Daniel could not understand the outcome of what was to transpire, but was informed by Michael that it was to remain sealed until the “time of the end”. Then the final details would be understood - hence the time came in the early 19th century when believers searched “back and forth” in the Scriptures and “knowledge was increased” with respect to the prophecies of the Book of Daniel (c.f. Daniel 12:4).

(vs. 11,12)
These time periods are given in connection with the 1,260 days (v.7); so, they must be identical events occurring at the end of this period, covering the same historical era - i.e. the “time of the end”. The commencement of the 1,290 years concerns the removal of the “daily sacrifice”, preparatory to the setting up of the “abomination that desolates” - thus: 1798 - 1290 = 508. In establishing the Roman Catholic Church in the West, an important stage was set when Clovis, the King of the Franks, declared his conversion to the Roman Church in 496 at Reims. Just 12 years later in 508, an alliance was formed between church and state under his rule in France.

1843 is a very significant date with regard to the Great Advent Awakening as a result of the Millerite Movement.

(v. 13)
Daniel was not to concern himself with these final details but was assured that he would rise to receive his reward at the end of days.

Michael Triumphs in the Final Showdown!

That day will be the great day of victory for Christ and His faithful people. The Book of Revelation gives a more detailed description of the events during the ‘Time of Trouble’ just before our Saviour returns. A human decree is given to destroy the faithful saints of God (Revelation 13:15). If Satan could wipe them out, then no one would be left to obey Christ and Satan would gain this world as his kingdom. Yet those final events will remove Satan’s power and control. The wicked will be suddenly arrested in their tracks as Christ manifests His power and returns to deliver His saints!

Further to the word “rest” in v. 13, Jesus offers His “rest” to each of us (Matthew 11:28-30). We need not wait until death comes our way - in fact, Jesus may come before! We may rest now in the assurance of His love, watchcare and protection. Resting assured in His promises, we may rest from guilt the moment we believe and accept them; we may rest in Jesus as our Champion, our Great Defender and Victorious, Eternal Saviour! 

Why not reach out in faith and accept His invitation right now?

This article serves as the script for presentation #11 in "The Book of Daniel" series, delivered by Pastor Michael I. Walker. If you're interested in downloading a printable PDF version, just click here.

You can also find the video presentation recorded during the Zoom meeting on Friday, 14 March 2025, below.