Daniel chapter 12 also tells of this Plan. God says “Now at that time Michael, the great prince who stands guard over the sons of your people, will arise. And there will be a time of distress such as never occurred since there was a nation until that time; and at that time your people, everyone who is found written in the book, will be rescued.

Then one asked, “How long will it be until the end of these wonders?”And I heard the man dressed in linen, who was above the waters of the stream, as he raised his right hand and his left toward heaven, and swore by Him who lives forever that it would be for a time, times, and half a time (i.e., 3 and one half years); and as soon as they finish smashing the power of the holy people, all these events will be completed. But as for me, I heard but did not understand; so I said, “My lord, what will be the outcome of these events?” And he said, “Go your way, Daniel, for these words will be kept secret and sealed up until the end time. Many will be purged, cleansed, and refined”.

(Note: this three and one half years represent the breaking of the Sixth tribulation seal through the blowing of the Sixth tribulation trumpet, which completes the first half of the Great Tribulation. The second half of the tribulation (another three and one half years) begins at the end of the Sixth tribulation trumpet and concludes after the Seventh tribulation Bowl. This concludes the entire Seven years of Great Tribulation).

And finally, this is the culmination of God’s Plan and Purpose for all of creation and for all people over all the ages. A time of tribulations began at the time of the birth of Jesus. Jesus called this time the “beginning of birth pains”, (see Matthew 24:4-8) which will culminate with a final 7 years of Great Tribulation which the world has never seen before and never will see again.

His Plan may seem like a maze to us. His plan is full of opportunities and obstacles. You must constantly be asking yourself which path to take to reach the goal? And this becomes increasingly impossible unless you know His Ultimate Goal. And, because God has designed this maze for your life, you are simply the sojourner, trying to find your way.

Jesus knows the way. In fact, Jesus is the way! He can and will lead you to safety. But you must follow Him.

This entire matter could be compared to the age old philosophical question, “why am I here, and what is the purpose of my life?” Well, if you are willing, we can answer that question:

You are here because God put you here, or more accurately, God created a man and a woman, (Adam and Eve), who, over time, put you here. That is the “how” of why you are here.

You are here because God put you here to test you. Yes, to test you, (see 1^{Peter 1:3-7}), and for those who ‘endure to the end’ of this testing, they will be ‘saved’, (see Matthew 24:13). That is the ‘why’ of why you are here.

God is testing you to prove you. Yes, to prove you. God’s intention is that you be saved and transformed into the image of Christ Jesus. (See Romans 12:2 and 2 Corinthians 3:18).

The purpose of God’s plan is ‘perfection’. Yes, perfection. In the beginning, God said His creation was ‘good and very good’ (see Genesis 1, verses 10, 12, 18, 21, ,25 31, and Genesis 3:6).

God was creating the Masterpiece, first in the heavens and then on the earth. His work completed in just seven days, He would allow His Masterpiece to mature for millenniums, until it became His Perfection. (See Matthew 5:48, John 17:23, Romans 12:2, 1 Corinthians 13:10, Philippians 3:12, Hebrews 2:10, Hebrews 9:9, Hebrews 10:14, Hebrews 12:2, James 1:4, 1 Peter 5:10, 1 John 2:5).

For us, this is a journey of discovery and revelation of God’s Grand Plan and Design, from creation through the End of the Age, then into a New Heaven and a New Earth.

This will lead to the reasons for WHAT God is doing in these Last Days and WHY He is doing it this way. My prayer is that, after reading this, everything you may have wondered regarding the reasoning behind God’s Plan for the world and your life, will fall into place.

In order to know God’s plan for your life – and the entirety of the cosmos, you must know the entire plan. Knowing is just the beginning, because once you know The Plan then you will know that you have to choose to join HIM in what HE is doing or go your own way. Okay?

So, let’s look at exactly what is God’s Plan for everyone and everything? What is His purpose? Let me put it as succinctly and briefly as possible:

• God Created – and said “It is good” and “very good”. (see Genesis 1)
  • (Humankind rebelled, but it was no surprise to the omniscient God. See Genesis 3).
• God is Perfecting His creation. (see Romans 12:2, 1 Corinthians 13:9-11, Hebrews 10:14, James 1:4, 1 Peter 1:3-9, 1 Peter 5:10, Matthew 5:48).
• God will Destroy that which is not perfected. (see Matthew 24-25)
• God will Create a new Heaven and a New Earth for all those whom He perfected, to live in perfection with Him. (see Revelation 21).

If you will come to understand this, then all your successes and failures, all the pleasantries and the tragedies, all the good and all of the bad things of life, even death and eternity, will begin to make perfect sense.

Notice that I do not say it will be easy. It will not and is not easy. It is hard. But, if you look hard enough, you can come to see the purpose in every circumstance, the pleasant and the unpleasant, the good and the bad. You will see the outcome as the proving of your faith, even if you have to wait years after these events that come upon you to see the results (see 1^{st Peter 1:3-7}).

I will present, first, a very brief and a very simple overview of a biblical time line to help you understand. I will begin with the Creation of the heavens and the earth, and take you on a journey through time, until the destruction, and the creation of a New Heaven and a new earth. We will see the complete Plan of God, as found in the Bible.  (And, don’t worry. It will be an abbreviated history of how God has created the world, dealt with the people He created, and why the world has gone the way it has gone and how it will conclude.)

One last note. This is not designed to please everyone, and it will not fit every different denominational doctrine. Instead, this is meant to

• Inform you, to
• Inspire you, and to
• Ignite you to move toward the One Living God and to join Him in what He is doing!

I hope that my Christian friends, and others who read this, don’t find it objectionable solely because I have omitted certain events. However, it is my intention to inform and inspire, NOT overwhelm the reader with volumes of information.

PERFECTION – In the beginning, God created.

He began with the imperfect and created the Masterpiece, first in the heavens and then on the earth. His work completed in just seven days; He would allow His Masterpiece to mature for a millennium until it became His Perfection.

This is a journey of discovery and revelation of God’s Grand Plan and Design, from creation through the End of the Age, then into a New Heaven and a New Earth.

This is an introductory study and an explanation on the reasons for WHAT God is doing in these Last Days and WHY He is doing it this way. My prayer is that, after reading this, everything you may have wondered regarding the reasoning behind God’s Plan for the world and your life, will fall into place.

This will take you on a journey into the reasons for WHAT God is doing in these Last Days and WHY He is doing it this way, and it will reveal His PURPOSE.

My prayer is that, after reading this, everything you may have wondered regarding the reasoning behind God’s Plan for the world and your life, will fall into place. God’s plan is unfolding exactly as He purposed; from

1. The Creation, through
2. The Garden of Eden, and
3. The Fall of Man to,
4. The Great Flood,
5. The Tower of Babel,
6. The Exodus from Egypt,
7. The possessing of The Promised Land,
8. The Destruction of the First Temple, and
9. The Jewish Captivity in Babylon,
10. The birth of Jesus,
11. The death, burial and resurrection of Jesus,
12. The Destruction of the Second Temple,

Our steady march through time has been exactly as Bible prophecy has foretold.  We have entered an era leading to the destruction and, eventually, a rebirth of the heavens and the earth.

The world has entered the final epoch of time, known by various names, such as, “The Last Days”, “The End The of Age” the “Latter Days” and “The Tribulation Period”, which was marked by the birth of Jesus.  There are reportedly visible and observable signs and ancient writings to help you, if you believe in such things. However, most people either don’t recognize the signs or writings or don’t believe. Even among those who believe these prophecies are coming to pass and see the signs, few know what they are seeing, where they are leading or what to do in response.

Daniel 12:1, “Now at that time Michael, the great prince who stands guard over the sons of your people, will arise. And there will be a time of distress such as never occurred since there was a nation until that time; and at that time your people, everyone who is found written in the book, will be rescued. Verse 2. And many of those who sleep in the dust of the ground will awake, these to everlasting life, but the others to disgrace and everlasting contempt. Verse 3. And those who have insight will shine like the glow of the expanse of heaven, and those who lead the many to righteousness, like the stars forever and ever. Verse 4. But as for you, Daniel, keep these words secret and seal up the book until the end of time; many will roam about, and knowledge will increase.”

Verse 5. Then I, Daniel, looked, and behold, two others were standing, one on this bank of the stream and the other on that bank of the stream. Verse 6. And someone said to the man dressed in linen, who was above the waters of the stream, “How long will it be until the end of these wonders?” Verse 7. And I heard the man dressed in linen, who was above the waters of the stream, as he raised his right hand and his left toward heaven, and swore by Him who lives forever that it would be for a time, times, and half a time; and as soon as they finish smashing the power of the holy people, all these events will be completed. Verse 8. But as for me, I heard but did not understand; so I said, “My lord, what will be the outcome of these events?”  Verse 9. And he said, “Go your way, Daniel, for these words will be kept secret and sealed up until the end time. Verse 10. Many will be purged, cleansed, and refined, but the wicked will act wickedly; and none of the wicked will understand, but  those who have insight will understand. Verse 11. And from the time that the regular sacrifice is abolished and the abomination of desolation is set up, there will be 1,290 days. Verse 12. Blessed is the one who is patient and attains to the 1,335 days! Verse 13. But as for you, go your way to the end; then you will rest and rise for your allotted portion at the end of the age.”

RECAP of Daniel 12:1-13 :

1. And there will be a time of such as never occurred since there was a nation until that time; and at that time your people, (These words are repeated by Jesus in Matthew 24:21), and,
2. everyone who is found written in the book, will be rescued. Verse 2. And many of those who sleep in the dust of the ground will awake, these to everlasting life, but the others to disgrace and everlasting contempt. Verse
3. Verse 3. And those who have insight will shine like the glow of the expanse of heaven,
4. and those who lead the many to righteousness, like the stars forever and ever. Verse 4. But as for you, Daniel, keep these words secret and seal up the book until the end of time; many will roam about, and knowledge will increase.” Verse 5. Then I, Daniel, looked, and behold, two others were standing, one on this bank of the stream and the other on that bank of the stream. Verse 6. And someone said to the man dressed in linen, who was above the waters of the stream,
5. “How long will it be until the end of these wonders?” Verse 7. And I heard the man dressed in linen, who was above the waters of the stream, as he raised his right hand and his left toward heaven, and swore by Him who lives forever that

(a)  it would be for a time, times, and half a time; and as soon as they finish smashing the power of the holy people (i.e., 3 and one half years), all these events will be completed.  Verse 8. But as for me, I heard but did not understand; so, I said, “My lord, what will be the outcome of these events?”  Verse 9. And he said, “Go your way, Daniel, for these words will be kept secret and sealed up until the end time.

6. Verse 10. Many will be purged, cleansed, and refined, but the wicked will act wickedly; and none of the wicked will understand, but  those who have insight will understand.

7. Verse 11. And from the time that the regular sacrifice is abolished and the abomination of desolation is set up, there will be 1,290 days. Verse 12.

(a)  Blessed is the one who is patient and attains to the 1,335 days! Verse 13. But as for you, go your way to the end; then you will rest and rise for your allotted portion at the end of the age.”

Not surprisingly, the main interest in this subject continues to be in the sensationalism of the matter; and sadly, both fictional and religious writers are profiteering and capitalizing on the subject financially.  All-the-while, assuming these things are true, they are grossly ignoring the urgency and the catastrophic ramifications which are being played out.

This subject is classified as “Eschatology”, which is the study of final events of history, or the ultimate destiny of humanity. The word comes from the Greek word, éschatos, meaning “last” and ‘logy’ meaning “the study of”.  Most of the major religious denominations which teach this doctrine believe it will come on the world suddenly, with an increasing intensity and will last for just seven years. This view is a myopic view of the Bible’s history time line, but a careful study of the Bible tells a much different version of these events.

A study of the ‘long view’ of the Bible on this subject, will show that the End of This Age was  planned before creation. God, indeed “has a plan for your life” as He has had a plan for the entire world, but it is not the “Sunday school version” you heard about. This is real, dangerous, exciting and both deadly and life-giving.

It has taken many millenniums for this travail to unfold, and we may still have many years to go.  But I suppose that when you are dealing with an Eternal God who has no beginning and no end, time is not a factor. God can take all the ‘time’ He wants to execute His plan. Please come with me and let’s continue to explore God’s Plan for you and me and the entire cosmos.

NEXT: (Please click on this text or the image): “GOD HAS A PLAN FOR YOUR LIFE – PART 3 – WHERE ARE WE IN GOD’S TIMELINE?

 

 

 

 

The time is near. Could it possibly be that we are already in the Last Days? If so, when did they begin?

Let’s take a look at what Jesus and His first disciples had to say about the Last Days, the End of Days, the End of the Age

Your Brother and Friend,

Mike Young

Previous:  GOD HAS A PLAN FOR YOUR LIFE – AND HE IS THAT PLAN (It probably is more than you think).

 

GOD HAS A PLAN

Have you heard that “God has a plan for your life”? Many Christians will turn to Jeremiah 29:11-13, which says

Jeremiah 29 verses 11 through 13 are widely read, widely quoted and very popular verses.  I know many people ‘claim’ these verses as a promise from God to bless their life with a future and a hope. But this is just one example of how people will misunderstand God’s Plan by using an egocentric view of life. I.e., it’s all about ‘me’.

However, if you look at the context of these verses, you can see how many folks take these verses out of context. Read what comes just before and after these verses.

Jeremiah 29:8, “For thus says the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel, ‘Do not let your prophets who are in your midst and your diviners deceive you, and do not listen to the dreams which they dream.

Verse 9. ‘For they prophesy falsely to you in My name; I have not sent them,’ declares the LORD.

Verse 10. “For thus says the LORD, ‘When seventy years have been completed for Babylon, I will visit you and fulfill My good word to you, to bring you back to this place.

Verse 11. ‘For I know the plans that I have for you,’ declares the LORD, ‘plans for welfare and not for calamity to give you a future and a hope.

Verse 12. ‘Then you will call upon Me and come and pray to Me, and I will listen to you.

Verse 13. ‘You will seek Me and find Me when you search for Me with all your heart.

Verse 14. ‘I will be found by you,’ declares the LORD, ‘and I will restore your fortunes and will gather you from all the nations and from all the places where I have driven you,’ declares the LORD, ‘and I will bring you back to the place from where I sent you into exile.’

Jeremiah chapter 29 is an historical account of the Israelites in exile, as judgment and punishment from God for their disobedience.  The prophet Jeremiah confronts the false prophet, Hananiah, who had boldly proclaimed that God was going to free Israel from Babylon in two years.

So, what you are reading and seeing in these verses is God’s great plan and purpose, which is both personal and universal.

The Bible tells us that God has a plan. In fact, the Bible shows us His Master Plan, and you can see and learn about His plan if you are willing to take the time to study and search. And, I will suggest that God’s plan is much bigger than you or me. His plan is about the entire human race, the earth, the sun, the stars and the entire cosmos. And, His Plan is revealed in the first words in the Book of Genesis and continues through the last words in Revelation.

Now, don’t get me wrong. You and I are included in His plan, and we are destined to navigate His plan. But we cannot do that correctly or effectively unless WE KNOW THE WAY AND THE PURPOSE of His Plan.

Jeremiah 29:8-14 gives us a glimpse of God’s Master Plan, Purpose, Design and Method for all of His creation and His created, through these supremely prophetic scriptures. They are both

For All Creation                                                        For All People

Universal in scope for all humanity                   Personal for the individual

    Universal as His Plan for all creation                 Prophetic and specific for the                                                                                             individual

Universal in Purpose                                               Practical in application

Conditional                                                                 Unconditional

Jeremiah 29:8 warns us “For thus says the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel, ‘Do not let your prophets who are in your midst and your diviners deceive you, and do not listen to the dreams which they dream. Verse 9. ‘For they prophesy falsely to you in My name; I have not sent them,’ declares the LORD.

Jesus has also warned us, in our day, to “See to it that no one misleads you. For many will come in My name, saying, ‘I am the Christ,’ and they will mislead many people” whether through contemporary false teachers, false prophets or by institutional deception – that is, through the church. Jeremiah 29:8-9 is a universal truth to this day, and it is a personal truth for each person who has ever lived or will ever live on this planet.

Verse 10. “For thus says the LORD, ‘When seventy years have been completed for Babylon, I will visit you and fulfill My good word to you, to bring you back to this place (Jerusalem).

Seventy years is the sentence God imposed on the sinful and rebellious Israelites. Significantly and prophetically, the number 70 in the Bible often symbolizes completeness and perfection. In other words, God’s judgment will bring about a more complete, and a more prefect people. It appears in various contexts. For example, In Daniel, the prophecy of “Seventy Weeks” outlines a timeline for significant events related to the Jewish people and the coming of the Messiah (Daniel 9:24).

In this case, the Israelites were to be exiled to Babylon for 70 years, representing a period of judgment and purification (Jeremiah 29:10). This is just one example of God’s method of executing His Plan and Purpose of conforming His people into His image through judgment and correction to prepare us for an eternity with Him and one another in a New Heaven, a New Earth and in the New Jerusalem.

With this as context and background, God then says,

Verse 11), ‘For I know the plans that I have for you,’ declares the LORD, ‘plans for welfare and not for calamity to give you a future and a hope”,

This is a means of reassurance. God is speaking in the present time but is referring to a future time. God is saying that, for those who believe in and follow Him, have a future hope of eternal security.

The result of this 70 years of captivity is found in the following verses

Verse 12, Then you will call upon Me and come and pray to Me, and I will listen to you. Verse 13. You will seek Me and find Me when you search for Me with all your heart. Verse 14. ‘I will be found by you,’ declares the LORD, ‘and I will restore your fortunes and will gather you from all the nations and from all the places where I have driven you,’ declares the LORD, ‘and I will bring you back to the place from where I sent you into exile.’

God states and promises that He will bring you back to the place from where I sent you into exile, which is Jerusalem. This was completed for the Israelites after the 70 years of Babylonian exile.

This is also seen in individual lives today, in the lives of those who have rebelled against God, then repented because of their own times of judgment and captivity, then restored to a right relationship with God.

God’s plan for the entire world is universal in scope, purpose, and is conditional upon believing in and submitting to the Lordship of Jesus. Everyone will experience the tribulations, trials, testing and exile from God during their lifetime.

But for those who believe in the Lord God and submit themselves to His authority and Lordship, will find His unconditional love and mercy. To these, His prophetic plan is personal

Please click on this text or image for Part 2 of God’s Plan and Purpose.

Daniel chapter 12 also tells of this plan. God says, “Now at that time Michael, the great prince who stands guard over the sons of your people, will arise. And there will be a time of distress such as never occurred since there was a nation until that time; and at that time your people, everyone who is found written in the book, will be rescued.

Your Brother and Friend,

Mike Young