Our Sabbath School Lesson this week, March 21-27, 2020, entitled, "From Dust to Stars" Daniel chapter 12 - employed a blessed hope for those who have died in the faith of the third angels' messages (special resurrection - verse 2) as we are standing in the last part of the earth's history. This lesson will disclosed the final events which will be cherished by those who believe in Christ as their king and deliverer and He will stand up and vindicate His character to the world through His people - the wise shall shine as stars and shall understand God's ultimate plan of salvation. It will also present a comprehensive study of God's Mighty work through His Kingdom on earth as it is in heaven (Mat. 6:9). please dig deeper into the mine of truth, as He has promise, when He comes He will lead you into all truth (John 16:13).

Prayer Thought:

God does not accept the most splendid service unless self is laid upon the altar, a living, consuming sacrifice. The root must be holy, else there can be no sound, healthy fruit, which alone is acceptable to God. . . . While worldly ambitions, worldly projects, and the greatest plans and purposes of men, will perish like the grass, "they that be wise shall shine as the brightness of the firmament; and they that turn many to righteousness as the stars forever and ever." [Daniel 12:3.]--"Testimonies for the Church," Vol. VII, pages 248, 249. {GW 371.2}

Memory Text: Daniel 12:3

"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. "

It is necessary that we comment first on the 10th verse of Daniel 12, for it brings out the fact that at the time this Scripture is revealed, "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." Therefore, it is necessary that we repent from all sin and separate ourselves from every false way, thus having our vision clear, so that we can understand.

This lesson is divided into 5 main truth which will help us fully understand the last part of Daniel's book.

1. The Time of Trouble: Daniel 12:1

"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." (Daniel 12:1.) The name "Michael," means "who is like God." "Christ is the express image of the Father," and the great Prince of His people. Thus the title signifies Christ. At this time, Christ (Michael) shall stand up for His people, and every one shall be delivered who is found written in "The Book." Thus God's people need not fear in the time of trouble.

a. Jacob's Time of Trouble for the Church - Jer. 30:7; CC 68; CCh 39.3; EW 36.2; GC88 616.1; GC88 648.3; LDE 262.2

• Christ (Michael) shall stand up for His people (Rev. 14:1)

• Time of Trouble such as never was since there was a nation

• At that time God's people will be delivered (every one whose name is found in "The Book")

• Need not fear in the time of Trouble

b. Jacob's Time of Trouble for the World - GC 648, 649 (1911); LDE 268.4; LS 118.3

Mar 258.3; 268.5; 272 (this is during the National Sunday Law - the 144,000 had already been sealed)

Note:

That the Israelite had been scattered all through out the world (721 B.C.) and immersed into the Gentile nations, so, therefore, God will gathered them again because they are the sons of Jacob which had been given the covenant through their father Isaac and Abraham (See: Gen. 17)

Abraham obeyed God. He left his father's house, and went into a strange land. There the Lord educated him. He spoke to him, saying, "Fear not, Abram: I am thy shield, and thy exceeding great reward" [Genesis 15:1]. Again, when Abraham was 99 years old, the Lord appeared to him, and said, "I am the Almighty God; walk before me, and be thou perfect. And I will make My covenant between Me and thee, and will multiply thee exceedingly. And Abram fell on his face: and God talked with him, saying, As for me, behold, My covenant is with thee, and thou shalt be a father of many nations" [Genesis 17:1-4]. {13MR 184.3}

c. Their deliverance: Obadiah 1:17

But upon mount Zion shall be deliverance, and there shall be holiness; and the house of Jacob shall possess their possessions.

God's people will be deliver in the kingdom that will be established "in the days of these kings (Dan. 2:44) - The Stone Kingdom.

You can also refer to this study. Please click the link below.

1. https://sites.google.com/view/meatindueseason/5-mighty-stone-and-the-great-image-of-daniel-2?authuser=1

2. https://sites.google.com/view/meatindueseason/6-the-establishment-of-the-kingdom-of-glory?authuser=1

Textual Evidences:

The following passages will disclose God's everlasting covenant to Abraham and He will fulfill all His covenant through His church in the last days. Psalms 105:8-10; Gen. 22:18; Gal. 3:8, 16; Gen. 17:1; Gen. 26:5; Gen. 17:7; Heb. 6:18; Ezek. 20:11; Lev. 18:5; Deut. 27:26; Jer.. 31:33, 34, 35-37; Jeremiah 2:21; Hosea 10:1; Isaiah 5:3-7.

SOP Evidences:

PP 371.1; PK 19, 22, 97, 713-725

The whole Chapter 60 of Prophets and Kings which deals with "Vision of Future Glory". PK 722-733.2

The whole Chapter 58 of The Acts of the Apostles, entitled, "The Church Triumphant".

The whole Chapter 69 of the Great Controversy 1888 edition, entitled, "The Time of Trouble" GC88 614-634.1

2. The Special Resurrection: Daniel 12:2

"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." (Daniel 12:2.) It will be noticed that the resurrection foretold in this Scripture is mixed -- some are of the righteous, while others are of the wicked. Therefore, this is a special resurrection, and independent of the one referred to in 1 Thessalonians 4:16, 17, for it plainly says: "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: Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord."

Nothing is apparently more helpless, yet really more invincible, than the soul that feels its nothingness and relies wholly on the merits of the Saviour. God would send every angel in heaven to the aid of such a one, rather than allow him to be overcome. {7T 17.3}

The battle cry is sounding along the line. Let every soldier of the cross push to the front, not in self-sufficiency, but in meekness and lowliness, and with firm faith in God. Your work, my work, will not cease with this life. For a little while we may rest in the grave, but, when the call comes, we shall, in the kingdom of God, take up our work once more. {7T 17.4}

John also makes it clear that the righteous only are called forth at the coming of the Lord, for he says: "Blessed and holy is he that hath part in the first resurrection: on such the second death hath no power." (Rev. 20:6.) Consequently, the mixed resurrection must precede the one at the coming of Christ in the clouds. Those who awake to "everlasting contempt" must be those who pierced Christ, thus fulfilling the following Scripture: "Behold, He cometh with clouds; and every eye shall see Him, and they also which pierced him." (Rev. 1:7.)

3. The Wise Shall Shine as Stars: Daniel 12:3

a. they that be wise shall shine

• who are the wise? study the wise and foolish virgins of Mat. 25:1-13

• if there are wise - there are foolish as well!

.....the 144,000 in Prophetic records:

• 1. the stone in Dan. 2:35, 44; Zech. 12:3

  2. the wise in Dan. 12:3

  3. the bay horse in Zech. 6:7

  4. the mountain in Isa. 2:2-4; Mic. 4:1-4

  5. the escaped of Isa. 66:15-21

.....the 144,000 in Christ Parabolic prophecy

• 1. the wheat in Mat. 13:24-30

  2. the 11th hour worker in Mat. 20:6; 16 the last but will receive eternal life first (study Mat. 19:16-30)

  3. the wise virgin in Mat. 25:1-13

b. they that turn many to righteousness

• the wise shall shine! See: Rev. 18:1-4 - the earth will behold God's glory through them and come out of antitypical Babylon.

• the wise shall turn many to righteousness! During the "LOUD CRY"these wise virgins (faithful Adventists 144,000 - the first fruit Rev. 7:1-8) will shine as stars of righteousness and become "saviours" who shall come up on Mt. Zion (see: Rev. 14:1; Obad. 1:21)

....the Great Multitude in Prophetic Records

• 1. the stone became a GREAT MOUNTAIN and fill the whole earth - Dan. 2:35

  2. the many who had been turned into righteousness (Dan. 12:3) through the effort of the wise (144,000). Please study Rev. 14:13-20.

  3. the second mountain of brass (Triumphant Church) in Zech. 6 as the result of the effort of the Bay Horse who walked to and fro to the earth after its separation from the grisled horse (verse 6, 7)

  4. those who will come to the mountain which was established on the top of the mountains - Isa. 2:2-4; Mic. 4:1-4

  5. those "all brethren who were brought as an offering into a CLEAN VESSEL (Pure Church - Glorious Church (Eph. 5:27) - see Isa. 66:19-20

.....the Great Multitude in the New Testament

• 1. other sheep outside of the fold - John 10:16

  2. the second fruit of the harvest - Mat. 13 - the harvest are in two sections the first cropping and the second cropping.

  3. the second fruit after the 144,000 had been sealed - the Great Multitude of Rev. 7:9.

Servants of God, with their faces lighted up and shining with holy consecration, will hasten from place to place to proclaim the message from Heaven. By thousands of voices, all over the earth, the warning will be given. Miracles will be wrought, the sick will be healed, and signs and wonders will follow the believers. Satan also works with lying wonders, even bringing down fire from heaven in the sight of men. [Revelation 13:13.] Thus the inhabitants of the earth will be brought to take their stand. {GC88 612.1}

There the crown of immortal glory is placed upon the head of the overcomer. Then how earnest should be our work here that we may win souls to Jesus Christ. We cannot afford to devote our God-given powers to our own pleasure, for one moment. We must devote our lives to our Master. You must expect to carry on this battle with self-denial and self-sacrifice. The Word of God says through His apostles, "Ye are laborers together with God" [see 1 Corinthians 3:9]. {1SAT 34.3}

Our work may seem at times to be very discouraging, but if one soul is turned from the error of his way to righteousness, there is joy in heaven. The Father and the Son rejoice in the presence of the angels. The song of triumph and victory is sung and echoed and re-echoed through the courts of heaven. Then why should we not be wise in this life, and work for the glory of God? "They that be wise shall shine as the brightness of the firmament; and they that turn many to righteousness as the stars forever and ever" [Daniel 12:3]. We want that our lives here shall be refined, ennobled, elevated, like Jesus Christ's. When Christ is formed in you the hope of glory, you will begin to lay aside your favorite sins. You will fear to offend God, and you will love His law. {1SAT 34.4}

"And they that be wise shall shine as the brightness of the firmament; and they that turn many to righteousness as the stars forever and ever." (Daniel 12:3.) They who are "wise" are the ones who shall "understand," and they shall turn many to righteousness; thus they shall shine as stars "forever and ever." These are not those who were resurrected in the special resurrection, for it would be after the close of probation, and about the end of the seventh plague, just shortly before the coming of the Lord. Thus the resurrected ones would have no chance to turn any to righteousness. Therefore, those who shall shine as stars are the 144,000, and all who shall have a part in the closing work of the gospel. Think of the glorious promise! Is there anything like it in all the world? What can you compare with celestial bliss in the presence of God? Life everlasting, without pain or tears! See Revelation 7:17, and Isaiah 11:6, 7; 65:25.

4. Time of the End: Daniel 12:4

"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.) What plainer evidence could we ask to convince us that this is the time of the end? Has knowledge been increase? Are many running to and fro? While Daniel does not tell how the running is accomplished Nahum does: "The chariots shall be with flaming torches in the day of His preparation.... The chariots [automobiles] shall rage in the streets, they shall justle one against another in the broad ways: they shall seem like torches, they shall run like lightnings." (Nahum 2:3, 4.) The prophecy being understood, it is evident that "the book" is unsealed, and that the time of the end is upon us. (2SR 146)

5. Wonders in Prophetic Period: Daniel 12:5-7, 8-9, 10-12

a. Daniel 12:5-7: Dark Ages

"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 forever that it shall be for a time, and 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.)

The question was asked, "How long shall it be to the end of these wonders?" The answer is, that it "shall be for a time [one year], times [two years] and an half time [half year]." Thirty days to a month, twelve months to a year, equals 1260 prophetic days (years).

The prophetic period points back to papal supremacy, and the persecution of God's people from 538 to 1798 A.D. (See Dan. 7:25, and Rev. 12:6, 14; 13:5.) The end of the long prophetic period in which the papacy scattered the power of the holy people, is in the past by a hundred and thirty years. The angel declared, in this time "all these things shall be finished." Does not all this prove that we are on the verge of eternity?

Will you, brother, will you sister, adorn yourself with the righteousness of Christ? Or will you wait a little longer, until after the harvest is past? Someone shall utter the following words in great disappointment: "The harvest is past, the summer is ended, and we are not saved." (Jeremiah 8:20.) Shall you, or shall I?

b. Daniel 12:8,9: Words Closed up and Sealed

"And I heard, but understood not: then I said, 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." (Daniel 12:8, 9.) Are they closed now? If not, then is not this the time to which the prophet refers? "Blessed is he that waiteth, and cometh to the thousand three hundred and five and thirty days." (Daniel 12:12.) (2SR 147)

c. Daniel 12:10, 11-12: Restoration of the Trodden truth in Dan. 8 - From Contamination to Purification

- the wise shall understand

The Lord’s agencies must be wholly consecrated to His service, that they may be quick to understand their work. As wise stewards they must take advantage of every circumstance to teach the grace of God and draw people to Christ.—Manuscript 11, 1900. {CTr 308.6}

• • "The wise shall understand" (verse 10), was spoken of the visions of Daniel that were to be unsealed in the latter days; and of the revelation that Christ gave to His servant John for the guidance of God's people all through the centuries, the promise is, "Blessed is he that readeth, and they that hear the words of this prophecy, and keep those things which are written therein." Revelation 1:3. {PK 547.2}

  • I wish I could arouse those who claim to be watchmen on the walls of Zion, to realize their responsibility. They should awake, and take a higher stand for God; for souls are perishing through their neglect. They must have that sincere devotion to God that will lead them to see as God sees, and take the words of warning from him and sound the alarm to those who are in peril. The Lord will not hide his truth from the faithful watchman. Those who do the will of God shall know of the doctrine. “The wise shall understand;” but “the wicked shall do wickedly: and none of the wicked shall understand.” [Daniel 12:10.] {GW92 27.3}

-the restoration

The sanctuary and Sabbath truths were restored to their proper place in 1844. But the question as to the time when these two holy doctrines were "cast to the ground," or "trodden under foot," remains to be answered. The angel, speaking to Daniel relative to the time, said: "And from the time that the daily 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." (Dan. 12:11, 12.)

Additional Information from the pen of Inspiration:

The fourth commandment has been trampled upon, therefore we are called upon to repair the breach in the law and plead for the desecrated Sabbath. The man of sin, who exalted himself above God, and thought to change times and laws, brought about the change of the Sabbath from the seventh to the first day of the week. In doing this he made a breach in the law of God. Just prior to the great day of God, a message is sent forth to warn the people to come back to their allegiance to the law of God, which anti-christ has broken down. Attention must be called to the breach in the law, by precept and example. {CET 86.2}

I was shown that the precious promises of Isaiah 58:12-14 apply to those who labor for the restoration of the true Sabbath. {CET 87.1}

I was shown that the third angel proclaiming the commandments of God and the faith of Jesus, [See Revelation 14:9-12.] represents the people who receive this message, and raise the voice of warning to the world to keep the commandments of God and His law as the apple of the eye; and that in response to this warning, many would embrace the Sabbath of the Lord. {CET 87.2}

It will be noticed that there is no blessing pronounced at the termination of the 1290 prophetic days (years), but there is a special blessing promised to those who wait till the 1335 days (years) are fulfilled. Therefore, at the end of the 1335 years the "daily" (Sabbath) was to be restored, and the blessing is to those who shall live from that time on, if they understand and receive its truth.

To ascertain the prophetic time when the Seventh-day Sabbath ("daily"), and the "truth" ("sanctuary") were trodden underfoot, and Sunday observance with its Pagan priesthood set up in their stead, it would be necessary to subtract 1335 years from 1844, which would point back to 508 A.D., (dealing with the Hebrew calendar). In that year the "Daily" (Sabbath) and the "Sanctuary" truths were "cast to the ground," and the "Abomination" (Sunday) "set up."

In order to understand the truth of the 1290 years ("days"), add this figure to 508, which points forward to 1798 A.D. at which time the 1260 prophetic days of Daniel 7:25 terminated with the imprisonment of Pope Pius VI. Thus the prophetic treading of the "host" ended in 1798, but the "sanctuary" and the "daily" truths were not restored and placed in the church until after the fulfillment of the 1335 days (years) in 1844. This unquestionable evidence proves that the movement that arose in 1844 is God's true church, and divinely predicted. Hence it clears up the widespread confusion in Christendom, as to which denomination has the truth for the present time; it also weeds out all the rest as false, for it is the only movement that has the truth of the sanctuary.

As the truth of the two inseparable doctrines were thrown down in 508 A.D., preliminary to the setting up of the papacy, just so the imprisonment of the pope in 1798 was preparatory to the restoration of the jointly taught Bible truths, the Sabbath and the Sanctuary. The accountability that rests on the papacy is not the observance of the day, but rather, the desire to change the law of God, as shown in Daniel 7:25: "Think to change times and laws." The papacy thought to erase the Seventh-day Sabbath from the eternal law, and to inscribe the first day of the week in its place. (2SR 133)

The 1290 and 1335 "days" (years), relative to the "daily" and the "sanctuary" of Daniel 12:11, 12, are now understood for the first time. This being the time in which they are revealed, it is evident that we are dealing with present truth. Therefore, the Scripture must be speaking directly to us at this very time. Thus, both the cursings and the blessings of this chapter apply to this generation, and we are granted the privilege of choosing either the one or the other.

For a deeper study please click this link: https://sites.google.com/view/meatindueseason/21-jacobs-time-of-trouble?authuser=1