“At that time Michael shall stand up, the great prince who stands watch over the sons of your people; and there shall be a time of trouble, such as never was since there was a nation, even to that time. ” Daniel 12:1 NKJV
“But you, Daniel, shut up the words, and seal the book until the time of the end; many shall run to and fro, and knowledge shall increase.” 5 Then I, Daniel, looked; and there stood two others, one on this riverbank and the other on that riverbank. 6 And one said to the man clothed in linen, who was above the waters of the river, “How long shall the fulfillment of these wonders be?” 7 Then I heard the man clothed in linen, who was above the waters of the river, when he held up his right hand and his left hand to heaven, and swore by Him who lives forever, that it shall be for a time, times, and half a time; and when the power of the holy people has been completely shattered, all these things shall be finished. 8 Although I heard, I did not understand. Then I said, “My lord, what shall be the end of these things?” 9 And he said, “Go your way, Daniel, for the words are closed up and sealed till the time of the end. 10 Many shall be purified, made white, and refined, but the wicked shall do wickedly; and none of the wicked shall understand, but the wise shall understand. 11 “And from the time that the daily sacrifice is taken away, and the abomination of desolation is set up, there shall be one thousand two hundred and ninety days. 12 Blessed is he who waits, and comes to the one thousand three hundred and thirty-five days. 13 “But you, go your way till the end; for you shall rest, and will arise to your inheritance at the end of the days.”” Daniel 12:4-13 NKJV
Lord God of time and eternity,
Michael appears here and it seems he is always deployed when there are times of spiritual warfare. But even though You God hint of worse to come You tell Daniel it is not his worry. He is to seal the book and go on his way. And he is promised an inheritance: that he will rise to live after death itself at the end of days.
A glimpse of heaven when there will be no need of day and light because You will be our light (Revelation 22:5). We have seen many being purified and many wicked refusing to change their ways. But we are not to know the times or the dates. Like Daniel we must wait. Daniel believed in the faith of his fathers and the Law of Moses and the Covenant for his future – and in You God. Because You spoke of a future to him in visions. We also know because You spoke to us in Jesus about the future. But for now with Daniel we are about to close the Old Testament book, not seal it up, but look to some its fulfilment and to You God who keeps Your promises and the future. And while we linger on this earth we follow Your lead.
In Jesus name we pray, Amen.
Worship Friday 9th October 2026
Not heard so much these days but I love the words – particularly verse three,
Please read Fanny’s story, in her own words, of why and how she wrote the hymn.
Rescue the perishing, care for the dying,
snatch them in pity from sin and the grave;
weep o’er the erring one, lift up the fallen,
tell them of Jesus the mighty to save.
Rescue the perishing, care for the dying;
Jesus is merciful, Jesus will save.
Though they are slighting Him, still He is waiting,
waiting the penitent child to receive;
plead with them earnestly, plead with them gently;
He will forgive if they only believe.
Down in the human heart, crushed by the tempter,
feelings lie buried that grace can restore;
touched by a loving heart, wakened by kindness,
cords that are broken will vibrate once more.
Rescue the perishing, duty demands it—
strength for your labor the Lord will provide;
back to the narrow way patiently win them,
tell the poor wanderer a Saviour has died.
Lyrics: Fanny Crosby
“As I was addressing a large company of working men one hot August evening, the thought kept forcing itself upon my mind that some mother’s boy must be rescued that very night or perhaps not at all. So I requested that, if there was any boy present, who had wandered away from mother’s teaching, he would come to the platform at the conclusion of the service. A young man of eighteen came forward and said, “Did you mean me? I have promised my mother to meet her in heaven; but as I am now living that will be impossible.” We prayed for him; he finally arose with a new light in his eyes; and exclaimed triumphantly, “Now, I can meet mother in heaven; for I have found her God.” A few days before, Mr. Doane had sent me the subject “Rescue the Perishing,” and while I sat there that evening the line came to me, “Rescue the perishing, care for the dying.”I could think of nothing else that night. When I arrived at my home I went to work on it at once; and before I retired the entire hymn was ready for a melody. The next day my words were written and forwarded to Mr. Doane, who wrote the beautiful and touching music as it now stands.”