The END of the World. What the Bible says?

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…
(Daniel 12:1)

So what does it mean that He shall “stand up,” and how is this connected to the “time of trouble”? The Bible says that after His death and resurrection, Jesus ascended to be “seated at the right hand of the throne of the Majesty in the heavens” (Heb. 8:1). 

This doesn’t mean that our Savior has been sitting down for 2000 years. Rather, “seated” means seated in office as our “High Priest.” Paul continues by stating that Jesus is a “Minister of the sanctuary and of the true tabernacle which the Lord erected, and not man” (Heb. 8:2). In His sanctuary above, Jesus now ministers “His own blood” (Heb. 9:12) in our behalf. At this moment, He makes “intercession” (Heb. 7:25) for us in His heavenly temple. Practically, this means that sinners may still be saved by an interceding Savior. 

The Holy Spirit still invites, woos, and pleads with fallen humans to confess and forsake their sins, and to trust in Christ. When we repent and believe, His royal blood is applied to our case in the courts above. To summarize, when Michael “stands up,”

this means that Jesus Christ will no longer be “seated” as “High Priest” in the temple above, and that the door of salvation will be officially closed. Then every human being on earth will be either “unjust” or “righteous,” “filthy” or “holy,” saved or doomed forever. 

Then the Holy Spirit will cease striving with rebellious humanity, because it’s too late. When the Holy Spirit departs, Satan will then have full control of the finally impenitent and will plunge our lost world into one last, great, apocalyptic, final “time of trouble such as never was.” We must prepare for this right now by repenting of every sin, trusting fully in Jesus Christ, and by obeying God at all costs. May the Lord help us to be among the “holy” and “righteous” when mercy ceases.