Page 360 - Daniel

the worship of the Grecian Zeus, so also Jezebel the worship of the
Phoenician Hercules, in the place of the worship of Jehovah, the
national religion in Israel. 3

Numerous other allusions in Scripture to this period indicate that it is
indeed a time of supreme trial for Israel. Zechariah 13:8 declares of this
period, “In the whole land, declares the LORD, two thirds shall be cut off

and perish, and one third shall be left alive.” Zechariah goes on to
picture the refining process until the people of Israel acknowledge the
Lord as their God. The very next verses describe the final struggle for
Jerusalem and the second advent of Christ that delivers Israel. This time

of trouble is parallel to the warfare described in Daniel 11:40–45.
In their distress, the people of Israel are especially aided by Michael,
the archangel (cf. Jude 9; Rev. 12:7). As the head of the holy angels,
Michael is given the special responsibility of protecting the people of

Israel. Earlier mention was made of Michael (Dan. 10:13–21), where he
participated in the angelic warfare that had prevented the messenger
from reaching Daniel promptly. Michael is a “great prince” among the
angels whose activity is especially directed to Israel in her time of great
trouble.

Because of God’s purpose and Michael’s ministry, it is revealed to
Daniel that “at that time your people shall be delivered, everyone whose
name shall be found written in the book.” This obviously refers to the
end of the tribulation when some of the people of Israel, who by

miraculous divine protection have been preserved, will be delivered
from their persecutors (Dan. 7:18, 27). The repeated reference to “your
people,” twice in one verse, seems to limit this to the people of Israel,
rather than to all the saints as Young and Leupold interpret it, after
4
Calvin. This is in keeping with the whole tenor of Daniel, which deals
with Israel as Daniel’s people. The deliverance will not extend to all
Israel since it is limited in the context to “everyone whose name shall be
found written in the book.” Evidently, unbelieving or apostate Israelites
will be excluded. The verse seems specifically to apply to those still alive
at the time of Christ’s return, as many others may already have been
martyred. The prophecy assures, however, that in spite of satanic efforts
to exterminate Israel, a godly remnant will be ready to greet their