King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon had the privilege of seeing what was going to happen in a time period that Daniel referred to as “the latter days” (Daniel 2:28). The latter days involve a future period of consequential events. Jeremiah said of the latter days, “That day is the day of the Lord God of hosts, a day of vengeance, to avenge himself on his foes. The sword shall devour and be sated and drink its fill of their blood. For the Lord God of hosts holds a sacrifice in the north country by the river Euphrates. The prophet Zechariah said of the latter days:

Behold, a day is coming for the Lord, when the spoil taken from you will be divided in your midst. For I will gather all the nations against Jerusalem to battle, and the city shall be taken and the houses plundered and the women raped. Half of the city shall go out into exile, but the rest of the people shall not be cut off from the city. Then the Lord will go out and fight against those nations as when he fights on a day of battle. On that day his feet shall stand on the Mount of Olives that lies before Jerusalem on the east, and the Mount of Olives shall be split in two from east to west by a very wide valley, so that one half of the Mount shall move northward, and the other half southward. And you shall flee to the valley of my mountains, for the valley of the mountains shall reach to Azal. And you shall flee as you fled from the earthquake in the days of Uzziah king of Judah. Then the Lord my God will come, and all the holy ones with him.

Zechariah’s prophecy takes place at the end of the Great Tribulation. At that time, Jesus will return and establish his kingdom on earth. Chapter nineteen of the Book of Revelation depicts Christ’s return as a man riding on a white horse. It says, “The one sitting on it is called Faithful and True, and in righteousness he judges and makes war” (Revelation 19:11).

Daniel had a vision that paralleled Nebuchadnezzar’s dream in which four beasts came up out of the sea. At the end of Daniel’s vision was a depiction of the judgment seat of Christ. Daniel said:

As I looked,

thrones were placed,
    and the Ancient of Days took his seat;
his clothing was white as snow,
    and the hair of his head like pure wool;
his throne was fiery flames;
    its wheels were burning fire.
A stream of fire issued
    and came out from before him;
a thousand thousands served him,
    and ten thousand times ten thousand stood before him;
the court sat in judgment,
    and the books were opened. (Daniel 7:9-10)

The interpretation of Daniel’s vision was made known to him by an angel. Daniel wanted to know the truth about the fourth beast who was “terrifying and dreadful and exceedingly strong” (Daniel 7:7). The angel told Daniel that the fourth kingdom would be different from all kingdoms and would devour the whole earth. This kingdom will be led by Antichrist who will “wear out the saints of the Most High, and shall think to change the times and the law; and they shall be given into his hand for a time, times, and half a time” (Daniel 7:25). The phrase “time, times, and half a time” refers to the last half of the Great Tribulation. This phrase corresponds with Revelation 12:14 which depicts the nation of Israel as a woman who is being protected during the Great Tribulation. Verses 16 and 17 tell us, “But the earth came to the help of the woman, and the earth opened its mouth and swallowed the river that the dragon had poured from his mouth. Then the dragon became furious with the woman and went off to make war on the rest of her offspring, on those who keep the commandments of God and hold to the testimony of Jesus.”

The angel who interpreted Daniel’s dream was identified as Gabriel. Gabriel “seemed to be God’s special messenger” (note on Daniel 8:16). Gabriel told Daniel that he was going to make known to him “what shall be at the latter end-of the indignation, for it refers to the appointed time of the end” (Daniel 8:19). The indignation signifies God’s displeasure with sin (H2195) and the appointed time of the end, a time when Antichrist will be removed from the earth and God’s people will be free to focus on God and their relationship with him (H4150). The angel told Daniel, “And at the latter end of their kingdom, when the transgressions have reached their limit, a king of bold face, one who understands riddles, shall arise. His power shall be great—but not by his own power; and he shall cause fearful destruction and shall succeed in what he does, and destroy mighty men and the people who are the saints. By his cunning he shall make deceit prosper under his hand, and in his own mind he shall become great. Without warning he shall destroy many. And he shall even rise up against the Prince of princes, and he shall be broken—but by no human hand” (Daniel 8:23-25).

Daniel experienced tremendous physical and emotional drain after his overwhelming visions (note on Daniel 8:27). Daniel said he was “overcome and lay sick for some days” (Daniel 8:27). Daniel was appalled by the visions, meaning that he was devastated or stupefied by them. The Hebrew word that is translated appalled, shamem (shaw-mameˊ) means “to stun” (H8074). The appointed time of the end will be marked by lawlessness and rebellion against the truth of God’s word. Paul said of Antichrist in his second letter to the Thessalonians, “The coming of the lawless one is by the activity of Satan with all power and false signs and wonders, and with all wicked deception, for those who are perishing because they refused to love the truth and so be saved. Therefore God sends them a strong delusion, so that they may believe what is false, in order that all may be condemned who did not believe the truth but had pleasure in unrighteousness” (2 Thessalonians 2:9-12).

Jesus’ disciples came to him on the Mount of Olives and asked him to tell them when the appointed time of the end would come. Jesus said many false prophets would lead people astray. “And because lawlessness will be increased, the love of many will grow cold. But the one who endures to the end will be saved. And the gospel of the kingdom will be proclaimed throughout the whole world as a testimony to all nations and then the end will come” (Matthew 24:11-14). Jesus went on to say that no one knows the day or the hour when the end will come (Matthew 24:36), and then, told his disciples, “Watch therefore, for you know neither the day nor the hour” (Matthew 25:13).