Great Distress

As Daniel unfolds the vision and its interpretation received through Gabriel, he forecasts a vision of great afflictions for his people the Jews. At 10:14 the angel relates to Daniel that he had come to give Daniel “an understanding of what will happen to your people in the latter day." Gabriel indicates that a special focus of this vision has to do with the covenant people and what distress awaits them. In 12:1, after relating the rise and fall of empires in chapter 11, Daniel relates what will happen to the Jews at the hands of the fourth kingdom, the Romans. Though great distress such as had never been seen from the beginning of time fell upon the covenant people at the hands of the Romans, there was a silver lining in this prophecy of hope that the Lord would preserve His elect people and deliver them from tribulations.