Sermon

The End Of Our Exile

Sewee Bay Baptist Church Sermons

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  1. Please take your Bibles and open them up one more time to the book of Daniel.

  2. We've come to the end of the book of Daniel this morning.

  3. This is part two of this last long vision in Daniel chapter 10 through Daniel chapter 12.

    Daniel 10 chapter mention Daniel 12 chapter mention

  4. And so if it feels, as we begin to read here in just a moment,

  5. if it feels like we're jumping in in the middle of a conversation, we are.

  6. This is part two of this last extended vision from 10 to 12.

  7. But last week we saw from chapter 10 through 11 verse 35,

  8. prophecies of events that were future for Daniel but history for us.

  9. And now verse 36 of chapter 11 marks a turning point.

  10. And from here forward it's events that are future for Daniel and future for us.

  11. So if you would, let's stand once more in honor of the reading of God's word.

  12. Daniel chapter 11 verse 36 through the end of the book.

    Daniel 11:36

  13. And the king shall do as he wills.

  14. He shall exalt himself and magnify himself above every god

  15. and shall speak astonishing things against the god of gods.

  16. He shall prosper till the indignation is accomplished

  17. for what is decreed shall be done.

  18. He shall pay no attention to the gods of his fathers

  19. or to the one beloved by women.

  20. He shall not pay attention to any other god

  21. for he shall magnify himself above all.

  22. He shall honor the god of fortresses instead of these.

  23. A god whom his fathers did not know,

  24. he shall honor with gold and silver,

  25. with precious stones and costly gifts.

  26. He shall deal with the strongest fortresses

  27. with the help of a foreign god.

  28. Those who acknowledge him,

  29. he shall load with honor.

  30. He shall make them rulers over many

  31. and shall divide the land for a price.

  32. At the time of the end,

  33. the king of the south shall attack him,

  34. but the king of the north shall rush upon him like a whirlwind

  35. with chariots and horsemen and with many ships.

  36. And he shall come into countries

  37. and shall overflow and pass through.

  38. He shall come into the glorious land

  39. and tens of thousands shall fall,

  40. but these shall be delivered out of his hand,

  41. Edom and Moab

  42. and the main parts of the Ammonites.

  43. He shall stretch out his hand against the countries

  44. and the land of Egypt shall not escape.

  45. He shall become ruler of the treasures of gold and silver

  46. and all of the precious things of Egypt

  47. and the Libyans and the Kushites

  48. shall follow in his train.

  49. But news from the east and the north

  50. shall alarm him

  51. and he shall go out with great fury

  52. to destroy and devote many to destruction.

  53. And he shall pitch his palatial tents

  54. between the sea and the glorious holy mountain.

  55. Yet he shall come to his end

  56. with none to help him.

  57. At that time shall arise Michael,

  58. the great prince who has charge of your people.

  59. And there shall be a time of trouble

  60. such as never has been

  61. since there was a nation until that time.

  62. But at that time your people shall be delivered.

  63. Everyone whose name shall be found written in the book.

  64. And many of those who sleep in the dust of the earth

  65. shall awake,

  66. some to everlasting life

  67. and some to shame and everlasting contempt.

  68. And those who are wise

  69. shall shine like the brightness of the sky above.

  70. And those who turn many to righteousness

  71. like the stars forever and ever.

  72. But you, Daniel,

  73. shut up the words and seal the book

  74. until the time of the end.

  75. Many shall run to and fro

  76. and knowledge shall increase.

  77. Then I, Daniel, looked

  78. and behold, two others stood,

  79. one on this bank of the stream

  80. and one on that bank of the stream.

  81. And someone said to the man clothed in linen

  82. who was above the waters of the stream,

  83. how long shall it be

  84. till the end of these wonders?

  85. And I heard the man clothed in linen

  86. who was above the waters of the stream.

  87. He raised his right hand

  88. and his left hand toward heaven

  89. and swore by him who lives forever

  90. that it would be for a time, times,

  91. and half a time.

  92. And that when the shattering of the power

  93. of the holy people comes to an end,

  94. all these things would be finished.

  95. I heard, but I did not understand.

  96. And then I said,

  97. Oh my Lord,

  98. what shall be the outcome of these things?

  99. He said,

  100. Go your way, Daniel,

  101. for the words are shut up

  102. and sealed until the time of the end.

  103. Many shall purify themselves

  104. and make themselves white

  105. and be refined,

  106. but the wicked shall act wickedly.

  107. And none of the wicked shall understand,

  108. but those who are wise shall understand.

  109. And from the time

  110. that the regular burnt offering

  111. is taken away

  112. and the abomination

  113. that makes desolate is set up,

  114. there shall be 1,290 days.

  115. Blessed is he who waits

  116. and arrives at the 1,335 days.

  117. But go your way till the end

  118. and you shall rest

  119. and shall stand

  120. in your allotted place

  121. at the end of the days.

  122. This is the word of the Lord.

  123. Let's pray once more.

  124. Father,

  125. we thank you

  126. for this glorious book.

  127. We thank you for the wisdom

  128. and the truth

  129. that's contained here.

  130. And we pray,

  131. Lord,

  132. would you give us understanding

  133. as we finish out

  134. the book of Daniel this morning.

  135. Would you show us Christ

  136. and enlarge our hearts

  137. that we might love him more

  138. as we study this morning.

  139. We pray in Jesus' name.

  140. Amen.

  141. You may be seated.

  142. I gotta tell you,

  143. I was stirred

  144. hearing all of us

  145. sing that song this morning.

  146. I hope you were as well.

  147. Because he lives,

  148. I can face tomorrow.

  149. Because he lives,

  150. all fear is gone.

  151. Because I know

  152. who holds the future.

  153. Life is worth the living

  154. just because he lives.

  155. Somebody remarked

  156. this morning

  157. as the musicians

  158. were practicing

  159. that that was a funeral song.

  160. He liked to sing that

  161. at funerals

  162. and it is.

  163. He's right.

  164. It's an excellent,

  165. excellent funeral song

  166. but I would argue

  167. it's an excellent song

  168. for every single moment

  169. of the Christian life.

  170. We live each day

  171. in the confident assurance

  172. that we know

  173. who holds the future.

  174. And we live each day

  175. in the light

  176. of the resurrection

  177. of the Lord Jesus Christ.

  178. And that's an appropriate song

  179. for us to sing this morning

  180. because that's exactly

  181. what we find

  182. as we come here

  183. to the end

  184. of the book of Daniel.

  185. God has been showing Daniel

  186. this vision

  187. of the future.

  188. And again,

  189. here in verse 36

  190. of chapter 11

  191. through the end

  192. of the book

  193. he shifts the attention,

  194. shifts the scene

  195. to things and events

  196. that are still future

  197. for us.

  198. And as we think

  199. about the future

  200. it might be tempting

  201. for us to worry

  202. and to be fearful

  203. and to be anxious.

  204. What kind of world

  205. will my children

  206. grow up in?

  207. What kind of world

  208. will my grandchildren

  209. grow up in?

  210. What kind of future

  211. do we have

  212. to look forward to?

  213. And I think humans

  214. by default

  215. are naturally curious

  216. about the future

  217. because by and large

  218. none of us know

  219. what the future holds.

  220. We're all finding out

  221. in real time together

  222. but did you know

  223. that for Christians

  224. that's not entirely true.

  225. God's people,

  226. Christians,

  227. know with certainty

  228. what the future holds.

  229. Maybe not specifically

  230. every little detail

  231. but big picture

  232. we know exactly

  233. what God has revealed

  234. about the future.

  235. And here in our passage

  236. this morning

  237. we see two events,

  238. two answers

  239. to the question

  240. what does the future hold?

  241. Two answers

  242. to the question

  243. what does the future hold?

  244. This will be our outline

  245. this morning

  246. and as has been the case

  247. with much of the back half

  248. of Daniel

  249. it's easy to get lost

  250. in the weeds here

  251. and so I want to

  252. just very clearly

  253. tell you

  254. the main idea,

  255. the big idea here,

  256. the big idea is that

  257. God's people

  258. face great danger

  259. with greater hope.

  260. God's people

  261. face great danger

  262. with greater hope.

  263. So two answers

  264. this morning

  265. to the question

  266. what does the future hold?

  267. The future holds

  268. great danger

  269. but the future holds

  270. greater hope.

  271. Let's look at each part.

  272. First,

  273. first we see the future

  274. it does hold

  275. great danger

  276. and that may

  277. sound like

  278. cause for alarm

  279. and cause for worry

  280. but I would remind you

  281. again this morning

  282. that this is the same

  283. sort of danger

  284. that we have seen

  285. all through

  286. the book of Daniel.

  287. It's the same

  288. sort of danger

  289. that characterizes

  290. all of this

  291. present evil age.

  292. In fact,

  293. church,

  294. we are in the middle

  295. of this sort of danger

  296. right now.

  297. It's heightened

  298. and intensified

  299. in the future,

  300. yes,

  301. but it is nothing new.

  302. You remember last week

  303. what did we see?

  304. We saw this vision

  305. of these wars

  306. and these nations

  307. clashing against each other,

  308. this vision of human history

  309. that's filled with conflict

  310. but underneath

  311. all of that

  312. visible external conflict,

  313. what was there?

  314. It was a spiritual battle.

  315. Underneath all of what

  316. we can see with our eyes

  317. is a raging spiritual conflict

  318. that is here right now,

  319. very present here right now,

  320. and will last

  321. until the return

  322. of Christ.

  323. We are in a spiritual battle.

  324. That was last week.

  325. And so how do we prepare

  326. ourselves

  327. for this spiritual battle?

  328. Well,

  329. the Chinese military general,

  330. Sun Tzu,

  331. in his book,

  332. The Art of War,

  333. has anybody ever read that book,

  334. The Art of War?

  335. He had the right idea.

  336. He said,

  337. one of the keys

  338. to winning in battle

  339. is,

  340. anybody know?

  341. Is know thy enemy.

  342. Have you heard that?

  343. Know thy enemy.

  344. So here,

  345. starting in verse 36,

  346. God reveals to Daniel

  347. and to us

  348. some information,

  349. some key information

  350. about our enemy.

  351. Now again,

  352. verse 36

  353. marks a shift in the vision.

  354. It's a new scene.

  355. It's a new character.

  356. But it uses the same terminology

  357. which makes it

  358. a little bit confusing for us.

  359. But most understand

  360. this section,

  361. verses 36

  362. through the end

  363. of chapter 11,

  364. to be speaking

  365. about the Antichrist.

  366. It's the great

  367. end times

  368. enemy of God's people.

  369. So what can we know

  370. about the Antichrist?

  371. Well first,

  372. first,

  373. God says

  374. we can know

  375. his character.

  376. We can know

  377. his character.

  378. What will he be like?

  379. Well,

  380. he'll be just like

  381. all the other

  382. little a Antichrist

  383. that have come before him.

  384. He'll be the last

  385. in a long line

  386. of Antichrist.

  387. Again,

  388. none of this is new.

  389. Look there to verse 36.

  390. It says,

  391. he will do

  392. as he pleases.

  393. Verse 36,

  394. the king,

  395. that's the Antichrist,

  396. shall do

  397. according to his will.

  398. Not the Lord's will,

  399. his will.

  400. Not the Lord's command,

  401. not the Lord's way.

  402. It's his way.

  403. This is the essence

  404. of sin.

  405. He will embody

  406. this sinful

  407. self-determination

  408. and rebelliousness

  409. against the will

  410. of the Lord.

  411. He will exalt himself.

  412. He will magnify himself.

  413. He will not magnify

  414. the glory of God

  415. in the gospel

  416. of Jesus Christ.

  417. That's our mission,

  418. by the way.

  419. He will exalt himself.

  420. He will blaspheme

  421. the Lord.

  422. It says,

  423. he will speak

  424. astonishing things

  425. against the God

  426. of gods.

  427. Again,

  428. Jesus tells us

  429. in Matthew

  430. that out of the overflow

  431. of the heart,

  432. the mouth speaks.

  433. We see his heart

  434. on full display here.

  435. His heart is set

  436. against the Lord

  437. to tear him down.

  438. And what's his main weapon?

  439. It's his words.

  440. He will speak

  441. and blaspheme

  442. the Lord.

  443. He will care only

  444. about strength

  445. and power.

  446. He will care only

  447. about authority,

  448. exercising authority.

  449. Verse 38 says,

  450. the God that he'll serve,

  451. the idol that he'll serve

  452. is one of military strength.

  453. He shall honor

  454. the God of fortresses.

  455. He's power hungry

  456. and so proud

  457. that he thinks

  458. he will never

  459. be defeated.

  460. Verse 39,

  461. says he will honor

  462. those who serve him.

  463. Those who acknowledge him

  464. he shall load

  465. with honor.

  466. This is incredibly

  467. seductive,

  468. isn't it?

  469. This is tempting.

  470. You can think of Satan

  471. taking the Lord Jesus

  472. up on the mountaintop

  473. and showing him

  474. all the kingdoms

  475. of the world

  476. and what does he say?

  477. If you will bow down

  478. and serve me,

  479. all of this

  480. can be yours.

  481. We would be wise

  482. to ask ourselves

  483. right now,

  484. what could somebody

  485. give me

  486. that might draw

  487. my heart away

  488. from the Lord?

  489. Your answer

  490. to that question

  491. is his bullseye.

  492. That's his target.

  493. This is who he is

  494. and God shows it here

  495. to Daniel again

  496. for our sake

  497. that we might recognize

  498. these characteristics

  499. as anti-Christ.

  500. We can know his character.

  501. Not only this,

  502. it says we can know

  503. his strategy.

  504. We can know

  505. his strategy.

  506. I've been on a kick

  507. lately where I've been

  508. playing a lot of chess.

  509. I enjoy playing chess.

  510. Chess is a strategy game

  511. and there's certain openings,

  512. certain tactics

  513. that you can do

  514. and over time

  515. you start to recognize

  516. patterns

  517. and the sooner

  518. you can recognize

  519. what the enemy

  520. is planning on doing,

  521. the better off you are.

  522. The same is true

  523. here in this

  524. spiritual battle.

  525. Verses 41 through 45

  526. they show us a picture

  527. of a battle.

  528. This is a great

  529. final battle,

  530. this conflict

  531. but what kind

  532. of battle is it?

  533. What sort of attack

  534. should we be prepared for?

  535. What is his strategy?

  536. Again,

  537. he's painting this picture

  538. with terms

  539. and images

  540. that we've already seen.

  541. He's giving Daniel

  542. a picture that he can

  543. understand and relate to.

  544. This is how prophecy

  545. often works.

  546. The pictures that we're given

  547. are in terms that the audience

  548. can relate to

  549. and understand

  550. but that does not mean

  551. that we have to take this

  552. to mean that this

  553. end times,

  554. end battle

  555. is a military conflict.

  556. So in verse 40

  557. it says

  558. the king of the south

  559. shall attack him

  560. but the king of the north

  561. will come upon him

  562. with chariots

  563. and horsemen

  564. and many ships.

  565. Well that

  566. doesn't mean that

  567. this final conflict

  568. is actually fought

  569. with swords

  570. and spears

  571. and horses

  572. and chariots.

  573. I don't think

  574. that's the best way

  575. for us to understand it.

  576. This is a physical picture

  577. of a spiritual battle.

  578. We are in a spiritual battle.

  579. And what does Paul say

  580. in Ephesians chapter 6?

    Ephesians 6 chapter mention

  581. We do not wrestle

  582. against flesh and blood

  583. but against the rulers,

  584. against the authorities,

  585. against the cosmic powers

  586. over this present darkness,

  587. against the spiritual forces

  588. of evil

  589. in the heavenly places.

  590. Our battle is spiritual.

  591. Our enemy is spiritual.

  592. His tactics and strategy

  593. are spiritual.

  594. And we've already seen,

  595. haven't we,

  596. that his main weapons

  597. against us

  598. are his words.

  599. It's not a physical battle.

  600. It's spiritual.

  601. We don't have to be on guard

  602. against tanks

  603. and Apache helicopters.

  604. We need to take guard

  605. and protect our doctrine.

  606. We need to guard our ears.

  607. We need to guard our hearts.

  608. What we allow our hearts

  609. to embrace.

  610. What we allow

  611. to come into our ears

  612. and what we think

  613. about the Lord.

  614. His strategy isn't

  615. to do you physical harm.

  616. It's to deceive you.

  617. Of course,

  618. he may use physical suffering

  619. to get you there,

  620. to wear you down,

  621. but his aim,

  622. his strategy,

  623. his ambition

  624. is to destroy you spiritually.

  625. And the sooner we recognize

  626. this attack,

  627. the better.

  628. This is a physical picture

  629. of a spiritual battle.

  630. The king of the north,

  631. that's the Antichrist,

  632. comes in.

  633. Verse 41.

  634. It says,

  635. he sets up residence

  636. in the glorious land.

  637. The Antichrist

  638. takes up residence

  639. within the community

  640. of God's people.

  641. It says,

  642. tens of thousands

  643. shall fall.

  644. This looks like a,

  645. apparently,

  646. a hopeless situation,

  647. doesn't it?

  648. Well, this looks grim.

  649. As I read

  650. and as I studied,

  651. I thought,

  652. if this were a movie,

  653. this would be

  654. the big,

  655. last,

  656. climactic battle.

  657. It would probably,

  658. the whole movie

  659. would build up

  660. to this moment.

  661. I've seen about a million movies

  662. with this exact storyline

  663. played out.

  664. I'm sure you have as well.

  665. The whole thing builds up

  666. to this final conflict

  667. and then this battle

  668. would last for maybe

  669. a third of the movie

  670. at least.

  671. This would be the most

  672. exciting part.

  673. And a good writer,

  674. a good director,

  675. that would put in

  676. a little bit of tension here

  677. where it feels like

  678. all hope is lost.

  679. There's no way

  680. the good guys

  681. are going to come out

  682. on top.

  683. But at the last moment,

  684. what happens?

  685. Somehow,

  686. some way,

  687. hope breaks through

  688. in the darkest moment

  689. and there is victory.

  690. That's exactly

  691. what we see happening here,

  692. isn't it?

  693. Except,

  694. except,

  695. this final battle

  696. doesn't have

  697. this big,

  698. dramatic clash of power,

  699. does it?

  700. This final battle,

  701. it just sort of,

  702. it just sort of ends.

  703. There's no hour-long

  704. fight scene.

  705. There's no epic

  706. clash of powers.

  707. We go from

  708. this dark moment

  709. of apparent hopelessness

  710. all the way

  711. to verse 45.

  712. What does it say?

  713. Yet he shall come

  714. to his end

  715. with none to help him.

  716. This is the final,

  717. third truth

  718. that we can know

  719. about this great enemy.

  720. We can know

  721. his end.

  722. We can know

  723. his end.

  724. Something will happen

  725. that will crush

  726. this enemy

  727. instantly.

  728. I want you to

  729. flip over with me

  730. to the New Testament

  731. if you would.

  732. Just briefly

  733. to 2 Thessalonians

    2 Thessalonians 2 chapter mention

  734. chapter 2.

  735. 2 Thessalonians

    2 Thessalonians 2 chapter mention

  736. chapter 2.

  737. We learn a little bit

  738. about this great end

  739. of this great enemy

  740. here from Paul

  741. in 2 Thessalonians.

  742. Listen to what he says.

  743. He says,

  744. Let no one deceive you

  745. in any way

  746. for that day,

  747. the coming day of the Lord,

  748. will not come

  749. unless the rebellion

  750. comes first

  751. and the man of lawlessness

  752. is revealed.

  753. That's the Antichrist.

  754. The son of destruction

  755. who opposes

  756. and exalts himself

  757. against every so-called

  758. God or object of worship

  759. so that he takes his seat

  760. in the temple of God

  761. proclaiming himself

  762. to be God.

  763. Does that sound familiar?

  764. This is Antichrist behavior.

  765. Boasting,

  766. deceiving,

  767. magnifying himself,

  768. taking up residence

  769. within the community

  770. of the people of God.

  771. This is him.

  772. Verse 8.

  773. And then the lawless one

  774. will be revealed.

  775. And how does this great

  776. final battle go?

  777. The Lord Jesus

  778. will kill

  779. with the breath

  780. of his mouth

  781. and bring to nothing

  782. by the appearance

  783. of his coming.

  784. He will kill

  785. with the breath

  786. of his mouth

  787. and bring him

  788. to nothing

  789. by the appearance

  790. of his coming.

  791. This final great clash

  792. is poof,

  793. is over

  794. when Christ appears

  795. on the scene.

  796. The coming of the lawless one

  797. is by the activity

  798. of Satan

  799. with all power

  800. and false signs

  801. and wonders

  802. and with all wicked deception

  803. for those who are perishing.

  804. Why?

  805. Because they refuse

  806. to love the truth

  807. and so be saved.

  808. Church,

  809. at our most desperate hour,

  810. here's what the future holds.

  811. An enemy far too powerful

  812. for us

  813. will rise up,

  814. will persecute the church,

  815. will deceive many,

  816. all hope will look

  817. like it is lost,

  818. but the Lord will return

  819. and he will kill him

  820. instantly

  821. with the breath

  822. of his mouth.

  823. We should know,

  824. Church,

  825. that the future

  826. holds danger

  827. for the people of God.

  828. We are in that danger

  829. right now.

  830. He wants to lead you

  831. away from the truth

  832. and so how do we persevere?

  833. Know your enemy.

  834. Yes.

  835. But more than that,

  836. Church,

  837. love the truth

  838. and so be saved.

  839. Love the truth.

  840. Love the Lord your God

  841. with all your heart

  842. and with all your mind

  843. and with all your soul

  844. and with all your strength.

  845. Love the truth

  846. and so be saved.

  847. And what truth

  848. are we to love specifically?

  849. What truth

  850. are we to love?

  851. Love the truth

  852. of the gospel, Church.

  853. Love the truth

  854. that all who know Jesus,

  855. the risen and returning Lord,

  856. have this incredible,

  857. unshakable hope

  858. ahead of us

  859. no matter what happens

  860. here and now.

  861. The future holds great danger,

  862. but second,

  863. the future holds

  864. greater hope.

  865. Now,

  866. let's turn

  867. and look back

  868. to Daniel chapter 12.

    Daniel 12 chapter mention

  869. Daniel chapter 12.

    Daniel 12 chapter mention

  870. Chapter 12 here

  871. is the final chapter

  872. of this great book

  873. and it ends

  874. at the end,

  875. Church.

  876. It ends

  877. at the end

  878. with this great hope

  879. ahead of us

  880. and while some

  881. may focus

  882. on the danger ahead

  883. and be filled

  884. with worry

  885. and anxiety,

  886. it may be a stressful

  887. thing for you

  888. to think about the future.

  889. I want us

  890. to focus in here

  891. on this glorious hope

  892. that Christ has purchased

  893. for us in the gospel.

  894. This glorious hope

  895. that lies ahead

  896. of Daniel and us.

  897. God gives us

  898. a three-fold hope

  899. here in verses 1-4.

  900. A three-fold hope

  901. here in verses 1-4.

  902. Look there with me

  903. and just try

  904. to wrap your minds

  905. around this

  906. with me for a minute.

  907. that no matter

  908. what comes

  909. tomorrow

  910. or the day

  911. after that

  912. or the day

  913. after that

  914. as much uncertainty

  915. as there is

  916. in the future

  917. no matter

  918. what happens

  919. no matter

  920. what you might

  921. lose

  922. no matter

  923. what might

  924. come against you

  925. no matter

  926. what the enemy

  927. might throw

  928. against you

  929. if you are

  930. united

  931. to Jesus Christ

  932. by faith

  933. you are protected

  934. you will be resurrected

  935. and you will be

  936. perfected.

  937. This is our

  938. three-part hope

  939. this morning.

  940. All of God's people

  941. will be protected

  942. resurrected

  943. and perfected.

  944. Look there with me.

  945. God comforts Daniel

  946. that despite

  947. this great danger

  948. all of God's people

  949. will be protected.

  950. He says

  951. at that time

  952. shall arise

  953. Michael

  954. the great prince

  955. who has charge

  956. over your people

  957. if ever there was

  958. a verse

  959. that supported

  960. the notion

  961. the idea

  962. of guardian angels

  963. this is it.

  964. This is it.

  965. Apparently

  966. just like

  967. how chapter 11

  968. showed us

  969. that there are

  970. spiritual beings

  971. assigned to

  972. darken

  973. some territories

  974. of the world

  975. do you remember that

  976. from last week?

  977. Here we see

  978. Michael

  979. he is assigned

  980. as the great prince

  981. the angel

  982. over God's people

  983. over Israel.

  984. He is an angel

  985. that is watching over

  986. and caring over

  987. and protecting

  988. God's people.

  989. Some of you know

  990. that my grandmother

  991. died about

  992. this time last year

  993. and she was

  994. one of the most

  995. godly women

  996. that I have ever known

  997. and before she died

  998. for Christmas

  999. one year

  1000. she gave each of her

  1001. grandchildren

  1002. this little

  1003. handcrafted angel

  1004. and with it

  1005. had a card

  1006. and on the card

  1007. she simply said

  1008. remember

  1009. God's angels

  1010. are always

  1011. watching over you.

  1012. It's true.

  1013. Now there's a lot

  1014. that we don't know

  1015. about angels

  1016. a lot that we don't know

  1017. about the spiritual dimension

  1018. that we spoke about

  1019. last week

  1020. but we do know

  1021. Hebrews 11 4

  1022. it tells us that

  1023. these angels

  1024. they are ministering

  1025. spirits

  1026. sent out to serve

  1027. for the sake

  1028. of those

  1029. who are to

  1030. inherit

  1031. salvation.

  1032. God

  1033. he gives us

  1034. an honest picture

  1035. of what's to come

  1036. he says

  1037. there shall be

  1038. a time of trouble

  1039. such as

  1040. has never been

  1041. since there was a nation

  1042. until that time

  1043. but he also

  1044. with it

  1045. gives us

  1046. incredible assurance

  1047. doesn't he?

  1048. At that time

  1049. your people

  1050. shall be delivered

  1051. who?

  1052. Everyone

  1053. whose name

  1054. shall be found

  1055. written

  1056. in the book.

  1057. It was interesting

  1058. I don't know

  1059. if you realize

  1060. this or not

  1061. but Jesus

  1062. he takes

  1063. this same

  1064. passage

  1065. here from

  1066. Daniel chapter 12

    Daniel 12 chapter mention

  1067. and he

  1068. borrows the wording

  1069. he adapts it

  1070. here from Daniel

  1071. and he applies it

  1072. in Matthew 24

  1073. to the events

  1074. of AD 70

  1075. and the fall

  1076. of Jerusalem.

  1077. Listen to this

  1078. and tell me

  1079. if it sounds familiar

  1080. you don't have to

  1081. turn there

  1082. right now

  1083. but I'll read

  1084. starting in

  1085. Matthew 24

    Matthew 24:19

  1086. verse 19

  1087. he says

  1088. woe to those

  1089. who are with child

  1090. and to those

  1091. who nurse babes

  1092. in those days

  1093. pray for your flight

  1094. that your flight

  1095. may not be in the winter

  1096. or on a Sabbath

  1097. and verse 21

  1098. listen to this

  1099. then there will be

  1100. a great tribulation

  1101. such as has not

  1102. occurred

  1103. since the beginning

  1104. of the world

  1105. until now

  1106. nor shall ever be

  1107. does that sound familiar?

  1108. Terrible trouble

  1109. terrible danger

  1110. but what assurance

  1111. does he give?

  1112. he says

  1113. for the sake

  1114. of the elect

  1115. those days

  1116. will be cut short

  1117. for the sake

  1118. of the elect

  1119. those whose names

  1120. are written

  1121. in the book

  1122. for the sake

  1123. of those

  1124. who are to inherit

  1125. salvation

  1126. those whom the angels

  1127. minister to

  1128. here's our assurance

  1129. church

  1130. that all

  1131. of God's elect

  1132. in Christ

  1133. will be

  1134. brought

  1135. safely home

  1136. amen

  1137. all

  1138. of God's elect

  1139. in Christ

  1140. every one of us

  1141. whose name

  1142. is written

  1143. in the book

  1144. of life

  1145. all of us

  1146. who have come

  1147. to saving faith

  1148. in the Lord

  1149. Jesus Christ

  1150. we will be

  1151. brought

  1152. through the fires

  1153. of persecution

  1154. into the safety

  1155. of the arms

  1156. of Jesus

  1157. we will be

  1158. preserved

  1159. protected

  1160. through the

  1161. lion's den

  1162. and brought

  1163. safely home

  1164. into the arms

  1165. of Jesus

  1166. we will be

  1167. brought safely

  1168. out of our

  1169. exile

  1170. here in the

  1171. kingdom of man

  1172. into the kingdom

  1173. of God

  1174. to meet Jesus

  1175. face to face

  1176. you realize

  1177. don't you

  1178. that all of these

  1179. stories that we've

  1180. seen through the

  1181. book of Daniel

  1182. are micro images

  1183. of this protection

  1184. of God

  1185. over his elect

  1186. God

  1187. will

  1188. save

  1189. his people

  1190. God

  1191. will

  1192. protect

  1193. you

  1194. in Christ

  1195. our response

  1196. when the world

  1197. is losing

  1198. its ever loving

  1199. mind

  1200. church

  1201. our response

  1202. when there's wars

  1203. rumors of wars

  1204. our response

  1205. when there's conflict

  1206. left and right

  1207. and God's people

  1208. are right there

  1209. in the middle

  1210. isn't worry

  1211. or panic

  1212. what is it

  1213. it's calm

  1214. assurance

  1215. that we know

  1216. who holds

  1217. the future

  1218. calm assurance

  1219. that we know

  1220. in Christ

  1221. Jesus

  1222. we are

  1223. protected

  1224. we can say

  1225. with David

  1226. in Psalm 56

  1227. 11

  1228. in God

  1229. I trust

  1230. I shall not

  1231. be afraid

  1232. what can man

  1233. do to me

  1234. we can say

  1235. with Paul

  1236. in Romans 8

  1237. if God

  1238. is for us

  1239. who can be

  1240. against us

  1241. he who did not

  1242. spare his own

  1243. son but gave

  1244. him up

  1245. for us all

  1246. how will he

  1247. not also

  1248. with him

  1249. graciously

  1250. give us

  1251. all things

  1252. we can be

  1253. sure that

  1254. neither death

  1255. nor life

  1256. nor angels

  1257. nor rulers

  1258. nor things

  1259. present

  1260. nor things

  1261. to come

  1262. nor powers

  1263. nor height

  1264. nor depth

  1265. nor anything

  1266. else

  1267. in all creation

  1268. will be able

  1269. to separate us

  1270. from the love

  1271. of God

  1272. in Christ

  1273. Jesus

  1274. our Lord

  1275. if we are

  1276. in Christ

  1277. we are

  1278. protected

  1279. not only this

  1280. somehow it gets

  1281. better

  1282. all of God's

  1283. people will

  1284. be resurrected

  1285. look there

  1286. with me

  1287. to verse 2

  1288. chapter 12

  1289. he says

  1290. many of those

  1291. who slept

  1292. in the dust

  1293. of the earth

  1294. shall awake

  1295. some to

  1296. everlasting life

  1297. and some

  1298. to everlasting

  1299. contempt

  1300. you know

  1301. this is

  1302. this is the

  1303. first text

  1304. in the entire

  1305. Old Testament

  1306. in the entire

  1307. Bible

  1308. that teaches

  1309. the doctrine

  1310. what we call

  1311. the general

  1312. resurrection

  1313. that all

  1314. will be

  1315. raised

  1316. at the end

  1317. it's also

  1318. it's also the

  1319. first time

  1320. in the Bible

  1321. that we see

  1322. this phrase

  1323. eternal life

  1324. that's a key

  1325. phrase

  1326. isn't it

  1327. it's the first

  1328. time we see

  1329. that phrase

  1330. eternal life

  1331. or everlasting

  1332. life

  1333. but this doctrine

  1334. of the general

  1335. resurrection

  1336. it teaches us

  1337. that all

  1338. will be

  1339. raised

  1340. everybody

  1341. man

  1342. woman

  1343. boy

  1344. girl

  1345. Christian

  1346. Muslim

  1347. Jew

  1348. Gentile

  1349. there is

  1350. coming a day

  1351. when all

  1352. people who have

  1353. ever lived

  1354. every soul

  1355. will be

  1356. raised up

  1357. from the

  1358. dead

  1359. and then

  1360. there will

  1361. be a

  1362. separation

  1363. the sheep

  1364. will be

  1365. separated

  1366. from the

  1367. goats

  1368. the tares

  1369. will be

  1370. separated

  1371. from the

  1372. wheat

  1373. the kingdom

  1374. of man

  1375. will be

  1376. separated

  1377. from the

  1378. kingdom

  1379. of God

  1380. and there

  1381. will be

  1382. a time

  1383. of judgment

  1384. you know

  1385. this is

  1386. this is

  1387. absolutely

  1388. key

  1389. for us

  1390. isn't it

  1391. to understand

  1392. this

  1393. knowledge

  1394. this certain

  1395. knowledge

  1396. of what's

  1397. to come

  1398. in the

  1399. future

  1400. our

  1401. life

  1402. does not

  1403. end

  1404. in the

  1405. grave

  1406. now

  1407. so many

  1408. people

  1409. live

  1410. as if

  1411. as if

  1412. it did

  1413. live

  1414. as if

  1415. this was

  1416. all

  1417. there was

  1418. that life

  1419. ends

  1420. in the

  1421. grave

  1422. you only

  1423. live

  1424. once

  1425. so

  1426. you might

  1427. as well

  1428. might as well

  1429. eat and drink

  1430. and be

  1431. merry

  1432. for tomorrow

  1433. we die

  1434. that's it

  1435. let me share

  1436. with you

  1437. this morning

  1438. if that's

  1439. how you

  1440. view your

  1441. life

  1442. God

  1443. says

  1444. something

  1445. different

  1446. God

  1447. says

  1448. we live

  1449. we die

  1450. and then

  1451. we rise

  1452. and an

  1453. eternal

  1454. separation

  1455. will take

  1456. place

  1457. on the

  1458. one hand

  1459. some

  1460. to

  1461. everlasting

  1462. life

  1463. and on

  1464. the other

  1465. hand

  1466. some

  1467. to

  1468. everlasting

  1469. contempt

  1470. we would be

  1471. wise

  1472. to ask

  1473. ourselves

  1474. if this

  1475. is coming

  1476. if someone's

  1477. warning me

  1478. that this

  1479. is ahead

  1480. in the future

  1481. if God

  1482. is telling

  1483. me that

  1484. this is

  1485. coming

  1486. if I'm

  1487. going to

  1488. be raised

  1489. up

  1490. and I'm

  1491. going to

  1492. have to

  1493. stand

  1494. before

  1495. a holy

  1496. God

  1497. and I'm

  1498. going to

  1499. have to

  1500. answer

  1501. for my

  1502. life

  1503. and you

  1504. are

  1505. how can

  1506. I be

  1507. absolutely

  1508. certain

  1509. that I'm

  1510. going to

  1511. be on the

  1512. side of

  1513. eternal

  1514. life

  1515. how can

  1516. I be

  1517. sure

  1518. that I'm

  1519. one of

  1520. these

  1521. elect

  1522. that are

  1523. protected

  1524. and resurrected

  1525. and brought

  1526. to eternal

  1527. life

  1528. how can I

  1529. be certain

  1530. that my

  1531. name is

  1532. in this

  1533. book of

  1534. life

  1535. because not

  1536. everybody

  1537. gets it

  1538. that's clear

  1539. isn't it

  1540. this is

  1541. a look

  1542. at the

  1543. future

  1544. and God

  1545. says

  1546. in the

  1547. future

  1548. not everybody

  1549. is going

  1550. to wind

  1551. up with

  1552. me

  1553. this is

  1554. black and

  1555. white

  1556. it is

  1557. an absolute

  1558. dagger

  1559. for the

  1560. false

  1561. doctrine

  1562. of

  1563. universalism

  1564. that

  1565. everyone

  1566. will be

  1567. saved

  1568. it is

  1569. a dagger

  1570. for the

  1571. false

  1572. doctrine

  1573. of

  1574. annihilationism

  1575. where

  1576. they tell

  1577. you that

  1578. in the

  1579. end

  1580. those

  1581. who don't

  1582. know

  1583. the

  1584. Lord

  1585. will

  1586. just

  1587. be

  1588. wiped

  1589. out

  1590. annihilated

  1591. they don't

  1592. endure

  1593. and live

  1594. forever

  1595. there is

  1596. everlasting

  1597. contempt

  1598. for those

  1599. who don't

  1600. know the

  1601. Lord

  1602. hell is

  1603. very real

  1604. it's far

  1605. more terrible

  1606. than we

  1607. could possibly

  1608. imagine

  1609. how can I

  1610. be certain

  1611. that when

  1612. that day

  1613. comes

  1614. the Lord

  1615. will welcome

  1616. me into

  1617. glory

  1618. to be

  1619. with him

  1620. forever

  1621. and we

  1622. know the

  1623. answer

  1624. don't we

  1625. we know

  1626. the answer

  1627. don't we

  1628. put your

  1629. faith

  1630. in

  1631. Jesus

  1632. Christ

  1633. put

  1634. your

  1635. faith

  1636. in the

  1637. Lord

  1638. Jesus

  1639. Christ

  1640. Jesus

  1641. came

  1642. to take

  1643. away

  1644. your

  1645. sin

  1646. and with

  1647. it

  1648. your

  1649. contempt

  1650. and with

  1651. it

  1652. your

  1653. shame

  1654. Jesus

  1655. rose

  1656. from the

  1657. grave

  1658. so that

  1659. he could

  1660. earn

  1661. eternal

  1662. life

  1663. and share

  1664. it with

  1665. any

  1666. who come

  1667. to him

  1668. in

  1669. faith

  1670. put

  1671. your

  1672. faith

  1673. in

  1674. King

  1675. Jesus

  1676. now we

  1677. spent over

  1678. a year

  1679. in the

  1680. gospel

  1681. of

  1682. John

  1683. and John

  1684. loved that

  1685. phrase

  1686. eternal

  1687. life

  1688. didn't

  1689. he

  1690. John

  1691. 3

  1692. 16

  1693. say it

  1694. with me

  1695. for God

  1696. so loved

  1697. the world

  1698. that he

  1699. gave his

  1700. only son

  1701. that whoever

  1702. believes

  1703. in him

  1704. should not

  1705. perish

  1706. but have

  1707. what

  1708. eternal

  1709. life

  1710. John

  1711. 3

  1712. 36

  1713. whoever

  1714. believes

  1715. in the

  1716. son

  1717. has

  1718. eternal

  1719. life

  1720. whoever

  1721. does not

  1722. obey

  1723. the

  1724. son

  1725. shall

  1726. not

  1727. see

  1728. life

  1729. but the

  1730. wrath

  1731. of God

  1732. remains

  1733. on

  1734. him

  1735. John

  1736. 5

  1737. 24

  1738. truly

  1739. truly

  1740. I

  1741. say

  1742. to

  1743. you

  1744. whoever

  1745. hears

  1746. my

  1747. word

  1748. and

  1749. believes

  1750. in

  1751. him

  1752. who

  1753. sent

  1754. me

  1755. has

  1756. eternal

  1757. life

  1758. he

  1759. does

  1760. not

  1761. come

  1762. into

  1763. judgment

  1764. but

  1765. has

  1766. passed

  1767. from

  1768. death

  1769. to

  1770. life

  1771. already

  1772. the

  1773. verdict

  1774. is

  1775. in

  1776. how

  1777. can

  1778. you

  1779. be

  1780. certain

  1781. church

  1782. you

  1783. hear

  1784. and

  1785. believe

  1786. the

  1787. gospel

  1788. of

  1789. Jesus

  1790. Christ

  1791. you

  1792. hear

  1793. and

  1794. believe

  1795. that

  1796. Christ

  1797. Jesus

  1798. has

  1799. paid

  1800. for

  1801. your

  1802. sin

  1803. by

  1804. his

  1805. own

  1806. blood

  1807. you

  1808. hear

  1809. and

  1810. rejoice

  1811. that

  1812. he

  1813. has

  1814. been

  1815. raised

  1816. for

  1817. you

  1818. so

  1819. that

  1820. you

  1821. will

  1822. be

  1823. raised

  1824. up

  1825. with

  1826. him

  1827. to

  1828. be

  1829. with

  1830. him

  1831. forever

  1832. the

  1833. only

  1834. way

  1835. for

  1836. that

  1837. future

  1838. coming

  1839. day

  1840. to

  1841. be

  1842. a

  1843. day

  1844. of

  1845. joy

  1846. and

  1847. hope

  1848. and

  1849. celebration

  1850. mourning

  1851. and

  1852. a

  1853. day

  1854. of

  1855. terror

  1856. and

  1857. a

  1858. day

  1859. to

  1860. be

  1861. feared

  1862. is

  1863. to

  1864. know

  1865. the

  1866. Lord

  1867. Jesus

  1868. by

  1869. faith

  1870. right

  1871. now

  1872. this

  1873. is

  1874. eternal

  1875. life

  1876. that

  1877. they

  1878. know

  1879. you

  1880. the

  1881. only

  1882. true

  1883. God

  1884. and

  1885. Jesus

  1886. Christ

  1887. whom

  1888. you

  1889. have

  1890. sent

  1891. John

    John 17:3

  1892. 17

  1893. verse

  1894. 3

  1895. we

  1896. can't

  1897. move

  1898. past

  1899. this

  1900. without

  1901. me

  1902. asking

  1903. you

  1904. church

  1905. do

  1906. you

  1907. know

  1908. the

  1909. Lord

  1910. do

  1911. you

  1912. believe

  1913. in

  1914. the

  1915. Lord

  1916. Jesus

  1917. Christ

  1918. are

  1919. you

  1920. certain

  1921. that

  1922. you

  1923. have

  1924. eternal

  1925. life

  1926. now

  1927. and

  1928. will

  1929. have

  1930. it

  1931. for

  1932. the

  1933. rest

  1934. of

  1935. eternity

  1936. in

  1937. the

  1938. presence

  1939. of

  1940. God

  1941. do

  1942. you

  1943. know

  1944. the

  1945. Lord

  1946. it's

  1947. a

  1948. glorious

  1949. hope

  1950. somehow

  1951. there's

  1952. there's

  1953. still

  1954. even

  1955. more

  1956. there's

  1957. a

  1958. third

  1959. part

  1960. of

  1961. this

  1962. glorious

  1963. hope

  1964. all

  1965. God's

  1966. people

  1967. will

  1968. be

  1969. protected

  1970. all

  1971. of

  1972. God's

  1973. people

  1974. will

  1975. be

  1976. resurrected

  1977. and

  1978. finally

  1979. all

  1980. of

  1981. God's

  1982. people

  1983. will

  1984. be

  1985. perfected

  1986. that's what's

  1987. being described

  1988. here in

  1989. chapter 12

  1990. verse 3

  1991. look there

  1992. with me

  1993. it says

  1994. those who

  1995. are wise

  1996. shall shine

  1997. like the

  1998. brightness

  1999. of the sky

  2000. above

  2001. and those

  2002. who turn

  2003. many to

  2004. righteousness

  2005. like the

  2006. stars

  2007. forever

  2008. and ever

  2009. I will

  2010. confess

  2011. to you

  2012. this is

  2013. beyond

  2014. my

  2015. understanding

  2016. church

  2017. I can

  2018. barely

  2019. imagine

  2020. it

  2021. but I

  2022. believe

  2023. it

  2024. with all

  2025. my heart

  2026. that when

  2027. the Lord

  2028. Jesus

  2029. returns

  2030. all

  2031. of you

  2032. me

  2033. all

  2034. of God's

  2035. people

  2036. will be

  2037. at last

  2038. perfected

  2039. we will

  2040. be made

  2041. like

  2042. him

  2043. you

  2044. can

  2045. imagine

  2046. the glory

  2047. of the

  2048. Lord

  2049. the

  2050. resurrected

  2051. Lord

  2052. Jesus

  2053. risen

  2054. never

  2055. to die

  2056. again

  2057. he has

  2058. conquered

  2059. death

  2060. risen

  2061. never

  2062. to

  2063. feel

  2064. pain

  2065. again

  2066. never

  2067. to

  2068. suffer

  2069. again

  2070. risen

  2071. in

  2072. power

  2073. and

  2074. risen

  2075. in

  2076. glory

  2077. and

  2078. God

  2079. says

  2080. if

  2081. you

  2082. are

  2083. in

  2084. him

  2085. this

  2086. is

  2087. what

  2088. the

  2089. future

  2090. holds

  2091. for

  2092. you

  2093. Christian

  2094. God

  2095. has

  2096. prepared

  2097. an

  2098. eternal

  2099. kingdom

  2100. of

  2101. glory

  2102. God

  2103. has

  2104. prepared

  2105. an

  2106. eternal

  2107. home

  2108. for

  2109. him

  2110. to

  2111. dwell

  2112. with

  2113. his

  2114. people

  2115. and

  2116. he

  2117. says

  2118. he's

  2119. going

  2120. to

  2121. make

  2122. us

  2123. fit

  2124. for

  2125. this

  2126. kingdom

  2127. he's

  2128. going

  2129. to

  2130. transform

  2131. us

  2132. that

  2133. we

  2134. might

  2135. be

  2136. fit

  2137. to

  2138. enjoy

  2139. him

  2140. for

  2141. the

  2142. rest

  2143. of

  2144. eternity

  2145. I'll

  2146. turn

  2147. to

  2148. John

  2149. one

  2150. more

  2151. time

  2152. 1st

  2153. John

    John 3 chapter mention

  2154. chapter

  2155. 3

  2156. he says

  2157. beloved

  2158. we are

  2159. God's

  2160. children

  2161. now

  2162. and

  2163. what

  2164. we

  2165. will

  2166. be

  2167. has

  2168. not

  2169. yet

  2170. appeared

  2171. but

  2172. we

  2173. know

  2174. that

  2175. when

  2176. he

  2177. appears

  2178. we

  2179. shall

  2180. be

  2181. like

  2182. him

  2183. because

  2184. we

  2185. shall

  2186. see

  2187. him

  2188. as

  2189. he

  2190. is

  2191. that's

  2192. our

  2193. future

  2194. hope

  2195. Christian

  2196. that's

  2197. what lies

  2198. ahead

  2199. of you

  2200. you

  2201. will

  2202. be

  2203. made

  2204. perfect

  2205. fit

  2206. for glory

  2207. transformed

  2208. into the

  2209. image

  2210. of our

  2211. risen

  2212. savior

  2213. and so

  2214. what does

  2215. that mean

  2216. for us

  2217. now

  2218. John

  2219. tells

  2220. us

  2221. everyone

  2222. who

  2223. thus

  2224. hopes

  2225. in

  2226. him

  2227. purifies

  2228. himself

  2229. as

  2230. he

  2231. is

  2232. pure

  2233. what

  2234. does

  2235. it

  2236. look

  2237. like

  2238. to

  2239. live

  2240. today

  2241. in

  2242. light

  2243. of

  2244. that

  2245. day

  2246. he

  2247. says

  2248. pursue

  2249. purity

  2250. pursue

  2251. holiness

  2252. now

  2253. it

  2254. says

  2255. pursue

  2256. wisdom

  2257. those

  2258. who

  2259. are

  2260. wise

  2261. will

  2262. shine

  2263. like

  2264. the

  2265. sky

  2266. above

  2267. pursue

  2268. righteousness

  2269. not

  2270. just

  2271. for

  2272. yourself

  2273. but

  2274. for

  2275. others

  2276. around

  2277. you

  2278. pursue

  2279. righteousness

  2280. by

  2281. sharing

  2282. the

  2283. gospel

  2284. with

  2285. those

  2286. who

  2287. don't

  2288. yet

  2289. know

  2290. the

  2291. Lord

  2292. pursue

  2293. it

  2294. for

  2295. others

  2296. seek

  2297. to

  2298. share

  2299. the

  2300. gospel

  2301. with

  2302. those

  2303. who

  2304. are

  2305. perishing

  2306. those

  2307. who

  2308. turn

  2309. many

  2310. to

  2311. righteousness

  2312. will

  2313. shine

  2314. like

  2315. the

  2316. stars

  2317. forever

  2318. and

  2319. ever

  2320. the

  2321. certain

  2322. hope

  2323. of

  2324. that

  2325. coming

  2326. day

  2327. ought

  2328. to

  2329. give

  2330. shape

  2331. to

  2332. the

  2333. way

  2334. that

  2335. we

  2336. face

  2337. every

  2338. day

  2339. church

  2340. you may

  2341. have

  2342. heard

  2343. it

  2344. said

  2345. I

  2346. don't

  2347. know

  2348. what

  2349. the

  2350. future

  2351. holds

  2352. but

  2353. I

  2354. know

  2355. who

  2356. holds

  2357. the

  2358. future

  2359. and

  2360. in

  2361. general

  2362. that

  2363. statement

  2364. is

  2365. true

  2366. but

  2367. not

  2368. exactly

  2369. by

  2370. God's

  2371. grace

  2372. we

  2373. know

  2374. what

  2375. the

  2376. future

  2377. holds

  2378. and

  2379. we

  2380. live

  2381. in

  2382. light

  2383. of

  2384. that

  2385. certain

  2386. hope

  2387. of

  2388. course

  2389. there

  2390. is

  2391. much

  2392. that

  2393. we

  2394. don't

  2395. know

  2396. and

  2397. so

  2398. we'll

  2399. close

  2400. here

  2401. in

  2402. this

  2403. final

  2404. section

  2405. by

  2406. looking

  2407. at

  2408. two

  2409. questions

  2410. in

  2411. this

  2412. final

  2413. section

  2414. of

  2415. Daniel

  2416. two

  2417. questions

  2418. as we

  2419. close

  2420. the

  2421. first

  2422. is

  2423. here

  2424. in

  2425. verses

  2426. 5-7

  2427. Daniel

  2428. apparently

  2429. is listening

  2430. in

  2431. on a

  2432. conversation

  2433. between

  2434. these

  2435. two

  2436. angelic

  2437. beings

  2438. and

  2439. one

  2440. asks

  2441. the

  2442. other

  2443. how

  2444. long

  2445. shall

  2446. it

  2447. be

  2448. till

  2449. the

  2450. end

  2451. of

  2452. these

  2453. wonders

  2454. in

  2455. other

  2456. words

  2457. how

  2458. long

  2459. until

  2460. all

  2461. of

  2462. this

  2463. suffering

  2464. is

  2465. over

  2466. and

  2467. we

  2468. ask

  2469. that

  2470. same

  2471. thing

  2472. don't

  2473. we

  2474. how

  2475. long

  2476. oh

  2477. lord

  2478. until

  2479. this

  2480. present

  2481. evil

  2482. age

  2483. is

  2484. done

  2485. how

  2486. long

  2487. until

  2488. the

  2489. kingdom

  2490. of

  2491. man

  2492. is

  2493. finished

  2494. how

  2495. long

  2496. lord

  2497. until

  2498. the

  2499. powers

  2500. of

  2501. darkness

  2502. are

  2503. finally

  2504. done

  2505. away

  2506. with

  2507. how

  2508. long

  2509. lord

  2510. until

  2511. the

  2512. end

  2513. of

  2514. this

  2515. reign

  2516. of

  2517. sin

  2518. how

  2519. long

  2520. what's

  2521. the

  2522. answer

  2523. a

  2524. time

  2525. times

  2526. and

  2527. half

  2528. a

  2529. time

  2530. unclear

  2531. mysterious

  2532. but

  2533. defined

  2534. period

  2535. of

  2536. time

  2537. unclear

  2538. to

  2539. us

  2540. but

  2541. defined

  2542. and

  2543. clear

  2544. to

  2545. the

  2546. lord

  2547. we

  2548. don't

  2549. know

  2550. exactly

  2551. when

  2552. but

  2553. praise

  2554. god

  2555. he

  2556. does

  2557. and

  2558. there

  2559. will

  2560. be

  2561. an

  2562. end

  2563. when

  2564. all

  2565. hope

  2566. seems

  2567. lost

  2568. the

  2569. power

  2570. of

  2571. the

  2572. holy

  2573. people

  2574. has

  2575. been

  2576. completely

  2577. shattered

  2578. in

  2579. the

  2580. most

  2581. desperate

  2582. hour

  2583. the

  2584. trump

  2585. will

  2586. sound

  2587. and

  2588. the

  2589. lord

  2590. will

  2591. descend

  2592. and

  2593. all

  2594. of

  2595. god's

  2596. people

  2597. will

  2598. be

  2599. protected

  2600. resurrected

  2601. and

  2602. perfected

  2603. at

  2604. last

  2605. Daniel

  2606. like us

  2607. still

  2608. has

  2609. questions

  2610. and so

  2611. it says

  2612. in verse

  2613. 8

  2614. I heard

  2615. but I

  2616. did

  2617. not

  2618. understand

  2619. can

  2620. I

  2621. somebody

  2622. say

  2623. amen

  2624. so

  2625. he

  2626. asks

  2627. oh

  2628. lord

  2629. what

  2630. shall

  2631. be

  2632. the

  2633. outcome

  2634. of

  2635. these

  2636. things

  2637. tell

  2638. me

  2639. more

  2640. explain

  2641. please

  2642. tell

  2643. me

  2644. tell

  2645. me

  2646. more

  2647. and

  2648. what's

  2649. the

  2650. answer

  2651. I'm

  2652. not

  2653. telling

  2654. go

  2655. your

  2656. way

  2657. what

  2658. should

  2659. you

  2660. focus

  2661. on

  2662. purity

  2663. wisdom

  2664. everlasting

  2665. life

  2666. love

  2667. the

  2668. truth

  2669. resist

  2670. the

  2671. enemy

  2672. keep

  2673. waiting

  2674. keep

  2675. persevering

  2676. keep

  2677. trusting

  2678. in a

  2679. sovereign

  2680. God

  2681. don't

  2682. don't worry

  2683. about what

  2684. you don't

  2685. know

  2686. Daniel

  2687. live

  2688. in light

  2689. of what

  2690. you do

  2691. know

  2692. I'm

  2693. reminded

  2694. here of

  2695. one of

  2696. my favorite

  2697. verses

  2698. Deuteronomy

  2699. 29 29

  2700. 29

  2701. the

  2702. secret

  2703. things

  2704. belong

  2705. to

  2706. the

  2707. Lord

  2708. our

  2709. God

  2710. but

  2711. the

  2712. things

  2713. that

  2714. are

  2715. revealed

  2716. belong

  2717. to

  2718. us

  2719. and

  2720. to

  2721. our

  2722. children

  2723. forever

  2724. that

  2725. we

  2726. may

  2727. do

  2728. all

  2729. the

  2730. words

  2731. of

  2732. this

  2733. law

  2734. in other

  2735. words

  2736. church

  2737. there is

  2738. much

  2739. that

  2740. we

  2741. don't

  2742. know

  2743. but

  2744. we

  2745. are

  2746. called

  2747. to

  2748. live

  2749. in

  2750. light

  2751. of

  2752. what

  2753. we

  2754. do

  2755. know

  2756. I

  2757. absolutely

  2758. love

  2759. the way

  2760. that

  2761. this

  2762. great

  2763. book

  2764. ends

  2765. he

  2766. pronounces

  2767. blessing

  2768. on the

  2769. one

  2770. who

  2771. perseveres

  2772. who

  2773. arrives

  2774. at

  2775. the

  2776. end

  2777. but

  2778. he

  2779. says

  2780. as

  2781. for

  2782. you

  2783. go

  2784. your

  2785. way

  2786. till

  2787. the

  2788. end

  2789. and

  2790. you

  2791. shall

  2792. rest

  2793. and

  2794. you

  2795. shall

  2796. stand

  2797. in

  2798. your

  2799. allotted

  2800. place

  2801. at

  2802. the

  2803. end

  2804. of

  2805. the

  2806. days

  2807. church

  2808. the

  2809. time

  2810. is

  2811. coming

  2812. and

  2813. coming

  2814. soon

  2815. when

  2816. our

  2817. exile

  2818. will

  2819. be

  2820. brought

  2821. to

  2822. an

  2823. end

  2824. at

  2825. last

  2826. and

  2827. we

  2828. will

  2829. be

  2830. brought

  2831. into

  2832. that

  2833. glorious

  2834. kingdom

  2835. of

  2836. God

  2837. into

  2838. the

  2839. presence

  2840. of

  2841. Christ

  2842. the

  2843. king

  2844. for

  2845. the

  2846. rest

  2847. of

  2848. eternity

  2849. so

  2850. how

  2851. do

  2852. we

  2853. approach

  2854. our

  2855. lives

  2856. tomorrow

  2857. go

  2858. your

  2859. way

  2860. press

  2861. on

  2862. live

  2863. your

  2864. life

  2865. to

  2866. the

  2867. glory

  2868. of

  2869. God

  2870. live

  2871. today

  2872. in

  2873. light

  2874. of

  2875. that

  2876. great

  2877. coming

  2878. day

  2879. and

  2880. then

  2881. rest

  2882. and

  2883. then

  2884. rise

  2885. to

  2886. the

  2887. glory

  2888. of

  2889. God

  2890. let's

  2891. pray

  2892. father

  2893. we

  2894. praise

  2895. you

  2896. for

  2897. this

  2898. glorious

  2899. hope

  2900. of

  2901. the

  2902. gospel

  2903. that

  2904. Jesus

  2905. has

  2906. purchased

  2907. for

  2908. all

  2909. of

  2910. his

  2911. people

  2912. Lord

  2913. that

  2914. nothing

  2915. can

  2916. separate

  2917. us

  2918. from

  2919. the

  2920. love

  2921. of

  2922. God

  2923. in

  2924. Christ

  2925. Jesus

  2926. our

  2927. Lord

  2928. that

  2929. we

  2930. will

  2931. be

  2932. raised

  2933. to

  2934. life

  2935. because

  2936. we

  2937. are

  2938. united

  2939. to

  2940. a

  2941. resurrected

  2942. savior

  2943. who

  2944. has

  2945. conquered

  2946. over

  2947. sin

  2948. and

  2949. death

  2950. Lord

  2951. that

  2952. we

  2953. will

  2954. be

  2955. made

  2956. like

  2957. him

  2958. and

  2959. get

  2960. to

  2961. enjoy

  2962. his

  2963. presence

  2964. forever

  2965. Lord

  2966. we

  2967. love

  2968. you

  2969. we

  2970. pray

  2971. that

  2972. we

  2973. live

  2974. amen