Daniel 12

Well, please do have a seat.

We've reached the terminus on our journey through the book of Daniel.

This is week 10 of 10.

Normally, I'm quite sad when we get to the end of a book,

having got so familiar with it over the preceding weeks.

I won't be that disappointed to leave Daniel behind,

particularly these last four sermons.

These visions of beasts and farm animals and these enormous timelines and all these figures.

It would be quite nice to have a break from that for a little while.

Though I think we should be encouraged that if we journey through the end of Daniel,

which is some of the most difficult portions of scripture,

if we can journey through that and learn some truth and worship God through them,

then I think we can be greatly encouraged and confident that there's little else in the Bible that should daunt us

if we've got through these last four chapters, these last six chapters together.

And so I think we've learned three enormous truths that have undergirded this entire book.

The first one is this, that God is the boss.

We've been reminded again and again and again and again that God is sovereign.

The most high God is sovereign over all kingdoms on earth and gives them to anyone he wishes.

Real comforting words with all that's going on in our world at these times.

The second big truth is what God has been reminding of as well through his word,

that God raises up and cuts down kingdoms according to his sovereign will.

With the ultimate purpose that in the end he will set up a kingdom that will be eternal and never shaken.

The God of heaven will set up a kingdom that will never be destroyed.

Nor will it be left to another people.

It will crush all those kingdoms and bring them to an end, but will itself endure forever.

That's where the world, all of history is heading.

And thirdly, I think what we've seen is that God's people have an important role to play in the unfolding eternal plan of God.

Whether serving or praying or trusting or persevering or standing firm

or proclaiming God's goodness to kings and kingdoms.

That Daniel is not just a pawn, but he is an active participant in God's unfolding plan.

So what's on the screen when Nebuchadnezzar throws Meshach, Shadrach and Abednego in the furnace?

He says our God can deliver us, but even if he doesn't, he's still worthy of our worship.

So let me pray and then we'll dive into chapter 12.

Father God, thank you for your word.

Thank you that it's true.

Thank you that it's living.

Thank you that it's active.

Thank you that it's enough.

Thank you that it's sufficient.

And Father, thank you that as we read Daniel chapter 12, it's full of hope.

Daniel 12 · chapter mention

It's full of glorious truth.

And may we leave clinging to it and loving you more because of it.

Father, thank you that it's your word.

So would you come and use it to do your work in our lives, we pray.

Amen.

As Natalie walked past the door of her son Simon's room,

she was alarmed to hear the sound of sobbing.

Simon had once again disobeyed lights out and was face down under his covers reading his book by torchlight.

Natalie crept into the room, sat on the bed and started to rub Simon's back.

After a minute or two, Simon crawled out from under the covers and looked with glistening eyes at his mum.

Gently, Natalie asked, why are you crying?

Simon pulled the book out from under his bed.

It was the lion, the witch and the wardrobe.

And Simon whimpered to his mum, it is just too sad.

It's all gone wrong.

Aslan is dead.

The white witch has won.

Her army is on the march and there is no sign of hope.

That's why I'm crying.

Natalie pulled Simon in for a hug, kissed his head and whispered,

It's okay.

I've read to the end.

We win.

Keep going.

Simon stared at his mum quizzically and she simply repeated the phrase,

It's okay.

I've read to the end.

We win.

Keep going.

As we conclude our studies in Daniel,

as we come to the big finale of Daniel chapter 12,

Daniel 12 · chapter mention

Natalie's advice to young Simon could equally be God's advice to Daniel.

Daniel, it's okay.

I've read to the end.

We win.

Keep going.

Daniel, near the end of his life,

after this series of outlandish and perplexing visions,

is given the advice that in the end,

it will be okay.

That God will win.

And that in the meantime,

he is to keep on going.

To keep on serving.

This chapter 12 comes on the back of Daniel chapter 11.

Daniel 11 · chapter mention

That enormous chapter that Johnny took us through so skillfully last week.

Where he showed us the unfolding history of the kings and the kingdoms that will come

after Darius, the present Persian king.

Three more Persian kings.

Then Alexander the Great.

After Alexander's untimely death,

the kingdom is divided into four.

Decades of conflict between Syria in the north

and Egypt in the south.

All played out in the glorious land,

the land of Palestine,

particularly destructive to God's people dwelling there.

Then finally arises the contemptible person

in chapter 11, verse 21.

Antiochus IV, or Antiochus Epiphanes,

who is a terrorizer of God's people in his attitude and actions.

Then in verse 36 of chapter 11,

Antiochus Epiphanes fades into the background

and into the foreground comes this Antiochus on steroids kind of character.

The epitome of Antichrist,

the full and final enemy of God and his people.

Though terrible and terrifying,

this character meets his end at the very end of chapter 11.

Yet he will come to his end

and no one will help him.

Chapter 12 then happens,

the first bit happens in the same vision.

It is a flyover of the same part of history.

See those first words,

at that time.

This time where the scourge of God's people

is at his zenith.

And in many ways,

chapter 12 answers the question,

so what?

We've seen all this stuff.

We've seen these kingdoms rise and fall.

We've seen these characters

arise and terrorize God's people.

So what are we supposed to do about it?

And chapter 12, in many ways,

answers that.

The detail is difficult,

but I think the instruction is quite simple.

Well,

that God tells Daniel to do two things.

He tells him to hold God's word,

hold to God's word,

and he tells him to walk in God's way.

Hold to God's word,

walk in God's way.

What am I supposed to do

if all this is going to happen?

All these huge characters

are going to arise.

And I feel like a tiny little canoe

on a raging torrent of the sea.

What am I supposed to do?

And God says,

hold to my word,

walk in my way.

So let's get into this.

And firstly, we see,

hold God's word.

See, verse 1b,

that is this character,

this ultimate expression

of what Antichrist is,

arises.

Verse 1b,

there will be a time of distress

such as not happened

from the beginning of nations until now.

This is unprecedented distress.

This is unparalleled distress.

This is more distressing

than being an England football fan

on Monday nights.

This is horrendous

in every way.

A time of unprecedented distress.

See though,

it's also a time of God's people

being defended.

At that time,

Michael,

this angelic figure,

who in the book of Daniel

seems to have a special place

in defending God's people.

At that time,

Michael,

the great prince

who protects your people,

will arise.

As the Antichrist

arises

to rain down terror

on God's people

at the same time,

Michael arises

to protect.

Distressed,

but defended.

God's people

are helped

in distressing times.

How different it is

from the end of

Antichrist

we see in 45b,

yet he will come to his end

and no one

will help him.

God's people

defended

in distressing

times.

See as well,

defended,

distressed,

but also

delivered.

Defended,

distressed,

but also

delivered.

The end of verse 1.

But at that time,

your people,

everyone whose name

is found

written in the book

will be delivered,

will be saved.

A time of distress,

a time of defense,

but a time of

ultimate deliverance.

A time that God says

you'll be saved

ultimately.

Distress will not run

forever,

but there will be

a decisive action

from God

that he will

deliver his people.

He will deliver

the people

whose names

are written

in the book,

in the roll call

of heaven,

in the senses

of God's people.

Those people

will be delivered.

This is

God's word.

It is sure

and it is

certain.

And it is

holding to this

truth

that will get

God's people

through this time

of distress.

This isn't

God offering

up a plot line

as a screenwriter.

This is

God laying

down indelibly

exactly what

will happen.

So that when

unprecedented

distress comes,

to know

that as God's

people we're

those that are

defended and

those that will

ultimately be

delivered.

That is what

will fuel

our perseverance.

That is what

will get us

through.

In distressing

times,

knowing that

we're defended,

and knowing

that we'll

ultimately be

delivered.

And so

holding to

God's word,

that's what

he's saying.

Believe these

things.

It's going to

get rough.

but I'm on

your side and

in the end

you'll be

delivered.

I think that's

what's exactly

meant by verse

four.

But you,

Daniel,

roll up and

seal the

words.

These are

full words.

There's nothing

to be added

to that.

Until the

roll up and

seal the words

of the scroll

until the time

of the end.

This is exactly

what will happen.

So you can

put a line

under it,

it is definite

and it'll all

come to pass

in the end.

Many will

come and go,

there'll be a

thorough investigation

of these things

and there'll be an

increase in

knowledge.

As time

progresses and

these things get

closer,

these words that

I've given you

will be seen

to be true.

these words

are God's

words.

And they're

to be held

onto and

clung to in

difficult times.

That it doesn't

matter how

difficult it

gets to

know that

we're defended

and in the

end,

if we're God's

people,

we'll be

delivered.

But see the

middle section

in verses

two and

three,

where we

peer over

the edge

beyond the

end.

they speak

of an

eternal,

a universal

resurrection

and an

eternal

division.

Verse two,

multitudes who

sleep in the

dust of the

earth will

awake,

some to

everlasting

life,

others to

shame and

everlasting

contempt.

Everyone

will be

raised.

Everyone who

dies and

sleeps in

the dust

will be

raised to

life again.

we know

a bit more

of the

story and

we'll be

raised to

life to

stand before

the Lord

Jesus,

to be

judged.

It's a

complete reversal

of Genesis

two.

From dust

you were

made and

from dust

you were

to return,

but at

the end

of time

you'll be

raised from

the dust

again.

And as

everyone is

raised,

so everyone

will be

judged and

there will

be an

eternal

division.

Some to

everlasting

life,

others to

shame and

everlasting

contempt.

Everyone will

stand before

Jesus and

will be

judged.

We won't

be judged

on what

we've

achieved,

what we've

made of

our lives

will be

judged on

what we've

received.

Whether we've

trusted that

Jesus is

a glorious

saviour who

came into

the world

so that on

that judgment

day he

might stand

in our

defence and

the judge

will also

be our

saviour and

our lord and

our king.

This division

is picked up

in three of

Jesus' parables

in Matthew

25 where we

get the

bridesmaids.

Some are

wise, some

are foolish and

there's a

division.

Some are

welcomed in

and some are

left out in

the cold.

There's the

faithful and

diligent servants

who are given

the talents and

invest it well

and there's

the lazy

foolish servants

and the

diligent servants

are welcomed

into their

father's rest

and the

foolish servant

is thrown out

into outer

darkness where

there is

weeping and

gnashing of

teeth.

The end of

Matthew 25 is

the sheep and

the goats.

The sheep

gathered by

Jesus, the

goats scattered

from Jesus.

That Daniel is

telling us where

the ultimate

end of the

beginning will

be.

Everyone will

be raised and

then there will

be an eternal

separation and

the dividing line

will ultimately

be what we have

done with the

Lord Jesus.

How we've

responded to

him.

Whether we've

trusted him as

our Lord and

saviour or

whether we've

rejected him and

said no I want

to be God.

I want to be

Lord of my

own life.

What we do

with Jesus will

ultimately determine

what he does

with us.

If we accept

him he will

accept us.

If we reject

him he will

reject us.

If we've

trusted him we're

forgiven of our

sin.

If we've

rejected him we

stand before him

in our sin and

judgment will be

ours.

Some to

everlasting life.

Those that have

trusted Jesus

others to shame

and everlasting

contempt.

So what are we

supposed to do

in light of

that?

It's coming to

an end.

This is where

it's going.

What do we do

in the present?

Well verse 3

tells us

those who are

wise, those who

know these things,

who have understood

these things, who

have trusted these

things, will shine

like the brightness

of the heavens.

And those who

lead many to

righteousness like

the stars forever

and ever.

Those who have

trusted this

word will live

differently in

this world.

They'll shine.

They won't go up

and down with

raising geopolitical

politics but they

will have a

steadfast confidence

that no matter how

difficult it gets,

in the end they'll

be delivered.

An eternal,

everlasting life will

be theirs.

And then notice

they not only

shine but they

share.

Those who

and those who

lead many to

righteousness,

those who share

this word with

others in order

that they might

have the same

confidence, the

same hope, the

same trust, will

shine like stars

forever and

ever.

Same language

that Paul picks

up in Philippians

2, that as we

work out our

salvation with

fear and

trembling, we

shine like the

stars of heaven

as we hold

fast to the

word of life.

It's exactly the

same thing we see

at the end of

1 Corinthians 15

where for 57

verses Paul has

gone on about

the truth of the

resurrection and

all that it means.

And at the end

he writes,

therefore my dear

brothers and

sisters, stand

firm.

Let nothing

move you.

always give

yourselves fully

to the work of

the Lord because

you know that

your labor in

the Lord is not

in vain.

What are God's

people to do in

the present in

light of the

future?

Hold to God's

word.

Live it out.

Trust in its

truth.

Live out its

commands and share

its message with

others.

It's okay.

I've read to the

end.

We win.

Keep going.

Truth.

Hold to God's

word.

That's what Daniel's

told to do.

That's what we're

told to do.

Then secondly we

get walk God's

way.

Verse 5 and 6

set up the

scenario.

This has all been

on the back of

chapter 10 and

11 where Daniel

has been in

conversation with

this man dressed

in linen hovering

over the water.

And now he's

joined by two

other figures one

on each side.

And one of the

new characters

asks a question

at the end of

verse 6.

How long will

it be before

these astonishing

things are

fulfilled?

It's a good

question.

If that's where

it's going how

long have we

got?

How much

sand is left

in the egg

timer?

How long

until the

time of grave

distress,

great deliverance,

universal

resurrection and

eternal division?

It's a really

good question.

And it

receives a very

cryptic and

confusing answer.

The man

clothed in

linen who was

above the

waters,

verse 7,

lifted his

right hand and

his left hand

towards heaven.

when you

make a solemn

oath in the

Old Testament

you raise one

hand.

This is a very

solemn oath.

Raising both

hands.

And he says

it will be for a

time, times and

half a time.

There has been

countless ink

spilt on what a

time and times and

half a time means.

But I'm quite

simple.

So I'll give you

an initial response

of what I think

it might mean.

A time, times

and half a

time.

How long will

it be?

Well it will be a

time so you're

going to have to

wait.

It's not going to

be now, it's going

to be in the

future and you're

going to have to

wait.

And it's going to

be times.

You're going to

have to wait a

lot.

You're going to

have to be very

patient.

That even when a

time is up,

there's still

times to come.

And then you're

going to have to

wait half a time.

And the reason is

half a time because

God will decisively

bring it to an

end.

You're going to

have to wait.

You're going to

have to wait a

lot.

Then you're going

to have to wait

some more but God

will decisively

intervene and bring

it to an end.

When the time is

up, when he says

the end has come,

that will be the

time.

According to

God's timescale,

all unfolding

according to

God's sovereign

will.

How long?

For a time,

times and

half a time.

A wait,

a long wait,

a little bit

more of a

wait and then

God will

decisively intervene.

I said I was

simple.

Calvin also came

up with that.

So I'll give him

a little bit of

credit as well.

And then Daniel

follows the question

in verse 8.

How long will

it be?

A time,

times and

half a time.

And then Daniel's

question.

My Lord,

what will be

the outcome?

What will the

outcome be?

The response

comes, look at it

in verse 9.

Go your way.

Look at the

beginning of verse

13.

Go your way.

Literally,

get on with your

life.

Get on with your

business.

Get on with

what you've

been doing

up until now.

Do what you've

been doing.

Continue in the

way of godliness

and perseverance.

Continue to

serve in

Darius'

court as a

diligent,

faith-filled

servant.

Be prayerful.

Be proclaiming

the excellence

of God.

Stand firm

and don't

be moved.

Be steadfast.

Be undefiled

and live set

apart for God.

And so we

come to the

end of Daniel

and we're

asking,

so what?

If all this

is going to

happen in the

future,

what must I

do now?

And the

answer is,

keep doing

what you're

doing.

Keep living

for the

Lord Jesus.

Keep trusting

the Lord

Jesus.

Keep praying.

Keep sharing.

Keep shining.

Go your way,

Daniel.

It's like the

end of John's

gospel where

Jesus talks to

Peter and tells

him how he's

going to die,

that you'll be

led where you

don't want to

go, you'll be

dressed.

And then he

looks at John

and he says,

but what about

him?

And what does

Jesus say?

You follow

me.

Follow me.

Daniel's saying,

well, if all

that's going to

happen, what

will the outcome

be?

And God

says, go

your way.

Because the

words are

rolled and

sealed until

the end of

time.

There's going

to be a

wait.

And waiting

time, verse

10, will be

testing time.

That is, as

time progresses,

some people

will use that

time well.

They will be

refined and

sanctified.

They will

pursue holiness.

They'll be

made spotless.

They'll shine

all the brighter.

But for

others, the

waiting time

will be testing

time and

they'll go

from bad to

worse.

The wicked

will continue

to be wicked.

But those

who are

wise will

understand.

There'll be

this division.

This division

at the end

will be seen

as time

progresses.

The wicked

will not

understand,

but the

wise will

continue to

understand.

Verse 11

was a lot of

reading this

week.

From the

time that

the daily

sacrifice is

abolished and

the abomination

that causes

desolation is

set up, there

will be

1,290

days.

Blessed is

the one

who waits

for and

reaches the

end of

the 1,335

days.

I think

the great

encouragement

we can take

from that

is that

distressing

times will

last 1,290

days.

But

there'll be

some of

God's people

who get to

the end

because 1,335

days is

longer than

1,290

days.

Times will

get tough.

But there'll

be some

who get to

the end

who will

be unmoved,

who won't

be capsized

because of

distress,

who will

see devastating

things and

continue to

hold God's

word and

walk God's

way.

They will

cross into

eternity at

the end

having stood

firm, even

though an

unparalleled

period of

disaster has

befallen them.

that Michael,

the great

prince who

protects God's

people will

protect some

to the

very, very

end.

And then

verse 13,

see how the

book finishes?

As for you,

Daniel,

go your way

till the end.

Keep living a

life for God

until the end.

You will

rest.

Daniel gets a

double RIP

as everyone

will get.

Then you

will rest in

peace.

Daniel,

you'll die.

But that's

not the end.

And then at

the end of

the days,

when all this

has come and

gone, you

will rise to

receive your

allotted

inheritance.

He will rest

in peace.

But then at

the end, like

everyone, will

rise in

power.

and he

will receive

his allotted

inheritance.

This idea of

allotted

inheritance is

a Joshua

word.

A word used

for when Joshua

was divvying up

the promised

land once God

has defeated

all their

enemies.

And now

Daniel is

told that he

will receive

the ultimate

expression of

that.

He will

receive his

ultimate

allotted

inheritance,

not in the

geographical

area of

the promised

land, but

he will

receive his

allotted

inheritance in

the kingdom

of God

forever and

ever, ultimately

won by Jesus.

Knowing that

this is ours,

because God

has said it,

gives us two

things to do

in the present,

to hold God's

word, to

cling to it no

matter what

happens and

know that it's

true, and to

walk God's way,

to continue

living a godly

life in the

present, knowing

all that is to

come in the

future.

You see, the

message of

Daniel 12 really

is this message.

It's okay.

I've read to

the end, we

win.

Keep on

going.

Keep on

going, holding

to God's

word, walking

in God's way,

until this all

comes to pass,

and we will

see God

ourselves and

receive an

allotted

inheritance from

him.

because of

the Lord

Jesus.

C.S.

Lewis finishes

the Narnia

Chronicles, and

on the last

page of the

last battle, he

writes these

words.

And as he

spoke, he no

longer looked to

them like a

lion, but the

things that began

to happen after

that were so

great and

beautiful that I

cannot write

them.

And for us,

this is the

end of all the

stories.

stories, and

we can most

truly say that

they all lived

happily ever

after.

But for them, it

was only the

beginning of the

real story.

All their life in

this world and all

their adventures in

Narnia had only

been the cover and

the title page.

Now at last, they

were beginning

chapter one of the

great story, which

no one on earth has

read, which goes on

forever, and in

which every chapter is

better than the

one before.

It's okay.

I've read to the

end.

We win.

Keep going.

Let me pray.