Daniel • Week 16

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So I want to ask you this question this morning as we get into this conclusion in Daniel chapter 12,

Daniel 12 · chapter mention

is what does the studying or what does the topic of the end times create in you?

Like when you hear that, what does it bring? What does it begin to settle in your spirit?

Does it bring fascination and wonder? You can't wait to read the next article, the next book,

listen to the next message. Can't wait to jump on YouTube and find out what this person has to say

about this. Does it bring fascination and wonder? Does it bring fear and uncertainty? So much is

difficult to know or can't be known. So much seems with dragons and the things that are happening and

taking place in the Antichrist and suffering and persecution and what would happen that it brings

fear and uncertainty. Does it bring confusion and frustration? And I know what you mean with that.

I was like, this is so hard to understand and I want to know. And so what comes from that,

because I can't fully understand and my mind needs to work in this way, that then what comes from me is

frustration in that moment. Well, I want to encourage you that as we read through Daniel 12,

as we read through this passage this morning, the passage that my Bible says that the time of the end

was what it's entitled as in my Bible, that it would bring something more than simplistic fascination and

wonder. It would bring more than fear and uncertainty. It would bring more than confusion and frustration.

Not just Daniel 12, but in the topic of end times. The apostle John says this in 1 John 3, 1 through 3.

He says,

See what kind of love the Father has given to us,

that we should be called children of God, and so we are. The reason why the world does not know us is

that it did not know Him. Beloved, we are God's children now. And what we will be has not yet appeared.

But we know that when He appears, we shall be like Him because we shall see Him as He is.

And everyone who thus hopes in Him purifies himself as He is pure.

So John, in reference to the end times, John who will be, John who writes Revelation,

comes and appeals in 1 John 3. And he says, listen, here's what the topic of end times

should create, should call you and I too. And I think 1 John 3 is very similar to what we're going to find in Daniel 12.

And it's number one, it's this, that you are a child of God.

That you are a child of God. If you've put your faith, hope, and trust in Jesus Christ as your personal Lord and Savior.

Yes, amen, you are a child of God.

But there's two. And in that, and in that, that you and I are called to personal discipleship.

To personal discipleship. And what does personal discipleship means?

You're like, but I go to discipleship. Well, what is personal discipleship?

Well, personal discipleship is the ownership that you have in your own life to determine that I want to become more and more like Jesus.

And that this isn't going to happen by me just sitting here.

It isn't going to happen by happenstance of just hoping that all these things work out.

It's by personal ownership of you making the choice to be a disciple of Jesus.

And what it looks like to follow him.

I read an author this week who said in reference to Daniel 12,

that Daniel 12 teaches us how to live as faithful exiles in a world that is not our home.

That you and I are called to live as faithful exiles in a world that is not our own.

You see, in the comparison of what we've seen throughout the study of Daniel,

Daniel was taken from his home.

Daniel was taken from his home into a foreign land with pagan people and pagan practices and pagan religions

and tried to force into conforming into what the pagan world had for him.

But Daniel said, no, I'm going to be faithful to my God as I am away from my home.

And when I'm in my home, I will be faithful to him there too.

That's the call for you and I.

The difficult part is the world that we live in is our home for now.

And so we can live as exiles in this land.

And when it comes to the end times in Daniel,

we see the reminder of the hope that we have as well.

That we are God's children and we are called to be like him.

So let's read the first two verses of chapter 12.

First two verses says,

Because at that time shall arise Michael, the great prince who is in charge of your people.

And there shall be a time of trouble or a time of tribulation.

Such has never been since there was a nation till that time.

But at that time your people shall be delivered.

Everyone whose name shall be found written in the book.

And many of those who sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake.

Some to everlasting life and some to shame and everlasting content.

You see, Daniel 12 is the end of this unit that we've been studying for the last several weeks in Daniel.

Daniel 10, Daniel 11, and Daniel 12 come together.

And Daniel is getting communication and vision from God through the angel Gabriel concerning the end times.

And it comes to Daniel that in the end times that there will be a great persecution.

There will be a great tribulation.

But God will provide divine protection.

And here's what's important.

One of the aspects we can draw from here.

And that from that there will be hope for those whose names are written in the book.

The book is what we see here in Daniel chapter 12.

Daniel 12 · chapter mention

And we'll explain a little bit of that.

Well, folks, I don't know the timetable.

I don't know the dates.

Jesus tells us that no one here does.

That's for the Father.

But I know that the end is coming.

I know that the end is approaching.

When that'll be, who knows?

But what if you and I were to live our life every single day in the truth that the end is coming?

To live our life in the truth of what is communicated in Daniel chapter 12.

Daniel 12 · chapter mention

That the end is coming.

That you and I, as children of God, that you and I, who were called to personal discipleship,

what does our life look like in the gospel truth that the end is coming?

And I want to make to you this morning five appeals to live our life in the truth that the end is coming.

If the end is coming, then have, number one, gospel considerations.

If the end is coming, then have gospel considerations.

How do you view your life?

How do you view your life?

If you do not see your life primarily as a child of God, the view of your life will be greatly skewed.

Daniel is told that there will come a time of great trouble and tribulation.

But God will send Michael, his archangel, for protection.

Now here's the part of this for you and I today that the Bible says in 1 Timothy 3 that you and I should expect persecution.

You see, when I live my life in gospel considerations of my life as a child of God,

that I am not set free from the persecution of this world.

Jesus tells us multiple times in the gospel that you and I as followers of him, that we will face trouble, that we will face persecution.

But God's promise of comfort, both in Daniel 12 and for us, rings true.

So how do you and I face trouble today with the comfort of God?

Very simply through the Holy Spirit.

Through the power of the Holy Spirit.

You see, because with the Holy Spirit, what we have is not the presence of God with us as a thought,

but we have the presence of God within us.

The presence of God within us.

You see, it's not just a mindset.

It's not an ideology.

It's not a thought.

It's not a perspective to set our minds on.

It's the truth of God and the coming of the Holy Spirit.

Fulfilled as Jesus said it would in Acts.

That you and I as followers of Jesus don't just simply have the presence of God around us,

but we have the presence of God with us.

Gospel considerations.

A gospel consideration is that when we realize and understand as believers of Jesus Christ

that we have the presence of God within us,

that within us we have the power and the strength of God to overcome and to endure.

Endure is one of my favorite words in all of the Bible.

That we endure, that we endure, that we endure.

That through not the power of our own, but through the power of God within us,

that whatever trouble, whatever the world wants to throw at us,

whatever Satan wants to put in our way,

that we've got the power of God within us,

that you and I have the strength to endure.

And then with the power of the Holy Spirit,

we have healing from the brokenness around us.

This world hurts.

This world causes pain.

In this world, there's great suffering.

There's great loss.

And through the power of the Holy Spirit,

those hurts are real.

And God comforts us,

not just with simple momentary healing,

but with eternal healing that cannot be taken away.

And he said, this is all possible.

This is all from God for his people.

For those in Daniel 12 that are found in the book.

The book.

This book is the book of life or the Lamb's book of life.

It's written about in Revelation 13, Revelation 20, and Revelation 21.

And when it comes to the names of those who are in this book,

deliverance and freedom and life eternal is found.

And so when your name is written in the book,

there you experience the healing of eternal rescue,

the healing of eternal hope,

the healing of resurrection life,

the healing of eternity with Jesus.

But the question for you this morning is,

is your name in the book?

Is your name in the book?

Not as your name in a discipleship study.

Not as your name in a small group.

Not as your name on a mission trip.

Not as your name in a giving record.

But is your name found in the Lamb's book of life?

Has there been a point in time,

not when you've done something before a crowd,

not when you've done something to appease someone else,

but has there been a point in time in your life

that you can look to,

that you have confidence in,

that you know with all of certainty

where you have asked Jesus Christ

to be the Lord and Savior in your life?

And if the answer to that is yes,

then praise God,

you haven't been perfect from that point,

just like me,

but your name was perfectly written in the book.

You can have hope.

And if you're like,

I don't think my name's written in it.

Well, guess what?

Why doesn't it happen today?

What would it look like today

for you

in the midst of a crazy message

at the end of the book of Daniel

to say,

Jesus,

today,

I receive you

as my Lord

and Savior.

And to see that name

written

in the book of life.

If the end is coming,

then have gospel considerations

of your life.

Let's continue on

in Daniel 12,

3 through 4.

continues on and says,

and those who are wise

shall shine like the brightness

of the sky above

and those who turn many

to righteousness

like the stars

forever and ever.

But you, Daniel,

shut up the words

and seal the book

until the time of the end.

Many shall run to and fro

and knowledge

shall increase.

If the end is coming,

then church,

please have gospel conversations.

If the end is coming,

then please have

gospel conversations.

You see,

when it comes to the wisdom

and the truth of God's word,

wisdom is found

not simply knowing

what to do,

but knowing what to do

and then doing it.

It's not knowing

the facts of the Bible,

but it's about knowing

the facts of the truth

of the Bible

and trusting the God

of the Bible.

Wisdom is not found

in simply knowing

who Jesus is

and knowing what Jesus done

and knowing what Jesus will do.

But wisdom is found

in being obedient

to the God

who you know

who He is,

what He has done

and what He has said

He will do.

But when wisdom

and obedience collide

and what we begin to see

in our life

is that when that wisdom

and obedience collide,

then we surrender to

and obey what God

has for us

and the work

of evangelism

comes from that.

Telling others

who Jesus is

and what Jesus

could mean for them.

My challenge to you

in gospel conversations

is being evangelist.

Being an evangelist.

And I don't know about you,

but that word

is a little bit terrifying

for a lot of people.

Me being one of those.

To go from here

and carry with you

what it means

to share the gospel

of Jesus Christ.

It can seem daunting.

It can seem overwhelming.

It can seem terrifying even

to come to those

that we love,

those that we know,

those that we trust,

or maybe those we don't

and say,

I want to say something

to you

that's going to cause you

to have to make a decision

that will cause

maybe an internal rub

within their life.

But we can't know

what God's word says

and not do

what it says.

It says,

and those who are wise

shall shine like

the brightness of the sky

and those who turn

many to righteousness

that were called

in the light

of the end times

to have gospel conversations.

Let me take a little bit

of that burden off

of what that can look like.

Here's what it can look like

for you and for me

to be an evangelist.

Number one,

number one,

simply invite someone.

Simply invite someone.

It can be to a Christmas Eve service.

It can be to a Sunday morning service.

It can be to a small group.

It can be to join you

in a quiet time

in a devotional

in a Bible study.

But would you be willing today

to invite someone?

Think of all of the things

that we invite people to.

We invite them to our homes

for meals.

We invite them out

for the evening.

We invite them to go

to athletic events.

We invite them

to go to the movies with us.

We invite them

to go out to eat.

What would it look like

to take the first step

to invite someone

to come with you

to hear the preaching

and teaching of God's Word?

Invite someone with you.

Another way you can be

an evangelist,

number two,

is tell someone your story.

Tell someone your story.

1 Peter 3.15 says this,

1 Peter 3.15 says this,

But in your hearts,

honor Christ the Lord

as holy,

always being prepared

to make a defense

to anyone who asks you

for a reason

for the hope

that is in you.

Yet do it

with gentleness

grace and respect.

Tell someone your story.

Live in such a way

what Peter tells us.

Live in such a way

that causes people

to ask you

about the hope

you have.

Live in such a way

that makes people ask

what is different

about you.

And then I love

what Peter

says.

He says,

be prepared

to make a defense.

Here's what this means.

Give the reason.

Our call

is not to get into

and be able to argue

every point of Scripture.

Our call

is when someone

says to you,

why are you

this way?

Why do I see

a smile on your face?

Why do I see hope?

Why do I see you

disengaged with gossip?

Why do I see you

seek to serve one another?

That you have a reason

to share with them

about who Jesus

is in your life.

Be able to say

what he has done

for you

and in you

tell your story.

And here's going

to be a scary thing

for you to come

to grips with.

What if you don't

have a story?

What if you don't

have a story?

Well then today,

could today

we start

your gospel story?

Could today

be the day

where you begin

in the conversation

about Jesus?

Let's continue

on Daniel 12.

Daniel 12,

5-9.

Then I,

Daniel,

looked

and behold

two others,

one on this

bank of the stream

and one on

that bank

of the stream.

And then

someone said

to the man

clothed in linen

who was above

the waters

of the stream,

how long

shall it be

until the end

of these wonders?

And I heard

the man

clothed in linen

who was above

the waters

of the stream.

He raised

his right hand

and his left hand

toward heaven

and swore

by him

who lives forever

that it would be

for a time,

times,

and half a time.

And that when

the shattering

of the power

of the holy people

comes to an end,

all these things

would be finished.

I heard

but I did not

understand.

Let's pause here

for just a second.

We're going to look

at this in a minute,

right?

I love this.

If you're like,

Bo,

I didn't understand

any of that.

Neither did Daniel.

Take comfort in that.

I heard

but I did not

understand.

Then I said,

oh my Lord,

what shall be

the outcome

of these things?

And he said,

go your way,

Daniel,

for the words

are shut up

and sealed

until the time

of the end.

If the end

is coming,

if the end

is coming,

then have

gospel confidence.

If the end

is coming,

then have

gospel confidence.

Gabriel is the one

who is speaking

to Daniel.

And then all

of a sudden,

there's two more

angels that appear,

one on one side

and one on the other.

And then next

it says that

a man,

a third,

dressed in linen.

If you remember

back from Daniel

Daniel 7 · chapter mention

chapter 7,

this man

is Jesus.

And one

of the angels,

one of them

asks and communicates.

And he says,

how long

will these hard

times last?

And then Jesus

does something

different here,

something that we

don't fully understand,

but he raises

both hands

to heaven

and he invokes

an oath

and he says

for a time,

times and half a time,

three and a half years,

but it will be

at the end

of the right time

as God

has planned.

And here's Daniel's

response in verse 8.

I heard,

but I did not

understand.

I heard,

but I did not

understand.

Now this is a response

from a man of faith

who lives in

and knows of

a future

where God

is in control,

but yet bad

things happen.

And now notice,

Daniel didn't say,

I heard,

but I didn't believe

or I didn't trust

or I didn't obey.

Daniel,

the man of wisdom

himself,

says I heard,

but I did not

understand.

You see folks,

this is what

gospel confidence

is.

I don't understand

why.

But I trust

the one

who knows why.

So many times

for you and I,

our faith

hangs on

a thin thread

of our human

understanding.

God,

I need to know

why this suffering

has existed

if I'm going to

follow you.

God,

I need to know

why I've lost

this person in my life

if I'm going to

follow you.

God,

I need to know

why I'm going

through financial

hardship if I'm

going to follow you.

God,

I need to know

why I'm

in sickness

if I'm going

to follow you.

And I will tell

you time and

time again,

here's what I've

seen.

People who claim

to be men

and women

of faith,

and when that

question comes

and the answer

is not delivered,

what they do

is they walk

away from the

God they claim

they've trusted

with everything.

And if we've

trusted him

with everything,

folks,

can we trust

him with our

why?

And can we

trust him

when in his

sovereignty

he does not

answer our

why?

Can we

trust him?

Or can we

only trust him

when he gives

us an answer?

Or more than

likely when he

gives us an

answer that we

desire?

And then Daniel

asked another

question.

And I said,

oh my Lord,

what shall be

the outcome

of these

things?

He says,

go your way,

Daniel.

Go your way.

For the words

are shut up

and sealed

until the time

of the end.

They're sealed.

Maybe you're

in a season

of difficulty.

Maybe you're

in a season

of asking

why.

Maybe you're

frustrated.

Maybe you

want to

know the

answer to

why.

Can I

give you

what I

believe the

answer is

in Daniel

12?

Maybe God

wants you

to place

your faith

not in

the answer,

but to

place your

faith in

the one

that holds

all

answers.

If he

answered your

why,

if he

answered your

why,

would your

faith be in

the answer?

Or what does

it look like

to say,

God,

I want

to know,

but I

trust you

even if

in this

life I

never find

the

why.

Verse

10,

it says,

many shall

purify

themselves

and make

themselves

white

and be

refined,

but the

wicked

shall act

wickedly,

and none

of the wicked

shall understand,

but those

who are

wise

shall

understand.

folks,

if the

end is

coming,

then have

gospel

contrasts.

If the

end is

coming,

then have

gospel

contrasts.

What I

love about

Daniel,

one of the

things that I

love about

Daniel is

we've been

on a

journey with

him.

We've been

on a

journey with

him from

about 13

years old

to about

87 years

old.

That's a

long time.

That's a

long time

covered in

these 12

chapters of

what we've

looked at

for the

last 16

weeks.

And Daniel

knew God

as an

old man

and Daniel

knew God

as a

young boy.

And this

knowing God

and being

known by

God has

been what

has made

the distinctive

difference

between

Daniel and

those around

him.

That's been

the characteristic

that comes

out time

and time

again in

the life

of

Daniel

the

gospel

contrast

between

what it

means

to be

a

follower

of

God

and

not

a

follower

of

God.

Here's what

we see.

Look at the

differences that

we've seen

in Daniel.

Remember from

the very

beginning

in Daniel

Daniel 1 · chapter mention

chapter 1.

Eat the

food and

drink the

wine.

He says,

I won't.

I won't do

it.

I won't eat

the food.

I won't

drink the

wine.

In fact,

the food

and the

wine are

the king's

food and

the king's

wine.

It's the

best of

the best.

It's the

best of

the best.

Daniel

says,

I've

resolved.

Stand

firm.

That's

for pagans.

This is

for what

God's

called me

to do.

And this

is what

I'll be.

A

gospel

contrast.

When

tension

and when

stress

comes

through

Nebuchadnezzar's

dreams and

those who

would lose

their life,

there are

those who

plot and

scheme.

But what's

the gospel

contrast for

Daniel?

What does

he do?

I'm just

going to

pray.

I'm going

to pray.

You

plot and

scheme.

I'm going

to pray.

I'm going

to pray a

gospel

contrast.

We see

that others

in these

moments of

tension and

doubt,

what begins

to manifest

in themselves

is worry

and doubt.

But what

comes from

Daniel?

What comes

from Daniel?

Rest in

confidence.

Rest in

confidence.

A gospel

contrast.

What happens

when the

world is

told,

save your

life,

don't pray.

Save your

life,

don't pray.

What's the

contrast with

Daniel?

I'm going

to pray.

I'm going

to pray.

I'm going

to pray as

I've always

prayed.

I'm going

to pray as

God has

led me to

pray.

I'm going

to pray

three times

a day in

front of my

open window

for all to

see because

I'm a man

of God and

this is what

God has

called me to

do.

Gospel

contrast.

What do

we see at

the end?

The world

is partying

and trying

to climb

the social

ladder

through the

sensual

practices

of the

world.

Remember

this last

part in

Daniel 6?

When the

party is

happening,

I'm sorry,

Daniel 5,

and the

party is

happening,

and where's

Daniel?

He's at

his house.

He's away.

And here's

what's remarkable

to me.

Here's what's

remarkable to me

about the

godly man

of Daniel.

You would

think that

overwhelmingly

people in

his life

would hate

him.

They would

accuse him

of being

pious and

being self-righteous.

They would

consider him

of being

holier than

thou.

But here's

what's remarkable

about Daniel.

Daniel always

makes his

stand for

God.

And lost

people love

him.

And they

want him

around.

And they

seek his

counsel.

Maybe it's

not holiness

that's the

problem.

Maybe what

you and I

are exuding

is judgmental

self-righteousness.

And that's

what offense

for Daniel.

It's the

godliness

of who

God's

called him

to be.

You see,

in this

world,

the gospel

draws the

line of

those who

are saved

and those

who are

not.

The gospel

will contrast.

Is there

a difference

in

your

life?

that's

marked

because of

the gospel.

And then

in closing,

verses

11 through

13.

And from

that time

that the

regular burnt

offering is

taken away

and the

abomination

that makes

desolate is

set up.

there shall

be

1,290

days.

Blessed is

he who

waits

and

arrives

at the

1,335

days.

But go

your way

till the

end

and you

shall rest

and stand

in your

allotted

place

at the

end

of the

days.

What we

see here

is the

gospel

conclusion.

As we

look at

this and

we see

the

unfolding

in

Daniel

12

of

the

prophecy

of

end

times

and

the

tribulation.

Verse

11 speaks

to a

time

in the

end

times

when

true

worship

will be

taken

away

and

false

worship

shall

be

instated.

The

time

frame

given

of

1,290

and

1,335

theologians

who are

intellectually

honest with

themselves

and with

others

have a

difficult

time

explaining.

But here

is what

is

clear.

In the

challenge

of what

would mark

these

three

verses

the

challenge

that will

ring

true

at the

end

times

and

the

challenge

that

you

and

I

are

presented

with

in

the

days

that

we

live

in

and

the

days

that

are

ahead

is

to

have

gospel

conclusion

which

is a

picture

of

enduring

and

finishing.

Enduring

and

finishing.

Paul

writes

this to

Timothy

in 2

2 Timothy 4 · chapter mention

Timothy

chapter

4.

as Paul

sees

his

end

coming

near.

He

says

for I'm

already

being

poured

out

as a

drink

offering

and the

time

of my

departure

has

come.

I have

fought

the good

fight.

I have

finished

the race.

I have

kept

the faith.

Henceforth

there is

laid up

for me

the crown

of

righteousness

which

the

Lord

the

righteous

judge

will

award

to me

on

that

day

and

not

only

to

me

but

also

to

all

who

have

loved

his

appearing.

I'm

going to ask

the worship

team

if they'll

go ahead

and make

their way

to the

stage.

In just

a moment

we'll go

to the

Lord

in prayer

and we'll

respond

in worship.

But notice

this.

Paul says

I fought

the good

fight.

I have

finished

the race.

I think

it's

interesting

that Paul

doesn't

say here

you know

this battle

has been

many fights.

this battle

has been

race

after race

after race.

That when

Paul looks

at the

truth of

God's

word

and the

encouragement

and the

push for

Timothy

as he looks

he says

no no no

it's your

whole life.

It's not

moving from

fight to

fight to

fight.

It's not

moving from

race to

race to

race.

But it

is the

endurance

that you're

called to

do.

That the

gospel

push for

your life

is an

ongoing

enduring

battle.

But you

can have

confidence

in the

one who

has won.

You can

have

confidence

in the

one who

is the

victor.

And through

that we

may not

know the

when.

We may

not know

the how.

We may

not know

the details.

But church

endure.

Church

finish.

Church

fight.

And in

that keep

the faith.

Because

through it

all.

Through it

all.

God

wins.

God

wins.

This

morning would

you make

gospel

considerations

for your

life.

How you

view your

life.

How you

see

yourself.

And if

it's not

as a

child of

God

today,

could that

day be

today?

Would you

commit to

going from

here and

the gospel

conversations

that you

have with

those who

do not

know

Christ?

Would you

live in

the gospel

confidence

that I

don't have

all the

wives but

I worship

the one

who does?

Could you

live in

knowing that

I need

to be a

gospel

contrast in

the world

that is

full of

wicked?

That I

can be a

reflection of

the hope

that is in

Christ?

Because in

the end,

every word,

those that

make sense

and even

those that

don't will

ring true.

Would you

pray with

me?

God, I

thank you

for the

hope of

the gospel.

Thank you

for the

truth of

your word.

God, I

pray today

as we

conclude

our time

of study

of your

word,

that God,

your Holy

Spirit

would be

at work

and move

and that

God, those

who do

not know

you

would today,

not through

the appeal

of man

but through

the drawing

of a

holy God

would put

their hope,

faith, and

trust in

you.

God, I

pray for

us, your

sons and

daughters,

God, that

we would

live in

godly gospel

confidence.

God, that

we'd be

willing to

have gospel

conversations.

God, in a

world that

is filled

with hate,

may we be

love, in a

world that's

filled with

darkness, may

we be light, in

a world filled

with tragedy, may

we be hope

because of who

you are and the

message that you've

given us.

God, draw us

closer to you.

move in and

through us, all

for your

glory.

In Jesus' name

we pray.

Amen.

That's it for

this week's

message.

Be sure to

check back next

week for a new

episode, and in

the meantime, you

can visit us

online at

willowridgechurch.org

or by searching

for Willow Ridge

Church on

Facebook, Instagram,

and YouTube.

Thanks again for

listening.