It'll Be Over Soon
Fear Less • Sermon • Submitted
0 ratings
· 26 viewsNotes
Transcript
ME:
ME:
It’ll be over soon
potentially other examples like it
It’ll be over soon
This phrase is given to reassure someone to get through a trying situation
For example a parent will seek to calm their child’s fears about getting a shot by telling them it’ll be over soon
Or perhaps a family member is deployed in the military
and you both know they won’t be there permanently so you remind one another
It’ll be over soon, then we will be together again
Perhaps even now you have been home for weeks
and you are increasingly anxious for work
Needing that income
So your employer has reminded you that it’ll be over soon
in time you will be able to return to work and earn income again
God, in His Word, communicates this idea that it’ll be over soon in a variety of ways
one example comes from ;
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.
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.
Presently, we are flawed and fallen creatures
We get sick, our emotions run amok, and we cause conflict in relationships we cherish
But in , God reassures us
It’ll be over soon
We are not yet, what we will be
In the future, we will be like God, we will be pure
This impacts our present reality
Because this truth fosters perhaps the most powerful force humans can have
and that is hope!
Hope in the God who is pure
Hope in the God who makes us pure
Hope in the God who gave his only Son over to die,
but before his death, Jesus assured His closest friends that it’ll be over soon
who died, but before his death assured His closest friends that it’ll be over soon
And He followed through when they came to His tomb days later to find a tomb with nothing in it but His linen cloths
Hope in the God who put an end to death
Demonstrated by Jesus raising from the dead
Which we are remembering and celebrating today!
We have also been studying through the Book of Daniel since the beginning of this year
This morning we will look at the final chapter, chapter 12
We see a prophecy that points toward another resurrection in the future
A prophecy that offers the promise that suffering, uncertainty, death, will all be over soon
And it is incredible to see God’s grand plan that ties the resurrection of Jesus Christ and a promised future resurrection together
This is the God we have hope in!
This hope motivates and transforms us to be purified as God is pure
The reality of the resurrection of Jesus and this future promise prophesied in teach us how to live faithfully in a world that will be over soon
And I don’t say this as a scare tactic implying that the end is near
I confess that perhaps it is
But ultimately, I have no idea
I am not going to pretend I know what God’s timeline is
The eternal God, who is not bound by time, is reassuring us however
that from His eternal perspective, it’ll be over soon
And that is comforting news for those who trust in the resurrected Christ as Lord
But it is truly terrifying news for those who do not
If that is you and you have joined us online this morning
I’d like to encourage you to genuinely consider what is presented to you this morning
Ask if the message of this Jesus Christ are true
because the implications of His message are greater than anything else
As we prepare to look at His message this morning
I’d like to invite everyone to join me by bowing your heads and going before God in prayer
WE: Death Will Be Over Soon ()
WE: Death Will Be Over Soon ()
Before we look at the prophecy that awaits us in the future in
Let first look back in history at the end of Jesus Christ’s time on earth
Turn to where we see that death will be over soon
But on the first day of the week, at early dawn, they went to the tomb, taking the spices they had prepared. And they found the stone rolled away from the tomb, but when they went in they did not find the body of the Lord Jesus. While they were perplexed about this, behold, two men stood by them in dazzling apparel. And as they were frightened and bowed their faces to the ground, the men said to them, “Why do you seek the living among the dead? He is not here, but has risen. Remember how he told you, while he was still in Galilee, that the Son of Man must be delivered into the hands of sinful men and be crucified and on the third day rise.” And they remembered his words, and returning from the tomb they told all these things to the eleven and to all the rest. Now it was Mary Magdalene and Joanna and Mary the mother of James and the other women with them who told these things to the apostles, but these words seemed to them an idle tale, and they did not believe them. But Peter rose and ran to the tomb; stooping and looking in, he saw the linen cloths by themselves; and he went home marveling at what had happened.
Earlier in the Gospel
Jesus foretold His death to His disciples
Multiple times in fact
He details how He would be delivered over
He would be mocked and shamefully treated and spit upon
And after being flogged, He would be killed
But then Jesus always reminded them
That His death will be over soon
And they never got it
Look at for example;
And after flogging him, they will kill him, and on the third day he will rise.” But they understood none of these things. This saying was hidden from them, and they did not grasp what was said.
As Jesus had foretold, on the day we remember as Good Friday
Jesus died on the cross for the sins of all people
this took place after an evening in which He was delivered over to the Romans, mocked, spit-on, whipped mercilessly, then nailed to the cross
And as says, the disciples didn’t understand
So chapter 24 begins with women who were close friends of Jesus
Coming to bring spices and ointment prepared for His dead body
gives details about Jesus’s tomb
So they went and made the tomb secure by sealing the stone and setting a guard.
When the women arrive at this tomb
This is what they were expecting
To their dismay they discover the tomb is no longer sealed
The stone had been rolled away
So they go in to find that the body of Jesus is gone
And this leaves them confused
While they are racking their brains
Two messengers, much like the messengers we have seen Daniel visited by,
Appear by these women
And they ask such a great question
Why do you seek the living among the dead?
He is risen!
Jesus is risen indeed!
These messengers refer back to passages like we read a minute ago
Telling these women that Jesus told them this would happen
Suddenly, it clicked
So they go and get the other disciples
Even though we are told the disciples dismissed this report
Peter got up and ran to the tomb
and instead of seeing Jesus
All he found in the tomb were the linen cloths
An interesting detail that we will see later connects to
The resurrection of Jesus was an act of God
Looking at Scripture as a whole, we see all three members of the Trinity were involved in this
For this reason the Father loves me, because I lay down my life that I may take it up again. No one takes it from me, but I lay it down of my own accord. I have authority to lay it down, and I have authority to take it up again. This charge I have received from my Father.”
But God raised him from the dead, and for many days he appeared to those who had come up with him from Galilee to Jerusalem, who are now his witnesses to the people. And we bring you the good news that what God promised to the fathers,
But God raised him from the dead, and for many days he appeared to those who had come up with him from Galilee to Jerusalem, who are now his witnesses to the people. And we bring you the good news that what God promised to the fathers, this he has fulfilled to us their children by raising Jesus, as also it is written in the second Psalm, “ ‘You are my Son, today I have begotten you.’
But God raised him from the dead, and for many days he appeared to those who had come up with him from Galilee to Jerusalem, who are now his witnesses to the people. And we bring you the good news that what God promised to the fathers, this he has fulfilled to us their children by raising Jesus, as also it is written in the second Psalm, “ ‘You are my Son, today I have begotten you.’ And as for the fact that he raised him from the dead, no more to return to corruption, he has spoken in this way, “ ‘I will give you the holy and sure blessings of David.’ Therefore he says also in another psalm, “ ‘You will not let your Holy One see corruption.’
But God raised him from the dead, and for many days he appeared to those who had come up with him from Galilee to Jerusalem, who are now his witnesses to the people.
and was declared to be the Son of God in power according to the Spirit of holiness by his resurrection from the dead, Jesus Christ our Lord,
But you see, it was just bringing the broken body of Jesus Christ,
The man who hung on the cross
Who was hung on the cross
Back physically
R.C. Sproul explains;
“It was a transformation of Jesus’ humanity that enabled Him to appear, vanish, and move unseen from one location to another. It was the creative renewing of His body, to become the body that is now fully glorified and deathless.”
Jesus was correct when He promised, Death will be over soon
But it wasn’t just for Him
says
But our citizenship is in heaven, and from it we await a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, who will transform our lowly body to be like his glorious body, by the power that enables him even to subject all things to himself.
who will transform our lowly body to be like his glorious body, by the power that enables him even to subject all things to himself.
Jesus Christ, the Son of God lives in and through this glorious body
who has become a priest, not on the basis of a legal requirement concerning bodily descent, but by the power of an indestructible life.
but he holds his priesthood permanently, because he continues forever.
and He will continue to live on forever
tells us that we who are in Christ will be transformed likewise
I tell you this, brothers: flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God, nor does the perishable inherit the imperishable. Behold! I tell you a mystery. We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised imperishable, and we shall be changed. For this perishable body must put on the imperishable, and this mortal body must put on immortality. When the perishable puts on the imperishable, and the mortal puts on immortality, then shall come to pass the saying that is written: “Death is swallowed up in victory.”
Anyone in Christ who dies before He returns will be raised and transformed
Just as Christ was raised and transformed
And death will be no more
Death will be over soon
Our faith rests on the certainty that what we are reading in truly happened
This is the Gospel message
Again, I share what R.C. Sproul writes;
“Jesus’ resurrection demonstrated His victory over death, vindicated Him as righteous, and indicated His divine identity.”
GOD: Uncertainty Will Be Over Soon ()
GOD: Uncertainty Will Be Over Soon ()
So Jesus demonstrated the reality that death will be over soon for Himself
And our hope is in the promise that it will be the reality for us as well
But you see, the antithesis of hope is doubt
or uncertainty
And it is true, we are living in uncertain times
But if we skip ahead to read the end of we see that Uncertainty Will Be Over Soon
Look at with me;
As they were talking about these things, Jesus himself stood among them, and said to them, “Peace to you!” But they were startled and frightened and thought they saw a spirit. And he said to them, “Why are you troubled, and why do doubts arise in your hearts? See my hands and my feet, that it is I myself. Touch me, and see. For a spirit does not have flesh and bones as you see that I have.” And when he had said this, he showed them his hands and his feet. And while they still disbelieved for joy and were marveling, he said to them, “Have you anything here to eat?” They gave him a piece of broiled fish, and he took it and ate before them. Then he said to them, “These are my words that I spoke to you while I was still with you, that everything written about me in the Law of Moses and the Prophets and the Psalms must be fulfilled.” Then he opened their minds to understand the Scriptures, and said to them, “Thus it is written, that the Christ should suffer and on the third day rise from the dead, and that repentance for the forgiveness of sins should be proclaimed in his name to all nations, beginning from Jerusalem. You are witnesses of these things. And behold, I am sending the promise of my Father upon you. But stay in the city until you are clothed with power from on high.” And he led them out as far as Bethany, and lifting up his hands he blessed them. While he blessed them, he parted from them and was carried up into heaven. And they worshiped him and returned to Jerusalem with great joy, and were continually in the temple blessing God.
This is a demonstration of Jesus’s glorious body just appearing in a closed room
And the first words He speaks are “Peace to you!”
But then look at the question he asks
why do doubts arise in your hearts?
Yeesh, this cuts right to the heart for all of us
We’re celebrating the resurrection of Jesus
Yet how many of us still have moments of doubt
That death will in fact be over soon for us as He promised
That even if we die before He returns
He will raise us just as He was risen
It is a bold claim, it would be understandable to have some doubt
Just like it is understandable that this man these disciples had been following
Who they just witnessed die on a cross days earlier
Has miraculously risen from the dead and appeared in their closed room
Yea, doubt is understandable
This is at the root of Jesus’s appearance
This is why He asks why doubts are arising in their hearts?
And the question turns toward us, why are doubts arising in our hearts?
The Uncertainty was over very soon for the disciples
Right there, He showed them the nail marks
He let them touch and see He was flesh and bone
Risen from the dead
So He goes on to teach them, from God’s Word
Revealing that His death and resurrection as the fulfillment of God’s Word
And tells them in vs. 47
Repentance and forgiveness of sins should be proclaimed in the name of Jesus to all nations
This is a call for all of us
to repent
to confess our sins and trust in Christ’s payment for us on the cross
Making Him Lord of your life
Then, He ascended, returning to heaven, where He sits at the right hand of the Father
serving as our Mediator
But not before sending the promise of the Father upon us
That is, the Holy Spirit
The death and resurrection of Jesus Christ guarantees those who believe forgiveness from God
What we refer to as justification for our sins
This again becomes the hope of eternal life if you believe in Christ
It uncertain times, Jesus demonstrates that uncertainty will be over soon
We must cling to this hope in the present
YOU: It’ll All Be Over Soon ()
YOU: It’ll All Be Over Soon ()
But when exactly, will this uncertainty be over?
When will death be over?
It’ll all be over soon
When Christ returns
We see this prophesied at the end of Daniel
We are no longer looking back at the resurrection of Christ
The resurrection of Christ justifies us today
And we look forward to the return of the resurrected Christ in the future
and that sanctifies us today
Meaning this future hope that it’ll all be over soon transforms us day by day
progressively making us more and more like Christ
Until we experience the full glorifying transformation when Christ returns
Flip all the way back to with me, where we conclude our Fear Less study
by looking forward to when It’ll All be over soon ()
“At that time shall arise Michael, the great prince who has charge of your people. And there shall be a time of trouble, such as never has 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 contempt. 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.” Then I, Daniel, looked, and behold, two others stood, one on this bank of the stream and one on that bank of the stream. And someone said to the man clothed in linen, who was above the waters of the stream, “How long shall it be till 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. Then I said, “O my lord, what shall be the outcome of these things?” He said, “Go your way, Daniel, for the words are shut up and sealed until the time of the end. 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. And from the 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 shall stand in your allotted place at the end of the days.”
The start of chapter 12 says “at that time”
This links verses 36-45 of chapter 11, which prophesied the reign and the ending of the future antichrist
With chapter 12
Meaning that time is the end times
Christ’s second coming
And chapter 12 begins by saying at that time
God will raise up the archangel Michael
Described here as the great prince who has charge over God’s people
Earlier in Daniel we have seen Michael
We have talked about how he is presented in
Now war arose in heaven, Michael and his angels fighting against the dragon. And the dragon and his angels fought back, but he was defeated, and there was no longer any place for them in heaven. And the great dragon was thrown down, that ancient serpent, who is called the devil and Satan, the deceiver of the whole world—he was thrown down to the earth, and his angels were thrown down with him. And I heard a loud voice in heaven, saying, “Now the salvation and the power and the kingdom of our God and the authority of his Christ have come, for the accuser of our brothers has been thrown down, who accuses them day and night before our God.
Now war arose in heaven, Michael and his angels fighting against the dragon. And the dragon and his angels fought back, but he was defeated, and there was no longer any place for them in heaven. And the great dragon was thrown down, that ancient serpent, who is called the devil and Satan, the deceiver of the whole world—he was thrown down to the earth, and his angels were thrown down with him.
Now war arose in heaven, Michael and his angels fighting against the dragon. And the dragon and his angels fought back, but he was defeated, and there was no longer any place for them in heaven. And the great dragon was thrown down, that ancient serpent, who is called the devil and Satan, the deceiver of the whole world—he was thrown down to the earth, and his angels were thrown down with him. And I heard a loud voice in heaven, saying, “Now the salvation and the power and the kingdom of our God and the authority of his Christ have come, for the accuser of our brothers has been thrown down, who accuses them day and night before our God. And they have conquered him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony, for they loved not their lives even unto death. Therefore, rejoice, O heavens and you who dwell in them! But woe to you, O earth and sea, for the devil has come down to you in great wrath, because he knows that his time is short!”
Now war arose in heaven, Michael and his angels fighting against the dragon. And the dragon and his angels fought back, but he was defeated, and there was no longer any place for them in heaven. And the great dragon was thrown down, that ancient serpent, who is called the devil and Satan, the deceiver of the whole world—he was thrown down to the earth, and his angels were thrown down with him. And I heard a loud voice in heaven, saying, “Now the salvation and the power and the kingdom of our God and the authority of his Christ have come, for the accuser of our brothers has been thrown down, who accuses them day and night before our God. And they have conquered him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony, for they loved not their lives even unto death.
We are fortunate, that God gives us a peek behind the curtain into the spiritual world in the book of Daniel
We see that God is using these angels
as spirits ministering to his people in this world
Meaning, we can have confidence God is sending His angels to minister to us still today
But specifically talks about Michael ministering during a time of trouble
God seems to intensify the involvement of his spiritual messengers on behalf of his people during the end times
God gives particular concern for His people who have been purchased by the blood of His Son
But this time of
Dale Davis comments on our neediness and the role of this unseen reality:
“From we understand Michael to be the warrior-advocate of Israel who takes up the cudgels on their behalf. There are unseen legions (cf. ; ) standing behind the wobbly people of God in their darkest trouble.”
So right at the start of this chapter
Those who are in Christ are comforted by God’s protection represented by His angels
Immediately after this comforting preface, we are confronted with the reality that teaches us;
Indeed, all who desire to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted,
This is true throughout all times for God’s people
But seems to imply that as the end draws nearer
opposition, persecution, and suffering will heighten
look again at how this verse says it
There shall be a time of trouble, such as never has been since there was a nation till that time!
Combining this with the way this prophecy describes the end times in vs. 7,
as the shattering of the power of the holy people
It is clear to see that this will be a heightened time of opposition, persecution, and suffering
Alas! That day is so great there is none like it; it is a time of distress for Jacob; yet he shall be saved out of it.
I mean, look at how Jesus describes it in ;
For in those days there will be such tribulation as has not been from the beginning of the creation that God created until now, and never will be.
This tribulation is coming
In some ways it is already here
We experience samples of it with the reality of living in a broken world
A world that can be plagued by a virus
But what the Bible is teaching us is that these samples will be amplified at the time of the end
And we have no idea when it is
So we must be ready
Be prepared for when this time comes
Dr. Daniel Akin exhorts us;
“Living as holy people, even if we are shattered, broken in pieces, must be a vital part of our discipleship. Purifying ourselves, cleansing ourselves, being refined by the power of the gospel and the Holy Spirit will not be an optional consideration. It will be essential warfare equipment for the battles we engage. It will not be a small skirmish. It will be a take-no-prisoners total war!”
even if we
It’s hard to imagine, reading the accounts of God’s people under the reign of Antiochus Epiphanes
Or the reports from Holocaust survivors like Elie Wiesel and Corrie Ten Boom
That those tragic, vile, and heinous times point toward an even worse time when the end comes
People of God, we must be ready
Trouble awaits us
Yet we can fear less
Because vs. 1 ends with the reminder that everyone whose name shall be found written in the book shall be delivered
What book is this?
;
And I saw the dead, great and small, standing before the throne, and books were opened. Then another book was opened, which is the book of life. And the dead were judged by what was written in the books, according to what they had done.
And I saw the dead, great and small, standing before the throne, and books were opened. Then another book was opened, which is the book of life. And the dead were judged by what was written in the books, according to what they had done.
And if anyone’s name was not found written in the book of life, he was thrown into the lake of fire.
Again, I share Dr. Daniel Akin’s comments;
And if anyone’s name was not found written in the book of life, he was thrown into the lake of fire.
“The antichrist may rage against the holy people of God. It may seem for a while like he will succeed and be victorious. Saints will suffer, and saints will die (as they are all around the world today). But do not panic. Don’t be afraid. Deliverance is on the way, as promised with the glorious coming of the Son of Man, the Lord Jesus Christ.”
How does one get their name written in that book?!
What do you gotta do?
Well actually, it’s already been done
Jesus Christ’s death made it possible for all people to have their name written in the book of life
All you have to do is believe this to be true
Trust in Christ
Confess Jesus as Lord of your life
And your name will be written in that book permanently
And your deliverance and eternal life will be secured
Jesus paid for our sins with His death
and His resurrection put the end to death
Vs. 2 presents a resurrection as well
securing eternal life for us
Part of this eternal life
Includes a future bodily resurrection for those of us who die before His return
Just like Jesus rose from the dead
He will rise us from the dead
Mitchell Chase comments;
“The promise of resurrection and shining was inaugurated by the Lord Jesus Christ and will be fulfilled at his triumphant return.”
prophecies about those who sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake
This bodily resurrection is followed by judgment for all people
And one of two fates awaits each person
some to everlasting life, those whose name is in the book of life
and the rest to shame and everlasting contempt
Or as Revelation described it, being thrown into the lake of fire
describes the lake of fire;
And the smoke of their torment goes up forever and ever, and they have no rest, day or night, these worshipers of the beast and its image, and whoever receives the mark of its name.”
But the reality is we all are found guilty
All of us, not one of us have lived a truly perfect life
Yes, living an imperfect life is what it means to be human
But it also means we have committed what the Bible calls sin
Those of us who’s names are in the book of life are not there because of our own righteousness or our innate goodness
It is truly, solely, completely because of Jesus Christ and His grace granted to us
But those who don’t acknowledge that are not written in the book of life
C.S. Lewis presents a truly humbling way to view people in response to this reality;
“All day long we are, in some degree, helping each other to one or the other of these destinations…There are no ordinary people. You have never talked to a mere mortal…It is immortals whom we joke with, work with, marry, snub, and exploit—immortal horrors or everlasting splendours.”
When we interpret the world and people in the world this way
We are much more likely to live as the wise in vs. 3
Pointing people to Jesus
John Calvin says in response:
“No one of God’s children ought to confine their attention privately to themselves, but as far as possible, everyone ought to interest himself in the welfare of his brethren. God has deposited the teaching of his salvation with us, not for the purpose of our privately keeping it to ourselves, but of our pointing out the way of salvation to all mankind.”
But then immediately after this description of the wise in vs. 3
We come to vs. 4 that almost seems like a contradiction
Daniel is commanded to shut up the words and seal the book until the time of the end
Which almost seems like Daniel is being told, hide these words, keep them secret
But we see this phrase, seal the book, in other OT prophecies
and each time it is used in a sense of preservation
Meaning, preserve these words
Keep them safe
Because God’s people needs them
Especially as we move closer toward that time of the end
But what does the messenger mean when he tells Daniel many shall run to and fro, and knowledge shall increase at the end of vs. 4?
One commentary suggests;
“Many will roam about seeking answers that will be found in the book of Daniel. Moreover, in that day, knowledge will increase, possibly referring to the understanding of Daniel’s prophecies as informed observers recognize the fulfillment of his predictions.”
This command was likely referring to the entirety of the book of Daniel
As Mitchell Chase reminds us;
“The people of God would need the hope of God’s Word in their seasons of suffering, and Daniel’s visions exalted the sovereign plan and power of God over earthly kingdoms and blasphemous opposition. The readers would need to know of God’s certain triumph, which would compel their endurance and goad them in paths of righteousness.”
After Daniel is commanded to seal up these important words that have remained for us today
We see the vision shift in verses 5-9
First, two others join in vs. 5
Then in vs. 6, a man clothed in linen
This man clothed in linen was hovering above the waters of the stream
Who could this be?
To answer this question, we begin with how this man is described
clothed in linen
Coleman Ford teaches us about this description;
“The term ‘linen’ appears 85 times in the Old Testament, and around 19 times in the New Testament. In New Testament context, it primarily appears in the context of Jesus’ burial…The Bible links linen to wealth or honor…Linen is also connected to the holiness of God, of God’s dwelling place, and of those associated with Him…All four of the Gospels note that Jesus’ burial cloth was linen.”
This man clothed in linen directly correlates with the passage we read earlier in
Where the only thing Peter found in Jesus’ empty tomb after His resurrection was the linen cloths
So this man clothed in linen was none other than Jesus Christ, the same man who would be clothed in linen when He was placed in the tomb
So this man clothed in linen was none other than Jesus Christ, the
Where He rose from the dead!
Clearly this man clothed in linen is an authority
These other two are likely angels
and they are asking Him when these wonders will end
As Jesus teaches in ;
“But concerning that day or that hour, no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father.
In response to their question
Christ raises both hands to heaven and swears by him who lives forever
Something God does in other parts of the OT
Providing further evidence that this man clothes in linen is a divine figure
His oath is that it would be for a time, times, and half a time
Many believe this means three and a half years
and that it would be at the end of the shattering of the holy people
Ligon Duncan comments on this;
“When evil has done its worst, we are told, as soon as [it finishes] shattering the power of the holy people, all these events will be complete. When evil has done its worst and the hope of the people of God seem shattered, then God will act. The grim work of the oppressors will roll on and on and on. But at the appropriate moment God will intervene.”
In vs. 8, Daniel responds the way probably all of us can relate to
God, I hear you, but I don’t get it
So he asks, what’s the outcome going to be?
And Daniel once again, gets a response from God all of us can relate to
God answers, but it probably wasn’t the answer Daniel was looking for
Go your way, God commands Daniel
The words are shut up and sealed until the time of the end
Basically, God is telling Daniel to continue to go about his life
God gave Daniel His Word and is saying that is it
I have given you what you need, and it is enough
Mitchell Chase comments;
“Daniel was not to worry about what he did not know, for the vision had been and would be preserved for future readers. For now, Daniel was to move on with his life. No more revelation would be given to him.”
Likewise for us, we have been given God’s Word and we ask God for more
We want more details, we want to have all the answers, we want the future laid out
It seems harmless to ask for that right?
Wrong, because we want these things so that we don’t have to trust God
We deceive ourselves, hoping to get answers from God so that we will know enough that we no longer need to depend on God
So that we can be like God
hmmm, that sounds familiar
Where have we heard that before?
Oh yea, that is the line Satan used to deceive the first man and woman
And here we are, still today, tempted by those same schemes of the enemy
The Word God has given us is enough for a life a faithfulness
and everything will happen on God’s timing
We must practice patience, trust, and faithfulness until it is over
The response in vs. 10 does seem to give some details though
And these details serve as motivation to go on living in patience, trust, and faithfulness
Because Jesus teaches that those individuals will be purified, made white, refined
While in contrast, the wicked, the ones who seek to be like God, won’t understand
They will remain enemies of God
Their hearts will be hardened as they continue in their sin and rebellion against God
Dale Davis provides a fitting summary:
“The wicked will—what else—act wickedly…None of the wicked will understand [cf. ], but only the wise will come to understand…The wicked remain in their accustomed darkness, but the Lord’s wise ones will discern the issues of the time, what they are called to do and what it will cost them.”
But remember back when Daniel said he heard but did not understand in vs. 8?
Well it is our turn to embrace this confession
Vs. 11-12, I hear them, but I don’t understand them
There are aspects of these verses that I believe we will understand in the future
But that time has not yet come
We do see one familiar phrase in vs. 11
That is the abomination that makes desolate
This is a phrase that implies the worship of God being hindered and replaced with idolatrous worship
This took place historically under the reign of Antiochus Epiphanes
But it is a phrase Jesus uses in the New Testament in the context of His second coming as well
So that is likely, in part, what vs. 11 is talking about
But the 1, 290 days and the 1, 335 days
There are some scholars who have attempted to piece together some potential timelines
But I don’t find them convincing
And honestly, I haven’t the foggiest notion what these dates are talking about
But in regard to this fog, once more I reference Dr. Daniel Akin;
“I believe, we can say: our Lord promises to bless those who endure and persevere through these difficult and troubling times of opposition and persecution. These specific numbers affirm God’s sovereign control over the details of history. Things will move ahead as he has decreed, and things will also end as he has decreed. There is wonderful hope and assurance even if there remains mystery concerning the particularities.”
WE: Live as One Who Trusts It Will Be Over Soon
WE: Live as One Who Trusts It Will Be Over Soon
The end of the Book of Daniel is a personal exhortation and encouragement to Daniel
Go your way till the end
And you shall rest and shall stand in your allotted place at the end of the days
This rest is likely a reference to Daniel’s death
The bodily resurrection in the future includes Daniel
meaning he will be resurrected at the end of the days and he shall stand in his allotted place in the presence of God
This exhortation and encouragement serves us as well
Just like Daniel
We are to be faithful to the responsibilities God has given us
Go, make disciples, teach God’s Word, love God, love others, and endure
Because it’ll be over soon
Therefore, we should live as those who trust it will be over soon
I guarantee you that you will feel like your life ended sooner
Therefore, we should live as those who trust it will be over soon
In closing, I want to share the summary of Daniel the man given by Mitchell Chase:
“Exiled as a teenager and now an old man purified by trial, Daniel knew firsthand the might and majesty of the world’s true Lord. His many visions proved that God’s wise timetable was the track of the trains of worldly kingdoms. Rulers rise and fall, nations come and go, but the course of history will unfold to its appointed goal: the display of God’s glory in salvation through judgment.”
How did God display His glory in salvation through judgment?
On the cross
When He poured out His judgment on Jesus Christ
And how was resurrection for Daniel accomplished?
Through the act of God we are celebrating today
The resurrection of Jesus Christ
and like Daniel, because of the resurrection of Jesus Christ
We will be resurrected
And death, uncertainty, and the like
It’ll be over soon
Please join me in prayer
ADVERTISEMENT