Today is our last Sunday looking at Daniel.  God has been showing us together more about His sovereignty - challenging us to trust Him more - to use the truth that we’ve been looking at in our daily lives. Can you say amen to that?  Praise God for what He’s been showing us.

Coming to Daniel 12 - the last chapter in Daniel - think with me for a moment about the reasons we’ve been looking at this book.

On the top left - these are Christian refugees in Lebanon.  To the right is a Church service in Bagdad - where Christians have said they’re not leaving.  Below is a reminder of what we’ve seen - a church in Syria with the cross replaced by the flag of ISIS.

Last month - ISIS raided approximately 35 different Christian villages in Syria and abducted 100’s of men, women and children.  Some of the hostages were martyred.  Some of the hostages were released.  One of the released hostages said, “They kept pressuring us to convert to Islam...  We said we would not convert.”  (1)

Open Doors recently reported that in the 24 years that they’ve been tracking numbers on global persecution, 2014 was the most violent year of Christian persecution and was far worse than the year before.

David Curry the President of Open Doors said this, “Perhaps most chilling is the fact that all the factors, all of the issues that made this a violent year for Christian persecution are still in place…” (2)

A while back Voice of the Martyrs shared about one Egyptian Christian who approached two imams of a large mosque.  He told them, “I want to know about the truth and talk about Islam.”  The imams were delighted and told him to come to the mosque the following day at one o’clock.

The next day when the Christian walked in, he was surprised to see the two leaders sitting there with 10 of their students - their disciples.  The Christian prayed, “Oh God, help me find a way to talk to them.”  He was outnumbered and surrounded by enemies.  Sitting down on the carpet with the group, he addressed the imam with the traditional term “beloved.”  The imam stopped him.  “You cannot call me that!  I cannot love you as a friend.”  (cf. Surah  4:144; 5:51)

The Christian opened his Bible to Matthew 5:  “But my holy book, the Bible commands me to love you.  Jesus said we should love our enemies.”  (Matthew 5:44,45)

The imam’s disciples were watching this exchange with great interest.  One of them turned and asked the imam, “Why can’t we be a friend to him?”  Another asked, “Why does god say we must hate him, but his God tells him to love us?” 

The imam stood up - furious - tried to speak - but his anger - or the hand of God - caused his voice to choke up.  He put his hand on his own throat - his face turning red - he whirled around and left the room.

The Muslim disciples moved closer on the rug - gathering around the Christian.  They asked questions for the rest of the afternoon - wanting to know more about this power to love your enemies. (3)

Have you ever asked yourself:  Would I have what it takes to live for Jesus in those circumstances - under hardship - facing persecution - maybe death?  To forgive our tormentors.  To bless and pray for those who persecute us.  To work for their salvation.

There’s a part of us that’s in awe of their sacrifice.  There’s a part of us that may even envy those who have such commitment.  Wouldn’t it be great if we could live that courageously for Jesus?  And yet we hesitate - thinking about the depth of that commitment.  What that would really mean for us?  Giving everything.  Death to self.  Life is about God - period. 

When we began our look at Daniel - and as we’ve been moving through this book - we’re seeing that the kind of courage we see in our brothers and sisters in captive lands is the same courage we need to live for Jesus right here in Merced.  Different circumstances - or tactics.  But the same enemy.  The same war.  The same need for commitment and courage and the same source of that courage.

Courage to live for Jesus - to share Jesus with others - at school - at work - in our families.  To not go there - when going there means participating in conversation and stuff that we know is ungodly.  To not get sucked in by this society with its degrading morals.  Courage to stand as a man or women of God - to stand firm for Jesus in a society that’s growing increasingly hostile to the things of God - hostile towards Christians.  Courage to do what’s unpopular - misunderstood - ridiculed - to face rejection - isolation - arrest - even though what we’re doing is right before God.

Sometimes we just need courage to get up and face a new day - to just keep going - especially when life throws stuff at us that’s just totally wrong.  Courage to trust God when our time and finances get crunched - serving with our time and talents and giving financially when everything around us is leading us to doubt and trust our own thinking and cleverness.

The questions we asked were these:  Where does this courage come from?  What does this courage look like?  How can we have that kind of courage in our lives?

As we’ve been doing we’re going to go through chapter 12 - unpacking as we go along - and then come to application for our lives.

Daniel 12:1  “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.

Let’s pause there.  Verses 1 to 4 focus on The Time of The End - what’s coming in future history.

Verse 1 begins:  “At that time…”  Which prompts the question:  “At what time?”   

Chapter 12 is the last chapter in a sequence of 3 chapters.  Chapters 10 to 12 are 3 chapters that together focus on 1 last vision given to Daniel.

Beginning in chapter 10 we saw Daniel - out east of Babylon - by the Tigris river - mourning over his people - in prayer - an intense time of focusing on God.  Daniel is praying for his people who’ve gone back from Babylon to rebuild Jerusalem - and they’ve been discouraged by the opposition which has come up against them.  Daniel is in prayer for those of his people that have remained in Babylon - they’ve distracted by the wealth there.

God is ready to bless them tremendously - but God’s people - discouraged - distracted - have turned from trusting God.  Daniel is mourning over what he sees coming as very disastrous future for His people.

We saw that God sent an angel to answer Daniel’s prayer.  Remember this?  We heard that angel tell Daniel that there’s a spiritual battle going on behind the scenes of history - a reality behind our reality.  Things are going to get worse - especially for God’s people.  But, God - giving Daniel a vision of future history - that we can look back on - and see that that vision was fulfilled with 100% accuracy.

Which - last Sunday - was a lot to take in.  Yes?  But the point being   God demonstrating His foreknowledge and sovereignty over history - to give Daniel and God’s people - and us - courage to trust Him with what is yet to come.

“At that time” - 12:1 - continues what the angel has been telling Daniel in chapter 11.  “That time” is the time yet to come - even for us.  The time of the end - the time of the anti-Christ - when future history is comes to its God appointed end.

Verse 1 tells us that Michael the great prince - the great angel who fights for the Hebrew people - Michael will arise - will stand to defend God’s people.  Why?  Because there’s coming a time of unprecedented distress - anguish - tribulation - destruction - evil on a rampage - violence and hatred for God’s people.

There’s always been distress in the world.  Yes?  God’s people have always been persecuted.  But this time of the end persecution - this persecution will be so bad - so evil - that nothing that has gone on before will even come close.

Verse 1 also gives us a promise that we need to hang on to.  “At that time… your people shall be delivered.”  Which is a promise God makes to Daniel and to God’s people - to us.

“Deliver” translates the Hebrew word “malat” - which is a word used to describe the delivery of a baby - the process of birth.  Which may sound a little strange.  But the idea is God birthing people - from in the womb life or here and now life - to new life - think resurrection and eternal life with God.  We need to be careful to understand what that means. 

Do you remember when Jesus was coming up from the Jordan River to Bethany - to the home of his friends Martha, Mary, and Lazarus.  His friend Lazarus has been dead four days.  Familiar scene.  As Jesus is  coming up the road Martha goes out to meet Him.

Martha says to Jesus, “Lord, if You had been here, my brother would not have died.”  In other words, “You could have healed him.”

Jesus says to Martha, “Your brother will rise again.”

Martha says, “I know that he will rise again in the resurrection on the last day.”

Which is Martha claiming this promise that was made to Daniel.

What does Jesus answer Martha?  “I am the - what?  the resurrection and the life; Whoever believes in Me, though he die, yet shall he - what?  Live, and everyone who lives and believes in Me shall never die.  Do you believe this?”

Jesus takes the promise made to Daniel - claims that He’s the fulfillment of that promise - and asks Martha if she believes.  The validation that God will fulfill this promise made to Daniel - in Jesus Who is the resurrection and the life - the proof of Jesus’ claim comes as Jesus calls into the tomb and Lazarus - 4 days dead - walks out under His own power.  Jesus who also raised Himself from death.  (John 11:1-44)

Point being that Jesus is the means of our delivery into resurrected eternal - everlasting life - with God. 

Now, we need to be careful.  There’s a condition.  Daniel 12:2:  “...at that time - of the end - when some people are going to be sleeping in the dust - meaning dead and buried - and some people are going to be alive and walking the earth - at that time your people shall be delivered - who gets delivered? - Daniel’s people - the Hebrews - God’s people.

Some people get delivered to everlasting life.  Some get people are resurrected to shame and everlasting contempt.  All of us are headed into eternity.  The question is where we’re going to spend eternity.  It all depends on if our name is found written in the... book.

Fast forward to Revelation 20 - verse 11.  There’s a time of the end event described here that gives us more information about what’s being said in Daniel 12:1,2.  Revelation 20:11 is the scene of final judgment - the great white throne at the end of future history.  Humanity standing before the throne to be judged.  Books are opened.  One book is the Book of Life.  Same book as in Daniel 12.

Revelation 20:15:  “...if anyone’s name was not found written in the book of life, he was thrown into the lake of fire” - meaning judgment and punishment and eternal separation from God - eternal shame and contempt - eternal death.  Same condition.  Same judgment.  Same two eternal destinies.

Be born Hebrew - do all the cultural - kept the law of Moses stuff - be born into a Christian home - go to church - tithe - get baptized - read the Bible cover to cover including the maps and concordance - but unless our name is written in the Book of Life - we’re facing eternal death - eternal separation from God - forever torment and punishment.

Having our names written in the Book of Life - delivery into everlasting life with God - eternal blessing and joy in the presence of God - all that is unimaginably - infinitely - better.  Yes?

How do we get our name written in that book?  Jesus to Martha:  “Do you believe?”  Trusting in Jesus.  Jesus who’s the fulfillment of God’s promise made to Daniel - demonstrated in resurrecting Lazarus - proven by His own resurrection.   

That’s a promise of God to Daniel and God’s people.  Regardless of the time of the end unleashed evil that’s coming - this promise - given to Daniel - realized through Jesus - is for us.  We need to hang on to that promise - to keep trusting in Jesus - regardless of what gets thrown against us.

Let’s go on - the time of the end - verse 3:  And those who are wise…

Let’s be clear:  True wisdom is not just knowing what God says - but allowing God to apply His knowledge to the circumstances of our lives.  Just being Hebrew - just knowing how to act Christian and doing Christian things isn’t wisdom.  At the heart level trusting God with our lives - trusting His promise - believing in Jesus - turning from our sin and submitting our lives to Him - letting Him lead us through life - that’s wisdom.

Wisdom is the “I will trust God” application of Godly knowledge to the circumstances of our lives.  What is believing in Jesus - my name is in the Book of Life - certainty.

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.”

Two things we need to understand.

First:  What is meant by sealing and concealing.

There’s a story about a contest between Jesus and Moses.  Forget the theology of this.  Just go with it.  Okay.  Jesus and Moses have this contest to see who is the fastest typist.

So, they’re both given copies of the collective works of William Shakespeare to type.  They sit down with their computers and are given 1 hour to type as much Shakespeare as they can type in 1 hour.

At 55 minutes they’re pretty much even - furiously typing away.  With 1 minute to go there’s a power fluctuation and both computers turn off.  Both Jesus and Moses reboot.  Jesus hits print and out comes the works of Shakespeare.  Moses has nothing.

Jesus wins.  Why?  Because Jesus saves!

In Daniel’s day they would make back-up copies of an original document.  When a scribe finished taking dictation - like when Daniel is coming to the end of writing down what the angel is telling him - when the document was finished the seal of the recording scribe was imprinted on the tablet - the original document - so it couldn’t be tampered with - or added to.  When the back-up copies were made they also had to have that same seal on them to show that the original writer verified the accuracy of the copy.

That’s “sealing.”  The original is complete - the copies - passed on to others - are accurate.

“Concealing” has a similar meaning.  “Concealing” in the original Hebrew has the idea of guarding something - preserving it - protecting it.  In other words, “Daniel, keep the original document in a safe place.”

Point being that Daniel wasn’t to hide what was revealed to him.  He was to protect its accuracy and distribute it - so that people - even us today -  and to the end of future history - God’s people will be able to read with confidence about God’s promises.

Second - we need to be clear on what it means that knowledge shall  increase.

History question:  The first President Bush talked about “a thousand points of - what?  light.”  Community organizations that are spread out across the US - brilliant points of light - shining like stars - working to contribute to society - solve problems - better the lives of others.

Verse 3 is God’s millions and millions of points of light program.

Knowledge increases because Daniel - and those who came after him - they preserved and studied this book.  Then, they explained what they knew to others - pointing them towards God - towards living rightly - righteously - before God.  Living - trusting in the promises of God.

The evidence of what they’ve done, God says, will shine like stars forever and ever.  We see that in what Martha told Jesus.  We see that today as we’re reading and studying Daniel - claiming these promises for ourselves.

Let’s be careful.  Because we have knowledge that the time of end will come and we know God’s promises - we also need to understand that we are not end users of that knowledge.  What we’re doing here today - going through all this time of the end prophecy - isn’t something that we can listen to and then go on with our lives.  There are serious implications and opportunities for us.

God has placed each one of us here with a purpose - to shine.  We’re next in that line of stars - to preserve - study - and encourage others to trust God - to believe in His promises.  We have the opportunity to increase knowledge. 

People need to know about Jesus and what it means to be delivered - especially during the really evil times that are coming.  When people are living in fear and uncertainty - heading for eternal death - people need to know the hope we live by.

Verses 5 to 8 bring us to Daniel’s Questions. 

Verse 5:  Then I, Daniel, looked, and behold, two others stood, one on this bank of the stream and one on that bank of the stream - the Tigris River -   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?”

How long?  How long until the end?  To the point of no return?  People have been asking that question since people have been asking that question.

Verse 7:  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?”

How long?  Answer:  Time, times, and half a time - until the power of the holy people is shattered and all these things are finished.  To which Daniel replies:  “Huh?  I heard it.  But, I don’t get it.”  “Can you give me a tad more on that?”

Verses 9 to 13 bring us to God’s Final Instructions - to Daniel - and us.

Verse 9:  He said - who said?  The angel 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.

That clarifies it doesn’t it?  About as clear as mud in a pig pen.

The righteous being purged - purified - refined - the wicked acting wickedly - all that goes on until the 1,290 days and the 1,335 days are completed.  When we looked at chapter seven (7:25) we saw that “times, time, and half a time” was a prophetic way of saying 3½ years - or halfway through the 70th week of Daniel’s 70 weeks - or halfway through the tribulation - this time of unprecedented distress - or 1,260 days.  None of which seems to fit with 1,290 or 1,335 days.  Which has prompted a lot of scholarly interpretations.  But, no agreement on what all this means.

Remember this?  Family radio - Harold Camping predicted that Jesus Christ would return to Earth on May 21, 2011, whereupon the saved would be taken up to heaven in the rapture, and that there would follow five months of fire, brimstone and plagues on Earth, with millions of people dying each day, culminating on October 21, 2011, with the final destruction of the world.  But we’re still here.

There are some really solid Bible teachers that have fallen into the trap of stating with great certainty what will happen and how.  Prophetically speaking - with great certainty - on and on they go - prediction after prediction - all wrong.  All cheapening the purpose of God’s prophetic word.

Are we in the last days?  Sure.  Prophetically speaking - we’ve been in the last days since Jesus died on the cross.  That is the standard - anyone who’s a Bible scholar worth the papyrus their diploma is printed on - clearly understood understanding of what the Bible means by “the last days.”  These are the last days and have been for almost 2,000 years.

Are the events happening around us now the final - time of the end - events Daniel saw?  Maybe yes.  Maybe no.  Which is where we get ourselves into trouble saying with arrogant certainty that they are.

Its significant that the angel never really answers Daniel in a way that clarifies future history.  The answer is concealed and sealed - which is slightly different here than in verse 4.  Here it means that that what is written about future history - the record of what will happen - is complete, accurate, and unalterable - preserved.

Knowledge of it will increase only as the events take place.  And, only the righteous will understand it.  God’s people will gain knowledge of it in real time as they see the events unfolding.

Let’s not be discouraged or give up on studying what God has preserved for us.  The best scholars don’t understand all this.  Daniel didn’t understand it all.  And he had an angel talking to him. 

The point is that God wants us to “get it” - but not as arguing points - pitting scholars against each other.  The point isn’t to divide into camps:  Pre trib - mid trip - post trib - pre mill - a mill - wish I had a mill.  Point isn’t to have a long list of the way we know its all going to come down.  That isn’t God’s purpose.

Prophecy is always about God.  Prophecy gives knowledge about God.  Prophecy is about God and His people.  Prophecy points God’s people to God.  Encouraging God’s people to trust God.

So - just like those who came after Daniel who saw prophecy fulfilled in their day - we will know what’s happening as it happens.  Someday we’ll look back on how all this was brought about and marvel at what God has accomplished.  We will gain knowledge to trust God - to testify of God - to courageously stand for God - in the midst of whatever unspeakable evil we may be assaulted with.

The bottom line here is the instruction given to Daniel in verse 9, “Go your way Daniel.”  That same instruction is repeated in verse 13.  But go your way till the end.  And you shall rest and shall stand in your allotted place at the end of the days.”

Scripture repeats things - why?  So, we get it.  God’s point.  His instructions.

There’s no major climax to this book.  No epitaph.  “And so Daniel lived  unto the ripe age of 90 years and thus he was buried and so he slept with his fathers.”  Or, Daniel is carried off into heaven in a chariot of fire.  Second star on the right and straight on ‘till morning.

We’re left with the anti-climatic impression that Daniel - now pushing 90 - just goes on with his life as he has before - serving the king - doing the ordinary things - growing in knowledge - pointing others to God.  Living daily for God - courageously - living Godly in a pagan society.

Daniel riding off into the sunset by the River Tigris - the Iraqi desert - is more like Indian Jones and The Last Crusade. Cue the music and the closing credits.

How is Daniel to respond to all that’s been revealed?  How do we respond to all this?  Keep going until the time of the end.  Your allotted portion - all those promises that we can claim right along with Daniel - resurrection to eternal life - it will happen.  And, as your knowledge increases - shine.  Testify.  Tell others about Jesus.

Processing all that…  What does all that mean for us as we’re trying to follow Jesus?  Where does courage come from?  What does courage look like?  How can we have courage in our lives?

On the flip side of your Message Notes you’ll see a short summary of the main courage building points we’ve been looking at as we’ve gone through Daniel.  They’re there so that in the times when we might feel less than courageous - we can look back on these and be reminded of all that God has shown us in this book.  Briefly let’s think about these.

In chapter one we saw that we are God’s people.  We are the sons and daughters of the Almighty God of creation - created in God’s image - citizens of His Kingdom - beloved of God - heirs of the riches of heaven.

Courage comes as we learn to see ourselves as God sees us.

In chapter two we began to glimpse God’s sovereignty - a major theme in this book.

Courage comes as we remember that the sovereign God is in control over the wavering affairs of human history - even the events of our lives. 

In chapter three we saw that each of us is given a choice. 

Courage comes as we choose to value God - to see that He is greater than our circumstances - even physical death.

In chapter four we saw Nebuchadnezzar get pasteurized.  God taking this self-focused - proud - arrogant - king - and humbling him - making him like a beast for 7 years?

Courage comes when God rules over our hearts.

In chapter five we saw the handwriting on the wall.

Courage comes when stop looking to other people and things to fill the emptiness that we feel within - as we allow God to fill us and supply the deepest needs of our hearts.

In chapter six we entered the Lion’s Den.  Daniel - unwaveringly served God.  Courage and opportunity and blessing come as we totally rely on God.

Chapters one to six of Daniel are the historical section of the book - all about Daniel and his friends - exiles living courageously for God in an ungodly society.  Remember Who’s you are.  This is not about you.  It’s God who is sovereign.  In every situation He gives you a choice to trust him.  He is worthy of that trust.  He will be there for you.

Chapter 7 begins the prophetic section.  As we’ve gone through chapters 7 to 12 - we’ve seen that the purpose of prophecy is to move us closer to God - to encourage and motivate God’s people - to trust Him regardless of what we get hit with in life.

In these prophetic chapters God has been giving us a glimpse of the bigger picture - the spiritual reality behind the physical reality we live in.  There’s a spiritual battle going on that effects our lives that we’re very much a part of - that often touches our lives.  An ugly - evil battle - that will break into our world with unprecedented horror.  A battle that will only continue until God says that its finished.

Over and over we’ve seen - even in the 100% accurate fulfillment of past prophecy - we’ve seen that God is sovereign over the events of history - past - present - future - sovereign over the events that touch out lives.

That’s hard to understand - overwhelming at times - usually leaves us with more questions than answers.  But God shares all this with us to prepare us - to encourage us.

Bottom line:  Courage comes as we learn to see God at work and ourselves as a part of what He is doing.  As we learn to trust Him and to live within the promise of the life and victory we have in Jesus Christ.

_____________________

1. Christian Post, “ISIS Orders Assyrian Christian Hostages to Convert to Islam, but All Boldly Refuse to Deny Jesus Christ” - by Samuel Smith, 03.11.15: christianpost.com/news/isis-orders-assyrian-christian-hostages-to-convert-to-islam-but-all-boldly-refuse-to-deny-jesus-christ-135449/

2. Christian Post:  “Worst Christian Persecution in Over 20 Years Marks Last Year; ISIS, Islamic Extremism Mostly to Blame, Finds Open Doors Report” - By Michael Gryboski, 01.08.15: christianpost.com/news/worst-christian-persecution-in-over-20-years-marks-last-year-isis-islamic-extremism-mostly-to-blame-finds-open-doors-report-132241/

3. The Voice of the Martyrs, July 2006

Unless otherwise indicated, Scripture quotations are from The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®  (ESV®), copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.  Used by permission.  All rights reserved.