And it's a very exciting end, an encouraging end.
So we're going to look at that this morning, but before we do,
Nick is going to come and read for us Daniel chapter 12. Thanks, Nick.
Daniel chapter 12, and this is on page 898 of the Red Church Bible.
You have that.
At that time, Michael, the great prince who protects your people, will arrive.
There will be a time of distress, such as not happened from the beginning of nations until then.
But at that time, your people, everyone whose name is found written in the book, will be delivered.
Multitudes who sleep in the dust of the earth will awake.
Some to everlasting life.
Others to shame and everlasting contempt.
Those who are wise will shine like the brightness of the heavens.
And those who lead many to righteousness, like the stars, forever and ever.
But you, Daniel, close up and seal the words of the scroll until the time of the end.
Many will go here, and there will be no increased knowledge.
Then I, Daniel, looked, and there before me stood two others, one on this bank of the river and one on the opposite bank.
One of them said to the man clothed in linen, who was above the waters of the river,
how long will it be before these astonishing things are fulfilled?
The man clothed in linen, who was above the waters of the river, lifted his right hand and his left hand toward the heaven.
And I heard him swear by him who lives forever, saying,
It will be for a time, times, and time and a half.
When the power of the holy people has been finally broken, all these things will be completed.
I heard, but I did not understand.
So I asked,
My Lord, what will the outcome of all this be?
He replied,
Go your way, Daniel, because the words are closed up and sealed until the time of the end.
Many will be purified, made spotless and refined,
but the wicked will continue to be wicked.
None of the wicked will understand,
but those who are wise will understand.
From the time that the daily sacrifice is abolished
and the abomination that causes desolation is set up,
there will be 1,290 days.
Blessed is the one who waits for and reaches the end of the 1,335 days.
As for you,
go your way till the end.
You will rest,
and then, at the end of the days,
you will rise to receive your allotted inheritance.
Thanks very much, Nick.
Well, verse 8 is always encouraging, isn't it?
I heard, but I didn't understand.
If Daniel didn't understand,
then I don't think perhaps we understand either.
So maybe we need to ask for God's help of the Holy Spirit to help us understand.
Let's pray together.
Our Father God,
we do come to your word as people who struggle at times to understand everything that you say.
It's hard to work out,
and it's hard for us to see how it applies to our life.
So we come and ask that by the power of your Holy Spirit,
you would give us not just an understanding with our minds,
but that by your Spirit you would open up our hearts,
that we might see you and understand clearly what you are saying to us,
that it may change us and transform us,
and help us to be a people who look forward in great hope
and great anticipation.
So please help us through this morning, we pray in Jesus' name.
Amen.
The car is packed.
The children are sitting comfortably.
Mom has a supply of snacks and drinks,
but only five minutes down the road,
there is a little cry from the back.
Are we there yet?
Ever heard that before?
Maybe you've said it.
There's this longing and a hoping for the journey to be over.
They just want to be home.
How long is it going to go on for?
How long must we wait?
Now that's the cry of every Christian who lives in this world.
Look at verse 6.
One of them, this is one of the people he sees in the vision,
said to the man clothed in linen,
who is above the waters of the river,
how long will it be before these astonishing things are fulfilled?
You remember back in chapter 11,
Daniel has just been given a terrifying and frightening vision of the future.
There he was told instead of things getting better,
things are going to get a whole lot worse.
Chapter 11 was there to prepare God's people
that they are going to face terrible persecution and opposition.
And so the cry goes up to God.
End of verse 6.
How long will it be before these astonishing things are fulfilled?
How long must we wait until all the struggles and all the hardships are over?
Now isn't that the cry of your heart as well?
You perhaps go to college.
You face the loneliness of being the only Christian in your class.
You head out to work on a Monday morning.
You face the rejection of colleagues because of what you believe.
You read stories of Christians around the world who are beaten, imprisoned and die for their faith.
Like the two pastors in Bangladesh who were attacked and imprisoned
because they had a baptism at their church.
Or the six families and their young children from Laos
who were kicked out of their homes and their village
with nowhere to go simply because they became followers of Jesus.
Could you imagine being kicked out of Karigaline and out of your house
because you follow Jesus?
Or the two women who were beheaded in Somalia
and their two girls age 8 and 15 being forced to watch.
And you cry out in the midst of all of this suffering
how long must we wait?
How long till all the pain is over?
How long till all the suffering ends for God's people?
Well in Daniel chapter 12 we have three answers to that question.
How long till it's all over?
Here's the first answer.
The first answer is this.
Suffering now.
Salvation later.
God's people are to expect suffering through this life
but are assured of salvation to come.
Look at verse 1 of chapter 12.
At that time Michael the great prince who protects your people will arise.
There will be a time of distress
such as has not happened from the beginning of nations until then.
He's reminding us that there's going to be an intense time of distress.
This distress is opposition and persecution.
And it's real.
And it's happening to many believers today across the world.
And what is the experience of many people across the world today
is going to happen to all believers at one stage.
If you think that is what is happening now is bad
he says it's actually only going to get worse.
A time is coming he says.
We don't know when it is.
But in the future there will be severe and widespread hostility.
Look at that little phrase in verse 1.
As has not happened from the beginning of nations until then.
Yes it's bad now.
But it will get worse.
And if you are a Christian
the promise of God today is suffering now.
It's not going to be easy to be a Christian.
But we must take comfort and encouragement.
Because in the midst of all of this
God promises salvation.
Look at the rest of verse 1.
But at that time
in this time of distress
your people
everyone
whose name is found written in the book
will be delivered.
So we're told here there's a book
and this book
is God's citizen list.
It records all the names
of all those who belong
to God's eternal kingdom.
All those people
throughout history
like Daniel
who loved and trusted God
have their names written
in permanent ink
never to be erased.
And it's in this book.
So if you today
are a follower of Jesus
your name is written
in that book too.
And you are guaranteed
and assured
that God will
deliver you
and save you.
But when is all that
going to happen?
Well look at verse 2.
Multitudes who sleep
in the dust of the earth
will awake
some to everlasting life
others to shame
and everlasting contempt.
It's reminding us
that just as everybody
who has lived in history
has died
so one day
you and I
are going to die.
And over the course of time
when we die
our physical bodies
will decompose
and they will eventually
turn to dust.
That's what it says here.
But look how that
dust time
is actually described
in verse 2.
He says
multitudes
will sleep
in the dust.
It's as if
when we die
we're actually
just all asleep.
Like when you go
to bed tonight
and you fall asleep
that's what it will be like.
It's like
we're just asleep
because one day
look at what it says
in verse 2
they will awake.
One day
God is going to come
and wake us
all up
and those
whose names
are in the book
will live forever
as citizens
of God's kingdom.
You will be
woken up
and you will live
as citizens
of God's
eternal kingdom.
But please
note the rest
of verse 2
because not
everybody
is going to
enjoy this
rising up to
everlasting life.
Look at the rest
of verse 2.
Some
will be woken up
to everlasting life
others
to shame
and everlasting
contempt.
That is
all those
who've stood
opposed to God
all people
who have rejected
God
and ignored him
and pushed him
out of their lives
all those
who've persecuted
and opposed
God's people
will be shut
out of God's
kingdom
forever.
Everlasting
contempt.
It's what the
Bible calls
hell.
Their names
will not be
in the book.
But for those
who trust
God
their names
are there
and they can
look forward
to everlasting
life.
Now
if you're a
Christian
facing
hostility
today
if you
lived in a
country
where losing
your life
because you
followed Jesus
is a reality
then you
need to know
that however
you die
or whatever
situation
you may come
up against
you need to
know that
one day
you will be
woken up
your name
will be called
from the book
and you will
rise to
everlasting
life.
But all of us
need to know
that
whichever country
we live in
that one day
we will be
woken up
as it were
our names
called from
the book
and we
will rise
to
everlasting
life.
God
will not
forget
his people
who follow
him
and who
trust him.
Yes we may
go through
all kinds
of hardships
and struggles
but one day
look at
verse 3
those who
are wise
or those
who impart
wisdom
will shine
like the
brightness
of the heavens
and those
who lead
many to
righteousness
like the
stars
forever
and forever.
This is a
wonderful picture
of what it
will be like
for God's
people in
the future.
Have you
ever looked
up at the
dark sky
at night
on a
clear night
where there's
no clouds
and all you
can see
are hundreds
and thousands
of stars
shining brightly?
Each one
is so
brilliant
and magnificent
and their
brightness
is never
fading
even when
there are
clouds
there
even
when the
sun
comes
out
they're
still
there
they're
still
lighting
it never
fades
away.
Well that
says God
is what
my people
are like.
Yes they
may die
for their
faith
yes they
may struggle
in hard
times and
difficult
times
but I
will ensure
that they
will shine
on forever
and ever
like the
stars
in the
sky.
But perhaps
you're
thinking
well I
don't live
in a
country
where people
face all
kinds of
opposition
and persecution
and if
ever I
did live
in a
country
like that
I don't
think
that I
would be
able to
keep going
as a
Christian.
Like imagine
if you or
I today
lived in a
country like
Iraq
or Sudan
or Pakistan
where it
would be
illegal for
us to
meet as
we're
meeting
today.
Where if
you had
a Bible
in your
possession
or whether
your family
knew that
you were a
follower of
Jesus
and you
knew that
you could
lose your
job
or worse
how would
you stand
in that
situation?
Could you
do it?
Well I
don't think
I would
be loyal
or faithful.
I don't
think I
could stand
up to
that
pressure.
And I
think the
truth is
there's
none of
us who
would be
able to
stand up
to that
unless
God
enabled
us and
gave us
strength.
Go back
to verse
1.
I wasn't
missing it
out but
this is
just where
it comes
helpfully.
Chapter
12 verse
1.
At that
time,
so in
this time
of distress
and difficulty,
Michael,
the great
prince who
protects your
people will
arise.
Michael,
you remember,
from chapter
10, was a
chief angel.
His role
here we're
told is to
protect and
watch over
God's people.
We can't
see him,
we can't
hear him,
he doesn't
talk to us
or communicate
to us,
but God
assures us
that his
angels will
be there
keeping us,
strengthening
us and
protecting us
in the
faith.
You see,
whenever we
face hostility,
whenever we
face struggles
as Christians,
God is
saying,
I have my
angels who
are there
fighting for
you so
that you
will stand
strong in
your faith.
So no
matter what
you come up
against,
you will
be faithful
and loyal
even in
death.
Daniel had
been promised
that there
would be
terrible things
to come,
but God
says there
will be
eternal
salvation and
until that
time,
my angels
will be there
for you,
to strengthen
you and
protect you
in your
faith.
Even if you
should lose
your life,
your faith
will still
be real.
And you
are guaranteed
that salvation
is to
come.
So that's
the first
answer.
There will
be suffering
now,
but salvation
later.
The second
answer to
the how
long is
this.
Faithfulness
now,
fulfillment
later.
God's
people are
called to
be faithful
now,
but be
assured,
the end
will
come.
Look at
verse 6.
One of
them,
this is
one of
the angels
who came
to him
in the
vision,
said to
the man
clothed
in linen,
now I
know this
may be a
little bit
hard to
get around,
but the
man clothed
in linen,
we met
him back
in chapter
10.
He was
one who
came from
God.
They're
having a
conversation
with each
other,
and this
is what
they ask.
How long
will it
be before
these
astonishing
things are
fulfilled?
How long
till all
this suffering
and all
this trouble
for God's
people is
over?
How long
do we
have to
wait?
The answer
comes at
the end
of verse
7.
He tells
us there,
it will
be for
a time,
times,
and half
a time.
Now we're
going to
come back
to that
in a
minute.
It will
be for
a time,
times,
and half
a time.
When the
power of
the holy
people has
been finally
broken,
all these
things will
be completed.
Now I
don't want
to be
sensational
here,
but I
do want
us to
take
seriously
what the
Bible is
saying to
us,
what God
is saying
to us.
He tells
us a
time is
coming,
verse 7,
when,
look at
that phrase,
when the
power of
the holy
people has
been finally
broken.
That's
scary,
because it's
telling us
that hostility
towards God's
people will
become so
great that
it will
appear that
the church,
God's people,
have been
finally defeated
and destroyed.
Now,
we might
find ourselves
hard to get
our minds
around that,
but you
think of
some of
the
countries
today
where
every
Christian
is
shut
away,
where
it's
illegal
to
meet
together,
we've
got a
little
taste
or an
insight
as to
what
that
day
will
be
like.
It'll
be like
that
for
every
Christian
in
Ireland,
America,
wouldn't
matter
where
you
lived.
this is
what the
future
will be
like.
This is
what God's
people are
to be
prepared
for.
Maybe
not for
you,
but maybe
for your
children.
If not
your
children,
maybe
their
grandchildren.
It will
happen.
So,
what are
we to
do?
Be
faithful.
Be
faithful.
Go back
to verse
three again.
it says
there,
those who
are wise
or those
who impart
wisdom
will shine
like the
brightness
of the
heavens
and those
who lead
many to
righteousness
like the
stars
forever
and ever.
He's
telling there
that God's
people are
to remain
faithful.
They are
to be
those who
prepare
others
for what
is to
come.
They're
to impart
wisdom.
them.
They're
to lead
them in
the way
of
righteousness.
They are
to get
alongside
those who
are
struggling
in the
faith
and to
encourage
them to
keep on
going and
not to
give up.
Yes,
they're
suffering
now.
Yes,
it will
be hard,
but eternal
salvation
will follow.
Don't
give up.
Keep
going.
God's
love.
Now,
of course,
we don't
need to
live in
a hostile
country to
need this
kind of
support.
I need
that support.
You need
that support.
We need
encouragement
to be
faithful to
God.
We face
pressures of
life.
We have
our own
sinfulness
to deal
with.
The
temptations
that the
enemy
brings
can cause
us to
wander
and to
drift away
from
God.
All
kinds of
difficulties
we face
and we
wander
away.
That's
why we
need
each
other.
That's
why we
meet
together
on a
Sunday.
That's
why we
meet
on a
Wednesday
to
encourage
each
other
and
strengthen
each
other
in
the
faith,
to
impart
wisdom,
to lead
each
other
in
righteousness,
to read
the Bible
with them,
to pray
for each
other,
to say
be
faithful,
keep
on
going.
But we
know that
this will
not go
on
forever.
It will
not be
like this
forever.
Look at
verse 7
again.
He says
this is
going to
be,
or it
will
last,
for a
time,
times,
and half
a time.
So if you
got your
calculators out,
are you ready?
How long
is a
time,
times,
half a
time?
Here's the
answer.
It's a
time,
times,
and half
a time.
time.
In other
words,
we don't
know how
long this
time is,
but we
do know
that the
troubles that
we will
face will
only last
for a
limited
time.
It's
specific.
Look at
the end
of verse
7.
It will
be for
a time
when all
these things
will be
completed
or fulfilled.
We might
not know
how long
we have
to wait,
but God
knows the
number of
days.
The
distress
God's
people will
have to
face is
restricted.
It will
not go
on forever.
It will
come to
an end.
It will
be completed.
It will
be fulfilled.
When I
was a
teenager,
I did a
sponsored
walk from
Waterford to
Dublin.
It took
me three
days,
and the
closer I
got to
my
destination,
the
harder
it got.
I
longed
for the
finish.
In my
mind,
it was
just never
going to
end.
It didn't
matter how
far I
walked.
I
didn't
seem I
got
anywhere
closer.
My
support
team,
which
consisted
of my
sister,
cycled
alongside,
drove
alongside.
Yes,
you were
there as
well,
mother,
but that
was at
the
very
beginning,
not at
the
end.
Don't
worry.
Keep
on going,
she said.
It's not
much
further.
You're
almost
there.
Keep
on going.
And if
it weren't
for the
support,
you'd
stop.
But there
was an
end,
and it
did finish.
And that's
what I
want us to
grasp,
that in the
Christian life,
we will face
all kinds of
obstacles and
struggles,
and we need to
get alongside
each other,
to encourage
each other,
and say,
keep on
going.
we mightn't
see an
end to
it.
We mightn't
think that
it's going
to finish,
but here
he's telling
us it
will last
for a
specific
time,
and all
these things
will be
fulfilled and
completed.
It will
come to
an end.
So be
faithful now.
Support and
encourage each
other in
your walk
with God.
That's the
second answer.
The third
answer is
this.
Refined
now,
resurrection
later.
God's
people,
as we
wait for
that time
at the
end,
we are
going to
go through
a time
of refining,
but
resurrection
awaits.
Look at
verse 8.
I heard,
but I
did not
understand.
So I
asked,
my Lord,
what will
the outcome
of all
this be?
What's it
going to
be like
as we're
waiting for
the end?
What can
I expect?
What's
going to
go on?
Well,
the answer
comes in
verse 10.
He says,
many will
be purified,
many made
spotless,
many refined,
but the
wicked will
continue to
be wicked.
So God
is very
clear,
isn't he?
He's not
going to
remove
wickedness.
He's not
going to
remove
suffering,
but he's
going to
use it
for our
good.
He's not
going to
remove it,
but he will
use it for
our good.
Just as a
metal worker
uses fire
to refine
and strengthen
steel,
so God
uses the
fire of
suffering
to refine
us and
strengthen
us in
our faith.
The
apostle
Peter said
something
similar.
It's
quoted
there.
Peter,
you remember,
wrote to
scattered
Christians
at the
time of
Nero,
the Roman
Empire,
who
persecuted,
crucified
Christians,
did all
kinds
of
terrible
people.
He
was
out.
What I will remember, the attainedруш dislikes, is not sort of an invitation before setting a