Please take your Bibles and open them up one more time to the book of Daniel.
We've come to the end of the book of Daniel this morning.
This is part two of this last long vision in Daniel chapter 10 through Daniel chapter 12.
And so if it feels, as we begin to read here in just a moment,
if it feels like we're jumping in in the middle of a conversation, we are.
This is part two of this last extended vision from 10 to 12.
But last week we saw from chapter 10 through 11 verse 35,
prophecies of events that were future for Daniel but history for us.
And now verse 36 of chapter 11 marks a turning point.
And from here forward it's events that are future for Daniel and future for us.
So if you would, let's stand once more in honor of the reading of God's word.
Daniel chapter 11 verse 36 through the end of the book.
And the king shall do as he wills.
He shall exalt himself and magnify himself above every god
and shall speak astonishing things against the god of gods.
He shall prosper till the indignation is accomplished
for what is decreed shall be done.
He shall pay no attention to the gods of his fathers
or to the one beloved by women.
He shall not pay attention to any other god
for he shall magnify himself above all.
He shall honor the god of fortresses instead of these.
A god whom his fathers did not know,
he shall honor with gold and silver,
with precious stones and costly gifts.
He shall deal with the strongest fortresses
with the help of a foreign god.
Those who acknowledge him,
he shall load with honor.
He shall make them rulers over many
and shall divide the land for a price.
At the time of the end,
the king of the south shall attack him,
but the king of the north shall rush upon him like a whirlwind
with chariots and horsemen and with many ships.
And he shall come into countries
and shall overflow and pass through.
He shall come into the glorious land
and tens of thousands shall fall,
but these shall be delivered out of his hand,
Edom and Moab
and the main parts of the Ammonites.
He shall stretch out his hand against the countries
and the land of Egypt shall not escape.
He shall become ruler of the treasures of gold and silver
and all of the precious things of Egypt
and the Libyans and the Kushites
shall follow in his train.
But news from the east and the north
shall alarm him
and he shall go out with great fury
to destroy and devote many to destruction.
And he shall pitch his palatial tents
between the sea and the glorious holy mountain.
Yet he shall come to his end
with none to help him.
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 until 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.
And then I said,
Oh 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.
This is the word of the Lord.
Let's pray once more.
Father,
we thank you
for this glorious book.
We thank you for the wisdom
and the truth
that's contained here.
And we pray,
Lord,
would you give us understanding
as we finish out
the book of Daniel this morning.
Would you show us Christ
and enlarge our hearts
that we might love him more
as we study this morning.
We pray in Jesus' name.
Amen.
You may be seated.
I gotta tell you,
I was stirred
hearing all of us
sing that song this morning.
I hope you were as well.
Because he lives,
I can face tomorrow.
Because he lives,
all fear is gone.
Because I know
who holds the future.
Life is worth the living
just because he lives.
Somebody remarked
this morning
as the musicians
were practicing
that that was a funeral song.
He liked to sing that
at funerals
and it is.
He's right.
It's an excellent,
excellent funeral song
but I would argue
it's an excellent song
for every single moment
of the Christian life.
We live each day
in the confident assurance
that we know
who holds the future.
And we live each day
in the light
of the resurrection
of the Lord Jesus Christ.
And that's an appropriate song
for us to sing this morning
because that's exactly
what we find
as we come here
to the end
of the book of Daniel.
God has been showing Daniel
this vision
of the future.
And again,
here in verse 36
of chapter 11
through the end
of the book
he shifts the attention,
shifts the scene
to things and events
that are still future
for us.
And as we think
about the future
it might be tempting
for us to worry
and to be fearful
and to be anxious.
What kind of world
will my children
grow up in?
What kind of world
will my grandchildren
grow up in?
What kind of future
do we have
to look forward to?
And I think humans
by default
are naturally curious
about the future
because by and large
none of us know
what the future holds.
We're all finding out
in real time together
but did you know
that for Christians
that's not entirely true.
God's people,
Christians,
know with certainty
what the future holds.
Maybe not specifically
every little detail
but big picture
we know exactly
what God has revealed
about the future.
And here in our passage
this morning
we see two events,
two answers
to the question
what does the future hold?
Two answers
to the question
what does the future hold?
This will be our outline
this morning
and as has been the case
with much of the back half
of Daniel
it's easy to get lost
in the weeds here
and so I want to
just very clearly
tell you
the main idea,
the big idea here,
the big idea is that
God's people
face great danger
with greater hope.
God's people
face great danger
with greater hope.
So two answers
this morning
to the question
what does the future hold?
The future holds
great danger
but the future holds
greater hope.
Let's look at each part.
First,
first we see the future
it does hold
great danger
and that may
sound like
cause for alarm
and cause for worry
but I would remind you
again this morning
that this is the same
sort of danger
that we have seen
all through
the book of Daniel.
It's the same
sort of danger
that characterizes
all of this
present evil age.
In fact,
church,
we are in the middle
of this sort of danger
right now.
It's heightened
and intensified
in the future,
yes,
but it is nothing new.
You remember last week
what did we see?
We saw this vision
of these wars
and these nations
clashing against each other,
this vision of human history
that's filled with conflict
but underneath
all of that
visible external conflict,
what was there?
It was a spiritual battle.
Underneath all of what
we can see with our eyes
is a raging spiritual conflict
that is here right now,
very present here right now,
and will last
until the return
of Christ.
We are in a spiritual battle.
That was last week.
And so how do we prepare
ourselves
for this spiritual battle?
Well,
the Chinese military general,
Sun Tzu,
in his book,
The Art of War,
has anybody ever read that book,
The Art of War?
He had the right idea.
He said,
one of the keys
to winning in battle
is,
anybody know?
Is know thy enemy.
Have you heard that?
Know thy enemy.
So here,
starting in verse 36,
God reveals to Daniel
and to us
some information,
some key information
about our enemy.
Now again,
verse 36
marks a shift in the vision.
It's a new scene.
It's a new character.
But it uses the same terminology
which makes it
a little bit confusing for us.
But most understand
this section,
verses 36
through the end
of chapter 11,
to be speaking
about the Antichrist.
It's the great
end times
enemy of God's people.
So what can we know
about the Antichrist?
Well first,
first,
God says
we can know
his character.
We can know
his character.
What will he be like?
Well,
he'll be just like
all the other
little a Antichrist
that have come before him.
He'll be the last
in a long line
of Antichrist.
Again,
none of this is new.
Look there to verse 36.
It says,
he will do
as he pleases.
Verse 36,
the king,
that's the Antichrist,
shall do
according to his will.
Not the Lord's will,
his will.
Not the Lord's command,
not the Lord's way.
It's his way.
This is the essence
of sin.
He will embody
this sinful
self-determination
and rebelliousness
against the will
of the Lord.
He will exalt himself.
He will magnify himself.
He will not magnify
the glory of God
in the gospel
of Jesus Christ.
That's our mission,
by the way.
He will exalt himself.
He will blaspheme
the Lord.
It says,
he will speak
astonishing things
against the God
of gods.
Again,
Jesus tells us
in Matthew
that out of the overflow
of the heart,
the mouth speaks.
We see his heart
on full display here.
His heart is set
against the Lord
to tear him down.
And what's his main weapon?
It's his words.
He will speak
and blaspheme
the Lord.
He will care only
about strength
and power.
He will care only
about authority,
exercising authority.
Verse 38 says,
the God that he'll serve,
the idol that he'll serve
is one of military strength.
He shall honor
the God of fortresses.
He's power hungry
and so proud
that he thinks
he will never
be defeated.
Verse 39,
says he will honor
those who serve him.
Those who acknowledge him
he shall load
with honor.
This is incredibly
seductive,
isn't it?
This is tempting.
You can think of Satan
taking the Lord Jesus
up on the mountaintop
and showing him
all the kingdoms
of the world
and what does he say?
If you will bow down
and serve me,
all of this
can be yours.
We would be wise
to ask ourselves
right now,
what could somebody
give me
that might draw
my heart away
from the Lord?
Your answer
to that question
is his bullseye.
That's his target.
This is who he is
and God shows it here
to Daniel again
for our sake
that we might recognize
these characteristics
as anti-Christ.
We can know his character.
Not only this,
it says we can know
his strategy.
We can know
his strategy.
I've been on a kick
lately where I've been
playing a lot of chess.
I enjoy playing chess.
Chess is a strategy game
and there's certain openings,
certain tactics
that you can do
and over time
you start to recognize
patterns
and the sooner
you can recognize
what the enemy
is planning on doing,
the better off you are.
The same is true
here in this
spiritual battle.
Verses 41 through 45
they show us a picture
of a battle.
This is a great
final battle,
this conflict
but what kind
of battle is it?
What sort of attack
should we be prepared for?
What is his strategy?
Again,
he's painting this picture
with terms
and images
that we've already seen.
He's giving Daniel
a picture that he can
understand and relate to.
This is how prophecy
often works.
The pictures that we're given
are in terms that the audience
can relate to
and understand
but that does not mean
that we have to take this
to mean that this
end times,
end battle
is a military conflict.
So in verse 40
it says
the king of the south
shall attack him
but the king of the north
will come upon him
with chariots
and horsemen
and many ships.
Well that
doesn't mean that
this final conflict
is actually fought
with swords
and spears
and horses
and chariots.
I don't think
that's the best way
for us to understand it.
This is a physical picture
of a spiritual battle.
We are in a spiritual battle.
And what does Paul say
in Ephesians chapter 6?
We do not wrestle
against flesh and blood
but against the rulers,
against the authorities,
against the cosmic powers
over this present darkness,
against the spiritual forces
of evil
in the heavenly places.
Our battle is spiritual.
Our enemy is spiritual.
His tactics and strategy
are spiritual.
And we've already seen,
haven't we,
that his main weapons
against us
are his words.
It's not a physical battle.
It's spiritual.
We don't have to be on guard
against tanks
and Apache helicopters.
We need to take guard
and protect our doctrine.
We need to guard our ears.
We need to guard our hearts.
What we allow our hearts
to embrace.
What we allow
to come into our ears
and what we think
about the Lord.
His strategy isn't
to do you physical harm.
It's to deceive you.
Of course,
he may use physical suffering
to get you there,
to wear you down,
but his aim,
his strategy,
his ambition
is to destroy you spiritually.
And the sooner we recognize
this attack,
the better.
This is a physical picture
of a spiritual battle.
The king of the north,
that's the Antichrist,
comes in.
Verse 41.
It says,
he sets up residence
in the glorious land.
The Antichrist
takes up residence
within the community
of God's people.
It says,
tens of thousands
shall fall.
This looks like a,
apparently,
a hopeless situation,
doesn't it?
Well, this looks grim.
As I read
and as I studied,
I thought,
if this were a movie,
this would be
the big,
last,
climactic battle.
It would probably,
the whole movie
would build up
to this moment.
I've seen about a million movies
with this exact storyline
played out.
I'm sure you have as well.
The whole thing builds up
to this final conflict
and then this battle
would last for maybe
a third of the movie
at least.
This would be the most
exciting part.
And a good writer,
a good director,
that would put in
a little bit of tension here
where it feels like
all hope is lost.
There's no way
the good guys
are going to come out
on top.
But at the last moment,
what happens?
Somehow,
some way,
hope breaks through
in the darkest moment
and there is victory.
That's exactly
what we see happening here,
isn't it?
Except,
except,
this final battle
doesn't have
this big,
dramatic clash of power,
does it?
This final battle,
it just sort of,
it just sort of ends.
There's no hour-long
fight scene.
There's no epic
clash of powers.
We go from
this dark moment
of apparent hopelessness
all the way
to verse 45.
What does it say?
Yet he shall come
to his end
with none to help him.
This is the final,
third truth
that we can know
about this great enemy.
We can know
his end.
We can know
his end.
Something will happen
that will crush
this enemy
instantly.
I want you to
flip over with me
to the New Testament
if you would.
Just briefly
to 2 Thessalonians
chapter 2.
2 Thessalonians
chapter 2.
We learn a little bit
about this great end
of this great enemy
here from Paul
in 2 Thessalonians.
Listen to what he says.
He says,
Let no one deceive you
in any way
for that day,
the coming day of the Lord,
will not come
unless the rebellion
comes first
and the man of lawlessness
is revealed.
That's the Antichrist.
The son of destruction
who opposes
and exalts himself
against every so-called
God or object of worship
so that he takes his seat
in the temple of God
proclaiming himself
to be God.
Does that sound familiar?
This is Antichrist behavior.
Boasting,
deceiving,
magnifying himself,
taking up residence
within the community
of the people of God.
This is him.
Verse 8.
And then the lawless one
will be revealed.
And how does this great
final battle go?
The Lord Jesus
will kill
with the breath
of his mouth
and bring to nothing
by the appearance
of his coming.
He will kill
with the breath
of his mouth
and bring him
to nothing
by the appearance
of his coming.
This final great clash
is poof,
is over
when Christ appears
on the scene.
The coming of the lawless one
is by the activity
of Satan
with all power
and false signs
and wonders
and with all wicked deception
for those who are perishing.
Why?
Because they refuse
to love the truth
and so be saved.
Church,
at our most desperate hour,
here's what the future holds.
An enemy far too powerful
for us
will rise up,
will persecute the church,
will deceive many,
all hope will look
like it is lost,
but the Lord will return
and he will kill him
instantly
with the breath
of his mouth.
We should know,
Church,
that the future
holds danger
for the people of God.
We are in that danger
right now.
He wants to lead you
away from the truth
and so how do we persevere?
Know your enemy.
Yes.
But more than that,
Church,
love the truth
and so be saved.
Love the truth.
Love the Lord your God
with all your heart
and with all your mind
and with all your soul
and with all your strength.
Love the truth
and so be saved.
And what truth
are we to love specifically?
What truth
are we to love?
Love the truth
of the gospel, Church.
Love the truth
that all who know Jesus,
the risen and returning Lord,
have this incredible,
unshakable hope
ahead of us
no matter what happens
here and now.
The future holds great danger,
but second,
the future holds
greater hope.
Now,
let's turn
and look back
to Daniel chapter 12.
Daniel chapter 12.
Chapter 12 here
is the final chapter
of this great book
and it ends
at the end,
Church.
It ends
at the end
with this great hope
ahead of us
and while some
may focus
on the danger ahead
and be filled
with worry
and anxiety,
it may be a stressful
thing for you
to think about the future.
I want us
to focus in here
on this glorious hope
that Christ has purchased
for us in the gospel.
This glorious hope
that lies ahead
of Daniel and us.
God gives us
a three-fold hope
here in verses 1-4.
A three-fold hope
here in verses 1-4.
Look there with me
and just try
to wrap your minds
around this
with me for a minute.
that no matter
what comes
tomorrow
or the day
after that
or the day
after that
as much uncertainty
as there is
in the future
no matter
what happens
no matter
what you might
lose
no matter
what might
come against you
no matter
what the enemy
might throw
against you
if you are
united
to Jesus Christ
by faith
you are protected
you will be resurrected
and you will be
perfected.
This is our
three-part hope
this morning.
All of God's people
will be protected
resurrected
and perfected.
Look there with me.
God comforts Daniel
that despite
this great danger
all of God's people
will be protected.
He says
at that time
shall arise
Michael
the great prince
who has charge
over your people
if ever there was
a verse
that supported
the notion
the idea
of guardian angels
this is it.
This is it.
Apparently
just like
how chapter 11
showed us
that there are
spiritual beings
assigned to
darken
some territories
of the world
do you remember that
from last week?
Here we see
Michael
he is assigned
as the great prince
the angel
over God's people
over Israel.
He is an angel
that is watching over
and caring over
and protecting
God's people.
Some of you know
that my grandmother
died about
this time last year
and she was
one of the most
godly women
that I have ever known
and before she died
for Christmas
one year
she gave each of her
grandchildren
this little
handcrafted angel
and with it
had a card
and on the card
she simply said
remember
God's angels
are always
watching over you.
It's true.
Now there's a lot
that we don't know
about angels
a lot that we don't know
about the spiritual dimension
that we spoke about
last week
but we do know
Hebrews 11 4
it tells us that
these angels
they are ministering
spirits
sent out to serve
for the sake
of those
who are to
inherit
salvation.
God
he gives us
an honest picture
of what's to come
he says
there shall be
a time of trouble
such as
has never been
since there was a nation
until that time
but he also
with it
gives us
incredible assurance
doesn't he?
At that time
your people
shall be delivered
who?
Everyone
whose name
shall be found
written
in the book.
It was interesting
I don't know
if you realize
this or not
but Jesus
he takes
this same
passage
here from
Daniel chapter 12
and he
borrows the wording
he adapts it
here from Daniel
and he applies it
in Matthew 24
to the events
of AD 70
and the fall
of Jerusalem.
Listen to this
and tell me
if it sounds familiar
you don't have to
turn there
right now
but I'll read
starting in
Matthew 24
verse 19
he says
woe to those
who are with child
and to those
who nurse babes
in those days
pray for your flight
that your flight
may not be in the winter
or on a Sabbath
and verse 21
listen to this
then there will be
a great tribulation
such as has not
occurred
since the beginning
of the world
until now
nor shall ever be
does that sound familiar?
Terrible trouble
terrible danger
but what assurance
does he give?
he says
for the sake
of the elect
those days
will be cut short
for the sake
of the elect
those whose names
are written
in the book
for the sake
of those
who are to inherit
salvation
those whom the angels
minister to
here's our assurance
church
that all
of God's elect
in Christ
will be
brought
safely home
amen
all
of God's elect
in Christ
every one of us
whose name
is written
in the book
of life
all of us
who have come
to saving faith
in the Lord
Jesus Christ
we will be
brought
through the fires
of persecution
into the safety
of the arms
of Jesus
we will be
preserved
protected
through the
lion's den
and brought
safely home
into the arms
of Jesus
we will be
brought safely
out of our
exile
here in the
kingdom of man
into the kingdom
of God
to meet Jesus
face to face
you realize
don't you
that all of these
stories that we've
seen through the
book of Daniel
are micro images
of this protection
of God
over his elect
God
will
save
his people
God
will
protect
you
in Christ
our response
when the world
is losing
its ever loving
mind
church
our response
when there's wars
rumors of wars
our response
when there's conflict
left and right
and God's people
are right there
in the middle
isn't worry
or panic
what is it
it's calm
assurance
that we know
who holds
the future
calm assurance
that we know
in Christ
Jesus
we are
protected
we can say
with David
in Psalm 56
11
in God
I trust
I shall not
be afraid
what can man
do to me
we can say
with Paul
in Romans 8
if God
is for us
who can be
against us
he who did not
spare his own
son but gave
him up
for us all
how will he
not also
with him
graciously
give us
all things
we can be
sure that
neither death
nor life
nor angels
nor rulers
nor things
present
nor things
to come
nor powers
nor height
nor depth
nor anything
else
in all creation
will be able
to separate us
from the love
of God
in Christ
Jesus
our Lord
if we are
in Christ
we are
protected
not only this
somehow it gets
better
all of God's
people will
be resurrected
look there
with me
to verse 2
chapter 12
he says
many of those
who slept
in the dust
of the earth
shall awake
some to
everlasting life
and some
to everlasting
contempt
you know
this is
this is the
first text
in the entire
Old Testament
in the entire
Bible
that teaches
the doctrine
what we call
the general
resurrection
that all
will be
raised
at the end
it's also
it's also the
first time
in the Bible
that we see
this phrase
eternal life
that's a key
phrase
isn't it
it's the first
time we see
that phrase
eternal life
or everlasting
life
but this doctrine
of the general
resurrection
it teaches us
that all
will be
raised
everybody
man
woman
boy
girl
Christian
Muslim
Jew
Gentile
there is
coming a day
when all
people who have
ever lived
every soul
will be
raised up
from the
dead
and then
there will
be a
separation
the sheep
will be
separated
from the
goats
the tares
will be
separated
from the
wheat
the kingdom
of man
will be
separated
from the
kingdom
of God
and there
will be
a time
of judgment
you know
this is
absolutely
key
for us
isn't it
to understand
this
knowledge
this certain
knowledge
of what's
to come
in the
future
our
life
does not
end
in the
grave
now
so many
people
live
as if
it did
live
as if
this was
all
there was
that life
ends
in the
grave
you only
live
once
so
you might
as well
might as well
eat and drink
and be
merry
for tomorrow
we die
that's it
let me share
with you
this morning
if that's
how you
view your
life
God
says
something
different
God
says
we live
we die
and then
we rise
and an
eternal
separation
will take
place
on the
one hand
some
to
everlasting
life
and on
the other
hand
some
to
everlasting
contempt
we would be
wise
to ask
ourselves
if this
is coming
if someone's
warning me
that this
is ahead
in the future
if God
is telling
me that
this is
coming
if I'm
going to
be raised
up
and I'm
going to
have to
stand
before
a holy
God
and I'm
going to
have to
answer
for my
life
and you
are
how can
I be
absolutely
certain
that I'm
going to
be on the
side of
eternal
life
how can
I be
sure
that I'm
one of
these
elect
that are
protected
and resurrected
and brought
to eternal
life
how can I
be certain
that my
name is
in this
book of
life
because not
everybody
gets it
that's clear
isn't it
this is
a look
at the
future
and God
says
in the
future
not everybody
is going
to wind
up with
me
this is
black and
white
it is
an absolute
dagger
for the
false
doctrine
of
universalism
that
everyone
will be
saved
it is
a dagger
for the
false
doctrine
of
annihilationism
where
they tell
you that
in the
end
those
who don't
know
the
Lord
will
just
be
wiped
out
annihilated
they don't
endure
and live
forever
there is
everlasting
contempt
for those
who don't
know the
Lord
hell is
very real
it's far
more terrible
than we
could possibly
imagine
how can I
be certain
that when
that day
comes
the Lord
will welcome
me into
glory
to be
with him
forever
and we
know the
answer
don't we
we know
the answer
don't we
put your
faith
in
Jesus
Christ
put
your
faith
in the
Lord
Jesus
Christ
Jesus
came
to take
away
your
sin
and with
it
your
contempt
and with
it
your
shame
Jesus
rose
from the
grave
so that
he could
earn
eternal
life
and share
it with
any
who come
to him
in
faith
put
your
faith
in
King
Jesus
now we
spent over
a year
in the
gospel
of
John
and John
loved that
phrase
eternal
life
didn't
he
John
3
16
say it
with me
for God
so loved
the world
that he
gave his
only son
that whoever
believes
in him
should not
perish
but have
what
eternal
life
John
3
36
whoever
believes
in the
son
has
eternal
life
whoever
does not
obey
the
son
shall
not
see
life
but the
wrath
of God
remains
on
him
John
5
24
truly
I
say
to
you
whoever
hears
my
word
and
believes
in
him
who
sent
me
has
eternal
life
he
does
not
come
into
judgment
but
has
passed
from
death
to
life
already
the
verdict
is
in
how
can
you
be
certain
church
you
hear
and
believe
the
gospel
of
Jesus
Christ
you
hear
and
believe
that
Christ
Jesus
has
paid
for
your
sin
by
his
own
blood
you
hear
and
rejoice
that
he
has
been
raised
for
you
so
that
you
will
be
raised
up
with
him
to
be
with
him
forever
the
only
way
for
that
future
coming
day
to
be
a
day
of
joy
and
hope
and
celebration
mourning
and
a
day
of
terror
and
a
day
to
be
feared
is
to
know
the
Lord
Jesus
by
faith
right
now
this
is
eternal
life
that
they
know
you
the
only
true
God
and
Jesus
Christ
whom
you
have
sent
John
17
verse
3
we
can't
move
past
this
without
me
asking
you
church
do
you
know
the
Lord
do
you
believe
in
the
Lord
Jesus
Christ
are
you
certain
that
you
have
eternal
life
now
and
will
have
it
for
the
rest
of
eternity
in
the
presence
of
God
do
you
know
the
Lord
it's
a
glorious
hope
somehow
there's
still
even
more
there's
a
third
part
of
this
glorious
hope
all
God's
people
will
be
protected
all
of
God's
people
will
be
resurrected
and
finally
all
of
God's
people
will
be
perfected
that's what's
being described
here in
chapter 12
verse 3
look there
with me
it says
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
I will
confess
to you
this is
beyond
my
understanding
church
I can
barely
imagine
it
but I
believe
it
with all
my heart
that when
the Lord
Jesus
returns
all
of you
me
all
of God's
people
will be
at last
perfected
we will
be made
like
him
you
can
imagine
the glory
of the
Lord
the
resurrected
Lord
Jesus
risen
never
to die
again
he has
conquered
death
risen
never
to
feel
pain
again
never
to
suffer
again
risen
in
power
and
risen
in
glory
and
God
says
if
you
are
in
him
this
is
what
the
future
holds
for
you
Christian
God
has
prepared
an
eternal
kingdom
of
glory
God
has
prepared
an
eternal
home
for
him
to
dwell
with
his
people
and
he
says
he's
going
to
make
us
fit
for
this
kingdom
he's
going
to
transform
us
that
we
might
be
fit
to
enjoy
him
for
the
rest
of
eternity
I'll
turn
to
John
one
more
time
1st
John
chapter
3
he says
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
that's
our
future
hope
Christian
that's
what lies
ahead
of you
you
will
be
made
perfect
fit
for glory
transformed
into the
image
of our
risen
savior
and so
what does
that mean
for us
now
John
tells
us
everyone
who
thus
hopes
in
him
purifies
himself
as
he
is
pure
what
does
it
look
like
to
live
today
in
light
of
that
day
he
says
pursue
purity
pursue
holiness
now
it
says
pursue
wisdom
those
who
are
wise
will
shine
like
the
sky
above
pursue
righteousness
not
just
for
yourself
but
for
others
around
you
pursue
righteousness
by
sharing
the
gospel
with
those
who
don't
yet
know
the
Lord
pursue
it
for
others
seek
to
share
the
gospel
with
those
who
are
perishing
those
who
turn
many
to
righteousness
will
shine
like
the
stars
forever
and
ever
the
certain
hope
of
that
coming
day
ought
to
give
shape
to
the
way
that
we
face
every
day
church
you may
have
heard
it
said
I
don't
know
what
the
future
holds
but
I
know
who
holds
the
future
and
in
general
that
statement
is
true
but
not
exactly
by
God's
grace
we
know
what
the
future
holds
and
we
live
in
light
of
that
certain
hope
of
course
there
is
much
that
we
don't
know
and
so
we'll
close
here
in
this
final
section
by
looking
at
two
questions
in
this
final
section
of
Daniel
two
questions
as we
close
the
first
is
here
in
verses
5-7
Daniel
apparently
is listening
in
on a
conversation
between
these
two
angelic
beings
and
one
asks
the
other
how
long
shall
it
be
till
the
end
of
these
wonders
in
other
words
how
long
until
all
of
this
suffering
is
over
and
we
ask
that
same
thing
don't
we
how
long
oh
lord
until
this
present
evil
age
is
done
how
long
until
the
kingdom
of
man
is
finished
how
long
lord
until
the
powers
of
darkness
are
finally
done
away
with
how
long
lord
until
the
end
of
this
reign
of
sin
how
long
what's
the
answer
a
time
times
and
half
a
time
unclear
mysterious
but
defined
period
of
time
unclear
to
us
but
defined
and
clear
to
the
lord
we
don't
know
exactly
when
but
praise
god
he
does
and
there
will
be
an
end
when
all
hope
seems
lost
the
power
of
the
holy
people
has
been
completely
shattered
in
the
most
desperate
hour
the
trump
will
sound
and
the
lord
will
descend
and
all
of
god's
people
will
be
protected
resurrected
and
perfected
at
last
Daniel
like us
still
has
questions
and so
it says
in verse
8
I heard
but I
did
not
understand
can
I
somebody
say
amen
so
he
asks
oh
lord
what
shall
be
the
outcome
of
these
things
tell
me
more
explain
please
tell
me
tell
me
more
and
what's
the
answer
I'm
not
telling
go
your
way
what
should
you
focus
on
purity
wisdom
everlasting
life
love
the
truth
resist
the
enemy
keep
waiting
keep
persevering
keep
trusting
in a
sovereign
God
don't
don't worry
about what
you don't
know
Daniel
live
in light
of what
you do
know
I'm
reminded
here of
one of
my favorite
verses
Deuteronomy
29 29
29
the
secret
things
belong
to
the
Lord
our
God
but
the
things
that
are
revealed
belong
to
us
and
to
our
children
forever
that
we
may
do
all
the
words
of
this
law
in other
words
church
there is
much
that
we
don't
know
but
we
are
called
to
live
in
light
of
what
we
do
know
I
absolutely
love
the way
that
this
great
book
ends
he
pronounces
blessing
on the
one
who
perseveres
who
arrives
at
the
end
but
he
says
as
for
you
go
your
way
till
the
end
and
you
shall
rest
and
you
shall
stand
in
your
allotted
place
at
the
end
of
the
days
church
the
time
is
coming
and
coming
soon
when
our
exile
will
be
brought
to
an
end
at
last
and
we
will
be
brought
into
that
glorious
kingdom
of
God
into
the
presence
of
Christ
the
king
for
the
rest
of
eternity
so
how
do
we
approach
our
lives
tomorrow
go
your
way
press
on
live
your
life
to
the
glory
of
God
live
today
in
light
of
that
great
coming
day
and
then
rest
and
then
rise
to
the
glory
of
God
let's
pray
father
we
praise
you
for
this
glorious
hope
of
the
gospel
that
Jesus
has
purchased
for
all
of
his
people
Lord
that
nothing
can
separate
us
from
the
love
of
God
in
Christ
Jesus
our
Lord
that
we
will
be
raised
to
life
because
we
are
united
to
a
resurrected
savior
who
has
conquered
over
sin
and
death
Lord
that
we
will
be
made
like
him
and
get
to
enjoy
his
presence
forever
Lord
we
love
you
we
pray
that
we
live
amen