The Final Consummation Daniel 12:1-4

The Conclusion of the Book Daniel 12:5-13

When has it ever been easy and straightforward to be a Christian?

The Church, - and I mean the ‘born again’ people of God, - down through the ages has always been in opposition to society and the world. The world has never been gracious to the true understanding of Biblical Christianity.

In the New Testament period the redeemed people of God had to suffer the cruel and persistent opposition of men like Saul of Tarsus and his friends.

There were the pagan Roman Emperors who threw in all their weight to vanquish the Christian cause. The lions fed on the Christians. The streets burned with the Christians.

From papist Rome came the brutal avalanche of persecution showered upon the people of God, men like John Hus, John Wycliffe, the Albigenses, the Waldensians – all prior to the Reformation, - suffered tremendously (read Foxe’s Book of Martyrs to learn of what happened to ordinary men and women who died for the faith that we share).

Following the Reformation Martin Luther and many of his associates had to constantly escape from Rome’s tyranny, and of course on these islands there were the persecutions and burnings during Queen Mary’s reign when the Romish cardinals and bishops held great sway.

There were men like Bunyan and Cranmer, - imprisoned and killed for the Faith.

In Scotland Samuel Rutherford, Alexander Peden, Donald Cargil, George Wishart, Patrick Hamilton, James Renwick, Richard Cameron and many other men and women stood faithfully and fearfully for the Covenanting cause and many of them died to uphold the faith of the Bible in the face of apostasy and compromise.

To the present day … the former Soviet Union imprisoned and killed Christians for their faith, the countries ruled by the fundamentalist Islamic authorities presently outlaw the proselytising and converting of Muslims to Christianity on pain of death. Human rights are not an issue! Believers are persecuted more than ever before (see The Voice of the Marytrs).

The Church has always had to stand firm and faithful, and yet even when its numbers have been diminished it has never and will never be defeated! The gates of hell shall not prevail against it, said Jesus.

The battle is on, it is real, it is happening today, and it will continue until Christ calls His people home.

Even in Babylon, - from the tender age of 14, - Daniel knew all too well the reality of the battle; he was very aware of the intents of the enemy to silence and eradicate God’s own special people. He is now a man approaching his late 80’s.

He doesn’t have any fear though; he knows the battle is the Lord’s and He knows personally the captain of his salvation, - the writer to the Hebrews wrote, … speaking of Christ, Heb. 2: 10 For it became him, for whom are all things, and by whom are all things, in bringing many sons unto glory, to make the captain of their salvation perfect through sufferings.

Suffering has been the fuel that has caused the testimony of Christ’s redeemed to burn all the brighter. Malachi used this picture too, 3:2,3 for he is like a refiner’s fire, and like fullers’ soap: And he shall sit as a refiner and purifier of silver: and he shall purify the sons of Levi, and purge them as gold and silver, that they may offer unto the LORD an offering in righteousness.

Daniel foresees here a time of great persecution that will befall the Church, and particularly during the days of the final Antichrist, 11:43, … but God holds the reins for (v.45) yet he shall come to his end, and none shall help him.

The Battle is still being fought and will be completed only at Christ’s return.

There are yet dark days ahead for the Church, - the Bible says, 12:1 there shall be a time of trouble, such as never was since there was a nation even to that same time, but the promise is made, at that time thy people shall be delivered.

We share the confidence of David as he stood virtually alone before the mighty Goliath and called out to him, I Sam. 17:47 all this assembly shall know that the LORD saveth not with sword and spear: for the battle is the Lord's, and he will give you into our hands. We have the prayer of Jesus as our confidence, Jn. 17:12 While I was with them in the world, I kept them in thy name: those that thou gavest me I have kept, and none of them is lost, but the son of perdition; that the scripture might be fulfilled.

There is the promise of God, Dan. 12:1 at that time thy people shall be delivered. Do you notice any air of doubt? … Not in my Bible, for there is no doubt!

He will lift up and lift out His people from all the tribulation and persecution that the world is heaping upon the shoulders of the Church. What a promise!

Standing on the promises that cannot fail, When the howling storms of doubt and fear assail, By the living Word of God I shall prevail, Standing on the promises of God.

The promise is in the Book … and note what else that is in the Book, - all the names of the Redeemed. The Book of life.

All the names are there, and every name in the Book has been washed and cleansed with the precious blood of the Saviour on the cross of Calvary. None of His blood went to waste!

All the names in the Book … He put there; He put my name there; He wrote my name in the Book; He knew me even before I ever heard of Him; He loved me in eternity before I ever knew or loved Him. Jesus told His disciples, Lk. 10:20, rejoice, because your names are written in heaven. It’s done: the great transaction’s done! I am the Lord’s and He is mine; He drew me and I followed on; Charmed to confess the voice divine.

… And the Book is full; every page, every line in it is complete. The multitudes of the Redeemed are more than anyone can count; John saw them in his vision … Rev. 5:11 the number of them was ten thousand times ten thousand, and thousands of thousands.

Every born-again child of God who ever has and who ever will come to Christ … their names are in the Book!

The battle is over, - it is completed; the names are in the Book; now take a look at …

These are the thy people of verse one.

When the conflict is over and the battle won, the Book is opened all the people of God will hear their names.

No-one will be asleep in eternity, - regardless of their destiny. Jesus will call, I Thess. 4:16 the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first. Everyone will hear!

The saints from every age, - those persecuted for the Name of Christ, those faithful to His calling and in His service, - they will awake and rise to meet Him first, and Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.

Daniel sees they shall be raised to everlasting life (v.2) 

The Bible tells us there is also another company of people … Rev. 20:15 whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire. That was what Daniel saw also, v.2 some to shame and everlasting contempt.

That will be the Resurrection Day. All the graves will be opened; the future of some will be everlasting life, the future of others will be everlasting damnation and punishment.

The Antichrist is finished. Through the doors of hell will be flung all those who rejected Christ and refused to receive Him as Saviour and Lord. … While at the gates of Heaven the Bridegroom will meet His Bride.

This is an event that is a certainty. There are things about the Second Coming we might disagree on and see differently … but this we know for sure that the Lord Jesus will present His Bride as Eph. 5:25 a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but … holy and without blemish.

Look at the calibre of these Redeemed, v.3 they that be wise shall shine as the brightness of the firmament; what does that mean? It means they have been faithful in the way to which they have been called, Mt. 5: 14 Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid. … 16 Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.

They have been conformed to His image; John wrote, I Jn. 1:7 if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin.

Daniel also saw their faithful witness, and they that turn many to righteousness as the stars for ever and ever. Their light will never be extinguished.

What kind of people were these? Look back to Dan. 11:33 And they that understand among the people shall instruct many: yet they shall fall by the sword, and by flame, by captivity, and by spoil, many days.

These are God’s people who are familiar with God’s Word, even during the time of such opposition in the world.

They will continue to believe. They will continue too in the work of God.

They’ll not give up; they have set their sights on the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus (Phil. 1:14).

They have been out of step with the world and its ways, but they have been in step with God and His Word.

This truly is the calibre of the believers God will call on to Himself; their righteousness is not their own but that which through grace has been gifted to them through the Holy Spirit.

John Newton saw the picture so clearly behind v.3,

The battle is over, the Book is opened, … the believers are gathered in.

The work on earth is finished, it is complete. Daniel is instructed, 12:4 shut up the words, and seal the book, even to the time of the end. That’s it, nothing more to be added.

The old Persian custom was that once a book had been copied and publicly circulated the master-copy was sealed and kept in a library. Daniel’s writings were read and known. The people learned what God had said to him.

In the final verse of our study this evening you can see clearly the reference to the future, v.4 many shall run to and fro, and knowledge shall be increased.

There has never been a day like that in which we live. I can click on a button and access information on just about any subject I would care to look up.

It used to be that university education was for the upper classes and folk with money; no, nowadays many are run (ning) to and fro, and knowledge is increas(ing).

And yet their knowledge is taking them further and further away from God. Evolution, space travel, politics, medicine … so much of the knowledge we have acquired has taken us further from God.

Yet, all the time, in an old Book God has revealed Himself to mankind. What we need for eternity we find in this Book.

The Book tells us God is in control, Christ will gather unto Himself His Redeemed and the Holy Spirit will keep us for II Tim. 1:12 I know whom I have believed, and am persuaded that he is able to keep that which I have committed unto him against that day.

David (II Sam. 22:7) knew the reality of God as he cried on to the Lord when his enemies had been defeated, In my distress I called upon the LORD, and cried to my God: and he did hear my voice out of his temple, and my cry did enter into his ears.

Again he wrote, Ps. 40:1 I waited patiently for the LORD; and he inclined unto me, and heard my cry.

As he also cried on to the Lord Daniel was seeing and hearing things that were away beyond his comprehension, - he just could not understand what they were all about.

He was standing there on the banks of the River Tigris and he saw two others in addition to the One Who had already been giving him the revelation.

The One with whom Daniel has already been standing, - and Who has been speaking the words of prophecy since 10:5ff. – is clothed in fine linen.

You will, of course remember that fine linen is the clothing of Heaven, e.g. Rev. 19: 8 And to her was granted that she should be arrayed in fine linen, clean and white: for the fine linen is the righteousness of saints. (also Rev. 19:14)

He is standing upon the waters of the river (v.6) in the same way the Lord Jesus stood upon the waters of Galilee waiting for Peter (Mt. 14:29).

We see how the two angels are subservient to the One standing on the water; they ask Him (since they recognise He has the knowledge), How long shall it be to the end of these wonders?

The angels are not saying, “Tell us when these things will take place”; instead they are calling out, “when shall they end?”

… They know He is in control. There is a word in the Hebrew that is translated in most of our English versions as ‘river’, but it is particularly significant, I believe. (I say I believe it because I can’t really prove it, but every word of God’s Word we hold to be significant).

In verses five, six and seven this very particular Hebrew word is translated ‘river’, r[y. It actually means a stream or a canal, but it has always previously particularly related to the River Nile in Egypt.

Now, why should the word for the river Nile in Egypt be applied to the river in Babylon? Perhaps it is because just as God delivered His people in former days so He holds out to them the promise that He will once again deliver His people in the latter days. I believe that is the significance and it shows the ongoing reality of God in the midst of His people.

… Daniel was being accompanied by God here, - the Second Person of the Trinity, - He was with Daniel, Daniel is in His company.

Ordinarily when an oath was taken only one hand was raised, e.g. Gen. 14:22 And Abram said to the king of Sodom, I have lift up mine hand unto the LORD ... but here the solemnity of the oath is emphasised as both hands are raised.

In Dan. 12:7 we see the Man clothed in garments of fine linen doing as He did in Dt. 32:40, For I lift up my hand to heaven, and say, I live for ever. This is God swearing by Himself.

This is the reality of God being demonstrated again in the life of this faithful servant Daniel towards the remnant of God at the end of the persecution they must suffer.

Here is the previous question being followed up by another, O my Lord, what shall be the end of these things?

He has already asked, … How long shall it be to the end of these wonders? now he asks, what shall be the end of these things?

There is only a certain amount we can understand, - many people come to the Books of Daniel and Revelation and they can tell you exactly what it means … down to the minute detail.

Yes, I agree, prophecy has been and is being fulfilled since Daniel’s day but there are still many things about the end times that continue to escape us.

I have heard some bold statements, e.g. if the world began in 4004 BC (as Archbishop Ussher calculated, - and I wouldn’t disagree with the primary basis of his calculations), - and since we are in 2003 … and if one day is as a thousand years well, then, we have almost passed through six millennia and the seventh millennium of rest will very soon be upon us … the Millennium, as some would teach. … There have always been those who read into the Bible what it does not say.

Daniel is told in verse seven that it shall be for a time, times, and an half; then these people reinterpret God’s Word and tell you it means “a week, weeks, and a half of a week”. But that is not what the Bible says.

What does a time, times, and an half mean then? I don’t know. … Do I need to know every angle on prophecy to believe the relevance of God in all matters pertaining to my future? Do I need to know every angle on prophecy to believe that God cares for me and that no-one will ever pluck me out of His hand?

Yes, I can look into the history books that Daniel was not privy to and I can see how prophecy has been fulfilled since his time, and I can carefully assess much of what is happening today and I can see it as a fulfilment of prophecy … but I must confess I haven’t been able to work it all out!

Do I need to understand it all … and clip someone’s ear when they don’t see it as I see it? No, I believe that is the sign of immaturity and uncertainty and ignorance … and I notice here that in relation to what Daniel was being shown this tremendous old man of God confessed freely, I heard, but I understood not.

You think you know all about the end times? … I don’t believe you, because not even someone of the calibre of Daniel could understand it all.

To Daniel, the relevance of God promised to take care of the future, … even those parts of it he wasn’t able to understand.

Daniel was truly convinced of the reality of God and the relevance of God. … Daniel was gripped also by …

Daniel was told all he needed to be told. The Holy Spirit had enable Daniel to understand all he needed to understand.

As he would have been led to the entrance of the lion’s den did you hear of him saying, “God, why do you see fit to have me thrown as meat to these lions?”

The next morning, - after having survived the lions, - did you hear of him asking the question as he came up out of the den, “God, why did you waste my time with those lions last night when I could have been doing something more worthwhile in Your service?”

No, Daniel didn’t ‘take that turning in the road’. He trusted and he was assured that God knew what He was doing even when he – Daniel – didn’t.

Daniel was only given partial understanding, - he was only told what God wanted him to be told at that time … and he understood only what God had enabled him to understand.

Simply put, God reveals to us only what we need to know,

I know there is coming the end of this present world, - not because scientists have said that it cannot continue on its present course, but because the Word of God says this present world will end.

I know there is coming an Antichrist who will rule this earth and have his own way in its governance, - I know that not because all the political acrobatics seem to be leading that way, but I know it because the Word of God says it.

I know that the Church will be released from this earth, - I believe following a time of terrible tribulation, - but I know that Jesus is coming back for His Church to bring His Church unto Himself … and how do I know that? Simple, His Word tells me!

Just as with Daniel, all I need to know regarding the future the Holy Spirit through the Word of God has made known to those of us whose ears are open, whose eyes are open and whose mouths are shut … while He is speaking!

We do not need to understand all the ramifications or the intricate little details, but Daniel was assured, v.10 Many shall be purified, and made white, and tried (i.e. as through a fire of persecution); but the wicked shall do wickedly: and none of the wicked shall understand; but the wise shall understand.

Imagine, … here was a man who was given so much detail in his visions and it all came down to something as simple as v.10.

Many nowadays wouldn’t have been content as Daniel; they would have pressed the Lord, - “what does this/that mean? Tell us more … feed our curiosity”.

In verse eleven there are many of those eschatological acrobatists who try to tell you what the 1290 really mean. They are convinced as to their own point of view and they look down on the rest of us who don’t see it as they do.

I could go into it just now and give you their views but I don’t see any point or need.

The way I would prefer to see it is to emphasise the full stops at the end of verses eleven and twelve.

In v.11, we read, And from the time that the daily sacrifice shall be taken away, and the abomination that maketh desolate set up, there shall be a thousand two hundred and ninety days.

In v.12, we read, Blessed is he that waiteth, and cometh to the thousand three hundred and five and thirty days.

There most certainly is a definite conclusion at the end of which God’s people will be victorious in Christ.

Do you need to know more than that? That is the reassurance of God. Paul put it like this, Rom. 8: 33  Who shall lay any thing to the charge of God's elect? It is God that justifieth. 34  Who is he that condemneth? It is Christ that died, yea rather, that is risen again, who is even at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us. 35  Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? …37  Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us.

When the full number of days will be completed God will be satisfied and He will bring His people home.

What a beautiful conclusion to all that has gone before, v.13 But go thou thy way till the end be: for thou shalt rest, and stand in thy lot at the end of the days.

Old Daniel is told the grave will not be his final resting-place but that he shall stand triumphantly before the God he so faithfully served in Babylon.

… That is how the prophecy of Daniel ends, … on the great note of victory from the lips of the Almighty God Who accompanied this ordinary man the whole long journey through his time in the Godless, idolatrous city of ancient Babylon.