Daniel 12
September 28, 2007
1 ”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. But at that time your people–everyone whose name is found written in the book–will be delivered. 2 Multitudes who sleep in the dust of the earth will awake: some to everlasting life, others to shame and everlasting contempt. 3 Those who are wise will shine like the brightness of the heavens, and those who lead many to righteousness, like the stars for ever and ever. 4 But you, Daniel, close up and seal the words of the scroll until the time of the end. Many will go here and there to increase knowledge.”
5 Then I, Daniel, looked, and there before me stood two others, one on this bank of the river and one on the opposite bank. 6 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?” 7 The man clothed in linen, who was above the waters of the river, lifted his right hand and his left hand toward heaven, and I heard him swear by him who lives forever, saying, “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.” 8 I heard, but I did not understand. So I asked, “My lord, what will the outcome of all this be?” 9 He replied, “Go your way, Daniel, because the words are closed up and sealed until the time of the end. 10 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. 11 ”From the time that the daily sacrifice is abolished and the abomination that causes desolation is set up, there will be 1,290 days. 12 Blessed is the one who waits for and reaches the end of the 1,335 days. 13 ”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.”
So…
After reading some chapters in Daniel, I came to the conclusion, a few days ago, that Daniel has a great relationship with Christ, and I can honestly say that Daniel has a massive amount of faith. God directs us. Yes, it is our decision to follow what he wants for us, but he doesnt force us. Those who want to follow what God wants for them, they follow Christ. Not what they want. But what I found interesting in this chapter was that the fact that Daniel had asked God what he should do and God told him to go his own way! Which totally blew my mind away. God wants us to follow him, but he knew the amount of faith that Daniel had and he told Daniel to go his way, knowing that he was still going to follow Christ.
God’s kingdom will return to the earth and in a very explicit reference to Heaven and Hell (in my humble opinion) it is written that “Multitudes who sleep in the dust of the earth will awake: some to everlasting life, others to shame and everlasting contempt.”
Daniel is then told that He will be among those who have eternal life.
“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. ”
to me this says that those who have learned and worked and have studied and have walked with God, those who are saved will know what is going on and perhaps we will be at peace by what is happening…those in this world who are evil or wicked, or have refused to accept God and draw near to Him will be confused and scared and wont even realize perhaps what is happening but they will pay for their sins, with (eternal shame and contempt) because they didnt accept Jesus, so their sins were not covered by His precious blood.
At the very end, we see that Daniel himself did not understand all that God had showed him. This reminded me of two things:
1) God is the giver of knowledge and He reveals things to us in HIs time and in HIs way. We have to hunger and thirst after Him and He will feed those who come to His table
2) Our duty is to obey and not always to understand. Daniel was used as a conduit for prophecy and did not even understand what he was given. We won’t always see the purpose or the plan for what God asks us to do, but when we hear His voice, we must obey.
excellent point Rick #2—When I read this I thought about Marines, they are not expected to understand what the Generals and Officers decided, they are expected to obey the orders that are laid out in front of them and to obey them with every bit of energy not holding back anything…Their goal is to accomplish the mission set before them and Daniel illustrates this point and we too need to follow Daniels example