Daniel 12, How To Focus On The End
1. Focus On God’s Eternal Plan (v1-3)
2. Focus On God’s Perfect Timing (v4-7)
3. Focus On Gaining Wisdom From God (v8-10)
4. Focus On Living Out Faithfulness To God (v11-13)
Daniel 12, How To Focus On The End
Did you enjoy this teaching?
Let others know!
VIEW TRANSCRIPT
The Book of Daniel is filled with some really incredible prophecies. Some incredible detail is given about things that are yet to come, and some incredible detail has been given about things that have been fulfilled. Daniel, Chapter 11 is a really interesting chapter. But not if you don't take a moment to reflect on the history that has been fulfilled and if you were struggling with that this week, I do have some handouts on the back table that outlines verse by verse and different historical events. Happened with the Greek Empire and such that really tie into and and Daniel spoke about these things in great detail well in advance, and one of the amazing things about prophecy that has already been fulfilled is how it solidifies and encourages us in the things that have yet to be fulfilled. And as we look at Daniel Chapter 12, we are really looking at those things which are yet to be fulfilled. And those things that are still future. Some of this prophecy, Daniel Chapter 10 through 12, is really one encounter that Daniel has with the Lord, and so it's a continual experience. Some of the prophecies are fulfilled of Chapter 11. Some of them are not that flows into Chapter 12, and we're looking at those end times a little bit and reading about and considering those things that God has promised. And so I've titled the message this morning how to focus on the end. And I want to encourage you to consider this. How to focus on. The end now, these incredible prophecies and some of the amazing detail that is found here and yet at the same time, there's great mystery still remaining about these things, and exact ways that they will be fulfilled and timings of. When they will be fulfilled. But this morning, as we talk about these prophecies. In Daniel Chapter 12 and and talk a little bit about the end in regards to the end times or the end of all things. I'm actually not going to go in depth on the prophecy this morning. We've gone through that in many ways in many times before, and there is opportunity. If you want to dig into those things. There's a lot of opportunity. To do that, but. But this morning I would also ask you to consider as you kind of have one eye on the end of all things, and the prophetic events that are yet to come, but to also understand as you look at Daniels interaction with these things and the Lord is the way he's interacting with Daniel and instructing Daniel. I think he gives us some things to focus on that apply to the end. Of anything. Thing, and so as we prepare to reach the end of 2022. The Lord has some things he wants us to focus on. The Lord has some things that he wants to direct our hearts in and some things we need to deliberately put our attention toward. Maybe it's the end of a season that God wants to have you consider that God has you in maybe the fall season. That just kind of happens. You know, every year December 21st Ish I think is when fall season ends and so we're a couple weeks away. And perhaps there's some things in this final weeks of the fall season that the Lord would have you to folk. This on, or maybe it's the end of the football season that you're coming to. I know that's a couple months out still, but you know, there's a lot of distraction with all of the plays and games and competition and bad calls and all of that going on. So so maybe. You need a little bit extra time to focus on the end of the football season and and hear from the Lord what he has. To say to you, maybe it's the end of a time of unemployment for you. And there's some things that the Lord would have you to focus on. Or maybe it's the other opposite end of that, and that's the end of a job that you know, the place where you're working is coming to a conclusion, and that season is done in your life. And so now what? And there's some things that the Lord would have you to focus on. Maybe it's the end of your time. In school or the end of your radiation treatment or the end of your California trip or the end of having kids at home or the end of your career. Or the end of time. Or the end of your. What what is coming to an end for you and and what is it that God would speak to you about this morning? Well, four points to walk through on how to focus on the end, whatever that might be and and to encourage you and to consider what God has for you in that and to be able to end well is going to take some. Focus some deliberate attention being applied and so let us receive what Daniel receives and allow that to impact us as well, and so four points we'll walk through starting in verses one through three. Here's point. #1 focus on God eternal. Focus on God's eternal plan verse one again says at that time Michael the Archangel who stands guard over your nation will arise. Then there will be a time of English greater than any since nations first came into existence. But at that time, every one of your people whose name is written in the book will be. Verse one starts out saying at that time. And as I mentioned, this is the continuation of Daniel Chapter 11, and so throughout Daniel, Chapter 11, the Lord has been revealing to Daniel the sequence of events that would happen in the Persian Empire transitioning into the Greek Empire and then the Greek Empire under Alexander the Great conquering. The world then being split up, then the divisions of the Greek Empire that then would begin to battle each other, and then the the vision that Daniel is receiving morphs into a projection further out. The Greek Empire, the divisions, all of that. Those things have been fulfilled in Alexander the Great and his four generals after he died, that that took over the Greek Empire and the battles that took place. Those are all recorded history, but towards the end of the chapter it morphs into the north and the South of those Greek. That Greek divided empire, the North and South Kingdom. James begin to now speak of and point to the future events that have yet to be fulfilled in the Tribulation period. Speaking of the Kingdom of the Antichrist and many things that are going to be happening during that time, and so at that time ties us back to those future events. Yet to be fulfilled in the Kingdom of the Antichrist as the Antichrist sets his focus on destroying. The Jewish people. And so here the Lord instructs Daniel while the Antichrist is focused on destroying the Jewish people. Michael the Archangel who stands guard over your nation. Will arise, and so there's going to be a defence of the Jewish people by Michael Michael the Archangel during that time. And that will usher in a time of English. He says greater than any since nations first came into existence. And so we're talking about here, the Tribulation period. He's referencing not just that seven-year time of tribulation, but really it's the final 3 1/2 years of that seven-year period. Which is that time of English that is greater than any since nations first came into existence. Now if you think back through history, lots of nations. Have experienced English, the world has gone through some terrible tragedies, some catastrophic events. But what is in store during that tribulation period is going to. Supersede all of those and be far worse than what this world has seen. Up to that point. But his encouragement to Daniel in the midst of that is that every one of your people whose name is written in.
The book will be rescued.
Daniel, there's coming a time that's going to be worse than the world has ever. Seen before but. But don't worry. Everyone who is written in the book, everyone who has sought the Lord and attached themselves to the Lord. The promise here is that they will be rescued, and so that's a great encouragement in the midst of that, in the midst of the Tribulation period, when the Jewish people are going to be persecuted heavily. And intensely by the Antichrist. God promises every one of those Jewish people who have aligned themselves with the Messiah, Jesus Christ. They will be rescued. Now, a little bit of consideration here though. The rescue that he is referring to might be the survival of the tribulation period, the survival of the attack that the Antichrist brings and there is definitely those who survive the tribulation and enter on into the millennial Kingdom. But there's another form of rescue that maybe is not our favorite but is appropriate to consider. And that is another form of rescue from the tribulation period is to die in the midst of the Tribulation period. And how is that rescue? Well, because of verse two, many of those whose bodies lie dead and buried will rise up. Some to everlasting life and some to shame and everlasting disgrace. And so there is a rescue that he's talking about that leads him into talking about resurrection. And when we talk about resurrection, he says you need to understand there's two resurrections. Now don't think of that as two events at a particular moment in time. But think of that as two categories of resurrections. Let me just walk you through some of the prophetic timeline a little bit. Again, we're not. Trying to get into detail in all of these things, but just to give you a little bit of a glimpse here and then, you can dig in further afterwards if you'd like. We live, of course, in the present time and in this present time the Lord is working primarily through the church, the body of Christ moving his spirit, pouring out his spirit upon the church, and that will continue until the rapture of the church, and there will be a transition. Then as we enter from. The present time into the tribulation period and after the church has caught up to meet the Lord in the air, there is going to be an Antichrist, a world political leader that is ready. Field and who is going to unite the world in many ways, but also have some conflicts with different world powers. And they'll be working to consolidate that power. But during that tribulation period that seven-year period the the Lord is going to be pouring out wrath upon the Earth so that the earth. Experiences, calamities tribulation and difficulties like it's never seen before. At the end of the tribulation period, the Lord Jesus will return, referred to as the second coming of Jesus, where he comes back and actually sets foot upon the earth and at that time he will rule and reign on the earth for 1000 years and that's called the Millennium, and so that's a quick look at the. Time that is left in these days to come in the prophecies that are yet to be fulfilled. But all along this timeline, in the present time during the tribulation, during the Millennium, there is the opportunity to enter into eternity with God. And so believers who die in the present time, believers who are caught up to meet the Lord in the air at the rapture of the church, believers who are martyred for their faith in the Tribulation period. They will. Enter immediately into the presence of God and will be an eternity with God. But there's a little bit of a distinction between being in the presence of God and the resurrection that takes place, and again, not getting into all of the details here. Just maybe throwing out some seeds for you to investigate leader but resurrection in the Scripture always refers to a bodily resurrection and and there is the event that happens. At the last Trump and there will be a bodily resurrection there, Paul tells us in First Thessalonians chapter 4. And so instantly in God's presence may or may not include that bodily resurrection. Right now, that is something to wrestle with, and you can kind of consider it later on if you want to, but in a similar way. OK, without getting into those details and chasing that too far, those who die apart from Christ. Their experience is quite a bit different, and so unbelievers who died today go to a place we would refer to as Hades. The scripture uses that word. It is a temporary holding place, a very uncomfortable temporary holding place for those who die apart from Christ. They are not resurrected immediately. They're in this place called Hades. Whether they die in the present time during the tribulation during the Millennium until. The second resurrection and the 2nd resurrection is when the dead are brought out of Hades and are presented before the Great Throne judged permanently and then cast into the Lake of Fire. And so there's two categories. Of resurrection, there's the category of believers who are resurrected and believers enter into eternity with God at different times, but might experience bodily resurrection all at the same time. Or maybe it's at the various different times. That's there's a little bit of discussion and conversation that could be had about that. The unbelievers. Their bodily resurrection happens at the end after the Millennium, when they stand before the Lord at the Great White Throne judgment, and so that's a quick look at those things that are to come. The two resurrections, what he mentions here, many. Whose bodies lie dead and buried will rise. Is up some to everlasting life and some to shame and everlasting disgrace that. That there is an eternity is the point. There is a bodily resurrection for every one of us, every individual, every human being is an eternal creature who will live forever in eternity with God or eternity. Apart from God now eternal judgment, of course, is very difficult for us to understand. A difficult subject for us to consider. Here, but what we need to remember is that it's consistently taught throughout the scriptures, and so whether or not we understand it, whether or not it's our favorite, whether or not we like to talk about it, it is a reality and an eternity. Understanding eternity, focusing on eternity, really does great benefit to our hearts and minds when we are in the midst of things that that we need to be calibrated again so that we are looking in the right direction so that our minds are focused on the right things that we have God. Eternal plan. In perspective, and so it is important to know to understand and to remember there are two resurrections that we are eternal beings. Not that we have always existed. But that from here on out. God has created us to have life eternal. With him or apart from him. We're told in revelation, chapter 20, verse five. This is the first resurrection. The rest of the dead did not come back to life until the thousand years had ended. Blessid and Holy are those who share in the first resurrection. For them, the second death holds no power, but they will be priests of God and of Christ, and will reign with him 1000 years, and so here again, reiterating this idea of a resurrection. That's first a resurrection, that second. The first resurrection speaks of the believers who are resurrected to spend eternity with God. The second resurrection of the is those who are brought out of Hades to stand before God at the Great White Throne judgment. Now going back to being rescued. And sometimes rescue is death. It's with eternity in mind. We can understand that death is still a victory. That those who die as believers in the tribulation period or before then that there is a victory in that we made it to the end. We made it to eternity and there is the presence of God and reward waiting for us. Also in Revelation chapter 15 verse 2. John says I saw before Mew it seemed to be a glass. See mixed with fire and on it stood all the people who had been victorious over the beast. And his statue, and the number representing his name. And they were all holding hearts that God had given them. The apostle John speaking about this same time frame that Daniel is dealing with here. He's in this vision of heaven, and he sees there in heaven a multitude. And these are people who had been victorious over the beast. This is in the midst of the tribulation period. It's interesting to consider their victory over the beast. Wasn't a rescue from death. But it was a rescue in death. They're in heaven because they've been killed, martyred during the Tribulation period, and now they stand in heaven before the Lord. And the way that the Lord sees that the way that the Lord wants us to understand it is that's victory. Being faithful to the Lord to the end, even when it costs you your life, that is victory. If they kept their lives a little bit longer in the Tribulation period but compromised their relationship with the Lord, that would be defeat. Living a little bit longer. Rescue from the present circumstances is not always. VV is faithfulness to the Lord, to the end, and so. The promise here for Daniel is there's going to be great trouble like the world has never seen before, but God is going to rescue those.
Who are his?
And some of those will be rescued by resurrection. They will be victory or they will be victorious and faithfulness to the end and resurrected in glory to be forever with the Lord. Verse 3 here in Daniel 12 says those who are wise shall shine shine as bright as the sky and those who lead many to righteousness will shine like the stars forever. This is one of those classic verses great verses for us to consider and meditate on the idea of shining as bright as the sky shining. Like stars forever. For those who are wise for those who lead many to righteousness. I would encourage you to think about and meditate on this verse. Not so much to focus on. The shine But to focus on what causes the shine. This is not saying listen if you wanna be wise then really focus on shining as bright as you can. This is the other way around. Focus on being wise. And the shine will be a byproduct of that. Being wise will be an an incredible stark contrast to the world around you, and so you will shine bright if you are wise and we're going to come back to that thought a little bit more later. As he mentions wisdom again further on in the passage, but focus on being wise. Focus on. Leading people to righteousness and the result will be a bright shining. There'll be a stark contrast between you and the world around you as you focus on God's eternal plan. Focus on God's eternal plan. You know there's something about eternity. Sometimes when we are going through things, when it's the end of something, end of a season, end of an era, end of you know something great or end of something difficult. We're so focused on that thing that's right in front. Of us, we're. We're zoomed in. And we don't have great perspective as a result, and so to end something well. To transition from one thing to the next thing, it would give us great value. It would benefit us greatly if we would. Be able to zoom out. And focus on God's eternal plan. The middle of the trial and tribulation and difficulty in pain and turmoil that you're experiencing. Zoom out a little bit and remember sometimes rescue and victory is being faithful unto death. Zoom out a little bit, think about eternity, put the eternal back into perspective so that you remember there is reward that the things that we're going through here are earning for us great and immeasurable things in eternity that we will benefit from for the rest. Of forever and ever. And so focus on God's eternal plan. Sometimes transitioning out of something good in our lives, like we don't want it to end, right? Remember when Peter, James and John were on the mountain with the Lord and he was transfigured before them and Peter says, oh, let's build some tabernacles here. We don't want this to end. Oh no, no Peter. You need to zoom out a little bit. You're zoomed in on this and oh, it's such a great experience at such a great time with the Lord. Such a great event or occasion. Yes, enjoy it while it's there, but that's not meant to be forever. Zoom out a little bit and understand. Take into perspective. There's an internal plan. If they had camped out on that. Mountain forever Jesus would not have gone to the cross and all of us would. Be lost, including Peter. Because the cross was necessary for our redemption and salvation, and so so there's more to the story than what we can just see right now or the exciting thing or the difficult thing. The challenging thing. What is it that's coming to an end? In your life. And maybe you can't wait for it to end. Or maybe you don't. Want it to ever end? You need to zoom out a little bit and focus on God's eternal plan. As we think about eternity as we think about the prophecies that are yet to be fulfilled, you can get all worked up and stressed out over. Really, there's going to be a time of English like the world has never seen, since nations ever first came into existence. Like that's not something pleasant that I want to think about, and you're telling me that's going to happen and now you don't want me to stress about it. Yes, focus on the eternal plan. God has it all under control. He's working all this out according to his plans and purposes, which are for your good. If you love God and are the called.
According to his purpose.
Well, that brings us now to verses 4 through 7 for point #2 and that is focus on God. Perfect timing. Focus on God, perfect timing verse 4 but you Daniel keep this prophecy a secret. Seal up the book until the time of the end, when many will rush here and there and knowledge will increase. After the Lord gives Daniel a little snippet about what is to come, there's going to be a lot of turmoil. Michael the Archangel is going to defend the Jewish people against the attacks of the Antichrist. There's going to be a resurrection. And eternity that follows. But Daniel, I'm not telling you everything. And it's time for you. To wrap up this prophecy to seal it. Until the time of the end. This is just a little bit to kind of like hold you over a little appetizer. Now seal it up. More will be. Revealed as the time progresses, many will rush here and there and knowledge will increase. Many will rush here and there.
Just a couple weeks. Christmas season many people rush from here to there and here and there and they go from there to here.
And they drive like crazy people. And they're. Insensitive jerks and there's going to be a lot of rushing from here to there, right? But that's not really what the Lord is talking about here. There's going to be a searching out, uh, searching for as these things begin to unfold as these things progress. There's going to be an increase in knowledge of God, plans and God purposes, and what God has foretold in the prophecies. And there's going to be a rushing here and there to figure out to understand what it is that's going on and what it is that God has said. A little bit more to come. On that idea but. Moving on to verse five and six, then I Daniel looked and saw two others standing on opposite banks of the river. One of them asked the man dressed in linen, who is now standing above the river. How long will it be until these shocking events? Are over here in this vision that Daniel is experiencing now. He sees two others. Standing on opposite banks. Of the river. There's a lot of interesting discussion that we could. Have about this. Who are these two? Others, the general tendency is to conclude that these are angelic beings, and so one of the angels. Ask the one who is in linen. That is most likely a reference to Jesus. The vision of the Lord that Daniel saw at the beginning of this in Daniel Chapter 10. How long until these shocking events are over? Perhaps one of the Angels asked him, but there's another interesting idea and and I don't know that I would say I believe it 100%, but it's interesting to kind of play with in your mind if. You want to that? Some would suggest that these other two people. To other people. Perhaps John the Apostle. And Zachariah the prophet, that if you think about the prophecies of Zachariah who prophesied and foretold about this same time frame, John the Apostle, in writing the Book of Revelation, the vision that he sees wrote about this same time frame, that there is this possible idea. Just speculation, just an idea, just fun too. Entertain your mind, perhaps, but that the Lord is showing all of them these things at the same time. And he sees those other two prophets also receiving this vision and interacting with the Lord, and so they're experiencing it from different angles. Different sides, but the Lord is showing them all at the same time. Now they lived in different time periods. So then there's all those kinds of questions. Fun stuff to play with in your mind. If you want to, but the answer is. Where it gets really important to consider verse 7. The man dressed in linen, who is standing above the river, raised both his hands toward heaven and took a solemn oath. By the one who lives forever, saying it will go on for a time, times and half a time. When the shattering of the holy people has finally come to an end, all these. Things will have happened. So here the man dressed in linen above the river answers whoever it is that asked this question. How long is this going to be? Again, the man dressed in linen is probably a reference to Jesus at the beginning of Daniel, Chapter 10 and Z has this vision of the Lord. This person, probably Jesus, raised both his hands. He takes an oath. You know we sometimes put a hand on a Bible and raise your hand. To take an oath this. Occasion he puts both of his hands to heaven. He takes a solemn oath by the one who lives forever, an oath. Attached to the father. Saying for sure for sure for sure without a doubt without a question this is going to take place for. A time times. And a half a time. And say, OK, great, well that settles that. Question then moving right. Along, no, there's a little bit to consider about that. What is a time times and half a time? It is 3 1/2 years. The scripture refers to that final portion of the tribulation event. In a few different ways. 3 1/2 years or the middle point of the seven-year tribulation. It refers to it as 42 months. It refers to it as 12160 days. These and it refers to it. This phrase appears several times time times and half that time, and so the idea is time is 1 plus times. That's 2 + 1/2. That's 3 1/2 if you can see that I don't know. I'm not good with doing 3 1/2 foot in my fingers, but the idea here is that 3 1/2 years. The final. Portion of the Tribulation period is limited by this time frame set by the Lord. In verse seven, at the end, he says when the shattering of the holy people has finally come to an end, all these things will have happened at the end of that 3 1/2 years. He says all of these things that we've been talking about in this prophecy here in Chapter 11 and 12 of Daniel. All of these things will conclude by that time with that. Final 3 1/2 year period that will take place. The great tribulation. The Tribulation refers to that seven-year period. The Great Tribulation refers to that last half. Those final 3 1/2 years and it's going to be a shattering of the holy people. A shattering of the Jewish people again as he went and said in verse one the the anguish is going to be like never. The world has never seen. Before, but it's limited. It's for a time and it is for these 3 1/2 years and so he gives us a little bit of sense of the timing. What's interesting about prophecy and timing is of course we always want to know, yeah, but when does it all start and and the timing that God gives us is primarily rated related to when it all ends, right? But we want to know, yeah, but when does it start? The disciples asked Jesus about that in Matthew Chapter 24, verse 36, Jesus made sure to make us know no one knows the day or the hour when these things will happen, not even the angels in heaven or the Son himself. Only the father knows. We don't know when it will start. But when you talk about the Tribulation period and there's some specific things that happen. Once those specific things happen, the Antichrist signing a covenant with the Nation of Israel for seven years like that is a key indicator, and from there timing is very clear. And can be counted down to the days. 12160 days, 42 months. 3 1/2 years. Time, times, and half a time like there's all these things that are associated with the end but God. Obscures from us. The time of when all of those things will begin to unfold. And so it leaves us in that place of. Having to rest in God. Perfect timing. You know we can look at the world around us and think, why isn't God starting this already? Why hasn't he, you know, jumped us into? Why isn't the rapture taking place already? Why is he allowing this to go on? And it would be hard for us to imagine, Can you imagine the world continuing for another 500 years in the way that we're going in the state that we're in, and we could say no way. There's just no way we have to that we have to like be gone by then, right? Like we can't even imagine another 40 years going on in the condition that the world. Is in in the direction that it's going, but. We might agonize over that we might wrestle with that, we might wrestle with God about why he hasn't come yet, or why he's allowing these things to persist so bad, but but we know the scriptures tell us it's going to get worse and worse and worse until the. End and so Lord as we see it, get worse and. Worse, why isn't the? End yet when is the? Rapture of the church going to take place. When are we going to be caught up to meet with the Lord? When is God going to bring justice for all of the injustices and the atrocities that are going on with what is going on and when is this going? To be resolved. And God decides not to tell us. When it's all gonna start, when it's all going to happen. But he reveals his timing in a way that will be beneficial and helpful to the people who are experiencing that in the midst of the tribulation period they will have a very clear direction from the Lord on that. But in the meantime, God is calling us to trust him. To operate in his perfect timing throughout the scriptures you see this happen over and over and over again at just the right time at just the perfect time God brings forth resolution, he brings forth Deliverance. He brings forth salvation. He works miraculously at just the right. And that's something to rest in as we consider the end. Again, the end of whatever you might be experiencing the end of all things in the prophetic timeline, sure, absolutely. But also the end of this season of your life. The end of this year, the end of that job. The end of this journey. It's all. Coming about and happening. According to God, perfect timing. And we may not know the answers. We may not know all of the things that we want to know about that, but what one thing that we can trust in? Is that it's God perfect timing and we think, well, I lost that person way too soon. God says no, it was perfect timing. That season was over way too fast. Or maybe we're going. This season is lasting way too long. I'm having to endure this for way longer than I need to or should be appropriate. Like why isn't this over yet and we can rest in God's perfect time as you focus on the end. Sometimes you want the end, sometimes you don't want the end. But you don't have the whole picture yet. You don't understand everything that you need. To understand, but God does. And so, in the perfect timing, he ends the season. In the perfect timing, he starts something new and the perfect timing. He starts the next thing and he puts an end to the previous thing we can trust God and rest. The timing is not in your hands, it's in God's hands. So focus on. God's eternal plan.
And is perfect timing.
Well, thirdly, we're going to continue on it versus 8 through 10. We could focus on gaining wisdom from God, and here's a good place for us to focus versi. I heard what he said, but I did not understand what he meant. So I asked how will all?
This finally end my Lord.
But he said, go now, Daniel, for what I have said, is kept secret and sealed until the time of the end. Many will be purified, cleansed and refined by these trials, but the wicked will continue in their wickedness, and none of them will understand. Only those who are wise will know.
What it means?
Daniel hears. This response about the time, times and half a time. And he says, huh? I don't get it. We have a little bit more clarity and are able to answer that a little bit more clearly than Daniel could because we have further revelation from God throughout the rest of the scripture and primarily in the Book of Revelation, and so God added a little bit more information, just like he said he would. More information would come and be revealed as time progresses. But Daniel, he hears it. He hears the words God spoke in a language he understood, but he said I don't get it. I don't understand what that is so. He says, well, let me ask it another way, let me let me present another question. How is this all going? To finally end. I don't fully understand, so let me ask some more questions. But God says Daniel.
Go away.
Go away, Daniel. For what I have said is kept secret and sealed until the time of the end. The idea of it being sealed is not so much that it's. Kept secret forever, but that it's preserved for the right time and more revelation will unfold. This prophecy will make more and more sense the closer we get. To that end, time and in the midst of that time it's going to be blown wide open and everybody at that time is going to be able to read this and go. Wow the Lord told us exactly what was happening and exactly what was going on in advance so that we would have it for us in the midst of this time of great need. And so. It's secret and sealed until then. So for now, Daniel, you just need to go. Pastor David Guzik Says the command to go your way is literally to go, but it's not meant physically. The Angel told Daniel to make a mental departure from the question. More details would be revealed later. But Daniel must be content with what God has revealed thus far. And sometimes this can be quite a challenge for people. To go your way. To put an end to the mental questioning. And maybe you don't have that struggle when it comes to prophecy. Maybe you read about these things and you go? OK, that's interesting. Some people say this. Some people say that all right. I guess that's enough. And then you just move about your date. No problem, some people get caught up in prophecy and and they can't. They can't do anything else but ask questions about prophecy. And and and ask questions about you know how is this going to be fulfilled? And I need more detail and and there's a, you know, a search for those things. You don't have that kind of attention or focus on those things, but. I think you could relate to Daniel and that. You're in the midst of something. You have a question, God answers and you say, huh? I have more questions, more questions, Lord. I need more details. I need the road map. I need the blueprint. I need to know how. All this is going to work out. And we can have lined up in our minds a lot of questions for God. In fact, some people. Maybe you're one of them. You even have this kind of mental list in your head. When I stand before the Lord, I'm going to ask him about this and that. And that and that, because I just don't understand. But answers to questions are really not. What we need to focus on. Is what we need to focus on. If you think about job. And what job endured and what he went through? The questions that he asked all throughout those many chapters. Spent a lot of time. In job over the years we. Understand the trouble, the turmoil, the hurt, the heartache, the bad friends he had. And all the questions that he. Had along the way. If the book of Job had been revealed to job in advance or in the midst of his affliction. It would not have helped job as much as we might think. I mean we look at chapter one and two, and we say this explains. Everything this is. This is why Joe went through what? He went through. I would contend with that a little bit and I would say job chapter one and two explains how more than why. It explains how more than why and you're. Like I don't know job wanted 2. What are you talking about? Well, go back and read job wanted two and then come talk to me and we can talk about that further. If you want to but but insight about you know this exchange that went on between the Lord and the enemy would not have helped job in the midst of the suffering. It wouldn't have ended the suffering. And it wouldn't have answered. All his questions. What Joab didn't need was all of the information in the midst of his suffering. What Joab needed was wisdom from God on how to endure, how to walk through the midst of the suffering. It's often been said that God's children lived by faith, not explanations. And when we talk about focus on gaining wisdom from God, we're not talking about having all of the answers or all of the information. Having the whole prophetic plan and all of the answers to the mysteries in the Bible. Walking in wisdom and gaining wisdom from God is more about boots to the ground kind of things. How does God want me? To live and to operate today, how does God want me to behave and to interact with people? What steps does God want me to take today? He says in verse 10 mini will be purified, cleansed and refined by these trials, but the wicked will continue in their wickedness, and none of them will understand only those who are wise will know what it means. In the midst of this tribulation period, there's going to be a purifying and cleansing but wicked people who don't care to know about God. They're just going to continue in their ways. These they're not going to gain wisdom from God. They're not going to learn how to operate in the midst of that, but those who are wise will know what it means. They'll understand what these times are, and they'll be purified and cleansed and refined by the trials because they are gaining wisdom from God. Focus on gaining wisdom as opposed to explanation or information or facts and figures. Proverbs Chapter 9 tells us the fear of the Lord is the foundation of wisdom. Knowledge of the Holy 1 results in good judgment wisdom is that practical aspect of understanding that's knowing God in a way that impacts our life that teaches us how to walk in the steps to take and the conversations to have in the way that. We need to go. As we come to the end of something. Not the message. Don't get your hopes up as we come. To the end of something. Our focus needs to be not on all of the information. Why did this happen? God, I need the explanation I suffered for a while and now I want to know why. My God may or may not reveal that. But what God is certain to reveal? Is how he wants you to move forward from this. God is certain to reveal how he wants you to handle and process what it is that you're going through, whether it be. A high experience or a low experience? Focus on gaining wisdom from God to close out a season of your life to close out the year 2022. To close out that. That occasion That time period, that event that God has you in. Pastor Warren Wiersbe says it this way the servant of the Lord never has to fret over what to do next for the Lord always has a word of encouragement and instruction for him at the right time. During all of his long life, Daniel prayed faithfully, studied the Scriptures and sought to serve God. And the Lord always guided him, protected him, and used him for his glory. As one thing ends in your life, there's next steps that God has for you. Be focused. On receiving wisdom from God. He has some direction for you. He has some guidance for you. He has some wisdom. To direct you in your steps for these ahead. Well finally point #4 focus on living out faithfulness to God verses 11 through 13. From the time the daily sacrifice is stomped and the sacrilegious object that causes desecration is set up to be worshipped, there will be 12190 days and bless it. Are those who wait and remain? Until the end of. The 13 and 35 thirteen 135 days. As for you go your way until the end, you will rest. And then at the end of the days you will rise again to receive the inheritance set aside.
For you.
Here again, the Lord is speaking about the events of the Tribulation period. There's going to be the commonly referred to as the abomination of desolation. Or the sacrilegious object that causes desecration as worded here in the new living translation of verse 11 there's daily sacrifices that are going to stop because the temple will be rebuilt in Jerusalem and the temple sacrifices will be ongoing until the Antichrist sets himself up as God there in the temple. Sets up an image of himself, demands all of the world to worship him. I'm just summarizing these things kind of briefly. But this is what Daniel is referring to, that that middle event. The abomination of desolation that happens in the middle of that seven-year tribulation period. But then it's interesting because he talks about. Once that happens. There will be 12190 days now. We talked about time, times and half a time. That's equivalent to 42 months or 12160 days. 3 1/2 years. But now we have a different time frame. 12190 days is 30 days more than the 12160 days of the 3 1/2 years and so it leads the question what is the 30 days extra for? We don't know. And then he talks about the 13130. Five days in verse 12. And so there's different ways that people try to work this out. It's all speculation. We're just guessing. You know the. Establishment of the Kingdom of Jesus might take 30 days or an extra. You know 75 days to to equal these numbers, and so there's ideas and ways you can kind of figure it out, and perhaps that's the way. But going back to verse 13. As for you, Daniel go your way until the end. Daniel, I'm not going to explain all these things. I'm not gonna tell you what all these numbers mean. What all these timeframes mean? And listen for you and I as believers. Today, if you could precisely figure out the 12190 days and the 13135 days and have a real amazing explanation for that, that's great. But what does it really do to impact your life like it's really going to be important for the people who are living in those? Days to know the 12190 days versus the 1335 days versus the 1260 days? That's that's when all of that is really going to be applicable and appropriate. But As for you, Daniel. As for you and I today. He says. Go your way. Change the subject. Don't don't pursue that endlessly. Not that we can't speculate and have ideas fine to do, but don't let that derail. Your pursuit of God in your relationship with God in and and it might be strange to hear that, but that has happened. That does happen. Sometimes people get so caught up in the prophetic scene and they pursue that with such such zeal and fervor and attention that it just completely sidelines their whole rest of the relationship with God. And sometimes they end up apostate as a result because they've disconnected from the Lord in the pursuit of all of the details of how these things might be fulfilled. The Lord will reveal these things clearly when they need to be revealed and he reveals them for us here a little bit so that we can have a taste of it and they'll become clearer as we go. But we need to be careful not to take it too far. Pastor David Music puts it this way. Daniel's mind was filled with exciting and frightening prophetic thoughts. Perhaps it was easy for those things to become a distraction instead of a blessing to him. So the Angel concluded with an important reminder, go your way till the end. God had a course he wanted Daniel to complete. And Daniel needed to remain focused on. That I want to encourage you with the same God is a course that he wants. You to complete. And there's lots of opportunities to get distracted from that. As you end out one season, maybe you know what's next. Maybe you don't know what's next. Our focus needs to be on faithfulness to God, faithfulness to the course that God has set before us. Focus on living out, faithfulness to God, Daniel. Go your way. Listen, you're going to rest. You're going to reach the end of your life. You're going to be resurrected, and then you're going to receive the inheritance that was set aside for you. You're going to. Receive the reward for all of your libre. Unto the Lord. And so Daniel, go your go your weight. You have a way. You have a path that got us set before you focus on living that out. And your path doesn't involve having all the answers to all of these prophecies at this time. So don't don't try to pursue that path even though it's intriguing and interesting and you know you might want to, that that might be your plan and the path that you would choose, but Daniel, I've chosen a path. For you go your way. Live out your life in faithfulness to God. And so here are some valuable. Tools, concepts and ideas. To help us focus on the end. Whether it be the end times. Or the end of a season. The end of a job. The end of a year.
The end of.
Our physical life. We can focus on God's eternal plan, put things back into perspective and remember he is sovereign. He's over all things. He's got it under control. He's accomplishing things for our good and his perfect timing so we can trust him. We can rest in him. And our focus then isn't so much. All of the answers and understanding and explanations. But our focus is on wisdom. Lord, what is it that you want me to do in light of these things? How do you want me to live? How do you want me to be in the workplace? How do you want me to treat my spouse and be a parent to my children? How do you want me to be a witness to the world around me? What is it? That you want from me. In the midst of the situation that I'm in, the end of one thing and the beginning of something new. Focus on gaining wisdom from God and then focus on living out faithfulness to God as he leads you and guide you. He gives you your way.
Pursue it to the end.
And then you're going to rest. You're going to enter into eternity and receive the inheritance that's incorruptible and undefiled and reserved in heaven for you. Keep running towards the Lord. Until that day, would we thank you? For your word. And how it can recenter us and refocus our minds and Lord, we do get distracted and caught up and consumed with and concerned with things. Would that keep us? From hearing the the things we need to hear from you from gaining wisdom from you. God, I pray that all of these things. Would be solidified in our minds. That as we approach the end. Of whatever it is a season, an event, an occasion, a time period, a good time, a hard time. But may we not be? So distracted by the questions. Are so distracted lured by the ideas and possibilities? Or that we neglect.
To sit at your feet and hear from you.
Or would you teach us the wisdom that we need? Help us Lord to fear you. In the midst of whatever we face. Or that we might leave that foundation of wisdom. That we would focus.
Our minds and our hearts on. Honoring you, serving you, and obeying you. And would I pray that you would give us strength? And endurance.
To be faithful until the end. To live out that faithful walk to be victorious. Because we did not turn, we did not compromise.
But Lord, we loved you. With all of our heart and soul and mind and strength. It would help us to focus. On the right things. In whatever season we face. I pray this in Jesus name.