How Long, O Lord?

Introduction

This book is a miracle. It is God-breathed and tells us who we are, where we’ve been, where we’re going, and what will happen along the way. Sadly, there are many parts in this book that get skipped over. That doesn’t make a whole lot of sense, does it? We believe that all of Scripture is inspired by God. We believe that it is all truth. We believe that it is all relevant. However, there are certainly parts of Scripture that rarely get the light of day - at least in most pulpits around our world. If you are committed to topical preaching, this is satisfactory. You can pick and choose your favorite topic or the latest thing on the news cycle or the passage that everyone else is preaching on and you can do that each and every week. God’s Word is God’s Word, but if that is your conviction regarding preaching then it is extremely easy to never touch parts of your Bible. As a pastor called by God to preach the Word, I am called to rightly handle as 2 Timothy 2:15 says, the Word of Truth.

At FBC Salem, this means that most weeks we will be studying through a book of the Bible, verse by verse, chapter by chapter. Not every week - some weeks we’ll have a different series going on possibly for Advent, Easter, or a thematic series in the summer or fall. But most weeks, we’ll be examining God’s Word verse by verse… and do you know what this means you can’t do? You can’t avoid the next verse. You can’t pick and choose to not cover something because it’s “too controversial” or too “tough” to preach or handle. This means that when you preach Romans, you can’t skip Romans 8 and Romans 9. This means that when you preach Genesis, you can’t skip Genesis 6-8. This means that when you preach Daniel, you actually preach Daniel 7-12. Why? Because it’s God’s Word! It is profitable. It is truth. It is needed for the people of God. There are easier ways to preach if the goal of preaching is to get applause - but that’s not the goal of preaching. The goal of preaching is to represent the text and expose the text for all to hear. That means that sometimes we dive into hard passages and some folks might not like that - but I am convicted from my radiator to my tailpipe that this is God’s Word and that we will submit to it’s authority. We can disagree over secondary and tertiary issues in this book, but my prayer is that we would grow from this book each and every week that we gather together.

This morning we continue our study through the second half of this book and we come to Daniel 8. Have you ever heard a sermon on Daniel 8? Some have, some haven’t. I’ve never preached this passage before. Some of you likely haven’t read this passage before today. But it is God’s Word. It is a wonderful passage that like the rest of the book reminds us that our God is in control. Even though there are things going on throughout history that are confusing and even though God’s people suffer greatly, we are reminded that our God rules, evil has an expiration date, and that there is victory in Jesus Christ. Let’s read this 8th chapter from the book of Daniel

Daniel 8 CSB

1 In the third year of King Belshazzar’s reign, a vision appeared to me, Daniel, after the one that had appeared to me earlier. 2 I saw the vision, and as I watched, I was in the fortress city of Susa, in the province of Elam. I saw in the vision that I was beside the Ulai Canal. 3 I looked up, and there was a ram standing beside the canal. He had two horns. The two horns were long, but one was longer than the other, and the longer one came up last. 4 I saw the ram charging to the west, the north, and the south. No animal could stand against him, and there was no rescue from his power. He did whatever he wanted and became great. 5 As I was observing, a male goat appeared, coming from the west across the surface of the entire earth without touching the ground. The goat had a conspicuous horn between his eyes. 6 He came toward the two-horned ram I had seen standing beside the canal and rushed at him with savage fury. 7 I saw him approaching the ram and, infuriated with him, he struck the ram, breaking his two horns, and the ram was not strong enough to stand against him. The goat threw him to the ground and trampled him, and there was no one to rescue the ram from his power. 8 Then the male goat acted even more arrogantly, but when he became powerful, the large horn was broken. Four conspicuous horns came up in its place, pointing toward the four winds of heaven. 9 From one of them a little horn emerged and grew extensively toward the south and the east and toward the beautiful land. 10 It grew as high as the heavenly army, made some of the army and some of the stars fall to the earth, and trampled them. 11 It acted arrogantly even against the Prince of the heavenly army; it revoked his regular sacrifice and overthrew the place of his sanctuary. 12 In the rebellion, the army was given up, together with the regular sacrifice. The horn threw truth to the ground and was successful in what it did. 13 Then I heard a holy one speaking, and another holy one said to the speaker, “How long will the events of this vision last—the regular sacrifice, the rebellion that makes desolate, and the giving over of the sanctuary and of the army to be trampled?” 14 He said to me, “For 2,300 evenings and mornings; then the sanctuary will be restored.” 15 While I, Daniel, was watching the vision and trying to understand it, there stood before me someone who appeared to be a man. 16 I heard a human voice calling from the middle of the Ulai: “Gabriel, explain the vision to this man.” 17 So he approached where I was standing; when he came near, I was terrified and fell facedown. “Son of man,” he said to me, “understand that the vision refers to the time of the end.” 18 While he was speaking to me, I fell into a deep sleep, with my face to the ground. Then he touched me, made me stand up, 19 and said, “I am here to tell you what will happen at the conclusion of the time of wrath, because it refers to the appointed time of the end. 20 The two-horned ram that you saw represents the kings of Media and Persia. 21 The shaggy goat represents the king of Greece, and the large horn between his eyes represents the first king. 22 The four horns that took the place of the broken horn represent four kingdoms. They will rise from that nation, but without its power. 23 Near the end of their kingdoms, when the rebels have reached the full measure of their sin, a ruthless king, skilled in intrigue, will come to the throne. 24 His power will be great, but it will not be his own. He will cause outrageous destruction and succeed in whatever he does. He will destroy the powerful along with the holy people. 25 He will cause deceit to prosper through his cunning and by his influence, and in his own mind he will exalt himself. He will destroy many in a time of peace; he will even stand against the Prince of princes. Yet he will be broken—not by human hands. 26 The vision of the evenings and the mornings that has been told is true. Now you are to seal up the vision because it refers to many days in the future.” 27 I, Daniel, was overcome and lay sick for days. Then I got up and went about the king’s business. I was greatly disturbed by the vision and could not understand it.

Suffering, persecution, and destruction are things that have happened historically to God’s people and they continue to happen today. Daniel received this vision 2600 years ago. In the midst of the confusion and uncertainty, God promises that these difficulties in this life will only last so long. Evil will come to an end. Is anyone else thankful for that truth?

Evil Will Have Its Day Today (1-14)

Last week we began this second half of this book and dove straight into the apocalyptic capital of the Old Testament in chapter 7 of Daniel. Was anyone else’s head hurting a bit last week from all of the study of empires, animals, and views that are out there in existence? Daniel 7 was and is a difficult passage to fully understand, and chapter 8 can certainly appear to be the same way were it not for the second half of the chapter as we see that Gabriel provides the interpretation and meaning for us! If only things were always that easy, right? If only we had our own angelic interpreter for every single passage concerning prophecy in places like Ezekiel, Zechariah, and Revelation! What do we see in our text this morning, at least the majority of it? We see that there are problems in this world. There is evil that is at work in this world. There are people who worship God who are suffering at the hands of those who are evildoers. What do we make of this passage? We see that Daniel is in the 3rd year of the reign of Belshazzar now, he was in the first year in chapter 7, so a few years have passed by this second vision. We see that grammatically, we’re back in Hebrew and we’re done with the Aramaic and every Bible scholar says - thank you Lord! But really, what is going on in God’s Word here?

Daniel has a vision and in the vision, he is in a different location than he is truly in. He’s in Babylon during the reign of Belshazzar - but in the vision he is in Susa. A few years ago there was a product released called the Oculus. This device goes on your head and looks kind of funny… but if you’re the person wearing it, you’re surrounded by a reality that looks and seems real but it’s obviously not. This is called virtual reality and it’s taking off like crazy in our world! You can be in one place, but feel like you’re in another place doing something else entirely like run through the Amazon rainforest. Daniel’s vision, much like John’s in Revelation, is just that… a vision. He didn’t travel to the Persian city of Susa, he has this vision that takes him there and he begins to see some crazy things unfold. A ram with 2 horns, one longer than the other, were there. What could this be?

Do you remember which nation conquered Belshazzar and the Babylonians? The Persians. Back in chapter 7 we saw that the second beast was a bear with one side raised up above the other. The Persians are what we know them as today, but back then they were called the Medo/Persians. An alliance between the Medes (from modern day Iran) and Persians, but the Persian side was always stronger. We see that this animal, this ram, is charging and defeating foes against it. It was great and seemingly invincible. This is the Persian Empire. So, here is Daniel serving under the Babylonian King, Belshazzar, being told by God in chapter 7 and now chapter 8 that another kingdom will conquer them. Do you think this gave Daniel, an exiled Jew in Babylon, confidence? As great as the Babylonians were, they would not last forever. There was 1 king with all power and it wasn’t Belshazzar or Nebuchadnezzar. It is God and God alone. Christian, this is our hope today as well. We serve the king of kings and we don’t have to worry about Him being taken out of office. Our hope in exile is that earthly kingdoms will not rule forever.

This ram is powerful, but the ram doesn’t last forever either. We see a male goat appear and we’re told that the goat doesn’t touch the ground. That doesn’t make much sense, does it? This is to say that the goat is moving quickly, from place to place so fast that it appears as though it’s flying, not walking or running. If we go back to chapter 7 we see that the third kingdom is Greece. This male goat moves quickly towards the ram and attacks the ram. This is Alexander the Great attacking the Persian Empire and defeating it. Alexander conquered the Persians while being outnumbered by over 100,000 soldiers. He was swift, efficient, and skilled as a military leader and in 3 years, he conquered the entire Ancient Near East - something unheard of. The goat defeated the ram. But eventually the goat lost its horn and 4 other horns took its place. Alexander the Great passed away at the age of 32. His kingdom stretched from India to Egypt to Europe. He believed that no one was great enough to rule like he did, and since he didn’t have an heir, he split his kingdom into… 4 parts. 4 horns come up in its place.

Ptolemy I ruled Egypt

Seleucus ruled Asia Minor and to the East (Babylon + modern day Syria/Persia)

Cassander ruled Greece/Macedonia

Lysimachus ruled Thrace, Lydia, and Phrygia (North Asia Minor)

What is this picture? As we read apocalyptic literature we can get so bogged down by things that we either don’t know or haven’t heard before that it can be hard to track. What are we seeing here? Nation after nation, leader after leader. We see evil on the rise. We see things getting worse. And things will continue to get worse - we see in verse 9 that a little horn emerges from one of these horns. Who is this little horn? We saw a little horn back in chapter 7 that came out of the 4th beast. Here in chapter 8 we see a little horn coming out of this goat which represents the Greek Empire, or the 3rd kingdom in chapter 7. Another little horn, but not the same one - this is important to understand! Who could this little horn be that causes so much destruction?

Out of the Seleucid Empire will come a ruler named Antiochus III or Antiochus the Great. He passes away and his eldest son takes power. One of the other sons, Antiochus IV, eventually worms his way onto the throne as an unnatural ruler. He doesn’t belong on the throne. He is not the legitimate heir. He is little in this regard… but he goes on to commit some horrible atrocities against the people of God. Nearly every commentator agrees that the little horn of Daniel 8 is Antiochus Epiphanes IV. Antiochus IV was a violent ruler and sent some soldiers to Jerusalem - the beautiful land. He deceived the people of Jerusalem and eventually brought in his army to destroy the Jewish people. We see that he made some of the army and some of the stars fall to earth and trampled them. Can you imagine a star falling to earth? Scientifically speaking, that couldn’t even happen, but if it could it would destroy our planet and life as we know it. Do you remember what God’s people were called in Genesis 15:5 as God spoke to Abraham?

Genesis 15:5 CSB

5 He took him outside and said, “Look at the sky and count the stars, if you are able to count them.” Then he said to him, “Your offspring will be that numerous.”

Here we see that God made a promise that Abraham’s descendents will be as numerous as the stars and now we see stars being thrown down and trampled. What did this evil king do? We see that in the span of 3 days, 40,000 Jews are killed. The high priest is killed. Antiochus IV sets himself up to be worshiped and referred to as a god - his name is changed to Theos Antiochus Epiphanes or God manifested in the flesh! He removes the regular sacrifices. Jewish boys were not allowed to be circumcised. The temple is turned into a temple for the Greek God, Zeus. The Jews were not permitted to read the law, and if they did they were killed. And then Antiochus himself took a pig into the temple and sacrificed it on the altar. This evil man was successful in what he did and if you were a Jew in this time period, 167 BC, you would think that this is the end of it all. Evil has grown too strong. We can’t worship our God. We can’t read His Word. The sign of the covenant can’t be confirmed to our boys. And we’re being killed. Our temple has been abominated and desolated by this pagan ruler and we have no hope that things will change anytime soon. If you read the books of 1-2 Maccabees, you learn more of some of these historical events. What is the question that God’s people want to know?

HOW LONG, O LORD?

Psalm 13:1–2 CSB

1 How long, Lord? Will you forget me forever? How long will you hide your face from me? 2 How long will I store up anxious concerns within me, agony in my mind every day? How long will my enemy dominate me?

Have you been in this situation before? Evil is seemingly winning the day and all you can say is: How much longer? How do you think Daniel felt receiving this vision? Knowing that his future descendants and countrymen would suffer to this magnitude? Do you see know why Daniel over and over in the second half of this book of terrified and troubled? He see’s evil winning and dominating and destroying God’s people. We might read this and wonder how on earth this is to be encouraging? People ask this same question today - with all the evil going on, where is hope to be found? Look at the end of this section - Daniel is told that this will only happen for 2300 evenings and mornings before the sanctuary is restored. There will come an end to this evil.

Are you ready for the incredible part of this prophecy? There is discussion about how to interpret this. At the surface, this seems like 2300 days - which would come out to roughly 6 years… but the Jewish people offered sacrifices in both evening and morning, so the other view is that this 2300 number is to be split in half because it’s in reference to the sacrifices offered, half in the morning, half at night and the total number of days would be 1150, or 3 years. Are you ready for the miracle of God’s Word? Some 350 years before Antiochus Epiphanes IV began this “crusade” against the Jewish people, God gave Daniel this vision of what would come and whenever his army entered Jerusalem a number of Jewish people fled to the wilderness. Fast forward a time and they began to fight back for their homeland. Antiochus removed the Jewish sacrifices on Kislev 25, 168 BC, and the Jewish sacrifices were reinstated on Kislev 25, 165 BC, nearly approximately 1150 days later. What do we see? God delivered them from this persecution! Evil had a day… but it wasn’t going to win in the end. Friends, this vision reminds God’s people that evil has an expiration date.

God’s Word is incredible - in fact these historical events are SO accurate that some more liberal (theologically speaking) Bible scholars believe that there’s no way Daniel was the author of this chapter because there’s no way he could’ve known what would happen 350 years later. Many believe wrongly that someone else wrote this chapter closer to 164 BC, after these events actually took place. Why? Because they deny the supernatural. Christian, we serve a God of the supernatural. If God spoke the earth into existence. If God rose His Son from the dead after 3 days. If God could save a wretch like you and I from our sins, then God certainly has the ability to reveal what will come to His faithful servant, Daniel. This is our God - though there is evil in our world and though many deny His existence and goodness, we know that His Word remains true.

This is good news for Daniel, the Jewish people 2000 years ago, and believers today. We must remember this reality!

History is Headed a Certain Way (15-25a)

As we take a step back in our study of Daniel, we’re reminded that everything is headed a certain direction. We see that Daniel was taken into exile in Babylon. God’s people are punished for their sin. We see leader after leader come to power. We see God humble the prideful. We see God at work in all sorts of ways. It’s easy for many to read the Bible and see the activity of God and then leave church and go back to thinking that things are happening in their lives due to luck or chance. Friends, this isn’t the case Biblically! We see that God is directing history in a certain way. This includes our lives - God makes this promise in Romans 8:28

Romans 8:28 CSB

28 We know that all things work together for the good of those who love God, who are called according to his purpose.

Is anyone else thankful for this truth? Gabriel’s birthday is August 28th, or 8, 28. There is no such thing as a coincidence or luck or chance or karma. There is a God who is ruling and reigning on His throne and He is working all things for His glory and the good of His people! Even in times of hardship. Even in times of suffering. Even when it seems like we’re all alone in our despair. Let’s look at what the Bible teaches. As you look around this world, you see brokenness. You see suffering. You see sickness. You see loss. Many of you, friends, are suffering immensely with these very things right now! You’ve lost financially, relationally, physically. Why are things the way that they are today in this evil world? Because of sin. Evil is powerful and pervasive because of sin. As Daniel looked in this vision, he see’s an interpretation of the dream he just had from Gabriel, the angel. The interpretation is that things are going to get bad. Notice, Daniel see’s Gabriel and he falls facedown and is terrified - for those who think that angels are cute cuddly cupids, please read your Bible… every time they appear, humans are terrified! We see the explanation of this vision and it’s as plain as could be: The kingdom of Medo/Persia will be destroyed by the Kingdom of Greece and from Greece will come 4 kingdoms, verse 22, and near the end of those 4 kingdoms will rise a ruthless king who will cause outrageous destruction and destroy God’s people as he stands against God. Why does Antiochus Epiphanes IV do what he does? Because of sin. Because we live in a fallen, sinful, broken world… why do we see evil leaders continue to do horrible things today? Because of sin. Why do we look in our own lives and see brokenness and tragedy? Because of sin.

Can I encourage you, today? Even in the midst of brokenness, darkness, despair, and destruction, God is at work. Even in the fires of suffering, God is at work. Consider how God is at work here in the times of Daniel and beyond.

Alexander the Great Hellenized the world - spreading Greek culture and language throughout the Middle East and Mediterranean world.

The next kingdom, the Romans, built massive roads for commerce and travel and trade.

These kingdom that persecuted God’s people so mightily, where evil was rampant left and right, but God used these kingdoms for something good. Because of the Hellenization of the world, the earliest followers of Christ had a common language to tell people about the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Because of the Roman technology and road network, there were roads for Christ followers to travel on and take the Gospel to Damascus, Ephesus, Alexandria, and eventually, Rome itself. You can try and crush the Church, but you will fail every time because History is headed a certain way - God providentially is using all things to bring about something good - the expansion of His Kingdom. As you think about your life and the difficulties you face, and as we reflect on the persecutions and difficulties that God’s people have faced for thousands of years, we’re reminded that God is working all things out, even when it might not feel that way in the moment.

This might mean that like Daniel, you go into dens of death or like Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego you enter fiery furnaces… it might mean like Job that you lose much in this life. It might mean like Paul that you are persecuted simply because of your faith in God.

Romans 8:18 CSB

18 For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is going to be revealed to us.

History is headed a certain direction. For the one who is saved, that direction is eternal glory with God. Free from the pain and stain of sin. This is certain! For the one who is not saved, this direction sadly is eternal destruction. History is moving towards these two destinations and each person will certainly enter one or the other.

God Will Have The Final Say (25b-27)

History is headed in this direction, and in the mean time we see suffering and problems and persecution and our cry is “How Long, O Lord?” But as believers on this side of the cross, we know that the cross has the final word. We know that God has the last say.

One of my pastoral friends and mentors, Dr. John Marshall, shared this earlier in the week and it was such a timely reminder. Just over 1700 years ago, the Diocletianic persecution ended. It was the last and most severe persecution of Christians in the Roman empire under the control of the Emperor Diocletian. During this persecution, many Christians lost their lives. Some of them had eyes plucked out. Others had their feet cut off. Some were given over to slavery. Many, many, many were killed over a span of nearly 15 years… but some 300 years later, Diocleatian’s palace was turned into a Christian church where believers generations later gathered to celebrate the life changing power of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Church, we win. In the moment, we will suffer but in the end we win. These followers of God were persecuted in exile and as we’ve seen in our text, Daniel is telling them that more suffering is coming! 40,000 Jews were killed in a span of just 3 days! Evil seems to rule the day, today. But God has the final say. Suffering permeates our lives. Sickness dominates some days. We suffer… but we don’t suffer without hope. God is working.

Consider Isaiah 46:10

Isaiah 46:10 CSB

10 I declare the end from the beginning, and from long ago what is not yet done, saying: my plan will take place, and I will do all my will.

The end is written. The work is finished. Jesus is our hope. God wins.

Look at how our text ends - this king dies… but not by human hands. It’s interesting historically to look at Antiochus Epiphanes IV at the peak of his power. We might expect a tyrant to meet a mighty warrior and die in battle, but this isn’t what happens. Antiochus was fleeing a battle and fell ill with a fever. He was in great pain. Eventually, due to this virus, the mad king who saw himself as a god, died. Not by human hands, but the ancient world would have said that he was struck down by God. Hear me, it doesn’t matter how powerful a person gets, God can strike them down with a microscopic bug. Evil will be judged. God will have the last say.

Job 34:20 CSB

20 They die suddenly in the middle of the night; people shudder, then pass away. Even the mighty are removed without effort.

This is the power of our God. He is in control. Even though Antiochus desolated the temple and brought about great suffering upon God’s people, we see how he met his end. This isn’t the last time of wrath God’s people will face, though. This vision foreshadows a greater desolation and a greater suffering that will come one day in the future upon God’s people in the years to come as Jesus talks about in Matthew 24. God’s people have always been a persecuted people! God’s people will continue to suffer. In these visions we see of nation after nation that will rise to power and they persecute God’s people. We see this around our world today. This isn’t strange. This shouldn’t surprise us! This will continue in the days to come. The Bible tells us of this in 1 John 2:18

1 John 2:18 CSB

18 Children, it is the last hour. And as you have heard that antichrist is coming, even now many antichrists have come. By this we know that it is the last hour.

We can say that Antiochus Epiphanes IV was a type of this final antichrist in 167 BC. Nero in 70 AD was a type of this final antichrist. Diocletian in 300 AD, Hitler, Mao-Zedong, Kim Jong in the 20th centuries, the list goes on… these things shouldn’t catch us by surprise. They should remind us that this world is not our home and that it will get worse before it gets better. But we know that Jesus wins. 2 Thess 2:8

2 Thessalonians 2:8 CSB

8 and then the lawless one will be revealed. The Lord Jesus will destroy him with the breath of his mouth and will bring him to nothing at the appearance of his coming.

Some have made some awful predictions this individual and about end times events based on Daniel 7-12. Some have taken the 2300 mornings and evenings and said that they referred to 2300 years after Daniel’s vision and said that Jesus was going to return in 1843. Do you know what happened after March 21, 1843? William Miller pivoted to the end of that Jewish calendar year, March 21, 1844. What do you think happened on March 22? He set forth another date due to a miscalculation… October 22, 1844. Then October 23rd came. Church, I love you enough to not let you get caught up in the hype and danger of clock setting. Maybe Jesus comes back in our lifetime, but speaking honestly, He probably won’t. Believers have felt that way for 2000 years and they’ve all been wrong. Here’s what we know - His return is closer now than it has ever been! But today, we wait. Evil will have its day, but God get’s the final say.

What do we do until that day? We’ve seen some helpful application throughout this text to trust in the Lord as we know that God has numbered the days of evil… but our text gives us a helpful call to action here at the end. Look at verse 27. What does Daniel do after he gets this vision? He’s sick for a period of days, but then he got up and got to work. Our future is secured in Christ - as Sinclair Ferguson says at this point: In light of the end, God calls on us to live holy lives today, tomorrow, and until He calls us home

Daniel didn’t fully understand what God was telling him through this vision. He was sick. But his focus was on his call to work, not be worried. Believer, this is our call today as we wait on the Lord. Not to be worried, but to get to work! There are things that we don’t fully understand in our lives today and especially looking ahead to the future. But we can trust an unknown future to a known God who holds the whole world in His hands today! We are to live holy lives today.

Do you know who can’t stand Christ followers living holy lives? The enemy. The enemy would love for us to not gather together and to not stand upon God’s Word. Antiochus IV perverted the sanctuary of God with false sacrifices and corrupted the people of God into worshiping something false. The enemy wants to do the same today - at times he opposes God’s people with persecution and imprisonment and even life or death opposition… but other times he seeks to bring in corruption through false teachings propagated from the pulpit or senseless division within the pews. Satan has fought against the church of Jesus Christ for 2000 years, he’s a wise adversary. How can we defeat his attacks?

We Stand on God’s Word

Daniel determined in chapter 1 to obey the Word of God and not to defile himself and give into something sinful. As we are opposed in a world that celebrates sin, we too must stand on God’s Word. What got Adam and Eve in trouble in the Garden? Doubting God’s Words. The enemy said, live for self, and deny God. What does the enemy still say today? Live for self and deny God. His tactics have changed a bit but his message is the same. He packages a kernel of truth with a sprinkle of a lie. Friends, we must know God’s Word in order to stand on it!

We Submit to God’s Word

Not only do we need to know God’s Word, but we must submit to it. Earlier this week the United Methodist Church voted by more than 90% to allow LGBTQ individuals to pastor their churches. What is God’s Word? I believe with everything within me that this is God’s Word. It is divinely inspired, without error, it is truth. It is authoritative and sufficient. Many in our world, even in churches, are fine with standing on parts of God’s Word, but not with submitting to it in its entirety. FBC Salem, we must submit to God’s Word… even parts that don’t fall in line with our godless world. At FBC, we will preach and teach the full counsel of God’s Word unapologetically and expositorily.

We Suffer for God’s Word

As we stand and submit, like God’s people historically have, we must expect to suffer for God’s Word. As Job 1:21 reminds us, the Lord gives and the Lord takes away… blessed be the name of the Lord. From this day until the last day, these attacks will continue and more and more people will “get in line” and buy into deadly lies… but what about us?

1 Peter 5:8–9 CSB

8 Be sober-minded, be alert. Your adversary the devil is prowling around like a roaring lion, looking for anyone he can devour. 9 Resist him, firm in the faith, knowing that the same kind of sufferings are being experienced by your fellow believers throughout the world.

When persecution comes knocking, be sober-minded, be alert, stand firm in the faith, remember that God’s people are a suffering people.

As we stand and suffer and wait, we will be a people who glorify our God and who live a life that points others to Him. We exist to glorify God by proclaiming the Gospel, Making Disciples, Loving God and Loving Others! As Matthew 5 tells us, we are to let our light shine before others and be salt and light in a dark and tasteless world. How long will we do this? Until Christ comes back or until He calls us home. This means that at this church, we will preach Christ. We will proclaim Christ. We will praise Christ. We will pray to Christ. We will trust in Christ to provide. We will be about our King’s business. We will trust and obey our God. We will stand on His Word. Though the nations rage and kingdoms rise and fall, there is 1 king reigning over them all - His name is Jesus. He saves and He sustains. He confronts and He comforts. He reveals and He redeems. He provides and He protects. Friend, in a world that has lost its mind - look to Jesus.

The final word is not given by a ram or a goat, but the Lamb of God who died for sinners just like you and me!