Prepare For The Inevitable | Daniel 12:1–4

Opening Remarks: We’re back in Daniel tonight. Last week we finished up Daniel 11. Daniel 11 is an overview of world history. The first half has already happened, but the second half is still future. The last 10 verses are about a future world leader named the Antichrist. He will rise in power, pretend to be a man of peace, make a covenant with Israel, turn on them, persecute them, start a world war, then be destroyed by Jesus.

If you think about what’s coming you might get a little fearful. But last week we saw the importance of Keeping Calm and Carrying On, because we know that Jesus wins in the end. Tonight’s text would have stirred both fear and hope in Daniel. It continues from where Daniel 11 leaves off.

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Our title tonight is, “Prepare For The Inevitable.”

PRAY Introduction: I’ve dealt with quite a few people lately that are making end of life preparations. That’s one of the things a Pastor does that might be surprising. Sure, there are plenty of times when death is a surprise and people weren’t ready, but there are also times when a person knows it will come either soon or someday and they just want to settle it.

Contact the funeral home

Buy a burial plot

Pick out a casket

Arrange life insurance

Finalize a will or living trust

Go over details for the funeral

Those are hard conversations, but I can’t tell you how much easier it makes it for the people left behind.

Truth is, death is inevitable. Unless Jesus returns, we’re all going to face it.

So the idea is, if something is inevitable, you probably ought to prepare for it.

Certain things are inevitable, so get ready for them:

Someday you won’t be able to work anymore, so prepare for retirement (my parents just retired at Heartland, so that one’s on my mind)

Health needs are inevitable, so you probably ought to get health insurance.

Accidents are inevitable, so you have to get car insurance.

Taxes are inevitable, so you should probably consider them in your planning.

Death is inevitable, so it’s important to prepare for it.

There are certain inevitabilities in the Christian life as well:

Temptation is inevitable, be ready

Opportunities to give the Gospel are inevitable, I hope you’re ready

In serving, Sunday’s coming, so be ready

But there’s one inevitability that we are guaranteed but often aren’t ready for:

The Trials of Life. You could say this: Suffering.

We often consider the promises and rewards of glory and anticipate those, but realize that the Bible order is always Suffering, Then Glory.

1 Peter 5:10 “But the God of all grace, who hath called us unto his eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after that ye have suffered a while, make you perfect, stablish, strengthen, settle you.”

Suffering, then glory. It’s not some kind of nihilist, pessimistic, hopeless suffering. The suffering has the end goal of glory. And when we end up in Heaven with God forever, all of those challenges and trials and temptations will be gone—just like Christ's own rejection and crucifixion was followed by his resurrection and ascension. That's the biblical pattern.

Far too often, we look ahead at the glory and wait for it, only to be caught off guard when the suffering comes first.

So God gives Daniel a glimpse into Israel’s future so they will recognize that even though God wins in the ends, there are some difficult roads before that ending. So God is essentially helping Israel to Prepare For The Inevitable.

Four Inevitabilities In Israel’s Future

Here are the things that we know are going to happen:

A. Suffering - Vs. 1a

It appears that the angel Michael is the appointed guardian of Israel. He’s the defender of God’s people, and he’s had a busy job because Israel has been targeted since the very beginning.

Israel has had some extremely dark days, but her darkest days lie ahead.

“A time of trouble such as never was since there was a nation even to that same time”

Unparalleled trouble.

Jeremiah 30:7 “Alas! for that day is great, so that none is like it: it is even the time of Jacob's trouble; but he shall be saved out of it.”

Matthew 24:21 “For then shall be great tribulation, such as was not since the beginning of the world to this time, no, nor ever shall be.”

This will be the lowest and darkest point in Israel’s history. This is referring to that 70th week in Daniel 9. That Tribulation period of 7 years when the antichrist rises to power, then turns on Israel and they experience a time of Great Tribulation. Satan wants to exterminate all of God’s people, and he’ll do his best in those 3.5 years.

That’s not very comforting. Until you recognize that even in Great Tribulation, God still has a plan for Israel. Michael the Archangel stands for God’s people.

God is protective of His people.

Even when we deal with the consequences of our sin like Israel is going to, God doesn’t forsake His own.

You may be dealing with the consequences of your sin and the tribulation seems unbearable.

But remember, even in judgement, God hasn’t forsaken you. In fact, consequences from sin are proof that He’s still working in our lives.

Don’t forget that, in Daniel 9, God’s purpose for the Tribulation was to punish and purge Israel to restore them.

Gabriel said in chapter 9 that His plan was to “finish the transgression, and to make an end of sins, and to make reconciliation for iniquity, and to bring in everlasting righteousness.” God’s judgement is meant to bring repentance and restoration, not just retribution.

So that’s coming for Israel. Tribulation. It’s inevitable.

And before you and think we’re exempt, even if it’s not a consequence for sin, God’s people have always been targeted. Don’t expect an easy life just because you serve the Lord. Suffering, then glory.

What else was in Israel’s future?

B. Deliverance - Vs. 1c

Every person whose name is found written in the book will be delivered.

This deliverance for Israel will come at the end of the Tribulation period. It will come to those whose names are found written in the book, “the Lamb’s book of Life” according to Rev. 20. It’s a “book” God keeps, a record of all the saved through every age. If your name isn’t there, you don’t get into Heaven.

Deliverance is dependent on your name being on that list.

If you’re a child of God, your darkest days have light at the end of the tunnel because you know Jesus and Jesus knows you.

2 Timothy 2:19 - “Nevertheless the foundation of God standeth sure, having this seal, The Lord knoweth them that are his. And, Let every one that nameth the name of Christ depart from iniquity.”

2 Peter 2:9 - “The Lord knoweth how to deliver the godly out of temptations, and to reserve the unjust unto the day of judgment to be punished:”

God cares for His own. He will deliver His people. He’ll do it for Israel, and He does it for us.

If you know Christ, you know deliverance.

You’ve already known deliverance from the power and penalty of sin.

You will know deliverance from the presence of sin one day.

Not only that, but we will be delivered from the heartaches of life one day.

Yes, suffering is inevitable. But when you know God, deliverance is too. Suffering, then glory.

What seems so long and terrible will one day fade as you view the glory of Jesus Christ.

Rest in that. Hope in that. Deliverance is promised as a future guarantee for God’s people.

What else was in Israel’s future?

C. Resurrection - Vs. 2

There are multitudes who sleep in the dust. Those who have died throughout human history. We’re all just dust. We came from dust and will return to it when we die.

Embalming slows it down and cremation speeds it up, but we all end up the same. Dust. We came from it, we’ll return to it.

And one day every person will experience a resurrection and stand before God.

But notice, not everyone raised will end up in the same place. Some will be raised to everlasting life, and others to shame and everlasting contempt.

We understand the part about being raised to everlasting life. I Cor. 15 says we’ll be raised to immortality and incorruptibility. Our new bodies won’t wear out or be tainted with sin.

But there’s a second resurrection - those whose names aren’t found in the Book of Life. Anyone raised to that resurrection will have a horrifying experience. Believers will be raised to salvation. But unbelievers will be resurrected for the purpose of judgment.

Illustration: Getting called to principal’s office. Sometimes it’s for a good thing. But most of the time it’s not. And any time you get called, you assume it’s for something bad.

So if you knew you could live your life in such a way that you could prepare for the moment you stand before God, would you do it? Of course. And you can.

Listen, one day, every one of us will stand before God in judgment. Can you imagine not preparing for that moment on any level? How foolish. But that’s the category most people fall into.

Most people around us every day aren’t ready for that moment at all. Can you imagine having your name in the book of life, and yet living among countless people who will be raised to shame and contempt, and never letting them know how to avoid it?

Most people you know will be raised for Judgment. What are you doing about it?

Inevitable Things In Israel’s Future:

Tribulation

Deliverance

Resurrection

One more inevitability in Israel’s future:

D. Rewards - Vs. 3

What a glorious verse and thought. God rewards the wise.

This specifically refers to those who believe in Christ and have positions of honor during the millennial kingdom.

But the principle is true for all of us: Being wise is connected to turning others to righteousness.

“A bright future and a great reward awaits those who were wise enough to comprehend and obey spiritual truth and who led others to repent of their sins and live a righteous life.” (Stephen Miller)

Hollywood has its stars. You can go watch a movie and see them. You can see their names on the Hollywood Walk Of Fame.

But Heaven also has its stars. They’ve never been on screen. They’ve never had a top 40 hit. No, these stars simply lived for God and pointed others to Him.

That mom who patiently taught her littles about Jesus.

That SS teacher who never received applause, but faithfully opened God’s Word every week.

That employee who didn’t have all the answers, but pointed to Jesus when a co-worker had a need.

Those teens who bravely gave the Gospel even when it wasn’t the cool thing to do.

That family who left it all to go across an ocean as missionaries.

Those who faithfully tell others about Christ and no one ever knows.

Someone said it this way:

If you want something to last a year, plant a flower.

If you want something that lasts a lifetime, plant a tree.

But if you want something that lasts forever, plant the Gospel seed inside the heart of a lost person.

What a promise. And that’s what blows my mind about this text:

Our suffering isn’t meant to destroy us. It’s meant to turn us back to God so we can experience restoration.

Israel will be at her absolute lowest point, but God won’t abandon her.

In fact, Israel’s tribulation will lead to deliverance, resurrection and rewards. You talk about mercy. Suffering, then glory.

You may be at your lowest point:

Loss of loved one (spouse, parent)

A wayward child

A moral failure

Loss of job

You may feel abandoned and all alone, but if God promises to be faithful to His people in the Great Tribulation, why do you think He won’t be faithful to you in yours?

Mercy comes after tribulation. So don’t give up on God in your lowest point. If you do, you’ll miss mercy He’s waiting to extend.

Whether your tribulation is your fault or not, don’t miss the fact that God’s mercy waits on the other side. How you go through that tribulation determines your blessing in the end.

Life is full of inevitabilities:

Suffering

Deliverance

Resurrection

Reward

Prepare for the reward, but be ready for the tribulation.

Prepare for the deliverance, but don’t be surprised by the suffering.

Suffering, then glory.

Suffering and judgment are inevitable, but if you will live for God’s righteousness, deliverance and reward are also inevitable.

Because God always rewards those who live for Him, especially in suffering.

So might as well start preparing for the inevitabilities today.