It's All Headed Somewhere...
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It’s been said: “Time flies like an arrow; fruit flies like a banana.”
And this is true. Time flies. History rolls on.
This, we find in the book of Daniel, chapters 10-12. Daniel receives a vision of the future, and as we saw last week, a brief history of the world from the 5th Century before Christ until the end of time.
Time flies. Anyone who has lived any length of time knows this. It just seems like yesterday that I was in grade school. Meghann’s thinking just yesterday I was acting like I was in grade school.
I don’t feel my age. I can hardly believe that I’m as old as I am; it doesn’t seem possible. Don Swope and I have had this conversation—he’s decades older than he feels, decades and decades and decades. Don’t even get me started on John Hough...
Time flies. But not without a purpose, not without an appointed end. Several times in the vision Daniel receives, the angelic messenger speaking to him refers to the appointed time.
Time flies like an arrow. Time is moving toward its appointed end, and quick. “The end is near,” so say the street-corner preachers. “The end is near,” so says me. “The end is near,” so says the Bible.
>Whenever the end comes (we don’t know when that will be, be cautious of anyone who claims to know), whenever the end comes (pray for that day to come quickly—Maranatha! Come, Lord Jesus, Come!)—whenever the end comes, Daniel tells us, there will be great distress, a time of distress such as has not happened from the beginning of nations until then.
That’s saying something, considering the persecution of and hatred toward God’s people throughout the centuries.
We—the people of God who belong to Him by faith in His Son—must brace ourselves for what is to come.
Time flies and it’s flying toward this, what Daniel chapter 12 refers to as great distress.
>If you have your Bible (and I hope you do) please turn with me to Daniel 12. And if you’re able and willing, please stand with me for the reading of God’s Holy, inspired Word. Daniel 12, beginning with verse 1:
1 “At that time Michael, the great prince who protects your people, will arise. There will be a time of distress such as has not happened from the beginning of nations until then. But at that time your people—everyone whose name is found written in the book—will be delivered. 2 Multitudes who sleep in the dust of the earth will awake: some to everlasting life, others to shame and everlasting contempt. 3 Those who are wise will shine like the brightness of the heavens, and those who lead many to righteousness, like the stars for ever and ever. 4 But you, Daniel, roll up and seal the words of the scroll until the time of the end. Many will go here and there to increase knowledge.”
5 Then I, Daniel, looked, and there before me stood two others, one on this bank of the river and one on the opposite bank. 6 One of them said to the man clothed in linen, who was above the waters of the river, “How long will it be before these astonishing things are fulfilled?”
7 The man clothed in linen, who was above the waters of the river, lifted his right hand and his left hand toward heaven, and I heard him swear by him who lives forever, saying, “It will be for a time, times and half a time. When the power of the holy people has been finally broken, all these things will be completed.”
8 I heard, but I did not understand. So I asked, “My lord, what will the outcome of all this be?”
9 He replied, “Go your way, Daniel, because the words are rolled up and sealed until the time of the end. 10 Many will be purified, made spotless and refined, but the wicked will continue to be wicked. None of the wicked will understand, but those who are wise will understand.
11 “From the time that the daily sacrifice is abolished and the abomination that causes desolation is set up, there will be 1,290 days. 12 Blessed is the one who waits for and reaches the end of the 1,335 days.
13 “As for you, go your way till the end. You will rest, and then at the end of the days you will rise to receive your allotted inheritance.”
May the Lord add His blessing to the reading of His Holy Word!
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We’re going to take this in two parts, but I wanted us to have read Daniel 12 in its entirety this morning, so that we get a full picture and see it all together.
Daniel 12 is the concluding part of the vision Daniel has received, and it’s connected to what came before. The opening phrase of Daniel 12 looks back to the last 10 verses of Daniel 11.
At that time—the opening words of Daniel 12:1—refers to the time of the king who does as he pleases ( introduced to us in 11:36).
At that time refers to the time of the final antichrist.
At the time of the antichrist, Daniel’s people will find themselves in great distress, but they won’t be alone.
Michael, the great prince who protects Daniel’s people, will arise and be with them to protect them.
“God’s people will not be left alone in the fiery trials in the times ahead. Their angelic representative, Michael, will rise up to deliver them.”- ESV Study Bible
Dale Ralph Davis paints a beautiful picture saying, “There are unseen legions standing behind the wobbly people of God in their darkest trouble.”
The angelic messenger speaking to Daniel uses the phrase “your people” twice in verse 1.
1 “At that time Michael, the great prince who protects your people, will arise. There will be a time of distress such as has not happened from the beginning of nations until then. But at that time your people—everyone whose name is found written in the book—will be delivered.
Who are Daniel’s people here?
Does your people refer to Daniel’s friends and countrymen who are with him in exile?
Does your people refer the Jewish people in general, the nation of Israel?
Who are your people here?
This is significant; this is important. This matters for what follows.
Look at the end of verse 1; we’re told to whom your people refers:
But at that time your people—everyone whose name is found written in the book—will be delivered.
This book is the Lamb’s Book of Life—the book of the Lamb who was slain, the book which records the names of those guaranteed salvation because they belong to Christ.
Everyone whose name is found written in the book are protected; they will find help from God and His angels.
Everyone whose name is found written in the book are protected, and they will be delivered/rescued by God.
Everyone whose name is found written in the book will experience everlasting life (v. 2).
This begs the question: is your name written in that book?
No one’s name is written in that book because they deserve it to be. No one’s name is written in that book because they’ve earned a spot courtesy of their good works, good deeds, good behavior. No one’s name is written there because of their place of birth or because of who their family is. No one’s name is written there because their church attendance or religious service.
Every name found written in that book is there for one reason: they’ve placed their faith in the One who is able to save them.
Is your name written in that book? Have you put your faith in the Lord, the One who rescues people from the dominion of darkness? Have you put your faith in the One who brings people into the Kingdom of the Son He loves? Have you given your life to Jesus, the One who brings redemption, the One who forgives sins?
I pray your name is written in that book.
I pray for you, Christian, you who belong to Christ, that you have the steadfast assurance of knowing that your name is written there with the precious, permanent, indelible blood of Christ.
>Daniel and “his people”—all whose names are written in the Lamb’s book of life—are headed somewhere.
Life is not without purpose, nor is it random.
History is moving somewhere; people are headed toward something. This is the message of Daniel 12.
The future is headed somewhere
The future is headed somewhere
The future is headed toward a time of great distress (v. 1)
1 “At that time Michael, the great prince who protects your people, will arise. There will be a time of distress such as has not happened from the beginning of nations until then. But at that time your people—everyone whose name is found written in the book—will be delivered.
There will be a time of distress such as has not happened from the beginning of nations until then.
This unparalleled time of trouble is sometimes identified with the “great tribulation” foretold by Jesus:
21 For then there will be great distress, unequaled from the beginning of the world until now—and never to be equaled again.
The Bible promises us that the last days (that is, the period between Pentecost—the beginning of the Church, when the Holy Spirit was poured out on the people of God—and the return of Christ) this time—from Pentecost to the Return of Jesus—will be filled with times of special stress and danger.
This turbulent time will reach its apex, this will reach fever pitch at the time of the end, the time of the antichrist.
The message of Christ to His Church: “It’s going to get really tough; it’s going to be really bad…and then, it’s going to get really, really bad.”
We can debate the ins and outs of this. We can disagree on the interpretation of the details (and I’m guessing we probably will).
There is a lot of discussion about whether God’s people will suffer this, the worst of this distress, or if we’ll be spared it.
We know, because the Bible tells us, that history is headed toward this time of great, untold distress/trouble/anguish.
But, will we be spared the worst of it?
I don’t think so.
We are in the last days, this we know. I’m afraid to tell you, though, I don’t believe that we’ll escape the worst of it. I believe we will go through it along with everyone else.
I see where the theology that teaches we escape the worst of it comes from. They read the end of verse 1: But at that time your people…will be delivered and they think, “Whew! Good deal! We’re going to be delivered from all that!”
But Jesus never speaks of removing or “rapturing” believers from the events of the world. A normal reading of Matthew 24-25 gives no impression of a departure from the tribulation. Rather, Jesus speaks to His followers (both then and now) as if they would/could experience the time of great distress.
As we read the end of verse 1, we can come to a different conclusion than that we’re delivered from experiencing the tribulation.
We’re delivered even though there’s great distress (this is no less good news).
The Lord is with us. His angels are protecting us. We are not alone. We will be delivered, no matter what this world, the antichrist, Satan, or his demons do to us.
We will be delivered. This doesn’t mean we avoid it; it means we are delivered. We are rescued. We will be delivered from the powers of evil and this dark world; we are delivered from the power of Satan and his attempts to destroy the people of God during the time of distress.
We’re delivered from the time of great distress—we’ll go through it, but we’ll come out the other side. The worst the world can throw at us can do nothing to us ultimately. They can kill the body, but they can’t touch the soul. They can torture me, persecute me, kill me, but all they’re doing is dispatching me to my Heavenly Father.
The future is headed somewhere—toward a time of great tribulation and distress, and a separation.
The future is headed toward a separation (v. 2)
2 Multitudes who sleep in the dust of the earth will awake: some to everlasting life, others to shame and everlasting contempt.
It’s as Jesus said:
31 “When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, he will sit on his glorious throne. 32 All the nations will be gathered before him, and he will separate the people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. 33 He will put the sheep on his right and the goats on his left.
34 “Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world.
41 “Then he will say to those on his left, ‘Depart from me, you who are cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels.
46 “Then they will go away to eternal punishment, but the righteous to eternal life.”
There will be on that day, a great separation: some to everlasting life, others to shame and everlasting contempt.
Throughout the Bible, people are divided into two groups. So shall it be at the last.
Just as the future is headed somewhere, so are
All people are headed somewhere
All people are headed somewhere
You realize this. I know you do. You are sensible people. You know better than to fall for the idea that at the end of this life there’s nothing or a reincarnation to another earthly life (i.e. one world religion, Zoroastrianism, I believe) teaches that there’s something like 108 lives that everyone lives; you just go from this life to that life to that life 108 times. It sounds absolutely exhausting, if you ask me).
If history is an assortment of random circumstances, coming from nowhere and headed nowhere, then what good is this life? Of what purpose is the life we live here?
But if history is actually following God’s predetermined course to a final end, then our actions are filled with meaning. If there’s nothing after this life, then what we suffer is meaningless. If there’s nothing after this life, than those who have lost their lives for the sake of Christ are being cheated, short-changed.
But if there’s a heaven to come, then those who are faithful to God, even unto death, have made the best choice of all.
History is headed somewhere, and so, too, is every person. History is not cyclical, it’s linear. It’s not Nascar, it’s a drag race. It’s headed in a very clear direction. It starts here and finishes there—for every person.
2 Multitudes who sleep in the dust of the earth will awake: some to everlasting life, others to shame and everlasting contempt.
Way back in the time of Daniel, it is made clear that there are two possible destinations: everlasting life or everlasting contempt.
Just two.
Meghann and I got suckered into a timeshare-type opportunity last year. I blame our friends. We were wasting time waiting for our friends to make it to Branson, and what do you do to waste time than go to Bass Pro and walk around? Meghann had never been, so it was a good opportunity.
We weren’t there 3 minutes before a salesman caught us and offered us a 3-night stay at one of their “many fine resorts across the country” if we’d only listen to their spiel for a couple of hours one day.
“I’m Barrett and I’m a chump.” I thought, “Hey, free hotel stay...”
We’ve not experienced the pitch yet, but I’m bracing myself for it. I’ll be sure to let you know just how painful it might be. I’ve been practicing: “No, thank you. No, thanks. No. Not interested. Back off, pal!”
The toughest part (so far) was picking our destination: Alabama or Colorado or Georgia or Michigan or Louisiana or South Carolina.
We settled on New Hampshire, but the options about did me in. There was dozens of destinations to choose from.
The Bible simplifies things a great deal: there is, for you, for me, for every single person only two possible destinations: life or death, heaven or hell.
There are two destinations open to us. There’s no third choice, no in-between choice. There aren’t dozens of options, only two.
Both destinations are eternal, everlasting.
There is as much warning here as there is hope.
Beware, friend: there is only one guarantee of everlasting life. The warning in Daniel’s day was that one may be a card-carrying Israelite and yet not be one of the delivered/rescued people.
You might come from a Christian family, raised in a Christian church. You might live with very nice Judeo-Christian ethic. You might be a “good person.” But make no mistake: there is only shame and everlasting contempt for you if your name is not written in the book.
And the only people whose names are written there are those who belong to God by faith in Jesus Christ.
If you aren’t one of those who will awake to everlasting life, you are, by default (because there’s no other option), one who will awake to everlasting contempt.
As the Bible sees it, there are only two groups of people:
Those whose names are written in the book and those whose names are not written in the book.
The saved and the lost.
Sheep and goats.
Christian and non-Christian.
Which are you?
There’s warning, but there’s also great hope.
Though we will suffer, even experience great distress, there is, for the Christian, everlasting life!
Can you even imagine—everlasting, eternal, forever? Can you wrap your head around that? I’ve been pondering this for decades and I can’t begin to grasp what it will be like.
But I know that before my Savior, in His presence, standing before the throne of God, I will be gloriously, wondrously complete. I will enjoy Him and praise His name forever and ever. I will feel no pain or sorrow or shame. The anguish and distress of the tribulation I’ve endured will fade into nothing; I will remember it no more.
And, just as Daniel 12 says:
3 Those who are wise will shine like the brightness of the heavens, and those who lead many to righteousness, like the stars for ever and ever.
We will shine, reflecting His goodness and glory. We will be transformed into His image. We will be perfected.
We will shine like the brightness of the heavens, like the stars in the sky…for ever and ever.
>It’s all headed somewhere, this I know.
It’s all headed somewhere. This is the truth. We brace ourselves for the worst of this world—the powers and principalities of this evil age will throw everything they have at us.
But, I know, we know that history is headed to its appointed end. And I know that all people are headed somewhere as well—everlasting life or everlasting contempt.
Do you know where you’re headed? Do you know, beyond a shadow of a doubt, where you’ll spend eternity?
May it be that your name is written in the Lamb’s Book of Life! May it be that you will gather with the saints around the throne to enjoy the Triune God for ever and ever!