Dare to be a Daniel

Daniel 12:8-13

We see the content sealed in verse 4.

In verses 5 to 7, the chronology is set.

Now in verses 8 and 9…

Confusion is stated

Daniel heard all this and he’s still confused. Now remember, he doesn’t have all the knowledge we do. But on the other side of the coin, he probably had a lot more that we don’t because he maybe understood the depths of some things that we can’t perceive because we’re so cluttered with the world.

The angel asked when and how long. Daniel asks what is it going to be like? How severe? What kind of things are going to take place? I really don’t think I understand.

Daniel wanted to know how much would his people have to suffer in order to bring them to holiness. Tell me the degree of severity? Tell me the kind of events at the climax? Now, he knew it was going to be a disaster. But he wanted some specifics. What did he get as an answer? Verse 9, “And He said,” – that is, the man in linen said – “Go thy way, Daniel.” You know what kind of answer he got? He didn’t get any answer. He said, Go away. Go away, Daniel, “For the words are closed up and sealed till the time of the end.”

He says to him again, “I can’t help you, Daniel, because you can’t understand them until you see the things begin to come to pass.” In fact, in effect He said stop asking questions. You got all the information you’re going to get. The information is preserved. It’s sealed. It will be made clear in the future to those who live in the time in the end.

Now, those are words of rebuke in a way. But they’re also words of comfort. The comfort consists in the fact that Daniel doesn’t need to worry because God’s in control. And the events are way far in the future. And the truth that he has been used by God to pen will be preserved for that future and become a source of knowledge and a source of salvation and comfort. In other words, there’s a great principle here. He’s saying be content with what God has revealed, rest content in that and stay away from meaningless speculation.

That’s a good word for us. You know, I think there are so many people today who are trying to figure out every little nook and cranny in prophecy that they really muddy the waters. Let’s accept what God has told us and leave the rest to mystery.

I think a lot of us are going to get our eschatology rearranged in the end anyway. I think what he’s saying here is you can’t fully understand it until you get to the tribulation time and of course, none of us plan on being there. I have to learn to say, “I don’t know.” That’s not bad, that’s good. That’s not weakness, that’s faith.

The cleansing secured

vv. 10-12         He doesn’t want to leave him on a negative note. He doesn’t want to end with ‘Go away, Daniel.’ Daniel would think, Do you know what I’ve been through for 90 years?

He’s got something to add. And there’s a cleansing secured.

Verse 10 says, in other words, the same statement exactly made in verse 35 of chapter 11. Just know this, Daniel. That there will be a redeemed remnant born out of that time. That’s all you need to know. There will be a time when the people turn to Me.

“It will come to pass,” – says Zechariah 13:8 – “that in all the land, says the Lord, two parts in it shall be cut off and die and the third shall be left.” Not all, it doesn’t say all shall be purified, it says what? Many. Only a third according to Zechariah. Two thirds will be destroyed. “But I’ll bring that third part through the fire,” that’s the testing, “and refine them as silver is refined and test them as gold is tested and they will call on My name and I will hear them, I will say, It is My people and they shall say, The Lord is my God.” That’s the salvation of the remnant, the many. Then the many of Daniel becomes the all of Paul in Romans 11:26. They constitute the redeemed nation.

“the wicked shall do wickedly”

The most wicked time in the history of the world will be the tribulation and it may be the greatest time of revival the world has ever seen. Because when men are left with nothing but evil, they have little difficulty recognizing their sinfulness. And that’s a prerequisite to salvation. The wicked, they’re going to go on doing wickedly. It’s like Revelation 22 where it says, “Him that is filthy, let him be filthy still.” That’s why even in hell people aren’t repentant, but gnash with their teeth at God.

I mean, they’re going to go on with their vile evil, but in the midst of it all, many will be purified, made white and tested and they’ll come out, as Zechariah 13:8 and 9 says, “as gold and silver.” The tribulation is the apex of evil. All hell’s fury is poured out, evil unrestrained, the abyss opened, all the demons running across the earth. And in the midst of it all, glorious salvation. It’s just like God to take all the fury that Satan can throw when he’s at his full power and turn it into revival.

Now notice also in verse 10, “None of the wicked will understand but the wise will understand.” The wicked won’t know what’s going on. They may even pick up the book of Daniel but they won’t understand it because the natural man understandeth not the things of God. They won’t be able to understand it.

And in those days, it says the wicked will never understand what’s going on no matter how many witnesses/preachers. Why? Because no one of his own human understanding perceives the truth of God. If you’re going to understand the Word of God you have to understand it by the Spirit of God. The truth is always unavailable to the prideful wicked, it’s “hidden from the wise and the prudent,” – Matthew 11:25 says – “and revealed unto babes.”

So, Daniel says, “Well, what’s going to happen?” The Lord says you don’t need to know that. All you need to know is that many are going to be saved.

And then the Lord gives him a little more truth about the cleansing of the people.

Verse 11          Now what is this? During the first 3.5 years of the tribulation they reestablish their worship in their temple. They’re having a great time making their sacrifices. In the middle of that seven-year period, the Antichrist says that’s the end. He desecrates their temple, probably sets up an image of himself there. He abominates their worship. And from that time begins the fiery blazing persecution.

And look what it says. “From that time shall be a thousand two hundred and ninety days.” Every other time, it’s a thousand two hundred and sixty days, twelve hundred and sixty. How do we get 1290? Where does this come from? In Revelation 12, it’s twelve hundred and sixty. How come we’ve got an extra month? Well, the purpose of what the Lord is saying here is to tell Daniel the time involved in the purification, verse 10, “Many will be purified, made white,” and so forth. And it’s going to take twelve hundred and ninety days. Why?

Well, I believe the best explanation is this. You have twelve hundred and sixty days until the end of the tribulation, the return of Christ. And then, apparently, you have 30 days. Thirty days for what? Thirty days for the remaining purging. And if you want to see that purging, all you have to do is open your Bible and read the twenty-fifth chapter of Matthew. It’s called the judgment of the nations, or the judgment of the sheep and the goats. And I believe in that 30-day period, the Lord Jesus Christ finishes the purging. This will determine who has a right to enter the millennial Kingdom.

And then verse 12 adds a positive note, “Blessed is he that waiteth and cometh to the thousand three hundred and five and thirty days.” Now wait a minute. Twelve hundred and sixty, now we’ve got 30 days more for cleaning up the judgment as defined in Matthew 25. And now we’ve got 1,335 days, that’s 45 more days. You say, “What’s that?” Well, it’s not 45 more days for purging, but it’s 45 more days for – what’s the first word? “Blessing.”

Pretty specific. The climax of the book then, in verse 12, is when the Kingdom comes.

We will be “blessed” too. We’ll be there. We come back with Him in our glorified bodies to reign in His Kingdom. It will be a Kingdom of blessedness. You say, “Well, what makes it so blessed to be there?” Christ will rule. Satan will be captive. Saints will have authority. Truth will dominate. Righteousness will flourish. Peace will reign. Joy will abound. Justice will pervade.

The Holy Spirit’s power will be revealed in fullness. There will be a new temple, a purged earth. The curse will be lifted. Plenty of food, health and healing, the exaltation of the city of Jerusalem. It’s good that the book of Daniel ends in blessedness. It began with a sad captivity, didn’t it? It began with a people of God ripped out of their land, slaughtered, taken captive. It sweeps us clear through all of human history to the time of their blessedness.

A commendation

verse 13           We’ve seen the contents sealed, the chronology set, the confusion stated, the cleansing secured and now the swearing of a commendation. Go your way. Live your life. It’s kind of like the New Testament where it says, “Occupy till I” – What? – “come.” Live the life. It’s like Peter who said, “Seeing you know all these things shall come to pass, what manner of persons ought you to be?” You ought to be holy, and godly.

Responsibility - We shouldn’t just put our pajamas on and sit on the roof and wait for it.

Then there’s the promise of resurrection. “For you shall rest and stand.” What does that promise? Life after death.

Also, reward. You’re going to receive your lot at the end of the days. It’s his inheritance.

God help us to be like Daniel in these last days!