{"id":23811,"date":"2022-11-04T22:00:32","date_gmt":"2022-11-05T05:00:32","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/ocbf.ca\/2019\/daniel-11_34-45-copy\/"},"modified":"2022-10-18T21:53:40","modified_gmt":"2022-10-19T04:53:40","slug":"daniel-12_1-13","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/ocbf.ca\/2019\/daniel-12_1-13\/","title":{"rendered":"Keep Going to the End"},"content":{"rendered":"

Daniel 12:1-13\u00a0 \u00a0Click here for Bible Verses<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n

\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

Hi GAMErs!<\/p>\n

Today\u2019s passage is Daniel 12:1-13.\u00a0 (For those of you who own a printed GAME booklet, please note that we will begin the Gospel of Mark 1:1-20 tomorrow.) \u00a0Let\u2019s go!<\/p>\n

Daniel 12:1 (NIV)<\/strong>
\n1\u00a0<\/sup>\u00a0“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.<\/em><\/p>\n

On verse 1:\u00a0 Chapter 12 continues the message that the angel was giving to Daniel in chapter 11.\u00a0 The angel notes that \u201cat that time\u201d (meaning the end times) there will be great distress unlike anything that has ever been seen, but that \u201ceveryone whose name is found written in the book\u201d (likely meaning those written in God\u2019s book of life in Revelation; see for example Revelation 21:27) will be delivered from that time of distress.\u00a0 Verse 1 suggests that the archangel Michael will play a role in protecting and delivering those people whose names are written in the book.\u00a0 How does one get their name written in God\u2019s book of life?\u00a0 By believing that Jesus died on the cross for our sins.<\/p>\n

Daniel 12:2 (NIV)<\/strong>
\n2\u00a0<\/sup>\u00a0Multitudes who sleep in the dust of the earth will awake: some to everlasting life, others to shame and everlasting contempt.<\/em><\/p>\n

On verse 2:\u00a0 The angel notes that in the end times those who have died will rise again, some to everlasting life and some to everlasting contempt.\u00a0 This corresponds with the New Testament teaching on resurrection bodies: when a person dies, their spirit immediately goes to be with God in heaven or to be apart from God in hell, but in the end times, the Bible speaks to the idea that in addition we will be given new resurrection bodies as well (see, for example, 1 Corinthians 15:35-58).<\/p>\n

Daniel 12:3 (NIV)<\/strong>
\n3\u00a0<\/sup>\u00a0Those 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.<\/em><\/p>\n

On verse 3:\u00a0 In the Bible a connection is made between having wisdom and leading people to Jesus.\u00a0 We see that in Proverbs 11:30 which says \u201call who win souls are wise\u201d.\u00a0 We see it here too where the angel seems to be aligning \u201cthose who are wise\u201d with \u201cthose who lead many to righteousness\u201d, and saying that they will shine like the stars forever.\u00a0 Indeed when you lead someone to faith in Jesus, that is something precious you can take with you to eternity.\u00a0 From God\u2019s eternal perspective, leading others to Jesus is one of the most brilliant and most rewarding things you can do.<\/p>\n

Daniel 12:4 (NIV)<\/strong>
\n4\u00a0<\/sup>\u00a0But you, Daniel, close up and seal the words of the scroll until the time of the end. Many will go here and there to increase knowledge.”<\/em><\/p>\n

On verse 4:\u00a0 Here the angel commands Daniel to seal the words that he has received, knowing that many will go to great lengths to try to find and understand them.\u00a0 Why seal them up?\u00a0 There are certain matters that are made for us to understand now and others which we weren\u2019t made to understand until later.<\/p>\n

Daniel 12:5-7 (NIV)<\/strong>
\n5\u00a0<\/sup>\u00a0Then I, Daniel, looked, and there before me stood two others, one on this bank of the river and one on the opposite bank.
\n6\u00a0<\/sup>\u00a0One 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?”
\n7\u00a0<\/sup>\u00a0The 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.”<\/em><\/p>\n

On verses 5-7:\u00a0 Daniel looks up and sees the man dressed in linen (who is likely Jesus) flanked by two others on either side of him.\u00a0 When one of them asks how long it will be till these events are over, the man dressed in linen answers by saying \u201cIt will be for a time, times and half a time\u201d, which scholars understand to mean a year, 2 years and half a year, for a total of 3.5 years.\u00a0 Many scholars interpret this to mean that from the time that the Antichrist begins to rule till the time that Jesus Christ returns, it will be 3.5 years.\u00a0 The man in linen also says that \u201cwhen the power of the holy people [which scholars see as a reference to the Jews] has been finally broken [perhaps meaning when all their hope seems to be lost], all these things will be completed.\u201d (v7).<\/p>\n

Daniel 12:8-10 (NIV)<\/strong>
\n8\u00a0<\/sup>\u00a0I heard, but I did not understand. So I asked, “My lord, what will the outcome of all this be?”
\n9\u00a0<\/sup>\u00a0He replied, “Go your way, Daniel, because the words are closed up and sealed until the time of the end.
\n10\u00a0<\/sup>\u00a0Many 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.<\/em><\/p>\n

On verses 8-10:\u00a0 Ever inquisitive about what is going on, Daniel asks for clarification (v8) but the angel repeats the same message he gave in verse 4, effectively telling Daniel not to fret too much about what he has been told, since \u201cthe words are closed up and sealed until the time of the end\u201d (v9).\u00a0 In other words, \u201cDaniel, these matters concern the very end times and so you won\u2019t understand them now.\u00a0 They\u2019re closed up and sealed for that end time.\u201d \u00a0Then the angel says, \u201cthe wicked will continue to be wicked and won\u2019t understand, while many others will be purified, refined, made spotless and will understand.\u201d (v10)<\/p>\n

In Revelation 22:10-11 an angel gives the apostle John a message that is both opposite and similar to what Daniel received in Daniel 12:9-10.\u00a0 The similar part is where the angel tells John, \u201cLet him who does wrong continue to do wrong\u201d (Revelation 22:11), which is very similar to Daniel 12:10\u2019s \u201cthe wicked will continue to be wicked\u201d.\u00a0 But John also receives a message that is opposite to the one Daniel received.\u00a0 For whereas Daniel was told\u00a0to seal up the words he was hearing (v4, 9), John was told,\u00a0“Do\u00a0not<\/em>\u00a0seal up the words of the prophecy of this book, because the time is near\u201d (Revelation 22:10).<\/p>\n

Why did Daniel and John receive opposite messages in this regard?\u00a0 Why did the angel tell John to open up what Daniel was told to seal up?\u00a0 \u00a0It\u2019s because when Daniel received the angel\u2019s message it was for a time that would be well after his own time, whereas centuries later when John received the angel\u2019s message it was for a time that is near.<\/p>\n

In other words, the book of Daniel was meant to be a key to help people living much later on (people like us) so that we could better understand the end times and books like Revelation.\u00a0\u00a0It\u2019s a reminder that God thinks generationally and long term.\u00a0 When God uses a person\u2019s life, God is not just thinking about the impact it will have during that person\u2019s lifetime, but also the impact it will have long after that person is gone.\u00a0 The story God is writing with your life has implications not just for now but for generations to come.<\/p>\n

Daniel 12:11-13 (NIV)<\/strong>
\n11\u00a0<\/sup>\u00a0“From the time that the daily sacrifice is abolished and the abomination that causes desolation is set up, there will be 1,290 days.
\n12\u00a0<\/sup>\u00a0Blessed is the one who waits for and reaches the end of the 1,335 days.
\n13\u00a0<\/sup>\u00a0“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.”<\/em><\/p>\n

On verses 11-13:\u00a0 The angel seems to tell Daniel that it will be 1,290 days (approximately 3.5 years) from the time that daily worship is abolished (presumably by the Antichrist) and \u201cthe abomination that causes desolation\u201d (v11) is set up.\u00a0 This is the third time that the book of Daniel mentions this \u201cabomination that causes desolation\u201d (Daniel 9:27; 11:31 and 12:11).\u00a0 Jesus later on would refer to it in Matthew 24:15 and Mark 13:14.\u00a0 What is this \u201cabomination that causes desolation\u201d?\u00a0 \u00a0It\u2019s not entirely clear but it seems that it is something that the Antichrist will set up in the temple of God that turns people away from worshiping there and is a symbol of the Antichrist\u2019s reign.\u00a0 For 1,290 days after this abomination that causes desolation is set up there will be great distress, but the angel says that blessing awaits those who wait for and persevere to the end of that period up till 1,335 days.<\/p>\n

Why 1,335 days?\u00a0 It\u2019s not entirely clear.\u00a0 We just know that by this time the abomination that causes desolation has been removed, the Antichrist has been defeated, Jesus\u2019 kingdom is established, God\u2019s temple is restored and God\u2019s people get to be with Him forever.<\/p>\n

As you read these last few chapters of the book of Daniel, maybe you find that there is much that you don\u2019t understand.\u00a0 You are not alone.\u00a0 I\u2019m right there with you.\u00a0 Daniel didn\u2019t understand it in his time either.\u00a0 But just as the angel told Daniel, the key for you is to \u201cgo your way till the end\u201d.\u00a0 How?<\/p>\n

1.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Keep following Jesus.\u00a0\u00a0<\/strong>I don\u2019t understand all the systems that make my house or my car work, but that doesn\u2019t stop me from living in my house or driving my car.\u00a0 If you wait till you have complete understanding of the entire Bible before you will trust its most important core teachings, you will never believe.\u00a0 But the fact is that some truths were simply not meant for us to completely understand right now, while other truths were meant for us to understand, believe and take hold off today.\u00a0 The most important of those truths that we can hold on to today is that God loves you, that He sent Jesus Christ to die on the cross for our sins, that He rose again from the grave and we can have a relationship with Him today.<\/p>\n

2.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Don\u2019t give up reading and studying the Bible<\/strong>.\u00a0 When you read things in Scripture that you don\u2019t quite understand, don\u2019t give up.\u00a0 Continue to read and study God\u2019s Word and let its contents be deposited in you, even if you don\u2019t understand it all.\u00a0 For one day \u2013 maybe years, decades or even generations later \u2013 by God\u2019s grace you will make those connections which you don\u2019t see now.\u00a0 And in the end you\u2019ll reap a reward and an inheritance that far outweigh the hard labour you\u2019ve put in.\u00a0 It\u2019s all part of the process and the hope of following Jesus.<\/p>\n

Father, thank You that what I understand in part right now I will understand in full one day.\u00a0 Thank You that in the end what matters most is that Jesus is coming again, Jesus\u2019 reign will outlast and overpower every other kingdom, and that by Your mercy we get to belong in Jesus\u2019 kingdom.\u00a0 In Jesus\u2019 name, AMEN!<\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div><\/section><\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Hi GAMErs!<\/p>\n

Today\u2019s passage is Daniel 12:1-13.\u00a0 (For those of you who own a printed GAME booklet, please note that we will begin the Gospel of Mark 1:1-20 tomorrow.) \u00a0Let\u2019s go!<\/p>\n

Daniel 12:1 (NIV)
\n1\u00a0\u00a0“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.<\/p>\n

On verse 1:\u00a0 Chapter 12 continues the message that the angel was giving to Daniel in chapter 11.\u00a0 The angel notes that \u201cat that time\u201d (meaning the end times) there will be great distress unlike anything that has ever been seen, but that \u201ceveryone whose name is found written in the book\u201d (likely meaning those written in God\u2019s book of life in Revelation; see for example Revelation 21:27) will be delivered from that time of distress.\u00a0 Verse 1 suggests that the archangel Michael will play a role in protecting and delivering those people whose names are written in the book.\u00a0 How does one get their name written in God\u2019s book of life?\u00a0 By believing that Jesus died on the cross for our sins.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":23813,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[28],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-23811","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-gametime-sharing"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/ocbf.ca\/2019\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/23811","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/ocbf.ca\/2019\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/ocbf.ca\/2019\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ocbf.ca\/2019\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ocbf.ca\/2019\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=23811"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/ocbf.ca\/2019\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/23811\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":23814,"href":"https:\/\/ocbf.ca\/2019\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/23811\/revisions\/23814"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ocbf.ca\/2019\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/23813"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/ocbf.ca\/2019\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=23811"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ocbf.ca\/2019\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=23811"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ocbf.ca\/2019\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=23811"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}