The End of Daniel’s World
Daniel 12:1-3
November 18, 2018 – Redeemer
Daniel lived in Jerusalem and then came the end of the world. The Iraqi army came down in thunderous force. The Israeli defenses were overrun. Jerusalem surrendered. Daniel was captured and taken prisoner of war. Eventually Jerusalem was leveled. Its ancient walls. Its sacred sites. The homes of the people. Gone. It was the end of the world for Daniel.
I’m not foretelling the future. I’m describing events that occurred 600 years before Jesus of Nazareth walked the earth. This is what happened to Daniel the prophet. The Babylonians (modern day Iraq) were a mighty empire. God’s people in Judah were rebellious children. God brought down everything they trusted in. Their city gone. Their house of worship flattened. Their lives taken by the sword or taken into captivity. It’s the city of Paradise in California. The residents of Paradise would tell you – it’s the end of their world.
In his captivity Daniel was given a prophetic vision. Like the rest of God’s Word it was written down for us, because the end of the world is coming. Jesus Himself says, the end of the world must take place. It must take place because God’s Law demands it. Your sin leads to your death. Our sin poisoned God’s creation. As a consequence of sin everything must end. As the Temple in Jerusalem would be destroyed in 70 AD so everything that you trust in, everything you think your life is built on will eventually crumble and fall. When the last day comes your house won’t stand, your family won’t hold together, your pension will be worthless, Democrats and Republicans will be powerless. Not one of the foundation stones upon which you think life is built will stand.
In his day Daniel surely thought it was the end of the world. After Jesus ascended many thought the end would come quickly. In the 1500s Martin Luther believed the world would end in his lifetime. Many of us believe Jesus’ return must be imminent. How much more anger and division and war and earthquakes and fires and floods can the world endure?
Daniel doesn’t tell us when the last day will come, but he does tell us what is happening right now, and what will happen on that day when Jesus returns.
“At that time shall arise Michael, the great prince who has charge of your people. And there shall be a time of trouble, such as never has been since there was a nation till that time.
How many of you think that the trouble of the world is simply too great for us to overcome? Too evil for good to win the day? Too wicked for righteousness to prevail? Daniel tells us the battle is much greater than us. It’s a battle not only fought on earth, but a battle in the heavenly realms. God’s archangel, prince Michael is leading God’s holy army against the Devil and his evil demons, all the angels who followed the Devil in rebellion against God. The battle is greater than us, but it is for us. The Devil wants us for his own. He hates all that is good. There is no greater good than that God has you as His child. That is a good the Devil cannot stand. With everything he has he fights for you. But on your side is Michael and all God’s angels who minister to you be serving you Jesus.
The Word “angel” means “messenger.” Angels brought the message of Jesus’ birth, His resurrection, and promised His return on the last day. In Revelation Saint John calls the pastors of the seven churches angels, not because they are pure spiritual beings, but because they are the Lord’s messengers. Pastors keep you mindful of the battle, expose the enemy’s tactics, warn you when you’re in enemy territory, and defend you by preaching Jesus to you. Only in Jesus will you endure to the end and through the end.
There will be no greater trouble than at the end of this sinful world, but Daniel’s people shall be delivered, everyone whose name shall be found written in the book. Who are Daniel’s people? The people who believed the word of the Lord. Who are Daniel’s people? Shadrach, Meschach, and Abednego – his friends who were taken into captivity with him and confessed the name of the Lord, even when they were thrown into a fiery furnace. Who are Daniel’s people? You are, for you believe that Jesus is your Savior, that sin and death were finished when God’s own Son hung on the cross and came to His end for you. You can’t write yourself into the book of life, any more than you could write yourself into someone else’s will, but God has written your name down, in the blood of the Lamb who was slain but now lives.
Every Lord’s day Jesus Himself gives you public notice that you are written in the book, when He says, “This cup is the new testament in my blood.” The Lord’s Supper is the last will and testament of Jesus. In His Supper Jesus gives you what He purchased for you by His death. By the shedding of His blood He bought your forgiveness. By the giving of His blood under the wine you receive that forgiveness, and the inheritance of life and the resurrection.
Daniel finally tells us the end is not the end, And many of those who sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, some to everlasting life, and some to shame and everlasting contempt.
Your end might come before the end comes. You may die before Jesus returns to judge the world. But do not be afraid of death – for those who believe in Christ death is but a brief sleep. Your body will rest in the ground. That is why you will often see “Rest in Peace” on Christian graves or “Asleep in Jesus.” Not to be morbid, but don’t most caskets look like awfully plush beds.
Jesus Christ died for the sin of the world. Three days later He was awakened from death and rose. His resurrection means the end of sin and the beginning of a new life in Him. When He comes again everyone who has died will be awakened and a verdict will be pronounced upon all – upon some the verdict will be “not guilty” of sin. “Not guilty” because you believe Jesus died for your sin. Not guilty because the Holy Spirit convinced you of your guilt and of Christ’s complete forgiveness. Not guilty because of His life, not yours. Others, sadly, will go to eternal torment and death, not because Jesus didn’t die for them, but because they refused forgiveness. The Devil managed to hold on to them by convincing them that their good was more important than God’s good, that their desires were greater than God’s desire, that they were greater than Jesus.
One of our hymns refers to these last days as “gray and latter days.” Sin and death are associated with darkness. TV shows and movies end with a black screen. It’s over. Fade to black. That is not the end for us who believe in Jesus. Daniel doesn’t see darkness, but sees us shining like the bright stars in the sky. A better, brighter day is coming, when we will see and experience in our flesh the brightness, the righteousness of Christ. We will have no sin. Our bodies will not be broken and dying. Our hearts will be perfectly directed outside of ourselves looking to God in faith and toward neighbor in love. The end is coming, but it is only the bright beginning for those who believe in the name of Jesus. Amen.
Pr. Bruce Timm
November 18, 2018 anno Domini