Passage: Daniel 12:1-13
Intro: Vaccinations have become quite a controversy in our day.
1. when I was a kid, no one questioned the requirement for MMR, Polio, etc.
2. but today, some evidence connects vaccinations with Autism. And that’s enough for some to refuse.
3. parents are funny that way. As soon as that baby is placed in Daddy’s arms, he becomes a fearsome warrior, and together with Mom become a force to be reckoned with.
PP Mom and Dad protecting baby
4. No one messes with that kid if they can help it!
5. gluten-free, vaccine-free, safe from stranger-danger, bacteria-free
6. but so often, wide open to the lies of the enemy that can destroy them for eternity
7. on this Mother’s Day, let’s look at the most important call on our lives as parents, friends, grandparents, aunts and uncles.
8. so people big and small will grow up understanding and believing the truth, trusting God.
9. and here at a powerful passage of Scripture that spells out the results of that task in stark detail.
10. as this passage makes clear, everyone has a personal “end times”, whether they live to see that actual end or not. We, and our kids, can be ready.
I. The Antichrist Becomes Very Powerful
1. we saw this in chapter 11, and this is a general summary.
2. spiritual warfare will commence, and at risk are the souls of men and women.
3. this “distress” in v1 is fleshed out more powerfully in Revelation.
4. the whole world changes! Common grace is withdrawn and Antichrist rushes into the vacuum of fear of provide answers.
5. he builds a corrupt empire through intimidation and bribery, and things are terrible
6. and this all plays out in an atmosphere of the intensifying judgment of God.
7. but “your people” will be delivered. V1.. 2 issues
8. first, who are these people.
9. answer, those whose names are in the book.
PP Psalm 69:28
PP Malachi 3:16
10. believers. No stated nationality or race, and in Revelation it includes everyone who has trusted in Christ.
PP Revelation 20:15
11. 2nd, “delivered” from what?
II. Antichrist Abuses God’s Children
1. since God’s children have already been delivered from God’s wrath by the death of Christ, there is one option.
2. this time of “trouble” is direct persecution of believers by Antichrist. V7 “power broken”
3. this is the other use of plural “saints” in OT, never used of Jews as a people in the rest of OT
PP Daniel 8:12
4. see it in chapter 12 of Revelation, with an interesting side note.
5. many see the persecution directed at the Jews, while the Gentile believers have been raptured.
PP Revelation 12:6,14, 17
6. then Revelation tells us about being forced to take the mark of the beast, etc.
7. Daniel 12 and Revelation together tell a powerful story of terrible testing.
8. in these passages, it is spiritual deliverance that is promised, not physical.
9. we are finally delivered by rapture or death from Satan’s hatred. Because…
III. God’s Children Are Victorious Through Persecution.
1. v3 is powerful, because there is a clear distinction between two groups.
2. first group is “wise”, and they shine like stars eternally.
3. they have been transformed, and in the process have become proclaimers and livers of the life-changing truth of God.
4. they are people touching people with God’s love and truth. That is their passion.
5. moms and dads, grandparents, aunts and uncles and friends, this is us!
6. our very first responsibility is that our own children know the truth to be vaccinated from the lie.
7. let this not be said about us…
PP Judges 2:10
8. and this is not just end times stuff.
9. the lie and the liar are always here, the spirit of antichrist is always present.
10. identify it! Shine in your home as bright examples of the life-changing power of God.
11. try as we might, we cannot protect our children from disease or accident or any other ill unless we put them in a bubble until they are 21.
12. certainly not saying we shouldn’t try to protect our children. But prioritize!!
13. what is eternal, what is spiritual, what will make a real difference in their life.
14. and as a church, to be teachers and examples and encouragers and prayer- warriors and Bible memory listeners!
15. we shine because we are different, and the darker it gets, the brighter we shine!
16. that is how we are victorious, how we are delivered. We overcome the enemy not by military might but by Holy Spirit initiated life-changing faith in the living God.
IV. God Defeats Satan in Both Realms
1. there is a certain calm about this passage.
2. great things are happening, and the angels and Daniel have questions. Especially “when”
3. the only answer is that there will be a 3 ½ year period after the Antichrist defiles the Temple.
4. further information is “sealed, closed.” It has been established, and it will happen, but the information given is enough for faith. You believe it or you don’t
Il) “closed canon” completed
5. ultimately, Daniel is told twice to get on with life, confident that as a transformed child of God he has a inheritance waiting.
6. on the other hand, some will continue to follow the liar, remain in the rebellion, and suffer the consequences. V2
7. don’t push too hard to get a chronology here. Hebrews think cyclically, moving forward in general but with backtracking.
Il) v2, the resurrection, sounds like one big event. But actually two parts, separated by 1000 years.
8. in the meantime, v10 says many will be justified and sanctified, while others remain ignorantly wicked.
9. and it is our church to shine, to preach in life and word to those who don’t understand so they may.
10. don’t give in to fear! It isn’t over till it’s over. It will be tough, but the war is already won.
V. God’s Children Are Safe
1. so go your way, Daniel, and live your life in the peace and grace of God.
2. shine like a star, lead others to righteousness, participate with God in the transformation of your being.
3. your life is in God’s hands, and you are safe.
4. there is an inheritance waiting for you, where there will be no more sorrow, no mourning, no sin, no fear.
Conc. To all of us who love people, love children, the greatest thing we can do for them is tell them the truth and live it in front of them.
1. want them to be safe? There is your task.
2. you will be blessed now and forever!
