Tough Times. Tough Men. Tough God.

Reylourd P. Reyes

2nd Sermon on the Book of Daniel

Title: Tough Times. Tough Men. Tough God.

Keytext: Daniel 12:1-3

Introduction:

In our class last week, we have learned that the chapters 10-12 of the Book of Daniel form a unit with three element. Other scholars would treat this last unit as the epilogue of the whole Book. So this morning let me speak about the epilogue within the epilogue of Daniel. I think my term “epilogue within the epilogue” just fits the whole theme of this message, the time of the end. Just before moving on, let me share this quotation from the pen of inspiration with you.

Quote:

Every day that passes brings us nearer the end. Does it bring us also near to God? Are we watching unto prayer? Those with whom we associate day by day need our help, our guidance. They may be in such a condition of mind that a word in season will be sent home by the Holy Spirit as a nail in a sure place. Tomorrow some of these souls may be where we can never reach them again. What is our influence over these fellow travelers? What effort do we make to win them to Christ? – {9T 27.1}

This hit me so hard in the heart and shook my mind. I think it’s a big challenge for us all to think not only the nearness of His coming, but also dwell on how we can build up a closer relationship with Him.

Illustration:

The end of the world has been a never-ending trend both in the Christian and non-Christian realms. Many tried to set dates and alarmed believers and non-believers alike. Take for example these:

Predictions on the Coming of Jesus Christ

1843-1844 William Miller

1914,1918 Jehovah’s Witnesses

1925,1994

1986 Davidian

1994,2011 Harold Camping

2000 Millennium

2012 Mayan Calendar

As we have all always believe, our Saviour’s return will certainly happen, regardless of how long that will be, He will surely come.

Daniel chapter 12 brings us in the latter part of the climactic story of the end time. As the end-time draws near history will move in a series of dramatic events according to a pattern known in advance of the Creator God. Everything that is old and evil will finally pass away. From this dramatic last chapter of Daniel I would like to share three emphases that hopefully will not only leave us hope but also empower us to face the future.

Tough Times Will Continue.

If you remember from last week, the dream suddenly fast forwards from a description of ancient kings to a description of “the end”. Verse 1 -- "At that time Michael, the archangel who stands guard over your nation, will arise. Then there will be a time of anguish greater than any since nations first came into existence...”

Remember, the Jewish people were in exile in Babylon and they were on the verge of returning to their homeland. They could see it coming. They could feel it. They could taste it. And they were thinking – Wow, once we get back to Jerusalem, everything is going to be A-OKAY. But all of these lists of terrible kings and conquerors and periods of persecution was probably taking a lot of the wind out of their sails. And then to top it all off the messenger says: “Then there will be a time of anguish greater than any since nations first came into existence...” You can imagine how Daniel’s heart sank.

Aren’t things suppose to get progressively better? I’ve been thinking about this during the whole time that we’ve been studying the Book of Daniel.

Growing up I was taught to be an optimistic positive thinker. I learned to always think that there’s always a brighter tomorrow. Lately I realized, life becomes tougher and tougher. Problems pile up, disasters surprise us, and conflicts become norm. And we are yet to experience a kind of trouble we haven’t experienced before.

But what really comforts me, despite this inevitable, is knowing that no matter how tough life can be, Michael, our Saviour will always be there for us.

Tough Men Will Overcome.

Verse 1b continues to give us hope. It brings us the wonderful message that “at that time your people (us)—everyone whose name is found written in the book—will be delivered.” Isn’t it wonderful to know that if we are on God’s side we can overcome and we will be delivered? Tough men, God’s saved people will surpass all tribulations in the end times. And in verse 2 (“Multitudes who sleep in the dust of the earth will awake: some to everlasting life, others to shame and everlasting contempt”) the promise of resurrection sheds light to the hope that we are expecting.

C.Mervyn Maxwell states in his book God Cares, that the “multitudes” in this verse also include some of the unsaved but surely their destiny will be in direct opposite to those who have chosen God in their lives. These things assure us that someday God will put evil power to an end. Remember there are two kinds of people in the world – those who find their lives are improved because of the ordeal – and those who are so caught up in the evilness of the era that they will remain clueless for eternity.