I'd like to thank Reverend Kuparis for reminding me that it is Super Bowl Sunday. I totally forgot. I would have had an entirely different law reading had I known that. But tonight we're looking at the temptations of Jesus. Can you imagine Jesus forsaking the worship of the Lord to go to a football game? You can answer that. That's my second law reading. Thank you for that opportunity. Let's turn this morning to Daniel chapter 12. Daniel chapter 12, and we will conclude our study in the book of Daniel this morning. It's been a wonderful study, and this is found on page 890. If you're a visitor, this has been a long series. Well, not too long. We've tried to move through it. But today, on page 890, we conclude our study in this wonderful book. Let's give our attention to the word of the Lord. 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 been since there was a nation till that time. But at that time your people shall be delivered. Everyone whose name shall be found written in the book. 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 and those who are wise shall shine like the brightness of the sky above and those who turn many to righteousness like the stars forever and ever but you Daniel shut up the words and seal the book until the time of the end many shall run to and fro and knowledge shall increase then I Daniel looked and behold two others stood, one on this bank of the stream and one on that bank of the stream. And someone said to the man clothed in linen who was above the waters of the stream, how long shall it be till the end of these wonders? And I heard the man clothed in linen who was above the waters of the stream. He raised his right hand and his left hand toward heaven and swore by him who lives forever that it would be for a time, times, and half a time. And that when the shattering of the power of the holy people comes to an end all these things would be finished i heard but i did not understand then i said oh my lord what shall be the outcome of these things he said go your way daniel for the words are shut up and sealed until the time of the end many shall purify themselves and make themselves white and be refined but the wicked shall act wickedly and none of the wicked shall understand but those who are wise shall understand and from the time that the regular burnt offering is taken away and the abomination that makes desolate is set up there shall be 1290 days blessed is he who waits and arrives at the 1335 days but go your way till the end and you shall rest and shall stand in your allotted place at the end of days and that concludes the book of daniel well one of the most challenging aspects to preaching daniel i think at least in our time is the honesty that it provides for us about what we can expect before the end prophesied as we looked at last time so many years ago think about how many years ago from daniel's point that today we're looking at the end of the world the greatest temptation i think as a pastor has been pastoring in america in our times pastoring in our fluent times our prosperous times the greatest temptation is to paint a rosier picture of life life under the sun life in affliction than the scriptures describe this is all what we want um that's what sells i could make a lot of money writing a book that talks about your best life now i could be rich but i wouldn't be telling you the truth our time has been dominated by those who have told people that a life of tribulation is not god's will for you and many have become rich off that message i have a challenging message this morning for you i have a good message for you but i have a challenging message for you life's probably going to get harder from where you are at this point life's probably going to get harder for you as we look to the end life could get a lot harder and that's how the bible characterizes our lives as believers under the sun until Christ comes in glory. That's the hard reality of things. That could be shocking to us. The world even knows that this really isn't shocking. This is what's funny. Sometimes Christians are even more backwards on this than the world. Let me quote the great theologian, the astute theologian, the great theologian Rocky Balboa. The world is not all sunshine and rainbows. It's a very mean and nasty place. I don't care how tough you are. It will beat you to your knees and keep you there permanently if you let it. Nobody hits as hard as life. Well, his solution's a little different. It's not how hard you get hit. it's about how hard you get hit and keep moving forward gotta find strength that's how winning is done he says you've never heard Rocky Balboa quoted from this pulpit it's a question of where we find strength I have really hard news today and I've got extremely good news for you you can expect until you get to glory nothing but tribulation and hardship. But what does that give us is not a pessimistic outlook on things. Daniel wants us to appreciate from where our strength comes. How strength is given. This doesn't make us failures in this life. And Daniel ends on the brightest note ever in light of this, held out for you the promise that you will rise to everlasting life at the end of days that's a really good news isn't it that's a real that's a happy ending to the story but it's not a happy ending for everyone and daniel wants to help us as we close the book today to think about and provide for us a description of the end of all things how we can expect it to go he wants to explain for us what we can expect life to be until the end he's helping us with that but embedded here is the promise of god's help embedded here is the promise of god's encouragement and his strength and his purpose that we would learn to live wisely in this age you'll notice that was there the wise the wise stand out in this age so as we look at this description this morning of the end of our time we're looking at the way of the end the way that the ends described and two paths that are then set before us briefly the way of the wicked and the way of the righteous the way the end is described providing a description of the way of the wicked and the way of the righteous we just finished a long overview of history in chapter 11 from daniel's point a history that covered 15 kings from 130 bc to what i'm sorry 322 bc to about 163 bc and the last section of daniel daniel 11 brought us up toward the pret toward at least the beginning of our age as we know it what we have before us this morning is a period that takes us from that period to the end of the world daniel's been tracing history this is what he's been doing showing god's sovereignty throughout history god's rule throughout history kingdoms come, kingdoms fall. God's sovereign over all. And it's intended to provide us today now an explanation for our time. Did you notice that it's shut up to Daniel? Because Daniel doesn't live in our time, but it's open to us. And that's why Daniel found this so mesmerizing. He could not understand any of this, but we can. And that's what I plan to show you briefly here this morning. you read in verse 1 that Michael shall stand up at that time the great prince who watches over the sons of your people Michael the great angel the warrior angel and he says there that there shall be a time of trouble such has never been since there was a nation he is thinking of the Jews he is thinking of Daniel's people what I believe here what we have is exactly what Jesus described in the all of it discourse remember matthew 24 that's why i wanted to read it today when the disciples came and asked him they said when would the temple fall what will be the sign of your coming and the end of the age and jesus answered both of those questions matthew 24 is a mixture of answering both of those questions it moves back and forth from the destruction of the temple in ad 70 to when jesus comes down on the clouds of heaven and everyone from the four winds of heaven sees him that didn't happen in ad 70 he's weaving back and forth to answer those questions and jesus said it would be a distressing time jesus likened ad 70 when the romans destroyed the temple jesus likened ad 70 to what daniel described in the abomination that causes desolation that was what we consider briefly last time that antiochus epiphanies came in in 163 and he destroyed the temple profaned it by burning pigs fat on the altar and and and profaned it in the worst sort of abomination that one could do in the holy place or burned pigs fat on the altar well verse one of chapter 12 is tying that together as jesus did to our time the most distressing time that ever came upon daniel's people was ad 70 when the temple was done and you can read josephus of the horrors of that period and from here the prophecy in the first verses of chapter 12 moves us right to the end of the world it spans that whole period that we live in from the destruction of the temple to the end of the world is right in front of us in chapter 2 that leaves us with resurrection, leaves us with the resurrection of the body at the end of days. So we're picking up with this last prophecy. It's really looking from AD 70 to the close of the age, Daniel 12, this period of Christ's advent. Christ's first advent and his last advent, his second coming to the final judgment. and that's what we're looking at this morning briefly look at verse five then i daniel looked and there stood two others one on this river bank and one on that river bank and it goes on to say and someone said to the man clothed in linen who was above the waters of the stream how long shall it be till the end of all these wonders and then daniel has a question so that's the first question how long second question is daniel's question in verse eight and you see that in verse eight i heard but i did not understand then i said oh my lord what shall be the outcome of these things how is this going to go this is what he's asking how is this going to go what can i expect what's it all going to lead to what can i expect before the end so so you see here the two questions how long says the angel. Really, I think, picking up on Jesus' language when Jesus said, listen, the angels don't even know. The Father knows the time. The angels are curious about how long this project's going to go on. And Daniel wants to know, what's it going to go? What's it going to be like? What's the outcome of all of these things? There are two important questions, and the answer is given really to the first question how long in two different ways saying the same thing you'll notice in verse 7 he held up his hand and he swore by the lord who lives forever that it shall be for a time times and half a time and if you look over at verse 11 from that time the daily sacrifice is taken away and the abomination of desolation is set up what jesus referred to until the end shall be 1,260 days at the same period of time. Extended out to 1,335. These same time durations are given in the book of Revelation. Not literally, but you remember when in Revelation 12, when the son, she bore a male child and he was caught up to God in his throne, speaking of the resurrection of Christ, and he went up he then described the whole period of the of the church's struggle in the wilderness and he said this and so the woman were given two wings of a great eagle that she might fly into the wilderness into her place where she's nourished for a time times and half a time that's right from daniel so the whole period of the child being caught up to the throne till the end of the woman struggled in the wilderness, the church's struggle is a time, times and a half a time. He's capturing our present age. That's the big thing to notice here. It's a fixed time. It's a fixed time. Sworn by the angel. It's a fixed time. And then this comes to an end. Now Daniel doesn't understand any of this. Verse 9 says, he instructs Daniel to go his way because the words of the prophecy are sealed up till the time of the end. Which means Daniel was not able to see this play out in history. But not you. That's what makes this so fascinating today to see the time we live is right here in Daniel 12. Daniel's question becomes the focal point. Well, what's going to be the outcome of all this? What's it going to be like? What can you and I expect? Now that's a question that should really intrigue us. What will this period be like till the very end of the world? And what's the final outcome? And there's one statement that stands out in verse 7. I want you to notice it here. It's a big statement. This will be for a time, times, and a half a time. Notice what it says. That when the shattering of the power of the holy people comes to an end, these things will be finished. The power of the holy people shattered. This is what I was talking about. It's entirely counterintuitive. One pastor said, I would expect him to have said, when the power of the wicked is shattered, then the end will come. That's not what he says. When the power of you is shattered, then the end will come. How does that make you feel? What this passage is saying to us is that the character of our times will be one of breaking our strength as the holy people of God. Why is that important for you to appreciate? Why is that important for you to understand and me? It's this. One of God's purposes for His people in this world is that our power is broken. That's what makes Christianity hard to accept. And you've got a load of teachers who don't accept that. Who don't want that. Who refuse God on that point. Isn't this exactly what Paul described? Didn't he set this in front of us when he said, We are hard-pressed on every side, but not crushed. Perplexed, but not in despair. Persecuted, but not abandoned. Struck down, but not destroyed. therefore we don't lose heart but we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that the excellency of the power belongs to god and not us he's stripping your power in chapter 10 that's what it was all about remember daniel so i was left alone and i saw this great vision and daniel says no strength was left in me my radiant appearance was fearfully changed i reach says it again i retain no strength and then the angel says to him man greatly loved fear not peace be with you be strong be of good courage and as he spoke to me i was strengthened and said let my lord speak for you have strengthened me four times strength is mentioned in chapter four daniel becomes the illustration of this point Daniel was on his knee shaking and all his strength was removed and what was given to him strength from above and that's the struggle beloved we find ourselves in in this present age as God is breaking the power of his people and replacing it with his you have to be broken of yourself do you understand that we have to become like the publican at the back of the church not the pharisee who stands up in strength and says look what i've done but the publican who beats his chest and says god be merciful to me a sinner that's the man broken of his strength but oh we fight against this our fight has been with God over the issue of strength and it's all counterintuitive this is the key might I say to raising healthy and joyful children to tell them they're corrupt in every part of their being and that God has to bring an end to them and raise them up brand new that's so counterintuitive that's not what you want to tell your child american christians have fought god on this issue we don't like words like sin we don't like words like misery and we can handle maybe a little bit the offense of the cross what we can't handle is the offense of our condition depravity our whole life is a fight to refuse to be broken do you hear me our whole life is a fight to refuse to be broken in and of ourselves so god has to break us so that you'll fall on this rock lest that rock grind you to powder jesus imagine if you looked at life this way his purpose is that we would face these things that the excellency of his power would rest upon us there'd be a great exchange and that's why the life we live now is full of purposeful trial and testing and difficulty at times appointed for us god is refining god is training god is forming us to the image of his son and the result of that is captured here did you notice verse 10 many in this time daniel shall be purified they shall be made white and they shall be refined our power has to be taken for us to really understand the gospel to understand christ to understand salvation that's what god is doing in this age for his people and that gives meaning to everything we face that seems to take away all of our earthly strength when we find ourselves with no answers when we find ourselves perplexed when we find ourselves confused, sad, distressed but something important is being contrasted here to help you with this to not despise this what does chapter 12 say? What it does is that it contrasts two very different paths in this life. Paths of the wicked and the paths of the righteous. How is that going to go, Daniel? How is this going to go out? How is this going to fill its way out? What is going to be the outcome? What are we going to expect, Lord? Well, verse 4 says, But you, Daniel, shut up the words and seal the book until the time of the end. It's not that God's book is hidden from us. though Daniel couldn't see all this play out, it's that God's ways, now listen, this is so important today, God's ways are hidden with an open book before the world. Have you ever thought of that? What does that mean for the wicked in this life if they don't understand this? Well, that's verse 4. Many will run to and fro and knowledge shall increase. What does that mean? That's not a positive verse. What will it be like before the end? What is the characteristic of our times before the end? What can we expect before the end? Many will run to and fro. And you'll see this great extension and advance in knowledge. remember one of the judgments of the lord in amos of the time period before was that many would run to and fro and what would happen in amos 8 would many would run to and fro doing what seeking the word of the lord and not finding it it's like daniel picks up the counterpart to this instead of seeking the will of the lord the wicked seek knowledge the wicked run to and fro in the earth seeking knowledge is that not our times has there ever been a time in which knowledge has ever increased to the degree that it's increased in front of you i'm not saying wisdom knowledge he says before the time of the knowledge shall you can push a button today and have an answer to any question of history it may not be right wikipedia is kind of junk by the way there used to be better standards of scholarship but that's another issue knowledge is at the fingertips of the world knowledge what has been the result that a people with all this knowledge what are they doing well they're running to and fro in the earth and they're trying to find answers they're trying to find solutions they're trying to overcome weakness in their power we're going to inhabit mars did you know that did you know that that's what elon expects we're putting computer chips in bodies there's nothing we can't do who does it sound like it's the tower of babel all of this acquisition of knowledge and understanding but what do they find they have all this knowledge and they have all this information they have all the philosophies they have all the ideas and here's the wicked they run to and fro without any answers what has elon brought us as an answer a true answer to anything but that's our age running to and fro busy we're busy busy in the gaining of knowledge and what have we discovered what have we produced moral revolution sexual revolution rebellion hatred of god all of it comes with what jesus said The escalation of lawlessness. That's the result. We should be able to see that. Notice the contrast here. I want you to notice the contrast here. The power of the holy people is broken. The wicked gain strength and run to and fro seeking knowledge. But it comes down to this, verse 10. Notice verse 10. But none of the wicked shall understand. Isn't that a striking verse? None of the wicked shall understand. But those who are wise shall understand. And then verse 10. Many shall purify themselves and make themselves white and be refined, but the wicked will continue to do wickedly. Lawlessness will increase. That's the end of this. That's what's going to go down, Daniel. And the end is captured in verse, you'll notice there in those first verses, verse 2. Many of those, here's the end of the wicked. Here's the end. The whole path is laid out of life. The end of the wicked is this. Many of those who sleep in the dust of the earth, those who've already died, shall awake at the resurrection, at the end of time, at the end of days, and some shall rise to the shame of everlasting contempt. Everyone's going to get out of the grave. Did you know that? You're either going to rise to life or you're going to rise to eternal judgment. That's not an optimistic future for the wicked. With that in mind, how good is the good news? in verse 10 none of the wicked understand but the wise understand because they run to and fro seeking what the word of the lord the word of the lord it's interesting daniel is told to shut up the words of this book but do you know it's like it's as if revelation the book of revelation the last book of the bible is the counterpart to the book of Daniel. Do you know how Revelation begins? First words, first sentence. Daniel, shut up the words of this till the time of the end. First book of Revelation. What does it begin with? The revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave him to show his servants the things which must shortly take place. It's open again. It's open to you right now. You're not in darkness. you know what's happening you have the word of the lord the wise seek that word the wise seek that revelation god has opened his will to you in these last days and you know that will because believing in christ turning from sin trusting in him you are made wise in this age do you understand that's a blessing of god to you you are made wise in this age you see you understand blessed are your eyes for they see blessed are your ears for they hear blessed are your understandings for you understand you're made wise and in this age guess what he's doing for you in light of taking away your strength he's refining you he's purifying you and he's making you white by the blood of christ that's the gospel that's what he's doing now what a positive view of what God has done for you in this time when your power is being taken from you. I have the best news ever to announce to you now. The news to close the book with. Back in verse 2, the wise shall shine and they shall rise to everlasting life. And those who turn many people to righteousness, which is your purpose here in life, right there, they shall shine like the stars forever and ever. That's the most optimistic view of your future that could be given. When he comes, if you've died in the Lord, you rise to everlasting life, to a brand new heavens and a brand new earth where righteousness shall dwell forever. Isn't that what Isaiah said? Behold, I create a new heavens and a new earth. The former things will not be remembered, nor will they come to mind, but be glad and rejoice forever in what I will create. For I will create Jerusalem to be a delight and its people a joy. See how that would have encouraged the exiles who are struggling to get the building project back going? We are about to receive a brand new heavens and a brand new earth. that's the message of hope that's the message of hope that daniel leaves remember i told the story to close of the man i met with in this city who was in a gang a very very bad gang and so we go to lunch and he tells me that the night before people had tried to gun him down and i told him about the resurrection and i said don't you want a new heavens and a new earth do you realize that's what god has promised those who believe he's going to fix all this he's going to make it brand new there's going to be no more sorrow no more tears no more burdens no more death and this gangster looked at me and he says well if that's what Christianity teaches then I could believe and I said repent and believe the gospel this is our time the internal inheritance is held out for us and what an encouragement in this age look what's happening look at how things are moving be wise the last verse of Daniel ends with this but go your way Daniel till the end you shall rest and will arise to your inheritance at the end of days your allotted place you know you have an allotted place in the kingdom you know that's not just for Daniel that's your hope there's rest held out for you you've entered it in christ today and you will enter your eternal rest in death you belong to him in body and soul in life and in death and you are receiving a kingdom that can never be shaken to jesus christ your king your savior who loves you and gave himself for you that's what's worth patiently waiting for while God takes our strength and gives us His. Serious question. Serious question as we close the book. What path are you on? Are you in the path of the wicked to rise to everlasting condemnation? Or are you on the path of the righteous? By faith in Christ, knows God's love and rests securely that when he comes he will say that so that child is mine come enter the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world daniel's been a great book i pray it's blessed you let's pray heavenly father thank you for your word to us thank you for encouraging us i pray that you bless your sheep with such comfort in these words that your name would be glorified in our lives that we would be wise in these times that we would have understanding that we would seek what run to and fro seeking your word in our lives and not following people who are running seeking to and fro to those activities and those things that will land them in judgment thank you for the gospel thank you for announcing it to the ends of the earth thank you for your favor bless us oh lord in this and give us strength from you from above that we might glorify you in jesus name we pray amen