Recreate Church, Pastor Michael Shockley—Service, Sunday, June 5, 2022

The End.  

Today, Pastor Michael is finishing up his series on Daniel.  We started this series in February and we’re finishing it up today, all 12 chapters behind us.  We may not do it fast, but we do it right!

Daniel has come to the end of his life.  He has seen revelation after revelation.  And yet, he still has some questions, here at the twilight of his life.  How does everything wrap up?  How does this all end?

In Chapter 12 we find that there will be a great distress, predicted.  The Lord will raise a champion during this time, Michael.  After a time of great suffering, God will send Michael to deliver his people . The deliverance includes resurrection to “everlasting life” (12:2) for all whose names are written in the book of life.  Those not in the book of life are raised to “everlasting contempt”. 

(CSB Baker Illustrated Bible Study Notes) 12:1–4. The victory will not come without persecution and perseverance (12:1). These words encourage the godly in any age to await the kingdom of God. The saints are promised life everlasting and joy, whereas the ungodly will experience everlasting disgrace (12:2–3). All who die will be raised to life, but not all who are raised in the body will enjoy lives of everlasting bliss—only those whose names are recorded in the book of life. The godly respond to God and will be accounted to have insight and to be wise; they will lead others to life, wisdom, and righteous living. Their future will be glorious, as they will share in the victory of the Lord.

The visions are to be closed, so that the wise might read them and gain understanding (12:4). Revelation of the future is for encouragement and the development of hope, faith, and love, rather than for speculation. The godly will always find comfort in the revelation made to Daniel.

Daniel’s told to keep on believing and never did get to know everything he wanted to know.

Faith isn’t just believing what God told you.  Faith is trusting God with what He hasn’t told you.

And that’s where the books ends; with a decision to trust.  

In the end, the good guys win!  That’s the final message in Daniel, trust God with your past, present and future.

Verses can be found today in Daniel 12: 1-13.

Scripture quotations marked CSB have been taken from the Christian Standard Bible®, Copyright © 2017 by Holman Bible Publishers. Used by permission. Christian Standard Bible® and CSB® are federally registered trademarks of Holman Bible Publishers.