The Lord’s Message:  Shine Like the Stars

The Lord’s Message:  Shine Like the Stars
Date:  September 29, 2024
Where:  Tilghman Methodist Church
Scripture Reference:  Daniel 12

            We are going to finish the book of Daniel today.  I hope that you have seen the faithfulness of Daniel and others throughout this book.  We can learn from him and his friends how to be faithful even in times of sinfulness and persecution.  We are going to conclude this book with how to remain faithful now until the end of times. 

            Let us pray. 

            The first principle of remaining faithful now until the end of times is to place our strength not in ourselves, but in God.  We need to realize that the people that are leading us into sinfulness or are persecuting us have demons and the devil compelling them to do this.  Paul says in Ephesians 6:11-13.   

            We ended Daniel 11 with the Antichrist pitching his tent in the holy land.  We begin with God sending Michael the archangel to fight the Antichrist.  We remember that Michael, in Daniel 10:13, is fighting against the demon of Persia.  If we trust in God, then God will send his angels to be with us now and at the end of times. 

            This world is going to come to an end.  The Bible gives different references for this time Malachi calls it the “terrible day of the Lord,” Malachi 4:5.  Paul called it “Jesus’ second coming in 1 Corinthians 15:23.  Jesus called it in Matthew 12:36, “the day of judgment. 

            In Daniel 12, we find that all who believe in Jesus need not fear that day, because we have a guardian, an inheritance, and an assignment.  In Daniel 12:1a, God will send the archangel Michael to protect us, and Michael will battle against Satan and his demons.  We are told in Revelation 12:7-9 about Michael fighting against Satan and his demons and winning the battle in heaven.  God has provided us with a guardian.

            God has provided us with an inheritance.  In Daniel 1b-2, everyone receives an inheritance.  For those people that think that once they die that is the end, they are sadly mistaken.  Death is not the end, but the beginning of everlasting life.  Life either with God or life without God.  “Some to everlasting life.”  “Some to everlasting shame and contempt.”  All who’s names are written in the book of life will live with God forever.  Those names that are not written will live without God forever. Revelation 20:11 confirms this.

            For the believers in Jesus, we have an assignment.  In Daniel 12:3, “those who are wise,”  refers to discipleship.  A disciple was a person that followed the rabbi.  They got to know the rabbi personally.  They listened to the rabbi and follow his directions.  This way they knew what the rabbi expected of them.  If we say we are a disciple of Jesus, then we need to learn more about Jesus, so that we can live our lives for Him.  God has given the Bible for us to learn about Jesus.  We also can join a Bible study to increase our knowledge of Jesus.  Gathering around others who are learning about Jesus increases our knowledge of Him.  Prayer certainly is very important for us to grow in knowledge of Jesus.  In John 14:26, the more that you pray, the more the Holy Spirit teaches about Jesus. 

            With this knowledge, and relying on the power of the Holy Spirit, we can complete the other part of the assignment, evangelism, “those who lead many to righteousness.”  I can tell you from experience that the best way to lead others to Jesus is by living your life in front of them.  Paul must have remembered this verse in Philippians 2:12-16.  You are the Bible that most people see on a day in and day out basis. 

            For all that live their life for Jesus, are the stars that shine brightly.  In Matthew 5:14-16, Jesus says that we are to be a lamp that others will see our good deeds and give glory to God. 

            Daniel is told in verse 4 to seal up this book until the end of time.  When will the end of time occur?  I cannot say when that will occur, but Daniel is told that it will happen when “many will go here and there” and “increase knowledge.”    The first thing is referring to mass transportation.  I overheard a conversation for a person going to Maine.  Saying that they flew because it took them an hour and 15 minutes compared to driving 11 hours in a car.  How about if you walk to Maine from here?  250 hours.  It is amazing how quickly we can go from one place to another. 

“To increase knowledge.”  How much knowledge can we have?  We have so much knowledge in the palm of our hands, just with our smart phones.  I believe the end of times is coming very soon.  For some of us, today could be the day when we take our last breath on earth and enter into eternity.  We should be prepared to live our lives for that day. 

In the book of Daniel, we now move to a scene where two angels are having a conversation with Jesus, verses 5-7.  The man in linen is Jesus.  The time of a time, times and half a time is 42 months or 1,260 days.  This refers back to the prophecy in Daniel 4.  The time where Antiochus Epiphanes shuts down the worship of God.  After being defeated by the Maccabees, worship is restored.  Here this is referring to the time of the Tribulation.  This is the time of the Antichrist.  In verses 11-12, the Antichrist will do the same thing that Antiochus did for the same period of time.

“When the power of the holy people has finally been broken,” this could be a double reference.  The first reference could be that the Jewish people accept Jesus as the Messiah. Paul refers to this in Romans 11:11-15.  It is amazing how many Jewish people and Muslims today are accepting Jesus as their Messiah. From Lars Enarson’s book “The Truth About Palestine” he writes, “The prophetic dream has begun to be fulfilled, as many secular Israelis have started to turn to God.  Those who have never celebrated the Sabbath before are baking challah bread in honor of God’s special day.  The one thing that has been most in demand among Israeli soldiers since the war broke out, has been the tassel which God commanded his people to wear in the corner of their garments to remember all the commandments of the Law, Numbers 15:37-41.   The second reference is to something that is not found in the Bible but is called the Rapture.  The Rapture is where the believers in Jesus are taken to heaven while the Tribulation period is occurring.  Paul talks about this in

1 Thessalonians 4:13-18. 

            Salvation will still occur during the time of the Tribulation.  It is the last time for redemption for those that refuse to believe that Jesus is the Messiah, that Jesus is the Lord and Savior.  This is explained in verse 10.  Purification can only happen because of Jesus’ work on the cross.  The division between those that accept Jesus as Messiah and those who refuse to accept him grows farther and farther apart.  There are no fence sitters.  Either you accept Him, or you don’t. 

            Daniel did not understand this prophecy.  He says in verse 8.  We may have a hard time understanding this as well, but we do not need to if we believe in Jesus.  We need not worry.  That is what the angel Gabriel told Daniel in verse 9.  We just need to remain faithful until the end time comes.  The final advice that Gabriel gives to Daniel also applies to followers of Jesus, verse 13. 

            What have we learned?  Our fight is not against human beings, but against the devil and his demons.  God has given us a protector.  If we remain faithful, we will have an inheritance with God forever.  We do have an assignment to tell others about Jesus.  The best way, we can do that is by living our lives in obedience to God. 

            Throughout the book of Daniel, Daniel remained faithful. Let us do the same.  Let us shine like the stars.  Amen.