Daniel 12

Scripture

Daniel 12:8-9, 13
I heard, but I did not understand. So I asked, “My lord, what will the outcome of all this be?” He replied, “Go your way, Daniel, because the words are rolled up and sealed until the time of the end…go your way till the end. You will rest, and then at the end of the days you will rise to receive your allotted inheritance.”

 Observation

Daniel is given prophetic insight concerning the end times:

• A time of trouble destined for Israel, the likes of which the world has never before seen; a time about which Jesus himself prophesied                 (Matthew 24:21)
• A promise of deliverance for true Israel
• The resurrection of the dead and the eternal destinations for the righteous and the wicked
• A command to “shut up the words” and to “seal the book until the time of the end.”
• A 3-1/2 year timeline for this “time of Jacob’s trouble’ (Jeremiah 30:7) - the second half of the seven year tribulation period, known as the           Great Tribulation - the end of which that will culminate in the return of the Messiah and the establishment of His kingdom.
• A promise for those who persevere
• A personal promise and encouragement for Daniel

 Understanding

I find great solace in knowing that even Daniel, the great seer of visions and interpreter of dreams, did not understand all that he heard. During our introduction to the Book of Revelation at Higher Learning, I cautioned us all that there will be much that we will read that we may not ever really understand; at least to our understanding. What intrigued (and encouraged) me was the angel’s answer to David’s question; he said, “Go your way, Daniel.” God had said all He was going to say to Daniel. Daniel was not to hold out until fuller revelation came and all his questions were answered. He was commanded to walk in obedience to the revelation he received and trust God for the rest.

 Life Application

 

 I am reminded that “The secret things belong to the Lord our God…” (Deuteronomy 29:29). Part of my faith is to trust that God has a plan and that He chooses to reveal only a portion of it to his children. This partial revelation forces me to continually rely on Him in the midst of the places where the road is not clear before me and to show my faith by obedience even when I don’t fully comprehend the what, where, why and how of the matter. As the angel instructs Daniel, so the word of God instructs me not to demand complete revelation before I move forward serving God but, rather, press on, go on my way, continue to walk in the revelation that I have and trust that God is leading me on the road that He has ordained for my life.

 

Psalm 139:16
Your eyes saw my unformed body; all the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be.

 

To check out the discussion or to join in, click here

-Gary Parker