DanM10 — Transcript

Hi friend.

Do I need to convince you that this is actually the last module that we'll have in this class?

It was almost like yesterday that we began this class and we are now at the very end.

And I tried to entitle it appropriately, uh, in such a way that the message of the book of Daniel, uh, would be evident in in a short, concise, uh, way.

And basically, when I was thinking about it, I said, how about the name Michael, who is like God, uh, which is not a question, but it is an exclamation.

So I entitled it this way, and as we now look at Daniel chapter 12, I would like us to pay even more attention to the person of Michael.

Who was introduced in the previous module. So, uh, let's begin, first of all, by, uh, pointing to the fact that with the last chapter of Daniel.

We now are with Daniel looking at the period of time in in Earth's history known as the time of the end.

And this end time is basically the focus of of chapter 12, which, please remember, is an integral part of the previous two chapters.

So Daniel 10, 11, and 12 basically is one unit, and one more time, the entire focus now shifts on to Michael.

Away from the oppressive, uh, King of the North, the conspicuous person who parallels the little horn in Daniel 7 and 8, as that, uh, evil power comes to an end and God himself deals with it.

Now, all of the attention shifts to God's appointed angel, and that is Michael, whose name means who is like God.

And as he rises up and as he stands, a number of things happen, um, the the enormous crisis in the world turns into into the realization of God's promises.

Such as universal resurrection, uh, that that, uh, is presented here and is one of the several precious passages from the Old Testament that talks about God's ability to restore a physical life to a dead person.

So, um, we find that in this, uh, chapter of Daniel, the promise of resurrection, and, uh, also we have a reminder that, um, uh, Daniel's eyes are still fixed on that person standing on the river.

And although the river this time is different, the original language suggests no more the river Tigris, but the river of Egypt.

This time it's the King of the North that is subdued by, uh, um, this, uh, appointed angel, uh, I'm sorry, appointed messenger of God, uh, that is Michael, whom we believe to be Jesus Christ.

He now stands on the surface of this other river, so the King of the North and the King of the South are both defeated, he triumphs over them, and he is ready now to redeem, uh, his people.

Uh, this chapter ends with some enigmatic statements, and one has to do with the three time periods, and the these three time periods lead to the end of time.

And interpreters of the Bible have been puzzled by, uh, the the three periods of time because the three are arranged in a progressive manner.

Uh, in other words, they move from the shortest to the longest, and, um, uh, these periods are applied in, uh, the history of salvation, in the history of our world, and that is explained in the textbook.

But I would like to to point also to the biblical meaning, uh, of this, you remember that in the beginning of this unit, uh, uh, the the coming of Gabriel to answer Daniel's prayer was, uh, an apparent delay or were were apparently or seemingly delayed.

And in a in in spite of that, Daniel persisted in his prayer to God, in his waiting, in in, uh, fasting, in waiting on God for an answer.

So, as this last unit in the book of Daniel closes, there is that same message, and the message that comes through is that although the time of the end may seem to be delayed.

Uh, although the forces of evil may seem to be so strong so as to delay the realization of God's promises.

The wise follower of God, or the servant, and that's the term, by the way, that is used here in Daniel and Jesus uses the same term, the wise, are the ones who wait for the realization of those promises.

And as we talk about, uh, that lesson, to me, that's an important lesson that I find also in Christ's speech about the time of the end.

When Jesus was asked about the events that were to precede his second coming, the most important lesson, uh, for Jesus was, do not be afraid.

Fix your eyes on the sign of the coming Son of Man, and also the wise servant is the one who will wait to the end.

Whenever that end comes, the wise servant will be ready for the master, for who will come in the end of times.

So, I believe that this is a very precious lesson, lesson in perseverance, lesson in the ultimate trust, uh, uh, in God.

That with which, uh, basically, uh, Daniel leaves us and we find, um, uh, this this this this thought of of trust in God, perseverance in spite of the apparent delay.

Bracketing this last part of Daniel, it's given in the beginning of this unit, uh, the beginning of chapter 10, where, uh, Daniel perseveres for 21 days or three weeks.

Uh, that characterized the delay of, uh, Gabriel's coming, and then at the end of the unit, these, uh, three times appear.

So in the beginning and at the end of the unit, we find the same idea that the wise servants of God, they persevere and they wait, regardless of when the master will come or when an answer to our prayers will come.

It's interesting that we find similar bracketing or inclusio within the last chapter of Daniel, many interpreters have noticed that, uh, Daniel 12 begins with the words, at that time, Michael will rise or stand up.

And then a number of things are going to happen at the time of the end, uh, the last verse, verse 13 of this chapter talks about, um, uh, Daniel, who will rise.

And, uh, Gabriel, he, uh, speaks to Daniel and says, Daniel, go your way, and, uh, at the end of time, you will rise and you will receive your inherited, uh, um, uh, inheritance or your allotted inheritance.

So, just like Michael was able to rise up and, uh, begin a chain of of changes in our world.

So at the time of the end, um, uh, the servant of God, Daniel, he's given the promise that he will be resurrected, he will rise up and begin a new life in God.

So, this type of promise should not be limited only to the prophet.

But the reader of the book is also included in it, and the way in which I find this is that in verse 12, uh, uh, Gabriel does address Daniel.

But he does not use the term Daniel, he only says, but as for you, and that you is addressed primarily to Daniel. But I believe that it may be in a secondary way addressed to the reader of the book, and you, reader of the book, also, you will go your way, and you will rest for a while until God wakes you up.

And he, uh, raises you to the eternal inheritance that is waiting for you.

That's that beautiful promise, beautiful message with which the book of Daniel ends.

And, uh, I also would like to remind you that there are a few more assignments to accomplish, uh, this week.

Let's not forget that chapter 12, again, I'm asking you to read in one sitting and study the textbook as, um, uh, it is the instructions are found in the module for this week.

Also, there is one more discussion posting, uh, uh, with, uh, uh, the posting, the original one and the threaded.

So please do not neglect that, pay attention to the minimal number of words, and one more test to take.

Fortunately, there is no more, uh, writing of the paper, you have already submitted that, um, and now there's just one more test to take.

After which you will feel relief, and basically last point that I have included here, uh, in the outline that is in front of me is or or, uh, God bless you.

Uh, thank you very much for being a part of this wonderful, uh, course, and I believe it's appropriate that we end this experience with a prayer.

Uh, of praise to God and, uh, also a petition that God would help us complete this class.

But above all, that he would help us not only to be, uh, only hearers of the words, uh, that he has entrusted to us, but also the doers.

So, uh, let us, uh, pray to God, Heavenly Father, it has been a wonderful experience to be a part of this course on Daniel.

We have learned so much, and, uh, uh, by observing how Daniel, uh, carefully, uh, lived and witnessed for you in that foreign land.

And he also left a document that recorded, um, faith-building stories and revelations that entrust, uh, our faith in you for the coming times, for the future.

All of these are packed in this wonderful book, and we thank you that we have been able to study these.

And now we pray one more time that these lessons, uh, will be incarnated in what we do in our daily lives.

And especially in the important ministries that we perform in hospitals, in other places, bringing hope to places that seems to be, uh, hopeless.

And, uh, bringing you and your presence, um, into the lives that need to be revived.

So, may the promise of resurrection, may the promise of the eternal reward be constantly on our minds, that we are here in this world to glorify you and to find happiness in giving credit to you for everything that is do.

And also, um, to minister to the people who are around us.

May you continue to bless us in our ministry, and we thank you once again for blessing us during this course.

In the name of Christ, we pray for your blessings on us and our families.

Amen.

So, may God bless you, and it has been a great pleasure, uh, to study the book of Daniel with you.

Goodbye.