Wrap It Up and Put a Bow On It

Well, we made it! We're wrapping up chapter 12 right now! Tomorrow, I'll do the final recap and give you a taste of what's coming up next week!

Open either your real Bible or your Cyber Bible to the last Chapter in Daniel. Here is where it turns for Daniel in this wacky, yet powerful vision, but he gets a much needed breather from it all!

As I always say, take time to read this last chapter and see the beautiful prophetic word given to Daniel.

Daniel's first breather comes in verse numero uno:

"...But at that time your people - everywhere whose name is found written in the book - will be delivered."

"Written in the book" What Book? Ah, the best book ever written in the history of everything! THE book, the one where all who have given their lives to Jesus have their name written there. You can find it mentioned also in Revelation 20:12 as well as 21:27. There it's called the Book of Life! Our Life! His Life! Life given back to those under the curse of death. What a wonderful promise to all of us. If you are a follower of Jesus, your name is written in the Lamb's book of Life. That oughta make you want to stand up a holla!

Right after that in verse 2 it says, they "will be delivered." This was good news in two fold! Daniel knew it meant a coming deliverance of his own people and also a prophetic promise of all peoples! You, me, anyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be delivered! I have lots of exclamation points today!

Verse 3 offers another beautiful breather. More like a gasp at the sight of something wonderful.

"Those who are wise will shine like the brightness of the heavens and those who lead many to righteousness, like the stars for ever and ever."

Jesus was saying that we who seek wisdom and lead others to Him will shine like stars! Go ahead. Call yourself a superstar. You have every Biblical right to it. Brad and Angelina have nothing on you and me!

Philippians 2:14-16 says, "Do everything without complaining or arguing, so that you may become blameless and pure, children of God without fault in a crooked and depraved generations, in which you shine like stars in the universe as you hold out the word of life..."

Another word for "hold out" could also be "hold on to." We can hold on to Christ, hold out His word and we will shine. Notice that it's He who makes us shine...not us! Whew! We can relax a little bit.

Verse 4 Daniel is told to close up and seal the word of the scroll until the time of the end. Then he says something kinda out of place. "Many will go here and there to increase in knowledge." I think that it was a description of what mankind will do for ages. We'll come and go looking for knowledge, increasing in it and still we will not know what is to come.

But, we can be a people who seek knowledge, wisdom and truth. Truth to hold on and to hold out to this world in love.

Breather #3. Verse 5. Daniel looks and sees 2 others over the river. One on each side. One asks the Man, "How long will it be before these astonishing things are fulfilled?"

Verse 7, "It will be for a time, times and half a time." Wha?

The deal-e-o is that Daniel didn't get a direct answer. But, he did get promises:

Verse 10 - purification, redemption, refining, wisdom and understanding.

Just because we don't get an answer doesn't mean we can't have understanding. Here are some passages for you to chew on.

Philippians 1:9 "And this is my prayer; that your love may abound more and more in knowledge and depth of insight..."

Colossians 2:2-3 "My purpose is that they may be encouraged in heart and united in love, so that they may have the full riches of complete understanding, in order that they may know the mystery of God, namely, Christ, in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge."

one more

James 1:5 "If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him."

Back to Daniel

Verse 11- This stuff is fulfilled.

Verse 13 "As for you, 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."

This is a good word for us to. We have a host of things to thing about other than wondering when it all ends. We must heed the advice given to Daniel. We must go our ways, live out the testimony of Christ and look forward to our final rest to receive our inheritance!

"Now if we are children, then we are heirs - heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, if indeed we share in his sufferings in order that we may also share in his glory" Romans 8:17

Go your way!