THE TEXT DANIEL 12

- 1 At that time Michael the great prince who stands watch over your people will rise up. There will be

a time of distress such as never has occurred since nations came into being until that time. But at that

time all your people who are found written in the book will escape.

- 2 Many of those who sleep in the dust of the earth will awake, some to eternal life, and some to

shame and eternal contempt.

- 3 Those who are wise will shine like the bright expanse of the heavens, and those who lead many to

righteousness, like the stars forever and ever.

- 4 “But you, Daniel, keep these words secret and seal the book until the time of the end. Many will

roam about, and knowledge will increase.”

- 5 Then I, Daniel, looked, and two others were standing there, one on this bank of the river and one on

the other.

- 6 One of them said to the man dressed in linen, who was above the waters of the river, “How long

until the end of these extraordinary things?”

- 7 Then I heard the man dressed in linen, who was above the waters of the river. He raised both his

hands toward heaven and swore by Him who lives eternally that it would be for a time, times, and

half a time. When the power of the holy people is shattered, all these things will be completed.

- 8 I heard but did not understand. So I asked, “My lord, what will be the outcome of these things?”

- 9 He said, “Go on your way, Daniel, for the words are secret and sealed until the time of the end.

- 10 Many will be purified, cleansed, and refined, but the wicked will act wickedly; none of the wicked

will understand, but the wise will understand.

- 11 From the time the daily sacrifice is abolished and the abomination of desolation is set up, there

will be 1,290 days.

- 12 The one who waits for and reaches 1,335 days is blessed.

- 13 But as for you, go on your way to the end; you will rest, then rise to your destiny at the end of the

days.”

Genre:

Do not forget: Kaiser writes, “If the method assumes that our first task is to try to link earlier Old

Testament images, symbols, and dreams with the Book of Revelation and then to extrapolate

backward into the intertestamental period to apocalyptic books, we must be critical of such a

procedure as we are of eisegesis, or reading a meaning back into a text.”1

1 Kaiser Jr., Walter C.. Preaching and Teaching from the Old Testament: A Guide for the Church (Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Publishing Group,

2003), 162.

1. THIS CHAPTER IS CONSIDERED TO BE PROTOAPOCALYPTIC. THEREFORE, HEED THESE QUESTIONS: 1. Is the imagery local, torah, or both?

2. How much is ‘forthtelling and how much is ‘foretelling?’

2. USE KAISER’S TYPICAL PATTERN FOR APOCALYPTIC LITERATURE TO GUIDE YOU THROUGH THE TEXT2 1. An Announcement of the Last Days (YELLOW)

2. An Explanation and a Reason for this Announced Action (BLUE)

3. A Declaration of War on Evil and a Summons for the Enemies of God to Present Themselves for

Earth’s Final Showdown (GREEN)

4. The Horrors of the Day of the Lord Described (RED)

5. A List of the Final Blessings of the Lord for His People (PINK)

1. LOCATE IT IN THE ‘BIG STORY’

Is this post the fall?

Is this post Noahic Covenant?

Is this post Abrahamic Covenant?

Is this post Mosaic Covenant?

Is the post Davidic Covenant?

Is this during the exile?3

- 605-537BC

- 605BC: Nebuchadnezzar coming into Palestine

- 537BC: Exiles returning to Judah, see Daniel 10:1

Is this during Jesus' life?

Is this post Jesus' resurrection and ascension?

SERMON DEVELOPMENT TITLE: WHEN HISTORY ENDS

AUDIENCE: CONGREGATION IN THE SOUTH

TEXT: DANIEL 12

HOMILETICAL KEY WORD: ֵעת (TIME)4

2 Kaiser, 164-166. 3 Joyce G. Baldwin, Daniel: An Introduction and Commentary, vol. 23, Tyndale Old Testament Commentaries (Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity

Press, 1978), 20.

ת“ 4 ֵ֣ ד ָהע ַ֖ .This should be translated as ‘until the/that time.’ You can see it in v.1 ”ע

INTERROGATIVE: HOW!!!! (HOW CAN I HAVE HOPE)5

BIG IDEA: THE WISE SHOULD UNDERSTAND THAT THE STRUGGLE OF HUMAN HISTORY ENDS WITH RESURRECTION TO EVERLASTING LIFE FOR THE RIGHTEOUS AND TO EVERLASTING PUNISHMENT FOR THE WICKED.6

TEXTUAL POINTS:

12:1-4: HISTORY WILL BE A TIME OF DISTRESS FOR GOD’S PEOPLE, BUT END WITH A FINAL REDEMPTION IN THE RESURRECTION.

15:5-9: HISTORY WILL COME TO A MEASURABLE, COMPLETE, AND FIRM END.

12:9-11: HISTORY WILL END WITH FINAL PUNISHMENTS AND REWARDS.

CONNECT TO CHRIST: OUR HOPE IS FOUND IN GOD WHO HAS MANIFESTED HIS HOPE FOR RESURRECTION IN CHRIST JESUS

ILLUSTRATIONS: CHRISTMAS ANTICIPATION/ROB BELL’S MISUNDERSTANDING

NEXT STEPS: WRITE 1 REASON WHY YOU ARE LONGING FOR GOD TO RETURN EACH MORNING/PUT YOUR FAITH IN GOD WHO RAISES THE DEAD TO ETERNAL LIFE OR ETERNAL DEATH

Sermon Outline by Daughtry and

McMillan:

1. PURPOSE

How does the expositor illustrate the already vivid text of Daniel 12: 1 – 13? Answer: He illustrates it

to point to the text, explain the text, and apply the text. But it also helps illuminate the concepts in the

text and the applications an expositor makes to his audience. Illustrations can come from within the

text (natural), and outside the text. When an illustration comes from outside the text, it must provide

an illumination of meaning (explanation), or answer the question what does this truth mean for our

lives (application)? The following is a strategy the expositor can use to illuminate the text and

preaching of Daniel 12:1 – 13.

2. INTRODUCTION

5 This stresses the anticipatory nature of Daniel 12. The longing for righteous acts performed by the righteous God. Echoes of the New Testament

longing for the Messiah to return ought to be heard. 6 Ronald W. Pierce, Mark L. Strauss, and John H. Walton, Daniel, Teach the Text Commentary (Grand Rapids, Michigan: Baker Books, 2015),

186.

Today we have turned to a passage that has several features which we could spend hours debating

and re-debating. So, I would like to put an eschatological KISS, Keep It Simple Salvation, on today’s

conversation. What I mean is to find the meaning of Daniel 12 and nothing more because at the end

of history nothing much more will matter and for God’s people today nothing more will do.

3. Big Idea: The wise should understand that the struggle of human

history ends with resurrection to everlasting life for the righteous

and to everlasting punishment for the wicked.7

History will be a time of distress for God’s people, but end with a final redemption in the resurrection.

Daniel 12:1 – 4

Natural: Daniel is told to ‘roll up and seal the words of the scroll’ (12:4). “A papyrus scroll would be

sealed with several bullae, soft clay balls that would be positioned over the knot, flattened with a

stamp seal, and allowed to harden.”8 Visualizing such a scroll reveals the intent to conceal any more

unveiling of history’s destiny in the book of Daniel. But the secrets of such a scroll would not have

been hidden forever. It is likely that the Seven Seals of Revelation (6:1 – 17; 8:1 – 2).9

Explanation: “The reappearance of ‘Michael’ (cf. 10:13, 21) unifies the larger vision and reminds the

reader that earthly struggles have heavenly counterparts.”10 The distress of God’s people does not go

without a heavenly reality to confirm that our struggle is not without eternal significance. It also

points to a future where the struggle will be over because “everyone who is found written in the book,

will be rescued” (12:1).11 Another connection to Revelation where Jesus Christ is the triumphant

Warrior King whose return bring the rescue of the people of God.

History will come to a measurable, complete, and firm end. Daniel 12:5 – 9

Natural: Daniel describes something he heard, but did not understand in 12:8. Christians often ponder

the doctrine of revelation at some point in their spiritual growth. Daniel was privy to some much

knowledge about the future plans of God that one ought to be surprised that at the end the prophet

does not comprehend more. Revelation, in the New Testament, is the most “up-to-date” revelation

7 Ronald W. Pierce, Mark L. Strauss, and John H. Walton, Daniel, Teach the Text Commentary (Grand Rapids, Michigan: Baker Books, 2015),

186. 8 Ibid., 189. 9 Ibid., 188. “No significant information is added in the brief conclusion that follows. The reference those who ‘go here and there to increase

knowledge’ speaks to a future desire to understand this vision.” 10 Ibid. 11 Ibid. “The ‘book’ containing the names of the saints refers to ‘the book’ God writes (Exod. 32:31 – 34)—implicitly, a book of life—rather than

the ‘Book of Truth’ (10:21), which contains this vision proper.”

we have but leaves many details to be revealed at the final end. Daniel is told, “Go your way, Daniel,

for these words are concealed and sealed up until the end time” (12:9).

Explanation: The oath, or promise, is made that history will end after a measurable period. The

angelic being with his hands raised toward heaven creates a vivid expression of such a wonder and

terrible promise. “When making an oath, it was more usual to raise one hand (Gen. 14:22; Exod. 6:8;

Deut. 32:40; Isa. 62:8; Rev. 10:5 – 6), but here, both hands are raised to stress the gravity of the

situation.”12

Application: The wait for Christmas morning, the anticipation of a baby gender reveal, or the relief of

the dismissal of the day’s final class, show how human beings literally cannot wait for good things to

come at the end of a period of waiting. Christians living at the present can be certain the things which

continue to worsen will not continue forever. The change the end brings will be final and forever. But

Daniel leaves us with further waiting fulfilled in the coming of Christ and His return.

History will end with final punishments and rewards. Daniel 12:9 – 11

Natural: Ancient frescos depict the final judgement with a clear distinction between the eternity of

the redeemed and that of the wicked (12:1 – 2, 10).13 What is evident from these examples of

medieval Christian art is that the Church has believed the Final Judgment for a long time. Will the

world continue to hear this warning from the Church today?

Application: “Rob Bell’s controversial bestseller Love Wins appeared in June 2011, in part earning him

a place on Time magazine’s list of the ‘100 Most Influential People in the World.’ Although he did not

explicitly acknowledge the title of ‘universalist,’ the book’s essential message come across to many

evangelical leaders as just that—while others felt there was room for some disagreement on this

issue. The clarity of the statement in Daniel 12:2, along with other passages in the New Testament,

makes the historic, orthodox doctrine of ‘hell’ one of the ‘hard sayings’ in Scripture. Nevertheless, we

must not shrink back from this truth, however dreadful it feels. Rather, we must affirm the full

inspiration and authority of God’s Word, while communicating its message with love, humility, and

respect.”14

12 William Nelson, Daniel, Understanding the Bible Commentary Series (Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Books, 2013), 310. 13 Pierce, Strauss, and Walton, Daniel, 191. 14 Ibid.

The expositor may make this follow-up statement to transition to the conclusion:

It is amazing how the hints of biblical revelation make a bigger and clearer statement about the end

of human history than does the many words of someone like Rob Bell. Does love win? You bet. But

Rob Bell should not forget the ultimately God wins. Maybe he needs an eschatological KISS.

4. INVITATION AND NEXT STEPS

The text describes the ones who will reach the end and be redeemed as having insight (Dan. 12:3, 10).

What Daniel exactly means by this is not entirely clear, ironically. But the prophet clearly shows that

the redeemed will gain this insight through being purged, purified, and redeemed (Dan. 12:10). It

might not be the gospel presentation we are looking for, but it bears a striking resemblance to the

saints of Revelation who have washed their robes white (purified literally means “to make white”). At

the end of a message from the Bible about the end we are left with a final question:

5. Concluding Statement:

WHEN TIME RUNS OUT AND THERE IS NO MORE WILL YOU BE FULL OF INSIGHT, SHINING AS BRIGHT AS A STAR OR DO YOU FACE THE ETERNAL PUNISHMENT OF HEAVEN’S CONTEMPT?

6. Next Steps:

WRITE 1 REASON WHY YOU ARE LONGING FOR GOD TO RETURN EACH MORNING

PUT YOUR FAITH IN GOD WHO RAISES THE DEAD TO ETERNAL LIFE OR ETERNAL DEATH

WORKS CITED AND RESOURCES

Nelson, William. Daniel. Understanding the Bible Commentary Series. Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Books, 2013. Pierce, Ronald W., Mark L. Strauss, and John H. Walton. Daniel. Teach the Text Commentary. Grand Rapids, Michigan:

Baker Books, 2015.

Other Resources to Consult:

1. Danny Hay’s The Message of the Prophets

a. Dr. Hay’s gives a great introduction to the prophetic and apocalyptic aspects of the Prophets. It is

concise and useful for the busy pastor.

b. Great Historical and Literary Context Information

c. Bonus: Cool Archaeological Pics

2. Joyce Baldwin’s Daniel: An Introduction and Commentary

a. Baldwin, Joyce G. Daniel: An Introduction and Commentary. Vol. 23. Tyndale Old Testament

Commentaries. Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press, 1978.

b. Baldwin takes an amillennial view.

3. Stephen R. Miller’s Daniel in the NAC Series

a. Miller, Stephen R. Daniel. Vol. 18. The New American Commentary. Nashville: Broadman & Holman

Publishers, 1994.

b. Miller takes a premillennial view.