Reading: Daniel 10-12
And I heard, but I understood not: then said I, O my Lord, what shall be the end of these things? And he said, Go thy way, Daniel: for the words are closed up and sealed till the time of the end. Many shall be purified, and made white, and tried; but the wicked shall do wickedly: and none of the wicked shall understand; but the wise shall understand(Dan. 12:8-10).
The closing chapters of Daniel are often compared to the Book of Revelation. Similar to a study of Revelation, when we read these three chapters, we are often left with more questions than answers. Even Daniel, God’s beloved scholar (Dan. 9:23), was baffled by the Lord's vision. After receiving it, he inquired: And I heard, but I understood not: then said I, O my Lord, what shall be the end of these things? If Daniel was left confused, what hope do we have for understanding? And he said, Go thy way, Daniel: for the words are closed up and sealed till the time of the end. The purpose of the vision given to Daniel, and by extension, to all of us reading today, was not to allow the hearer to discern the entirety of God’s plan in detail. Instead, it was given so that we might grasp, in part, the overwhelming power of the God we serve.
Daniel was a man of prayer, and through his rich prayer life, he remained continually in the presence of God. Daniel understood that his words (prayer) held no actual power and that the power resided with God alone, but he revealed his 100% dependence on the Lord through his words. By opening himself completely to the Lord, with no thought to his own physical well-being (10:16), Daniel was filled with heavenly strength (10:19). As Daniel prayed for his people on the worldly plane, God granted him the privilege of glimpsing the heavenly one. It is here that we find the essential lesson of the book of Daniel—we are never alone. The spiritual world surrounds us at all times, and conflicts are being waged in ways beyond our comprehension. Evil exists (Dan. 10:20), but God and His forces are stronger (I John 4:4). The Lord came to Daniel to encourage the continuation and expansion of his prayers. Daniel’s willingness to be filled with the spirit of the Lord allowed him to aid in the battle that his eyes could not see. For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places (Eph. 6:12).
In his final vision, God gave Daniel knowledge of the end times. As we read the words today, the chaos and confusion of those days seem to leap off the page at us. The horrors of war and the depravity of wickedness paint a bleak picture of despair. Yet in the midst of the madness, we see the hand of God. Many shall be purified, and made white, and tried; the wise shall understand. This is His promise to Daniel and to all who are joined in the family of God. For those who belong to and follow Jesus Christ, the confusion will simply be background noise. Our way will be clear; in that time, we shall understand. It is not just to Daniel, but to every faithful believer that God says:
But go thou thy way till the end be: for thou shalt rest, and stand in thy lot at the end of the days (Dan. 12:13).
Thought for Today: Only God’s light can illuminate the path before us; those that close their hearts to it will only perceive a dark and winding labyrinth.
Christ Revealed: As Him that liveth for ever (Dan. 12:7). As One of the Three expressed Persons of the Trinity, Jesus Christ always has been and always will be. Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily (Truly, truly), I say unto you, Before Abraham was, I am (John 8:58). I am Alpha and Omega, the Beginning and the Ending, saith the Lord (Jesus Christ), which is, and which was, and which is to come, the Almighty (Rev. 1:8, also 4:8).
Word Studies: 10:15 dumb = speechless; 11:11 choler = furious rage; 11:15 fenced cities = strongholds; 11:24 fattest = richest; forecast his devices = prepare his plans; 12:7 a time, times, and an half = 3-1/2 years.
Pray forprayer lines in memory of Edith Cain and Selma Tyler• Government Officials: Sen. Tommy Tuberville (AL) • Country: Cabo Verde (538,535) Western Africa • Major Languages: Portuguese, Crioulo • Religious Freedom • 77.3% Roman Catholic; 3.7% Protestant; 4.3% Other Christian; 1.8% Muslim; 1.4% Other; 10.8% None; 0.7% Unspecified • Prayer Suggestion: Ask God for daily direction (Ps. 48:14).