Most people don’t realize that once they retire, the company they worked for seldom if ever remembers them. This sad reality is that in the market place you are just a number. Irrespective of your position … from the tea lady and gardener right up to the CEO. The moment you hand in your keys and walk out you are forgotten. It’s like you were paid to do a job, that’s done, you have retired … and that’s that. There are some exceptions, but largely you are forgotten. Once Daniel’s work for God was done, the Divine Messenger says to him … “Go your way, Daniel”. Unless you understand the context of that statement you will think Daniel was just another number!
1) The Divine messenger’s answer to the one angel’s question, which comes as an oath (God is taking an oath in His own name), is:
Da 12:7 saying, “It will be for a time, times and half a time.”
As in the rest of the prophecy, this period does not fit in with Antiochus. Here it is written in Hebrew, but it is the exact equivalent to the Aramaic used in Chapter 7:25 … hence the meaning is the same as there. The period is a set time. Note … only … When the power of the holy people has been finally broken, all these things will be completed. The antichrist will virtually destroy the people of God … but when he gets to this point he destroys himself. At the center of God’s peoples’ greatest need, God comes to the rescue of His elect. The word “broken” in this context means shattered … broken into pieces. Psalm 2 in a Messianic Psalm … we read:
Ps 2:9 You will rule them with an iron scepter; you will dash them to pieces like pottery.
That’s the concept. As soon as this happens, these astonishing things will happened. Remember, it is not the nation of Israel who are God’s holy people but the elect of God, the Kingdom people belonging to Jesus. Once all these things are completed, they will be renewed in holiness … because their Lord has come to judge them guiltless because they are blood covered and then take them into the glory of His Holiness on High. This beloved is what every believer needs to be eyeing … to be like Jesus in real, eternal holiness. Are you looking forward to this?
2) Daniel asks the Divine Messenger a question.
Da 12:8” I heard, but I did not understand. So I asked, “My lord, what will the outcome of all this be?”
The angel’s question was answered and Daniel heard that answer but he did not understand so he queries the Divine Messenger as to the question regarding “outcome of all” these things. Note the word all. He is not referring to the answer the angel received … he is talking about the whole prophecy he received. He wants to know how the revelation will turn out. He wants to know what the end will be like. He is referring to the closing stages of the prophetic word. It’s almost like the multitudes today who want to know the exact details of the Book of Revelation as it arrives at its climax. Many books have been written on the topic … yet the last three chapters give a clear indication. Where Daniel did not receive an answer, we have it!
3) The Divine messenger gives Daniel his marching orders.
Da 12:9 He replied, “Go your way, Daniel, because the words are closed up and sealed until the time of the end.”
Remember my opening remarks? Daniel is not like a retired person who was just a number fulfilling a task to make money for the company. Daniel’s work is appreciated and the very fact we have a Book in his name tells us he did not retired and was forgotten. He does not receive an answer to his question! There are times that we don’t receive answers to the questions we ask of God. Why? Because God has stated very clearly that:
Dt 29:29 The secret things belong to the LORD our God, but the things revealed belong to us and to our children forever, that we may follow all the words of this law.
The no answer normally is that what you ask of God is secret to God. But everything for life and salvation has been giving to us within God’s revealed Word. We have the Bible and everything we need to know to satisfy our curious minds and may be found on the pages of the Holy Bible.
2Pe 1:3 His divine power has given us everything we need for life and godliness through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness. 4 Through these he has given us his very great and precious promises, so that through them you may participate in the divine nature and escape the corruption in the world caused by evil desires.
Also remember that God works according to His timetable. Look at this passage:
Tit 1:1 Paul, a servant of God and an apostle of Jesus Christ for the faith of God’s elect and the knowledge of the truth that leads to godliness— 2 a faith and knowledge resting on the hope of eternal life, which God, who does not lie, promised before the beginning of time, 3 and at his appointed season he brought his word to light through the preaching entrusted to me by the command of God our Savior.
Talking about salvation for the elect … consider these words … promised before the beginning of time, and at his appointed season. Promised before creation yet fulfilled at His appointed season. Daniel did not need to know more than he was told … and the same is true for you and me today. We have the completed Bible. We have more than Daniel. Actually … we have all the answers we need!
(1) Prophecies. The Old Testament section of the Bible is filled with prophecies. But note that as the Bible is all about God’s Rescue Plan in Jesus, so all prophecies pointed to Jesus. All of them have been fulfilled in Jesus except those that relate to His Second Coming, the Judgment and the end of the world as we know it. If all these prophecies about Jesus have been fulfilled, then we may trust and believe that those associated with His Second Coming will be fulfilled as well. Have you been and are you preparing for that great and dreadful day … the Day of the Lord?
(2) Retirement. Retirement from active services does not mean retirement from the Lord’s Business. I do not believe for one moment that Daniel returned to Jerusalem and sat back drinking ice tea, watching the sun go down. In the same way Christians might retire from full time service or from an active lay ministry … but that is not the end of serving God. We only stop when we die. Then we are ushered to higher service!
(3) Apocalyptic Language. Never be afraid of apocalyptic language such as in verse 7, 11 and 12. As we have seen going through Daniel, there are logical explanations for such language.
Our Father in the Realms of Glory and bliss, how we love You and thank You for giving us the Bible to nourish our hungry souls in preparation for glory. Amen.