One of those wondrous things, those glorious things that we just sang about that our Lord wins and achieves for us is that resurrection that he was the first fruits of. And so tonight we look at Daniel. We're looking particularly at Daniel chapter 12 verses 1 through 4, but we'll back up just a little ways into chapter 11. Because we read in verse 1 of chapter 12 at that time. So let's look at a few verses here in Daniel 11 to see what that time is and how brutal it will be for God's people. So we'll take out, open our Bibles in Daniel chapter 11. We'll begin reading at verse 36. We'll be reading through Daniel 12 verse 4. Daniel 11, beginning at verse 36. Congregation, hear the word of the Lord. Then the king shall do according to his own will. He shall exalt and magnify himself above every god, shall speak blasphemies against the god of gods, and shall prosper till the wrath has been accomplished, for what has been determined shall be done. He shall regard neither the god of his fathers nor the desire of women, nor regard any god, for he shall exalt himself above them all. But in their place he shall honor a god of fortress, and a god which his fathers did not know he shall honor with gold and silver, with precious stones and pleasant things. Thus he shall act against the strongest fortress with a foreign god, which shall acknowledge and advance its glory, and shall cause them to rule over many and divide the land for gain. At the time of the end, the kings of the south shall attack him, and the king of the north shall come against him like a whirlwind with chariots, horsemen, and with many ships, and he shall pass and enter countries, overwhelm them, and pass through them. He shall enter the glorious land, and many countries shall be overthrown. But these shall escape from his hand, Edom, Moab, and the prominent people of Ammon. He shall stretch out his hand against the countries, and the land of Egypt shall not escape. He shall have power over the treasuries of gold and silver, and over all precious things of Egypt. Also the Libyans and Ethiopians shall follow at his heels. But news from the east and the north shall trouble him. Therefore, he shall go out with great fury to destroy and to annihilate many. And he shall plant the tents of his palace between the seas and the glorious holy mountain. Yet he shall come to his end, and no one will help him." And then this far is our text. At this time Michael shall stand up, the great prince who stands watch over the sons of your people. And there shall be a time of trouble such as never was since there was a nation, and even to that time. And at that time your people shall be delivered, everyone who is found written in the book. And many of those who sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, some to everlasting life, some to shame and everlasting contempt. Those who are wise shall shine like the brightness of the firmament, and those who turn many to righteousness like the stars forever and ever. But you, Daniel, shut up the words and seal the book until the time of the end. Many shall run to and fro, and knowledge shall increase. Thus far the reading of God's holy word. Well, the text this evening begins with the words in Daniel 12, verse 1, at that time. And so it's important for us to recognize what that time is. To understand that current and future context which God's people will find themselves in. For Israel, once again, as we saw this morning, a later exile this morning, but still, nonetheless, an earlier exile this evening. They are, indeed, far away from their homeland. The events of Esther that we looked at this morning took place about 400 B.C. during the Persian captivity. While these events here in Daniel, the visions that he received were received about 600 B.C. during the initial Babylonian captivity. And so we'll see from these words a time of great trouble and then many reasons for great hope. And as we saw this morning, Israel has been separated from the land, the place which symbolized fellowship with God. But the land has now been plundered and destroyed, and only the poorest of the poor remain. And what's even more worrisome for the people of God is what has been revealed in Daniel chapter 10 and 11, the climax of which we just read here in 11, great wars and rumors of wars. Huge conflicts will arise that will devastate the region, that will devastate the world, which will devastate God's people. This conflict will not end in a fulsome way any time soon. It will be a generational conflict. Kings from the North and South will wage war and engage in brutal conflict. But even as Daniel is terrified by these visions that he sees, he is graciously offered comfort in Daniel 10, verse 19. In his vision, he is told, O man greatly beloved, fear not. Peace be to you. Be strong. Yes, be strong. And Daniel says, So when he spoke to me, I was strengthened. And he said, Let my Lord speak, for you have strengthened me. So as Daniel sees who is in charge of these events, he knows that peace will come and he knows that he can have strength and comfort. Daniel, and by extension, God's people, are loved. Daniel and God's people are promised wholeness and peace, even though they are going to go through a time of great trial and trouble. That being said, it's also important for us to remember the reason why Israel experiences captivity and exile. Why there's conflict in the first place. Well, it's the result of the fall into sin that we saw in the garden. We are promised enmity between the serpent and the seed of the woman. But the law given to the people of God remains on them. And there are consequences for disobedience. And that's why they're experiencing this tribulation. But again, this tribulation is not without hope. God, through Moses, even promiseless as Israel, was wandering in the wilderness as he prepared to enter the promised land. Look with me at Deuteronomy chapter 4. In Deuteronomy chapter 4, verse 30, you read what the Lord said would happen to his people later on. When you are in distress, or trouble, or tribulation, and all these things come upon you, the punishment for their disobedience, in these latter days, when you turn to the Lord, your God, and obey His voice, you will be returned. The Spirit, as He inspires Moses to write Deuteronomy 4, verse 30, knows that Israel will enter distress. It's not a matter of of if it will happen, but when it will happen. There are promises, there's a promise here that even despite the fact that they will endure tribulation, that they will turn away from the Lord. The Lord says they will return to Him. It has been revealed to Daniel that there is spiritual warfare going on behind the scenes of the current warfare and their distress. And indeed in these future battles which are coming to pass. According to Daniel 12 verse 1, it's going to get far worse than it is even right now. And there will be a time of trouble such as never has been since there was a nation and since that time. Meaning since the beginning of Israel, their founding, until now, they have not seen the worst of it. Yes, times are difficult now. and they will be difficult, under a man named Antiochus Epiphanes, a brutal Greek ruler who fulfilled different pieces of Daniel's prophecy. His brutal conquest came as far south as Egypt, and this man treated Israel, God's people, and all their worship practices with disdain. He looted the temple, and he put an end to the daily sacrifices which Israel depended on. In fact, this man Antiochus Epiphanes placed an altar to either Baal or Zeus in the temple of the Lord. And this is what Daniel refers to as the abomination which causes desolation in Daniel 9 and Daniel 12. But even still there is a time of greater distress to come, greater than any tribulation since the formation of Israel. Daniel says in verse 1 of our text, "...and there shall be a time of trouble, such as never has been since there was a nation until that time." And our Lord refers to this in the Gospels. In his sermon about the trouble that will come at the end of the age, in Matthew 24, he says this, in Matthew 24, verses 21, "...there will be a great tribulation, such as not has been since the beginning of the world until this time, nor ever shall be." And he continues in verse 29 of Matthew 24. Immediately after the tribulation of those days, the sun will be darkened and the moon will not give its light. The stars will fall from heaven and the powers of heaven will be shaken. Our Lord paints another dark, dark picture, filling out what Daniel has said. But our Lord also, with Daniel, does not leave us without hope. He continues on in his sermon in Matthew 24, verses 30 and 31. Then the sign of the Son of Man will appear in heaven, and then all the tribes of the earth will mourn. They will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven with power and with great glory. And he will send his angels with great sound of trumpet, and they will gather together his elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other. Yes, indeed, kings from the north, the south, the east, and the west are going to wage war. They will fight. They will not care about the God of Israel. Yet God will call the elect in from the four corners of the world, from one end of heaven to the other. Those who have been called by God, those whose names have been written in the book of life, are promised deliverance. There is hope in what Daniel sees as a dramatic climax to these coming events. So there's also hope for escape from these. And this is what Daniel promises us again in verse 1. Everyone whose name is found in the book. Our Savior Jesus Christ comments on Daniel again in Matthew 24, and again in a broader fashion. He makes a connection between phrases such as the appointed time of the end and this abomination of desolation. The good news is that Christ comforts us with these words in John 16, verse 33. These things that I have spoken to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have trouble, as we have been promised. But be of good cheer, I have overcome the world." And so Daniel reminds us with Christ that each one whose name is found in the book of life will escape these tribulations. It's interesting that it's not simply Israel who will escape, but each one whose name is found written in the book. Believing Israel and believing Gentiles from every tribe, tongue, and nation will find their names written in the book of life. The gospel promise is revealed to be not only for the nation of Israel, but for those whose names are written in this book. Those who have been chosen in Christ unto salvation. Those in whom the Holy Spirit works. Faith. This further shows us that our rescue and salvation are God's work alone. The names written in this book are those whom God recognizes as His own. We can see the external heart only but the Lord sees into our hearts the ones at which the Spirit changes. The good news is that our names do not appear in the book of life on account of anything which we have done. Our names are written in the blood of the Lamb who was slain for us, none other than Jesus Christ, the one who was cut off and truly exiled, fully exiled, unlike Israel, the one who rose from the dead as the first fruits of the glorious resurrection, the one who reigns in the right hand of God, the one who is finishing off this battle which continues through this very day. And so we can hope also in this resurrection and in the judgment, what will this deliverance and this escape look like? Daniel attempts to fill in some of these holes for us in his vision. He ultimately points us to nothing less than the resurrection. In Daniel 12, verse 2, we read this, You see, victory and vindication do not mean that we will not suffer. In fact, most of us will die before the end of days. Our sign of victory, should the Lord not return in our lifetimes, will be the fact that death could not hold on to us. Our sign of victory, indeed, is the resurrection. God, through the resurrection of Christ, has the last word over death. And those who have been chosen in Christ will rise, and death will be fully and finally completely defeated in that last day. And so we see here a contrast between death and life for those who believe and those who have sought to fight the Lord. For those who have not believed, it will be days of gloom, shame, and suffering. But on that day, at the trumpet sound, our sinners' rags will be exchanged for the beautiful garments of sanctified saints. We will live forever covered in the righteousness of Christ. but those who do not believe will be raised to an ugliness which is even worse than before. Their resurrection will not be to glory. Rather, as Daniel says, it will be to everlasting shame and contempt. In congregation, this should break our hearts. Our desires need to be that all men would be saved. Our desires should be that the gospel would indeed go to the four corners of the world. This picture of the resurrection to a hellish existence in hell with Satan forever should drive us to our knees. We should say, but for the grace of God, go we, for that should have been our position. Jesus promises this in John 5. Do not marvel at this, for the hour is coming in which all who are in the graves will hear his voice and come forth, and those who have done good to the resurrection of life and those who have done evil to the resurrection of condemnation. And as Paul says as he defends himself before Felix, but this I confess to you, that according to the way which they call a sect, so I worship the God of my fathers, believing all things which are written in the law and the prophets. Paul's talking about the scriptures. I have hope in God, which they themselves also accept, that there will be a resurrection of the dead, both of the just and the unjust. The good news is straightforward. Because Jesus died, was buried, and raised from the dead, and that he did this for us, this life and its troubles are not the final chapter. They don't get the last word. Our trials do not overcome us. Christ will prevail. And we also know that we will hope and glory, as Daniel says, we will shine like stars. In spite of all that has happened, it will happen in these wars and in these rumors of wars and these great tribulations which will be greater than anything the world has ever seen. One thing is for sure, that those who are united to Christ, those who by grace have been saved, they will become wise. meaning that those who know Christ as their wisdom, according to Daniel 12, verse 3, those who are wise shall shine like the brightness of the firmament, like the brightness of the sky, and those who turn many away to righteousness, like the stars, forever and ever. We will share in the glory won for us by Christ. You see, the children whom Abraham was promised would be as numerous as the stars in the sky and the sand on the seashore. Those covenantal promised children, they will become even more glorious than the stars by which they were promised. And this will be done through the work of a sovereign and triune God. We read in verse 4, after hearing this outline of this glorious end of days, Daniel is given a command in verse 4. But you, Daniel, shut up the words and seal the book until the time of the end. Many shall run to and fro, and knowledge shall increase. This language of sealing makes an important connection between the structure of Daniel and John's book of Revelation. In Revelation 1 verse 1, John gives the reason that he wrote his writing. The revelation of Jesus Christ, he says in Revelation 1 verse 1, which God gave to him to show his servants things which must take place shortly. And he sent and signified it by his angel to his servant John. You see, the Word of God in Christ reveals things which have been hidden. In these last days, in Christ, God has spoken to us even more fully. One scholar says that John's writing of Revelation is modeled after Daniel's writing, perhaps even titling his book The Apocalypse, meaning a mystery which has been revealed. John is hearkening back to Daniel's method. He says to consider what Daniel says to King Nebuchadnezzar as he interprets the dream. He says, no wise men, enchanters, magicians, or astrologists can show the king the mysteries that the king has seen. But there is a God in heaven who reveals mysteries, and he has made known to the king Nebuchadnezzar what will be in the latter days. He who reveals mysteries may know unto you what it is to be. Daniel goes on to affirm that it's not his own wisdom that accomplishes this, but it's God's alone. God's plan has never changed. The fact that the message of scripture never changes from century to century, the mystery sealed and revealed can only be from God, the one who reveals himself and his plan more and more fully. Daniel saw a vision of resurrection of the dead, won for us by Christ. Christ came and defeated death on account of being chosen to Him by faith. It's a vision which we can take comfort in. It's a vision which motivates us to serve God and to serve our neighbors. It's a vision of a merciful and yet just God who demands that we turn to Him in repentance and faith and to become wise in hearing the gospel. And even though this seems like foolishness to the world, it is indeed the only way. What comfort and joy does this promised resurrection bring to you? How do you receive the good word of resurrection? The people of Israel at different times and places had different understandings of how to interpret Daniel, particularly this time of the end. The writings of the revolutionary groups found in the Dead Sea Scrolls indicate to us that they were looking for a triumph of a Davidic king, a king who would be like David and take the country back again. Others are hoping for temple purity. Others were just hoping for the Romans to be gotten rid of. But how about us as Christians? How should we understand this promise and apply it? What about the Church? Is this good news for the Church, too? The Church in various times and places around the world experiences not just rumors of war, but bloody and real conflict, beheadings and death. Some feel it by way of political oppression. Some are maimed and others are imprisoned. Others lose their families. In other places, the threat is less physically manifested, but the spiritual battle which rages on is as plain as the nose on our faces. We in the U.S. and Western society in general grow more and more fearful by the year. How many times do we not find ourselves saying to each other something like this, I really worry about the world my children and grandchildren will grow up in. Will they be marginalized or worse for their faith? And tonight Daniel 12 verses 1 through 4 of each speaks very plainly to such fears. In these last days and deeds there will be tribulation and trials. We ought not to be surprised by what we see. And as we saw in the garden, it was promised that there would be enmity between the seed of the woman and the seed of the serpent. Daniel saw the battle rage on in his day and into the future. And we are seeing it play out before our very eyes. We struggle against the effects of sin in our own flesh every day. This is not just an out-there battle, it's an in-here battle. It's very personal. We hate our sin more and more. We cooperate with the Holy Spirit as He continually conforms us to the image of Christ. We were the ones who should have been cut off and exiled and handed over to the enemy. But Christ was cut off for us. And His grace and kindness, God has given us this great victory through faith. And for those who believe in the person and work of Christ, we are not alone in this battle. In fact, we will never be won by anything that we can do. Our names are written in the book of life. And even though we die, we cannot cause ourselves to be resurrected. Consider Jesus' exchange with Martha at the death of her brother Lazarus. Jesus said to her, your brother will rise again. Martha said to him, I know he will rise again in the resurrection on the last day. Jesus said to her, I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in me, though he die, he shall live. And whoever lives and believes in me shall never die. Do you believe this? She said to him, yes, Lord, I believe that you are the Christ, the Son of God, who has come into the world. And when she had said these things, she went on her way and secretly called Mary, her sister, saying, the teacher has come and is calling for you. In Christ we have the full understanding of what Daniel was shown in his vision. We have in the foundation, we have this resurrection in the foundation and in its first fruits. It's by his blood our names are written in the book of life. The Father has chosen a people for himself. The Son has laid down his life for the sheep. And the Spirit creates faith in our hearts to cling to these glorious promises. The cries of God's people for mercy never ever go unheard. Even the martyrs cry out in heaven, O sovereign Lord, holy and true, how long before you will judge and avenge our blood on those who dwell on the earth? And as we endure waves of tribulation, not just war, but the effects of the curse, tragic car accidents, devastating diagnoses, cancer, mind-altering ailments, addictions, the breakdown of the family, divorce, betrayal. We know that all these things sting. But we give praise to God and Christ that these never have the last word. Those who have been united to Christ will be delivered. Those who sleep in the dust of the earth will be raised to everlasting life. Death cannot keep us in this grasp. Our Savior knows our weakness. He took on our flesh. He is Emmanuel, God with us. But He is more than one who simply understands and identifies with our weakness. Indeed, He has fully and finally overcome our weakness. In Him we find fullness, shalom, and peace. These are good things for us to hope in, congregation. These are good things for you and I to put our trust and our faith in, in the God who accomplishes all of this. Our hope is in the One who has made us wise to everlasting life, and who will make us shine brighter in glory than the stars in the sky. Amen. Let's pray. Father, indeed You are a loving and gracious God. You've treated us far better than our sins deserve for the sake of your Son, Jesus Christ. And so though we may die, Father, we know that we will live. So we look forward to that day when Christ shall return, and every tear will be wiped from our eyes, and everything will be made right and whole once again. We ask this in Christ's name. Amen.