12/19/06 - Saints Triumphant - Daniel 12:1-3

A VISION OF VICTORY
- We will be delivered in this life
- We will shine like stars in the next

Daniel was in Babylon. The Israelites had been exiled and Jerusalem destroyed. And on the 24th day of the first month in third year of Cyrus king of Persia, Daniel, a faithful believer of the Lord, was standing on the bank of the Tigris River. And while he was there gazing over that famous body of water, in the middle of that foreign country, Daniel was given a vision. Daniel himself writes, “I looked up and there before me was a man dressed in linen, with a belt of the finest gold around his waist. His body was like chrysolite, his face like lightning, his eyes like flaming torches, his arms and legs like the gleam of burnished bronze, and his voice like the sound of a multitude.”
That’s a strange description of the man Daniel saw. But it’s not the only time we see this man in Scripture. In the book of Revelation the apostle John saw a man described in the very same way. And because of what John writes in Revelation we know that this man whom both John and Daniel saw was none other than Christ himself. The Lord had appeared to Daniel and Daniel knew it. His strength left him, he turned deathly pale and he fell to the ground. Then Daniel says, “A hand touched me and set me trembling on my hands and knees. He said, ‘Daniel, you who are highly esteemed, consider carefully the words I am about to speak to you… I have come to explain to you what will happen to your people in the future, for the vision concerns a time yet to come.’”
And then the Lord proceeds to do just that! He told Daniel the future! For a chapter and a half he revealed to Daniel all the kings that would come, how they would fall, what they would do, and what would happen to the land of Israel. And if that wasn’t enough, after the Lord got done telling Daniel about all those things that would happen in this world, he explained to him what would happen at the very end. He gave Daniel a once-in-a-lifetime vision of the end of the ages. He gave him a vision of victory. And that vision of victory is where our text begins.
What an introduction! If that doesn’t peak your interest in the word of God before us today, I don’t know what would! Because our text is a vision of the future! It tells us what will happen at the end of this world! It gives us the comfort and reassurance that we will be delivered in this life, and will shine like stars in the next.
If you’ve read through the second half of the book of Daniel lately, you’ll know that the future revealed to us by the Lord doesn’t look all that promising. There are a lot of things that will not be advantageous for Christians. Especially close to Judgment Day. And that’s just what our text says, “There will be a time of distress such as has not happened from the beginning of nations until then.” These last days are not going to be pleasant. People will persecute you for your faith. They will make fun of you for falling for the “lie of religion.” They will look at you with disgust and disdain if you tell them homosexuality is a sin. They will roll their eyes and shake their heads if you speak against sex before marriage. Things will not be easy for Christians during the end times - and, in fact, these things are happening right now, aren’t they? Across the world Christians are being thrown in jail because of their faith. They have to meet in secret for the safety. Christianity in this country is being suppressed in public venues. We are no longer able to speak the name of Jesus to certain people in certain places. The truth of Christ is being replaced by the truth of each individual. These things are happening and will continue to happen as the end comes closer. There is no way around it.
The Lord knows this. The Lord realizes that it won’t be easy for us on this earth as we battle against Satan and all his demons. And so through the vision of victory he gave to Daniel, he promises to send us protection. “At that time Michael, the great prince who protects your people, will arise.” God promises to send us Michael. But who is Michael and how is he going to protect us? Well, first of all, Michael is not Jesus as some religions may claim. Michael is not another name for Jesus simply because of the fact that Jesus is the one talking to Daniel in this vision. Jesus is speaking about Michael, so they have to be different individuals. So who is Michael? Well, to tell you the truth, not a whole lot is said about him in Scripture. He is only mentioned three times here in the book of Daniel, once in Jude, and once in Revelation. We do know that Michael is an archangel. But it’s not exactly clear what archangels do. And in our text for today he is referred to as the “great prince.” But what is a great prince? The word prince can mean anything from leader to official to master to commander. So Michael’s role is not necessarily spelled out for us in the area of our deliverance here on earth. When it comes down to it: Michael seems to be the leader of the angels who protect the believers here on earth. That is basically who Michael is. And when all these terrible things are happening to us as Christians in the end times, the Lord will send Michael with all the angel armies to protect us - and, in fact, the Lord probably already has sent this heavenly army general to deliver us from the times of distress.
That is our comfort. That is why the Lord showed Daniel this vision of victory in the first place. Because he wanted to reassure Christians of any era that he will take care of them in times of trouble. Because the fact of the matter is: you will run into problems. You will be in some difficult situations as Christians. But don’t be discouraged. Don’t feel overwhelmed by the ridicule or the mockery you may endure because of your faith. The Lord is aware of what happens to you. He will provide you with protection from above. You will be delivered in this life.
And you will shine like stars in the next. That’s the second part of our text and the second part of this sermon. You will not only be delivered in this life, but you will shine like stars in the next. The Lord tells Daniel, “Those who are wise will shine like the brightness of the heavens, and those who lead many to righteousness, like the stars forever and ever.” Aren’t those beautiful words? Aren’t those comforting words to hear? “Those who are wise will shine like the brightness of the heavens.” And “wise” here doesn’t mean people who are intellectually smart. “Wise” means people who believe in Christ as their Savior. The rest of Scripture makes that clear. Psalms says “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom.” So truly wise people are those who trust fully in Christ.
You are wise. You have been given the gift of faith to believe in Christ as your Savior from sin. And so the Lord considers you as some of the wisest people on the face of this earth. Does that surprise you? Did you consider yourself a wise person before this? And the funny thing is: you didn’t do anything for it! God gave you faith as a gift, and now he considers you a wise person because of that gift! All the credit has to go to the Lord - and what a great Lord we have! That he would give the gift of faith to unworthy worms like us… that love is incomparable.
As I was initially reading through this portion of Scripture at the beginning of this week, I was, of course, comforted by this vision of victory, but I also hesitated for a moment at the last phrase of the text: “those who lead many to righteousness, like the stars forever and ever.” The Lord describes those who are wise with faith as people who lead many to righteousness. He doesn’t give a command here. He doesn’t encourage us to lead many to righteousness. He simply says that one of the characteristics of a Christian is leading people to the truth. And I thought to myself, “Does that characteristic describe me?” Since I am a Christian, would I be described as someone who leads people to the truth? Not as often as I should. Not as effectively as I could. Not in a way that I could be proud of. I’ve really butchered that characteristic of a Christian. My actions have not always pointed others to God’s glory. My words have definitely not always focused others on Christ. My motivation in life is rarely aimed at leading people to righteousness in any and every way I possibly can. I have fallen miserably short of that Christian characteristic.
Ask yourself that question. Would you be characterized as someone who is constantly leading people to righteousness? Do your actions and your words and your motivation always point others to Christ? It’s an awful thing when we as Christians cannot act like Christians - especially to those people who are still lost. May the Lord forgive us for not leading people to righteousness, but for throwing obstacles in their way instead.
My Christian friends, I want to reassure you of the fact that although we do always act like Christians, that does not nullify our salvation. Look back at the first verse of our text: “Everyone whose name is found written in the book will be delivered.” Your name is written in the heavenly book of life. Not because of what you’ve done. Not because you’ve successfully led many people to righteousness. Your name is written in The Book because Christ wanted it to be. Spelled out in his own blood that dripped from the cross. Earned by his perfect sweat and effort on this earth. Sealed by the Holy Spirit whom was given you to create faith in your heart. Your name is in the book of life because of Christ. And it will never be erased.
So despite of your sins, you will shine like starts forever. And what does that mean exactly? Well, just like stars shine in a sea of darkness, so will you on Judgment Day. The Lord will single you out as a Christian, as a blood-bought adopted child of God. Out of all the unbelievers in this world, the Lord will see you, because he sees your Savior in your place. On Judgment Day, you will shine like God’s child that you are, and you will be loved as God’s child through eternity. That’s the picture the Lord is painting for us here: a beautiful vision of what is to come.
As we read through some of these visions and prophecies in Scripture, often times some of the pictures can get a little confusing. But not here. In these three simple verses near the end of the book of Daniel, the Lord gives us a clear picture of what will happen at the end. He gives us a vision that we will be delivered in this life. He gives us a vision that we will shine like stars in the next. He gives us a vision of victory. That is what God has promised. And so, my fellow brothers and sisters whose names are written in the book of life, because God promised, that is the way it always be.
Amen.

“The God of all grace, who called you to his eternal glory in Christ… to him be the power forever and ever. Amen.” - 1 Peter 5:10a,11