Crumbs77

 

This contains some thoughts on Daniel 12!

Crumbs from the Master ‘s Table 77

The End

Scripture Daniel 12: 5-135 Then I, Daniel, looked, and there before me stood two others, one on this bank of the river and one on the opposite bank. 6 One of them said to the man clothed in linen, who was above the waters of the river, “How long will it be before these astonishing things are fulfilled?” 7 The man clothed in linen, who was above the waters of the river, lifted his right hand and his left hand toward heaven, and I heard him swear by him who lives forever, saying, “It will be for a time, times and half a time.[b] When the power of the holy people has been finally broken, all these things will be completed.” 8 I heard, but I did not understand. So I asked, “My lord, what will the outcome of all this be?” 9 He replied, “Go your way, Daniel, because the words are rolled up and sealed until the time of the end. 10 Many will be purified, made spotless and refined, but the wicked will continue to be wicked. None of the wicked will understand, but those who are wise will understand. 11 “From the time that the daily sacrifice is abolished and the abomination that causes desolation is set up, there will be 1,290 days. 12 Blessed is the one who waits for and reaches the end of the 1,335 days. 13 “As for you, go your way till the end. You will rest, and then at the end of the days you will rise to receive your allotted inheritance.”

Crumbs As I come to the end of this astonishing book some lessons remain to me.

1. Behind and above all this world’s doings is God. The deliverance experience of the exiles and the message of the visions are united by this great theme. In the details of mens lives and the movements of empires God is there. God rules

2. The gravity, complexity and, importance of prayer. Daniel prays and angels are involved, revelations are made. He is heard and responded to.

3. A programme of future events is difficult to deduce from Scripture. At least twice mention is made of sealing visions of the remote future. When prophesy is used to create a detailed time line some leader or group often an off centre sect is created. Curiosity about the future should not get in the way of our desire to know the Saviour deeper

4. Not all questions are answered. Expectations were misguidedly raised by folk in the past finding an explanation of every scripture and a resolution of every philosophic issue. It is not possible. The life of faith is living with unanswered questions. It is possible to meet a log jam in one’s thinking and development by insisting that every query be answered. Sometimes we must needs plough on. (verse 13)

Questions1. What have you learnt about prayer from Daniel? 2. How stiudying Daniel affect our attitude to the “News” ?

3. Why was the vision sealed ?

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