Daniel Unlocked #85. Jesus Quoted Repeatedly from Daniel when Talking about the End of the World.
As I have been preparing these devotionals on Daniel, I have become increasing impressed with how Jesus quoted from this ancient manuscript. He even took his own prefigured title “The Son of Man” from Daniel 7. When Jesus quoted Daniel 12:1 in His end of the world sermon in Matthew 24:21 and said there would be a time of trouble such as this world has never seen, I fell into a contemplative frame of mind. Will this time of trouble be greater than what is happening now to the people of Gaza, or Ukraine? Will it be greater than the persecution of Christians during the Middle Ages when they refused to bow to the little horn power and died for believing things that I now take for granted? Will it be greater than the inquisition that Catholicism poured out upon Europe? Will it be greater than what we saw during the Second World War or the extermination of Jews in the death camps? Will it be greater than the starvation in African nations? Will the no buying and selling decree of Revelation 13 mean they will take my house because I can’t pay the mortgage or buy food without capitulating to the beast power? From where will the strength come from to endure this unprecedented time of trouble. Jesus said that he that endures to the end will be saved (Matthew 24:13)? The angel said to John that those who have passed through the great tribulation (Rev.7:14) will hunger no more, be thirsty no more, and no longer be scorched by the sun (7:16). They will be guided to the springs of living water, and He will wipe away every tear from their eyes (7:17.)
But I have never known hunger or thirst. I have never endured deprivation or persecution, and I suspect, neither have you.
I am not questioning my faith, just my untested resolve to suffer or die for it. The passages quoted from Revelation 7 also talk about how God’s people are sealed (7:1-4). Whenever the word sealed is used in the New Testament it is in association with the Holy Spirit (see e.g. Ephesians 1:13 and 4:30). Saying we are sealed by the Holy Spirit to endure this time is not a cop out, but hope! How else could Medieval Christians die at the stake singing hymns amidst their pain and proclaiming their faith.
Am I so committed to Christ and His truth that I would rather die than capitulate to satanic powers in the end time? Can I endure the barrage of signs wonders and miracles that satanic forces will flood the church and world with to sweep away the faith of God’s people? (See 2 Thessalonians 2:9-11; Revelation 13:13-15 etc). Revelation, which we will study next, says there will be lying spirits performing miracles to deceive those who dwell on the earth (Revelation 16:13 – 14). When the whole world is bowing down to the image set up by the beast, will I be able to stand as did Shadrack, Meshach and Abednego on the plain of Dura, when all others fell? Will I be ready to be cast into the fiery furnace? (Daniel 3).
Only if I am sealed with Holy Spirit will I find strength to endure this time. Being sealed is a daily experience that begins now. Trials do not produce character, they reveal it.