Allegiance to the King-Living with the End in Mind

Dr. Kenneth Bruce: Daniel 12:5-13

Daniel was written as a combination of historical narrative of what happened to the people of God in Babylonian exile AND it was written as apocalyptic literature describing what is coming in the near and distant future, revealing the rise and fall of kingdoms, the arrival of God’s Kingdom in Christ, the arrival of the Antichrist at the end of the age – and the final salvation of God’s people.

Daniel has already seen in the vision of coming generations who will be caught between the kings of the north and the kings of the south (chapter 11) – culminating in the rise of an evil king (Antiochus Epiphanes) who will slaughter many Jews, set up the temple with an abomination of desolation – and foreshadow the coming Antichrist.

The short-term future that Daniel sees coming, is pointing forward to an even greater reality of what will come at the end of the age. He sees a coming time of distress for God’s people (12:1) like nothing that has ever happened in the history of the world.

As the tribulation increases in intensity as we draw nearer to the end, notice from the text 2 foundational truths – and how we are to respond:

Truth 1 – God’s people will suffer – for a (Daniel 12:7,11,12)

Truth 2 – God’s people will suffer – for a (Daniel 12: 8)

4 Takeaways from the book of Daniel:

1.) faithful. – (Daniel 12:13) “Go on your way to the end.”

2.) in peace. – (Daniel 12:13) “you will rest”

3.) in triumph. – (Daniel 12:13) “you will rise”

4.) your reward. – (Daniel 12: 13) “receive your allotted inheritance at the end of the days.”

Daniel’s final comfort—rest, resurrection, inheritance—is fully realized in Jesus, the Son of Man who brings God’s kingdom at the end of the age.