Daniel #12: an exposition of Daniel 11:2-45. This message by Pastor Rod Harris was delivered at Trinity Baptist Church on Sunday morning, April 14, 2013.
Intro:
Speculation is rampant. Prophecy teachers are giddy with excitement. It seems daily there are signs that the end is near. “Pastor do you think we are in the last days?” Absolutely. We have been ever sense Jesus ascended into glory! If you mean will Jesus return in our lifetime, my answer is I don’t know but I certainly hope so. As I survey the landscape I think we are in for some troubled, turbulent times. Unlike my Dispensational friends, I think we’ll go through the great tribulation. I find no assurance that we get to escape the “really bad stuff.” Christian martyrs through the centuries would probably agree with me. By the way I checked the Rapture Index this week and it is holding steady at 186 just 2 points off its record high. Well what are we to do? How are we to live? The psalmist asked, “If the foundations are destroyed, what can the righteous do?” What are we, the righteous, the people of God, to do when all hell breaks loose? When society crumbles. When wickedness and ungodliness are enthroned? The next line in the Psalm says, “The LORD is in his holy temple; the LORD’S throne is in heaven” (Psalm 11:3-4). In other words what are the righteous to do? Live righteously. Nothing has changed. God is still in his place and he is still in charge. Daniel 11:32 says of a day when wickedness prevails, “…the people who know their God shall stand firm and take action.” I understand there is a degree of fear and some dread about what lies ahead. I do believe there is coming one empowered of Satan who will wreak havoc on the earth. I believe in a real, literal antichrist. But we are not to loose hope. We are not to faint with fear for our God reigns. Daniel, 6 centuries before Christ, was given a series of visions. Each reminding him and us that God is sovereign over all things. He rules over men and nations. Our text this morning is found in the 11th chapter of Daniel.
Text: Daniel 11:2-45
- Daniel 10-12 is a unit.
- This is a single vision with a prologue (10) and a postscript (12).
- It is in keeping with previous visions.
- God is controlling history – it is His story.
- While it appears, at times, things are out of control – God’s firm hand is guiding this ship.
- Chapter 10 reminds us of the importance of a biblical perspective or worldview.
- Now we come to focus on the vision of chapter 11.
Let me begin by saying, “Chapter 11 is a difficult text.”
By difficult I mean it covers a lot of ground.
It is a prophecy of future events (from Daniel’s perspective) and covers a time period of 530 bc to the end of the world at the return of Christ! One scholar said, “I don’t know how you preach a sermon or sermons on this text.” I understand that perspective. It is hard to deal with this passage without giving a history lesson. A lesson that you would not find particularly interesting unless you are a history buff excited about the ancient Near East.
The chapter is not particularly controversial in that most all scholars (conservatives anyway) are in agreement about the subject and interpretation of the text.
The controversy comes from those who believe the prophecies are too accurate to have been written by Daniel. They say this is, “prophecy after the fact” and written not by Daniel in the 6th century b.c. but in the 2nd century as a tract for troublesome times. Encouraging the faithful to trust God and bear up under the attacks of Antiochus Epiphanes.
There are 45 verses in this chapter and a lot of history to cover so I hope to wrap this up in time for the evening service.
There is one great truth ringing loud and clear from this vision…
Thesis: The vision from Daniel 11 vividly reminds us that our God is sovereign over men and nations.
When it comes to biblical prophecy I don’t think there is anything more important or more helpful than to grasp this truth and order our lives accordingly.
I understand the command of Scripture to be aware of the times. I know we are to watch and pray. It is good and right to study Bible prophecy and seek to understand world events in light of the teaching of God’s Word. But as to predicting when and how and who? It’s not our job. Rather we are to know the truth so that when things begin to fall in place we know this is it and we look up for our redemption draws nigh.
As we work through this chapter I want to note the astonishingly accurate prophecies of future events; the reassuring presence of God’s sovereign hand and then consider some timeless truths that must inform our our daily lives.
- The Astonishingly accurate and detailed prophecies of world events. (11:2-45)
- You must not miss the reassuring presence of God’s sovereign hand through all of this.
- Some timeless truths to guide our days.
- The kingdoms of this world are inherently unstable.
- Worldly kingdoms devise their schemes and make their plans but they cannot override the will of God.
- God is working out His purpose for His people in all the circumstances of their lives.