How’s This Thing End?

Daniel 11-12; Psalm 125; Proverbs 29:9-11

The Bible isn’t always the most encouraging book in the world. Turmoil, wars, destruction and devastation are part and parcel of many Scriptural prophecies. No one could take those prophecies seriously and not come away somewhat…ok, quite disturbed.

Daniel didn’t. The last two chapters of the book of Daniel are filled with visions he had—visions foretelling the terribly depressing world history-to-be. At the end of them, he asked the question we all would ask: “My lord, what will the outcome of all this be” (Daniel 12:8)? In other words, How’s this thing end?

You want to know the answer he received? It ends with a resurrection!

He replied, "Go your way, Daniel, because the words are closed up and sealed until the time of the end. 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. From the time that the daily sacrifice is abolished and the abomination that causes desolation is set up, there will be 1,290 days. Blessed is the one who waits for and reaches the end of the 1,335 days. 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." – Daniel 12:9-13

Many will be purified. The wicked will be wicked. You will “rest.” And at the end of the days you will rise.

These things are happening right now! Except for the rising part—we’re waiting for the resurrection, too. But since Jesus came, men and women around the world are being purified from their sins. Wicked people still exist. Believers still “rest”—they pass away. But like Daniel, they rest in the confidence that a day of resurrection is coming.

In the meantime, what are we to do? The same thing Daniel was told to do: “Go your way till the end.”

The end is coming, and when it does, Christ’s people will rise to live forever. We should live like it, because we know how this thing ends.

Has knowing that Jesus is coming again ever helped you get through a situation that you could share about here?