“Whatever’s happened to you”? (Daniel 4)

When we meet up with an old friend who has changed since our last meeting – maybe they have lost weight, or adopted a new dress style – we may well ask them “whatever’s happened to you?” Hopefully that is what we were asked shortly after we became a Christian. People who meet us again shortly after we become a new creature in Christ should be asking, or at least thinking, ”Whatever’s happened to you?”
The main human character in today’s passage is Nebuchadnezzar, the King of the Babylonian empire. The King was the Hitler or Stalin of his day. True, he could be magnanimous towards his conquered foes, but only because it was good politics. He was ruthless, egocentric and cruel. Yet here we have him saying:
“How great are his signs,
how mighty his wonders!
His kingdom is an eternal kingdom;
his dominion endures from generation to generation.”
And
“Now I, Nebuchadnezzar, praise and exalt and glorify the King of heaven, because everything he does is right and all his ways are just.”
Extraordinary! What on earth has happened?
The fact is that Nebuchadnezzar has had dealings with God. This should cause us great encouragement. There is no one, absolutely no one, who is beyond that reach of God. God can reach those who we think are unreachable. You may well say that the King doesn’t deserve to be saved. That is quite true – but neither do any of us!

Three Strikes and you’re out!

In baseball terminology the term “three strikes and you’re out” means that you get three chances to get it right. This is certainly true of the King here. In Daniel 2, he had the supernatural revelation of his dream by a young Daniel. Although the King responds by honouring Dnaiel and promoting him, and he acknowledges the existence of the God of Daniel, he does not bow the knee to him he remain proud and defiant. Strike One!
In Daniel three the amazing story of the three young men who defied the Kings command and were rather be thrown into the furnace rather than worship any God other than the God of Yahweh, touches Nebuchadnezzar – but not to the extent that he is prepared to worship him. Strike Two!
It is extraordinary the extent to which God is prepared to go to get his man. You might expect that having heard twice from God in the most remarkable and unmistakeable way, Nebuchadnezzar had had all the chances he was going to get. But God’s patience, it would seem, is far beyond that which any of us would expect. Nebuchadnezzar is about to get a third chance.

Last Chance Saloon

We read that Nubuchadnezzar was “contented and prosperous”. We can often imagine that those who are rejecting God must be miserable and unhappy. In fact the opposite may be true. Often the one who is standing defiantly against God is, as the King here, “contented and prosperous”. The enemy leaves them alone – they are no threat to him. But God is about to get to work. The dream the king has is terrifying and the king can have no rest until it is explained to him. In the middle of contentment, God speaks.
And we see the combination of the supernatural voice of God with the voice of his spokesman. Daniel, with compassion and courage, yet again is willing to put himself at great risk for the king to hear the word of God. It is worth pausing to consider this: Daniel had seen his nation destroyed by this man, yet he was ready to challenge the king to repent. So the king has yet another chance to repent and get his life in order. Will he take it?
Nebuchadnezzar has no less than one year to respond to the word of the Lord. It is reminiscent of the two years that David had to respond to the promptings of the Holy Spirit after his adultery with Bathsheba and murder of Uriah. Yet at the end of the year he remains unchanged, as he surveys the hanging gardens of Babylon and says: “Is not this the great Babylon I have built as the royal residence, by my mighty power and for the glory of my majesty?”
And God, effectively, says: “Strike three!”

God’s Merciful Judgement

God’s action in Nebuchadnezzar’s life follows immediately upon the heels of the King’s arrogant claims The contents of his dream are carried out to the letter. One can not accuse God of not warning him!
1. Motivated by Compassion
We must remember that all God’s dealings are motivated by compassion. God wishes to save this man and has given him oppornuity and opportunity to respond. When he has not done God moves from speaking to doing.
2. Decisive
God’s action is severe, painful and humiliating. There is no limit to what God is prepared to do in order to have his way in our lives,
3. Measured
Notice how from the very beginning God knows that timescale that will be required for the king to respond to his discipline. God has measured every burden.
4. Redemptive.
The action that God takes is not designed to punish the king – but to redeem him.
5. A Happy ending
…and God intends to bring the situation to an ending that will result in the king’s blessing and salvation. Historians believe that the king lived only a year or so after this event. What an end to his reign there must have been.

Application

So what are we to learn from this story?
1. As Christians?
We can be encouraged that God is able to work in the lives of all those who we may regard as impossible. That includes our loved ones who are showing no sign at all of surrendering to God. When God works in the loves of those we love – don’t get in the way!
And we can also be challenged to be like Daniel – to be prepare to be used by God to speak to those who God is working in – including saying things that they don’t wish to hear

2. As Backsliders?
There really is no excuse for backsliding. It is a kind of insanity to know about God but to refuse to bow the knee to him. God will continue speaking, until the day it is imposisble for you to hear him. Then he will take whatever action is necessary to get you to serve him. Much better to respond to his voice than his discipline.

3. As Unbelievers?
CS Lewis described God as “the hound of heaven”. When God is on your case, you won’t get away.

Wherever we are , God will, speak to us to move us forward. Let’s respond to that voice. If we do not, God loves us far too much to allow us to get away with rebellion indefinitely. As Nebuchadnezzar concludes: “And those who walk in pride he is able to humble.”
Let’s humble ourselves, before He humbles us.
This is the last we hear of the mighty tyrant from Babylon. We may assume that the rest of his reign was marked with submission to God. In the next chapter, we discover that, sadly, this example was not continued by his son.

But that’s another story

John MacDiarmid
February 2012

Reference: Daniel 3

Listen to this sermon (or download – right click here and ‘Save as’):

Continuing in the book of Daniel, we are now some years into the reign of Nebuchadnezzar, Daniel is firmly established as Prime Minister in Babylon, his three friends, Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, are in place as senior civil servants, and life and prospects are looking good for the four friends from Judah who had been taken captive by the despot king.

As for the king, one may have hoped that his encounters with Daniel and his friends, and their God, would have touched his heart. However…that is far from being the case…

1. The Idol

The King sets up a statue on a plane in Babylon – possible the site of the Tower of Babel. The similarity with the statue seen in the King’s dream in Chapter 2 makes it likely that the idol is setup in direct challenge to God’s verdict that after Nebuchadnezzar’s reign other kingdoms will arise. The King is saying, in effect, that he accepts God’s description of himself as the head of gold, but that his kingdom will last indefinitely. By ordering people to worship it, he is in effect telling his people to worship him. This is typical of dictatorship, where religion is often used as a tool of self- worship. We have to distance ourselves from the view that “all religion is good”. There are two forms of religion – true religion and false religion. The only religion that God endorses is true religion. Jesus said “I am the way the truth and life” .
Nebuchadnezzar seeks to consolidate his power by inviting all the leaders of all his provinces to the dedication of this monstrosity. By forcing them into an act of outward worship – and threatening them with public and agonising death if they refuse – he is in effect exalting his own position as absolute ruler.
And – unsurprisingly – the leadership of all the King’s provinces bow down and worship. There is an exception though. The God of Israel demands exclusive worship. You cannot worship God and Nebuchadnezzar any more than you can worship God and money. So God’s representatives are faced with a terrible dilemma.

2. The Accusation

Wherever God’s people serve Him there will be those who oppose them. “Everyone who wants to lead a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted”. And here in Babylon there are enemies of God’s people who are more than happy to point out that the King’s orders have not been carried out. The king is faced with a dilemma. He is well disposed to the three men, but he has clearly pronounced the fate for those who disobey him. His status as King is at stake. So he gives the three men one last chance.

3. The Moment of truth

The three friends are faced with a momentous decision. Do they obey their God and save their lives, or do they disobey their God and save themselves? This is a replica of the situation faced by many persecuted Christians around the world today. And whilst we may never face exactly this position ourselves, we all daily have mini ”moments of truth” where the choice is to do what God wants – at cost to ourselves – or to compromise. What would you do in this situation?

The temptation to compromise must have been immense. They could have argued that they had made their point, that they only needed to appear to worship the idol. They could have reasoned that God had placed them there and that they could only serve him by compromising. But there is not a hint of compromise in their answer. There answer is one of the most inspiring statements of commitment found in the word of God:
Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego replied to him, “King Nebuchadnezzar, we do not need to defend ourselves before you in this matter. 7 If we are thrown into the blazing furnace, the God we serve is able to deliver us from it, and he will deliver us from Your Majesty’s hand. But even if he does not, we want you to know, Your Majesty, that we will not serve your gods or worship the image of gold you have set up.”
What an example to Christians everywhere! They are saying, in effect, that whatever the cost, whatever the pain, obedience to God is the only acceptable option for them. Is that our attitude?

4. The Fiery Furnace

The three men are thrown into the furnace and the end seems inevitable. Then something amazing happens. God intervenes in the situation in a most dramatic and remarkable way. God will always honour his people when they obey him, whether it is by a remarkable deliverance as here or whether it is by rewarding them in eternity. You cannot lose by obeying God!

Bu there are further lessons here for God’s people. We cannot escape the fiery furnace! If we are in a furnace experience, it is not in spite of God’s care for us – it may well be because of it! Job, Paul and many others all experienced the fire of the furnace. What can we learn from it?
Firstly, we have to note that God is with us in the furnace. The fourth man, many believe is the Lord Jesus himself. God will never leave us or forsake us, and he is more evident in the furnace than at any other time.
Secondly, it is in the furnace that our bonds are burnt away. The three men become free in the furnace. God uses the fire to refine us and to set us free.
Thirdly, we do eventually come out! When God has done what he wants to do, we will come out of the furnace without a spot on us! Truly God’s care for his people is amazing
“But now, this is what the LORD says—
he who created you, Jacob,
he who formed you, Israel:
“Do not fear, for I have redeemed you;
I have summoned you by name; you are mine.
When you pass through the waters,
I will be with you;
and when you pass through the rivers,
they will not sweep over you.
When you walk through the fire,
you will not be burned;
the flames will not set you ablaze.” (Isaiah 43 v 1-2)

5. The Outcome

The result is extraordinary: official and public recognition of the God of Israel and promotion for the three friends. The results brought about by obedience are staggering.

As for Nebuchadnezzar, he has had yet another attempt to acknowledge the God of Israel. And on the surface of it he has done so. But, as we will see in chapter four, his heart is not yet changed.

But that’s another story.

Listen to this sermon (or download – right click here and ‘Save as’):

“One day Alice came to a fork in the road and saw a Cheshire cat in a tree. “Which road do I take she asked”?
The response was a question:“Where do you want to go?”
“I don’t know”, Alice answered.
“Then”, said the cat, “it doesn’t matter” “
(Alice in Wonderland, Lewis Carroll)

If we don‘t know where we are going, we can not choose which road to go on. To make choice in our lives and in our church lives, we have to have a clear understanding of where are goin and what we are trying to achieve.
Jesus himself had a clear understanding of his mission. He had three years to choose, train and release his team of disciples, as well as proclaiming and demonstrating the kingdom, before accomplishing his unique work as the Son of God through the crucifixion, resurrection and ascension.

We have to have a clear understanding of what it is we are trying to achieve and do in our Christian lives and our church lives, we need to document it, write it down, consider it, and run with it:
“Write down the revelation
and make it plain on tablets
so that a herald[b] may run with it. (Habakkuk 2 v 2)

Before we can get into that in detail two thoughts underpin our understanding.

Called – firstly we have to understand that we are a called people. God has called us by name. He wants our company, our companionship and our friendship.

“But you, Israel, my servant,
Jacob, whom I have chosen,
you descendants of Abraham my friend,
I took you from the ends of the earth,
from its farthest corners I called you.
I said, ‘You are my servant’;
I have chosen you and have not rejected you. (Isaiah 41 v 8-9)

What an amazing thought, that we have been taken from the farthest corner of the earth, chosen by God and called by Him!

This thought is expanded on in Isaiah 43:

But now, this is what the LORD says—
he who created you, Jacob,
he who formed you, Israel:
“Do not fear, for I have redeemed you;
I have summoned you by name; you are mine.

Here the word used is “summoned”. God has seen us, even in the womb and has called us by name, promising us his protection, his provision and his guidance. What security should come from this amazing thought!
In the New Testament Paul unfolds our call theologically:
And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose. For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brothers and sisters. And those he predestined, he also called; those he called, he also justified; those he justified, he also glorified. (Romans 8 v 28-30)

Our whole salvation hinges on the fact that every believer has been called by God.

Sent. In the security of understanding our call we have been given a mission. A missionary is one who has been sent. And in that sense every person is a missionary. Every person has a call to come to God and to be sent out by Him. The question is – sent out to do what?
Our mission at Poole Christian Fellowship, as individuals, and as a church, is that we want to be individuals and a church whose lives are dedicated to knowing Jesus, and to making him known.

Knowing Jesus….and making Him known”

Let’s look at this two part mission statement one part at a time:

Knowing Jesus

1. A Relationship

One of the most extraordinary things that we can say about our faith is that it is not a religion, it is a relationship. Amazingly, the God of the universe desires a relationship with us.
This is what the LORD says:
“Let not the wise boast of their wisdom
or the strong boast of their strength
or the rich boast of their riches,
but let the one who boasts boast about this:
that they have the understanding to know me,
that I am the LORD, who exercises kindness,
justice and righteousness on earth,
for in these I delight,”
declares the LORD. (Jeremiah 9 v23-24)

The simple goal of Jesus is to give us eternal life:

“For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life…. Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life, but whoever rejects the Son will not see life, for God’s wrath remains on them.” (John 3 v 16, 36)

But when we see what this eternal life is, and amazing truth emerges – God wants us to Know Him!
” For you granted him authority over all people that he might give eternal life to all those you have given him. 3 Now this is eternal life: that they know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent”. (John 17 v 2-3)

2. A Relationship to Be Developed

Every relationship has to be worked at and developed over time. And our relationship this Jesus is no exception. The question is – how? What do we need to do to develop our relationship with Jesus?
Where this relationship is unique is that it can be developed by the life of Jesus living within us – the Holy Spirit.

a. We have the word of God – the Holy Spirit has given us the word of God to enable us to meet Jesus, to understand what he wants and to obey him
b. We have prayer – which is its simplest form is talking with Jesus. Imagine a relationship where you never talk to the person involved! This will include praise, worship listening and talking
c. Obedience is fundamental to knowing Jesus – this is not a relationship between equals, it is a relationship which starts when we make him Lord of our lives. And as we yield to the reality of the Holy Spirit in our lives, so we will get to know him better
“Whoever has my commands and keeps them is the one who loves me. The one who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I too will love them and show myself to them.” (John 14 v 21)
d. Fellowship. Our faith is not a spectator sport, neither is it an individual sport. It is a team sport. The view that we can live our Christian life on our own without reference to others is wrong and carried no weight whatsoever. So all the disciplines outlined above have their corporate outworking. We are a community of people who are committed individually and together to seek to know Jesus.
“And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching.” (Hebrews 10 v 24-25)

So we are a people committed to knowing Jesus. As Paul said:

“ What is more, I consider everything a loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them garbage, that I may gain Christ and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ—the righteousness that comes from God on the basis of faith. I want to know Christ—yes, to know the power of his resurrection and participation in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, and so, somehow, attaining to the resurrection from the dead. (Philippians 3 v 8-10)

Making Jesus Known

Each of the four gospels, and the book of Acts, has an expression of the mission that Jesus has given to all his people over the ages. Expressed in different ways, each of the gospel writers makes it clear that as individuals and as a people we are caught up with the call to Jesus to bring salvation to the world.

As John has Jesus saying:
“As the Father has sent me, I am sending you.” (John 20.v21)

Incredibly, in our lives and ministry, we are caught up in the mission of the son of God. Ouyr call and mission has its root in his call and mission. We are a sent people, missionaries in a world that needs the love of Jesus.
What does this mean in practice?

1. We are “salt and light”

“You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled underfoot… “You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. 16 In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven. Matthew 5 v.13-16

Jesus has sent us into the world to influence it – not to be influenced by it! Just as salt brings flavour and light brings illumination to the world, we, as we keep cloe to Jesus are to bring God’s flavour and God’s light to the world around us.

2. We are witnesses

“But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.” (Acts 1 v8)

Just as a witness in court will testify to what he has seen and heard so we too have a God-given responsibility to testify to what God has done in our lives. To be a witness in a court is not a heroiv thing – we just need to be honest and tell what we have seen and what has happened to us.

3. We are ministers of the gospel

The commission in Mark is:

He said to them, “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to all creation. (Mark 16 v 15)

Ultimately we have to tell people. There is a need for them to repent, turn to Jesus, believe the good news, be baptised and to live the Christian life.

As Paul says in Romans:

How, then, can they call on the one they have not believed in? And how can they believe in the one of whom they have not heard? And how can they hear without someone preaching to them? 15 And how can anyone preach unless they are sent? (Romans 10 v 14-15)

We have a responsibility , by all means, to tell people and to support and pray for those who are doing so.

4. We are disciple-makers

Our job is not over when we have preached the gospel to someone and seen them respond. We are told

“… go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” (Matthew 29 v.19-20)

Our job then is to teach believers to obey the Lord Jesus, until they themselves are able to make disciples. In other words, part of making Jesus known is to make disciples…who make disciples, and to see that process replicated around the world.

Summary

As a church our mission statement is:

“Knowing Jesus…

…and making Him Known”
This means that:

1. We will take every opportunity to develop our relationship with God, learning to follow him, obey Him and become more like him

2. We will take every opportunity to be, and to share the good news of the gospel

3. We will make disciples….who make disciples…

Welcome to Poole Christian Fellowship!

John MacDiarmid
January 2012

Reference: Daniel 2

We continue our look at the thrilling and inspiring account of the prophet Daniel in Babylon

Listen to this sermon (or download – right click here and ‘Save as’):

1. Daniel’s Background

Let’s remind ourselves of where Daniel is at the start of chapter two. He has been deported to the land of Babylon during the fall of Judea and Jerusalem at the hands of Nebuchadnezzar, but primarily caught up in the judgement of God on His people who had rejected Him. However even in judgement God’s mercy shines through: Daniel is the tool through which God will care for his people in exile. He is selected for special service in the court of Babylon, during which he and his friends take the courageous decision to retain their commitment to their God by refusing the diet of the Babylonians. Because of their courage God rewards them with His protection and the provision of special skills and abilities that commend them to the King, who gives them positions of service in his court. When chapter two opens, Daniel and his friends are young men serving the king in the courts of Babylon. What a position for exiles from Jerusalem to have reached!

2. Daniel’s King

Nebuchadnezzar displays many of the attributes of dictators down the ages: brilliance, combined with ruthless and paranoid use of power. On a world where dreams were seen to be highly significant, and where the occult was honoured, he had surround himself with magicians and enchanters, who kept his fascination with the occult satisfied, and no doubt, fed him with what he wanted to hear.
That seems to work fine until the day when the King has a dream that is so terrifying and astounding that he is greatly disturbed and can not sleep. Having presumably been fobbed off by phoney soothsayers in the past he is not having any of it this time. He demands that the wise men, on pain of death, tell him the dream before providing the interpretation. To say that this is unreasonable is putting it mildly, but probably the wise men had been enjoying the fruits of their phoney arts for some time, and they might have been able to see this coming! When they refuse, and prevaricate, the King becomes so angry that he orders not only their deaths, but the deaths of all the wise men in Babylon.
For those who feel that their boss is unreasonable – you have probably never experienced anything like this! However it is a sad commentary on human nature that whatever power is given to people, unless kept in check by God, it is likely to be misused.

3. Daniel’s Crisis

So Daniel is faced with a crisis. Despite the fact that he and his colleagues have conducetd themselves in an exemplary manner in Babylon, they are about the lose their lives as a result of a combination of a power-crazed and irrational king and a bunch of occult charlatans. How should he respond?
It is worth pausing at this point and reflecting that the great crises of our lives are also the great opportunities of our lives. There is nothing that comes into Daniel’s life, or indeed or own life, that has not been allowed by God. But the question is – how do we respond when the crisis comes? This is another turning point in the life of Daniel that will determine his destiny.

4. Daniel’s response

When faced with a crisis there are things that you can do and there are things that you can not do. Daniel too has things that he is able to do. He can not provide the King with the answer he wants – but he can use his diplomacy and his tact to try and buy time. And that is exactly what he does. Apparently there was enough in the reservoir of good will towards Daniel to allow him to find out from the commander what was wrong, and to be able to gain access to the king to ask for time to resolve the matter. Once again, David shows the qualities that will make him an outstanding Prime Minister once his time comes. And clearly he had a long track record of integrity that allowed him access to the king to at least allow him to buy time.
But after that , there was nothing that Daniel could do. So he flung himself and his friends in the mercy of God. In a crisis, we have to do what we can do, but ultimately our only hope is to plead the mercy of God. And God does not show himself to be lacking when His faithful servants plead with Him for mercy. By morning Daniel has the answer. Do we cast ourselves on God’s mercy in times of trouble?
There is one more thing to be done. Now that Daniel has received mercy from God, it is appropriate for Daniel to give thanks, which he does in a beautiful psalm. He thanks God for who is he is and for what he has done. We must always remember to be thankful for the many times that God delivers us.

5. Daniel’s Presentation

It now remains for Daniel to placate the King. Arioch takes him into see the King (whist trying to claim credit for the matter!) but there is not sign of Daniel taking the credit. He only gives credit to God, leaving Nebuchadnezzar no doubt at all as to where this knowledge comes from and where the King’s authority comes from. Do we make sure that it is God who gets credit when things go well? And do we take every opportunity to point people to God – even when we are in danger? What a great example Daniel is to us!

6. Daniel’s Vision

At last, we now hear the dream of the King and Daniel’s interpretation. Much ink as been spilled on interpreting the exact events to which this prophetic dream refers. Like the rest of the prophecies in Daniel they are so accurate as to make liberal scholars think that they must have been written after the event!
This is not the place to go into great detail – but broadly the picture refers to The Babylonian empire, to be succeeded by the Persian empire, then the Greek Empire and the Roman empire. The rock then depicts the coming of the kingdom of God, which will destroy and displace all other empires and fill the whole earth.
It is also helpful to point out that the picture shows us that all dictatorships, all rulers and powers, will come to an end (history shows this again and again) and will be brought to their knees by the kingdom of God. What comfort there is for God’s people in time of pressure. God’s kingdom triumphs: we are on the winning side! For Nebuchadnezzar the message is clear: he has been given his power by God and he must use it wisely, for it will come to an end and will be judged by God.

7. Daniel’s Reward

The effect upon the King is remarkable. True miraculous power is undeniable. Nebuchadnezzar knew that this revelation could have come from nowhere but God himself. As he prostrates himself before Daniel it is as well to note that extravagant religious gestures do not impress God or His servants. He kings heart remains untouched, as is shown by subsequent chapters. But he has at least started to acknowledge the Jewish God as being the true God.
The consequences for Daniel are extraordinary. He is showered with recognition and gifts and promoted to the position of Prime Minister, with his three friends in the Cabinet. What a turnaround for someone who a few hours previously was on death row! When we live a life of integrity, and when we handle a crisis with godly fear – who knows where we may end up!
From now on, God’s people in exile are provided for, are protected, and have their man at the very centre of power in Babylon. What an amazing God!
John MacDiarmid
December 2011

References:

• Psalm 23
• Psalm 78

Listen to this sermon (or download – right click here and ‘Save as’):

Reference: Daniel 1

When   we start to go on a journey, we always start with the end in mind. We don’t simply go to the airport, bus stop, train station or get into the car and see what happens. We start by considering where we are going, then are able to plan the best way to get there, what transport to take and so on. We start with the end in mind.

Similarly, when we cook a meal we don’t throw ingredients together and just see what comes out. We take into account how many people we are cooking for, what we want the meal to consist of, and then plan accordingly. We start with the end in mind.

When a builder starts to build a house, he will start with the architect’s plan that shows a detailed view of what the end product will look like. Then he is able to put in foundations, order materials and start to build. He will start with the end in mind.

What is true of every area in life is also true of life itself. If we were to take a trip forward in time to be at our own funeral – what do we hope people will say about us? If we take a trip forward in time to the day we will stand before God – what do we hope will be said about us by God himself?

We need to determine what we want  from life, what we hope will be said about us when we are gone, how we hope that God will view our lives, and start the rest of our lives with the end in mind.

As we look at the life of Daniel, we can see that the end of his life, as shown by the end of the book’ is marked with his angelic visitor saying “well done” and telling him that at the end of time he will rise to receive his reward. Daniel was a man who started with the end in mind. How can we be the same? With that question in mind, let’s look at today’s passage.

1. A Promising Background

In many ways Daniel was born with the silver spoon in his mind. From a Royal background, good looking, intelligent, well-educated and personable, he was a young man who had everything going for him. Also he appears to have had godly parents who named him with part of God’s name. Not everyone is so blessed – God gives different attributes to different people. The point is that people who live with the end in mind use what God has given them – however much or however little – for Him.

2. An Appalling Situation

Despite this promising background, however, Daniel lived in difficult times. From the peak of God’s people’s  fortunes in the days of David and Solomon, Israel had over many centuries experienced a decline in godliness and were finally, as a consequence of God’s judgement, being removed from the land that had been given them.  They were terrible days as the nation finally experienced the full force of God’s judgement on their idolatry and their disobedience. There are certainly parallels with the decline of our own country as a political, spiritual and moral force as we have systematically turned our back on Him.

The point here is that whilst God will hold his people accountable for the way they behave, even in the darkest night there is a glimmer   of light. Even whilst Jerusalem is being ransacked by the cruelty of the Babylonians, God is   dealing with a young man to work on behalf of his people in exile. God never abandons his people, and he will never abandon us.

3. A Classic Conflict

It could have been worse for Daniel and his three colleagues. They were specially selected for a training program to be ready to join the Civil service. They were taken care of, fed and educated at the University of Babylon. The idea was for Nebuchadnezzar to integrate the best of the talent from his dominions into his own circle. So Daniel, a child of Jerusalem, find himself living in Babylon. Isn’t that just like us? We are citizens of heaven and we find ourselves living in the world. We are told not to be worldly – yet we live in the world. How do we cope with that?  People who live with the end in mind know that whilst they have to live in the world, they have to avoid being worldly. The answer is in the next point, where Daniel is faced with a choice.

4. A defining Moment

For everyone who chooses to follow God, there is a defining moment when God allows us to face a situation that will show whether or not we are really determined to follow him. For Daniel it concerned diet. Eating the King’s food was incompatible with Daniel’s faith. So we read those three great words “But Daniel resolved….” For Daniel keeping his faith was a total non-negotiable. He could not compromise his commitment to the word of God, even in an alien environment.

The cost to Daniel and his friends could have their lives – you simply didn’t say “no” to the king’s instructions! We know when we are committed to following God when there is a personal cost. It may cost us a friendship, a promotion, some money or popularity to follow God. This is one of those defining moments. And, praise God, Daniel takes the correct decision. If he had not, maybe there would have been no book of Daniel. What do you do when faced with a defining moment that determines whether or not you will follow God?

An example from 1924 is the great Scottish runner Eric Liddell who would rather forfeit his chance of Olympic gold than compromise on his duty not to run on the Sabbath.

People who start with the end in mind have non – negotiables by which they will live, principles that will never change no matter what the cost to them personally.

We can either take the path of least resistance, or we can live by principles as those who have an end in mind. Daniel is a shining example of one who lived by principle, who lived with the end in mind.

5. A Divine deliverance

Daniel can not have known what would happen to him if he chose to obey God. God could deliver him, or God could not. Either way Daniel’s action would not change.

In fact God delivered Daniel in a spectacular way.

Firstly he delivered him from the immediate situation by giving him the favour of his boss, and by giving Daniel a creative way out. Then God honoured him by giving him and his friends extraordinary gifts and abilities, and then, amazingly, Daniel is promoted to the king’s service. God knows how to honour those who take a stand for Him. As Eric Liddell was told in the film “Chariots of Fire” “He who honours me, I will honour”. We can not promise promotion, or even deliverance for every Christian who takes the decision to take a stand for God, but we can promise that in this life and the next, God will honour those who have honoured him.

Those who live with then end in mind, take that into account in every decision they make.

6. A Promising Start.

So Daniel has made a promising start. He is firmly situated in the King’s service, God’s man in a pagan environment. However it is only a start. Every day following that will give him the opportunity to live as someone who has the end in mind. There are many more challenges that will follow. But that’s another story.

John MacDiarmid

November 2011

Introduction

There are over 250 clear references to the Second Coming of Christ in the NT. It was the eager expectation of the Early Church (Phil. 3:20).

However, the subject is also surrounded with controversy. It is important to approach it with humility and tolerance of others’ views. We have to live with unanswered questions and paradoxes, yet still speak about it with clarity and certainty. Prophecy was given to strengthen faith, not cause dissension (John 13:19, 2 Pet. 1:19).

Much debate has centred on the time of His coming and the order of events. It is significant that the only matter on which Jesus professed ignorance was the date of His return (Mark 13:22).

1. Definitions

Parousia (lit. presence, arrival) is the most common word (Matt. 24:3, 1 Cor. 15:23, 1 Thess. 2:19, 2 Thess. 2:1,8). In ordinary use it described the arrival of a ruler or distinguished person, the invasion of a conquering army, the intervention of the gods.

Apokalypsis (lit. unveiling, disclosure, revelation) emphasises the fact that at Christ’s coming it will become clear who He is, and hidden things will be brought to light (1 Cor.1:7, 2 Thess.1:7, 1 Pet. 1:7).

Epiphaneia carries a similar meaning (lit. appearing). It also suggests the drawing back of a veil so that ‘all may be revealed’ (2 Thess. 2:8, Titus 2:13).

Eschatology (Gk ‘last’) is the study of Last Things. The term Day of the Lord is used both as a general description for future events in which God intervenes, and with reference to ‘end times’. However, even those end times can span a long period. The Jews believed that the Day of the Lord would usher in The Age to Come, when evil would be judged and purged, and the righteous would be redeemed. The Christian view is that The Last Days began with the first coming of Jesus (or the Day of Pentecost) and that they will end with the Second Coming. The Present Age will draw to a close with some final Last Days which will be characterised by an unprecedented intensity of evil. See Joel 2:28 with Acts 2:17, 1 Cor. 10:11, Heb. 1:2, 6:5, 2 Tim. 3:1.

2. The nature of His coming

Sudden and expected. It will be like a flash of lightning, or the coming of a thief in the night – ‘as in the days of Noah’ (Matt. 24:36ff, 1 Thess. 5:1-6). For Christians, the suddenness should not take them by surprise any more than the giving birth to a pregnant woman.

Personal. It will be the same Jesus who returns (Acts 1:11), ‘the Lord himself’ (1 Thess. 4:16). The promises of His coming are not fulfilled (as some maintain) at Pentecost, by conversion, or by death, but by His bodily appearance.

Visible and audible. Note that His coming is not secret. See Rev. 1:7, 1 Thess. 4:16, Matt. 24:30-31, 1 Cor. 15:52).

Splendid. In contrast with His first coming, His return will be a spectacular, glorious event, the climax of human history. Clouds in Scripture signify God’s glory and manifest presence among His people (2 Thess. 2:8, Titus 2:13).

3. The purpose of His coming

It is easy to lose sight of this and become preoccupied with details of the event itself.

Final victory. Sin and death will be defeated for ever, and all God’s enemies finally destroyed (1 Cor. 15:26, Rev. 12:7-11, 20:1-10).

Resurrection. All the dead, saved and unsaved, will be raised (John 5:28, 1 Cor. 15:51-57). The Church, the Bride of Christ, will be joined to Him for ever (1 Thess. 4:17, John 14:2-3).

Judgement. All will appear before Him at His coming (2 Tim. 4:1, Acts 17:31, 1 Cor. 4:5, Jude 14, Matt. 16:27, etc). This is the only (?) satisfactory answer to the problem of evil and suffering – justice will be done in the end.

New heaven and new earth. There will be completely new order and God’s purposes for the human race will reach their final realization (Acts 3:21, 2 Pet. 3:1-13, Rev. 22:1-15, 1 Cor. 15:28, Eph. 1:9-10, Col. 1:19-20).

4. Signs of the times

The End of the Age discourse: Matt. 24, Mark 13, and Luke 21 (parallel passages).

Jesus was answering two questions – 1. When would the Temple be destroyed?
2. What signs would precede the end of the age? Some say that the discourse is mainly about the Second Coming, others that it has both primary and secondary fulfilments, or that the two answers are as distinct as the questions.

Note the following (from Mk 13):

a) Jesus refused to give dates (also Acts 1:7). The signs are best regarded as things to expect en route rather than a timetable.
b) The details for each question do seem to overlap; this may be a case of ‘prophetic foreshortening’. The disciples were not yet ready to understand that there would be a gap between the destruction of the Temple and the Second Coming.
c) Some of the signs indicate that the end has not come (v7).
d) ‘The abomination of desolation’ (cf Dan. 9:27, 11:31, 12:11) can easily find its fulfilment in the events of AD 70 when the Romans desecrated the Temple, massacred the Jews and destroyed Jerusalem; many Christians fled to Pella at that time. Is this what v30 refers to? However, some details seem to reference a later time (e.g. the Gospel preached to all nations, v10, also Mark. 14:9, Matt. 26:13).
e) It is possible that most of the signs apply to all the Last Days, beginning with the apostolic era through to The End, and that persecution, wars, earthquakes etc are simply a description of life in all ages.
f) If the AD 70 interpretation is correct, v24 (and Matt. 24:29, ‘immediately’) poses a difficult problem. Maybe it means that the Second Coming is the next major event, not that it follows straight away; or, that the previous verses, as suggested above, are a description of the whole Church era. Verse 30 is similarly problematic: ‘this generation will not pass away until all these things have happened’ (see below).
g) The cosmic signs (vv24-26) cannot be paralleled in history, and must refer to the Second Coming. Are they to be taken literally? (Acts 2:17-21 also?).

The Antichrist sign (‘anti’ means ‘instead of’ as well as ‘against’)
He is only named as such in 1 & 2 John (e.g. 1 John 2:18, 2 John 7) but it is generally agreed that the Man of Sin/Lawlessness (2 Thess. 2:3) is the same person. Dan. 7:19-27 and Rev.13 use symbolic language to describe a similar power. He is a usurper, an enemy of God, and doomed to destruction. It seems that he is an individual, not a force, although his spirit is already at work (1 John 2:18,22 and 4:3). From 2 Thess. 2 it seems that he will display many of the features of the true Christ’s coming (note ‘parousia’, v9) including miracles. His number (666, see Rev.13:18) has been the subject of endless, and often foolish, speculation. The Greeks hid names in numbers by giving each letter a value (gematria). The name Jesus would be 888 – i.e. above the perfection of 777. Thus, 666 represents someone who attempts to reach the unattainable (an imposter). The reference may mean no more than that and it is incredible that some still try to identify living personages as the Antichrist by that method. He will, in any case, be destroyed by Christ. Christians should look for HIM, not ‘the evil one’.

The tribulation sign
The description of the abomination of desolation (above references) suggests what ‘the tribulation’ may be like, whether in AD 70 or before Christ returns. Although we use the phrase in a quasi-technical sense it is worth noting that it only appears in that form in Rev. 7:14 (‘the great tribulation’). The other descriptions of severe distress in the Last Days are quite general and make it difficult for us to judge when evil will have reached its final peak (1 Tim. 4:1, 2 Tim. 3:1-9, 2 Pet. 3:3-7).

Sooner or later?
There is a tension between the expectation of Christians throughout the ages that Jesus will come ‘soon’ and the acceptance that he may ‘be away’ a long time. Some believe He could come at any time (today?), others that all the signs have not yet been fulfilled. Similarly, the term Kingdom of God has both a ‘now’ and a ‘not yet’ significance.

A number of Scriptures reflect an expectation of His imminent return: Jas 5:8, Rom. 13:11-12, Rev. 1:1, 22:6. It seems that Paul, for a while at least, expected the event in his lifetime (1 Thess. 4:15). Many of the Thessalonians had given up work because they thought it was at hand. More difficult to understand are Jesus’ statements that imply that the early church generation would witness His return (Mark 13:30, Matt. 10:23, 16:28). There is no completely satisfactory explanation: some think that generation means ‘race’ (i.e. Jews), or that the ‘coming’ in Matt 16 (note: ‘parousia’ not used) might refer to the transfiguration (Mt. 17) or Pentecost.

The delay motif is seen in the parables of the virgins and the talents (Matt. 25:1-30). Paul’s reminder to the Thessalonians about the Antichrist sign was intended to encourage patience, and in his later epistles he speaks of his impending death while still expressing his longing for Christ’s appearing (2 Tim. 4:6-8). Peter’s teaching about the Day of the Lord (2 Pet. 3) indicates that some were already asking about the delay.

Israel and the Church. This is a contentious issue, and feelings run high. Are the promises about ‘The Land’ still relevant? Is national Israel the key to understanding the Bible? Are the prophecies about Israel now fulfilled in the Church, ‘the new Israel’ (Gal. 6:16)? Has God rejected Israel as a race? Will sacrifices again be offered in Jerusalem, and is the battle of Armageddon (Rev. 16:16) going to be a literal event? What is the significance of the return of the Jews to Palestine and the establishment of the State of Israel? How do you interpret Gal. 3:26-29 and Eph. 2:11-22? Why is there a scarcity of NT promises regarding national Israel and ‘The Land’?

Note the following passages:
On the future of the Jews – Rom. 11 (esp. v26, ‘all Israel will be saved’).
On a triumphant Church in this present age – Eph. 5:27 cf Rev. 19:7-8.
On a remnant, besieged Church – Matt. 24:22, 2 Thess. 2:3 (‘falling away’ AV), Luke 18:8.
On both together, triumphant and besieged! – parable of the weeds (Matt. 13:24-30).
On the rejection of Israel – Mark. 11:12-14, Matt. 23:38.
Israel as a type of the Church – see Hebrews, esp. 12:22-24, 1 Pet. 2:9-10.

5. The main event

Before looking at the divergent views of the Second Coming, we need to define the word rapture (from Latin, rapio, to catch up, snatch. Gk harpazo). It is found only in 1 Thess. 4:17, as a verb (not ‘the Rapture’), in reference to the Second Coming. Other passages describe the instantaneous transformation and resurrection of believers when Christ returns (1 Cor. 15:51-52, Phil. 3:21-22).

Matt. 24:40-41 also speaks about people being ‘taken’. None of these Scriptures suggests a secret rapture; the emphasis is always that although sudden and unexpected (as a thief in the night) the coming will be public and noisy.

Millennium simply means 1,000 years (from Latin mille) though occasionally chiliasm (from Gk) is used to describe the 1,000 year reign of Christ. The term is only used in Rev. 20, though many Christians assign to it features about God’s rule from other Scriptures, especially the OT. As with ‘the tribulation’, note that it is not used as a narrowly defined theological term, or as ‘the millennium’.

There are four main schools of thought regarding the order of events and the nature of the Millennium:

1. Historic premillennialism

This assumes that the return of Christ (Rev. 19) and the first resurrection will be followed by the millennium (Rev. 20), but that the tribulation (Rev. 7) precedes both events (2 Thess. 2:1-3 may suggest that the Church will go through the tribulation). Some, on the basis of Dan. 9:27, would say that the tribulation will last seven years. During the millennium many OT prophecies will be fulfilled, many Jews will be converted and evil will be restrained. Satan will be released towards the end of this period but will be overcome by Christ. The dead who were not raised at His coming will now be resurrected and judged, and there will be a new heaven and new earth. This view takes Rev. 20 literally. It does not distinguish between Israel and the Church.
View held by: Early church fathers – Irenaeus, Tertullian, Justin Martyr; and by Henry Drummond, Edward Irving, C.H. Spurgeon, G.E. Ladd, David Pawson.
Summary: Great Tribulation – Second Coming and First Resurrection – Millennium – Satan’s rebellion and final defeat – Second Resurrection, the Judgement, new heaven and earth, eternal state.

2. Dispensational premillenialism

This development of the historic view was popularised by J.N. Darby (Brethren Movement, 19th c.) and the Scofield Bible. It posits seven dispensations – Innocence (before the Fall), Conscience (up to Noah), Human Government (to Abraham), Promise (Abraham to Moses), Law (Moses to Christ), Grace (Church Age), Kingdom (Millennium). Christ returns before the tribulation, and removes the saints in a secret rapture. During the tribulation there are many conversions (including the 144,000, mainly Jews?). Christ will then return again (third coming!) and set up His 1,000 year rule from Jerusalem, where the Temple will be rebuilt, sacrifices offered and the Feast of Tabernacles celebrated (Zech. 9). During the Millennium the OT promises to Israel will be fulfilled to the letter. Some impose extreme literalism on this – lambs and lions lying down together, for example. This view regards the Church as a parenthesis to the real purposes of God for Israel.
View popularised by (as well as those above): Hal Lindsay (‘Late Great Planet Earth’), Tim LaHaye and Jerry Jenkins (‘Left Behind’ series). This view seems to be gaining strength in the more sensational charismatic media.
Summary: Apostasy, calamity, World War III? – Secret rapture of Church, Tribulation begins – Satan bound at the end, Temple rebuilt etc – Millennium begins (Jews are preeminent) – Satan’s rebellion and final defeat – Resurrection, Judgement etc.

3. Postmillennialism

This is a more straightforward interpretation – Christ will come at the end of the Millennium (which may already have started). It will be/is a period, not necessarily of a literal 1,000 years, during which the light shines brighter, and the world becomes more peaceful and prosperous. This view was popular in the 19th c. missionary era – the Gospel was being preached to all nations, so the Bride was preparing for the return of the Bridegroom. At the end of the Millennium there will be both apostasy and a revival which will draw in the Jews. This view emphasises the ‘Kingdom Now’ perspective and was more obviously attractive during a time of Gospel and Empire expansion, when life generally was ‘getting better’. It does, however, recognise the present rule of Christ from heaven, and the fact that the Church is meant to expand and be triumphant (Matt. 13:31-32, 16:18, 1 Cor. 15:25). An extreme form of postmillennialism is reconstructionism, which has a political dimension.
View held by: the Puritans, John Bunyan, Wilberforce, B.B. Warfield
Summary: Millennium is already here (probably) – a golden age of prosperity, missionary expansion, sin on the decrease as Christ reigns through His people – revival at the end – Satan defeated – Resurrection, judgement etc (as other views).

4. A-millenialism

This view stresses the symbolic nature of Revelation, and does not look for a literal millennium; the rule of Christ is expressed by a perfect and complete number (1,000). Satan was bound during Christ’s earthly ministry (Luke 10:18) and especially through His death (Col. 2:15). Some would say that the whole Gospel age is Christ’s rule from heaven through the Church on earth. A-millennialists do not try to press all the details in Rev. 20; for them, spiritual truths and principles are more important. Again, this is a ‘Kingdom Now’ perspective. Many would expect a time of persecution before Christ’s return – which is a single-stage event.
View held by: Polycarp, Augustine, Luther, Calvin, Henricksen and, more recently, Stephen Travis and Michael Wilcock.
Summary: Satan bound by Christ’s death – he is now reigning in heaven with the saints – we are now in the Gospel Age (symbolic millennium) – revival among the Jews near the end, and revelation of Man of Lawlessness – Second Coming marks the end of the age (1 Cor. 15:23-24) – Final defeat of Satan, Resurrection, Judgement

Conclusion

Eschatology should encourage – not confuse – us! It should inspire hope (Titus 2:13, peace and confidence (John 14:1-4) and longing (Rev. 22:30). We need to always be ready (Mt. 25:13, 1 Thess. 5:6). The Aramaic expression ‘Maranatha’ used by the early Church could be both a prayer (Come, Lord) and a promise (The Lord comes). It is a practical doctrine: ‘You ought to live holy and godly lives as you look forward to the day of God and speed its coming’ (2 Pet. 3:11-12).

Select bibliography

C. Blomberg & S.W. Chung, A Case for Historic Premillennialism – an Alternative to ‘Left Behind’ Eschatology (Baker Books)
Robert Clouse (ed.), The Meaning of the Millennium, Four Views (IVP)
William Cox, Biblical Studies in Final Things (Presbyterian & Reformed)
W.G. Grier, The Momentous Event (Banner of Truth)
David Pawson, When Jesus Returns (Hodder & Stoughton)
Stephen Travis, I believe in the Second Coming of Jesus (Hodder & Stoughton)
Michael Wilcock, I saw Heaven Opened: the Message of Revelation (IVP)

Teaching by Andrew Parfitt – November 2011