Sermon Theme
The words of Daniel are so right for today! ‘‘My lord, what will the outcome of all this be?” (Daniel 12:8)
We all remember the horrific images of planes with hundreds of passengers deliberately crashed into skyscrapers and the Pentagon in the U.S. and one into a field in Pennsylvania.
Almost 3,000 perished as a result of that shocking incident
The American President declared those horrendous events as acts of war
This led to a war against Iraq and also the conflict against Al Qaida and supportive Taliban in Afghanistan
More recently the latest terrorist attack – this time horrific carnage in Paris as terrorist murderers indiscriminately shot people in a theater and cafes and restaurants in that city
Our physical responses to all this may well have been like Daniel’s in the presence of the angel
‘‘I am overcome with anguish because of the vision, my lord, and I am helpless. 17 How can I, your servant, talk with you, my lord? My strength is gone and I can hardly breathe.” (Daniel 10:16, 17)
Thousands of years ago Daniel was shown a vision about the end times which included ‘a great war’
Like Daniel we are left wondering: “What will the outcome of all this be?”
There are many ordinary citizens who have great fear with regard to the future
As Christians what are we to make of all this? How do we live with what we have seen and what may yet come – even a great persecution of the church which Christ said is to come?
Sermon outline
- SPIRITUAL WARFARE!
- FINDING PEACE IN OUR HEART WRENCHED ANGUISH
- GETTING ON WITH LIFE WITH PEACE IN OUR HEARTS
Readings reproduced on this page:
The Holy Bible: New International Version. 1996, 1984. Grand Rapids: Zondervan
Sermon Outline
Order of WorshipReadings
Daniel 10:1–11:1 (NIV84)
1In the third year of Cyrus king of Persia, a revelation was given to Daniel (who was called Belteshazzar). Its message was true and it concerned a great war. The understanding of the message came to him in a vision.
2At that time I, Daniel, mourned for three weeks.
3I ate no choice food; no meat or wine touched my lips; and I used no lotions at all until the three weeks were over.
4On the twenty-fourth day of the first month, as I was standing on the bank of the great river, the Tigris,
5I looked up and there before me was a man dressed in linen, with a belt of the finest gold around his waist.
6His body was like chrysolite, his face like lightning, his eyes like flaming torches, his arms and legs like the gleam of burnished bronze, and his voice like the sound of a multitude.
7I, Daniel, was the only one who saw the vision; the men with me did not see it, but such terror overwhelmed them that they fled and hid themselves.
8So I was left alone, gazing at this great vision; I had no strength left, my face turned deathly pale and I was helpless.
9Then I heard him speaking, and as I listened to him, I fell into a deep sleep, my face to the ground.
10A hand touched me and set me trembling on my hands and knees.
11He said, “Daniel, you who are highly esteemed, consider carefully the words I am about to speak to you, and stand up, for I have now been sent to you.” And when he said this to me, I stood up trembling.
12Then he continued, “Do not be afraid, Daniel. Since the first day that you set your mind to gain understanding and to humble yourself before your God, your words were heard, and I have come in response to them.
13But the prince of the Persian kingdom resisted me twenty-one days. Then Michael, one of the chief princes, came to help me, because I was detained there with the king of Persia.
14Now I have come to explain to you what will happen to your people in the future, for the vision concerns a time yet to come.”
15While he was saying this to me, I bowed with my face toward the ground and was speechless.
16Then one who looked like a man touched my lips, and I opened my mouth and began to speak. I said to the one standing before me, “I am overcome with anguish because of the vision, my lord, and I am helpless.
17How can I, your servant, talk with you, my lord? My strength is gone and I can hardly breathe.”
18Again the one who looked like a man touched me and gave me strength.
19“Do not be afraid, O man highly esteemed,” he said. “Peace! Be strong now; be strong.” When he spoke to me, I was strengthened and said, “Speak, my lord, since you have given me strength.”
20So he said, “Do you know why I have come to you? Soon I will return to fight against the prince of Persia, and when I go, the prince of Greece will come;
21but first I will tell you what is written in the Book of Truth. (No one supports me against them except Michael, your prince.
1And in the first year of Darius the Mede, I took my stand to support and protect him.)
Text
Daniel 11:36–12:3 (NIV84)
36“The king will do as he pleases. He will exalt and magnify himself above every god and will say unheard-of things against the God of gods. He will be successful until the time of wrath is completed, for what has been determined must take place.
37He will show no regard for the gods of his fathers or for the one desired by women, nor will he regard any god, but will exalt himself above them all.
38Instead of them, he will honor a god of fortresses; a god unknown to his fathers he will honor with gold and silver, with precious stones and costly gifts.
39He will attack the mightiest fortresses with the help of a foreign god and will greatly honor those who acknowledge him. He will make them rulers over many people and will distribute the land at a price.
40“At the time of the end the king of the South will engage him in battle, and the king of the North will storm out against him with chariots and cavalry and a great fleet of ships. He will invade many countries and sweep through them like a flood.
41He will also invade the Beautiful Land. Many countries will fall, but Edom, Moab and the leaders of Ammon will be delivered from his hand.
42He will extend his power over many countries; Egypt will not escape.
43He will gain control of the treasures of gold and silver and all the riches of Egypt, with the Libyans and Nubians in submission.
44But reports from the east and the north will alarm him, and he will set out in a great rage to destroy and annihilate many.
45He will pitch his royal tents between the seas at the beautiful holy mountain. Yet he will come to his end, and no one will help him.
1“At that time Michael, the great prince who protects your people, will arise. There will be a time of distress such as has not happened from the beginning of nations until then. But at that time your people—everyone whose name is found written in the book—will be delivered.
2Multitudes who sleep in the dust of the earth will awake: some to everlasting life, others to shame and everlasting contempt.
3Those who are wise will shine like the brightness of the heavens, and those who lead many to righteousness, like the stars for ever and ever.
