Jesu Juva
Daniel 12:1-3
November 17, 2024
Proper
28B
Dear Saints of Our Savior~
The leaves aren’t messing around anymore. Even the mighty maple right outside these windows has started letting go of leaves at a rapid rate. Those leaves are always the last to go—the sure and certain sign that the end of the growing season is upon us.
It’s probably no coincidence that the church uses these darkening days to remind us that the end of all things is near. The day is surely drawing near, we just sang. The Holy Spirit led prophets and apostles to spill a lot of ink to tell us about the end times—the last days.
Today we hear from the Prophet Daniel. Much of Daniel is tough sledding—especially the second half of the book—which contains lots of symbolic imagery, dreams and visions. But the three verses at the center of our attention today are clear and comforting, sure and certain. If you’re wondering what the end of the world will be like, Daniel is definitive. Daniel declares nearly everything we need to know.
At that time shall arise Michael, the great prince who has charge of your people. The Michael here called a “prince” is better known as Michael the Archangel. The archangels are the five-star generals of the armies of heaven. Michael the Archangel is best known for slaying the satanic dragon in Revelation chapter twelve. His name implies that Michael is “like God.” And at the end of days, this mighty warrior archangel will be fighting for and protecting the people of God.
This mention of Michael is a great reminder that all the angels are at work for you—and for the benefit of the whole church—already here and now. The Bible tells us, for instance, that angels are here among us this morning, in this place, as we gather around the Lord Jesus and His gifts. The words of the proper preface remind us of the unseen guests who join us for every Divine Service: angels, archangels and all the company of heaven. Martin Luther suggests we should begin and end each day with this petition, “Let Your holy angel be with me that the evil foe may have no power over me.”
But because the angels often work in unseen ways, we tend to forget about this gracious dimension of God’s care for us. When tragedy is narrowly averted—when we walk away unscathed from twisted wreckage—when we turn away from shameful sin and vice at the last minute—does it even cross our minds that the holy angels of God may be at work on our behalf? Or are we more likely to conclude that dumb luck and random chance simply fell in our favor?
Dumb luck and chance will get you nothing when it comes to the end of the world. You’ll be glad for the assistance of the angels at that time. Just how bad will it be? Daniel declares: There shall be a time of trouble such as never has been since the first nation was founded. Unprecedented trouble. Just think of all the troubling times we read about in the history books: wars, famines, pandemics, natural disasters, revolutions, ethnic cleansing and mass murder. Did you see the post-hurricane footage from western North Carolina? Large-scale destruction everywhere. But Daniel seems to say, “You ain’t seen nothin’ yet.”
Trouble is coming—and even your government will not be there to rescue you. Forget FEMA. Like every other idol, the gears of government will grind to a halt in the last days. Federalism will fail. Bureaucracy will break down. Ideologies will implode. Those who fear, love, and trust in princes and presidents will be panic-stricken.
Daniel would say, “Don’t bow down to those idols.” Daniel himself had been a citizen of Jerusalem—the capital city of God’s holy nation. But God used the Babylonians to destroy it and burn it. And this is why Daniel found himself in Babylon. God’s people will be delivered, even as earthly kingdoms rise and fall. In fact, Daniel reminds us that it’s not your earthly citizenship that matters. Instead, “Everyone whose name is found written in the book will be delivered.” That’s a reference to the Lamb’s book of life, mentioned many times in the Bible.
There’s a great multitude of people whose names are in that book, who are saved by grace through faith for the sake of Jesus. It’s comforting to me that it’s always referred to as the “book” of life. The names of those who belong to the Lord are written down in a book. I like this metaphor because books have staying power. I routinely write things down on post-it notes and scraps paper. You should see all the “notes” on my phone. It’s really not a good system. Sometimes I lose important information. Passwords pass away. But books—books have a little more staying power, don’t they?
In God’s book, the names of those who trust in Jesus are written down, recorded, preserved. It shows that God means business when it comes to your salvation. He will never forget the promises He first made to you in your baptism. It doesn’t mean “once saved, always saved,” but it does mean that your salvation has been in the works since before the world began. And when your days in this world are winding down—or when this world itself is flaming out—what comfort it will be to know that your name is inscribed in the Lamb’s book of life.
Daniel’s words about the end of time are clear and comforting. How’s this for clarity? Those who sleep in the dust of the earth will awake: some to everlasting life, others to shame and everlasting contempt. On the Last Day God is going to raise up you and all the dead. Please note that all will be raised—believers and unbelievers—no exclusions. The believers in Christ will awaken to everlasting life; the unbelievers to shame and everlasting contempt. You know that I’m not what you might call a “fire and brimstone” preacher. But make no mistake. Those who foolishly reject God’s gracious gift of salvation—those who walk away from Jesus and His Word to embrace some alternative ideology—they will face an eternity of shame and regret.
But those who are wise will shine, Daniel tells us. In the Bible to be “wise,” has nothing to do with test scores or IQ. Those who are “wise” are those who hear the Word of God and keep it. Those who are wise believe that Jesus is their Savior—that His blood has cleansed them from all guilt and sin. Those who are wise view Jesus as their substitute—who kept God’s law perfectly on their behalf, and took the punishment they deserve. Those who are wise will enjoy an eternity in God’s presence. They will shine like the sky above. You are wise because you’ve got your eyes fixed on Jesus.
Daniel’s last word about the last day concerns righteousness: Those who turn many to righteousness [will shine] like the stars forever and ever. Note carefully what Daniel is telling us about righteousness: Sinners can’t become righteous on their own. You can’t decide to become righteous. You can’t earn righteousness or achieve righteousness. You must be led. You must be turned. Someone from the outside must make you righteous on the inside. Who on earth can do that? Who can lead you and turn you to righteousness? Well, as the end approaches, stick close to your pastor. For your pastor has been called by God to turn you (and many others) to righteousness. He does that by the forgiveness He speaks, by the Word he preaches, by the gifts he applies to you in water, bread, and wine. Your pastor delivers Jesus to you—and in that divine delivery, many are turned to righteousness. You are made righteousness, cleansed of all sin, prepared for judgement, and for the thrill of eternal victory.
Of course, today you might be feeling the agony of defeat more than the thrill of victory. Today you might feel the need for rescue and deliverance acutely. But that’s not the last word. In the end, God gets the last word about the Last Day. And according to Him, for all eternity you will shine like the heavens above. The one who endures to the end will be saved.
In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
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