Have you thought about the end of the world much lately?
It seems to be on everyone’s mind these days. Hollywood can’t stop giving us stories of the world’s destruction. (The sequel to Godzilla Minus One is coming out soon!) The promise – and threat – of AI has introduced some very sobering conversations to the world’s blogosphere. It’s midterm time, meaning pundits and politicians are pulling out all their apocalyptic language to describe the outcome if this party or this person wins. The Pentagon just unveiled their FORTRESS initiative stirring up doomsday preppers everywhere.
And Daniel in the Bible has been thinking about it a lot as we have made our way into the second half of his fascinating book in BridgeWay’s current teaching series.
“Eschatology”, or the “study of last things” is very much a core part of Christian doctrine. It comes with believing that our Lord is returning to earth again, just as he promised. Christians don’t believe life arose accidentally and is unfolding randomly, but that history is His-Story, God’s Story, and so there is a trajectory and purpose behind life. Technically, we don’t believe in the end of the world, as much as the beginning of a new one. This age of sin and death will replaced by the paradise God always intended.
But talking about such things always brings with it a great deal of angst and agitation, which is natural. The Thessalonian believers went batso-crazy for awhile when they started hearing Paul preach about it. He wrote the short letter of 2nd Thessalonians to calm them down. With that in mind, how should we respond to this idea of the world’s end? Studying Daniel can give us some very useful insights into this.
First Daniel would say – Perceive.
Daniel when he was first brought to Babylon with the first exiles was a teenager. But though young, he perceived how God was at work in allowing Jerusalem’s destruction and the exile of His people. He had wisdom beyond his years to know what to do in the face of this disaster.
Jesus rebuked the religious leaders in his time for being able to forecast the weather but being unable to forecast the far greater spiritual realities that were coming, beginning with the fact that their long-promised Messiah was standing right in front of them! Matthew 16:3 – “You know how to interpret the appearance of the sky, but you cannot interpret the signs of the times.”
In 1 Chronicles 12:32 we meet a group of faithful Jews from the tribe of Issachar who joined themselves to David. Chronicles describes them with this tribute: “Of Issachar, men who had understanding of the times, to know what Israel ought to do.” Jesus would have commended them.
Would you like to have that same spirit in you? It’s not hard to get. The Bible tells us that all you have to do is ask for it. “If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach.” – James 1:5. Jesus expects his followers to perceive what’s going on in the wider world around them, exercise discernment, and know how to act properly.
The second way to respond to these difficult teachings in the Bible – Prepare.
Daniel had the mental resilience to suffer the loss of his home and his homeland, and the spiritual resilience to do without pleasures and treasures King Nebuchadnezzar was offering him to soften him up. Instead, Daniel fasted from the king’s rich food to prepare himself for surviving these difficulties.
The British government recently launched the “Be Ready” campaign where they’re calling their citizens to begin stockpiling supplies for 72-hours. The Pentagon FORTRESS initiative is directing all US military installations to come up with a plan for sustaining independent operations for up to 90 days. That caught my attention. Ever since Janis and I endured a 9-day power outage in Connecticut a dozen winters ago, I’ve always been a believer in having a stash of cash around and a well-stocked pantry.
After John in chapter 13 of Revelation describes what the Beast will be allowed to do to God’s people – blaspheming God openly, making war on the saints, throwing some in prison, killing others, even making it difficult to simply buy and sell – John writes in verse 10, “Here is a call for the endurance and faith of the saints.”
If you know in advance that something is going to be hard – taking an SAT test, getting married, moving house, starting a fitness program – you’ll be better equipped to face it. And when it comes to his return, Jesus told us that the days leading up to it would be hard. Therefore we’re to “keep watch” (Matt.25:13), and “be ready” (Luke 12:40), and to “keep awake” (1 Thess.5:4-6).
A third way Daniel modeled to get ready for the end of the world: Plead.
Daniel knew that God had raised him up and given him favor and power, not for his own sake, but for Israel’s sake. He was like Joseph whom God raised to power, to advocate for his family before Pharaoh.
For two entire generations, Daniel kept a protective eye on his fellow Jews. I’m sure that he was doing a lot more things than just sitting in the palace during these 80 years playing Parcheesi. The Jews come out of Babylon with the makings of a synagogue system ready to roll out, and ample copies of their Scriptures written out, and their theology finally worked out – the Jews will never struggle with idolatry again. (No more Baal worship after this.)
Though the book of Daniel doesn’t tell us this, Daniel must have been working behind the scenes, training future leaders and priests, while laying the foundation for their future.
Likewise, we who have the power and freedom to do so must plead for our brothers and sisters who are suffering for their faith right now, being besieged by antichrist forces. We’re to comfort them. Advocate for them. Encourage them. Weep for those who weep.
We can start by growing in our awareness of what’s happening in the global church. Go to websites like persecution.com, home of the Voice of the Martyrs. Pay attention to world events. Then ask God what you can do to help. Jesus instructed us, “From those who are given much, much is expected,” and we, my friends, have been given much. So plead.
Fourth – Proclaim.
Proclaim the Jesus we serve as the only hope for this generation, Why proclaim? Because it awakens faith in others, and it will strengthen our faith, keeping us from giving in to evil. Legend has it that an old preacher stood at the gates of Babylon crying out for its people to repent. Someone mocked him as he walked by. “Why are you shouting, old man? You’ll never change them.” “That’s not why I’m shouting out,” the old man said. “I’m shouting to keep them from changing me.”
Daniel and his friends had no trouble at all telling the pagan kings they served about the greatness of their God (the irony being, the Jews were the ones in chains.) But that’s what we’re to do.
Revelation 12:11 tells us how we conquer Satan, the dragon, when he comes to rage and threaten us. “And they have conquered him by blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony, for they loved not their lives even unto death.”
Keep reminding yourself that Jesus suffered for you first, so plead his blood over your fearful heart. Remember that by his death and resurrection Jesus conquered death and the devil. Then preach it, preach him wherever he gives you opportunity. This is how we conquer the dragon, and overcome his evil. By the word of our testimony.
A fifth way to get ready to face the end of the world that Daniel shows us is to Pray.
When you know a time of testing is coming, pray for the strength to face it. It’s imbedded right in the Lord’s Prayer. “Lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.” And most of chapter 9 is an actual, literal prayer that Daniel prays to God on behalf of his people.
Do you have the desire for your prayer life to deepen and grow stronger? Read through chapter 9. You’ll find a number of powerful Prayer Boosters in its verses. Then imitate the things you find there. Perceive, Prepare, Plead, Proclaim, and Pray…Like Daniel.
For more, view the full teaching on Youtube: “Pray Like Daniel”.