Our Name

O. T. #2017  "Our Name"

Sept. 3, 2021

Daniel 12-Part 2

LET IT GLOW

Our name is important to us. It is our identity and sets us apart from others. Our name will be important when time is over, too.

According to Charles Swindoll, there are 4 groups of people and their destinies found in the last chapter of Daniel:

1. Those whose name is written in the book of life. (Rev. 20:12)the list of names of every person who has ever trusted in Christ as Savior will be written in it. Also, those Jews who are saved during the Tribulation will be preserved then. (12:1b)

2. Those who sleep in the dust of the ground.

• All believers and unbelievers who have died will be bodily resurrected at the end of the Tribulation. Believers will be resurrected "to everlasting life" with the Lord Jesus, the first group of believers who trusted Christ during the Church Age. (1 Thess 4:13-17)  They are the church saints. (1 Cor. 15:15) Their resurrection will happened during the time of the Rapture.
• Those saints who lost their lives during the Tribulation. They will be raised from their graves when Christ returns to earth to establish His Millennial Kingdom. (Isaiah 26:19-21)
• Then, unbelievers will go to disgrace and "everlasting contempt" apart from the Lord Jesus. Since works cannot save anyone (Romans 3:21-30), all unbelievers will be sentenced to hell for everlasting punishment. (Matthew 25:41-46)

3. Those who have insight and teach the Scriptures during the Tribulation. (11:33, 35) They will have courage to instruct people in God's Word.

4. Those who lead the many to righteousness. (12:3b) They will evangelize the unsaved during the Tribulation, spreading the good news of salvation despite the intense oppression. They will shine like the stars forever. This may occur at Christ's Second Coming.

 

LET IT GROW

Daniel was commanded to conceal the prophecy and seal up the Book of Daniel until the end of time. (verse 4a)

The New Testament indicates that ever since the earthly ministry, death, and resurrection of Christ, we have been in the end times. (Acts 2:15-17; Hebrews 1:2; James 5:3; 1 Peter 1:20) So the angel's command was valid until the New Testament era. As time passed, serious students of Daniel's book would gain a clearer picture of what it teaches and how and when its prophecies would be fulfilled. 

We know that knowledge has increased during our modern computer era. Back in 1945, knowledge doubled every 25 years. They say it doubles every 12 months, now, instead of every10 years when I was teaching. Soon it will double every 12 hours, as predicted. 

Are we increasing in knowledge of the God's Word?

Are we increasing in faith, obedience, and love of Christ?

 

LET IT GO

Give us a desire to know You more, Jesus.

Fill us with Your Word to share with others.

How wonderful is Thy salvation!