Daniel 12:13
"But go thou thy way till the end be: for thou shalt rest, and stand in thy lot at the end of the days."
We have come to the conclusion of the Prophet Daniel's vision, and the verse above is the final message regarding the progression of prophetic history until the end times. To delve into the details of the vision would be too large an undertaking for a short devotional, as it covers days, centuries, and the ultimate conclusion of mankind and life as we know it. Instead, we will focus on the distilled essence of these closing words, which were left with the prophet—and with us.
In the conclusion of this glorious vision, the messenger angel simply tells Daniel to go his way until the end. Prophecy is often thought to have no practical implication on our everyday lives, but the opposite is true—it has a profound effect. Daniel was to continue living his life until the very end but with the knowledge of what would come to pass. So it is with us: when I read of the ages to come, and the Holy Spirit, through the Word of God, reveals to me that there is an eternity to spend with my Savior, a world without sin, a reconciled human race, and a new, restored creation, I can live in light of those truths. Though, for now, we do not experience their fulfillment, we know that a day is coming when all the evils of this world will not only be spiritually defeated but also physically. Today, Christ sits on the throne in Heaven, but soon He will sit on a throne on earth. Heaven and earth will no longer be separate, for God will dwell with man, and man with God. As we realize these truths, we can live every day, like Daniel, with the expectation of what is to come, until our dying day.
Another blessing of prophecy is the promise of rest: "Thou shalt rest." All prophecy for God's people ends with peace. Rest is often fleeting in this life—coming in seasons or even moments. We are harassed by the old man, attacked by the enemy, despised by the world and its system, and some have even lost their lives to evil men. Yet here is a truth that can carry us through every storm, trial, and affliction: "For thou shalt rest." There is an eternal rest to come—rest for your entire being, not just your body, mind, or soul. In this life, rest is often partial. I’ve found that during times of immense temptation, sleep has been a blessing from God, giving my mind and body rest while my soul remained troubled. In times of physical pain and exhaustion, I’ve experienced peace in my soul while my body suffered. These moments of rest are temporary, but the rest that awaits us is total and eternal. If eternity offers complete rest, then let me spend this life working—sowing, watering, preaching! There will be rest when this life, like the day, comes to a close, so let me labor while it is still day.
Finally, here is the grandest theme of what is to come: "And stand in thy lot at the end of the days." The prophecy given to Daniel would not take place in his lifetime, but his death would not keep him from standing in his lot at the end of days. How is this possible? Through the resurrection. This is a prophecy of the resurrection—a reminder that death has no hold over God’s people. We have an eternal lot, a place in Christ that a billion eternities could never erode. We have eternal life in Jesus Christ—life without beginning or end. Believers have a place not only in eternity but in the eternal, and all who have believed or ever will believe in Him shall stand with Him and in Him. We will be raised up on the last day, what Scripture calls the "adoption," the "redemption of our bodies" (Romans 8:23). While Christ was on earth, He told us He is the resurrection and the life. We will rise in the resurrection on the last day and live in The Resurrection for all eternity.
Dear Christian, in light of all the terrible things happening in the world, lift your eyes to the days ahead. Take comfort in the precious truths distilled into the closing lines of Daniel's book: "Go thou thy way till the end be: for thou shalt rest, and stand in thy lot at the end of the days."
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