Jesus taught that all scripture testifies about him so that in him we might have life (John 5v39-40). King David taught that it is only by living according to God's word that we're kept on the right path (Psalm 119v9). What then could be better than reading the entire Bible? Click the menu to read about the program, choose a month or Bible book - or just work through the blog posts day by day.
BEGIN WITH PRAYER
"Lord open my eyes and my heart."
Read slowly so that you take in. And as you do, turn your heart to God, thanking him for the good you discover and praying his will home for you, your family, your church and the world.
Wisdom to chew on
Understanding to grow in
Chapter 11 ends with a ruler encamped in readiness to attack the holy mountain (representative of God's people), only to suddenly come to his end (11v45). 12v1 implies his defeat will be because the angel Michael arose to protect God’s people. And so, although this will be a time of unsurpassable distress, all whose names are written in God’s book (recording those who are his) will be delivered. Whether this refers to the end of Antiochus Epiphanes or the end of history, 12v2 certainly speaks of the final resurrection. So how God’s people responded will matter. Some will be raised to everlasting shame and contempt (no doubt because of their compromises), and others to everlasting life. The latter are the “wise” who remained faithful and sought to lead others to honour God (as 11v33). And they will then shine (with God’s glory) forever. Daniel is then told to seal the words until “the end” – ie. the time these things refer to. It is added that people will seek all sorts of places to increased knowledge, when it is found in these visions. But Daniel himself is confused, and the sense is that the vision will only make sense when these events happen. Nevertheless, what can be known is that many will be purified by what is to come, whilst the wicked will continue in their wickedness and ignorance. Most likely, its use in the rest of the book makes the three and a half years the symbolic time remaining on the 70x7s after the abomination of 70AD (9v25-27, cf. 7v25). In being a set time it encourages the hearer to persevere beyond “the end” (1,335 days is a month and a half longer). This is the sense of 12v13. Daniel is to set the example by persevering to his end, so that he might rest in death and then rise to inherit his portion at the end of time. As you read note what encourages you to persevere.
Daniel 12
Finish this reading by pausing to ask yourself:
Finish this reading by pausing to ask yourself:
1) What’s the main thing it teaches me about God or his purposes in Christ? Then praise him for this.
2) What’s the main thing it teaches me about his will for me or the world? Then pray that home.
Devotion to offer up
You could read this aloud and perhaps as a springboard to further prayer.