Psalm 125: 1, 2										Rev. S.de Marie
Psalm 56: 3									Reading:	Dan. 10: 1, 20, 21;
Psalm 69: 4, 5, 9										Dan. 12	
Psalm 28: 3, 4											Matt. 24: 15-31 
Psalm 46: 1, 3, 5								Text:		Dan. 12

 Beloved Church of our Lord Jesus Christ!
We solely confess God's Word, that Christ is the King of kings and LORD of Lords. But what do we hear about this in the politics of our country?
The government is said to be a servant of the Most High God. But do you yet hear God's Word resonating the standard for its laws? As a church we still have freedom of religion, but will it remain so?
Congregation, how do you, as a church, see your place in this society? Do you have fear of what could happen to you, or can you rest assured and proceed confidently?
I may preach God's gospel to you about this from Daniel 12 under the following theme:

The revelation of God's Son to Daniel about the tribulation of the church.
1. How that tribulation unfolds,
2. What that tribulation brings out,
3. Where that tribulation ends.

1. Daniel has come to the end of his life. He is worried about the people of Israel. A small part has returned under King Cyrus. But how should it proceed? Daniel sees it gloomy, he mourns and fasts. He makes himself small before the LORD and prays and appeals to God. Just then he gets one last revelation. It begins in chapter 10.  In verse 1 we read:
In the third year of Cyrus king of Persia a message was revealed to Daniel, to whom the name of Belteshazzar is given. This message was truth but the appointed time was long; and He understood the message and had understanding of the vision. 
In that vision, God's Son shows Himself to Daniel just as impressively as He later appears to John. Daniel is thus assured that God's Son will protect and preserve His church. For God’s Son deploys his forces under the leadership of the Archangel Michael. He will break the power of the spirits of darkness so that His church can survive.
Daniel 11 further describes the contents of this revelation. At times appointed by God, new powers will arise. That will result in the arrival of a terrible king. From chapter 11:21 onwards we read how this king will come to power and will overpower God's people with all violence.
This king will also tempt Israel to turn away from God. He will then even set up an idol in Jerusalem so that he himself would be worshipped.
In this description we recognize the Syrian king Antiochus Epiphanes, who oppressed the people of Israel in a tyrannical and gruesome way, but also extremely secularized. It is a time of great distress under him. The worship service in Jerusalem can no longer take place. There is then a statue of the idol Zeus. It is served there. This king makes many covenant members, even priests, turn away from their God.
Brothers and sisters, boys and girls Antiochus Epiphanes is the Old Testament example of the Antichrist. Devotee of Satan in his fight against God and His Son. To be compared with the beast from Rev. 13, which is controlled by the dragon, Satan. How then can the church stand?
Gods Son shows that in this revelation. He, with his angelic power under the leadership of Michael, ensures that His church continues to exist despite the most violent attacks of Satan and his legions.
Antiochus Epiphanes will come to an end without anyone helping him, says 11:45. That happens at the time determined by God. Yet this certainly does not end all tribulation and temptation for the church. This is evident from the continuation in our chapter, verse 1:
and there will be a time of great trouble, such as never was since there was a nation, even to that time.
Congregation, of what time is this about? This concerns the time of the New Testament.
We deduce this from the Lord Jesus' speech about the last things in Matt. 24. In verse 15 he calls attention to the words from Dan. 11 and 12:
Therefore when you see the abomination of desolation, spoken of by the prophet Daniel,
standing in the holy place – let him who reads it pay attention! -
To say it as in verse 21 with the words of Dan. 12: 1
For then there will be great tribulation, such as has not been from the beginning of the world until now, no, nor ever shall be.
So the LORD first points out to us the abomination of desolation in the holy place. It has already been there, but will take place again. Daniel already spoke of it!
We must pay attention to that too! Precisely because this means the beginning of the great tribulation. Such an abomination is seen in the destruction of Jerusalem in AD 70.  Then the temple is desecrated by the Roman general Titus and an idol is worshipped there.
But does it also tell us something for our time? Yes, certainly. For the tribulations of the church are certainly not over with the coming of God's Son, the Lord Jesus Christ. They persist until the last day. The Antichrist will continue to rise in the manner Antiochus Epiphanes has shown. What God's Son tells Daniel pertains to all the time from Ascension to His second coming. The church will be confined, and many will go astray as well. Yes, in the church, serving God will be changed to serving men. Thus an abomination is set up in a destroyed church.
The message from Dan. 12 also fits in with what Paul says in 2 Thess. 2 on the coming of the ‘man of lawlessness’. This man will now also destroy the church and deceive many through false doctrine and blindness. That person will also be raised in the church. Paul writes about the time just before the second coming:
... for that day will not come, unless the falling away comes first and the man of sin is revealed, the son of perdition, who opposes and exalts himself above all that is called God or that is worshipped, so that he sits as God in the temple of God, showing himself that he is God.
Congregation, this thus comes very close-by. It points to the time leading up to the second coming of Christ. Lawless man will then emerge. And how! Paul writes that his coming will be:
...according to the working of Satan, with all power, signs and lying wonders, and with all unrighteous deception among those who perish,....
This man is very similar to Antiochus Epiphany. In the same way: destruction and deception, penetrating into the church, in order to take God's people away from God. Perhaps we should not think of just one man but of the man as being the humanity of lawlessness. So what God’s Son reveals to Daniel extends far beyond the first centuries after the captivity, it extends to the second coming of Christ. That's a long time. It is also a difficult time. We also know that from the book of Revelation in more detail. In the time of the beast of Revelation 13, it will even become difficult to buy and sell in this world. That is to say, we as believers cannot participate in the ordinary scheme of this world. You can already see it in the government of the once Christian country of the Netherlands. You see it by shopping on Sundays. At the worldly parties people have. More and more the compulsion will come upon you to worship the beast, that is to follow your own desires, to honour yourself. In some lands this is already accompanied by real persecution of the Church.
How long then will this time of tribulation and temptation last? Daniel gets to hear about this, as revealed in verse 6. For then he sees that the Man in the linen clothes is floating above the waters of the river Tigris. An angel is on hand on both banks to provide support. One of those angels then asks:
How long does the tribulation last?
Then Daniel hears that the Man wearing the linen clothes is swearing an oath by God Who lives forever (verse 7). God's Son empowers His oath so much that He raises both His hands in the process. Normally one hand was raised when taking an oath. The Lord Christ does it here with two hands.
Thus he makes it clear to His church that there is no doubt whatsoever as to how long the tribulation will last, namely:
a time, times and a half a time.
And He adds:
... and when the power of the holy people is completely shattered, all these things shall be finished.
Yes, the church will be seriously damaged. She will become very small. But then the last day comes. Then the LORD will end all tribulation. For congregation, the man of lawlessness, in the service of Satan, will not overcome, he will not achieve his goal. The LORD brings him to a sudden and unexpected end. Just as Antiochus Epiphanes suddenly finds his end, so will the man of lawlessness, in the twinkling of an eye, only by the breath of Christ's voice at His second coming (2 Thess. 2: 8). Jesus Christ triumphs, that's for sure! Then all His work of redemption will be completed.
That is after a time, times and half a time. Congregation, we read this expression in Daniel 7:25. There too, God speaks about the tribulation of the saints, the changing of the law by a cruel king.
Also there it says this will take:
... a time, times and half a time. But the court will be seated, and they shall take away his dominion, to consume and destroy it forever.
Congregation, Daniel 7 is talking about the same thing as in Dan. 11 and 12: there is a sudden and devastating end to the tribulation and ravaging of the church by anti-Christian forces. That will be after a time, times and half a time.
It is God Who determines this time: ‘Time’ means: the tribulation will last a long time. ‘Times’ means: if you think, now it is over, it will turn out that it will take much longer. But then ‘Half a time’: then the time of tribulation will be shortened.
For thus says the Lord in Matthew 24:
if those days were not shortened, no flesh would be saved; but for the sake of the elect those days will be shortened.
Brothers and sisters, the tribulation of the Church is going on for a long, very long time. For centuries. But only at the time determined and known by God, will Christ return. Then all tribulation, all lying, all sorrow, all wickedness and lawlessness will all at once be over. It takes a long time, but not because it got out of the hands of Christ, no, not at all. But because that's the way it has to go. That is exactly how God wants it. That is how it is laid out in His counsel. The times are in His hand. One thing God has not revealed to us about that, and that is: when the day of the end will be.

2. The theme is: The revelation of God's Son to Daniel about the tribulation of the church. We saw in the first point: How that tribulation unfolds. Now follows the second point: What that tribulation brings about.
We now first pay attention to chapter 12 verse 8. Daniel hears of the long time of the tribulation, which will nevertheless come to an end. He then writes:
Although I heard, I did not understand. Then I said, My LORD, what will be the end of these things?
So Daniel asks what is the outcome? Will there be anything left of the church then? To this the Man replied:
Go your way, Daniel, for these words are closed up and sealed till the time of the end.
Congregation, that does not seem to be an answer, does it? Go away, because this message is closed up. But then Christ continues:
Many shall be purified, made white and refined. But the wicked will do wickedly, and none of the wicked shall understand, but the wise shall understand.
In the latter we hear an answer to Daniel's question. For the LORD indicates the purpose of the tribulations. Namely the cleansing, the purification, the chastisement that the believers have to undergo in order to be able to persevere in the true faith. To be able to hold the Word of God as the Word of truth. To become wise in God's Word. To understand and be comforted by it.
To "understand" God's Word, the Lord Jesus Christ will send his Spirit. With His Word He makes His own wise. He is the Spirit of truth who guides believers into the truth. Only He can sustain them with that Word. Christ does that through the suffering and tribulation of the church. So the tribulations of the church are designed to bring out the bestowed true faith in God's children. So that they cling to God's promises through everything.
Then there will also be a large group that turns out to have no true faith. They are referred to here, in verse 10, as the wicked. They prove not to be wise, but will act wickedly. They don't understand God's word, don't live by it, because they haven't received the Word, have not believed it.
So temptation and tribulation are the test to see if faith, in the church, is genuine. The LORD Himself uses this to cleanse, purify to whiteness, and chasten His people. Yes also to separate the wheat from the chaff.
The LORD wants the believers in His church to remain wise. But they will also have a hard time. In chapter 11: 33-35 it says of these wise ones:
And those of the people who have understanding will instruct many. Yet for many days they shall fall by the sword and flame, by captivity and plundering.
 (…)
And some of those the have understanding shall fall, to refine them, to purge them, and make them white, until the time of the end, because it is still for the appointed time.
That is to say, those who may remain faithful to the LORD and who keep His Word, will help others in the Church to understand God's Word, to come to faith, and to endure in the faith. They will help build the church. But they will also have a hard time in their lives. They will be oppressed daily. Sword, fire, funeral pyre, captivity and pillage.
Yes, even among the wise of the people some may fall. There is no end to the separating, the chastisement, the purification. until the last day. Yes, some will prove to love their own lives and become unfaithful, but others will gain strength to endure.
Verse 10 of chapter 12 ties in with that. The purification and chastisement indicated by Christ will finally take place on the last day. Also in the book of Revelation we read that the LORD continues to work for the sanctification of His people:
He who in unjust, let him be unjust still;
he who is filthy, let him be filthy still;
he who is righteous let him be righteousness still;
He who is holy, let him be holy still. (Rev. 22:11)
It is God the Father who sets the times for tribulation and temptation. It is He who likewise works through His Son and Spirit to sanctify, chastise, and purify His people. He sets the time of its end.
It is also he who determines the degree of oppression and temptation. He will finally release the devil from his prison for a short while, who will try to kill the faithful church, as it were. In order that they too will start worshipping the beast. But then the LORD will intervene with fire from heaven.
God determines the times of tribulation and chastisement and the end thereof, and He does all this, for His purpose. Namely, to achieve the complete redemption of his people. As a people who did not worship the beast and its image. As a people who have not received its mark on their forehead or hand.
As a people who will stand before Him blameless by the blood of Christ at the last day. Thus the LORD will come to His glory! The final victory is His! His triumph over his adversary and all who belong to that adversary.
Then all God's children who have been allowed to follow Christ will be able to share in His final victory. All who have received understand from God, and who thereby are able to endure to the end. Then no one will be able to snatch those children, of those who have understanding, out of His hand.
Congregation, Daniel was concerned about the Church, about its tribulation and survival. But he was allowed to hear how Christ's reign continues until the time of His second coming. He heard of the trouble of continuing tribulations up to the stake, as well as the purification and sanctification of Christ's people. He heard of the sure ending that will follow. That gave Daniel peace and security. For verse 13 says:
But you, go your way till the end; for you shall rest, and will arise to your inheritance at the end of the days.
The revelation of God's Son is so comforting to Daniel. Not only for Daniel, but especially for the church of the end times this book of Daniel may be a book of comfort. Daniel must therefore write all this down and seal his book, says verse 4. He must ensure that this book does not disappear, is not robbed, will not perish.
Congregation, behold, the miracle of God's comfort that we, too, have this book as God's Word for our comfort. Let us accept this book as wise men who will learn from it for our salvation. Then, especially in times of trouble and tribulation, we too may rest, just like Daniel, and move on towards the day of Christ's return. In the time until the second coming, all the troubles of tribulation and temptation continue to come upon us in such a way that in verses 12 and 13 they are even expressed in days. Days of about 3.5 years. Time, times and a half time. But thus verse 12 says: blessed is he who keeps expecting, to the end.

3. The Revelation of God's Son to Daniel about the tribulation of the church
1.How that tribulation unfolds. 2. What that tribulation does. And as the third and final point we see: Where that tribulation ends. Daniel 12 describes the way to the second coming of our Savior. A road that is narrow. A road that is tough. But a road that is sure and on which you can expect the assistance of your Savior and His armies.
That road has an end, namely the second coming of our Savior. Even more is said about that end. Toward your comfort so you can endure. We first see that in 12: 1b:
At that time your people shall be delivered, everyone who is found written in the book.
In the fulfilment of God's counsel, the elect, who are written in God's book of life, will attain complete redemption! They will overcome the tribulation and judgement. On the last day, not one will appear to be missing. Everyone found written in the book.
The final selection will take place on the last day. On the one hand, are those who were allowed to persevere in the faith, the wise. And on the other side, those who have fallen from God, the wicked. A complete resurrection does take place (verse 2):
The believers, the wise, who sleep in the dust of the earth, will awaken to eternal life. But the unbelievers, the wicked, the hypocrites, the apostates, they will rise to reproach, to everlasting horror.
 What is described here about the resurrection of the flesh on the last day is unique to the Old Testament. The Lord Jesus Himself speaks the same about it in Matt. 25. There He describes the division between the sheep and the goats. And He concludes his words with a reference to the very text of Daniel 12.
And these will go into everlasting punishment, but the righteous in eternal life...
Congregation, how wonderful the oneness of the whole Bible is. Let us time and again marvel on this! Eternal life in glory is described in verse 3 like this:
Those who are wise shall shine like the brightness of the firmament, and those who turn many to righteousness like the stars forever and ever.
What a glorious state you are being told here!  On the last day the radiance of the glory of God will be seen on all who have believed in Him, and who, then, will be with Him forever. They are then, as it were, the stars in the firmament, reflecting the sunlight.
Then the importance of the work of the faithful in the communion of the saints is emphasized here. About helping others to serve the LORD together.
In chapter 11:33 it was already said of these believers
And those of the people that have understanding shall instruct many.
And in verse 3 of chapter 12 it is mentioned in their transfiguration:
...those who turn many to righteousness.
By this is meant those who have helped others in the ways of righteousness. They have brought sinners into God's ways. As an instrument of the Holy Spirit.
Congregation, in a time of tribulation and temptation we need one another, as children of God, to use our gifts of knowledge of faith and Scriptural insight in the fellowship of the saints for the benefit of the other. To sharpen, edify and admonish one another by God's Word.
What exactly should we be thinking of? In addition to the preaching, we should think of the work at the Bible study societies, the work of catechism teaching, of Reformed education, the work of the office-bearers in the homes. But just as much the mutual building up in the ordinary meetings that you may have as church members. Building up by God's Word. We also have to think especially of evangelism.
Congregation, that glorious work is pleasing to God and He will reward with “mercy” later, in eternal life. The LORD Himself watches the mutual building up and He names it especially with a view to your eternal glory.
Congregation, for that, you have been given to one another in the church to endure tribulation. To make the right choice when chastised. Pray that you, as a church, will not be led into temptation, but that you may stand in the power of the Holy Spirit. And look forward, together, to the moment when you will soon be able to shine like the stars, forever. There will be no end to that. Also, that is certain. Now already in God's book.
Amen.