Daniel: Thriving in a Modern-Day Babylon: Part 9 It's All Part of the Plan

It’s All Part of the Plan
Daniel 11-12

Daniel 11:36 “The king will do as he pleases, exalting himself and claiming to be greater than every god,
even blaspheming the God of gods. He will succeed, but only until the time of wrath is completed. For
what has been determined will surely take place.”

Daniel 11:27 “Seeking nothing but each other’s harm, these kings will plot against each other at the
conference table, attempting to deceive each other. But it will make no difference, for the end will come
at the appointed time.”

1. Be people who are strong and resist evil.
Daniel 11:31-32 “His army will take over the Temple fortress, pollute the sanctuary, put a stop to the
daily sacrifices, and set up the sacrilegious object that causes desecration. He will flatter and win over
those who have violated the covenant. But the people who know their God will be strong and will resist
him.”

Isaiah 40:31 “But those who trust in the LORD will find new strength. They will soar high on wings like
eagles. They will run and not grow weary. They will walk and not faint.”

James 4:7-8 “So humble yourselves before God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Come close to
God, and God will come close to you.”

2. Be people of refinement.
Daniel 11:35 “And some of the wise will fall victim to persecution. In this way, they will be refined and
cleansed and made pure until the time of the end, for the appointed time is still to come.”

Daniel 12:10 “Many will be purified, cleansed, and refined by these trials.”

1 Peter 1:6-7 “So be truly glad. There is wonderful joy ahead, even though you must endure many trials
for a little while. These trials will show that your faith is genuine. It is being tested as fire tests and
purifies gold—though your faith is far more precious than mere gold. So when your faith remains strong
through many trials, it will bring you much praise and glory and honor on the day when Jesus Christ is
revealed to the whole world.”

3. Be people who shine.
Daniel 12:1-4 “At that time Michael, the archangel who stands guard over your nation, will arise. Then
there will be a time of anguish greater than any since nations first came into existence. But at that time
every one of your people whose name is written in the book will be rescued. Many of those whose bodies
lie dead and buried will rise up, some to everlasting life and some to shame and everlasting disgrace.
Those who are wise will shine as bright as the sky, and those who lead many to righteousness will shine
like the stars forever.”

John 8:12 “Jesus spoke to the people once more and said, “I am the light of the world. If you follow me,
you won’t have to walk in darkness, because you will have the light that leads to life.”

2 Corinthians 4:4 “Satan, who is the god of this world, has blinded the minds of those who don’t believe.
They are unable to see the glorious light of the Good News. They don’t understand this message about
the glory of Christ, who is the exact likeness of God.”

Revelation 21:23-24 “And the city has no need of sun or moon, for the glory of God illuminates the city,
and the Lamb is its light. The nations will walk in its light, and the kings of the world will enter the city in
all their glory.”

Daniel 12:8 “I heard what he said, but I did not understand what he meant. So I asked, “How will all this
finally end, my lord?”

Daniel 12:11-13 “From the time the daily sacrifice is stopped and the sacrilegious object that causes
desecration is set up to be worshiped, there will be 1,290 days. And blessed are those who wait and
remain until the end of the 1,335 days! “As for you, go your way until the end. You will rest, and then at
the end of the days, you will rise again to receive the inheritance set aside for you.”

4. Be people who are blessed.
Matthew 25:31-46 “But when the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, then he will
sit upon his glorious throne. All the nations will be gathered in his presence, and he will separate the
people as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. He will place the sheep at his right hand and
the goats at his left. “Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my
Father, inherit the Kingdom prepared for you from the creation of the world. For I was hungry, and you
fed me. I was thirsty, and you gave me a drink. I was a stranger, and you invited me into your home. I
was naked, and you gave me clothing. I was sick, and you cared for me. I was in prison, and you visited

me.’ “Then these righteous ones will reply, ‘Lord, when did we ever see you hungry and feed you? Or
thirsty and give you something to drink? Or a stranger and show you hospitality? Or naked and give you
clothing? When did we ever see you sick or in prison and visit you?’ “And the King will say, ‘I tell you the
truth, when you did it to one of the least of these my brothers and sisters, you were doing it to me!’
“Then the King will turn to those on the left and say, ‘Away with you, you cursed ones, into the eternal
fire prepared for the devil and his demons. For I was hungry, and you didn’t feed me. I was thirsty, and
you didn’t give me a drink. I was a stranger, and you didn’t invite me into your home. I was naked, and
you didn’t give me clothing. I was sick and in prison, and you didn’t visit me.’ “Then they will reply, ‘Lord,
when did we ever see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or naked or sick or in prison, and not help
you?’ “And he will answer, ‘I tell you the truth, when you refused to help the least of these my brothers
and sisters, you were refusing to help me.’ “And they will go away into eternal punishment, but the
righteous will go into eternal life.”