THE PROPHET DANIEL AND A THEOLOGY OF SUFFERING

The most righteous man, Job, had to suffer that most grievously. Paul, perhaps the Lord’s greatest missionary, had to endure 49 beatings, but all of this had been according to the will of God, as He had informed Ananias: “I will show him how much he must suffer for the sake of my name” (Acts 9:16).

Suffering is not accidental. As God had informed Daniel, it is actually programmed into our lives:

• “And I heard the man clothed in linen, who was above the waters of the stream; he raised his right hand and his left hand toward heaven and swore by him who lives forever that it would be for a time, times, and half a time, and that when the shattering of the power of the holy people comes to an end all these things would be finished.” (Daniel 12:7)

When evil didn’t have a face and had seemed far away in another place and time, it was easier for me to accept. But now, as evil seems to be ready to pounce, it’s another thing:

• As I looked, this horn made war with the saints and prevailed over them, until the Ancient of Days came, and judgment was given for the saints of the Most High, and the time came when the saints possessed the kingdom. (Daniel 7:21-22)  

• “He [the evil king] shall speak words against the Most High, and shall wear out the saints of the Most High, and shall think to change the times and the law; and they shall be given into his hand for a time, times, and half a time... And the kingdom and the dominion and the greatness of the kingdoms under the whole heaven shall be given to the people of the saints of the Most High; his kingdom shall be an everlasting kingdom, and all dominions shall serve and obey him.’”(Daniel 7:25, 27) 

There’s no mistake about it. We are to be an offering to evil:

• His [the wicked king’s] power shall be great—but not by his own power; and he shall cause fearful destruction and shall succeed in what he does, and destroy mighty men and the people who are the saints. (Daniel 8:24) 

Everything within me cries out against this, even though we are promised a glorious everlasting kingdom. However, as I watch the growing decimation of the brethren along with our prophesied internal decay (Matthew 24:6-9), I am not finding much consolation, even in light of our promised resurrection:

• “And many of those who sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, some to everlasting life, and some to shame and everlasting contempt. And those who are wise shall shine like the brightness of the sky above; and those who turn many to righteousness, like the stars forever and ever.” (Daniel 12:2-3)

Instead, I want to fight. However, Daniel often reminds us that the Lord is in perfect control of these horrid but necessary circumstances:

• “And as for the two kings, their hearts shall be bent on doing evil. They shall speak lies at the same table, but to no avail, for the end is yet to be at the time appointed.” (Daniel 11:27, 29, 35)

In the hands of this master surgeon, nothing can go wrong, but we are the objects of His surgery:

• “He shall seduce with flattery those who violate the covenant, but the people who know their God shall stand firm and take action. And the wise among the people shall make many understand, though for some days they shall stumble by sword and flame, by captivity and plunder...  and some of the wise shall stumble, so that they may be refined, purified, and made white, until the time of the end, for it still awaits the appointed time.” (Daniel 11:32-33, 35)

The noted preacher, Charles Spurgeon wisely wrote, “If the road to heaven were smooth, heaven wouldn’t be so sweet in the end.” His words mirror those of Peter:

• Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery trial when it comes upon you to test you, as though something strange were happening to you. But rejoice insofar as you share Christ’s sufferings, that you may also rejoice and be glad when his glory is revealed. (1 Peter 4:12-13)

Can I rejoice? Couldn’t our Savior have found a less horrific way to bring us home to be with Him? However, Jesus also prayed for a different way, but submitted Himself to His
Father. I must do likewise.

If purification begins with us (1 Peter 4:17), what will be the fate of the wicked?

• Many shall purify themselves and make themselves white and be refined, but the wicked shall act wickedly. And none of the wicked shall understand, but those who are wise shall understand.” (Daniel 12:10)

With what understanding must we endure? For one thing, I remind myself that I too require His purifying surgery. For another thing, our calm trust in the Lord in the midst of adversity is our love offering to the world. Daniel’s three friends offered their lives through their faithfulness. They would not worship the King and were therefore thrown into the fiery furnace, from which they were miraculously rescued. As a result

• [King] Nebuchadnezzar answered and said, “Blessed be the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, who has sent his angel and delivered his servants, who trusted in him, and set aside the king’s command, and yielded up their bodies rather than serve and worship any god except their own God. Therefore I make a decree: Any people, nation, or language that speaks anything against the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego shall be torn limb from limb, and their houses laid in ruins, for there is no other god who is able to rescue in this way.” (Daniel 3:28-29)

Our God accomplishes great things through the faithful witness of His people. Daniel was thrown into a den of lions because he worshipped his God. However, God miraculously speared him:

• Then King Darius wrote to all the peoples, nations, and languages that dwell in all the earth: “Peace be multiplied to you. I make a decree, that in all my royal dominion people are to tremble and fear before the God of Daniel, for he is the living God, enduring forever; his kingdom shall never be destroyed, and his dominion shall be to the end. He delivers and rescues; he works signs and wonders in heaven and on earth, he who has saved Daniel from the power of the lions.” (Daniel 6:25-27)

Our God brings forth good out of evil. He not only speared Daniel but used his faithfulness to bring salvation.

You probably realize by now that I am preaching to myself. I need to! I want to be prepared, even if it means my martyrdom. Paul wrote that when we remain confident, this will serve as a powerful sign of our salvation and the damnation of our oppressors (Phil. 1:27-29). And it might even lead to their repentance.

I also want to be like Daniel. After he finished praying, the archangel Gabriel came and informed him:

• “O Daniel, I have now come out to give you insight and understanding. At the beginning of your pleas for mercy a word went out, and I have come to tell it to you, for you are greatly loved.” (Daniel 9:22-23)

Please understand, I do not want to be a martyr. I’d rather be a warrior, but we are told that when we are persecuted in one place, we should flee to another. Lord, help us to learn your lessons.

Judgment and Rescue: The Return of our Savior

All Christians realize that we must be about the Lord’s business when He returns for us, but when will He return? This is a question that perplexes many. Some believe it will be before the great seven-year tribulation (pre-trib) and some after (post-trib).

The three main texts on the subject seem to argue persuasively for a post-trib return. After Jesus informed His disciples about the destruction of their temple, while they were sitting together on the Mount of Olives, they asked:

• "Tell us," they said, "when will this happen, and what will be the sign of your coming and of the end of the age?" (Mat. 24:3)

Focusing on the latter part of their question, He explained that many things would have to first occur before the great tribulation and His return for His church:

• "Immediately after the distress [“tribulation,” KJV] of those days 'the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light; the stars will fall from the sky, and the heavenly bodies will be shaken.' At that time the sign of the Son of Man will appear in the sky, and all the nations of the earth will mourn. They will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of the sky [Dan. 7:13-14], with power and great glory. And he will send his angels with a loud trumpet call, and they will gather his elect from the four winds, from one end of the heavens to the other.” (Mat. 24:29-31) 

Even though Jesus’ return would take place at the end of the tribulation, many, as in the days of Noah, would be taken by surprise. Jesus therefore emphasized the need for them to “keep watch” (24:42) because He would come suddenly and decisively:

• Two men will be in the field; one will be taken and the other left. Two women will be grinding with a hand mill; one will be taken and the other left. (Mat. 24:40-41) 

Jesus mentions absolutely no return prior to this post-trib return. If there was to be a secret pre-trib return, Jesus would have misled His disciples, who, as a result of this teaching, would have anticipated a return after this tribulation.

Generally, when Christians think about the rapture, the first verses they think of are these:

• Brothers, we do not want you to be ignorant about those who fall asleep, or to grieve like the rest of men, who have no hope. 14We believe that Jesus died and rose again and so we believe that God will bring with Jesus those who have fallen asleep in him. 15According to the Lord's own word, we tell you that we who are still alive, who are left till the coming of the Lord, will certainly not precede those who have fallen asleep. 16For the Lord himself will come down from heaven, with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet call of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. 17After that, we who are still alive and are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will be with the Lord forever. (1 Thes. 4:13-17)

When will this return take place? Right after this passage, Paul relates Jesus return and the rapture into the clouds with the “day of the Lord” and the “destruction” of His enemies – the very end:

• For you know very well that the day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night. 3While people are saying, "Peace and safety," destruction will come on them suddenly, as labor pains on a pregnant woman, and they will not escape. 4But you, brothers, are not in darkness so that this day should surprise you like a thief. (5:2-4)

If Jesus’ return comes right before the “day of the Lord” and the “destruction,” we have to conclude that His return will also be post-trib.

Despite the suddenness of Jesus’ return, Paul assures us that we – His people - will not be surprised, the very assurance that Jesus gave us:

• "Now learn this lesson from the fig tree: As soon as its twigs get tender and its leaves come out, you know that summer is near. 33Even so, when you see all these things, you know that it is near, right at the door.” (Mat. 24:32-33)

Although we do not know the actual dates, we will be able to anticipate our Lord’s return as events unfold.

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I must reflect that this kind of thinking is repugnant to the thinking of our age, which is contemptuous of any judgment and any distinction between the righteous and unrighteous, believer and unbeliever. Instead, universalistic and radically tolerant worldviews are in vogue. Along with this understanding, is the assertion that we are not truly free moral agents who deserve punishment. Instead, modernity either denies freewill and culpability or degrades humanity to no more than a product of nature and nurture – a result, an animal, sophisticated but dehumanized and degraded.

Consequently, as long as modernity embraces this worldview, judgment becomes disdained as inappropriate and contradicts the idea of oneness that is now esteemed above all else. However, if modernity wants to be consistent – if they want to reject the biblical revelation in favor of a radical egalitarianism of outcome – modernity should test this hypothesis by eradicating any form of judgment here in this temporal world. However, this cannot happen without chaos.

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Paul warns the church to not be deluded that we will not have to go through the tribulation. Instead, the revelation of the anti-Christ must precede Christ’s return for His church:

• Concerning the (2) coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and our being (2) gathered to him, we ask you, brothers, 2not to become easily unsettled or alarmed by some prophecy, report or letter supposed to have come from us, saying that the day of the Lord has already come. 3Don't let anyone deceive you in any way, for that day will not come until the (1) rebellion occurs and the man of lawlessness is revealed, the man doomed to destruction. 4He will oppose and will exalt himself over everything that is called God or is worshiped, so that he sets himself up in God's temple, proclaiming himself to be God… 8And then the lawless one will be revealed, whom the Lord Jesus will overthrow with the breath of his mouth and destroy by the splendor of his (2) coming. (2 Thes. 2:1-8)

In order to allay any confusion or deceptive, Paul lays out the order of events:

1. “Man of lawlessness is revealed” (2:3) and desecrates the temple “proclaiming himself to be God” (2:4), working miracles (2:9), deceiving the unbelievers (2:10).
2. Christ returns for His church and the destruction of the anti-Christ (2:1, 8)

Christ’s return isn’t simply a matter of rescuing His church but also of establishing justice with the destruction of the forces of evil. In this text, Paul explains why this teaching about the relative time of Christ’s return is important. He explains that he doesn’t want the church to be deceived into believing that Christ will return before the revelation of the “man of lawlessness.” This deception is dangerous because believers might be “easily unsettled or alarmed…that the day of the Lord has already come.”

This is precisely the scenario painted by the pre-trib philosophy that claims that Jesus will come prior to these events and, therefore, might unsettle many who had expected that they would not have to go through the tribulation. Paul does not want this to happen. Therefore, he warns against such a notion.

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We must not regard God’s judgments and punishments as antiquated ideas. Society has found them to be ubiquitously vital to human flourishing. Why then should we insist that eternal consequences should have no place in the next life!