Sabbath: Daniel and the End Time
Image © Pacific Press from GoodSalt.com
Read for This Week’s Study: Luke 16:10; Daniel 1; Daniel 2; Daniel 3:1-6; Rev. 13:11-15; Dan. 3:13-18; John 3:7; Daniel 4; Daniel 6.
Memory Text: “The king answered Daniel, and said, ‘Truly your God is the God of gods, the Lord of kings, and a revealer of secrets, since you could reveal this secret” (Daniel 2:47, NKJV).
The Lord had great plans for ancient Israel. “And ye shall be unto me a kingdom of priests, and an holy nation” (Exod. 19:6). This holy nation, this kingdom of priests, was to be His witness to the world that Yahweh was the only God (see Isa. 43:10, Isa. 43:12).Unfortunately, the nation didn’t live up to the holy calling that God had given it. Eventually, it even went into captivity in Babylon.
Interestingly enough, God was still able to use individual Judeans to be His witnesses, despite the disaster of captivity. In other words, to some degree, God would accomplish through Daniel and his three fellow captives what He did not achieve through Israel and Judah. In one sense, these men were examples of what Israel as a nation was to have been and to have done.
Yes, their stories unfold in a time and place far removed from the last days. But we can still find traits and characteristics in these men that can serve as models for us, a people who not only live in the end time but who are called to be witnesses about God to a world that, like the pagans in the Babylonian court, does not know Him. What can we learn from their stories?
Study this week’s lesson to prepare for Sabbath, April 14.
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Thinking about this topic and the many conversations, teachings, and sermons over the years: is "preparation" for the end days something that needs focus?
Daniel and his companions were preparing, not for a time in the future, but to honor God every day and in every way possible. By living this way they were well prepared for whatever the future brought.
The focus on preparation is for those who remain unprepared(didn't someone write that "not one in twenty is prepared", or words to that effect?). It is nothing more or less than the Gospel invitation to any who have yet to respond with all their heart. There will be nothing more tragic than to feel prepared, only to find one was unprepared. This day will come as a thief upon most, even of those who say "Lord, Lord!"
The focus on Daniel is very appropriate and reveals what you are suggesting as the true focus: serving God faithfully and continually. Zephaniah reveals the true preparation for the "day of the Lord's anger" by seeking righteousness and meekness(Zeph 2:3). This is a daily seeking for the present which will provide the hiding place in the future.
our focus should not be when is it coming but how will the time coming find us.....our relationship with God......
I think it's fair to say we are in the end times. Certainly EGW thought so and even Paul seems to have thought so. The preparation for today and every future day should be prayer, Bible study and sharing our faith. When I read and hear of studies showing that 75-80% of Adventists don't do daily Bible study, then talk of preparation makes a lot of sense. If the preparation you're referring to is burying gunny sacks filled with cans of vegemeat in the woods someplace, then no it doesn't make sense. I'm thinking with your reference to Daniel and his companions that your question is about spiritual preparation?
this lesson is about Showing God's Character in what we do in life.It might not be easy as in the story in the book of Daniel, however, when we allow the Holy Spirit to lead and guide us into all truth, we will be ok in the end.
God had great plans for Israel but they failed Him but we see God did not plan to fail He then used Daniel and his friends what Israel had to Accomplish, therefore if we fail Him, He will use some other measure to fulfill His plans. My prayer and desire is to prepare daily to fulfill His mission just like Daniel.
"God had great plans for Israel" sounds as if God did not know what would happen. Certainly the God who knows all knew some would stumble, some would fall but some would endure and be faithful.
"God did not plan to fail" Exactly God only needed a remnant of Israel to accomplish the plans He had for them, his plans would not fail, for God does not fail.
Love your enemies
I believe this lesson should shift the focus from the achievement of those men to the service they were brought to give.
Israel did not understand what to abide with God meant, they were supposed to be a light in the world, not a proud self exalted nation, they lost sight of the meaning of Godliness, they were taken to learn to serve, they learnt to be Christians to love their enemy, bless those who prosecuted them, that was the foundation of their righteousness, first they served, through the execution of that principle then their virtues became worthy, this is very important to highlight since it is in the same way that the gospel works. Firstly receive the gospel, love your neighbour and then bear good fruits
The king answered Daniel, and said, ‘Truly your God is the God of gods, the Lord of kings, and a revealer of secrets, since you could reveal this secret” this is what our enemies needs to confess no matter what we go through they must understand that the God we trust in him is Lord of Kings.
It is worth remembering that the King learned about the God of gods by observing the relationship that Daniel and his friends had with God.