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After a significant delay, the pastor resumed the funeral service, or so he thought. The graveside service was miserably cold and wet, with rain continuing to fall. Everyone tried to crowd under the tent where a small heater attempted to offset the bitter cold. As the pastor began to read the encouraging words of Romans 8, “For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, …” he was interrupted by flames bursting from the heater, causing everyone to flee the tent. To remedy the problem, the funeral director leaped over the casket toward the heater to disconnect it, sending floral arrangements flying in all directions. But as for you, go your way to the end; then you will enter into rest and rise again for your allotted portion at the end of the age.” In Daniel’s vision of chapter 7, the same four Gentile kingdoms seem to be in view as described in chapter 2. The four metals of chapter 2 are replaced by the four beasts of chapter 7. In chapter 7, a new element of prophecy is introduced in Daniel—the “little horn” who boasts (verses 8 and 20), speaks against the Most High (verse 25), and successfully opposes God and His saints (verses 21, 25). Now the success of the “little horn” and the suffering of the saints is shown to precede the coming of the kingdom of God, when the “little horn” is destroyed and the promised kingdom is granted to the saints (verses 9-12, 22, 26-27). While Daniel would surely be concerned with the length of time his people would suffer in the Great Tribulation, the emphasis of this paragraph does not seem to fall on the length of Israel’s suffering but on its purpose. The suffering will end when its purpose has been fulfilled: “as soon as they finish shattering the power of the holy people, all these events will be completed” (verse 7).
Henderson's presence remains an issue as Peggy and Malloy finally seem to get their timing right and get closer. When the novel opens: "neither of us was in love with the other", with Peggy often seeing the more age-appropriate and quite devoted Herbert, a safer kind of boyfriend (though also limited in what he can offer -- presumably part of what appeals to Peggy about him). Daniel 12 is the crowning chapter of this prophecy, as well as its conclusion. It takes the believer to the high-water mark of Christian hope—the assurance of the resurrection of the dead. Let us listen and learn, and gain hope and comfort. The Setting If for this life only we have hoped in Christ, we are of all people most to be pitied. But in fact Christ has been raised from the dead, the first fruits of those who have died.” I have conducted many funerals, but never have I had an experience approaching this one. Nevertheless, every funeral service which I conduct presents me with a great challenge. Funerals must deal with the ugly reality of death and the reminder that each of us must come to terms with it.When you face the reality of death, my friend, will it be with hope or with fear? The answer to this question has much to suggest concerning your relationship with Jesus Christ. May you trust in Him for eternal life, before and beyond the grave.
The most important fact is that heaven is a real place. Listen to the words of Jesus on the night before he was crucified: While the specifics of God’s plan for the future will remain a mystery to Daniel and to us, God does not leave Daniel in doubt as to the implications of prophecy for this Old Testament saint. The final verse of the chapter and of the Book of Daniel spell out the hope of Daniel and every Old and New Testament saint: According to Daniel 12:1, it is “at that time” that Michael arises. From chapter 11 we know that that “time” is the period of the end time (11:40) when the “king of the North” engages the “king of the South” militarily, and when the “king of the North” is very successful. Rumors from the East and the North reach him, and he becomes very hostile and aggressive, destroying and annihilating many (11:44). At this time, the “king of the North” will encamp his troops between the seas and the “beautiful Holy Mountain” (11:45), and then Michael will arise. The same was true for those in Daniel’s day as well as for those in the last days. They needed no new revelation. They needed to believe God’s promise of salvation which was revealed to them in the Old Testament Scriptures, just as every Old Testament saint was saved by faith (see Hebrews 11). While the last days would be characterized by a rapid increase in knowledge, this will not turn men toward God. Instead, men in the last days will vacillate, manifesting no consistency. They will go here and there seeking new knowledge (see Acts 17:16-21). The prophecy of the Book of Daniel proves to be of great value to those living in the last times, for it gives insight into the events taking place around them. The Length of Consider Christians like yourselves who have laid hold on hope in Christ. For example, in 1934, when twenty-eight-year-old John Stam, missionary to China, was being led away to execution by the communists with his wife Betty, someone on the road asked, “Where are you going?” John laid hold on the hope set before him and said, “We are going to heaven.”If you have more time, and if you want to go deeper into the topic of this session, you can follow up by exploring the longer Catechism of the Catholic Church. See the standard online version here, and a digital “flip-book” edition here. Here are the readings that go with this week’s Sycamore session: His death would be the “entrance into his rest.” His hope was that he would rise from the grave to receive the blessings which God had promised. The prophecies of God’s Word, in which Daniel found courage and comfort, were certain because he would rise from the dead to receive his “allotted portion at the end of the age.” Conclusion
What practical things could help you grow in your Christian faith at this stage in your life? What resolutions or steps could you take? In verse 3, the reward of the righteous in eternity is directly linked to their faithfulness to the task they were given in time. Those who “let their light shine” in the dark days of persecution and opposition, and thus led many to righteousness, will shine brightly forever in eternity. Dr. Pettingill concludes that in heaven, we will know every person in heaven, and all of them will be friends and loved ones to us. Miller is a no-show for the meeting they set, but then runs into Malloy at a restaurant and introduces himself.The Prince of Preachers cared not for streets of gold or immortal bodies. His all-consuming desire was to see and behold his Savior. Is this your desire? Malloy was married, but it didn't work out, and in Hope of Heaven his main squeeze is young -- barely in her twenties -- Peggy Henderson, who works in a bookstore.
From the beginning of her life, she had a purity and a holiness that was unknown since the Garden of Eden. She was completely open to God. When she was still a virgin, Jesus was conceived in her womb, not through sexual intercourse, but through the power of the Holy Spirit. She brought Jesus into the world and cared for him with the support of her husband St Joseph. Oh! rest of the righteous, how blest art thou, where families shall again be bound up in one bundle, where parted friends shall again meet to part no more, and where the whole church of Christ united in one mighty circle, shall together praise God and the Lamb throughout eternal ages.” (MTP 3: 213) Heaven is the place of hope because the God of hope is there. If you have looked to Christ alone, the joy of heaven is your hope. You shall see your Christ face-to-face, and your present sufferings shall be no more. This joy will be eternal, as all the saints of God will praise him together for eternity. Yes, we will see departed Christian loved ones, both family and friends—but our focus shall be on King Jesus and his glory.
What he bought was not the nullification of our wills as though we didn’t have to hold fast, but the We can ask them to pray for us. Why would we do that? Because Christians pray for each other. And prayer makes a difference. It’s that simple. They are alive in Christ, and we are connected with them through him. Then I looked, and there was the Lamb, standing on Mount Zion! And with him were one hundred and forty-four thousand who had his name and his Father’s name written on their foreheads.” Peggy lives with her brother Keith, a college student; their father, Philip, has been absent for most of their lives, but does occasionally send money; he appears to travel a lot. Daniel did not ask the question. Instead, one of the angels standing on the shore of the Tigris river asked for him. The answer was given by the One whom Daniel saw in the vision of 10:5-6—our Lord Himself. He raised both hands and swore by the eternal Father 117 who “lives forever” that the end of these wonders would come after a time, times, and half a time. This is generally understood to mean a period of three and one-half years.
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