We Keep Missing It
How many times have you listened to
evangelists take the audience through
the book Daniel, chapter by chapter?
Did you get tired of hearing the same
points being made and decided you’d
never want to hear another prophecy
series about Daniel? Alright, then you
know all about the main theme of the
book. Right? So what is it? Say it right
now in less than ten words.
Here is the main theme of Daniel's 12
chapters in five words: "Good News
From the Sanctuary!" Bear in mind that
the main purpose for giving the Sanctuary
to Israel was that God would dwell
among them as their Savior (Exodus
25:8; 29:42-46).
- Daniel 1—The Sanctuary is attacked
- Daniel 2—The nations that would defile God's temple and the truths it illustrated
- Daniel 3-6—Babylon defies the principles of God's law which lies at the heart of the Sanctuary
- Daniel 7—The rebellion against God and His temple addressed in the Judgment
- Daniel 8 & 9—God's provision to
remove sin by the blood of an innocent
victim is tramped on until no
hope seems possible for God's people until the Messiah appears on the Cross
- Daniel 10—Good and evil angels battle over the rebuilding of the Sanctuary
- Daniel 11—The Medo-Persian kings involved in restoring the Sanctuary
and the wars affecting worshipers in
God's Sanctuary
- Daniel 12—The final war on the
Sanctuary and the promise of Judgment
to free God's people
Over and over again it seems there is
little or no hope for the people of God.
And no hope appears until the Atonement
(sacrifice) of Jesus to remove our
sins and unite us with God. Therein is
our hope and assurance. It is the Good
News of Daniel's book. And it seems
like we have missed it many times
while we have tried to figure out details
relating to the beasts and time
prophecies. Imagine missing the Good
News while staring at dragons and calendars!
It is because the main theme of
Daniel's book is about the Good News
(the Gospel of Salvation through Jesus
Christ by Faith) that it has the ability to
change lives today. That's why a little
old lady once said, "When the books of
Daniel and Revelation are better understood,
believers will have an entirely
different religious experience. Those
who eat the flesh and drink the blood
of the Son of God will bring from the
books of Daniel and Revelation truth
that is inspired by the Holy Spirit. They
will start into action forces that cannot
be repressed. The lips of children will
be opened to proclaim the mysteries
that have been hidden from the minds
of men" (E. G. White, Testimonies to
Ministers, p. 114, 116).
God will give us a more vibrant life
when we give the Good News the same
attention and emphasis we have given
the beasts in Daniel's book. Don't give
up on Daniel before you have seen the
Good News there. And when you see
it, cherish it, and share it.
--Pastor Ivan Blake
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