Scripture Reading: Daniel 12:1-13, 2 Peter 3:8-13, Revelation 1:4-8
“How long, LORD? Will you forget me forever?” (Psalm 13:1). When I’m struggling, these words from the psalmist often echo in my mind. I was 15 years old when I learned about Jesus, began reading the Bible, and became a Christian. Now I look back on over thirty years of following God and finding Him faithful. Yet when I trudge through deep valleys of anxiety, conflict, or brokenness, I still often find myself doubting, wondering, Lord, do you see me? Do you care?
Daniel’s visions were terrifying, and the suffering he saw was ongoing and global. He was given a weighty responsibility to witness and report such intense distress. Yet he was also given a powerful reminder of God’s promises. This gracious reminder is for us as well.
An angelic interpreter explained to Daniel, “Those who have insight will shine like the bright expanse of the heavens, and those who lead many to righteousness, like the stars forever and ever” (Daniel 12:3). What a strange thing to say, that God’s people would shine like stars. But the imagery was not lost on Daniel. He was a faithful Israelite, and this “star talk” would trigger the memory of God’s ancient promise made in the midst of another man’s vision: “Do not be afraid, Abram. I am your shield… Look at the sky and count the stars, if you are able to count them…. Your offspring will be that numerous” (Genesis 15:1,5). God promised to grow and protect a vast nation through Abram’s family tree. Yet, as the years went by and his wife, Sarai, bore no children, Abram began to fear that God might not be true to His Word.
Like Abram, Daniel was scared of the future. When would the distress give way to deliverance? “How long until the end of these wondrous things?” asked another witness in the vision (Daniel 12:6). Daniel didn’t get all the answers, but he did receive assurance that God was, and would always be, trustworthy. In remembering the stars, Daniel knew that God had not forgotten Abram. A son, Isaac, was born. God kept His promise to grow the nation of Israel through Abram’s descendants, and He changed Abram’s name to Abraham, meaning “Father of a Multitude” (Genesis 17:5). God proved Himself true to Abraham, and He would continue to be faithful to Daniel and all future believers.
Maybe the stars can trigger our memory of God’s faithfulness too. God knows we can be confused by the world’s suffering and by our own pain. Like Daniel, we may be scared of the future. But God assures us He is “the Alpha and the Omega… the one who is, who was, and who is to come, the Almighty” (Revelation 1:8).
This is our trustworthy, unchanging, eternal hope. God established His people through Abraham’s son, and He protects and secures His people through His own Son, Jesus. God is with us: we are His people, and He is our God. We may forget God, but He does not forget us. He sees us, and He cares for us. Remember the stars.
Patti Sauls lives in Nashville, Tennessee, with her husband Scott and daughters, Abby and Ellie, where they serve alongside the people of Christ Presbyterian Church. Prior to living in Nashville, the Sauls planted churches in Kansas City and Saint Louis and served at New York City’s Redeemer Presbyterian Church. A trained speech therapist, Patti also enjoys serving behind the scenes, hiking with friends, and reading good books.
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32 thoughts on "The End of Days"
Such a good study. A difficult book to plow through but it is powerful, terrifying, and beautiful all at the same time. Because we see a heavenly father with a plan and a kingdom that will last forever. Lord, may we hold fast to you and your word in these last days.
The second half of Daniel has always been obscure to me. Thank you for these devotionals that remind me of the truth of God’s faithfulness and steadfastness, however obscure the visions may seem to me.
I can’t get over the incredible things Daniel was shown, what an honour, humbling vision and heavy weighted thing all at once! Incredible.
I have so enjoyed reading these and have lots to think about….
Lord never forgets he does it all.
Just caught up !!!!!!!!! Yay !!!! … I was tempted by a Cricut I scored on Prime Day and my Insane Excitement took over :( …. soooo I did not give up and thanks to God put myself back on the path of nightly devotions :) …. ps. I still have all my commentary work to go through as an additional resource and it is very helpful :)
Thanks for sharing and being a great inspiration to keep going :)
When I was a young child I would go outside and lie down on the ground and look up at the stars for what seemed like hours. All these years later I love to just look up and stare at the night sky filled with those bright stars. Remember the stars! Wow!
Just catching up! I love this devotional, what wonderful reminder that God hears us and keeps his promises.
I have been suffering from anxiety the past couple of months and I have found myself saying, “how long Lord?” This as a wonderful reminder that everything is in God’s timing. Thank you for this.
Such a good study what I once found to be a difficult book of the Bible I now find encouraging.
Prayers for you and your family Diane.
I just received great news, Finley, the little girl I take care of is coming home today. The surgery went well. She will have the casts on for six weeks which for her is going to be very hard for a very active five year old. Please continue to pray for all of us.
The book of Daniel reminds in some ways of the book of Revelation. Some of Daniel’s visions were similar to John’s vision in Revelation if I remember correctly.
Patti’s words hit home in so many ways. Lately, I have been asking some of the same questions. I have been also finding myself straying (as I’m sure some of you have noticed) from the Lord and my daily devotions. I will be copying a few of Patti’s sentences on index cards and posting them throughout my apartment.
I also hope you my SRT sisters don’t mind if I write some of your posts on index cards and post them throughout my apartment, I find some of them to be words of encouragement when I need them most. I might even pass a few along to my sister if you don’t mind.
God bless all of you and have a great weekend.
I’m praying that my life can model Daniel’s in faithfulness after this study. I am in my last year of law school, so in many ways, I feel like I’m isolated from other believers and have to work through hard questions in what feels like on my own. I feel like I often fail to share my faith with others. Law school is hard- harder during a pandemic. But the peace God has given me over the past 2 years tells me that my fellow students need His love, provision, promise, hope, and presence too. Thank you SRT for this study.
Praying for you Diane
DIANE SCUDDER, I will be praying for your heart and for your family. I understand the aloneness you feel. It often causes me to seek out verses similar to the one Patti used above – Psalm 13:1. Praying God grants healing to your parents and that God will comfort and guide your heart in your marriage.
Diane I am praying for you, your parents, your sister and your marriage.
I loved this study!!!!! Remember the stars!!!!! I’ll think of our everlasting hope from now on each time I look at the stars!!!!
Please pray for me today. Both my parents were diagnosed with COVID-19 on Tuesday. They are 89 and 90 years old. They’ve had it for two weeks now and are suffering at home because they and my sister are afraid they would be left to die alone if they go to the hospital. (My dad had a terrible experience there earlier with a TIA.) I had a plane ticket bought for Wednesday morning to go help my sister take care of them, and then my husband changed his mind at the last minute about letting me go because of concerns my children had raised. I have a difficult marriage and no one but Jesus in hard times. I have been comforted by the reading this morning and by Psalm 141-145. Please pray for God’s help and presence for my parents and my sister and for me, that I will keep myself in the love of God. I’m really thankful to have this Christian community to reach
out to and request prayer this morning.
Praying for you, your parents, your sister, and your marriage. God give you strength. Praying! Praying! Praying!
Diane, I am praying with you today for the healing and safety of your parents and sister. May God bring peace and comfort to you and your family. I will keep you all in my prayers.
Praying for you today, Diane. ❤️
Joining in prayer for you and your parents and family in this difficult time, Diane. May you sense God’s presence in a very special way.
I may not have all the answers, or understand all that I see (Like Daniel), but I can continue on my way, living in step with Jesus, until the end of days.
“Remember the stars.”
Like a rainbow marks God’s promise, the stars will now be a reminder to me not only of God’s faithfulness to Abraham, but of His faithfulness to me through His Son, Jesus.
May I, in turn, shine like the stars (12:3) because of this truth in my life.
This has been a great study. I learned so much more about Daniel and the meaning of his visions and prophecies. The podcasts were really helpful. Thanks SRT.
For such a time as this, so thankful for God’s Word as it draws me nearer to the Lord. I love Daniel’s heart for God, as we have seen over and over his faith is in the Faithful One. Praying I act on my faith and honor God in word and action without fear and with boldness and love. So thankful for SRT and HRT and the writers who show that the Word is so full of good things and application to the here and now. Loved this today from HRT. “As we live in the tension of this world, between Eden and Eternity, we can cry out “How long?!” but we can also cry out in victory and hope no matter our circumstances because we remember the work of Jesus, which helps us not only confess “this too shall pass,” but “this too shall be healed.” “ Amen! He’s got us, praise Jesus!
God thank you for Daniel and his life. Thank you for your word to guide us. I pray for wisdom and faith like Daniel’s. Thank you for all of the SRT writers and all of the women of God that are here sharing and praying together.
Amen
Loved this study so much
Churchmouse, that is so good. Those scriptures stood out to me too. I used to run track in high school and our coaches would always yell, “finish strong!” And that’s how these verses feel to me. We have to keep going, giving God our all up until the very end.
What a wonderful way to end this study in Daniel! The Lord is ALWAYS trustworthy, even when I am not, others are not, and the circumstances in the world are not. Praising God for His trustworthiness!
“But as for you, go on your way to the end.”
“It is clear what sort of people you should be in holy conduct and godliness as you wait for the day of God and hasten its coming.”
These two verses in today’s reading are comforting. With all the future holds, we’re told to carry on today, walking in faith. Regardless of what is happening around us, we’re to stand firm, focused on the promises of God, continuing to walk in the Spirit. We are not left without a road map or a guide book. We have His Word. And He always keeps it.
Lord God, help me to be faithful.
Daniel 12:6 is answered in Daniel 12:11. At the time the daily sacrifice is abolished and then so many days is when those things ended. I believe it was about 70 ad when all that happened and the Temple destroyed.