Here’s my fairly literal translation of these verses:
32And he will corrupt evil doers of [the] covenant in flatteries, and [the] people ones knowing their God will be strong and do. 33People being wise will instruct many, and they will be staggered by sword and in flame, in captivity and in spoiling [for] days. 34Those being staggered will be helped [with] a little help and many will join themselves to them in hypocrisy. 35And [some] from ones being wise will be staggered to refine them and to purify and to make white upon [the] time of the end, because yet [will be] to the set time.
During my lifetime, the idea of a “prosperity gospel” has done considerable harm in the Church. I imagine most of us would say, “Yes, that’s right. Those charlatans hurt a lot of people with the idea that the Lord wants to make you rich and happy!” However, I would suggest those ideas are woven deeply in all of our hearts. We just naturally seem to think, “If I’m a Christian, I shouldn’t have to suffer.” Then we would no doubt add, “Well, of course, there will be some suffering, but nothing too bad.” We’re anxious for the world to see that we are just very happy, blessed people.
In this passage, the Lord gives us a dose of reality, if we would just listen. He just said “the people who know their God will instruct many.” Our foolish hearts would then assume that kind of people will be carried along on a wave of adulation and applause. We’re talking about good people here, right? If they truly know their God, they will be very kind, very patient, humble, giving people. Everyone will love them, right? And the Lord will bless them with a sweet, quiet life, right?
What does our passage say? “…for a time, they will fall by the sword or be burned or captured or plundered.” Reality time. Jesus was the perfect man, and what happened to Him? According to tradition, all of the Apostles were eventually killed with the exception of John, but even he was exiled to the Isle of Patmos in his old age. What did Jesus warn us? “In this world, you shall have tribulation” (John 16:33). What did Paul say? “As it is written, ‘For Your sake we are killed all the day long; we are accounted as sheep for the slaughter’” (Rom. 8:36). That sure doesn’t sound like “prosperity gospel!”
Now I want to go in what may be a very different direction from here. Usually, if we even get on this subject, we’re all left asking ourselves, “How would I do? If I ever faced such awful times, would I be able to stand?” Then we’re supposed to beat ourselves up with the realization that lurking in our hearts is more weakness and cowardice than we’d prefer to admit.
In the real world, it seems to me the vast majority of Christian people do live and die relatively quiet lives. Very few of us are actually martyred for their faith. It could happen. It might happen, but more than likely it won’t. If we would profit from this passage and from Jesus’ words, I would suggest we scale these truths down to the world we actually live in.
What do I mean? The fact is there is little chance that today I will be threatened with martyrdom. However, I will face trouble. Even in small ways, I will be harassed with fears and plagued with all sorts of disappointments, pains, and difficult situations. How often do you and I have to quote to ourselves, “All things work together for good”? Are not all these “troubles” just training grounds for the larger troubles which might come? If you and I don’t learn to trust the Lord through all these lesser troubles, how can we expect to trust Him if we are ever called to face the kinds of horrible trials that some have suffered?
Rather than beating ourselves up about being burned at the stake, let’s ask the Lord to help us not to get irritated at our spouse or kids. Let’s ask Him to help us not to worry over our bills or show our temper at work. I need Him to help me listen and be patient with others even when I’m bone tired or to be kind to the cashier, even if she isn’t nice at all.
Are those not the kinds of “troubles” you and I face every day? Do they not all call for the same decisions of faith? Martyrdom or even cancer or family tragedies are very real possibilities, but is it not true we have plenty of opportunity every day to learn to trust God when it seems life is not what we hoped? And, I would assert again, those days are the training ground for the possibility of true tragedies. “If you have run with the footmen, and they wearied you, how will you contend with horses?” (Jer. 12:5). “He that is faithful in that which is least, is faithful also in much” (Luke 16:10).
Jesus warned us, “In this world, you will have tribulation,” and this very passage in Daniel teaches us the same – to expect trouble and not to allow in our hearts that discouraging fantasy that, if I’m a Christian, life should be easy.
Then, look too at the passage and be reminded of two things: There is always an end to trials and we can always be assured the Lord is using them to make us better people. Note that verse 29 starts with “at the appointed time,” and verse 35 ends with the same words. “At the appointed time.” What do even those words teach us? That the Lord has His schedule and everything will happen according to that. The forces of evil (whether human or demonic) may seem very powerful, yet they remain completely under the Lord’s control.
Then second, what do we learn the Lord is up to with His people? His plan is that “they may be refined, purified and made spotless until the time of the end…” (v.35). Of course, this is just an example of Romans 8:28,29: “And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them that are the called according to His purpose…” And what is that purpose? “For whom He did foreknow, He also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of His Son…” Once again, we see, God’s purpose is to make you and me better, to make us holy. When sin is gone forever, He’ll give us heaven – perfect love, joy, and peace forever – but, in the meantime, rest assured even the slightest irritation He allows specifically to make us better.
Last of all, notice one more dose of reality. In verse 34, we’re warned, “Many who are not sincere will join them.” One of the greatest discouragements in this world is to know so many people who call themselves Christians, who even occupy positions of importance in our churches, only to be disappointed (and sometimes even shocked) by their un-Christian behaviors. We could write volumes on that subject, but at least let us now be reminded that “the gate is small and the way is narrow, and few are they that find it.” No matter how discouraging people like that may be, let us always remember we were warned it would be true, and what matters is that you and I make sure we’re not part of them. I suspect you and I have no idea how important our lives are – either to discourage others or to raise their spirits and urge them along the right path!
“The people who know their God.” Let each of us not run past this passage in Daniel, but take the time to drink deeply of its wonderful lessons. Though, in this world, we may in fact face terrible trials, we are the people of God…and as Daniel has taught us again and again, “The Most High rules in the lives of men and nations.” Our God is in control and working all things together for the eternal good of His people!
“A good person will have no fear of bad news,
confident in the Lord”
(Psalm 112:7)
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