What Time is it?

Pentecost 19 – September 29, 2024

Daniel 10:10-14
Psalm 103:1-5, 20-22
Revelation 12:7-12
Luke 10:17-20

In the Bible the books of Daniel and Revelation have inspired much speculation. They are apocalyptic literature. That is, they were written in a time of persecution and were meant to comfort and strengthen the believers in their faith. They tell a story given to the writer through visions and are highly symbolic in nature so that only the believers would know the true meaning of the book. Daniel, the youngest book of the Old Testament, pretends to be a prophetic book written during the Babylonian captivity. This allowed Daniel to write the history of Israel as predictions showing how God had delivered the Israelites from all their previous troubles and would deliver them from the Greek persecution they were experiencing at the time he was writing. Revelation was also written in a time when God’s people were being persecuted. It also is a book that seems to predict the future. Yet much of the symbolism in the book speaks of the persecution that the Christians were experiencing at the time the book was written. The primary reason for this book is to assure the persecuted Christians that God was still in charge and would deliver them from their troubles. These two books were written not so that God’s people would sit around and speculate when and how Jesus would return. They were written to comfort God’s people in times of great persecution and remind them that God knew their struggles, was supporting and comforting them, and would deliver them from persecution.

These books, meant to give comfort and uplift God’s people are, unfortunately, seen by many  as predictions of our future and they miss the central message of them. Our generation is not alone in this. Throughout history many have tried to predict the time of Jesus’ return with these books. All of them have failed because they misunderstood these books. Remember Jesus did tell us it is not for us to know when he will return – that is up to God. We are called to live our lives so that when Jesus does return we can be called good and faithful servants. 

While our struggles pale in contrast to the Israelites in Daniel’s time and the early Christians, they often get in the way of our seeing God’s grace. While it is not our struggles that distract us from God’s gifts, it is the glittery attractions of the world. I am not telling you something that you don't already know. How many times do we confess this here in this place and in our prayers? God knows that and forgives us our transgressions and sins so that we can, despite our faults, live as the children of God. It is not just Michael who works to help us, it is Jesus, God’s own son who shed his blood for us so that we can be the children of God and answer Jesus’ call to pick up our cross and follow him. As Daniel and John knew and wrote, God will always be present in our lives in our struggles and in our joys. Live your lives in the freedom that comes from knowing God always saves God’s people.