Let’s look again at what Daniel said…
“His armed forces will rise up to desecrate the temple fortress and will abolish the daily sacrifice. Then they will set up the abomination that causes desolation. 32 With flattery he will corrupt those who have violated the covenant, but the people who know their God will firmly resist him.
33 “Those who are wise will instruct many, though for a time they will fall by the sword or be burned or captured or plundered. 34 When they fall, they will receive a little help, and many who are not sincere will join them.
35 Some of the wise will stumble, so that they may be refined, purified and made spotless until the time of the end, for it will still come at the appointed time.” (Daniel 11:31-35)
Daniel is speaking here about the enemy of your soul sending his armed forces against the temple of God. These are not soldiers of a human army, but are nevertheless real and coming against God’s temple. This word shows clearly that the temple fortress is being desecrated. Many will turn away from God. Even some of the wise will stumble so they can be made into what God needs us to be. But those who love God will firmly resist the evil one (even though it means we will be bruised). We will be made new and spotless – temples that shine to the rest of the world!
It’s exciting to learn that if we follow Him, He will mature and grow us to the point where we can teach many. But what’s with all the pain and suffering?
Hebrews speaks about this:
“If they did not escape when they refused him who warned them on earth, how much less will we, if we turn away from him who warns us from heaven? 26At that time his voice shook the earth, but now he has promised, “Once more I will shake not only the earth but also the heavens.” 27The words “once more” indicate the removing of what can be shaken—that is, created things—so that what cannot be shaken may remain.
28Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, let us be thankful, and so worship God acceptably with reverence and awe, 29for our “God is a consuming fire.” (Hebrews 12:25-29)
So apparently we still have this mixture in us. God is bringing a shaking to remove the mixture of clay from us so that only the iron of His Kingdom remains. That which can’t be shaken. Undergoing a shaking is painful! Our flesh loves these things about it that must be shaken off. But look what we get…an eternal Kingdom which cannot be shaken!
This post is Part 8 in the series The Coming Storm Daniel Revelation. To continue with this series, click on Pt 9. To gain more insight about this coming storm, you can read more about it here and in Pt 1, Pt 2, Pt 3, Pt 4, Pt 5, Pt 6 and Pt 7.
Photo credit: Hans Speijer