The Sixth Seal - November 26, 2017 sermon

By Pastor Greg...

During a visit to the retirement home, curious young man asked the director, "How do you determine whether or not a person should be institutionalized?"  "Well," said the Director, "We fill up a bathtub, and then we offer a teaspoon, a teacup and a bucket to the patient and ask him or her to empty the bathtub."  "Oh, I understand," said the young man. "A normal person would use the bucket because it's bigger than the spoon or the teacup."  "No," said the Director. "A normal person would pull the plug. Do you want a bed near the window?"

Normal people do normal things, right?  Normal people find shelter during a tornado; they do not stand at the back door and watch the funnel cloud rip through the backyard.  We read in Revelation chapter six that people sort of do the same thing.  People from all walks of life naturally try to find shelter from the cosmic events that unfold when Christ opens the Sixth Seal.  But then they do something that doesn’t make sense.

(Revelation 6:12-17) ¹² I watched as the Lamb broke the sixth seal, and there was a great earthquake. The sun became as dark as black cloth, and the moon became as red as blood. ¹³ Then the stars of the sky fell to the earth like green figs falling from a tree shaken by a strong wind. ¹⁴ The sky was rolled up like a scroll, and all of the mountains and islands were moved from their places.

¹⁵ Then everyone—the kings of the earth, the rulers, the generals, the wealthy, the powerful, and every slave and free person—all hid themselves in the caves and among the rocks of the mountains. ¹⁶ And they cried to the mountains and the rocks, “Fall on us and hide us from the face of the one who sits on the throne and from the wrath of the Lamb. ¹⁷ For the great day of their wrath has come, and who is able to survive?”^[1]

This is for real.  This is pretty wild stuff.  Sun darkened.  Moon turns red.  Stars fall from the sky.  Mountains and islands moved out of their place.  This is a scene straight out of Hollywood.  Movies like Independence Day or Close Encounters depict this great ominous cloud rolling across the sky.  The world is thrown into darkness, and people realize that this great power is descending to the earth (Cloverfield, District 9, War of the Worlds, and Super 8 are other classic examples).  However, I don’t think John wants us to focus on these events.  Rather, he draws our attention to the way people react to them.

Something more happens here; something more than a dark sun and a red moon.  There must be because the people of the earth run and hide to escape the presence of God and the wrath of the Lamb.  And I find their reaction to these events interesting and, at the same time, a little odd.  It’s interesting because somehow, in the midst of these catastrophes, people will recognize God.  They will realize that very soon, Jesus will be passing judgment.  How do they know this?  How will they know this is the Almighty and His Son, the Alpha and Omega?  I don’t know the answer, but somehow, deep in their heart, they will know God has come to earth, and His visit will not be very pleasant.

I also find their reaction a little odd.  You see, people have constantly been complaining that God doesn’t reveal Himself to the world.  “Where is God,” wrote Michael Gerson in last year’s Washington Post.  “If God really exists, why doesn’t he show himself in some dramatic, undeniable way?” he writes.[2]  But when God does reveal Himself, rather than rejoicing that at last, they have their proof, the people flee in terror.  Isn’t that rather odd?

I suppose not because we see a foretaste of this today.  Even today, people tend to run from God.  It seems a little odd.  If they know they are sinful, why not cry out for mercy instead of hiding?  Why act like Adam and Eve?  “They heard the sound of the Lord God walking in the garden in the cool of the day, and the man and his wife hid themselves from the presence of the Lord God among the trees of the garden” ^[3] (Genesis 3:8).  But, this is what happens when His holiness confronts our evil.  It makes us nervous. It makes us uncomfortable.  And yet, if people would just stop running and hiding, they might be quite surprised at what they will find. 

In Isaiah 40, the prophet reveals the awesome power of our God.  He says that the “glory of the Lord will be revealed, and all people will see it together.”  God reminds them that “people are like the grass. Their beauty fades as quickly as the flowers in a field. ⁷ The grass withers and the flowers fade beneath the breath of the Lord. And so it is with people.”  Yet rather than destroy these people by His presence, the Almighty God “will feed his flock like a shepherd. He will carry the lambs in his arms, holding them close to his heart” ^[4] (Isaiah 40:5-11).  This is what actually happens when His holiness confronts our evil.  If people would just hang around long enough, they would learn about God’s mercy and love found in Jesus the Messiah.  But they don’t.  They scurry off in fear of what they don’t know.

Yes, a day is coming when the Lord God and the Messiah will pull back the Heavens and reveal themselves to this world.  That Day of Judgment will come.  The light will shine in the darkness, and those with darkness in their hearts will run and hide.  But… that day is not yet upon us.  That day has not arrived.  Today is a day for Salvation (2 Corinthians 6:1-2).

Yes, today is the day of salvation.  In Luke 12:58-59 Jesus teaches us that it is better to settle things before we face the judge… meaning that while we have the opportunity, we should find a way to deal with our sin before that Great Day of Judgment.  And this is what Jesus is offering to do.  By accepting the offer of Jesus, He wraps us in a robe of righteousness (as we discussed last week).  In His mercy, God sent His Son ahead of time so that you and I might have an opportunity to be spared that Day of Wrath; so we would not run and hide from God. 

This just seems to make sense.  Since we know that we are sinners and since we know God is going to judge us for that sin, doesn’t it make sense that we would find a way to have our sin forgiven?  In His mercy, God has told us how we might be saved from the Day of the Lord.  It seems to me that a normal person would accept God’s offer found in Jesus Christ.  But people still chose to run and hide.

Isn’t that rather odd?

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^[1] Tyndale House Publishers. (2013). Holy Bible: New Living Translation (Re 6:12–17). Carol Stream, IL.

[2] https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/where-is-god/2016/12/23/495ebfca-c881-11e6-85b5-76616a33048d_story.html?utm_term=.52262064ca51

^[3] New American Standard Bible: 1995 update. (1995). (Ge 3:8). La Habra, CA: The Lockman Foundation.

^[4] Tyndale House Publishers. (2013). Holy Bible: New Living Translation (Is 40:11). Carol Stream, IL.

The Fifth Seal - November 19, 2017 sermon

By Pastor Greg...

April 20^th, 1999, two armed gunmen entered Columbine High School in Colorado.  12 students and one teacher were killed.  Most famous was a girl named Cassie Bernall whom witnesses say was asked if she believed in God just before she was shot to death.  She was killed, some people say, because she said yes.

If the exchange between this teenage girl and her killer are true, then she would be what is considered a Christian Martyr.

History is filled with individuals who were killed in cold blood because of their faith.  There were godly men and women killed during Old Testament times.  And Christians like Stephen or Apostles like James were killed in New Testament times.  For thousands of years, violent people have been killing believers because of their faith in the Lord.

And the Lord knows each of them by name.

A lot of people are killed by violent, cruel individuals.  And not every Christian is killed because of their faith.  But some are.  Some are asked to denounce their faith in Jesus or recant their beliefs while staring at the end of a gun or the edge of a sword.  Some Christians are forced to renounce their faith while fellow believers are tortured (consider the events depicted in the 2016 movie Silence).  What’s troubling is that this is going to continue.  Christians are going to be martyred up until the day Jesus calls all believers to Heaven.  And, even after the rapture, men, women, and children who finally believe in Jesus will be killed because of their faith.

When will it end?  When will the world stop killing people because of their faith in Jesus?  When will Jesus make this wicked world pay for spilling the blood of innocent believers?  That is a question these martyrs will ask Jesus one day.

Remember that Scroll God gave to Jesus – the one with the Seven Seals?  Every time Jesus breaks one of those seals, a specific End Time event unfolds.  The first four events focused on what the Antichrist will do to the world.  However, this fifth seal takes us back to heaven, and the throne of God.

⁹ When the Lamb broke the fifth seal, I saw under the altar the souls of all who had been martyred for the word of God and for being faithful in their testimony. ¹⁰ They shouted to the Lord and said, “O Sovereign Lord, holy and true, how long before you judge the people who belong to this world and avenge our blood for what they have done to us?” ¹¹ Then a white robe was given to each of them. And they were told to rest a little longer until the full number of their brothers and sisters*—their fellow servants of Jesus who were to be martyred—had joined them ^[1] (Revelation 6:9-11).

In his previous visions, John had not seen these martyrs.  But now they are present; men, women, and children who had been killed because they would not renounce their faith.  They were not seeking revenge, but they did wonder how much longer God was going to tolerate the presence of evil.  It sure seemed that God was condoning the wickedness of humanity.  Good people were being killed, and the wicked were not being punished.  It made God appear indifferent or uncaring.

In response, God gives each of these martyrs a white robe.  That’s significant.  Although the world condemned them for their faith, the Lord commends them.  He dresses them in a spotless white gown; not just forgiving their sin, but treating them just as if they had never sinned.  They are justified. 

I wonder, will the only Christians permitted close to God be those who were killed because of the faith?  What kind of gown does the rest of us get to wear?

I doubt most of us will be killed because of our faith… although it has happened in our nation.  But nevertheless, this world makes living like a Christian quite difficult.  It may not kick in the front door and shoot us with a gun, but it does pester and nag and tempt us all the time.  And, let’s face it, sometimes we slip.  Sometimes we feel our Christian witness slipping away.  Sometimes we “soil” ourselves with wicked thoughts or careless actions.  What must the Lord think of us?  Will we find ourselves standing off and alone wearing old tattered rags stained by sin?

The Bible repeatedly teaches that even those Christians who die a natural death will be honored for their faith.  God will take away those soiled clothes and dress us in festival robes (Zechariah 3:4).  He will cover us in a “garment of salvation” (Isaiah 61:10).  The truth here is that a person does not need to be killed to receive a white robe.  They simply need Christ.  The image of these martyrs symbolizes their “right” to join Jesus in judging the people of this world (Revelation 20:4).  But each of us will radiate the glory of the Lord when we get to heaven.  For the first time in our life, we will be spotless and blameless; without blemish or wrinkle.  We will be holy and without fault (Ephesians 5:27).

You and I may never have our blood shed because of our faith, but we will face daily temptations to “quit the race” (compare Hebrews 12:1).  Don’t give up.  Keep holding on to what you have been taught.  Fix your eyes on Jesus (Hebrews 12:2).  Today, we may not be perfect.  Today, we may stumble.  Today, we may sin.  But we still press on toward the goal.

“Brothers and sisters, I can’t consider myself a winner yet. This is what I do: I don’t look back, I lengthen my stride, and ¹⁴ I run straight toward the goal to win the prize that God’s heavenly call offers in Christ Jesus” ^[2] (Philippians 3:13-14).

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^[1] Tyndale House Publishers. (2007). Holy Bible: New Living Translation (3rd ed., Re 6:9–11). Carol Stream, IL.

^[2] GOD’S WORD Translation. (1995). (Php 3:13–14). Grand Rapids: Baker Publishing Group.

The First Four Seals - November 12, 2017 sermon

By Pastor Greg...

Sherlock Holmes and Dr. Watson went on a camping trip.  Some hours after they laid down for the night, Holmes awoke and nudged his faithful friend, "Watson, look up at the sky and tell me what you see."  Watson replied, "I see millions and millions of stars."  "What does that tell you?" Holmes asked.  Watson pondered for a minute. "Astronomically, it tells me that there are millions of galaxies and potentially billions of planets. Astrologically, I observe that Saturn is in Leo. Horologically, I deduce that the time is approximately a quarter past three. Theologically, I can see that God is all-powerful and that we are small and insignificant. Meteorologically, I suspect that we will have a beautiful day tomorrow. Why?  What does it tell you?"

Holmes was silent for a minute, then spoke, " Someone has stolen our tent!"

You can almost hear Sherlock Holmes say, “Why, the answer is elementary, my dear Watson.”  However, I wonder what people will say when a large percentage of the population disappears.  How will the world leaders explain the Rapture?

The Rapture if the Church is the day Jesus calls all believers to Heaven; the day the Spirit of God is withdrawn from the earth.  How will the event be explained?  Christian teachers and leaders have a theory, based on some actual comments made by “New Age” mystics and psychics.  Israeli mystic Uri Geller wrote, “[extra-terrestrials] would not interfere until, in a single night, at the peak of the conflict, they would remove millions of humans who resist this initiation into a higher spiritual consciousness and ‘re-educate’ them before returning them to Earth a few years later.”[1]   Another example comes from Barbara Marciniak, a mystic, and psychic channeler.  In her book “Bringers of the Dawn” she writes, “The people who leave the planet during the time of Earth changes do not fit in here any longer, and they are stopping the harmony of Earth. When the time comes that perhaps 20 million people leave the planet at one time there will be a tremendous shift in consciousness for those who are remaining.”[2]

So, in their minds, people who resist change or who resist the initiation into a higher spiritual consciousness will be taken away by some alien force.  The idea is that Mother Earth or some cosmic being will finally rid the earth of those who interfere with “oneness” and “unity.”  These comments are why some biblical scholars feel government leaders will attribute the Rapture to “alien abduction.”

It is essential for us to understand the emotional climate of the world once Christians are taken away.  If we understand this, we can better understand the events which follow once Jesus begins to open the Scroll. 

In Revelation 6, John says, As I watched, the Lamb broke the first of the seven seals on the scroll. Then I heard one of the four living beings say with a voice like thunder, “Come!” ² I looked up and saw a white horse standing there. Its rider carried a bow, and a crown was placed on his head. He rode out to win many battles and gain the victory.

³ When the Lamb broke the second seal, I heard the second living being say, “Come!” ⁴ Then another horse appeared, a red one. Its rider was given a mighty sword and the authority to take peace from the earth. And there was war and slaughter everywhere.

⁵ When the Lamb broke the third seal, I heard the third living being say, “Come!” I looked up and saw a black horse, and its rider was holding a pair of scales in his hand. ⁶ And I heard a voice from among the four living beings say, “A loaf of wheat bread or three loaves of barley will cost a day’s pay. And don’t waste the olive oil and wine.”

⁷ When the Lamb broke the fourth seal, I heard the fourth living being say, “Come!” ⁸ I looked up and saw a horse whose color was pale green. Its rider was named Death, and his companion was the Grave. These two were given authority over one-fourth of the earth, to kill with the sword and famine and disease and wild animals. ^[3]

It is implied that the rider on these horses is the same individual.  The color of the horse changes, but not the one who sits on the horse.  Significantly, this rider enters the scene on a white horse.  He comes as a victor but does not fight a single battle.  He has a bow, but no arrows.  He is given a crown (a stephanos; a victor’s crown, not a diadema; a kingly crown).  He unites the world without a single battle.  The world government he establishes will happen without warfare. 

I used to wonder how that could happen.  How is it possible that many of the nations in this world will openly embrace the leadership of this Antichrist? 

I don’t have that answer.  I am not exactly sure.  I may not know precisely why or how this will happen, but considering the growing loathing for Christian values and morals in this world, it’s not hard to imagine that those left behind will breathe a deep sigh of relief.  At last the world will be freed of all unenlightened buffoons; the deplorables will finally be gone.  Naturally, when a leader arises calling all like-minded nations to unite, most people on the earth will gladly surrender to his leadership.  He is precisely the kind of leader the world has wanted.  However, not everyone on earth will be so enchanted by the Antichrist.

After the Rapture of Christian men, women, and children, some who are left behind will finally believe in the message preached by the Church.  The good news is they will be saved in eternity; the bad news is they will not be spared these great trials and tribulations.  Probably also present on the earth will be many other religions.  There will still be Jews in the world; this much is certain.  But perhaps we will even see Hindus, Buddhist, Muslims, Mormons, Jehovah Witnesses, etc.  Certainly, they will not fawn over this leader’s plan for a one-world government and a one-world religion.  They will resist.  And although the Antichrist assumes power without going to war, he will lead his followers into battle attempting to annihilate every other form of religion.  Revelation 6:8 says 25% of the people on this earth will be wiped out…except for the Jews.  For whatever reason, this Antichrist will “protect” the Jewish people from these great battles.  He will pretend, at least for three and a half years, to be their friend; their “savior.”

This is what will happen one day in the future.  The Church will be taken away, and the world will rejoice.  A world leader will rise to power.  He will call the “enlightened” to unite with him in the battle against those who resist, notably, those who embrace a different religion.  The world will go to war.  Many will suffer and die.

Now, what I have given you this morning are some facts and a few speculations.  But like you, I still wonder why this information is essential.  I mean, we believe, and the Lord has promised to spare us these trials and tribulations.  Why then does the He show us these things?  I think the answer is found in what John wrote at the beginning of this book.  “Blessed is he who reads and those who hear the words of the prophecy, and heed the things which are written in it; for the time is near” ^[4] (Revelation 1:3).  In John’s words, there is a call to do more than merely read these words, but to hear and heed… meaning a person is to speak the message and follow the message.  And if this is a lesson for the Church, then we need to do more than merely learn a few facts.  Christians need to get to work NOW. 

We need to stop being so indifferent.  We need to start making personal sacrifices for the good of others; for those who are still wandering around lost in the world.  They don’t know Christ.  They don’t know hope.  They don’t know peace or love.  They only know pain, agony, and sorrow.  They are alone – like sheep without a shepherd.  They are still being deceived by the world.  They are still held captive by sin and death.  And if they are still alive once the Church is raptured away, they will face global trials and tribulations.  They may end up spending eternity in hell; forever separated from the Lord. 

It seems the Lord has revealed these things to the Church so we might consider the fate of those who are still lost.

But, it seems, some Christians have more important things to do.

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[1] As mentioned by Jim Sayers in his report The Shocking Truth About UFO’s, Ghosts, and Psychic Powers.  You can read the article at http://theendtimeschurch.org/articles/The%20Shocking%20Truth%20About%20UFO.pdf

[2] https://library.abundanthope.org/index_htm_files/BRINGERS_OF_THE_DAWN.pdf

^[3] Tyndale House Publishers. (2013). Holy Bible: New Living Translation (Re 6:1–8). Carol Stream, IL.

^[4] New American Standard Bible: 1995 update. (1995). (Re 1:3). La Habra, CA: The Lockman Foundation.

The Last Week - November 5, 2017 sermon

By Pastor Greg...

Watching that video makes us wonder if what we are seeing in the world today are signs of the “end times.”  Well, the chaos in our world might resemble the end time events in Revelation, but they are not the specific events.  They are a foretaste of what will come.

We even see this in the Bible.  For example, consider what happened to the people of Jerusalem.  Before Babylon conquered them, a priest named Ezekiel was given an interesting revelation.  In a vision, he saw God’s throne leaving the Temple, allowing the Babylonian army to destroy the city.  Because God was no longer protecting Jerusalem, the king of Babylon destroyed everything, even the Temple.  Without God, Jerusalem was exposed to the wickedness of humanity… and their world fell into utter chaos; a foretaste of what happens in the book of Revelation.

John the Apostle was also given an interesting revelation.  He too saw God’s throne (compare Ezekiel 1 and Revelation 4).  In both cases, the Spirit of the Lord had been withdrawn, except in John’s vision, the Spirit had been withdrawn from the entire earth.  In Revelation, the Spirit brings with Him every Christian man, woman, and child, leaving the rest of humanity exposed to the wickedness of Satan.  And when the Spirit of God departs, the whole world will fall into utter chaos.

So, anything we witness right now is a foretaste of things to come, not the actual events described in Revelation 6.  I know life can seem kind of chaotic at times.  Sometimes it feels like life is falling apart.  But you need to know that our Heavenly Father is in control of things.  He is mindful of all things.  He is not blind.  He has not lost control.  “Yes, these things must take place first, but the end won’t follow immediately,” says the Lord in Luke 21:9.  All these things are happening according to God’s timeline.

Really.  Nothing happens by chance.  Everything that is happening is according to God’s plan and His timing.

I know; that’s a rather bold statement.  But it’s true.  Nothing happens a day sooner or later than God intends.  In fact, let me show you just how precise God’s timeline truly is.

I know.  I’m digressing from the study of Revelation; you’re all ramped up about the seals on the scroll.  But trust me; this rabbit trail is important.

Take, for instance, a man named Daniel (he was a Jewish man taken captive by the Babylonian army sometime in 605 B.C.).  One day, Daniel had a very troubling vision.  He had been wondering how long it would be until God would restore the Jews to their homeland (he was asking God about his timeline).  As Daniel prayed, the angel Gabriel came and gave him an odd answer. 

According to Gabriel, “A period of seventy sets of seven has been decreed for your people and your holy city to finish their rebellion, to put an end to their sin, to atone for their guilt, to bring in everlasting righteousness, to confirm the prophetic vision, and to anoint the Most Holy Place. ²⁵ Now listen and understand! Seven sets of seven plus sixty-two sets of seven will pass from the time the command is given to rebuild Jerusalem until a ruler—the Anointed One—comes. Jerusalem will be rebuilt with streets and strong defenses, despite the perilous times” (Daniel 9:24-25).

These “70 periods” are broken down into three segments; he says there will be 7 sets of 7 with 62 sets of seven added on, and then 1 set of seven.  The he says, “After this period of sixty-two sets of seven, the Anointed One will be killed, appearing to have accomplished nothing” (Verse 26).  So, in God’s timeline, the Anointed One will be killed after “Seven sets of seven plus 62 sets of seven.”  This accounts for 69 of the 70 sets of seven Gabriel mentioned at the beginning.  Finally, he tells Daniel that a “ruler will arise whose armies will destroy the city and the Temple. The end will come with a flood, and war and its miseries are decreed from that time to the very end. ²⁷ The ruler will make a treaty with the people for a period of one set of seven, but after half this time, he will put an end to the sacrifices and offerings. And as a climax to all his terrible deeds, he will set up a sacrilegious object that causes desecration, until the fate decreed for this defiler is finally poured out on him” (verse 27).

Like I said, it is a strange answer.  So, let me help clarify a few things.  In this Jewish culture, they functioned in sets of sevens.  Every seventh year they were supposed to take a Sabbath rest (Leviticus 25:1-7).  After 7 sets of seven (which equals every 49 years) they were to celebrate the Year of Jubilee (Leviticus 25:8-12).  So, 70 sevens equals 490 years.  Anyway, in his message, Gabriel tells Daniel that 483 years will pass until the Anointed One appears in Jerusalem.

What you may not know is that according to some very accurate records,[1] the Jews were sent back to Israel and commanded to rebuild on March 5, 444 B.C. (Nehemiah 2:8).  The 69 sets of seven – the 483-year span – extended to March 30, 33 A.D.  The day Jesus rode into Jerusalem on a donkey (Palm Sunday).  Jesus rode into Jerusalem precisely when God had planned.  His hour had finally come.

Jesus didn’t experience some bad luck that week.  It wasn’t “fate” or “destiny.”  It was God’s timeline.  He arrived precisely on time; exactly according to God’s plan.  And the reason this should be important for us is because it clearly demonstrates that things are happening according to God’s plan.  He is intimately involved in life.  He has a timeline, and things will unfold precisely when He has determined.  In fact, your Bible says that God has determined the full number of people who will become Christians (Romans 11:25) and the number of those who will be killed because of their faith in Jesus (Revelation 6:11).  Jesus says God knows us so well that nothing happens in our life beyond His knowledge (see Matthew 10:30).  King David suggests that God knows our thoughts, where we are, what we are doing, and even counts out each of our days before we are born (Psalm 139).  For example, consider Nathaniel.  Jesus knew who he was and what he was doing long before the two ever met in person (John 1:47-48).

So, I understand that the chaos in our world causes us to fear.  We become alarmed and tend to worry about things.  But isn’t that exactly what Satan wants us to do?  He wants us to worry and lose faith.  He wants us to live in fear.  He feeds our fears; trying to convince us we don’t have enough material things.  He uses the media to spread panic and alarm.  It happens, but we must not allow our “Fears for today or our worries for tomorrow” to overpowers us (Romans 8:38).  We must “let the peace that comes from Christ rule in our hearts” (Colossians 3:15).  Although it seems like our world is filled with chaos today, things are not nearly as bad as they will be on the day Jesus begins to open that scroll.

Oh, I almost forgot the Last Week mentioned by Gabriel; that final set of sevens.  This last week is a seven-year span where a ruler will act like he is helping Israel, but part way through, he will turn against them.  This, of course, is when the antichrist rises to power.  Now, the big question scholars ask is whether that week has happened or is yet to come.  Are the events we are witnessing in the world today part of this “last week?”

In Luke 21:24, Jesus indicates that an interlude in these 70 “weeks” was about to take place.  He mentioned a period called “The time of the Gentiles,” and that once this came to an end, Jerusalem would no longer be trampled down by foreign kingdoms.  So, according to conservative scholars, we are presently living in something called the Church Age – that interlude between the 69^th week (the death of Christ) and the 70^th week mentioned by Gabriel (where Christ returns at the end).  As I said in an earlier message, the events associated with the “Seven Seals” in chapter six do not happen until the Church is called to Heaven. 

Listen, I know somedays it’s difficult to imagine that God is still in control.  It sure seems like we are living in chaotic times.  And I struggle with the understanding that God is intimately involved in my life.  Maybe you do as well.  But to me, this whole section from Daniel confirms that, yes, God is still in control.  The end of things is in the Lord’s hands.  The Father and the Son are in control of everything. 

³⁵ Can anything ever separate us from Christ’s love? Does it mean he no longer loves us if we have trouble or calamity, or are persecuted, or hungry, or destitute, or in danger, or threatened with death?  ³⁷ No, despite all these things, overwhelming victory is ours through Christ, who loved us (Romans 8:35 & 37).  God is in charge, not humanity.  He has given authority to Jesus, and Jesus will determine when and where it all ends.

The Scroll is in His hands

And so is your life.

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[1] Harold W. Hoehner. (1977). Chronological Aspects of the Life of Christ. Grand Rapids: Zondervan Publishing House.