What Is This World Coming To?

2nd Sunday of End Time, Last Judgment, 11/12/17
Daniel 7:9-10


What Is This World Coming To?
I. To the eternal and omniscient God
II. To God’s righteous judgment


It’s been happening so often, the tragic has now become the expected. Whether the tragedy is local, national or international, we’re horrified, but not for long anymore. We ponder the horror those Texan Christians experienced in worship last Sunday, and the reality that more than two dozen never made it back home that day. And then it dawns on us that it had only been four weeks since the last such occurrence—the one in Las Vegas—and it makes us wonder what’s next? When will something similar happen again? And where? We shake our heads in disbelief. The tragic has become the new normal.

And while we’re on the subject of the unexpected, the disappointing, even the tragic—what’s going on among those who lead our country? Every day it seems as if the unexpected occurs, and it’s most often not something we’re pleased with. Politicians lob one salvo after another at each other and we’re left in the middle wondering what’s the truth and what to think. What’s going on? Where will it end?

What’s more, there are world powers gone wild. Just when we think we’ve heard the last from ISIS, it pops up again and people die. Currently we’re engaged in a war of words with North Korea. Where will it end?

Meanwhile, children, women, and the elderly are exploited and taken advantage of in ways that are unthinkable. Who would do such evil things? What were they thinking? Where will it end?

Does any of that sound familiar to you? Likely so. The bottom line is that we’re all deeply concerned about the evil in our world. More than once we’ve asked even out loud, “What is this world coming to?”

There is some comfort in knowing that we’re not the first to ask that question. In fact, we’re not even the first of God’s people to ask it. I’m sure the Jews for whom Daniel wrote these words of our text were asking it. The wicked Babylonians had destroyed their beloved Jerusalem and had hauled thousands of them into exile. What was their world coming to?

Daniel himself, the great hero of faith, had to wonder the same thing. In chapters 6 & 7 of the book that bears his name, Daniel saw a vision of the coming world powers that, by his own admission, disturbed him greatly. He saw one world power wreaking havoc after another, and all the while God’s people were the ones suffering the most. No doubt he must have wondered, “What’s the world coming to? Where will it end?”

And then the Lord gave him his answer. Daniel saw the vision he describes for us in today’s sermon text. Does that vision allay your concerns, your fears, about our world? Maybe not, at least not right away. So let’s ask our question again. What’s this world coming to? May God’s Holy Spirit lead us to see God’s answer as we take in this description of Daniel’s vision.

Part I.

Like it or not, video cameras are everywhere these days. With the press of a button or two on someone’s mobile device, what you say and do can be recorded. Are you comfortable with that? Probably not, especially without your knowledge or permission. One reason for it is that a video recording of what you say and do is difficult to refute or explain away, especially when it’s something you regret or didn’t want others to know. That’s why such videos are so useful to and appreciated by prosecutors. The evidence they provide is convincing to juries and judges.

Daniel sees a courtroom scene in the vision before us this morning. There’s no video evidence presented. In fact, we don’t even hear from the prosecution or the defense. To put it bluntly, it’s a courtroom scene the likes we have never heard of before. And there are several reasons for that.

First, there aren’t any people present. There’s no prosecutor. There’s no defense. In fact, there isn’t even a defendant. As far as we know, Daniel didn’t see a single human being there. Why not?

Because the focus isn’t on the person on trial. Instead, Daniel’s vision trains our focus on the Judge. This is going to be a bench trial. And in this trial it doesn’t matter that anyone else thinks or says. All that is immaterial. The only thing that matters is what the Judge thinks and says. But, doesn’t that run the risk of an abuse of power? If the Judge is the only one there and it only matters what he thinks and says, isn’t the potential high for criminal partiality on the part of the Judge?

Not here. Not with this Judge. How can we be so sure? Listen to Daniel describe him. “As I looked, thrones were set in place, and the Ancient of Days took his seat. His clothing was as white as snow; the hair of his head was white like wool. His throne was flaming with fire, and its wheels were all ablaze. A river of fire was flowing, coming out from before him.” Daniel refers to the Judge as the Ancient of Days. This is the only place in the Bible in which this name is used. Just who is this? You have no trouble identifying him, do you? It’s your holy God. By referring to himself as the Ancient of Days, the Lord is emphasizing that he is eternal. But why is that so important in this scene of him as the world’s Judge? Because nothing comes before him and nothing comes after him.

That means there’s nothing—absolutely nothing—that he hasn’t seen or heard. He’s been there for every thought, word and action of every human being in the history of the world. There’s no sense trying to pull the wool over his eyes. Even the world’s most powerful and influential people will have no advantage over others before this Judge. First, his power and knowledge far surpass theirs. Second, he can’t be bought and he can’t be partial. He’s absolutely holy and just.

So, back to our question. What is this world coming to? And the undisputed answer is: to the eternal and omniscient God.

Recall the background of our text. Daniel saw a vision of four world powers that wreaked havoc on God’s people. He was disturbed. We see what’s going on around us and we’re disturbed, too. But then Daniel sees the eternal and omniscient God as the holy Judge of all. And our first reaction might be, “Go get ‘em God!” Finally, that’s where all this is coming to! A bit of comfort, wouldn’t you say? But then it dawns on us—we’re going to have to face that Judge, too. He’s seen everything we’ve done. He’s heard every word. He even knows every thought in our minds and every desire in our hearts. Not a pretty picture, is it? Like the airline slogan asks, “Wanna get away?” You bet! As far as possible! But we don’t have to. Why not? Because our Judge is also our Savior. The Ancient of Days is none other than the Savior who became our Brother in order to live a holy life for us and to sacrifice himself for us. He took the Father’s judgment against us on himself and died for all our sins and their guilt. He made us his own and brought us to faith in him and into his family of believers in which there is full forgiveness of sins and the guarantee of heaven with him. That’s what your Savior is all about for you. That Savior is your Judge. So find your last judgment comfort in him. Find your assurance for judgment in Jesus! What is this world coming to? To the eternal and omniscient God, who is none other than Jesus who died and rose for you!

Part II.

We have a phrase that expresses our certainty that someone is without question responsible for a committing a crime. We say that “they’re guilty as sin.” Have you used that phrase before? Think about that saying for a moment. What does it really state? It affirms that with every sin comes guilt. The one who sins is by its very definition also guilty. It won’t do any good to make excuses or to claim that a certain law or stipulation doesn’t apply to you in this case. You’ve done wrong. You’ve sinned. And the result is you’re guilty.

That’s true for every one of us. There’s no escape. “All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God” (Rom. 3:23). We can’t claim that any amount of goodness will remove the guilt. We’re guilty as sin.

So, in light of our undeniable guilt, does any one of you want to appear before the eternal and omniscient God? Would you be willing to make an appearance before the One from whom all-consuming fire is flowing? And a river of fire at that?

What’s more, he not only knows in his mind how guilty we are; he has it written down. “The court was seated, and the books were opened.” Yup, there’s my name. “Lord, please don’t read my list of sins. At least not out loud. Not only will I die of shame and embarrassment, each one carries the death sentence and you have me dead to rights.”

But look! There’s nothing under my name. And there’s nothing under yours either. It’s all been erased. In fact, it looks like there has never been anything written there. It’s all been blotted out.

And there’s another book. The Ancient of Days opens that one next. Your name is written there, too. So is mine. And the heading at the top of the page is “Child of God by Faith in Jesus.” You see, on the cover of this book are the words, “Book of Life.” Our names were written there at our baptisms. On that day the name of the triune God was spoken over us and water was applied. On that day our God called us by his own name. He washed our sins away and set us apart for himself forever. He brought us to faith in Jesus on that day and he has kept us in the faith ever since. That’s why our list of sins in the other book is wiped away. By faith in Jesus we are robed in his righteousness or holiness. So, in the judgment on the Last Day, this is what you’ll hear from your God, “Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world.” God promises it to you.

By faith in Jesus your judgment on the Last Day and your eternal future are certain and sure. So, what’s this world coming to? For you, by faith in Jesus, it’s coming to his righteous judgment. You are holy because of what Jesus did for you. You belong to him now. You belong to him forever. Live in the comfort and assurance of that judgment! Amen.