string(7) "m-66998" Burnt Hickory Baptist Church

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Sep 27, 2026

Shining to the Final Word | Thriving in Babylon

Shining to the Final Word | Thriving in Babylon

Passage: Daniel 10:1-12:13

Speaker: Matt Petty

Series: Thriving In Babylon

Category: Sunday Sermons

Keywords: prayer, jesus, resurrection, end times, spiritual warfare, eternal life, identity in christ, finish well, bible teaching, daniel 12, daniel 10, daniel 11, thriving in babylon, burnt hickory

Shining to the Final Word | Daniel 10–12 How do you keep trusting God when your prayers seem unanswered, life feels like a battle, or you simply don’t understand what He is doing? Shining to the Final Word closes our Thriving in Babylon series with Daniel 10–12. Daniel gets a glimpse into the spiritual battle happening beyond what he can see, but he also receives an important reminder: he is greatly loved by God. As Daniel looks toward the future, God shows him that earthly kingdoms will not last, but His promises will. Daniel doesn’t understand every detail, and he doesn’t have to. His calling is to keep walking faithfully with God. This message challenges us to pray first, remember who we are in Christ, invest in what lasts for eternity, and finish our race faithfully. Because after all Daniel has seen and experienced, the final word is still the same: God has him, and God’s promises are secure.

Follow Along with the Message


Shining to the Final Word 

 

September 27, 2026

Daniel 10:1–3
1 In the third year of Cyrus king of Persia, a revelation was given to Daniel (who was called Belteshazzar). Its message was true and it concerned a great war. The understanding of the message came to him in a vision. 2 At that time I, Daniel, mourned for three weeks. 3 I ate no choice food; no meat or wine touched my lips; and I used no lotions at all until the three weeks were over.
Daniel 10:10–13
10 A hand touched me and set me trembling on my hands and knees. 11 He said, “Daniel, you who are highly esteemed, consider carefully the words I am about to speak to you, and stand up, for I have now been sent to you.” And when he said this to me, I stood up trembling. 12 Then he continued, Do not be afraid, Daniel. Since the first day that you set your mind to gain understanding and to humble yourself before your God, your words were heard, and I have come in response to them. 13 But the prince of the Persian kingdom resisted me twenty-one days. Then Michael, one of the chief princes, came to help me, because I was detained there with the king of Persia.

PRINCIPLE: Your identity in this battle of life is not defined by your circumstances; you are by God.

Ephesians 6:12
For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.
Daniel 10:5–6
5 I looked up and there before me was a man dressed in linen, with a belt of fine gold from Uphaz around his waist. 6 His body was like topaz, his face like lightning, his eyes like flaming torches, his arms and legs like the gleam of burnished bronze, and his voice like the sound of a multitude.

PRINCIPLE: It’s Jesus that gives us in the middle of the fire, pit, or any spiritual battle.

PRINCIPLE: God doesn’t just know the future; God the future.

Daniel 12:1
At that time Michael, the great prince who protects your people, will arise. There will be a time of distress such as has not happened from the beginning of nations until then. But at that time your people — everyone whose name is found written in the book — will be delivered.

PRINCIPLE: Every person whose name is will have eternal life with God.

Daniel 12:2–3
2 Multitudes who sleep in the dust of the earth will awake: some to everlasting life, others to shame and everlasting contempt. 3 Those who are wise will shine like the brightness of the heavens, and those who lead many to righteousness, like the stars for ever and ever.

PRINCIPLE: Earthly fame and success will fade, but investing in eternity and leading others to Jesus shines .

PRINCIPLE: You don’t have to understand every detail of the future to the God who rules the future.

Daniel 12:4–12
4 “But you, Daniel, roll up and seal the words of the scroll until the time of the end. Many will go here and there to increase knowledge.” 5 Then I, Daniel, looked, and there before me stood two others, one on this bank of the river and one on the opposite bank. 6 One of them said to the man clothed in linen, who was above the waters of the river, “How long will it be before these astonishing things are fulfilled?” 7 The man clothed in linen, who was above the waters of the river, lifted his right hand and his left hand toward heaven, and I heard him swear by him who lives forever, saying, “It will be for a time, times and half a time. When the power of the holy people has been finally broken, all these things will be completed.” 8 I heard, but I did not understand. So I asked, “My lord, what will the outcome of all this be?” 9 He replied, “Go your way, Daniel, because the words are rolled up and sealed until the time of the end. 10 Many will be purified, made spotless and refined, but the wicked will continue to be wicked. None of the wicked will understand, but those who are wise will understand. 11 From the time that the daily sacrifice is abolished and the abomination that causes desolation is set up, there will be 1,290 days. 12 Blessed is the one who waits for and reaches the end of the 1,335 days.”
Daniel 12:13
“As for you, go your way till the end. You will rest, and then at the end of the days you will rise to receive your allotted inheritance.”

5 Quick Challenges from Daniel

1. on your knees.

2. in your identity in Christ.

Romans 8:38–39
For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

3. in what lasts for eternity.

4. your part of the race well.

2 Timothy 4:7–8
7 I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. 8 Now there is in store for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day — and not only to me, but also to all who have longed for his appearing.

5. your name is on the list.


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