Dear Christian friends:

As we come to the close of another Church Year the lessons for the day call our attention to the last times and the final judgment. Our text, which is the Old Testament lesson appointed for this Sunday, tells of the final judgment from Daniel.

In a dream God gave Daniel this very graphic, tremendous vision of the final judgment. God gave Daniel this vision not only for his own benefit, but also for the benefit of all succeeding generations of people, including ours.

Daniel relates that "thousands upon thousands attended the Judge" and that ten thousand times ten thousand stood before him," which means everyone including us. (verse 10) So this morning we shall consider the vital topic of


The very same words in the very same phrase do not always have the very same meaning. We can speak, for example, about "the love of God" and mean either "the love which God has in his heart for us" or the love which we have in our hearts for God." So our topic today may be understood in two ways also.

In the first sense, "standing before the judge" means the same as having been summoned to court" or the same as "being the defendant who must give account." These phrases usually strike fear and terror in most peoples' heart because we all do break the law at least occasionally and are sinners by nature.

In this sense "standing before the judge" allows no room for optimism or or hope when one is guilty. Rather one stands fearfully before the judge.

Our text shows the character of the Holy judge. His character rules out any thought that he might be partial or show favoritism or accept a bribe. The "Ancient of Days," as he is called here, The almighty and ever-living God, rules over all things in holiness and absolute righteousness. He goes strictly by the Book!

Although we in this life cannot comprehend His perfection, He accommodates Himself to our weaknesses by appearing in Daniel's vision as seated on a flaming throne, with clothing white as snow, with hair as white as wool. All these are symbols of God's holiness, righteousness and perfection. (verse 9) He is the awesome Judge of all the earth!

He has clearly expressed His holiness in the Ten Commandments, which is His will for us in our thoughts, words and deeds. But we do not measure up to His expectations at all for we have broken His Law. Like the rebellious leaders of the various empires symbolized in Daniels visions, we, by nature, choose to oppose God, seeking self-worth and glory and fame in our own accomplishments and in what we consider to be our might and authority.

His holy Law makes plain to us the facts of our desperate situation. It plainly shows that "All have sinned and come short of the glory God." (Romans 3:23)

In the vision punishment is threatened, and this threatened punishment for sinners standing before the judge terrifies us.

The river of fire flowing out from the Ancient of Days seems to be nothing other than the lake of fire mentioned in Revelation 20:14. There we read: "And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death."

Disobedience to God, the waning of the desire to do His will, the willingness to entrust ourselves to the things of this world, these idolatries overwhelm us and lead us to anticipate in terror the wrath and condemnation of the holy Ancient of Days. This is the first understanding of "standing before the Judge."

However, in another sense, (and thank God that there is another sense) "standing before the judge" means the same as "having withstood all charges" or the same as "receiving commendation and authority from the judge." Jesus' words in Luke 21:36 give this meaning when he says, "Be always on the watch and pray that you may be able to escape all that is about to happen, and that you may be able to stand before the Son of Man."

In this sense the defendant stands, not in fear, but in humble confidence before the judge. And we can have this confidence because of the Son of Man. Daniel saw Him. (verses 13-14)

The intrusion of the Son of Man in Daniel's dream (Daniel 7:13-14) makes the difference between "standing (fearfully) before the Judge" and "standing (humbly, but confidently) before Him.

The Son of Man is the God-man Savior who, as the Stand-in for all sinners, overthrows the devil, exactly as God had promised to Adam and Eve right after the Fall into sin. (Genesis 3:15_)

Jesus often referred to Himself as "the Son of Man." He used that name to portray Himself as the servant of God who suffers and dies in the stead of others. We hear him say to his disciples in Luke 9:21, "The Son of Man must suffer many things and be rejected by the elders, chief priests and teachers of the law, and he must be killed and on the third day be raised to life."

And in Matthew 20:28 He told them, "the Son of Man came not to be served, but to serve, and to give his life a ransom for many." The good news about Jesus Christ, the Son of Man, and His redemptive work makes plain our new situation, which St. Paul describes in these glorious words: "we are justified freely by His grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus." (Romans 3:24)

The future promised benefits of Christ's work comforts our sin, stricken hearts. We see the court of heaven being seated and the books being opened. (verse 10) We stand with confidence before the Ancient of Days in the assurance of His compassion, mercy and faithfulness. For Christ's sake there is forgiveness and pardon from the Lord of heaven and earth. We hear our names read out loud and clear from the book of life. We will not be cast into the lake of fire with those whose names are not in the book. (Revelations 20:15) Who did not believe in Christ, the Son of God and Son of Man.

One day soon we shall all stand before the Judge. Thanks be to God that he has blessed us with faith in Jesus our Savior; for by His work we have been rescued from the dangers and peril of our sins, and we look forward with joy to standing before the judge in Christ's own innocence and righteousness.

Amen.