Tuesday 30 March 2010

A Time of Purification


'Many shall be purified, and made white, and tried; but the wicked shall do wickedly: and none of the wicked shall understand; but the wise shall understand. And from the time [that] the daily [sacrifice] shall be taken away, and the abomination that maketh desolate set up, [there shall be] a thousand two hundred and ninety days. Blessed [is] he that waiteth, and cometh to the thousand three hundred and five and thirty days. But go thou thy way till the end [be]: for thou shalt rest, and stand in thy lot at the end of the days.'{Daniel 12:10-13}


In order for us to rightly divide these verses, they first must be read in their context. So for this purpose I will back up to verse 4. For the previous verses are directly linked to verses 10-13.


'But thou, O Daniel, shut up the words, and seal the book, [even] to the time of the end: many shall run to and fro, and knowledge shall be increased.'{verse 4}


The book that was sealed was the book of Daniel. However, not the whole book of Daniel was sealed up:


‘The book that was sealed is not the Revelation, but that portion of the prophecy of Daniel relating to the last days. The angel commanded, "But thou, O Daniel, shut up the words, and seal the book, even to the time of the end." Daniel 12:4.’ {AA 585.1}


The portion in the prophecy of Daniel relating to the last days was sealed.The last days‘THE RAPID FULFILLMENT OF THE PREDICTIONS OF HOLY SCRIPTURE REGARDING THE SIGNS AND EVENTS WHICH WERE TO MARK THE CLOSING SCENES OF EARTH'S HISTORY, IS SURE EVIDENCE THAT WE ARE NOW LIVING IN THE LAST DAYS.’{CET 243.7}


So when we see the events which are connected to the closing scenes of this earth’s history; the closing of probationary time, then that tells us that we are living in the last days. This is what is being referred to, when Inspiration speaks about the last days.


So the portion of the prophecy of Daniel which was sealed was the portion relating to the events connected with the closing scenes of earth’s history. The Millerites, of whom Daniel 12 is speaking about (see GC p.355-356; 359) were living in the last days; the closing scenes of this earth’s history. We know this because even though Christ was not to come to this earth on October 22nd 1844, He would have come not long after, if all the Millerites remained with Him after the Great Disappointment. He was ready to come:


‘Had Adventists, after the great disappointment in 1844, held fast their faith and followed on unitedly in the opening providence of God, receiving the message of the third angel and in the power of the Holy Spirit proclaiming it to the world, they would have seen the salvation of God, the Lord would have wrought mightily with their efforts, the work would have been completed, and Christ would have come ere this to receive His people..’{Ev 695.3}


So the last days; the events connected with the close of probationary time for the Millerites were the events which took place under the first, second and third angel’s messages.This is the portion of the prophecy in the book of Daniel that was sealed up to the Millerites. So these events are found in the book of Daniel.


The question that we need to ask ourselves is, ‘where in this book do we find the events connected with the close of probation; the experience that transpired under the first, second and third angel’s messages?’ Which should then lead us to ask, where in this book do we see the close of probation? Wherever it is, that is the portion in the book of Daniel spoken of in Daniel 12:4.


The understanding of the time prophecies found in Daniel and Revelation (as expressed on the 1843 Chart, by Charles Fitch), was the reason for the experience and events found under the three angel’s messages. So these messages and the time prophecies on the 1843 Chart go hand in hand. In other words, it wasn’t just the events which were sealed up to the Millerites, but also the time prophecies in the book of Daniel and Revelation.


What does it mean for truth to be sealed up, and what seals up Truth?


‘The scribes and Pharisees professed to explain the Scriptures, but they explained them in accordance with their own ideas and traditions. Their customs and maxims became more and more exacting. In its spiritual sense, the sacred Word became to the people as a sealed book, closed to their comprehension.’ {ST, May 17, 1905 par. 2}


When the truth is sealed up, it means that it is closed to the people’s understanding. It is the traditions and customs and maxims of man that make truth obscure. It is not because God designed it that way.The portion of the book of Daniel which related to the last days (the events under 1840-1844 and the time prophecies) was sealed to God’s people during the Dark Ages (I have heard that it was sealed up way back from the stoning of Stephen, but I have yet to study that out). That’s the main reason why 538-1798, was called the Dark Ages; because the Word of God was hid from the people due to the traditions and teachings of man that Catholicism was upholding. But, Daniel said, it would be sealed up until the time of the end, 1798 (see GC p.356).


Sure enough from 1798, knowledge began to increase on the book of Daniel. Many ran to and fro, meaning that they were now thinking about time (GC P.359), what time? The time that these time prophecies were pointing to: 1843. And knowledge on that time, began to increase, as we see in the chapter in the Great Controversy ‘A Great Religious Awakening’.


' And [one] said to the man clothed in linen, which [was] upon the waters of the river, How long [shall it be to] the end of these wonders? And I heard the man clothed in linen, which [was] upon the waters of the river, when he held up his right hand and his left hand unto heaven, and sware by him that liveth for ever that [it shall be] for a time, times, and an half; and when he shall have accomplished to scatter the power of the holy people, all these [things] shall be finished. And I heard, but I understood not: then said I, O my Lord, what [shall be] the end of these [things]? And he said, Go thy way, Daniel: for the words [are] closed up and sealed till the time of the end.'{verses 6-9}


The word, ‘wonders’ in verse 6 is translated as a marvellous, miraculous thing. It can also mean a great thing which is not understood; something which is sealed up. The question in verse 6 is related to the closed portion of Daniel. In other words, it would read, ‘How long shall it be until this portion ceases to be sealed?’The answer is already given in verse 4, that it will be sealed up until the Time of the End, 1798. However, it is repeated in verse 7, but with additional information given to it. The answer is:‘…a time, times, and an half…’: here it is brought to view the 1260 time period of Papal supremacy.


Christ is saying that this portion of the prophecy of Daniel will be sealed up during this period until the end of that period, 1798. Then Christ answers again by saying:‘…and when he shall have accomplished to scatter the power of the holy people, all these things shall be finished.’


This part of the verse is so weighty with meaning, that it will take a separate study to deal with this verse alone. However, I will seek to summarise it in the best way I know how; leaving you with the references for you to study out in your own time. If you would like for me to send you a separate study on this verse, please feel free to ask, and I will be more than happy to do so.


In order to have the correct understanding of this verse, it is vital that we come to grips with the theme that is prominent in the books of Daniel and Revelation; and which is also a theme that runs throughout the Bible, thus emphasising its importance. This subject is the Scattering and the Gathering of God’s denominated people.


In the writings of Moses, we see that God lays out to His people the blessings that would come to them if they were to keep their part of the Covenant that He made to them on Mount Sinai. However, not just the blessings were listed out, but the curses that would come upon them should they break the Covenant (see Deuteronomy 28). There were many aspects to the curse, but one of the aspects is that if milder measures would prove insufficient to lead Israel’s heart back to God, then He would allow seven times to pass over them of them being scattered in heathen lands (see Leviticus 26:1-4; 14-15,18,21,24,28).


A time in Bible prophecy is a Bible year. A Bible year has 360 days in it. However, when we are dealing with prophecy, we know that we convert days into years. So a time would equal 360 years. The time prophecy that God gave to His people to be scattered was 7 times. So it would work out this way:


7x Time (360 years) = 2520 years.


Sure enough, this is the exact length of time that Israel went into captivity for (scattered). This is a subject that the pioneers of the Adventist Church were very familiar with; they even put it upon the 1843 Chart, which Sister White says was ‘directed by the hand of the Lord’ (see Early Writings p.74). However, they didn’t have a complete understanding of this subject. When the pioneers saw the term, ‘Israel’, they just saw that it was just Israel in general who received the 2520 year curse. The Millerites made no distinction between the Southern and the Northern tribes in Israel. They didn’t realise that there were in fact two 2520’s. You see, both tribes broke the Covenant, so both tribes had to pay the penalty.


William Miller, using James Usher’s Chronology of The Bible (a chronological book which Sister White used more than the others that she had in her library; and which is also used in some King James Versions of the Bible), started to count the scattering time period from the date that the Southern kingdom went into captivity, which was 677 B.C. Adding 2520 years onto 677 B.C, left him with the date, 1843. However, William Miller messed up on the year zero. There is no year zero. He should have just added 1. If he did so, he would have ended up with the year 1844.


In 1850, James White, editor of The Review and Herald, asked Hiram Edson for articles for this publication. So Edson put some sermons together which refuted William Miller’s calculations. He said that you shouldn’t start counting the 2520 when the Southern kingdom was taken into captivity, but when the Northern kingdom was. Using the same chronology as William Miller, Edson found that it was in the year 723 that the Northern tribe was scattered. So adding 2520 onto the year 723, left him with 1798.


What brothers Hiram Edson and William Miller failed to realise, is that they both were right, and they both were wrong. They were right in the calculations of the two kingdoms, but wrong by saying that there was only one 2520 of scattering.


As I stated previously, this is a theme which runs throughout the Bible and in a more prominent sense, in the books of Daniel and Revelation. In Daniel 9:2-23, Daniel is praying for his people, but one of the things he points to as the reason for their bondage as a people, is that the ‘curse’(another word for the scattering, indignation) that is found in the book of Moses.


In Daniel 5, Belshazzar’s feast, we see it brought to view here:Mene-1000 GerahsMene-1000Tekel (Babylonian for shekel)-20Upharsin(Half a mene)- 500TOTAL: 2520The message in Daniel 5 is:‘God hath numbered thy kingdom’: Northern kingdom numbered by 2520. Southern kingdom numbered by 2520.‘…and finished it’: Northern finished in 1798. Southern finished in 1844‘thy kingdom is divided’: Israel’s kingdom was divided between Southern and NorthernVerse 7 of Daniel 12, is saying that the book of Daniel will be sealed up until 1798, when knowledge concerning time (the time prophecies pointing to the time 1843) will be increased. It will also be sealed up until the scattering (2520) of God’s people will have been accomplished. When did the 2520 finally finish? It was in the year 1844.


It is not as confusing as it sounds, and I’ll explain why: There was an increase of knowledge in 1798, when the book of Daniel was being unsealed to the people. However, this unsealing was progressive. Knowledge began to increase in 1798, but light continued to dawn upon the prophetic Word all the way through to 1844.What was happening between the years 1798-1844?From 1798, we see that God began to gather for the final time a people, a denominated people to Himself. Not only did God scatter His people, but He also gathered His people back to Him. This process started in 1798 and ended in 1844, when for the second and final time in sacred history, we see God choosing ‘Israel’ again, just like He did on Mount Sinai (see Early Writings 74, entitled ‘The Gathering Time’). In those 46 years, God was rebuilding the spiritual temple. This is the same amount of time it took to build the literal temple in the Bible.


'Many shall be purified, and made white, and tried; but the wicked shall do wickedly: and none of the wicked shall understand; but the wise shall understand.'{verse 10}


Once 1798 arrived, a three step testing, proving, separation and purification process began to take place among God’s people. Daniel describes it as they being ‘purified’, and ‘made white’ and ‘tried’. I don’t believe that Daniel under the Inspiration of the Holy Spirit just used these three words for any reason. Sister White says that everything in the prophetic Word has its bearing (see Education 123). So what does it mean?


‘I was pointed back to the proclamation of the first advent of Christ. John was sent in the spirit and power of Elijah to prepare the way of Jesus. Those who rejected the testimony of John were not benefited by the teachings of Jesus. Their opposition to the message that foretold His coming placed them where they could not readily receive the strongest evidence that He was the Messiah. Satan led on those who rejected the message of John to go still farther, to reject and crucify Christ. In doing this they placed themselves where they could not receive the blessing on the day of Pentecost, which would have taught them the way into the heavenly sanctuary…But the Jews were left in total darkness…The heavenly sanctuary had taken the place of the earthly, yet they had no knowledge of the change. Therefore they could not be benefited by the mediation of Christ in the holy place. {EW 259.1}


In the time of Christ, the Jews went through a three step purification process. God was proving His people:


1. The first test to the Jews was the message and ministry of John the Baptist, the prophet.


2. The second test was the teachings and the life of Christ. They had the visual evidence that He was the Messiah, the Son of God. However, because they rejected the prophet John, they failed in accepting Christ. The visual evidences had no effect upon their hearts. So they ended up crucifying Christ.


3. The third and final test was the Day of Pentecost, the outpouring of the Holy Spirit. In crucifying Christ, they placed themselves in a position where they could not receive the Holy Spirit. They were left in ‘total darkness’.


Speaking of the time period of the Millerites, as expressed in Daniel 12, Sister White goes further on to say:


‘ Many look with horror at the course of the Jews in rejecting and crucifying Christ; and as they read the history of His shameful abuse, they think they love Him, and would not have denied Him as did Peter, or crucified Him as did the Jews. But God who reads the hearts of all, has brought to the test that love for Jesus which they professed to feel. All heaven watched with the deepest interest the reception of the first angel's message. But many who professed to love Jesus, and who shed tears as they read the story of the cross, derided the good news of His coming. Instead of receiving the message with gladness, they declared it to be a delusion. They hated those who loved His appearing and shut them out of the churches. Those who rejected the first message could not be benefited by the second; neither were they benefited by the midnight cry, which was to prepare them to enter with Jesus by faith into the most holy place of the heavenly sanctuary. And by rejecting the two former messages, they have so darkened their understanding that they can see no light in the third angel's message, which shows the way into the most holy place. I saw that as the Jews crucified Jesus, so the nominal churches had crucified these messages, and therefore they have no knowledge of the way into the most holy, and they cannot be benefited by the intercession of Jesus there..’ {EW 260}


The Millerites, also went through a three step purification process. It was as follows:


1. The first test was the First Angel’s Message.


2. The second test was the Second Angel’s Message, which was accompanied by the Midnight Cry. Those who rejected the message of the Millerites, which was none other than the message of Daniel and John the revelator, were not benefitted by the call out of Babylon, and the miraculous visual evidences of the Holy Spirit under the Midnight Cry. They remained, just like Israel of old did under Zechariah’s call to them to come out of Babylon under the Second Decree. It’s the same history being repeated.


3. The third test was the Third Angel’s Message. So by the time this Message arrived in to history, the people who rejected the former were in darkness. They could not enter into the experience of the Most Holy Place. In fact on page 261 of Early Writings, we are told that they were still in the Holy Place experience with Satan answering their prayers.


Two classes are developed during this process. Daniel calls them the wicked and the wise, but they are none other than the wise and the foolish virgins.


'And from the time [that] the daily [sacrifice] shall be taken away, and the abomination that maketh desolate set up, [there shall be] a thousand two hundred and ninety days.'{verse 11}


To understand this verse, we have to get the correct view of what Daniel means by the ‘Daily’. This is a very deep yet controversial topic, but I will seek to explain my understanding of it as brief as I know how, so please bear with me. If you would like more information on this subject, I will be more than happy to supply you with it. For I have put together all the arguments I know of concerning the ‘Daily’.


The word ‘Daily’, which means ‘continual’ is often only linked with the Sanctuary service. In the Old Testament where we see the details of the sacrificial service, the ‘Daily’ is a verb. It’s the daily offering, a continual offering. It is not so with the book of Daniel. In Daniel, the word ‘Daily’ is a noun. It’s a symbol, a thing, and not a doing word. Remember every fact in the prophetic Word has its bearing. It is not to be overlooked. So what is it a symbol of?In Early Writings, p.74, Sister White said that The Lord gave the correct view of the ‘Daily’ to the men who gave the judgement hour cry. The men that gave the judgement hour cry were men such as J.N Andrews; William Miller; Uriah Smith; Charles Fitch etc. In other words, the Millerites, our pioneers had the correct view of the ‘Daily’. They were unanimous on this subject. They all taught that the ‘Daily’ represented ‘Paganism’. And it can correctly so be called the ‘Daily’ because the Pagan systems of worship were a direct counterfeit of the true Sacrificial Service instituted by God.


It is no accident that out of all the italicised words in the Bible the word ‘Sacrifice’ which follows the word ‘Daily,’ is the only word that Sister White said does not belong to the original text. To add the word ‘sacrifice’ to the ‘daily’ gives the incorrect understanding of it. If the ‘Daily’ did mean the work in the Sanctuary, then why would she tell us that the word ‘sacrifice’ does not belong there? It would belong there if it was talking about the work done in the Sanctuary.


So how do we apply this to verse 11 of Daniel 12? (see ‘Daniel and the Revelation’ by Uriah Smith)The starting point of the 1290 days/year is when the ‘Daily’ was taken away. In the year beginning in 496 all the way through 508 A.D, the seven pagan nations of Pagan Rome, surrendered their military and economic support to the Papacy in order for the Papacy to uproot the three Barbaric, Pagan horns: the Vandals, Heruli and the Ostrogoths. In giving up their arms, they also surrendered their national legal religion which was Paganism and became Catholic. Clovis, the King of Franks (France), was the first to do these two things in the year 496. This progressive giving of power ended in the year 508, when King Arthur the King of Anglo Saxons (England), surrendered his sword and religion to the Papacy. By the year 508, Paganism was taken away as a national legal religion, and the process of uprooting the three horns began in earnest.So the starting point for the 1290 is 508.


But there’s another piece of information that is added to 508:


‘and the abomination that maketh desolate set up’.


These are not two separate starting points. It’s just giving us additional information on what the Papacy would do from 508. It doesn’t read that ‘from the time(s)…’ but ‘from the time’. What is being brought to view here is the thirty year preparatory time that the Papacy took to take down her obstacles: from 508-538.


At 538, the third of her obstacles, the Goths, were driven out of the City of Rome. Now the way was made clear for the Abomination of Desolation (Papacy) to be set up.


This thirty year time of the Papacy’s preparation is very important in order to understand the final movements of Rome as she seeks to seat herself upon the throne of the world for the final time.


So from the time that Paganism would be removed, and the Papacy would be set up, there will be 1290 days/years, which extends up to 1798.


'Blessed [is] he that waiteth, and cometh to the thousand three hundred and five and thirty days.'{verse 12} The starting point for the 1335 is also 508. There is only one starting point. We are not left to wonder or to guess as to when the starting point is for the 1335. We have already been given the context, which is the year 508. Adding 1335 to the year 508 brings you to 1843.


Once again we see the two time periods for the scattering of Israel being brought up again. The only difference here is that it’s not 1844 which is mentioned but 1843. Why is this so? What is the truth that God is bringing out here? Remember that the curse of the 2520 captivity to Israel fell upon both kingdoms, the Northern and the Southern? And remember that in the book of Moses he lists out blessings to Israel if they would keep their part of the Covenant, and also curses that would happen to them if they should break it. Well this truth is brought out in the two 2520’s:


The first 2520 came upon the Northern Kingdom, Israel-723-1798.


The second 2520 came upon the Southern Kingdom, Judah-677-1844.


The first 2520 emphasised the scattering: From 723-538 (1260 years), we have the desolating power of Paganism trampling down God’s people. From 538- 1798(1260 years), we have the desolating power of Papalism trampling down God’s people. The Northern Kingdom, according to Biblical history, never came out of captivity. Thus being emphasised the scattering, the curse upon God’s people. It is no accident that they are both 1260 years. It just makes the prophecy of the 2520 even more airtight.


The second 2520 emphasised the blessing offered to Israel:Yes they both begin with the kingdoms being scattered, but this 2520 ends with the gathering of God’s people to Himself. The blessing was realised in 1844, but it was experienced from 1843. In that year, the Millerites were ready to go to Heaven:


‘Blessed are the eyes which saw the things that were seen in 1843 and 1844. The message was given. And there should be no delay in repeating the message, for the signs of the times are fulfilling; the closing work must be done. A great work will be done in a short time. A message will soon be given by God's appointment that will swell into a loud cry. Then Daniel will stand in his lot, to give his testimony.' {2MR 20.1}


‘Christ said, "Blessed are your eyes, for they see; and your ears, for they hear. For verily I say unto you, That many prophets and righteous men have desired to see those things which ye see, and have not seen them; and to hear those things which ye hear, and have not heard them" [Matt. 13:16, 17]. Blessed are the eyes which saw the things that were seen in 1843 and 1844.’ {21MR 437.2}


Future Application to Daniel 12: The Millerites

The book of Daniel relating to the closing of probationary time was sealed up through the traditions and teachings of man during the Dark Ages. However, there came a point in time when the book was opened, unsealed (Daniel12:4- 1798) just before probationary time was done (see Revelation 10).


Present Day: The Seven Thunders in Revelation 10:4 was sealed up.

However, there comes a point in time when the Seven Thunders gets unsealed (Revelation 22:10) just before the close of human probation (Revelation 22:10, 11).


Millerites

When the book of Daniel relating to end time events were unsealed, there was an Increase of Knowledge on the message for the hour.


Present Day

When the Seven Thunders in Revelation 10:4 get unsealed (which is happening already) there will once again be an Increase of Knowledge on the message for the hour: the Third Angel’s Message:


‘In the first angel's message men are called upon to worship God, our Creator, who made the world and all things that are therein. They have paid homage to an institution of the Papacy, making of no effect the law of Jehovah, but there is to be an increase of knowledge on this subject.’ {2SM 106.1}


Sister White is not talking about the increase of knowledge in the time of the Millerites. She speaks in the future, by using the words ‘is to be’. She takes the Millerite history and links it to the future, by taking our minds back to the First Angel’s Message and by quoting directly from Daniel 12:4.


Millerites

Once the Increase of Knowledge arrived, a three step purification process began among God’s people (Early Writings, p.259; Daniel 12:10), which resulted in the development of two classes among them: The Wise and the Foolish Virgins.


Present Day

Once the Increase of Knowledge takes place, we will again go though a three step purification process which will result in the development of two classes among us: The Wheat and the Tares; The Sheep and the Goats etc... The characteristics of the three tests are such:


1. The First Test is to do with a prophet.


2. The Second Test is to do with visual events which can’t be refuted.


3. The Third Test is where the door closes.


One more example in the Bible of this test:


Noah.

First Test: The message of the prophet Noah.


Second Test: The animals going into the ark in an orderly fashion led by The Spirit of God.


Third Test: The door of the ark closed.


Our test:

Third Test: The door of probationary time for Seventh Day Adventists closes at the Sunday Law Crisis. It is at that time when it will be too late for our characters to be developed. Instead it will be revealed. That is the time that we will demonstrate whether we have the seal of God or the mark of the beast:


‘Character is revealed by a crisis. When the earnest voice proclaimed at midnight, "Behold, the bridegroom cometh; go ye out to meet him," the sleeping virgins roused from their slumbers, and it was seen who had made preparation for the event. Both parties were taken unawares, but one was prepared for the emergency, and the other was found without preparation. Character is revealed by circumstances. Emergencies bring out the true metal of character. Some sudden and unlooked-for calamity, bereavement, or crisis, some unexpected sickness or anguish, something that brings the soul face to face with death, will bring out the true inwardness of the character. It will be made manifest whether or not there is any real faith in the promises of the word of God. It will be made manifest whether or not the soul is sustained by grace, whether there is oil in the vessel with the lamp.' {RH, September 17, 1895 par. 9}


‘The great issue [the Sunday Law test] so near at hand will weed out those whom God has not appointed and He will have a pure, true, sanctified ministry prepared for the latter rain. . . .’ {3SM 385.3}


The Sunday Law test is going to be a time of weeding out God’s professed people.


‘When the law of God is made void the church will be sifted by fiery trials, and a larger proportion than we now anticipate, will give heed to seducing spirits and doctrines of devils. Instead of being strengthened when brought into strait places, many prove that they are not living branches of the True Vine; they bore no fruit, and the husbandman taketh them away. {2SM 368.1}


‘As the storm approaches, a large class who have professed faith in the third angel's message, but have not been sanctified through obedience to the truth, abandon their position and join the ranks of the opposition.’{GC 608.2}


First Test: The writings of the prophet Sister White. This is the very first test that will be flunked by professed Seventh Day Adventists who end up taking their stand under Satan’s banner; who end up receiving the mark of the beast at the Sunday Law. In other words, it is the first test before the door closes, at the Sunday Law:


‘One thing is certain: Those Seventh-day Adventists who take their stand under Satan's banner will first give up their faith in the warnings and reproofs contained in the Testimonies of God's Spirit.’ {3SM 84.3}


Second Test: The image of the beast (church and state joining together) will be the test for Seventh Day Adventists before the door closes upon us. This is a visual test that is happening right now as we speak. As we see these things it behoves us to ask ourselves the heart searching question: ‘seeing that all these things be dissolved, what manner of person am I to be?’:


‘The Lord has shown me clearly that the image of the beast will be formed before probation closes; for it is to be the great test for the people of God, by which their eternal destiny will be decided’. {15MR 15.1}


Summarising the Future Application of Daniel 12

‘I am often referred to the parable of the ten virgins, five of whom were wise, and five foolish. This parable has been and will be fulfilled to the very letter, for it has a special application to this time, and, like the third angel's message, has been fulfilled and will continue to be present truth till the close of time.’{RH, August 19, 1890 par. 3}

1 comment:

  1. In addition to the specific details of the prophecies in Daniel, there are a couple of basic lessons in Daniel 12:4-13.

    One is the fact that Daniel did not understand some of the prophecies he wrote. This is important, because some people seem to think that the prophets who wrote the words of the prophetic books in the Bible were writing from their own wisdom, interpretation, or imagination. But if that were the case, if Daniel was inventing these prophecies in his own mind as he wrote, he would certainly understand his own prophecies. The fact that he did not understand underscores the fact that the real author of these prophecies is the God who inspired the Bible. Daniel is not the author of these prophecies. God is. Daniel is like a stenographer who records what the boss dictates. And in this case, God gave Daniel the vision and the words to write, but not the understanding. As Peter wrote in 2 Peter 1:20-21, these prophecies are not from the prophet's private understanding or interpretation of future events, but the prophets were inspired by God to write what they wrote.

    The other lesson is that, as I point out in chapter one of my book The True Gospel and the Ezekiel Warning, the prophecies concerning men running to and fro and knowledge increasing is one of the greatest proofs that a God who can predict the future inspired the Bible. We are near the end of 6,000 years of man's history, soon to be followed by the 1,000 year millennial rule of Christ, just as the seventh-day Sabbath follows the six work days of the week, and at this very time there is an explosion of scientific and technical knowledge and transportation like never before.

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