- Dec 19, 2017
- 3,490
- 1,046
- Country
- United States
- Gender
- Male
- Faith
- Christian
- Marital Status
- Private
- Politics
- US-Others
Daniel himself said he did not understand. The understanding does not take place until the time of end.
Daniel 12:8 And I heard, but I understood not: then said I, O my Lord, what shall be the end of these things?
9 And he said, Go thy way, Daniel: for the words are closed up and sealed till the time of the end.
Do you know exactly when is the time of the end really is? Do you know what knowledge that shall be increased? Knowledge about what, exactly?
The biblical answer is...
The "time of the end" as well as "the last days," refers to the whole New Testament period. That is when knowledge was increased and when the servants of God were sent to "go forth" (to and fro) with the gospel to the whole earth. It started with Christ's death and resurrection after He witnessed to the nation of Israel, and it ends with his triumphant return on the clouds of glory. I believe that this is the time of the increase in knowledge and when many (the elect) run to and fro or "go forth" with the power of the Revelation of God, through the Holy Spirit poured out at Pentecost. I believe this refers to the great knowledge through the Holy Spirit that has been given to us and signified by the sign at Pentecost. Not knowledge on technology, cars, money, artificial intelligence, flying, weapons, etc.
Acts 2:14-21
- "But Peter, standing up with the eleven, lifted up his voice, and said unto them, Ye men of Judaea, and all ye that dwell at Jerusalem, be this known unto you, and hearken to my words:
- For these are not drunken, as ye suppose, seeing it is but the third hour of the day.
- But this is that which was spoken by the prophet Joel;
- And it shall come to pass in the last days, saith God, I will pour out of my Spirit upon all flesh: and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, and your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams:
- And on my servants and on my handmaidens I will pour out in those days of my Spirit; and they shall prophesy:
- And I will shew wonders in heaven above, and signs in the earth beneath; blood, and fire, and vapour of smoke:
- The sun shall be turned into darkness, and the moon into blood, before that great and notable day of the Lord come:
- And it shall come to pass, that whosoever shall call on the name of the Lord shall be saved."
This is the uncovering of the seal on the book, the revelation of the Holy Spirit, the time when His servants will dream dreams and have visions, the time when we understand we have one Priest in Christ where we are all made kings and priests unto God through Him. This is the time when we receive the knowledge to understand that we are now all Kings and Priests unto him. Thus we prophesy, see visions, dream dreams, and interpret mysteries because knowledge of the word has increased. The mystery of God kept secret for so long was uncovered by Christ, yet progressively revealed to us in His own time. The whole New Testament period is the time when "that which was kept a mystery or secret" from the beginning, would be revealed by Christ sending the Holy Spirit to enlighten all His servants. When Christ sent the comforter to us, He began that revelation to increase knowledge in the earth of Him, and I believe it increases more as we near the end of all things. The latter days when Christ gives us a mouth and words of fire where none can gainsay or resist.
Romans 16:25-26
- "Now to him that is of power to stablish you according to my gospel, and the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery, which was kept secret since the world began,
- But now is made manifest, and by the scriptures of the prophets, according to the commandment of the everlasting God, made known to all nations for the obedience of faith:"
The mystery is that Israel would be made up of Jews and Gentiles, and according to the gospel revealed in the faith of Christ. Note that in the passage you quoted in Daniel, he is told to shut up the words and seal the book until the time of the end, meaning it was not meant to be understood until that time. While the apostle John is told not to seal up the visions of the book God had given him, meaning it was now to be revealed. That's why it is called the book of the Apocalypse (uncovering), or revealing the secrets of the knowledge that was before kept secret.
Revelation 22:6
- "And he said unto me, These sayings are faithful and true: and the Lord God of the holy prophets sent his angel to shew unto his servants the things which must shortly be done."
The Lord sent His Messenger to reveal the mystery of what things would shortly be done. And with Christ's death and resurrection, that revelation started and it is revealed to the election of the Israel of God, while the nation of Israel (in part) is blinded to it.
Daniel 12:4
- "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."
God's messenger Daniel was told to keep this a mystery until the time of the end when Christ would come, while after Christ came God's messenger John was told not to keep the things a mystery, but to reveal these things to the servants of God. This necessarily would increase the knowledge that was before restricted. Revelation is given in cryptic symbolism and parabolic imagery so that the wicked might be confounded by its mystery. By contrast, the election is given "of the Spirit" to understand these mysteries or secrets. A principle God explained plainly in places like Matthew 13:
Matthew 13:10-11
- "And the disciples came, and said unto him, Why speakest thou unto them in parables?
- He answered and said unto them, Because it is given unto you to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it is not given."
People often ask me, why did God make the book of Revelation so difficult to understand. My answer is always because it is revealed only to those who hold the word of God as their ultimate authority in interpretations, meaning interpretations belong to God (Genesis 41:15-16; 40:8 ). It is the few who want to do that. Those who seek worldly, carnal, and extrabiblical interpretations, are confounded by the symbolism. While those who interpret by scripture alone (Sola Scriptura) through the Spirit of Christ, have these truths revealed to them. These are those called of God to receive truth, while others refuse the truth presented by God in love. Visa'vis, even as Daniel in the previous verse 3 prophesied in the symbolism of us being "as" stars. Something Revelation also carries through in that book.
Daniel 12:3
- "And they that be wise shall shine as the brightness of the firmament; and they that turn many to righteousness as the stars for ever and ever."
We receive the knowledge in Christ Jesus that we are these stars of heaven. Israel were these stars of heaven that were cast down from the kingdom (Revelation 12) representation. It was a mystery not known in Daniel's time, but is now made manifest in the Revelation or uncovering of the mystery of the true nature of Israel, the chosen people of God. That is how knowledge is being increased. The nation of Israel that rejected Christ are as the fallen stars, or the stars cast down from heaven (Revelation 12) that they no longer be the Kingdom of heaven on earth representation. i.e., the kingdom of heaven representation where they are as stars there is taken from them and given to the New Testament church. That same knowledge of this mystery that is revealed in Revelation 12:4 of the stars cast down from heaven is reiterated in Christ's parable of the Vinyard and the kingdom taken from those who rejected its true nature.
Matthew 21:42-43
- "Jesus saith unto them, Did ye never read in the scriptures, The stone which the builders rejected, the same is become the head of the corner: this is the Lord's doing, and it is marvellous in our eyes?
- Therefore say I unto you, The kingdom of God shall be taken from you, and given to a nation bringing forth the fruits thereof."
All these things are part of the Revelation, the revealing of the mystery/secret in the last days, which encompasses the whole New Testament era. Daniel's prophecy referred to a distant time when Christ would come and bring that Revelation. Daniel's prophesy was fulfilled in Christ going away and sending the comforter/consoler that reveals this mystery and shows us all things that are to come.
John 16:13-15
- "Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come.
- He shall glorify me: for he shall receive of mine, and shall shew it unto you.
- All things that the Father hath are mine: therefore said I, that he shall take of mine, and shall shew it unto you."
Just as we read in Revelation that the Spirit was come to show John things that were to come, and God reiterated it was to show His servants things that were to come. This is the mystery being revealed, and the knowledge of God's plans being revealed. To one revealed today, to another revealed 2 years ago, and to another revealed tomorrow. It shows us that the stars falling and the moon not giving her light is the messengers of the church (Revelation 2:5), not physical stars falling to earth. Showing us that the great city Babylon falling is the unfaithful church in captivity, not the world system. Showing us that the two witnesses of Revelation being killed are the faithful messengers establishing truth (Deuteronomy 19:15) within that church, not Elijah and Moses. Showing us that the famine is of hearing the word of God, not starvation in Africa. Or that the great harlot decked out like kingdom royalty is actually the false church who has sold herself for gain, and not worldwide economics. ...and so on and so forth. The Mystery is revealed when knowledge is increased. Israel, to whom Daniel prophesied with premature zeal, sought after self-righteousness, physical freedom from the Roman government, and signs of the predicted messiah come to set them free from the rule of the Romans, but received none of it. Because their methodology of interpretation was flawed. Daniel's prophecy remained sealed up to them (in part). Because the language of Scripture was designed so that only those who received the Spirit of truth by grace, could have this knowledge.
Lastly, Daniel's prophecy of those running to and fro is NOT referring to any modern rapidity of locomotion, as some think, nor to Christian missionaries going about to preach the Gospel to the world at large [BARNES], which the context scarcely admits; but, whereas now but few care for this prophecy of God, "at the time of the end," that is, near its fulfillment, "many shall run to and fro," that is, scrutinize it, running through every page. Compare Hab 2:2 [CALVIN]: it is thereby that "the knowledge (namely, of God's purposes as revealed in prophecy) shall be increased." This is probably now being fulfilled.
Upvote
0