Daniel 12:4-13

Shut Up the Words … Seal Up the Book

Daniel is told in no uncertain terms that his vision is not for today-and that his revelation will only be understood at the time of the end. For this reason many of the prophecies dealing with the revived Roman Empire, mentioned in Daniel chapter two in the form of the image, as well as the four beasts so accurately described in Daniel chapter seven, would not be understood until the time of the end when the book would be unsealed and revealed.

Historically, none of Daniel’s vision made much sense to Bible scholars until 1890, when Dr. Gabaelein began to teach that a revived Roman Empire would come into play during the time of the end. Therefore, the terminology “shut up the words until the time of the end” only became operative in an unprecedented way at the beginning of the twentieth century.

This is when we also began to understand clearly that a great nation would march against Israel (Ezekiel 38 and 39) and that this enemy would come from the north. We’ve already seen in Daniel 11:40 how the king of the South (Egypt) and the king of the North (Russia) would unite to engage in a blitzkrieg, the likes of which the world has never seen previously. No one could make much sense of Daniel’s vision until certain world events began to reveal themselves to God’s servants.

Today, we understand how it will all happen. But when does it occur? “When many run to and fro and knowledge is increased.” There is a dual interpretation in this text. First, travel is reaching unparalleled proportions and knowledge is doubling every twenty-two months.

The secondary meaning is that during the time of the end an inordinate fascination for knowledge about latter-day predictions would increase, with people running “to and fro” to learn everything possible concerning the prophecies about the returning King. This is where we are today in this sequence of end-time events. Soon, the Savior will call His Church away to be with Him, after which He returns seven years later, with His people, to rule and reign. It’s all beginning to take shape-just as the Holy Spirit, through Daniel, said it would.

Time, Times, and a Half Time

Again, Daniel is joined by two angels who come to give him further insight into historical matters concerning the time of the end. Daniel remains inquisitive. He wants to know what is going to take place in the long run-and he is especially curious as to what will happen to his people, the Jews, during the latter days before the Messiah appears. The one angel responds by saying that time, times, and a half time will bring all these things to a conclusion. What things, and what is meant by this expression? The angel is referring to the terrible battle that takes place in Daniel chapter eleven when the king of the South (Egypt) ultimately invades Israel, leading an Arab federation and joined by the king of the North (Russia).

This first wave of troops was discussed in chapter eleven. Next, China enters the fray with her two hundred million soldiers, accompanied by the remnants of Russia’s previously defeated army, for the second wave of the Armageddon campaign (Daniel 11:44). This is the information Daniel received, but it was not necessarily the message he wanted to hear.

But what about the seemingly cryptic phrase that time, times, and a half time will bring all these things to a conclusion? Remember that Russia begins her move into the area during the middle of the Tribulation hour-just after the Antichrist breaks his peace treaty with Israel. Time=one year; times=two more years; and a half time=half a year, the total of which is three and one-half years-precisely the concluding portion of the Tribulation period. The forty-two months of Revelation 13:5 are translated as 1,260 days in Revelation 11:3 and 12:6. These terrible battles will occur for forty-two months, right up to the exact moment that the beast and his armies battle Jesus Christ as recorded in Revelation 19:11-21.

This is the third and final portion of the Armageddon campaign as thoroughly explained in the previous chapter. Then as Christ appears, the words of Isaiah 2:4 become a reality: “He shall judge among the nations, and shall rebuke many people: and they shall beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruninghooks: nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war any more.” But it is going to take the real Prince-the Lord Jesus Christ-to bring history to this final, tranquil conclusion, the one whose name is the “Prince of Peace” (Isaiah 9:6).

Tribulation Works Patience

At this time, because of the mayhem and terror that’s taking place in the Holy Land, the people will flee and be scattered. Matthew 24:16-21 says,

“Then let them which be in Judea flee into the mountains: Let him which is on the housetop not come down to take any thing out of his house: Neither let him which is in the field return back to take his clothes. And woe unto them that are with child, and to them that give suck in those days! But pray ye that your flight be not in the winter neither on the sabbath day: For then shall be great tribulation, such as was not since the beginning of the world to this time, no, nor ever shall be.”

Imagine how Daniel must have felt as he once again heard the prophecies of gloom and doom coming from the mouths of two angels who informed him that everything he now heard was for the time of the end.

The angel said one more thing. It was about many being purified, or made white, people who would have understanding and also about those who were wicked, and who, in their wickedness, would not be able to understand the things of God. First Corinthians 2:14 says that the natural man, the one who is unsaved, does not understand the things of God. To such people they are foolishness. They can’t understand them because they have no spiritual discernment. On the other hand, God’s people-especially those who’ve gone through the mill- will have divine insight into these things because they, as God’s faithful servants, have experienced such trials and have been purified through these times of testing.

The apostle Paul said that tribulation works patience within us. It makes us into something. Therefore, those who have been through pain and suffering-but who, in the process, have remained close to the Lord, and have read His Word, and have prayed in faith, believing, and have understood the things of God through the Holy Spirit’s enlightenment-will have all these predictions revealed to them. But those who have hardened their hearts through wickedness will go to the time of the end totally ignorant of and carelessly indifferent to the latter-day predictions.

1,260 days… 1,290 days

If you’ve done the arithmetic found in this text, you may be wondering how the angels come up with 1,260, then 1,290, and then 1,335 days. Again, the Word of God is always meticulously correct and on schedule. With this in mind, an announcement is made that soon the millennial Kingdom will be established, but that a time of consecration is first necessary. To help us understand why this is so necessary, let’s take a quick side-trip to 2 Chronicles 30:2-4 where we read,

“The king had taken counsel, and his princes, and all the congregation in Jerusalem, to keep the passover in the second month. For they could not keep it at that time, because the priests had not sanctified themselves sufficiently, neither had the people gathered themselves together to Jerusalem. And the thing pleased the king and all the congregation.”

King Hezekiah said that there could be no Passover because there was a need to consecrate the priests- something that would take thirty days. This is a beautiful picture of why an additional thirty-day period will be necessary for God’s people to prepare themselves spiritually to rule and reign with Christ for the greatest event in history.

So, as we look at the additional number, 1,290 days, instead of seeing a discrepancy, we simply need to investigate other portions of Scripture, as we just did, to see the reason. But there’s another forty-five-day period mentioned in our text. Here’s why: When Christ returns, He judges the nations and their people, and His decree decides whether or not they’re qualified to enter His glorious kingdom for a thousand years (Matthew 25:31-46). This judgment undoubtedly takes an additional forty-five days! Thus, we end up with a total of seventy-five days in addition to the 1,260 days. There is no contradiction. Here’s why-forty-five days are needed to determine who enters the millennial period, and thirty days are needed to train God’s people for Kingdom service for administering the laws of the Kingdom, as described in Matthew chapters five through seven.

Now as we come to the final verse of the Book of Daniel, this great saint and man of God is in his nineties. The angel tells him to “go his way till the end be: for he shall rest, and stand in his lot at the end of his days.” The angel is simply saying that there will be a soon-approaching moment when Daniel will die and rest from his labors. But the angel adds that a glorious day is coming when Daniel and all believing Jews shall stand up and be raised from the dead to rule and reign with Christ.

One group of saints, who lived through the Tribulation period, are selected in Matthew 25:31-45 and enter the Kingdom in their natural bodies. Then there’s the group of believers who died during the Tribulation hour and are resurrected at approximately the time the Jewish Old Testament saints are raised. These resurrected Old Testament saints and Tribulation believers will dwell in the Holy City in glorified bodies and will, together, rule and reign with Jesus Christ for a thousand years along with the raptured believers who return with the Lord.

That’s why the names of the twelve Jewish patriarchs and the twelve apostles are mentioned upon the gates and the foundations of the Holy City. They represent all resurrected believers from among both Jews and Christians. May I reiterate what I’ve just stated so that no one can misinterpret or misunderstand the portion of Scripture just analyzed. There will be four groups sharing Christ’s kingdom for one thousand years.

1. The believers who were raptured and who return with Christ seven years later in their glorified bodies (Jude 14; Revelation 19:14).


2. The believers who are selected at Christ’s return and are invited to enter the kingdom in their physical bodies (Matthew 25:34).


3. The Old Testament Jewish believers covering a period of four thousand years who are raised from the dead at Christ’s return to enter the kingdom in glorified bodies similar to the raptured of group one (Daniel 12:2).


4. The believers, both Jews and Gentiles, who died for Christ during the Tribulation period and are raised from the dead upon the Savior’s second coming (Revelation 20:4).

At this point, the angel is saying to Daniel: “Hallelujah! You will be there among them! You’ve been through tough times, Daniel, and have been faithful to the end. Daniel, you will be greatly rewarded.”

Personally, I believe that Daniel will be one of the rulers during that thousand-year reign of Christ on earth. Daniel certainly had great administrative experience serving under six kings.

However, the greatest moment for this man who prayed fearlessly in front of an open window, who slept serenely one night in a den of some two hundred lions, who was lied about and set up to be killed by his palace “friends,” will be the moment when he serves the King of Kings, the Lord Jesus Christ, for a thousand years-a time when you and I shall also share in God’s blessings.

And thus we come to the close of the Book of Daniel, and a look at the final end-time mysteries that have now been unsealed. We have seen how the Book of Daniel clearly demonstrates the sovereign rule of almighty God over the affairs of men. We have seen prophecy after prophecy fulfilled, all verifiable and documented by secular and religious history. We have observed that God remains in control and will until the time of the end, giving the Gentile world dominance until Christ returns.

He Is Coming Soon

If you are a follower of this One who is coming soon, you can be assured that you will not have to endure the pain and suffering of the Great Tribulation hour. Such cannot be said for those who continue to turn their backs on God, and who choose to live out their own agendas. Now is the time of salvation. Our Lord Jesus Christ is coming soon. Will you be caught up to meet Christ-to later return with Him as he establishes His millennial Kingdom? There are simply too many signs pointing to the time of the end not to take this message to heart. The Book of Daniel has finally been unsealed and revealed for those who have eyes to see. The time for Christ’s return is near.

It is my prayer that you have not read this book just as so much interesting ancient history. It is much more than that. It is a carefully crafted blueprint for the time of the end. But the key to understanding this book is not in being able to understand every nuance, each beast, the little horn, or any other veiled prophecy contained in this work. Instead, it is in knowing the living Word-the Lord Jesus Christ-the One who is coming soon.

I close this volume with a quote from one of the most respected biblical scholars of our era, Dr. John F. Walvoord, who stated in his book Daniel: The Key to Prophetic Revelation:

To which I only add, Come quickly, Lord Jesus. Maranatha!

FROM THE HEART OF DR. REXELLA VAN IMPE

STOP – LOOK – LISTEN

First, winter slips away…then spring comes and goes…and then summer is upon us.

I think sometimes we fail to appreciate this beautiful change of seasons. The wonder of God’s creation becomes commonplace and we take it for granted. How long has it been since you really stopped and took time to look and listen to everything around you?

Several years ago, my husband, Jack, and I were on an airliner flying home from California. For weeks we’d been extremely busy working on our television programs and completing the TV studio and production center in our World Outreach Center. I’d planned to use the time on the plane to catch up on some of my reading.

My Father’s world

After a while, I glanced out the window-and the beautiful panorama I saw nearly took my breath away. It happened to be an unusually clear day, and as I looked down, I could see the Grand Canyon. It was spectacular! I stopped what I was doing and just drank in the grandeur unfolding below me.

In a little while, the plane was soaring over the majestic Rocky Mountains of Colorado. Oh, what a magnificent sight! I started smiling-I even laughed out loud! I thought, My Father created all of this-and more! I’m only seeing one small part of one little planet in God’s great cosmos. And my heart was thrilled.

It occurred to me that this was the first time in a long while-perhaps months-that I’d stopped and really looked at my Father’s world. I was only sorry that I couldn’t hear the glorious sounds of nature below me instead of the steady roar of the jet engines.

But that experience on the plane was a good reminder for me. Since then I’ve been making an effort to go outside and Stop! Look! and Listen! every day. And what a refreshing, rejuvenating, healing experience it is for me!

Wonders all around us

When Jack and I go for a walk or take a break out in our backyard, we make it a point to look and listen to the wonders around us. There are some rabbits that visit us, and some chipmunks that live in a hole under one of our large trees. They are so active-so happy and full of life. It’s a Joy to watch them.

Sometimes it even seems to me that all of God’s creation around me is rejoicing. Not long ago, I saw a mother robin building her nest. She was gathering tiny pieces of grass, twigs, and string and weaving them all together. She worked so diligently, chirping happily all the while. I found myself caught up in that beautiful creature’s joy.

But recently I’ve detected something else, too. At times I can almost hear the voices of nature saying, “Release us from the pollution that is surrounding us right now. Restore us, Creator, come back to us!” The Apostle Paul declared,

For we know that the whole creation groaneth and travaileth in pain together until now (Romans 8:22).

It’s heartbreaking to see what man is doing to the environment-our cities are filled with smog, litter, and trash. And even in the wilderness remaining, man’s callous carelessness causes disasters like the terrible oil spill in Alaska.

God created nature perfect. It wants to be perfect again. He created a world where the animals, birds, and sea otters were safe. They want to be safe again.

Despite the best efforts of scientists and environmentalists to clean up pollution like the oil spill, the bulk of the restoration will have to be left to nature. And in time, nature will cleanse itself-perhaps nearly as pure and perfect as before.

In addition to what we’re doing to our natural world, it seems to me there’s a lot of pollution in our lives-the sights and sounds around us…the visual pollution of pornographic publications and TV programs, the commotion and clamor that fill our daily activities.

Surely we need to get away from all that and let our minds be washed and rejuvenated from Satan’s assault on our senses. We need to focus our attention on the good things of God. It’s time to tune in to “whatsoever things” are true, honest, just, pure, lovely, and of good report (see Philippians 4:8).

Get closer to God’s creation and it will direct you back to God.

There’s something about getting out among the sights and sounds of nature that helps clear away our concerns and confusion and puts things back into perspective. No wonder God spoke through the psalmist and said, Be still, and know that I am God (Psalm 46:10).

“Slow me down. Lord”

I can identify with the plaintive prayer of the poet who cried, “Slow me down, Lord, I’m goin’ too fast!” How often we jam our lives so full of projects and duties that we grow weary and disheartened. We lose our enthusiasm and zest for living. Each day becomes an endurance contest, which we survive only to collapse in bed for a few hours, then get up to start the rat race all over again.

We may even be convinced that what we’re doing is important-we can even be in the midst of serving God, doing His work. But if our good works cause us to lose personal contact with Him-if we don’t take time, individually, to communicate with Him-we’re missing it.

Has this ever happened to you?

Then it’s time to STOP! Make time in your day to look and listen to God’s handiwork around you. Take time to let God speak to you through the wonders of His creation. Don’t forget that Jesus himself often took time to go away from the multitudes. He would walk out along the seashore or go up onto a mountain to pray and commune with God. And I’m just sure He took time to look and listen to what was around Him!

If Jesus needed to spend time alone in God’s presence, how much more you and I need to do so. Yet, how easy it is to put off our Bible study and cut back on our prayer time until it becomes an empty ritual-or we lose daily contact with the Lord altogether. God has provided everything we need to fulfill and enrich our lives…and if we’re not careful, we can rush right past it all every day.

Summer is vacation season for many people-perhaps you’re planning some time away. Don’t make the mistake of scheduling your vacation so full of travel and activities that you come back home needing to rest from your rest! Take time to relax-be still for a while. Stop! Look! Listen!…and let God recharge your batteries and rejuvenate your mind and spirit.

Hear and obey the words of our Lord in Mark 6:31: And he said unto them, Come ye yourselves apart into a desert place, and rest a while.

But don’t wait until your vacation to get started. Right now is a good time to re-open the lines of communication with God. Take time every day to enjoy the beautiful things the Lord has placed all around you. Read the Word. Talk to God. Listen for His voice.

I promise you-when you Stop! Look! and Listen! you will see God as you’ve never seen Him before. You will hear the voice of the precious Holy Spirit within you who speaks so tenderly and gives such strength! It will change your whole world and make your life a rich and glorious experience again.

CHANGED LIVES-one at a time

Hello Jack and Rexella

I have enjoyed your program for some time now and just want to thank you for your efforts in bringing this urgent message to all peoples.

It has been a real blessing in my life to listen to the word of God in the context of world events and current news.

God Bless your ministry.

Steve G.

Edmonton, Alberta Canada

Dear Drs. Jack and Rexella

Thank you for your e-mail messages about the things to come and the Lords return. I enjoy receiving them, especially when I can’t carry a video or two of yours along with me to places I may go, but I can carry my e-mails and read them at any given time! Thank you Lord! Keep up the good work Drs. Jack and Rexella and may the Lord continue to bless you and your family.

In Christ

Tracy

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