In the 10th chapter of
Revelation there is pictured A mighty angel having in his hand a
Little Book open. This is the Book of Daniel, the only Book in the
Bible that had a part of it closed. The angel lifts up his hand to
heaven and swore that time should be no longer. He is referring to
the time prophecies in the Book of Daniel.
Let us notice
Daniel 12:5. "Then I Daniel looked, and, behold, there
stood other two, the one on this side of the bank of the river,
and the other on that side of the bank of the river.”
Daniel sees two heavenly
beings, two Angels standing on either side of the river.
Verse 6 says, "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?”
Now here is that very
important question, "How long?" How long to what? "These wonders".
And what might these wonders be?" A modern translation puts it
this way, "How long will it be until these amazing events come to
an end." Good News Bible.
Attack by the King of the North
These amazing events
undoubtedly includes the final attack of the King of the North on
God's people during the time of trouble such as there never was.
The final outcome of that
attack will be “…yet he shall come to his end, and none shall help
him." For Michael delivers them. Yes, deliverance is a key word in
this
12th chapter of Daniel.
Now I would like you to
notice what it says in
verse 7. “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.”
Here is the answer to the
question "how long will it be to these amazing events”, a
time,
times, and an half.
The Man Clothed in
Linen
However before we go any
further, let's notice "the man in linen standing upon the waters.”
If we go back to the
10th chapter of Daniel, I’d like you to notice
verse 5. “Then I lifted up mine eyes, and looked, and
behold a certain man clothed in linen, whose loins were girded
with fine gold of Uphaz:”
In the next verse it goes
on to describe His appearance. His face like lightning, eyes like
lamps of fire, voice which sounded like a great multitude.
I noticed that there is a
reference in the margin to
Revelation 1:13-15.
Verse 13 says, “And in the midst of the seven
candlesticks one like unto the Son of man, clothed with a garment
down to the foot, and girt about the paps with a golden girdle.”
This makes it very clear
that the One clothed in linen is none other than Jesus Christ the
great High Priest who is officiating in the Heavenly Sanctuary.
The Son of Man, this was
Jesus'’ favorite title for Himself. So no less a personage than the
Son of God appeared to Daniel.
In
Daniel 12:7 He is described as being clothed in linen, and
in
Revelation 1:13 He is described as wearing a garment
that reaches to the foot suggesting priestly attire.
In
verse 7 it also mentions that He raises His right hand and
His left hand to heaven and swears an oath before GOD.
Why does He do this? It is
in answer to the Angel’s question, "How long will it be to these
amazing events?” In other words "How long would the King of the
North have the power to destroy God's people? And Jesus Christ
answers by saying “...that it shall be for a time, times, and an
half” or three and a half prophetic years or 1260 years. This same
period is recorded in other parts of Daniel and Revelation. In
fact in seven different places, and on each occasion it is applied
to the period of papal persecution. Actually there is no other
period in history that fits as does 538 AD to 1798 AD.
Now notice the last part
of
verse 7, “…and… he (the King of the North) shall have
accomplished to scatter the power of the holy people, all these
things shall be finished.”
Scatter or Breakers
This word "scatter” is an
interesting word. It means in the Hebrew to dash to pieces, to
break. So here is brought to view, the power of the King of the
North as the breakers of God's people.
And this is an important
point for in
Daniel 11, when Rome is first introduced into prophecy,
she is called “the breakers of God's people.”
Chapter 11:14 says, “And in those times there shall many
stand up against the king of the south: also the robbers of thy
people shall exalt themselves to establish the vision; but they
shall fall.”
In the Hebrew "robbers"
actually means breakers. And how true! When Pagan Rome first arose
she occupied the territory of the King of the North, that is
Babylon and Syria. She broke the power of God's people at that
time – the Jews, and destroyed Jerusalem.
When Pagan Rome’s place
was taken by Papal Rome she broke the power God's people of her
day. The prophecy said that for forty two months or 1260 years,
God's true Church would be trodden down.
So in answer to the
question “when shall all these things be fulfilled?” the Heavenly
Being, the Son of God who stood on the river told Daniel that the
1260 Years would bring to an end the Papal persecution, and the
breaking of God's people would be finished in 1798.
When the King of the North
rises for his final attack on God's people he will fail miserably,
for the Scripture says "....yet he shall come to his end, and none
shall help him.”
But for God's people there
will be deliverance “…and at that time thy people shall be
delivered, every one that shall be found written in the book."
Standing upon the Waters
It is interesting to
notice that in the vision that Daniel was given in this chapter,
that Christ is pictured as being "upon the waters of the river".
And one could well ask
"what is the significance of His standing upon the waters?
In the
10th chapter Daniel is standing on the side of the river
Hiddekel (Tigris). And
verse 5 tells us, “Then I lifted up mine eyes, and looked,
and behold a certain man clothed in linen, whose loins were girded
with fine gold of Uphaz:”
It does not mention
whether Christ was on the side of the river or standing on it but
is important to notice that He is connected with the river. Then
in
Daniel 12:5-7 it mentions on two occasions that He is
standing on the river. This indicates that He is in control of the
river.
What Does the River Represent?
And what does the river
represent?
In the
10th chapter and
verse 4 it says that Daniel was by the side of the great
river, which is Hiddekel or Tigris, which is a branch and at times
a tributary of the Euphrates.
In the Old Testament it
defines the territory of the King of the North.
Jeremiah 46:6 latter half says, “…they shall stumble
and fall toward the north by the river Euphrates.”
And what does the
Euphrates represent in prophecy? In the Book of Revelation we are
told that the Euphrates is where Babylon is situated and that (the
river) supports Babylon.
Revelation 17:15 says, "And he saith unto me, The
waters which thou sawest, where the whore sitteth, are peoples,
and multitudes, and nations, and tongues.”
So by Jesus standing on
the waters clearly indicates that He is in control even though
this may not be apparent to His own people.
In
Daniel 11:40 we are told that when the King of the North
makes his final onslaught against the people of God it is likened
to an overwhelming flood.
Verse 40 says, "And at the time of the end shall the king
of the south push at him: and the king of the north shall come
against him like a whirlwind, with chariots, and with horsemen,
and with many ships; and he shall enter into the countries, and
shall overflow and pass over.”
This vision of Christ
standing upon the river is an encouragement to God's people
Also that an Angel is
standing on each side of the river clearly indicates that despite
the King of the North's determination to destroy God's people
Christ is in control.
Daniel
Didn't Understand
However Daniel did not
understand this. Notice
verse 8, "And I heard, but I understood not: then said I,
O my Lord, what shall be the end of these things?"
It is easy to understand
why Daniel could not comprehend these things. You know even with
the advantage we have today in that much of the prophecy has been
fulfilled, it still requires earnest study to gain an
understanding of these prophecies.
However the mighty angel
of
Revelation 10 assures us that the Book of Daniel is now
open and that it can be understood. And Christ the heavenly Being
standing upon the river declares that "time would be no longer"
which means that the prophetic time periods of Daniel have met
their fulfillment such as the 1260 years which is also called
time, times, and an half a time.
Time
Periods
But there are two other
periods that you do not hear much about these days.
They are mentioned in
verses 11 and 12. Let us notice
verse 11 firstly, “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.”
Here we have a period of
time mentioned as 1290 days. Then in the
next verse it says, “Blessed is he that waiteth, and
cometh to the thousand three hundred and five and thirty days.”
That is 1335 days.
So you might ask "what
are these periods and what do they represent?”
Verse 11 says, "And from the time that the daily
sacrifice (supplied word) shall be taken away, and the
abomination that maketh desolate set up...”
As we noticed in our
previous studies “the daily” means the continual mediation of
Jesus Christ in the Heavenly Sanctuary, and Rome certainly took
away the daily by setting up a counterfeit priestly system which
the Bible calls the “abomination of desolation”. And when did
Rome take away the daily? It was in 508 A.D. And how did she do
it?
Abomination of Desolation
When Pope Simicus was
recognized by civil authority as superior to all human councils,
because he claimed that he was the Vicar of Christ. Secondly, in
503 A.D. when a Roman Catholic Synod presided over by Pope
Simicus adopted the position that the Pope was Judge as God's
vicar, and he himself could be judged by no man.
Then in 508 A.D. when
Clovis a French leader campaigned for the establishing of the
Catholic faith in France which cleared the way for the Papacy to
become supreme and to set up the "abomination that maketh
desolate" in 508 A.D.
If you add 1290 to 508
it brings you to the year 1798 A.D. the very date that
terminates the time, times, and half a time, or the 1260 years
of Papal supremacy.
In
Daniel 11 is described what the King of the North
would do.
Verse 31 says, “And arms shall stand on his part, and
they shall pollute the sanctuary of strength, and shall take
away the daily sacrifice, and they shall place the abomination
that maketh desolate.”
Yes the King of the
North would pollute the Sanctuary of the Jews and attack it and
finally destroy it and this was fulfilled by Pagan Rome. Then
later Papal Rome would "break" or destroy God's people and
pollute the sanctuary by its false doctrines and counterfeit
priestly ministry until 1798 A.D.
1335
Days
But what about the 1335
days or years that is mentioned in
verse 12? "Blessed is he that waiteth, and cometh to
the thousand three hundred and five and thirty days.”
Obviously the blessing
promised here comes at the end of this time period because
something very special is to happen at that time. It also
indicates that the 1335 years would end after the 1290 years,
and that both of these periods of time have a common starting
point.
So let us take 508 AD and
add 1335 to that date. It brings up to 1843 which is almost 1844
AD. And what happened at that time?
Why this was when the
great prophecy of
Revelation 10 met its fulfillment, that the book of
Daniel would now be understood. For in the angel’s hand there was
a Little Book open. Also that the Truth regarding the heavenly
sanctuary was brought to the attention of God’s people. And that
Jesus is ministering on behalf of penitent sinners in the courts
of heaven.
Hebrews 9:24 says, “For Christ is not entered into the
holy places made with hands, which are the figures of the true;
but into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God for
us:”
So you can see why it says
“Blessed is he that waiteth, and cometh to the thousand three
hundred and five and thirty days.”
Four Time Periods
In
Daniel 12 we have four Time periods brought to our
attention; the 1260 years, 1290 years, 1335 years and 2300 years.
The 1260 years and the
1290 years take us to the end of Papal Rome’s political power and
her deception of God’s people regarding Christ’s priesthood in the
heavenly sanctuary.
Thou
Shalt Rest
And now we come to the
last verse of this great chapter.
Verse 13 says, “But go thou thy way till the end be: for
thou shalt rest, and stand in thy lot at the end of the days.”
Christ or Michael says to
Daniel “for thou shalt rest”, and for centuries Daniel has been
resting in his tomb. You can go to Iran today, (that is old
Persia) and there you will see the ruins of the famous tomb of
Daniel. For centuries, that tomb was revered and protected by
Royal decree. Daniel was held in such high regard by the peoples
of his day and for centuries thereafter that his tomb was kept in
excellent order. But today his tomb is just a ruin.
Regardless of this, Daniel
rests, for the Scripture says, “for thou shalt rest.”
Daniel
Shall Stand in his Lot
It also says, “he shall
stand in his lot at the end of the days.”
What days is this
referring to? No doubt the 1335 and 2300 days or years, and in
what way will he stand in his lot?
However before we deal
with that question we ought to notice how the word "lot" is used
in Scripture. This word is used over 70 times in the 0ld
Testament and it has two applications.
Firstly, when Israel,
after leaving Egypt and traveling through the desert reached the
edge of the Promised Land, before they took possession of the
territory that was allotted to them, they stood in their lots;
which indicated that they had received their assignment. They
knew what their reward would be.
Secondly, was in the
casting of lots on the Day of Atonement to determine the Lord's
goat. The Day of Atonement was a Day of Judgment and represented
the pre Advent Investigative Judgment. That started back in 1844
and climaxes at the time of the 7 Last Plagues.
So when it says that
Daniel will stand in his lot that means that when his name comes
up in the Judgment He would be assigned his reward in the
Kingdom of Heaven. Now isn’t that wonderful?
Notice what Daniel wrote
while under inspiration in chapter 7
verse 18. “But the saints of the most High shall take
the kingdom, and possess the kingdom for ever, even for ever and
ever.”
God’s people are
assigned their reward in the great Judgment which will be coming
to a close soon now. What a dramatic moment it will be as the
last name is read from the last pane of the Book of Life.
Michael
Will Stand Up
It is at this time that
Michael will stand up, the great prince which standeth for the
children of thy people. “…and at that time thy people shall be
delivered, every one that shall be found written in the book."
Now isn’t that
wonderful! Every one of us will receive the reward that Daniel
receives. A place in God's eternal kingdom.
Before Jesus left this
earth of ours He promise that He would come back again to take
us to that place in glory. Doesn’t that make you excited? It
certainly does me.
Just to think of heading
out into space accompanied by hosts of holy Angels then wending
our way to our heavenly home, that place of dazzling splendor
more glorious than anyone could ever imagine. I am excited and I
am sure that you are too. 0 Lord Jesus please make that day come
soon is our earnest prayer.
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