“Expect to witness amazing and perplexing signs throughout the universe with the sun, the moon, and the stars. The raging of the sea will bring desperation and turmoil to many nations. Earthquakes will bring panic and disaster. What men see coming to the earth will cause the fear of doom to grip their hearts, for they will even see the powers of the heavenly realm shaken!” (Luke 21:25-26, TPT)
Today, many people see what is happening in the world around us and they are afraid. Many are asking if we are now living in what the Bible calls the end times, or “time of the end” as spoken of in Bible prophecy. (Dan 8:17, Dan 12:9)
The purpose of this article is to briefly introduce the Bible’s case, that yes, we are indeed living in these end times now. The “time of the end” is shown by the following text, among others:
And I saw another mighty angel coming down out of the heaven, clothed with a cloud. And a rainbow was on his head, and his face was as the sun, and his feet like pillars of fire. And he had a little book open in his hand. And he set his right foot on the sea and his left foot on the earth. (Rev 10:1-2, MKJV)
Rev 10 details about a mighty angel which is seen coming down from heaven with ‘” a little book” in their hands. And right at this time when the little book of said prophecy was to be examined and therefore would no longer be sealed. This little book is indeed the very same one as what the prophet Daniel had described in Dan 12:4
“But you, 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”
Rev 10:2 describes “a little book” as “opened” from which we may reasonably assume that the little book was at some point closed or “sealed.” We read in Daniel of a little book which was indeed closed and sealed until a very specific time: “the time of the end.” Since this “little book” was only closed or sealed until “the time of the end” then it would follow that this little book would then be opened when we reach that time. Because the closing of the little book is mentioned in Bible prophecy, it is also very reasonable to expect that in any predictions of events to take place during the “time of the end” the the opening of the little book should be one of those events predicted in Bible prophecy.
There is no other book spoken of anywhere in the Bible as “closed or ‘sealed,” except for this “little book” of Daniel’s prophecy (Dan 12:4) and there is no other verse in the Bible that mentions the opening of that “little book” except for Rev 10:2 We may further observe that this “little book” which Daniel had received directions to ‘seal” had a very particular reference to time: “how long shall it be to the end of these wonders?” (Dan 12:6)
That we are in the time of the end is shown by Rev 10:1-2, where a mighty angel is seen to come down from heaven with a little book open in his hand. Then the book of this prophecy should be no longer sealed. It was to be opened and understood. For proof that the little book to be opened is the book here closed and sealed when Daniel wrote, and that that angel delivers his message in this generation, see Rev 10:2.
And I saw another mighty angel coming down out of the heaven, clothed with a cloud. And a rainbow was on his head, and his face was as the sun, and his feet like pillars of fire. And he had a little book open in his hand. And he set his right foot on the sea and his left foot on the earth. (Rev 10:1-2, MKJV)
An important point is now determined in our effort to settle the chronology of this angel We have seen that prophecy, especially the prophetic periods of Daniel, were not to be opened and understood in all it’s bearings, until the time of the end. If this is the book which the angel had in his hand open, it follows that he proclaims his message after the time when the book should be opened, or somewhere this side of the beginning of the time of the end.
The chronology of the events of Revelation 10 is further seen from the fact that this angel appears to be identical with the first angel of Revelation 14. The points of identity for them both are easily seen: They both have a special message to proclaim, They both utter their proclamation with a loud voice. They both use similar language, referring to the Creator as the maker of heaven and earth, the sea, and the things that are therein. And they both proclaim time, one stating that time should be no more, and the other proclaiming that the hour of God’s judgment has come.
The message of Rev 14:6 is obviously located during this day and age of the beginning of the time of the end. It is a proclamation of the hour of God’s judgment come, and therefore must have its application in this our last generation. During this “time of the end.” Paul did not preach the hour of judgment come. Martin Luther and his cohorts did not preach it. Paul reasoned of a judgment to come, indefinitely future, and Luther placed it at least three hundred years beyond his day.
Paul warns the church against preaching that the hour of God’s judgment has come, until a certain time. He says:
“Now we beseech you, brethren, by the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, and by our gathering together unto Him, that ye be not soon shaken in mind, or be troubled, neither by spirit, nor by word, nor by letter as from us, as that the day of Christ is a hand. Let no one deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come, except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed.” 2 Thes 2:1-3.
After these seven thunders uttered their voices, the injunction comes to John as to Daniel in regard to the little book: “Seal up those things which the seven thunders uttered.” (Rev 10:3) These relate to future events which will be disclosed in their order. Daniel shall stand in his lot at the end of the days. (Dan 12:13). And John sees the little book unsealed in the three angel’s message of Rev 14: 6-12. This means that Daniel’s prophecies have their proper place in the three angel’s message to be given to the world. The unsealing of the little book was the message in relation to this our day. The time of the end.
As we continue to investigate Bible prophecy, we will see how the books of Daniel and the Revelation are one message. One story. HIS STORY. One is a prophecy, the other a Revelation; one a book sealed, the other a book revealed. The special light given to John which was expressed in the seven thunders was a description of events which would transpire under the three angel’s message of Rev 14:6-12 If it is indeed Bible prophecy, the prophecy will always be 100% accurate. With no exception. And not a single prophecy is accurate or Biblical, unless it is centerd around “Christ and Him crucified.” (Gal 6:14, Eph 2:13)
Closing and sealing up the book simply meant that it was to be kept safe and preserved. This was to be done so that believers of all times could look back on God’s work in history and find hope. Daniel did not understand the exact meaning of the times and events in his vision. But we can see events as they unfold, for we are now finally in the end times. The whole book will not be understood until the climax of earth’s history.
And when the seven thunders spoke their sounds, I was about to write. And I heard a voice from Heaven saying to me, Seal up what things the seven thunders spoke, and do not write these things. (Rev 10:4, MKJV)
Throughout history people have wanted to know what would happen in the future, and God reveals some of it in this “little book” of Bible prophecy. But John was stopped from revealing certain parts of his vision. An angel also told the prophet Daniel that some visions he saw were not to be revealed yet to everyone (Dan 12: 9), and Jesus told his disciples that the time of the end is known by no one but God (Mark 13:32-33). God has revealed all we need to know now to live for him now. In our desire to be ready for the end, we must not place more emphasis on speculation about the last days than on living for God while we wait.
The second coming of Jesus is the most important event in everyone’s life. We should all enter this event into our Google Calendars now. But what year, what date, what time should we make this entry for?
When Jesus said that even he did not know the time of the end, he was, among other things, affirming his humanity. Of course God the Father knows the time, and Jesus and the Father are one. But when Jesus became a man, he voluntarily gave up the unlimited use of his divine attributes. But the emphasis of this verse is not on Jesus’ lack of knowledge, but rather on the fact that no one knows. It is God the Father’s secret to be revealed when he wills. No one can predict by Scripture or science the exact day of Jesus’ return. Jesus is trying to teach us that preparation, not calculation, is what we need now..
Months of planning go into a wedding, the birth of a baby, a career change, a speaking engagement, the purchase of a home, etc. Do we place the same importance on preparing for Christ’s return, the most important event in our life? Its results will last for eternity. We dare not postpone our preparations because we do not know when Christ’s return will occur. The stated way to prepare is to study God’s Word and live by its instructions each day. Only then will any of us be ready.. Jesus informs that our preparation involves the following:
But of that day and hour no one knows, no, not the angels in Heaven, nor the Son, but the Father. Take heed, watch and pray, for you do not know when the time is. (Mark 13:32-33)
The disciples once asked Jesus what would be the signs of His coming, or, of ‘the end of the age,” and the very first thing Jesus said to them was “take heed that no one deceive you.” (Mat 24: 3-4)
Turning to the disciples, Christ said, “Take heed that no one deceive you. For many shall come in My name, saying, I am Christ; and shall deceive many.” Many false messiahs will appear, claiming to work miracles, and declaring that the time of the deliverance of the Jewish nation has come. These will mislead many. Christ’s words were fulfilled. Between His death and the siege of Jerusalem many false messiahs appeared. But this warning was given also to those who live in this our day and age of the world. The same deceptions practiced prior to the destruction of Jerusalem have been practiced through the ages, and will be practiced again. {DA 628.2}
Christians today may rest in the grand assurances that Bible prophecy is always about Jesus. Bible prophecy is called “sure” for a reason. Bible prophecy is HIS-Story. And Bible prophecy is the light in our clouds in these trying times we live in today. This is why prophecy is called “a light in a dark place.” (2 Pet 1:19)
IF the prophecies we are being taught are not light; if they create heat rather than light, perhaps we should consider closer the Bibles idea that
“We also have a more sure word of prophecy, to which you do well to take heed, as to a light that shines in a dark place, until the day dawns and the Daystar arises in your hearts,” (2 Pet 1:19, MKJV)
Christ is a “Day Star,” and when he returns, he will shine in his full glory. Until that day we have Scripture and the Holy Spirit to illuminate it for us and guide us as we seek the truth (see also Luke 1:78; Eph 5:14; Rev 2:28; Rev 22:16).
NOTHING else in scripture is called “a more sure word.”