Prophecies of Daniel: Why they point to us

Posted: August 24, 2007
1:00 a.m. Eastern



Two and one half millennia ago, a Hebrew prophet under forced exile to Babylon was given a panoramic vision of future history by God. The prophet, Daniel, recorded his visions in the book that bears his name.

Daniel's vision outlined the rise and fall of four successive world empires; the fall of Babylon to the Medo-Persians, which later fell to Alexander the Great's Greek Empire, which then fell to Rome. Daniel foretold Rome's collapse, and its subsequent revival, concurrently with the restoration of Israel, at some point in future history.

But when Daniel was given the vision of events in the last days, the prophet was staggered at what he witnessed. Imagine, for a moment, being someone living in the sixth century before Christ and being given a peek at the world as it exists today. Then, having seen the unimaginable, Daniel was instructed to write down what he saw.

When Daniel emerged from the vision, the angel instructed him, "But you, Daniel, shut up the words, and seal the book until the time of the end; many shall run to and fro, and knowledge shall increase."

Daniel was dumbfounded.

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"Although I heard, I did not understand. Then I said, 'My Lord, what shall be the end of these things?'" For the second time in the same chapter, the angel told Daniel, "The words are closed up and sealed till the time of the end" (Daniel 12:8-9 NKJV).

The prophecies of Daniel were indeed "sealed" for centuries following the Reformation. The early Reformation leaders like Luther and Calvin gave Daniel little attention, pronouncing both Daniel and Revelation either symbolic or allegorical.

But in this generation, the prophecies of both books are unsealed. Daniel's vision of a global government headed by a prince of a revived Roman Empire is all but fulfilled in this generation.

For the first time in 1,600 years, there exists a modern version of the old Roman Empire, although, as Daniel predicted, "partly strong and partly weak," compared to the iron of Imperial Rome.

There exists, for the first time since before the prophet Daniel was born, a geopolitical entity called "Israel." Neither existed until this generation. Israel was reborn in 1948. The Benelux Treaty that kicked off the unification of Europe was signed in 1948.

That same year, Bell Labs introduced the transistor, whose invention marked the birth of the Computer Age.

The angel told Daniel his vision would be unintelligible to generations other than the one to whom it was addressed, a generation whose hallmark would be that of ever-increasing knowledge.

Thanks to Bell Labs' 1948 invention, Moore's Law of Computer says that today's computers get twice as smart every 18 months to two years. That means we get twice as smart.

The angel also identified the generation of the time of the end as one in which "many would go to and fro" – the generation that witnessed the birth of rapid mass transportation.

According to World Health Organization Director-General Margaret Chan, "An outbreak or epidemic in one part of the world is only a few hours away from becoming an imminent threat somewhere else."

Chan specifically identified mass travel as facilitating the rapid spread of infectious diseases.

"No country can shield itself from invasion by a pathogen incubating in an airline passenger or an insect hiding in a cargo hold," Chan told Reuters.

She also warned that there was a good possibility of another major scourge like AIDS, SARS or Ebola fever with the potential of killing millions appearing in the coming years.

"Infectious diseases are now spreading geographically much faster than at any time in history," Reuters quoted the World Health Organization as saying.

"Faster than at any time in history," is the assessment of the most advanced medical technology the world has ever known, caused by our ability to "go to and fro" from one continent to the next – for the FIRST time in history.

"But you, Daniel, shut up the words, and seal the book until the time of the end; many shall run to and fro, and knowledge shall increase."

Many run "to and fro," knowledge is increasing at an exponential rate, and more books have been written about the prophet Daniel in this generation than in the last 2,500 years combined.

What is that telling you?

...........................................................benny

I will show my ignorance here. I understand all of the post except one. What is the "Revived Roman Empire", and who is the "prince" of that empire?

On another note, I don't think the scripture says anywhere that the cannon is closed. I know it talks about not adding or deleting any jot or tittle. Is it possible that the words that are “sealed up” may also include actual writings of Daniel that have not yet been discovered? Is it possible that in the next few years they may come to light?

Since Daniel was instructed to write down what he saw and “seal it up till the time of the end” perhaps it will be unsealed both in a figurative sense and a literal sense. It could be that the actual writings may still come to light as yet another of many signs that God gives that the end is close at hand.

Hello fellow Canadian, and welcome to the forum.

I think that we need to be careful when we speak of whole missing books as being the sealed books of Daniel. It does not say "missing books", but that it was sealed and shut up, and this is further elaborated upon in Revelation 4, where the Lamb (Jesus) opens the seven seals so that the "book" can be read.

I believe that this book is the bible as we know it, and that God has, and will open our minds to understand it as never before in the last days.

I think this is already happening.

I do not say that new doctrines will be discovered that contradict the old, but that deeper insights will be seen that in no way contradicts basic Christian theology. I believe that our understandings will be opened especially in the area of bible prophecy. (The goal of this forum is to help facilitate greater understanding in Bible Prophecy.)

I think that true bible codes (for most "codes" out there are mere foolishness) and increased understanding in bible prophecy numbers are a sign that this has and will happen. And I think that the Dead Sea Scrolls discovered in the same year Israel became a nation and the UN was formed (1948) was a sign that "the scrolls were being opened" in heaven. (The natural reflecting the spiritual.)

See http://bible-codes.org

http://1260-1290-days-bible-prophecy.org

I’m a wannabe Canadian, but thanks for the welcome!

I guess I was not very clear. I’m not thinking in terms of ‘whole books”, but rather something the size of a chapter or two at most.

The only reason I thought to ask this question is that so many things God does are both figurative and literal. But since I am not a Hebrew scholar, I don’t know the precise meaning of the words in the passage. So I was simply curious if the passage leant itself to being interpreted as having both literal and figurative fulfillments. Sorry if I was too ambiguous.

I concur that God is opening the minds of believers to understand his word as never before. Deeper insight does continue to come for those willing to seek it. I believe that God will always bring more to those willing to seek him with all their heart. In the end, it is all about him and his plans and purposes.

Hi- I'm new here, but a student of studying and researching the "Last Days" for most of my life.

David A-

Question 1- "Who is the "Revived Roman Empire" and who is the "prince of that empire"?

A- The European Community as they are known today is the "revived Roman Empire". As noted the 3 Countries back in 1948 came together to sign a new "Treaty of Rome". This coincides with Daniel 2:31-44- (namely vs 41-44), Dan. 7:7-14, 19-25, Rev. 13:1.

Scriptures show the foundational "One world Government" will be headed by 10 main nations- (ten toes of feet in statue, 10 horns of beast in Dan and Rev.) While some claim it can't be the EC because thier union has grown to more than 10 already, remember, Prophecies in Dan. shows, when the 11th little horn- (anti-christ) appears, 3 horns- (nations) are plucked out by the roots.

This means, at some point, disagreements will occur to convince enough nations to drop out, bringing the list to 13, then when the "man of sin, the son of perdition" is revealed, 3 more will drop out to bring the leadership back to 10 nations. 10 horns, 10 crowns- Dan. 7:7-8, 20-22, 24-25.

To date, the "Canon of Scripture" both Old and New Test.contain only those writings of which man has come across so far, showing the pure undefiled inspired Words of God to man. This does not discount other witings that may be found later on which are hidden at this point.

This does not include what is known as the "Apocrapha Books" or the "Book of Enoch". From research done, both sets show too many discrepancies to be truely considered as "inspired by God"- (God spoken).

But, a Scribe City had also been unearthed not so many years ago that may not contain "inspired Words of God", they do contain writings of Scribes speaking of some particular Biblically named Charactors who went around thier area of that time and what was spoken about by them.

I pray this helps-

God Bless!!