FRIDAY MORNING MANNA
Biblical Numerology: NUMBER SEVEN
The time of the end, end of prophetic time, and the last days
The time of the end. Again, the “time of the end” announced in the prophecy of Daniel 12: 4, 9 is not the end of earth’s history neither of probationary time nor of prophetic time. Not yet. Rather, the year 1798 marks two watershed events in church and world history: a) the end of the 1,260 years of the Dark Ages, and b) the beginning of reckoning the closing events of the end times, both of remaining time prophecies included within the 2300 day prophecy ending in the autumn of 1844, and the unfulfilled prophecies following this order yet are no longer subject to specific time periods such as when the image of the beast will be formed, when the mark of the beast will be enforced, the close of probation, Christ’s second coming, etc.
Some fueled by “zeal not based on knowledge” (Rom. 10: 20), persist in pushing their elaborate “new light” studies and charts that allegedly give the precise dates when unfulfilled prophecies will occur, deceiving themselves and misleading the credulous. We never seem to learn.
The end of prophetic time periods. By specific prophecies contained in Revelation 10: 1-11, God revealed when, how, and in what dramatic events the longest time prophecy (Daniel 8: 14) ends, thus ending all time prophecies, given in prophetic language, such as a “mighty angel with his right foot on the sea and left foot on the earth,” “seven thunders,” the “little book” when “eaten,” results in a “bitter-to-the belly” yet “sweet-as-honey-to-the-mouth” experience. “Angel” here, like the three angels of Revelation 14, etc., describes a movement based on specific messages, not individuals whether angelic or human. Now consider the following:
“The message itself [of Rev. 10: 2] sheds light as to the time when this movement is to take place. It is declared to be a part of the ‘everlasting gospel;’ and it announces the opening of the judgment. The message of salvation has been preached in all ages; but the message is part of the gospel which could be proclaimed only in the last days, for only then would it be true that the hour of judgment had come. The prophecies present a succession of events leading down to the opening of the judgment. This is especially true of the book of Daniel[the ‘little book’ described in Rev. 10]. But that part of his prophecy which related to the last days, Daniel was bidden to close up and seal ‘to the time of the end.’ Not until we reach this time could a message concerning the judgment be proclaimed, based on the fulfillment of these prophecies. But at the time of the end, says the prophet, ‘many shall run to and fro, and knowledge shall be increased.’ Dan. 12: 4.”- E. G. White,Great Controversy (1911), pp. 355, 356.
“And he had in his hand a little book open: and he set his right foot upon the sea, and his left foot on the earth”. Revelation 10: 2.
The full and perfect provisions of the plan of redemption are such because it is the exclusive brainchild of the Godhead. Prepared before the foundation of the world, nothing of it was of human origin and yet because it was for fallen man’s redemption it includes human participation but only by those who willingly choose salvation from sin and its power through an intelligent understanding of the revealed “mystery of iniquity,” and in contrast the “mystery of godliness.” Jesus Christ, Son of God, and Son man, is the promised Messiah and Savior described by the prophets to be meek, humble and pure while being just, righteous, and all-powerful King of kings and Lord of lords. Thus He was designated in universal animal symbols as “the Lamb of God” and “the Lion of tribe of Judah,” respectively. With all due respect based on the “truth as it is in Jesus,” the Ethiopian emperor Haile Selassie of the Rastafarian religious movement, (claimed by his followers as the “Lion of Judah” as descending from Solomon and Queen Sheba), could not and did not “unseal’ the “little book” of Daniel, particularly those referring to time. Now consider the following based on Daniel 12 and Revelation 10:
“It was the Lion of tribe of Judah who unsealed the book and gave to John the revelation of what should be in these last days. Daniel ‘stood in his lot’ to bear his testimony which was sealed until the time of the end, when the first angel’s message would be proclaimed to our world. These matters are of infinite importance in these last days; but while ‘many shall be purified, and made white, and tried,’ ‘the wicked shall do wickedly; and none of the wicked shall understand’ [Dan. 12: 4.] How true this is! Sin is the transgression of the law of God [1 John 3: 4, K.J.V.]; and those who will not accept the light in regard to the law of God willnot understand the proclamation of the first, the second, and third angel’s messages. The book of Daniel is unsealed in the revelation given to John [in the Revelation], and carries us forward to the last scenes of this earth’s history.” Ibid, Testimonies to Ministers, p. 115.
“The message of Revelation 14, proclaiming that the hour of judgment is come, is given in the time of the end; and the angel of Revelation 10 is represented as having one foot on the sea and one foot on the land, showing that the message will be carried to distant lands, the ocean will be crossed, and the islands of the sea will hear the proclamation of the last message of warning to our world.” – Ibid, Selected Messages, vol. 2, pp 107, 108.
“[Rev.10: 5, 6 quoted]. This message announces the end of the prophetic periods. The disappointment [bitter-sweet experience] of those who expected to see our Lord in 1844 was indeed bitter to those who had so ardently looked for His appearing. It was in the Lord’s order that this disappointment should come, and that hearts should be revealed.” “7 BC 971.
The seven thunders and the little book. “And he cried with a loud voice, as when a lion roareth: and when he had cried, seven thunders uttered their voices.” Rev. 10: 3.
“The special light given to John which was expressed in seven thunders was a delineation of events which would transpire under the first and second angel’s messages. It was not best for the people to know these things [before its appointed time], for their faith must be necessarily tested. In the order of God most wonderful and advanced truths would be proclaimed. The first and second angels’ messages were to be proclaimed, but no further light was to be revealed before these messages had done their specific work. This is represented by the angel standing with one foot on the sea, proclaiming with a most solemn oath that time should be no longer.” Ibid, 7 BC p. 971.
How important then that we all go back and humbly review, with renewed zeal guided by the Holy Spirit the historic events that transpired under the proclamation of the first and second angels’ messages! For those whose attention has never been called in the past to read and understand these prophecies, this will be a new and even strange thing. But now that you have been informed “there remaineth no more excuse.”
And when the seven thunders had uttered their voices, I was about to write: and I heard a voice from heaven saying unto me , Seal up those things which the seven thunders uttered, and write them not. And the and the angel which Is saw stand upon the sea and upon the earth lifted up his hand to heaven. Rev. 10: 4, 5.
“After the 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.’ These relate to future events which will be disclosed in their order. Daniel shall stand in his lot at the end of the days. Then Daniel’s prophecies have their proper place in the first, second, and third angels’ messages to be given to the world. The unsealing of the little book [Daniel] was the message in relation to time. The books of Daniel and Revelation are one. One is a prophecy, the other a revelation’ one a book sealed, the other a book opened. John heard the mysteries which the [seven] thunders uttered, but he was commanded not to write them.” – Ibid, MS 59, 1900
And sware by Him that liveth forever and ever, who created heaven, and the things that therein are, and the earth, and the things that therein are, and the sea, and the things that therein are, that the there should be time no longer. And the angel which I saw stand upon the sea and upon the earth lifted up his hand to heaven.” Rev. 10: 6.
That there be time no longer. “This time, which the angel declares with a solemn oath, is not the end of this world’s history, neither of probationary time, but of prophetic time, which should precede the advent of our Lord. That is, the people will not have another message based on definite time. After this period of time, reaching from 1842 to 1844, there can be no definite tracing of the prophetic time. The longest reckoning reaches to the autumn of 1844 [October 14].” – Ibid, 7 BC 971.
“Christ gave to His disciples truths whose breadth and depth and value they little appreciated, or even comprehended, and the same condition exists among the people of God today. We too have failed to take in the greatness, to perceive the beauty of the truth which God has entrusted to us today. Should we advance in spiritual knowledge, we would see the truth developing and expanding in lines of which we have little dreamed, but it will never develop in any line that will lead us to imagine that we may know the times and the seasons which the Father hath put in His own power. Again and again I have been warned in regard to time setting. There will never again be a message for the people of God that will be based on time. We are not to know the definite time either for the outpouring of the Holy Spirit or for the coming of Christ.” – Ibid, 1 Selected Messages, Vol. 1, p. 188.
Among many others, this is one definite point of failure of those who claim to be God’s people of these last days who make up the remnant church of prophecy. I believe I am one. However, as the Jewish nation was in the time of Christ whom He sadly declared, “ye know not your time of visitation”(Luke 19: 44) and His own first disciples to whom He said, “I have still yet many things to say to you, but you can bear them now” (John 14: 12, N.K.J.V), we have likewise “failed to take in the greatness, to perceive the beauty of the “present truth” which God has entrusted to us today! But while many of us appear appalled at their hard heartedness and unbelief, our situation is actually worse than theirs because our opportunities to know these truths that were sealed to them, has been unsealed to us since the time of the end! However, when Jesus told His disciples what we cited above (John 14: 12) He added: “But when He, the Spirit of truth, has come, He will guide you into all truth: for He will not speak on His own authority, but whatever He hears He will speak; and He will tell you things to come.” John 16: 13, N.K.J.V. Have you received the Spirit of truth? Do you want the Holy Spirit and His power?
“The book that was sealed was not the book of Revelation, but that portion of the prophecy of Daniel which related to the last days [not the whole book Daniel]. The Scripture says, ‘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.’ (Dan. 12: 4. When the book was opened, the proclamation, ‘time shall be no longer.’ (See Revelation 10.6.) The book of Daniel is now unsealed, and the revelation made by Christ to John is come to all inhabitants of the earth [not just to Adventists] By the increase of knowledge a people is to be prepared to stand in the latter days.”- Ibid, Selected Messages, Vol. 2, p. 105.