The Time of the End

THE work to be accomplished in that brief period called the time of the end, is mentioned three times in the twelfth chapter of the book of Daniel.

1. "Many shall run to and fro, and knowledge shall be increased." Verse 4. Daniel was ordered to "shut up the words, and seal the book, even to the time of the end." That which is sealed to the time of the end is open in the time of the end. It is, therefore, knowledge from the open book of Daniel, relative to the end, that is to increase in the time of the end.

2. "Many shall be purified, and made white, and tried; but the wicked shall do wickedly; and none of the wicked shall understand; but the wise shall understand." Verse 10.

3. The special work of God for the time of the end, is expressed a third time, in the words, "And when he shall have accomplished to scatter the power of the holy people, all these things shall be finished." Verse 7. In considering this passage, we shall endeavor to answer these questions: Who are the holy people? What is their power? What is the nature of the scattering? And who is it that scatters the power of the holy people?

1. Who are the holy people? They are the truly wise, that are being purified, made white, and tried, in the time of the end. These understand the open book of prophecy, while the wicked do wickedly, and none of them understand.

2. What is the power of the holy people? The power of the true church of Jesus Christ has ever been the word of God accompanied by the Spirit of God. The power of the holy people in the time of the end is the prophetic word unsealed, accompanied by the Holy Ghost.

3. What is meant by the scattering? This is illustrated by the parable of our Lord, "Behold a sower went forth to sow," and is fulfilled in the work of the three messages of Revelation 14:6-12. The first is represented by an angel flying in "the midst of heaven, having the everlasting gospel to preach to them that dwell on the earth, and to every nation, and kindred, and tongue, and people," saying, "Fear God, and give glory to him; for the hour of his judgment is come." The second is illustrated by the angel that announces the fall of Babylon, and the third by the angel that announces wrath upon those who worship the beast and his image and receive his mark. This last message closes with words which express the position and work of the believing and obedient, who are waiting for the coming and kingdom of Christ, as follows: "Here is the patience of the saints; here are they that keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus."

4. To whom does the word "he," in verse 7, refer? The persons named in this connection are the two, one on either side the river, Daniel, who is a spectator, the man clothed in linen, and the One that liveth forever. The Roman power is left out of the question. The scattering is not accomplished by the prophet, nor by the two angels on either side of the river, neither by the man clothed in linen who makes the solemn oath; but by Him by whom he makes the oath, which is the Eternal God.

The prophet had been shown the wonders pertaining to earthly empires and the coming and kingdom of Christ, presented in chapters 2, 7, 8, 11, and 12:1-4. And now a new scene opens before him, as expressed in these words: "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. 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? 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." Verses 5-7.

The points worthy of especial notice in this grand, prophetic scene are as follows:—

1. The persons named. These are Daniel, the two, one on either side of the river, the man clothed in linen, and the One who liveth forever. An angel appears to Daniel as described in chapter 10. In verse 21, he addresses the prophet in these words: "I will show thee that which is noted in the Scripture of truth; and there is none that holdeth with me in these things, but Michael your Prince." The parties who speak and act in giving and receiving this prophecy, are Daniel, the angel Gabriel, chap. 8:16, and Christ, Jude, verse 9; 1 Thess. 4:16; John 5:25, 28. Daniel is a spectator, a listener. One of the angels on either side of the river is Gabriel, the other says and does nothing. His name is unknown. The man clothed in linen is the Son of God. And he who liveth forever is the eternal Father.

2. The River. This is a symbol of time. As the river flows day and night, year after year, so time continues its ceaseless onward march.

3. Christ holding a position upon [from above, marg.] the waters of the river, as commander of the situation, shows that he reveals the prophetic periods. This is evident from the conversation of the two saints of chapter 8.

"Then I heard one saint [Christ] speaking, and another saint [Gabriel] said unto that certain saint [Christ] which spake, How long shall be the vision concerning the daily sacrifice, and the transgression of desolation, to give both the sanctuary and the host to be trodden under foot? And he [Christ] said unto me [Daniel], Unto two thousand and three hundred days; then shall the sanctuary be cleansed." Dan. 8:13, 14.

4. The question concerning the time. This is put by the angel Gabriel to the Son of God: "How long shall it be to the end of these wonders?" Dan. 12:6. Does Christ evade this direct question? Does he inform Gabriel that he is prying into the secrets of the Almighty? That this whole matter of time is hidden from men and from angels? No, indeed. Daniel continues:—

"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." Verse 7.

Does Gabriel in his question "How long?" set an example to the people of God, and show that it is their privilege to repeat the prophetic inquiry, "Watchman, what of the night?" The oath of the Son of God, with both hands raised to Heaven, justifies the answer by his ambassadors.

5. Christ's answer to the question of time embraces the 1260 years of papal supremacy, covering the ground from A. D. 538 to A. D. 1798. Here let it be borne in mind that the time of the end is the burden of the prophecy. Hence Christ, in his answer to the question of time, passes down over Persia, Greece, and pagan Rome, and gives that prophetic measurement which reaches to the time of the end. This indefinite period commenced in 1798, and reaches to the end itself. It is during this time that the solemn three-fold message goes forth to the world symbolized by the three angels of Rev. 14:6-12, increasing knowledge upon the subject of the end, and in which many are purified, made white, and tried, prepared for the coming of the Son of man in the clouds of heaven.