Daniel in the Prophet’s Den

I’m always fascinated by Bible teachers who profess to know the details of the end times. They wax eloquent about the identity of the Antichrist, the signs they are certain point to Christ’s return, and of course many pinpoint the date itself. And they are inevitably wrong.

All of this speculation and folly is quite unnecessary. Of course Jesus Himself told us that no one knows the day He will return, and that should be enough to quiet the contrary voices, but another witness is the testimony from the prophets themselves. The Apostle Peter (1 Peter 1:10-12) tells us that even the angels desire to look into the deep things of prophecy, the details of which were not fully disclosed to the prophets themselves.

Daniel is a great illustration of this. After his first vision, and even after an angel had helped him interpret it, he concludes, “As for me, Daniel, my thoughts greatly alarmed me, and my color changed, but I kept the matter in my heart” (Daniel 7:25). Some prophecy teachers would do well to follow his example.

Then, following another vision, he reports, “ And I, Daniel, was overcome and lay sick for some days. Then I rose and went about the king’s business, but I was appalled by the vision and did not understand it (Daniel 8:27). At least he is honest.

After his final set of visions and angelic interpretation (Daniel 9-11), he says he does not understand (12:8), and keeps asking for more information until the angel finally says, “Go your way, Daniel, for the words are shut up, and sealed until the time of the end” (Daniel 12:9).

Daniel’s attitude warns us to be humble enough to admit when we don’t understand, and confess that God has not revealed everything to His prophets, and certainly not to us. Jesus told his disciples that although no one knows for certain when He will return, they can and must be ready. So, are you?

“But concerning that day and hour no one knows,
not even the angels of heaven or the Son, but the Father only.”
Matthew 24:36


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