"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.........Go your way, Daniel, for the words are shut up and sealed until the end of time. Many shall purify themselves and make themselves white and be refined, but the wicked shall act wickedly. And none of the wicked shall understand, but those who who are wise shall understand. (Daniel 12:4,9,10 ESV)
John Gill was a Puritan English pastor and theologian who preached from the same pulpit that Charles Spurgeon served his congregation from 100 years later. Gill's commentary on these verses are interesting:
"many shall run to and fro, and knowledge shall be increased; that is, towards the end of the time appointed, many persons will be stirred up to inquire into these things delivered in this book, and will spare no pains or cost to get knowledge of them; will read and study the Scriptures, and meditate on them; compare one passage with another; spiritual things with spiritual, in order to obtain the mind of Christ; will peruse carefully the writings of such who have gone before them, who have attempted anything of this kind; and will go far and near to converse with persons that have any understanding of such things: and by such means, with the blessing of God upon them, the knowledge of this book of prophecy will be increased; and things will appear plainer the nearer the accomplishment of them is; and especially when accomplished, when prophecy and facts can be compared together: and not only this kind of knowledge, but knowledge of all spiritual things, of all evangelic truths and doctrines, will be abundantly enlarged at this time; and the earth will be filled and covered with it, as the sea with its waters..."
These words of John Gill were probably written in the mid 1700s but they accurately describe today, yet so often we hear skepticisms about end-times prophesy, that it has always been been with us and has always been premature and has always been wrong. The opposite is the case. Yes, the words were always there in Scripture but John Gill's description of that appointed time when "prophesy and facts can be compared together" has greatly increased in the past fifty or so years. Man developed nuclear weapons, Israel miraculously became a nation.....and now has its back up against the wall thanks to the betrayal of a man who was supposed to be an ally, the world is in absolute chaos as greed has grossly distorted capitalism, violence has run amok, God's earth has been deified as a goddess, lying is the norm just about everywhere, liberty and freedom that enabled Jews to return to their own land is disappearing while homosexuality is the new cause celebre in defending liberty and freedom, good is seen as evil and evil as good, hatred for Christianity abounds and man has finally become master of his own fate as God's protections are being lifted. The meaning of Daniel's prophesy was hidden and remains hidden but it and the rest of apocalyptic Scripture was and is for this day that we live in and will be fully revealed in God's good time.
In the Christian publishing world if the spine of the book has a little robed man holding up a Bible then no investigation is needed for it's Banner Of Truth Publishers and I trust their discernment implicitly. In the secular world it's a little almost castle like building with two arches for doors and white specks as windows throughout.....Regnery Publishing. I bought such a book a few days ago and did page through it before I bought it and therefore knew where the author was going with it and even though I'm not on board with his thoughts. I bought the book and finished it over a few days.
The book is Digital Destiny, How The New Age Of Data Will Transform The Way We Work, Live, And Communicate and the author is Shawn Dubravac. It's not that I disagree with the projections for a new world described in detail by the author. He's the expert here but I'm reminded of a few words once uttered by Charlton Heston that went on to be a rallying cry for millions of Americans....."From my cold, dead hands..." Heston's cry was about taking away our guns but Dubravac never entered that arena; in his world they will be taking away things like our steering wheels, along with possibly our hearts, souls and our freedoms and liberties. Of course he doesn't see it that it that way, rather most of what he envisions benefits mankind. Regnery must feel the same way. One of us has discernment on this and one of us does not. One last thing on the book which I do recommend. This digital future is not the distant future. Much of it is occurring right now and we see it all around but much if not most of it is only a few years away. This paradigm change (you have to read the book to even have an idea of the full extant, and you will be impressed by its scope) is a world designed for the Antichrist.
The Christian today needs to read into Biblical prophesy with the same passion to learn that John Gill described. Despite the great popularity of prophesy, the studying of God's Word on the day and age that we live in is not indicative of the Christian life today. As I write, March Madness and multiple and varied other entertainments command our passions. Politics is our hope. Much of what we have accurately discerned as to this day and age has been negated by the Pre-Trib Rapture doctrine that clouds the very reason for God's warnings to us, repentance and preparations, for His promise is to take us through this tribulation and not take us out beforehand.
Do you disagree with this statement or maybe are you inclined to doubt it? Then read....read and pray....read and pray and study. Yes, there is error all around but that only highlights the fact that God is removing veils and we, as usual, want to rush ahead of Him. Is prophesy to eclipse the Gospel itself because of the day and age that we live in, which it often does? Of course not. Prophesy points to the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
The words to Barry's Gibb's Grease begin, "I solve my problems and I see the light" and it ends with "Grease is the word...is the word...is the word" but we ourselves solve no problems though we see the light....and truly.....Grace is the word...is the word...is the word!
