The Time of the End

California Conference of Seventh-day Adventists · Oakland, Cal. · Apr 15, 1875

The Time of the End.

THE worn traveler looks forward to the end of his journey in hope of rest. If returning to his family, the very point that terminates his weary way is the one of thrilling interest to him. The happy associations of his dear home induce him to press onward to his journey's end. When the night is dark, damp, and dreary, the watchman cheers his heart with the thought that "The morning cometh."

And in all the range of Christian theology there is no point to which the church of Christ can look, nor any subject she can contemplate with greater pleasure and profit than the end, which brings her dear Lord back to the earth again, and calls the just of all past ages from their graves in one immortal family with joys complete. It is the grand event that consummates all her hopes, terminates the period of her trials and griefs, and introduces her eternal repose.

The near approaching end is regarded by the apostle Peter as an incentive to right-doing and holy living, and a matter of such joy to the living Christian that he exhorts the church to be ever looking forward, and hastening unto that great day. "The end of all things is at hand. Be ye therefore sober, and watch unto prayer." 1 Pet. 4:7. "Seeing then that all these things shall be dissolved, what manner of persons ought ye to be in all holy conversation and godliness; looking for and hastening unto the coming of the day of God, wherein the heavens being on fire shall be dissolved, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat. Nevertheless we, according to his promise, look for new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness. Wherefore, beloved, seeing that ye look for such things, be diligent that ye may be found of him in peace, without spot, and blameless." 2 Pet. 3:11-14.

The apostle Paul, speaking of the events that mark the transition from the present age to the future glory, says that "Then cometh the end, when he [Christ] shall have delivered up the kingdom [of grace] to God, even the Father." 1 Cor. 15:24. He speaks of the resurrection of the just, and the change to immortality in verses 51, 52 of the same chapter, in these triumphant words: "Behold, I show you a mystery. We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump; for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality. So when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory. O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory?"

And the Son of God, in answer to the disciples who inquired, "When shall these things be? and what shall be the sign of thy coming; and of the end of the world," takes them forward in prophetic discourse to the last generation before the end, and gives a photograph of our times, and a most comforting promise to the faithful as follows: "And because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold. But he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved." Matt. 24:12, 13.

The Hebrew Daniel was carried in prophetic history down the four universal monarchies, Babylon, Persia, Greece, and Rome, to the end, in four distinct lines. The first is the interpretation of Nebuchadnezzar's dream of the second chapter, where the four parts of the great image represent the four great kingdoms. The second is the four beasts of the seventh chapter, which answer to the gold, silver, brass, and iron of the metalic image of the second chapter. The third is found in the eighth chapter, under the symbols of the ram, goat, and the little horn that grew exceeding great. And the fourth line is the historic prophecy of the eleventh chapter, in which the prophet is carried forward through the long period marked by the rise and fall of earthly governments to the last of which it is said in the last verse of the chapter, "He shall come to his end, and none shall help him."

But the angel Gabriel who had been sent from Heaven to show Daniel these things does not leave the prophet here. In order to make it perfectly apparent that the four lines of prophecy do reach down to the end of the Christian age, the great time of trouble, the second coming of Christ, and the resurrection of the dead, he continues as recorded in the first verses of the twelfth chapter.

Verses 1-3: "And at that time shall Michael stand up, the great prince which standeth for the children of thy people; and there shall be a time of trouble such as never was since there was a nation, even to that same time; and at that time thy people shall be delivered, every one that shall be found written in the book. And many of them that sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, some to everlasting life, and some to shame and everlasting contempt. And they that be wise shall shine as the brightness of the firmament; and they that turn many to righteousness as the stars for ever and ever." Michael is the Lord Jesus Christ. This is evident from the words of Jude where he speaks of "Michael the Archangel," verse 9, and the language of Paul, where he calls the Archangel, "the Lord himself," in 1 Thess. 4:16. The words "stand up" in this prophecy signify to reign. See Chap. 11:2, 3, 4, 7, 20, 21.

At the end of the Christian age Christ will lay aside his priestly garments, put on his kingly robes, and appear in glory in the clouds of the heaven, as King of kings, and Lord of lords, to the destruction of his enemies, and the eternal redemption and salvation of all his people. "Then shall the righteous shine forth as the sun in the kingdom of their Father." Matt. 13:43. And the faithful servants of Christ, who have laid down the gospel sickle only at the close of the reaping, will exchange worn mortality with its dusty garments for an immortal form like unto Christ's glorious body, a robe of glistening whiteness having been washed in the blood of the Lamb, and a crown of unfading glory, set with stars, eternal memorials of the sheaves gathered in the brief, toiling, weeping, reaping time. Thus those "that be wise shall shine as the brightness of the firmament, and they that turn many to righteousness as the stars for ever and ever."

Verse 4: "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." Prophecy is history in advance. It was not possible, from the very nature of the case, for Daniel to understand his own prophecy. He was carried forward from his time by several lines of prophecy through the four kingdoms down past the time of trouble, the second advent, and the resurrection, out into the sea of immortal rewards. But this prophecy could be of service to no one until the long period allotted to the rise and fall of earthly kingdoms should pass, and their history be written, so that the student of prophecy could compare the specifications of prophecy with history, and learn the comparative nearness of the end.

The prophecy of Daniel relates with great distinctness to the first advent of Christ to suffer for the sins of man, and to his second advent in power and great glory. And that it was given for the benefit of those who should live near the time of the fulfillment of its important events, and not for the instruction of the prophet, is forcibly stated by the apostle in these words: "Of which salvation the prophets have inquired and searched diligently, who prophesied of the grace that should come unto you; searching what, or what manner of time, the Spirit of Christ which was in them did signify when it testified beforehand the sufferings of Christ, and the glory that should follow. Unto whom it was revealed, that not unto themselves but unto us they did minister." 1 Pet. 1:10-12.

The careful student of prophecy will not for a moment admit the absurdity that the prophetic word is so sealed up that it cannot be understood in this mortal state. And yet he will clearly see how these lines of symbolic prophecy, stretching far into the future in illustration of the rise, the character, the acts, and the fall of future kingdoms, must of necessity be sealed until the time of the end, when they are opened by the fulfillment of their own specifications, excepting those in immediate connection with the preparatory work for the coming of the Son of man.

The Bible was designed to light the path of the people of God in this dark world, and not for the benefit of the saved in the future world of light and glory, where they shall have no use for it. The apostle calls especial attention to the "sure word of prophecy whereunto ye do well that ye take heed, as unto a light that shineth in a dark place, until the day dawn." 2 Pet. 1:19. After the dawning, even, of the eternal day of glory, the church will have no further use for the prophetic word. Now we apply the words of David, "Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path." Ps. 119:105. Then the narrow path of the Christian pilgrim's night will be lost in the open glory of eternal day. The lapse of time, fulfilling and unfolding prophecy, has ever brought increasing light upon the pathway of the people of God, so that it has been said, in wisdom, "The path of the just is as a shining light, that shineth more and more unto the perfect day." Prov. 4:18. But in the time of the end, the grand focal point of prophetic fulfillment, when all the lines of the prophecy meet, in the words of the angel, "Many shall run to and fro, and knowledge shall be increased."

Whether the words "Many shall run to and fro," be fulfilled in turning and searching to and fro in the Scriptures for light upon the fulfillment of prophecy, or by men called of God to the work, traveling to and fro with the message from God to the people upon this subject, the fulfillment is evident. Both have been done within the last half century as never before.

Duffield on prophecy, p. 373, says that:—

"The word translated, run to and fro, is metaphorically used to denote investigation, close, diligent, accurate observation—just as the eyes of the Lord are said to run to and fro. The reference is not to missionary exertions in particular, but to the study of the Scriptures, especially the sealed book of prophecy."

Clarke says:—

"Many shall endeavor to search out the sense; and knowledge shall be increased by these means. This seems to be the meaning of this verse, though another has been put upon it, viz., 'Many shall run to and fro preaching the gospel of Christ, and therefore religious knowledge and true wisdom shall be increased.' This is true in itself; but it is not the meaning of the prophet's words."

Matthew Henry says that: "They shall read it over and over, shall meditate upon it, they shall discourse of it, talk it over, sift out the meaning of it, and thus knowledge shall be increased."

Gill says: "*Many shall run to and fro and knowledge shall be increased; that is towards the end of the time appointed, many shall be stirred up to inquire into these things delivered in this book, and will spare no pains or cost to get a 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 carefully peruse the writings of such, who have lived 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 and clearer, the nearer the accomplishment of them is; and especially when prophecy and facts can be compared; and not only this kind of knowledge, but knowledge of all spiritual things, of all evangelical truths, and doctrines, will be abundantly enlarged at this time."

We must be allowed to differ with those expositors who give the words, "and knowledge shall be increased," a general application. The angel was not sent to instruct the prophet in regard to advancement in the arts and sciences, and general improvement in the times of the end. No! He had one object only, "I am come," says Gabriel, "to make thee understand what shall befall thy people in the latter days." Chap. 10:14. The burden of the prophecy was the grand theme of the end. The words of the angel Gabriel relating to the end were just what were closed up and sealed to the time of the end, and just that which was to be unsealed by the fulfillment of prophecy, and the very question upon which knowledge would be increased. If the inquiry be raised, why should the subject of the end agitate the present generation? The answer is at hand: The very time appointed for this movement, the time of the end, has come.

But to return to Daniel 12:4. Up to this time the prophet had been a silent listener. Three only had to do with the giving of the prophecy: Michael, who was Christ, Gabriel, and the prophet. "I will show thee," says Gabriel to Daniel, "that which is noted in the Scriptures of truth; and there is none that holdeth with me in these things but Michael your prince." Chap. 10:21. Christ, the author and finisher of the plan of redemption, gave the prophecy to Daniel by the hand of the angel Gabriel. In a previous vision the prophet heard a voice between the banks of Ulai, which called, and said, Gabriel, make this man to understand the vision." Chap. 8:16. Daniel had been the pupil, Gabriel the instructor, but teaching under the direct supervision of the Son of God.

THE SCENE CHANGES.

Verses 5-7: "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 forever, that it shall be for a time, times, and a half; and when he shall have accomplished to scatter the power of the holy people, all these things shall be finished." Daniel is now a spectator, while three heavenly beings are before him, two of whom are in conversation concerning the end. Here we will particularly notice:—

1. That although three heavenly beings appear in the scene, one of them takes no part; leaving Christ, Gabriel, and Daniel the acting parties, in accordance with the declaration of Gabriel to the prophet: "There is none that holdeth with me in these things but Michael your prince."

2. The one clothed in linen above the waters of the river, of whom Gabriel, as inferior, makes the inquiry, "How long shall it be to the end of these wonders;" and who, as superior, answers the question, with an oath of inexpressible solemnity, is the Son of God.

3. Gabriel puts the time question squarely—"How long shall it be to the end of these wonders?"—and is not rebuked for prying into the secrets of the Almighty. But instead of rebuking the angel, the Son of God so far indorses the time inquiry as to answer in an oath with both hands raised to heaven.

4. Daniel is a listener, and he is about to write a book of the things he has seen and heard. He is now being deeply impressed with the grandeur of this last scene, which seems to be introduced for the sole object of impressing the mind of the prophet of God with the fact that prophetic measurements of very grave importance are connected with the lines of symbolic prophecy which had been given to him. Some of these reach to the time of the end, while others extend to the investigative Judgment and the cleansing of the sanctuary. None of the periods reach to the appearing of the Son of man in the clouds of heaven. The longest of those periods terminated at the great disappointment in 1844, which introduced the special waiting, praying, watching time, and in which the words of our Lord have a definite application—"Take ye heed, watch and pray; for ye know not when the time is." Definite time for the second advent is out of the question. "Here is the patience of the saints: here are they that keep the commandments of God and the faith of Jesus."