THE SEALS ARE OPENED

THE SEALS ARE OPENED

Some people are critical of those who speculate about the Lord’s return, even saying it’s counterproductive because others have gotten it wrong in the past. A favourite verse to quote is Matt. 24:36

“But about that day or hour no man knows.” Matt. 24:36.

The context of this passage is to urge people to be ready and is given in verse 44 “So you also must be ready, because the Son of Man will come at an hour when you do not expect him.” The purpose of this passage is not to quell speculation about Jesus return, but to encourage readiness for it.

Jesus responded to “Satan” imposing one authoritative meaning on a passage by saying “it is also written” Matt. 4:7. The message – do not just consider a passage in isolation – you could misconstrue the meaning of it. We are encouraged to know the signs of the times, expect the Return of Jesus and proclaim it.

The wise men of the east knew when to expect Jesus first coming and were watching for it. We can likewise understand the time of his second coming and Daniel gives us a timeline with the words “the wise will understand”.

“Go your way, Daniel, because the words are rolled up and sealed until the time of the end. Many will be purified, made spotless and refined, but the wicked will continue to be wicked. None of the wicked will understand, but those who are wise will understand.” Dan. 12:9

These words were sealed until the time of the end –not even Jesus nor the angels would understand prior to the seal being broken – only God knew. We are told in Revelation 5 that the seals were opened by Jesus after His death – a reference to the sealed words of Daniel. It was after Jesus death that He would understand the times and reveal them to us.

“The Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has triumphed. He is able to open the scroll (a reference here to scroll in Daniel 12:9) and its seven seals.” Rev 5:5

Surely the words of Rev 5:2 are an echo of the words of Jesus and Daniel

Daniel 12:9	Matt. 24:36 – Before DEATH	Rev 5:2-3 – AFTER DEATH and Triumph
Go your way, Daniel, because the words are rolled up and sealed until the time of the end. Many will be purified, made spotless and refined, but the wicked will continue to be wicked. None of the wicked will understand, butthose who are wise will understand.	No one knows theday or hour when these things will happen, not eventhe angels in heaven or the Son himself. Only the Father knows	Who is worthy to break the seals and open the scroll?”  But no one in heaven or on earth or under the earth could open the scroll or even look inside it….The Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David has triumphed. He is able to open the scroll.

The scroll has been opened. As the Day of the Lord draws near the prophecies are falling into place. And sense can be made of Daniel’s timeline.

“No man knows the day or the hour” was a well known Jewish idiom in the first century relating to the groom coming for His bride – this was determined by the Father of the groom when the house was fully prepared. It was after His death and resurrection that Jesus went to the Father to prepare a place for the bride. Then the seals were opened and Jesus knew the timing. The groom actually does know when He’s on His way to His own wedding, and the friend of the groom proclaims He is coming.

We are now in the “time of the end” – referred to by Daniel. The seals were opened by Jesus. By understanding Daniel and Revelation we are expected to know that Jesus is coming soon and to proclaim this coming as John the Baptist proclaimed it the first time.

Rev 1:3 “ Blessed is the one who reads aloud the words of this prophecy, and blessed are those who hear it and take to heart what is written in it, because the time is near.”

Some will say “But Jesus said the time of His return is near 2,000 years ago and it wasn’t”. This is not the context of this passage.

Revelation 1:1 begins with

“The revelation from Jesus Christ, which God gave him to show his servants what must soon take place”.

The context of this is to encourage every servant. For every servant there is something in Revelation in their lifetime which would take place soon.
For those in Jerusalem prior to AD 70 it showed what would soon take place for them. For the saints about to be persecuted by the Romans it would also show what would soon take place and give them encouragement to hold on – etc etc down the ages. For the saints living in the year 2014 it also shows that we are in the very end times and should be proclaiming the coming of Jesus to the earth.

Note: Some people believe Revelation was written after AD 70 – this largely depends on the erroneous writings of the church fathers such as Irenaeus who was is now largely recognised as thoroughly unreliable. (See ‘Under the Banner of Love’ first sectionhttp://www.lulu.com/spotlight/alsowritten)

Jesus rebuked the Pharisees for not discerning the times and knowing that He was the Christ – Matt. 16:2 “When evening comes, you say, ‘It will be fair weather, for the sky is red,’  and in the morning, ‘Today it will be stormy, for the sky is red and overcast.’ You know how to interpret the appearance of the sky, but you cannot interpret the signs of the times.

It is also written

“However, brothers, you are not in darkness, that the Day of the Lord might surprise you like a thief.” 1 Thes. 5:4

Revelation begins by saying it’s to show His servants what must soon take place -it’s not saying the kingdom is coming straight away – but something will happen soon which each servant can recognize. For every servant there is something in Revelation in their lifetime which would take place soon. For those in Jerusalem prior to AD 70 it showed what would soon take place for them. For the saints about to be persecuted by the Romans it would also show what would soon take place.

It’s not wrong to try to understand the prophetic messages from God. They can build faith and give us encouragement as we see the Day of the Lord drawing closer.

Daniel knew from Jeremiah’s prophecies that Judah would be punished for 70 years in Babylon -

I, Daniel, understood from the Scriptures, according to the word of the Lord given to Jeremiah the prophet, that the desolation of Jerusalem would last seventy years. Dan. 9:2

Knowing this encouraged Daniel to plead for his people and himself. Knowing the signs of the times can encourage us also.

A speculative timeline of Daniel 12 is available on request… alsowritten@hotmail.com