On A Need-To-Know Basis
“And I heard, but I understood not: then said I, O my Lord, what shall be the end of these things? And He said, Go thy way, Daniel: for the words are closed up and sealed till the time of the end.” Daniel 12:8-9
In one of Daniel’s visions, two angels appeared to him by the river Hiddekel (the Tigris River). There was a Man clothed in linen who hovered above the river who is believed to be an Old Testament appearance of Jesus Christ. One of the angels asked the Man clothed in linen how long it would be before the prophecies of the end times would come to pass. The Man raised both of His arms toward heaven and swore by the God of heaven, indicating that His answer was true and righteous, and that it would occur just as foretold. The time frame that He gave for the tribulation of the Jewish people was “a time, times, and an half”, or three and one half years, during which His people will utterly fall to the lowest point of their existence. They will then realize that they are not able to save themselves from such a ruthless, ungodly foe as the antichrist and recognize Jesus as the Messiah.
Have you ever asked a question of someone, but didn’t really understand his or her answer, but, because you didn’t want to appear ignorant, you continued to ask more questions hoping that you would eventually “get it”? Unlike many of us, Daniel confessed that he didn’t understand the answer to the angel’s question to the Man clothed in linen, but that didn’t stop him from asking a follow up question. It was like he was admitting that he didn’t understand about the time frame of this persecution, nor about the persecution itself, but was very curious about what would happen to Israel afterward. How would they end up at the end of these terrible trials? There were some facts that Daniel did know: God would set up a kingdom which would never be destroyed (Daniel 2:44), He would have dominion over the world, and all people would serve Him (7:14). In Chapter 7:22 and 27, Daniel was informed that the saints, God’s people, would possess and rule the kingdom.
However, this was as much as Daniel would be allowed to know. The Man clothed in linen told Daniel to go on about his way for he had been given all the information about the future as God permitted him to possess. More specific details concerning the end times were sealed only to be revealed at the time of the end. This serves as a comfort to those who search the scriptures for clues as to the end times, those who may become frustrated because they can’t figure it all out. We weren’t meant to figure it all out. Scripture is clear that specific information about Christ’s return, other than what is contained in the books of Daniel and Revelation, will remain a mystery until it is unveiled to those who are alive during the tribulation. Those who study the book of Revelation have many different ideas of the prophecies and symbols, and no one, not even Biblical scholars have it all figured out. If Daniel wasn’t allowed to know all the details, then no other human being would be privileged to know the details.
We’ve all heard the phrase “on a need-to-know basis”. Those who will be taken out of this world in the rapture, if it occurs prior to or mid-way through the tribulation (I Thessalonians 4:13-18) will not be on earth during the tribulation, and therefore will not be directly affected by the events of the tribulation, thus will not need to know all the details. What has been revealed to us is for our edification and assurance of Christ’s return for His church, and as a warning to be prepared for when He comes. The Man clothed in linen did give Daniel a little more information. He said that the wise would return to the Lord, receiving His righteousness, but those who reject Him will continue in their wickedness. The wise would understand what was going on, but the wicked would not understand, resulting in sealing their doom forever. It’s not that they didn’t have opportunity to become what God always intended for them; their pride kept them from receiving God’s greatest gift. To the wise, it will all make sense. They will understand the purpose of God and be thankful for His mercy upon them.