"THE TIME OF THE END"

"THE TIME OF THE END" IN THE BOOK OF DANIEL

The phrase, "time of the end" is mentioned five times in the Book of Daniel:

In Revelation 12 we see the Devil (Satan) attacking BOTH the seed of the woman and the remnant of her seed, the people who keep the commandments of God and have the testimony of Jesus (Rev 12:17).

This attack was first brought to light in Daniel 7:25 where the Little Horn power makes war with the saints of God:

Daniel 7:25 “And he shall speak great words against the most High, and shall wear out the saints of the most High, and think to change times and laws: and they shall be given into his hand until a time and times and the dividing of time.”

The Little horn power persecutes God's Bible believing Christians for the period of time known as "a time and times and the dividing of time." This time period is interpreted in Revelation 12:6,14 as follows:

verse 6 "And the woman fled into the wilderness, where she hath a place prepared of God, that they should feed her there a thousand two hundred and threescore days."

verse 14 “And to the woman were given two wings of a great eagle, that she might fly into the wilderness, into her place, where she is nourished for a time, and times, and half a time, from the face of the serpent.”

Woman flees into the Wilderness

This phrase a "time, and times, and half a time," is the same as 1260 days when connecting verses 6 and 14.

The 1260 days is symbolic of 1260 years of prophetic time.

Hence the persecution of God's people in Daniel 7:25 is for a finite period of time during the reign of the Little Horn (Papal Rome). History attests to the persecution and murder of Bible believing Christians by Papal Rome. However this persecution came to an end in 1798 when the Pope was taken prisoner by Napoleon Bonaparte's general, Berthier.

WHAT DOES THE "TIME OF THE END" HAVE TO DO WITH THE 1260 YEARS?  

Daniel 7:25 says God's people were to be persecuted or given into the hands of Papal Rome, the Little Horn for 1260 years.

Daniel 7:25 “And he shall speak great words against the most High, and shall wear out the saints of the most High, and think to change times and laws: and they shall be given into his hand until a time and times and the dividing of time.”

THE PERSECUTION OF GOD'S PEOPLE

Daniel 11:32-35 tells us that God's people were to be persecuted even to the "time of the end" (v 35) indicating that at a certain time the persecution would cease.

verse 33 And they that understand among the people shall instruct many: yet they shall fall by the sword, and by flame, by captivity, and by spoil, [many] days. 

The faithful receive a little help 

For centuries the faithful found refuge in the wilderness (cf. Rev 12:16). Later on, German States which accepted Protestantism, provided a little help to the faithful.

11:33 And they that understand [the wise understand the truth] among the people [the true church including the Waldenses, Albigenses, Hugenot, faithful Protestant missionaries and even faithful Catholic people] shall instruct many: yet they shall fall by the sword, and by flame, by captivity, and by spoil [a prey], many days [THE DAYS OF PAPAL PERSECUTION - Days stand for years (Eze 4:6; Num 14:34).  The “many days” are the years of persecution during the 1260 year papal supremacy. This was the great tribulation which was “cut short” by the reformation. cf. Rev 12:6, 14; Matt 24:21-22]. The faithful witness under terrible persecution for many centuries. Apostate Papal leaders corrupted many, but the faithful, who knew God, witnessed at great peril to their lives; people such as the Waldenses, the Hugenots, the Albigenses and some Reformers like Wycliffe, Huss, Jerome, and Luther. Many of those whom Papal Rome could not corrupt she slew, burned, or imprisoned during the “many days” she held power (1260 “days which symbolize 1260 years, “each day for a year.” (Eze 4:6; Num 14:34).  The 1260 days, 42 months or 3 1/2 times is mentioned in Daniel 7:25; 12:7; Rev 2:6, 14; 13:5).

verse 34 Now when they shall fall, they shall be holpen with a little help: but many shall cleave to them with flatteries.

11:34 Now when they shall fall, they shall be holpen with a little help [THE PERIOD OF THE REFORMATION - Some European powers, enlightened by the truth, gave protection to the faithful Bible based christians. Throughout the papal persecutions there were always faithful leaders who kept the light of truth burning during the spiritual darkness. The Waldensesian ministers in the 12th century onward. John Wycliffe in the 14th century. John Huss and Jerome of Prague in the 15th. Luther and the Reformation in the 16th and onward]: but many shall cleave to them with flatteries.

THE TIME OF THE END

verse 35 And [some] of them of understanding shall fall, to try them, and to purge, and to make [them] white, [even] to the time of the end: because [it is] yet for a time appointed.

11:35 And some [the word “some” was added by the translators and is not in the manuscripts. “Many” may be a better choice] of them of understanding [those who understood the truth] shall fall [Many faithful Christians were killed], to try them [prove them faithful], and to purge, and to make them white, even to the time of the end [TIME OF THE END BEGAN IN 1798 - The period of papal supremacy described in verses 31-34 lasted until 1798 when the papacy suffered a deadly wound. God had appointed the papacy a period of 1260 years (cf. Dan 7:25; Rev 12:6, 14; 13:5). Those years ended in 1798 which marks the beginning of the time of the end. Note, it is not the end of time but the time of the end - i.e., an end-time period. We have been and are living in “the time of the end” for more than 200 years, which, in the whole span of history, is not long.

Daniel 11:31-35 describes the “many days” of persecution under the papal power. Papal supremacy lasted from (538 - 1798). As papal supremacy ended in 1798, the time of the end began in 1798. The papacy, while supreme, caused the death of many who understood and taught the gospel. They fell “by the sword, and by flame, by captivity, and by spoil, many days...even to the time of the end...a time appointed.” At “the time of the end”, 1798, Atheistic France inflicted Papal Rome its “deadly wound”, stripping it of its political power, fulfilling Rev 13:3,10: “He [the papacy] that leadeth into captivity shall go into captivity: he that killeth with the sword must be killed with the sword.” As the papacy led into captivity so was it led into captivity and as it killed with the sword so was it killed with the sword.

“Berthier [The French general] entered Rome on the 10th of February 1798, and proclaimed a Republic...The aged Pontiff [pope] refused to violate his oath by recognizing it, and was hurried from prison to prison in France...he died...No wonder that half of Europe thought that with the Pope the papacy was dead.” J. Rickaby, The Modern papacy, p1

Daniel’s book was sealed to understanding until the time of the end: “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.” Daniel 12:4.

“...since 1798 the book of Daniel has been unsealed, knowledge of the prophecies has increased, and many have proclaimed the solemn message of the judgment near.” Great Controversy p.356]: “because it is yet for a time appointed” [God had appointed Papal Rome a period of 1260 years (cf. Dan 7:25; Rev 12:6, 14; 13:5), that period ended when the time of the end began in 1798].

Having brought us to “the time of the end” in verse 35 the prophecy goes back in time in verse 36 to add further identifying points, bringing us back to the “time of the end” in verse 40.

Fall, to try them = Many were tried in the furnace of affliction and maintained their faith unto death, clothed in the white garments of Christ’s righteousness.

Even to the time of the end - 1798

The “many days” (verse 33) of Papal supremacy, (1260 years. See on Daniel 7:25) were to reach to “the time of the end.” As the Papal supremacy ended in 1798 “the time of the end” began in 1798. 

“Berthier [The French general] entered Rome on the 10th of February 1798, and proclaimed a Republic...The aged Pontiff [Pope] refused to violate his oath by recognising it, and was hurried from prison to prison in France...he died...No wonder that half of Europe thought that with the Pope the papacy was dead.” 

J. Rickaby, The Modern Papacy, p1

Having brought us to “the time of the end” in verse 35 the prophecy goes back in time in verse 36 to add further identifying points for the King of the North, bringing us back to the “time of the end” in verse 40.

We have seen that the persecution ceased when the Pope was taken prisoner in 1798, hence 1798 marks the beginning of the time period known as the "time of the end". It is not the end of time but a short period before the end.

CERTAIN EVENTS ARE PREDICTED TO OCCUR IN THE "TIME OF THE END" - POST 1798

1. The commencement of the Judgment - see the study on the Judgment

2. The termination of the Judgment

3. The outpouring of the Latter Rain

4. The boycotting of God's people

5. Sunday Law legislation and enforcement

6. A death Decree passed on God's people

7. Satan's personation of Christ

8. The deliverance of God's people by Christ at his Second Coming

9. The dead in Christ will rise from their graves

10. The church is resurrected and translated at the Second Coming

11. The destruction of the Little Horn power and her followers

May God bless you as you study into these things.

Elias