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? Daniel 12:6
Little children who become aware of great events that are going to happen, such as a birthday, Christmas, or a vacation trip, will often become very impatient as they wait for the special day to arrive. Parents have to answer many questions and come up with creative ways to help the children understand how far off the event is or how to measure the time. The biggest problem is to deal with an event that has no specific date. Like little children, Christians also become impatient and curious about upcoming events on God’s calendar. That is why well-researched ministry on prophecy is so fascinating. We try to connect dots that are not clear enough to connect, as we anticipate the Rapture and the events that will follow.
The vision Daniel saw involved the same question that we find ourselves asking as we see what we believe are signs leading up to the Rapture and to the unveiling of the man of sin: How long shall it be? Because of this curiosity, we have reminders in Scripture that we cannot know, at least not for sure. But this curiosity is normal, perhaps healthy for our spiritual lives. We see evidence that the future world order is shaping up, and it reminds us that we are to be found working, waiting, and watching for our Lord to return. We are also comforted to understand that the worst events that we encounter are temporary, and the joy of seeing our Saviour’s face will make everything worthwhile. This question reminds us that our curiosity will eventually be satisfied, and the satisfaction will be perfect.
How long shall it be? One of the great signs spelled out in Scripture is apathy and scepticism. In no historical period have these two characters been more apparent than the age in which we find ourselves today. Even among Christians there is less and less interest in and mention of the Rapture. When was the last time you heard ministry on this great topic? This event is widely mocked and rejected by the world, much more so than a few decades ago. The truth that the Son of man will come in such an hour as ye think not still is valid, and could very well be pointing directly to our own time, even to this very year. If I were to make a prediction, I would confidently say that the coming of the Lord is just a few years, or even just a few months, away. But I could be wrong.
The question in our text is an important one… are you waiting for the answer? -Jim MacIntosh