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Daniel 12: Knowledge shall increase in the end times
1. Daniel 12: Knowledge shall increase in the end times
2. What did the prophet mean?
Daniel, as a prophet, was told what to write. At times, he, like other prophets, may not have understood what it was he was writing.
Daniel 12:8 And I heard, but I understood not: then said I, O my Lord, what shall be the end of these things? [kjv]
12:9 And he said, Go thy way, Daniel: for the words are closed up and sealed till the time of the end. [kjv]
Questions about what Daniel meant when he wrote such and such, in some cases, are meaningless. Not what Daniel wrote, but our questions about what Daniel meant.
3. Daniel 12:8
KJV: And I heard, but I understood not: then said I, O my Lord, what shall be the end of these things?
Hebrew: ואני שמעתי ולא אבין ואמרה אדני מה אחרית אלה׃
Greek: και εγω ηκουσα και ου συνηκα και ειπα κυριε τι τα εσχατα τουτων
4. Daniel 12:9
KJV: And he said, Go thy way, Daniel: for the words are closed up and sealed till the time of the end.
Hebrew: ויאמר לך דניאל כי סתמים וחתמים הדברים עד עת קץ׃
Greek: και ειπεν δευρο δανιηλ οτι εμπεφραγμενοι και εσφραγισμενοι οι λογοι εως καιρου περας
5. Daniel 12: Knowledge shall increase in the end times
In Daniel 12, Daniel is told to write down prophecy. He is also told to close the book and not write some things down.
Daniel 12:4 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. [kjv]
και συ δανιηλ εμφραξον τους λογους και σφραγισον το βιβλιον εως καιρου συντελειας εως διδαχθωσιν πολλοι και πληθυνθη η γνωσις [lxx]
There are other interesting end-times prophecies about transportation, information, etc. From this and other prophecies it appears that the end-times started sometime in the early 1800's and could continue for quite a while.
6. Daniel 12:4
KJV: 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.
Hebrew: ואתה דניאל סתם הדברים וחתם הספר עד עת קץ ישטטו רבים ותרבה הדעת׃
Greek: και συ δανιηλ εμφραξον τους λογους και σφραγισον το βιβλιον εως καιρου συντελειας εως διδαχθωσιν πολλοι και πληθυνθη η γνωσις
7. Time of Daniel
At the time of Daniel, about 600 BC to 540 BC, the fasted way to travel was by horse.
8. Progress
For over 2000 years, through the time of Napoleon in the early 1800's, no one could go faster than in Daniel's day - by horseback.
9. Locomotive
The locomotive, or "
iron horse" changed that in the mid 1800's.
10. Pony express
The ancient Greek word
"ἀγγαρεύω" ≈ "dispatch as a courier, press into service" and appears to be of Persian origin.
Herodotus reports on the Persian system of mounted couriers that was similar to the Pony Express in the 19th century.They could take messages from Susa to Sardis, about 1700 miles, in nine days.
The motto of the Persian postal service became memorable: stopped by neither snow, rain, heat or gloom of night. The US postal service also adopted this motto and the famous Pony Express mail delivery resembled the original Persian design. http://www.mage.com/TLbody.html (as of 2007-02-11)
11. Greek
Herodotus writes (5th Century BC):
Greek: λέγουσι γὰρ ὡς ὁσέων ἂν ἡμερέων ᾖ ἡ πᾶσα ὁδός, τοσοῦτοι ἵπποι τε καὶ ἄνδρες διεστᾶσι κατὰ ἡμερησίην ὁδὸν ἑκάστην ἵππος τε καὶ ἀνὴρ τεταγμένος: τοὺς οὔτε νιφετός, οὐκ ὄμβρος, οὐ καῦμα, οὐ νὺξ ἔργει μὴ οὐ κατανύσαι τὸν προκείμενον αὐτῷ δρόμον τὴν ταχίστην.
English: It is said that as many days as there are in the whole journey, so many are the men and horses that stand along the road, each horse and man at the interval of a day’s journey; and these are stayed neither by snow nor rain nor heat nor darkness from accomplishing their appointed course with all speed.
General rule: To mail via
USPS you need their
stamp of approval.
Use FedEx when the package absolutely positively needs to get there tomorrow.
Use the USPS when the package absolutely positively needs to get here eventually.
12. Nothing new
The saying "
there is no new thing under the sun" a saying from Ecclesiastes 1:9.
Ecclesiastes 1:9 The thing that hath been, it is that which shall be; and that which is done is that which shall be done: and there is no new thing under the sun. [kjv]
τι το γεγονος αυτο το γενησομενον και τι το πεποιημενον αυτο το ποιηθησομενον και ουκ εστιν παν προσφατον υπο τον ηλιον [lxx]
It does happen that old ideas get repackaged and may or may not be recognized as such.
Discuss: Provide some historical examples of old ideas that become new ideas.
13. Ecclesiastes 1:9
KJV: The thing that hath been, it is that which shall be; and that which is done is that which shall be done: and there is no new thing under the sun.
Hebrew: מה שהיה הוא שיהיה ומה שנעשה הוא שיעשה ואין כל חדש תחת השמש׃
Greek: τι το γεγονος αυτο το γενησομενον και τι το πεποιημενον αυτο το ποιηθησομενον και ουκ εστιν παν προσφατον υπο τον ηλιον
14. Running to and fro
As for "
run to and fro", many shall "
race" to and fro. Seem familiar.
15. Knowledge
Daniel 12:4 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. [kjv]
και συ δανιηλ εμφραξον τους λογους και σφραγισον το βιβλιον εως καιρου συντελειας εως διδαχθωσιν πολλοι και πληθυνθη η γνωσις [lxx]
The knowledge referred to is "
the knowledge" (i.e., the Hebrew has a definite article here). The knowledge of the end times as prophesied in the Bible will be increased.
The "
knowledge shall be increased" is, in the
LXX (Septuagint), "
knowledge shall be multiplied". That has been happening at an ever increasing rate since the start of the "
information age".
16. Wisdom
Knowledge will increase, but not wisdom.
The sage on the stage.
The guide on the side.
The fool on the stool.
Today we know a lot more but we may not be more smart as a result of having more information.
Romans 1:22 Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools, [kjv]
17. Romans 1:22
KJV: Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools,
Greek: φασκοντες ειναι σοφοι εμωρανθησαν
Latin: dicentes enim se esse sapientes stulti facti sunt
Wycliffe: For thei`seiynge that hem silf weren wise, thei weren maad foolis.
Luther: Da sie sich für weise hielten, sind sie zu Narren worden
18. Wise fools
Romans 1:22 Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools, [kjv]
φασκοντες ειναι σοφοι εμωρανθησαν [gnt]
… sapientes stulti facti … [v]
The Greek «
σοφοί» for "
wise" and (noun) «
μωρός» for "
fool" (verb form is in this verse) is used to create the English word "
sophomore" or, literally, "
wise fool". At West Point, the term "
yearling" is used instead of "
sophomore".
The Latin word
"stulta" ≈ "stupid, foolish" and is from the Latin word
"stultus" ≈ "foolish, stupid" which is related to the English word "
stupefied".
Is Paul talking about the past, present, future, or some or all of these?
19. Genetic entropy
The concept of genetic entropy is the tendency of the coded information in genetic material to accumulate mutations and degenerate over time due to errors in the copying process.
Secular view: genetic bottleneck about 100,000 years ago in Africa
Biblical view: genetic bottleneck about 4,500 years ago at Mount Ararat.
20. Wisdom
1 Corinthians 3:19 For the wisdom of this world is foolishness with God. For it is written, He taketh the wise in their own craftiness. [kjv]
η γαρ σοφια του κοσμου τουτου μωρια παρα τω θεω εστιν γεγραπται γαρ ο δρασσομενος τους σοφους εν τη πανουργια αυτων [gnt]
21. 1 Corinthians 3:19
KJV: For the wisdom of this world is foolishness with God. For it is written, He taketh the wise in their own craftiness.
Greek: η γαρ σοφια του κοσμου τουτου μωρια παρα τω θεω εστιν γεγραπται γαρ ο δρασσομενος τους σοφους εν τη πανουργια αυτων
22. Daniel 12:1 Context
The context of the Daniel prophecy is interesting. Here are the previous verses in the chapter.
Daniel 12:1 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. [kjv]
και εν τω καιρω εκεινω αναστησεται μιχαηλ ο αρχων ο μεγας ο εστηκως επι τους υιους του λαου σου και εσται καιρος θλιψεως θλιψις οια ου γεγονεν αφ ου γεγενηται εθνος επι της γης εως του καιρου εκεινου και εν τω καιρω εκεινω σωθησεται ο λαος σου πας ο ευρεθεις γεγραμμενος εν τη βιβλω [lxx]
23. Daniel 12:1
KJV: 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.
Hebrew: ובעת ההיא יעמד מיכאל השר הגדול העמד על בני עמך והיתה עת צרה אשר לא נהיתה מהיות גוי עד העת ההיא ובעת ההיא ימלט עמך כל הנמצא כתוב בספר׃
Greek: και εν τω καιρω εκεινω αναστησεται μιχαηλ ο αρχων ο μεγας ο εστηκως επι τους υιους του λαου σου και εσται καιρος θλιψεως θλιψις οια ου γεγονεν αφ ου γεγενηται εθνος επι της γης εως του καιρου εκεινου και εν τω καιρω εκεινω σωθησεται ο λαος σου πας ο ευρεθεις γεγραμμενος εν τη βιβλω
24. Daniel 12:2
Daniel 12:2 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. [kjv]
και πολλοι των καθευδοντων εν γης χωματι εξεγερθησονται ουτοι εις ζωην αιωνιον και ουτοι εις ονειδισμον και εις αισχυνην αιωνιον [lxx]
25. Daniel 12:2
KJV: 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.
Hebrew: ורבים מישני אדמת עפר יקיצו אלה לחיי עולם ואלה לחרפות לדראון עולם׃
Greek: και πολλοι των καθευδοντων εν γης χωματι εξεγερθησονται ουτοι εις ζωην αιωνιον και ουτοι εις ονειδισμον και εις αισχυνην αιωνιον
26. Daniel 12:3
Daniel 12:3 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. [kjv]
και οι συνιεντες εκλαμψουσιν ως η λαμπροτης του στερεωματος και απο των δικαιων των πολλων ως οι αστερες εις τους αιωνας και ετι [lxx]
27. Daniel 12:3
KJV: 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.
Hebrew: והמשכלים יזהרו כזהר הרקיע ומצדיקי הרבים ככוכבים לעולם ועד׃
Greek: και οι συνιεντες εκλαμψουσιν ως η λαμπροτης του στερεωματος και απο των δικαιων των πολλων ως οι αστερες εις τους αιωνας και ετι
28. Intent of the author questioned
Have you ever been in a class, such as Sunday School, where the teacher asked the following question?
"What was the author's intended meaning?"
This idea can be a problem in understanding the Bible since God, Jesus, and/or the Holy Spirit may dictate to a prophet what to say. The prophet may not know what they are writing actually means. They are the conduit for the true author.
The problem comes in, say, when the teacher asks, "
What did Daniel mean when he wrote such and such?". Or "
What did John mean in Revelation when he wrote such and such?". The idea applies to any of the prophets.
29. Prophecies
Prophecies are intended not to predict the future. Prophecies are intended to be understood "after", and not "before", the prophecies are fulfilled.
This is so that, when they are fulfilled, one can look back and realize that what the prophet said was true, and other things the prophet said that have not happened are highly likely to be true (though not in the exact way we might think beforehand).
30. Divination
One is not to try to use prophecies to "divine" the future. For such purposes, God appears to send may "false alarms" that meet most, but not all of the requirements.
A more detailed discussion is left for the future, but what has been said does effect how one views translations of the original texts.
31. End of page
