Amazing Prophecy about the Church

Unfortunately, the controversy surrounding the interpretation of Revelation 10-11 has robbed these chapters of much of their power. In reality, they provide an amazingly clear guide from God with interesting detail about our role in the church age.

Our conviction is that these words complete the prophecy given to God’s people (Daniel 10:14) by Daniel in Daniel 10-12. What was closed to Daniel (Daniel 12:4, 9) was opened to John who now completes it. A word which starts in the third year of Cyrus in 535 BC and ends at the end of the age. A word whose first half, described in Daniel, is temporarily suspended when the power of God’s people is totally shattered (Daniel 12:7) by the Roman Empire. A word whose second half is resumed when the Islamic Kingdom came to power and completed during the rest of the church age. So Revelation 11 is not a prophecy which is fulfilled in 3.5 calendar years, but rather in more than 1,200 years.

The language is clearly symbolic, but is also narrative prophecy with a literal meaning. If the prophecy was just for 3.5 calendar years, then very likely the two witnesses introduced in Revelation 11:3 are two individuals. The NIV reference to the them as men (Revelation 11:6) seems to favour this futurist perspective and perhaps reflects a translator bias. However, given that the prophecy extends for over 2,500 years and begins in 535 BC and is explicitly about God’s people then the two witnesses must be God’s people, not two individuals.

Therefore, the period of 3.5 years must be symbolic. Since the two witnesses are called to minister in the power of the Spirit for 3.5 years, then to be defeated, die, to lie dead for 3.5 days, rise again and then ascend into heaven, then they are clearly called to follow in the footsteps of Jesus, exactly as Jesus did. The allusion to the ministry of Jesus is remarkably clear and obvious.

At this point we could delve deeply into the detail of what we are called to be and to do. That would make this post incredibly long. We leave it for another time.

So these two chapters sit at the crossroads of understanding the book of Revelation. Previous chapters set the context, subsequent chapters’ flow along the direction implied by how they are interpreted.

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What is different about “The Time is Near”

This post is targeted to Christians interested in the end times. We want to show why this book has a distinctly different, but highly compelling biblical view which challenges long held views. You will need to come to it with an open and prayerful mind. It exposes the current world situation like no other. It is not for the faint-in-heart. It is not a quick read, but designed as an in-depth study seeking to reveal the biblical basis in a testable, but convincing way. Its view is unique, not seen before in print.

The Time is Near gives a very different perspective on the end times. The reason for this is that it is not based on the highly uncertain and controversial interpretation of Daniel 2, 7 and 9:24-27 on which most end time theologies rely. Rather it is based on new perspectives in understanding Daniel’s final vision in Daniel 10-12. This results in the following outcomes

1. Dramatic changes to the time element. The time, times and half-a-time in Daniel 7:25, 12:7 and Revelation 12:14 are symbolically 3.5, but literally not periods of 3.5 years, but periods in excess of 1,200 years. The biblical foundation for this (discussed in volume 1, summarized in volume 2) is very strong. This conclusion strongly challenges deeply entrenched views and radically alters the end time theology.
2. The two time, times and half-a-time in the book of Daniel are two contiguous time periods, not a single concurrent period. The one in Daniel 12:7 comes chronologically first spanning the periods from the Jews return from exile to the end of the Roman Empire, the one in Daniel 7:25 follows to the end of the age. The one in Revelation 12:14 equates to the one in Daniel 7:25. This means that Daniel’s prophecies focus on the first period of time and Revelation on the second.
3. Major difference. There is no final 7 years of tribulation. Instead the tribulation spans the church age with the worst period being near the return of Jesus.
4. Key result. The book of Daniel and Revelation merge into a single prophecy from the Jewish exile beginning in 605 BC to the end of the age and beyond. Many commentaries recognize the strong allusions in the book of Revelation to Daniel, but none go anywhere near as far as this book does.
5. Key result. The chronological fulfillment of the visions in Revelation is not the same as their written order, but rather they are concurrent and in parallel like the book of Daniel. This perspective invalidates many end time interpretations and is in accord with many idealist views.
6. Key difference. The open little scroll in Revelation 10 is the Daniel 10-12 vision which Daniel 12:4 says he closed and sealed and which will be opened in the time of the end and which from Daniel’s perspective begins during the Roman Empire (see volume 1). The seven thunders given to John were revelation he needed in order to be able write the book of Revelation, but are not needed by us since the fulfillment of the prophecies in recent times makes the meaning clear.
7. Key difference. The seven sealed scroll in Revelation 5 and opened by Jesus, is the content of the book of truth in Daniel 10:21 which was closed and sealed by the man in linen in Daniel 12:9. It could not be revealed to Daniel because the plan it contained was conditional on Jesus’ victory on the cross, His resurrection and His ascension.
8. Key difference. The net effect of this is that John is now equipped to prophesy again (Revelation 10:11) and reveal the rest of God’s plan. Therefore, Revelation 11 continues the rest of the plan for God’s people which began with Daniel 10-12. So Revelation 11 smoothly joins to Daniel 10-12.
9. Key difference. Revelation 11 is about God’ prophetic plan for His people (faithful Jews and Christians), who are called to witness in the power of the Spirit for a period of 3.5 years like Jesus; it is symbolically 3.5 years, but literally much longer. Then to suffer and die like Jesus. Then to rise after 3.5 days (like Jesus) and ascend to heaven like Jesus. This is an amazing prophecy which has been lost because of the controversy and confusion that surrounds the meaning of this passage.
10. Key result. The visions in Revelation 11, 12 and 13 run in parallel spanning the second time, times and half-a-time. They give different views on the way the dragon will attack God’s people, seek to destroy them and establish a world-wide civilization comprising two empires one theocratic the other democratic. The dragon (Satan) will appear to succeed for a short time, but will then be defeated.

We thus present a fully testable, modern perspective unlike any other, with very compelling biblical authority. It challenges every existing view. In terms of common terminology of views on the book of Revelation, it is a historicist with recapitulation, a-millennial view.