Is it possible to understand the gospel for today and at the same time ignore
the books of Daniel and Revelation? Some say these books have created confusion
in the world. There are many similar symbols in them both. So, why not forget
them and just concentrate on "the gospel"? Why not by-pass the confusion and
everybody sings "Jesus loves me, This I know / For the Bible tells me so"? What
more do we need?
Well, that same Jesus who "loves you so" urges you to study Daniel (Matt.
24:15). It's the only book He singled out thus. And Revelation strongly urges
us to "read" what it says, and even if we can't read, to "hear" its
superlatively important message which came directly from God (1:1-3). And in
the very heart of the chapters about the "great controversy between Christ and
Antichrist" we find a special proclamation of "the everlasting gospel" for
these last days (14:6). This is an understanding of the gospel related
specifically to "those that dwell upon the earth" in our last-days context. And
chapters 12-15 make clear that no one can prepare for the final events of world
history ("the mark of the beast," for example) unless he receives and believes
that "everlasting gospel." God never sends us unnecessary messages! He gave us
the Book of Revelation because He loves us. It's an eye-opener. And its great
themes of prophecy are easy to understand if we simply let the Bible explain
the symbols.
Its prophecies were not fulfilled back in the days of the pagan Roman Empire
(preterism), nor are its fulfillments all in the future (futurism); they meet
their fulfillment throughout history (historicism). History itself is the
"revelation" of Christ within itself; He alone makes sense of it. If you ask
Him for a piece of bread, He will not give you a stone. Do what the first three
verses tell you: "read," "hear," and "keep" every bit of truth you find
therein. Jesus promised that if you simply be fair with Him, He will go on
teaching you daily all through your lifetime (see His promise in John 7:17).
--Robert J. Wieland
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