03.02. Introduction

Introduction With the variety of views relating to the end times and whether they are literal or spiritual, it seems good to look at what Scripture actually says. One very useful technique is to eliminate options that cannot be true based on the text. This study will be a very brief one and seek to establish the framework for all prophetic passages related to the end times. For the book of Revelation itself, see this article.

Daniel is told:

“Go your way, Daniel, for these words are concealed and sealed up until the end time. “Many will be purged, purified and refined, but the wicked will act wickedly; and none of the wicked will understand, but those who have insight will understand. (Dan 12:9-10 NAS95) A principle that is established by this is that the wicked (unbelievers) will not understand the prophecies, but only those that have insight will understand.

We need to establish some historical events. Daniel, one of the exiles of Judah prophesied in the first year of Darius (about 538 BC). Antiochus IV Epiphanes desecrated the temple and slew pigs on it in about 167 BC. (1Ma 1:54, Josephus Antiq. 12:253) Titus destroyed Jerusalem in 70 AD. John, the Apostle wrote the book of Revelation in about 95 AD. The view that the Apostle John wrote the book of Revelation has been the main view from antiquity and therefore puts the prophecies into the future, i.e. future from 95 AD.

1 It is said that in this persecution the apostle and evangelist John, who was still alive, was condemned to dwell on the island of Patmos in consequence of his testimony to the divine word. 2 Irenaeus, in the fifth book of his work Against Heresies, where he discusses the number of the name of Antichrist which is given in the so-called Apocalypse of John, speaks as follows concerning him: 3 “If it were necessary for his name to be proclaimed openly at the present time, it would have been declared by him who saw the revelation. For it was seen not long ago, but almost in our own generation, at the end of the reign of Domitian.”ⁱ (Also Irenaeus V.XXX.1-3) External evidence for the earlier (Neronian) date is almost nonexistent.ⁱⁱ

This, as well as the text of Daniel, the Gospels, Revelation and recorded history rules out associating the end times events with the reign of Nero or Titus. Additionally, the decline of the Churches mentioned in Revelation and the likelihood that the Church at Smyrna was not founded until after Paul’s Death adds to the evidence.ⁱⁱⁱ Some of the prophecies were fulfilled in the destruction of Jerusalem. As we compare the Gospel accounts of the discussion that Jesus had with His disciples, we can see that not everything that was said by Jesus is recorded. It is safe to assume that more was actually said, but this was all that God wanted us to have. Looking at the various texts and prophecies is somewhat like assembling a jigsaw puzzle. You start with doing the corners so that you have some reference points and then see what fits. As you continue to assemble the puzzle, you get a clearer picture and there are less pieces to place. This process helps to put demarcation points in place so that we can eliminate certain possibilities.