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If you find the truth, will you believe it?

If any man desires to do God's will, he will have the needed illumination to recognize, and can tell for himself whether the teaching is from God or whether I am speaking from myself and on my own accord.  John 7:17 

 


Chapter 1

Understanding the Prophecies

Beasts with multiple horns and multiple heads, dragons and bears, leopards with four heads and four wings, a beast that looks like part lion, part bear, and part leopard, a bottomless pit, people with names or numbers on their foreheads, marks in people's hands, seven plagues, seven trumpets, seven trumpets, seven thunders, seven seals, seven Spirits of Elohim, and so on.  To some, this sounds like science fiction, except these objects portray powers and events soon to come upon the earth.


How does one make sense out of what is being shown in the Bible and understand what these objects represent? Most throw in the towel before they start. Others plod along, studying what others have written, but if you are like me, you are never quite satisfied that what you are being told is correct.

Twenty-nine years ago, I began to carefully examine Daniel and Revelation to try to discover what these prophetic books are saying. "Whom shall He [Elohim] teach knowledge? And whom shall He make to understand doctrine? Them that are weaned from the milk, and drawn from the breasts. For precept must be upon precept, precept upon precept; line upon line, line upon line; here a little, and there a little" (Isa. 28:9-10).

The study of the prophecies of Daniel and Revelation is not for novices of the Christian faith. I had been walking with Elohim for twenty years before I began studying the prophecies of Daniel and Revelation for myself under the tutelage of the Spirit of Elohim (John 16:13). Twenty-nine years after I started my studies, the promised blessing made to those who "read, and they that hear the words of this prophecy, and keep those things written therein" (Rev. 1:3) has been realized and experienced.

When Elohim gave John the vision of "the Revelation of Yahushua Messiah," it was to show "His servants things which must shortly come to pass" (Rev. 1:1, emphasis added). The things John was shown have not yet occurred. "For the time is at hand" (Rev. 1:3) when they will begin to happen, and certain events will occur in rapid succession and will occur during a brief time (“shortly come to pass”) (Rev. 1:1, 3, 8:5-12) during the final generation of this earth (Matt. 24:34).

Daniel was told to "seal up the book, even to the time of the end" (Dan. 12:4), and "the words are closed up and sealed till the time of the end" (Dan. 12:9). There have been interpretations given for the book of Daniel, but the correct understanding of those portions of the book of Daniel relating to “the time of the end" was to be "sealed till the time of the end."

Unfortunately, many of those who have accepted those previous interpretations will have a difficult time with what is said in this book. They now have preconceived opinions of what specific passages are thought to be saying. This is a problem Yahushua mentioned in Luke 5:36-39 and will be discussed later in this chapter.

The main reason it took me all that time to understand Daniel and Revelation was because of the preconceived opinions I previously had been taught and had accepted as the truth and had assumed were correct.

Daniel and Revelation reveal what will be happening during "the time of the end"; they complement each other and add to each other's description of specific events. They are not repetitious or parallel; they are complementary. The correct understanding of those portions of Daniel relating to the "last days" was not to be known until we reach the foretold "time of the end."

"For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of Elohim spoke [and wrote] as they were moved by the Holy Ghost [Spirit]" (2 Pet. 1:21). What they wrote was inspired by the Spirit of Elohim and can be understood only as the Spirit of Elohim opens our minds to what these books contain. "But the natural man receives not the things of the Spirit of Elohim . . . because they are spiritually discerned" (1 Cor. 2:14).

Without Elohim's enlightening Spirit, we cannot understand correctly what we are reading. That is difficult for many to grasp who do not understand the operation of the Spirit of Elohim. This may be the most significant reason people do not understand Daniel and Revelation and give up trying to understand these prophecies. They rely on their innate intellectual abilities to try and figure things out instead of relying upon Elohim to keep His promises to those who claim them, as found in John 16:13 and other specific passages of Scripture. Elohim has promised to give us His Spirit to enable us to understand if we ask. "Howbeit when He the Spirit of truth, is come, He will guide you into all truth: for He shall not speak of Himself; but whatsoever He shall hear, that shall He speak: and He will show you things to come" (John 16:13, emphasis added).

As I have studied Daniel and Revelation, I have relied on this promise Yahushua made. In Hebrews 11:6, we are told: "But without faith it is impossible to please Him [Elohim]: for he that comes to Elohim must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of them that diligently seek Him" (emphasis added). Carefully consider what you are asking for to make sure it is in harmony with the will of Elohim! It may be that Elohim is waiting to see if you are in earnest for what you are petitioning Him.

In Matthew 5:42, Yahushua told us to "give to him that asks thee." Yahuwah operates under the same principles He expects of His children. If He expects us to give to people that ask of us, we can be assured that He will do the same for us when we ask Him for something that He has promised. "And this is the confidence that we have in Him, that, if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us: and if we know that He hears us, whatsoever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we desired of Him" (1 John 5:14-15).

He is not a hypocrite and tells us to do one thing when He does something entirely different. He teaches us the principles by which He conducts Himself in all His affairs and wants His children to conduct themselves in like manner.

Elohim is faithful in doing what He has promised to do. "Elohim is not a man, that He should lie; neither the son of man, that He should repent; hath He said, and shall He not do it? Or hath He spoken, and shall He not make it good?" (Num. 23:19). "For the eyes of Yahuwah run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to show Himself strong in the behalf of them whose heart is perfect toward Him" (2 Chron. 16:9). "No good thing will He withhold from them that walk uprightly" (Ps. 84:11, emphasis added). 

A man is only as good as his word, and Elohim never fails to do what He has said He would do. I can have confidence in Him or anyone who is like that. If we take Elohim at His word, we will realize the fulfillment of His promises to us. In fact, He will "do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think" (Eph. 3:20, emphasis added).

In my studies, I found no evidence to support my previously held views concerning the prophecies of Daniel and Revelation. I had set aside all my preconceived ideas when I began my investigation and wanted to see if I could understand what they were saying without allowing my former ideas to influence my studies. I have been amazed at what I was shown in these books. I did not study them to sustain what I had previously believed. The greatest hindrance to understanding the prophecies is the preconceived opinions we already have about them.

"Open Thou mine eyes, that I may behold wondrous things out of Thy law" (Ps. 119:18). Our "spiritual eyes" are closed because of our preconceived ideas we already have. The things I have come to understand in Elohim's Word were always there, except I could not see them with my natural eyesight until Yahuwah gave me "eyesalve" (the Spirit of Elohim) to help me understand what was always there. "And anoint thine eyes with eyesalve that thou may see" (Rev. 3:18). I had no predetermined agenda when I began my studies.

In Luke chapter twenty-four, we have the story of Yahushua walking unrecognized with two of His disciples after He had been resurrected from the dead. After Yahushua had revealed Himself to the two disciples, we read, "And they said one to another, Did not our hearts burn within us, while He talked with us by the way, and while He opened to us the scriptures?" (Luke 24:32, emphasis added). Yahushua must open to us the correct understanding of the Scriptures through the Spirit of Elohim.

However, if we refuse to be corrected, Elohim will allow us to continue to believe a falsehood. "Because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved. And for this cause Elohim shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie: that they all might be damned who believed not the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness" (2 Thess. 2:10-12). "For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine: but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears; and they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables" (2 Tim. 4:3-4, emphasis added).  “All scripture is given by inspiration of Elohim, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction” (2 Tim. 3:16).

It does matter whether we believe the truth or a lie. "Elohim hath from the beginning chosen you to salvation through the sanctification of the Spirit and belief of the truth" (2 Thess. 2:13). The devil is "deceiving the whole world" through the lies he has sown in the world (Rev. 12:9). The "truth shall make you free" from the lies Satan has sown in the world (John 8:32).

A wise man tells us that "when a man who is honestly mistaken, hears the truth, he will either quit being mistaken or else cease from being honest" by Richard Humpal. Winston Churchill said, "most people, sometime in their lives, stumble across truth. Most jump up, brush themselves off, and hurry on about their business as if nothing had happened." May we take the words of these wise men to heart.

We must learn to think outside the box of our preconceived ideas in which we have been placed. If you have been or are a member of a denomination or movement, you have been taught that particular denomination's or movement's beliefs and understandings concerning the Scriptures and, in particular, the prophecies of Daniel and Revelation.

If something is presented to you that differs from what you have previously believed, the only sensible thing to do is to examine the new view in the light of the Scriptures and not in the light of your previously held understanding. That is why Paul commended the Bereans (Acts 17:11). There is a reason why there are so many different denominations of Christianity, and it is due to entertaining private interpretations of Scripture; especially the prophecies where we are told, "Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation" (2 Pet. 1:20). The Bible alone must give us the correct understanding.  

It was not through my innate intellectual capabilities I came to what I understand. After years of drinking alcohol and taking and smoking drugs, I am fortunate that my mind even works!  Elohim enlightened my mind through His Spirit working upon my spirit and is the only reason I can give for what is written in this book.

"And Yahushua answered and said unto him [Peter], Blessed art thou, Simon Barjona: for flesh and blood has not revealed it unto you, but My Father which is in heaven" (Matt. 16:17). I have no boasting to do in these matters, for Elohim has taught me all I have come to understand concerning the books of Daniel and Revelation. We must take our position as learners at the feet of our Creator.

And now He has asked me, a common, simple man, to be His instrument in writing out what He has shown me. I am just His humble instrument in what you are about to read.

To understand the prophecies, we must allow the Spirit of Elohim to teach us and to open our minds to what the Word is saying. And "Elohim is no respecter of persons" (Acts 10:34); He will not do for one what He will not do for all who earnestly seek Him. All we need to do is realize our need, ask for His guidance, and He will teach us. That is referred to as humility (free from pride). We must be humble enough to admit our need and ask for His help in understanding what He has inspired to be written. He cannot help those who already think they know it all; are self-confident and content with their understanding of the Scriptures.

"The meek will He guide in judgment: and the meek will He teach His way" (Ps. 25:9). If we think we are smart enough to figure things out for ourselves, then we will come away empty. "He [Elohim] has filled the hungry with good things; and the rich He has sent empty away" (Luke 1:53). 

There are fixed principles we need to follow in coming to a correct understanding of the prophecies of Daniel and Revelation, for Elohim wants us to be in agreement on His Word. "Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of Elohim" (Eph. 4:13, emphasis added). "Now I beseech you, brethren, by the name of our Master Yahushua Messiah, that you all speak the same thing, and that there be no divisions among you; but that you be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment" (1 Cor. 1:10, emphasis added).

"Thy watchmen shall lift up the voice; with the voice together shall they sing: for they shall see eye to eye, when Yahuwah shall bring again Zion" (Isa. 52:8, emphasis added). When people sing together, they need to be in harmony with one another. When Elohim's servants give the closing messages to the world, there will be seen unity in all that is presented.

"Not by [human] might, nor by [human] power, but by My Spirit, says Yahuwah of hosts" (Zech. 4:6). It will be by Elohim's Spirit that this will be accomplished. "With men this is impossible; but with Elohim all things are possible" (Matt. 19:26).  “They shall eye to eye.”  They will be in complete agreement!

It was the earnest desire of Yahushua that His followers would be united. "Neither pray I for these alone, but for them also which shall believe on Me through their word; that they all may be one [united in belief and practice]; as Thou, Father, art in Me, and I in Thee, that they also may be one in us: that the world may believe that Thou hast sent Me. And the glory which Thou gave Me I have given them; that they may be one [united in belief and practice], even as We are one: I in them, and Thou in Me, that they may be made perfect in one; and that the world may know that Thou hast sent Me, and hast loved them, as Thou hast loved Me" (John 17:20-23, emphasis added). The unity of true believers at the end of time will give force to the message they proclaim to the world.

It will be seen in sharp contrast in comparison to how the Christian denominations and other religions of the world are in disunity of belief.

We need to first comprehend there are rules or principles the prophecies follow. Elohim is a God of order, and there is order in how Elohim gave these prophecies. If we do not abide by those principles, there will be confusion and no unity of belief. Elohim does not work in a helter-skelter manner. He is precise and orderly.

We discover those rules by observation and not by making them up as we go. Just as the laws of gravity were first observed, written as a hypothesis, and then tested and proven to be accurate, so with the prophecies. We find what appears to be a rule, form a theory, and see if it holds true in other cases when applied.

Hypothesis #1. Each segment of prophecy has a beginning and an ending. All matter that is discussed in between occurs in chronological sequence. If we take things out of the order given, we will come to the wrong conclusion.

Hypothesis #2. If something is given in what seems to be symbolic language, then other Scriptures will explain what the symbolism means. We are not allowed to make up our own interpretation of what we think it means. Frequently, this is done when one has a preconceived opinion about something based on something learned in the past. The Bible is clear on this.  "Knowing this first, that no prophecy of scripture is of any private interpretation" (2 Pet. 1:20).

The Bible interprets Itself! There are many things in the prophecies that were not given in symbolic language. When John was shown the different segments of his vision, it was left to him to put it into his own words. He was not dictated to as to what he should write.

Hypothesis #3. We cannot take things out of context. Some have done so to support preconceptions. We must learn from the prophecies just what they are saying and not attempt to study them in order to sustain what we have previously understood. This will only preclude any progress in coming to understand them correctly. For example, in Revelation chapter thirteen, the number "666" is in the context of the description of the second beast, but it is frequently placed with the description of the first beast. That will lead to and has led to a wrong conclusion. We must keep things in the context they are given. Also, we cannot change the wording to suit our ideas, such as is often done with some sections of Scripture. Again in Revelation chapter thirteen, we are told that "666" is the "number of a man," and yet people will tell you it is the "number of the title of a man." We must take the Word of Elohim for what It says, not for what we want It to say or think that It is saying or what we have been taught.

Hypothesis #4. This is a principle given to us in the Scriptures themselves. "For precept must be upon precept, precept upon precept; line upon line, line upon line; here a little, and there a little" (Isa. 28:10). We must take everything the Bible has to say on a particular subject and weigh the evidence found in It before we come to our conclusions as to what the Bible is speaking about a matter. We must let each word have its weight in helping us to understand the meaning of what we are studying.

For some things, we will just have to wait and see what John was talking about in his description of events, such as what is pictured in Revelation 9:2-3, 7-10.

We will also find there are exemptions to these rules, but we must be very cautious when exempting them from these rules.

There are six segments within the book of Daniel and twelve or thirteen segments within the book of Revelation describing last-day events. Each of these segments has a starting point and an ending point, and all the matter discussed is in chronological sequence. Each section is like a piece of a jigsaw puzzle that fits with other pieces and gives us the complete picture of what they are trying to convey. The border of this puzzle is the last days of the earth before the return of Yahushua and beyond. Parts of some of the segments of Daniel and Revelation reach back into the past, but each portion reveals something about the days ahead.

Each chapter of this book does not necessarily build on the preceding chapter, but all contribute to the final picture of what is about to happen on planet Earth and, in some cases, what will be taking place in heaven. You must be patient as each piece of the puzzle is discussed to see what is revealed in that portion. There are overlaps in some of the chapters that discuss the same event but add to the overall scenario of that particular event.  

In most cases, jigsaw puzzles have a picture on the box cover that gives us a clear idea at what we are looking.  Appendix A of this book is the timeline in which all the segments are assembled in chronological sequence.  Some readers might find it helpful to read it before proceeding to the next chapter. However, the timeline may be confusing before readers understand the conclusions expressed that are based on the discussion of a particular section that led to their placement in the sequence.

When something new and fresh would come to me during my years of study, I would stop in amazement and wonder, for I had never before seen what I had only at that moment come to understand. I may have even read that particular portion of Scripture multiple times before. The problem was I was reading that portion with biased eyes that were influenced by what I had been taught previously and had not studied out for myself.

When I was studying Daniel chapter eleven, I could not understand what I was reading.  I did not look at that chapter again for six months.  When I did, I could see what I had not been able to discern previously.  My preconceived ideas were interfering with my ability to understand what I was reading.

You must be open and willing to have your opinions challenged based on the evidence presented. Truth is available only to those who are willing to question everything they have been taught.

Everyone reading this book will start with preconceived ideas or opinions of what specific passages of Scripture mean.  Some may be correct, and others may not be correct. Those of you who do not have this problem are fortunate. As I said earlier, none of my preconceived opinions could be sustained from the Scriptures. 

Yahushua said in Luke 5:36-39: "No man puts a piece of a new garment upon an old; if otherwise, then both the new makes a rent, and the piece that was taken out of the new agrees not with the old. And no man puts new wine into old bottles: else the new wine will burst the bottles, and be spilled, and the bottles shall perish. But new wine must be put into new bottles; and both are preserved. No man also having drunk old wine straightway desires new: for he says, The old is better" (emphasis added).

This is why Yahushua, in choosing His disciples, did not select those who had been trained in the theological schools of His time. They would have had many preconceived ideas that would have had to be set aside to learn the correct meaning that had been clouded over by those false ideas. He chose humble, common men to become His disciples because they had not been "preprogrammed" with erroneous beliefs.

Most who have attended a theological school will have difficulty with what this book is saying. What is brought out in this book is not taught in any religious institution or denomination of our day and for the very reasons mentioned in the above parable. The views of this book will not agree with what they have been taught in the past.

The parable tells us a "new piece of garment" (new understanding of truth) "agrees not with the old" (the old way you have understood a passage of Scripture in the past). When a piece of new material that has not been washed is washed while attached to an old garment, it will shrink and then tear the old garment it is sewn onto.

And "new wine" (new understanding) cannot be put into an "old bottle" (someone who clings to an old understanding). If you put the new wine into the old bottles, they will burst "and be spilled, and the bottles shall perish."  This parable is little known among believers, but it is very relevant to what you are about to read in this book.

We must be willing to become new bottles if we are not going to perish so we can receive "new wine" (new understanding). Because we have tasted the old (teachings), we think they are "better" than what Elohim is trying to show us, and we do not desire the "new," which is a lamentable fact.

It is like when a small child's favorite blanket is taken away. The child has become so attached to the old tattered blanket that he will create quite a fuss when you try to replace it with a new one. So it is with those who do not like to have their preconceived ideas challenged by something they do not understand at the time.

But if the individual is honest in heart and will allow the opportunity for something new to test his or her thinking, they will be greatly blessed. No one wants to think of themselves as closed-minded.  Our minds need to expand into areas we have never allowed ourselves to be exposed to in the past.

“Sometimes people hold a core belief that is very strong.  When they are presented with evidence that works against that belief, the new evidence cannot be accepted.  It would create a feeling that is extremely uncomfortable, called cognitive dissonance.  And because it is so important to protect that core belief, they will rationalize, ignore, and even deny anything that does not fit in with that core belief.”  Frantz Fanon

When I first began studying the prophecies of Daniel and Revelation, I would go to bed wondering how it could be the way I was starting to understand them. It was so different from what I had previously understood. But in the morning, I would wake up with these thoughts: "Why can it not be that way? Where are you getting that understanding?" I would say to myself: "from the Bible," and that would settle the issue. That happened twice.

As you read this book, take on the same attitude the people from Berea had.  "They received the word with all readiness of mind, and searched the scriptures daily, whether those things were so" (Acts 17:11, emphasis added). Do not just accept everything presented to you without thoroughly examining it, whether in this book or elsewhere. Study the Scriptures, if not "daily," then thoroughly to see whether those things presented to you are correct and can be substantiated by the Scriptures.

With the eternal destiny of your soul at stake, it is unwise to place your confidence in any man or woman or denomination or movement or institution, no matter how much confidence you may have in them. Many will be deceived and lost because of this misplaced trust.

We are told in 1 Thessalonians 5:19-21: "Quench not the Spirit. Despise not prophesyings. Prove all things; hold fast that which is good" (emphasis added). When we follow the counsel given in Elohim's Word, we will walk securely in the light of His Word.

"Follow after charity, and desire spiritual gifts, but rather that you may prophesy" (1 Cor. 14:1, emphasis added). Moses told the people of his day that he wished all might be prophets (Num. 11:29). "But he that prophesieth speaks unto men to edification [spiritual instruction], and exhortation, and comfort . . . he that prophesieth edifies the church" (1 Cor. 14:3-4, emphasis added). Edify, according to Webster's Dictionary, means "to improve spiritually or morally."

There are many reasons for reading this book, but none more important than what is written in Amos 4:12. "Prepare to meet thy Elohim." We want to be ready to meet our Elohim in peace and not in fear!

"For unto whomsoever much is given, of him shall be much required: and to whom men have committed much, of him they will ask the more" (Luke 12:48). During these years of study, Elohim has granted to me, what I believe to be the correct understanding of the prophecies of Daniel and Revelation. Now He requires of me that I give to the world what He has entrusted to me.

My position is defined in Ezekiel 33:2-9, 11. "Son of man [me] speak to the children of thy people [not just to the children of the nation of Israel but to all the world (Jer. 1:5)], and say unto them, When I bring the sword upon a land, if the people of the land take a man of their coasts, and set him for their watchman: if when he sees the sword comes upon the land, he blows the trumpet [there are seven trumpets pictured in the book of Revelation that are about to sound], and warns the people; then whosoever hears the sound of the trumpet, and takes not warning; if the sword comes, and takes him away, his blood shall be upon his own head. He heard the sound of the trumpet, and took not warning; his blood shall be upon him. But he that takes warning shall deliver his soul. But if the watchman sees the sword coming, and blows not the trumpet, and the people be not warned; if the sword comes, and takes any person from among them, he is taken away in his iniquity; but his blood will I require at the watchman's hand. So thou, O son of man, I have set thee a watchman unto the house of Israel [actually the entire world]; therefore thou shalt hear the word at My mouth, and warn them from Me. When I say unto the wicked, O wicked man, thou shalt surely die; if thou dost not speak to warn the wicked from his way, that wicked man shall die in his iniquity; but his blood will I require at thine hand. Nevertheless, if thou warn the wicked of his way to turn from it; if he do not turn from his way, he shall die in his iniquity; but thou hast delivered thy soul . . . Say unto them, As I live, saith Yahuwah Elohim, I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked; but that the wicked turn from his way and live: turn you, turn you from your evil ways; for why will you die, O house of Israel [or anyone living on the earth]" (emphasis added).

I never had any intention of being a prophet or prophesying when I began my studies of Daniel and Revelation.  If you have read the Old Testament recently, you have seen how the prophets of Elohim were treated.  They did not have a sugar-coated message that was well received by those to whom it was given. 

Revelation 10:9-11 tells us those who are studying the Bible will be prophesying.  I do not claim to be a prophet, but from what I have come to understand from my studies, I am compelled to prophesy (foretell) what is about to happen. 

It has been a great honor coming to understand the prophecies of Daniel and Revelation, but the burden it places upon an individual is very great. Eternal destinies will be determined by the reception or rejection of the message contained.

It may seem to some of you I am a bit presumptuous and maybe even a bit proud and arrogant, but I assure you I am not. From what we are told in Revelation 10:9-11, the individuals that relate what they discover from their studies of the prophecies will have a very bitter experience to go through. I am naturally timid and not naturally outgoing. I do not like conflict, but yet what I have written is very controversial in that it challenges and confronts the beliefs and practices of the entire world. But someone must Go, Tell the World of Their Danger!  Their blood will I (Yahuwah) require at your hand if you do not warn them of their danger.

What would you say to me if, knowing what I had come to understand, I had just hidden what I had discovered and not shared it with the world, and as a result, you missed out on eternity? The hatred you would have for me would be great and justly deserved.  I would rather you hate me now for telling you what I have come to understand, which I believe is the truth, than not to have told you and incur your hot displeasure in the future.

The Apostle Paul had this to say on the matter: "Am I therefore become your enemy, because I tell you the truth?" (Gal. 4:16).

In the end, those who have not told you the truth and lied to you to get you to accept their version will receive not only the wrath of the lost but also the wrath of Elohim. I am simply a servant of Yahuwah, giving you the message He has given for the world.  I am just His messenger.

It would be an excellent idea to read each chapter in its entirety from the Bible before reading the section from the book being discussed so you are familiar with what the Bible says and refer to it often as you are reading the chapter under discussion.

I leave you with these thoughts from the Pilgrim Fathers as they were ready to depart for the "New World." "When first constrained to separate from the English Church, the Puritans had joined themselves together by a solemn covenant, as the Lord's free people, ‘to walk together in all His ways made known or to be made known to them.' – J. Brown, The Pilgrim Fathers, page 74. Here was the true spirit of reform, the vital principle of Protestantism. It was with this purpose that the Pilgrims departed from Holland to find a home in the New World. John Robinson, their pastor, who was providentially prevented from accompanying them, in his farewell address to the exiles, said:

"‘Brethren, we are now erelong to part asunder, and the Lord knows whether I shall ever live to see your faces more. But whether the Lord hath appointed it or not, I charge you before God and His blessed angels to follow me no farther than I have followed Christ. If God should reveal anything to you by any other instrument of His, be as ready to receive it as ever you were to receive any truth of my ministry; for I am confident the Lord hath more truth and light yet to break forth out of His holy word.' – Martyn, vol. 5, p. 70.

"‘For my part, I cannot sufficiently bewail the condition of [all] the reformed churches, who are come to a period in religion, and will go at present no farther than the instruments of their reformation. The Lutherans cannot be drawn to go beyond what Luther saw; . . . and the Calvinists, you see, stick fast where they were left by that great man of God, who yet saw not all things. This is a misery much to be lamented; for though they were burning and shining lights in their time, yet they penetrated not into the whole counsel of God, but were they now living, would be as willing to embrace further light as that which they first received.' – D. Neal, History of the Puritans, vol. 1, p. 269.

"‘Remember your church covenant, in which you have agreed to walk in all the ways of the Lord, made or to be made known unto you. Remember your promise and covenant with God and with one another, to receive whatever light and truth shall be made known to you from His written word; but withal, take heed, I beseech you, what you receive for truth, and compare it and weigh it with other scriptures of truth before you accept it; for it is not possible the Christian world should come so lately out of such thick antichristian darkness, and that full perfection of knowledge should break forth at once.' – Martyn, vol. 5. pp. 70, 71."1

Yahushua told His disciples before He left them, "I have yet many things to say unto you, but you cannot bear them now. Howbeit when He the Spirit of truth shall come, He will guide you into all truth: for He shall not speak of Himself; but whatsoever He shall hear, that shall He speak: and He will show you things to come" (John 16:12-13, emphasis added).

Through the centuries, Elohim has been opening to the understanding of His people truths contained in His Word as they have needed them. Elohim works on a need-to-know basis. The fullness of truth has not come all at once, but it is like the rising of the sun, which shines brighter and brighter unto the fullness of the day. "But the path of the just is as the shining light, that shines more and more unto the perfect day" (Prov. 4:18).

New truths have continued to be made known to His servants until this day as they have sought for them, but when we become content with our understanding of the Scriptures, Elohim cannot reveal anything more to us. As we approach the closing scenes on the earth before the return of Yahushua, great light is being made available to those who will search it out.

"And he said, Go thy way, Daniel: for the words are closed up and sealed till the time of the end. Many shall be purified, and made white, and tried; but the wicked shall do wickedly: and none of the wicked shall understand; but the wise shall understand" (Dan. 12:9-10, emphasis added). This book will assist you in understanding what is about to happen and how to "be purified and made white, and tried”; ready for "the marriage supper of the Lamb" (Rev. 19:7-9).

"So we have the prophetic word made more sure, to which you do well to pay attention as to a lamp shining in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star arises in your hearts" (2 Pet. 1:19 New American Standard Version, emphasis added).

While there have been countless "applications" and "interpretations" of portions of Daniel and Revelation, there is only one fulfillment, when every specification of Daniel and Revelation will be fully met and that is during “the time of trouble” spoken of in Daniel 12:1 which is still in the future.

When a man or woman is preparing to work for the Department of the United States Treasury as a counterfeit currency expert, they study only genuine currency. They become an expert in every little detail contained in that currency. When they have saturated themselves by knowing every mark, blot, and hidden feature perfectly, then a counterfeit bill is mixed in among the genuine currency, and they pick it out without a problem.

The student of the prophetic word must become so familiar with the correct understanding of the prophecies of Daniel and Revelation by personal study that when a false interpretation is being promoted, he sees it instantly for what it is – wrong. The only way this can happen is that you study only the genuine as found in the Scriptures themselves until you are so familiar with them you can see the counterfeit for what it is – false.

Unfortunately, nearly everyone has preconceived ideas already ingrained within their thinking, which must be set aside to learn the truth purely from the Word of Elohim, the Holy Bible, with the Spirit of Elohim as your instructor (John 16:13).

Most will not accept the fact that their understanding may be faulty. Yahushua addressed that issue in Luke 5:36-39. Without the eyesalve of the Spirit of Elohim, one cannot understand what the prophecies are showing us. "Anoint thine eyes with eyesalve, that thou may see" (Rev. 3:18). "Open Thou mine eyes, that I may behold wondrous things out of Thy law" (Ps. 119:18).

In Acts chapter eight, we have the story of the Ethiopian eunuch and Philip.  “And Philip ran thither to him, and heard him read the prophet Isaiah, and said, Understandest thou what thou readest?  And he [the Ethiopian eunuch] said, How can I, except some man should guide me?” (Acts 8:30-31, emphasis added).  At times, Elohim uses individuals to convey the meaning of the Scriptures to those who are searching for the truth.  May we be humble enough to admit that we need help in understanding what is written in the Word of Elohim, the Holy Bible.  “The meek will He guide in judgment: and the meek will He teach His way” (Ps. 25:9). 

“And Elohim hath set some in the church, first apostles, secondarily prophets, thirdly teachers” (1 Cor. 12:28).

"Yahuwah bless you, and keep you: Yahuwah make His face shine upon you, and be gracious unto you: Yahuwah lift up His countenance upon you, and give you peace" (Num. 6:24-26). 

DD