I usually try to write an article on the weekend, but I will be away from my computer this weekend and I won’t have the opportunity to write anything.

Under normal circumstances, I would probably write about something that is currently in the news, but I can only speculate about what kind of exciting things will be in the news next week. Therefore, I want to go out on a limb by stating an opinion about something I heard several years ago.

I have only heard it once. I don’t know where I heard it. And I don’t know anyone who believes it. But I want to put it in writing for your consideration.

I will state the opinion in my own words first and then I will try to explain why it may have some substance. Those who read this should consider it and make their own decision.

Simply put, the opinion is the idea that Jesus took the sealed book of Daniel from God’s right hand (Dan. 12:4; Rev. 5:1). He started breaking the seals (Rev. 6:1). And He revealed what shall be at the time of the end (Rev. 6:1-22:21).

With regard to the substance it is important to recall that the chapter and verse divisions were not in the original manuscript of the book of Daniel. It is also important to consider the context of Dan. 12:4.

Daniel chapter 11 has 45 verses in it and all of those verses are about  events that an angel said was in Daniel’s future. The first 35 verses of the angel’s revelation were fulfilled between Daniel’s lifetime and the first coming of Jesus.

But all of a sudden in the last half of Dan. 11:35, the angel skipped to the time of the end.

The first thing the angel revealed about the time of the end concerns the Antichrist: He won’t obey the law; he will think highly of himself; he will blaspheme God; he will be successful until the end of the Tribulation period; he will do what God has determined shall be done; his ancestor’s religion will mean nothing to him; he may be gay; he will be godless; he will exalt himself and he will honor Satan with expensive gifts (Dan. 11:36-38).

Second, the angel revealed that the Antichrist will move against other nations; the king of the North (perhaps Syria and or Russia); the king of the South (perhaps Egypt and or a group of Arab nations); the glorious land of Israel; Egypt; Libya; Ethiopia; an army from the east and more (Dan. 11:39-44),

Third, the angel revealed that the Antichrist will wind up in Israel where he will come to his end with no one to help him (Dan. 11:45).

Forth, moving into chapter 12, but realizing that there were no chapter and verse divisions the angel revealed God’s protection for Israel; the time of trouble (the Tribulation Period); that some of the Jews will be delivered; the resurrection of the dead and the wisdom of being a soul winner for Jesus (Dan. 12:1-3).

Finally, the angel told Daniel to close the book and seal it until the time of the end, a time of rapid travel and an explosion of knowledge (Dan. 12:4). Seal it until the time of the end implies that the book of Daniel would be unsealed in the future.

Daniel wanted to know more, but he was told a second time that, “the words are closed up and sealed till the time of the end” (Dan. 12:9).

Moving to Rev. chapter 5 verse 1, John saw Someone on the throne in heaven with a sealed book in His right hand (Could it be the sealed book of Daniel?). A strong angel asked, “Who is worthy to open the book, and loose its seals” and it turns out that the only One that is worthy is Jesus (Rev. 5:2-14). Could it be that this is the same angel that told Daniel to seal his book?

Jesus loosed the first seal (Rev. 6:1-2) and the subject is the same Antichrist mentioned in Dan. 11:35-38.

Jesus loosed the Second seal (Rev. 6:3-4) and the book he was holding revealed that peace will be removed from the earth. It is interesting that Daniel’s sealed book had talked about other wars (Dan. 11:39-44), but this is about more wars at the time of the end.

Jesus continued to unseal the book of Revelation and it revealed details about all of the other things that Daniel wanted to know more about. This shows that Jesus not only called Daniel a prophet (Matt. 24:15) He also expanded on Daniel’s prophecies when He revealed the book of Revelation.

I will add one final thing: An angel told Daniel to seal his book until the time of the end. Some believe the time of the end began with the Church Age (Acts 2:17). An angel revealed the unsealing of a book (the book of Revelation) near the beginning of the Church Age (probably mid-90s AD).

For your consideration: Could it be that the book that Daniel sealed is the same book that Jesus unsealed? Daniel’s book is so accurate the message certainly had to come from heaven.

Prophecy Plus Ministries
Daymond & Rachel Duck

Two steps forward and one step backward pretty much describes what has taken place with the destruction of Damascus (Isa. 17) and the Battle of Gog and Magog (Ezek. 38-39) in the last couple of weeks.

The fulfillment of God’s Word is definitely moving forward but there are setbacks. Things are definitely advancing in the direction that God said they will go, but it is herky-jerky or irregular.

The first step forward concerns the war between Syria and Israel at the end of the age. The Bible says Damascus will cease to exist as a city in one night (Isa. 17:1, 14).

When that happens Ephraim (northern Israel) will suffer great damage (Isa. 17:3) and the glory of Jacob (Israel) will be weakened and many Jews will go hungry (Isa. 17:4).

It will be a terrible event, but good will come from it because a man will “look to his Maker, and his eyes shall have respect to the Holy One of Israel” (Isa. 17:7). War that causes people to accept Jesus is not all bad.

This prophecy advanced when Turkey shot down a Russian jet in late November. Russia’s Defense Minister responded by announcing plans to deploy a battery of sophisticated S-400 missiles to Syria to protect Russia’s planes.

Some in Israel see these missiles as a game-changer because they can shoot down Israeli planes flying over northern and central Israel. They expose northern Israel to the kind of danger prophesied in the Bible.

The second step forward concerns the stationing of Russian and Iranian planes in Syria. When the battle of Gog and Magog takes place, God said, “Thou shalt ascend and come like a storm, thou shalt be like a cloud to cover the land, thou, and all thy bands, and many people with thee” (Ezek. 38:9).

Many, including this writer, think “like a cloud to cover the land” refers to jets, bombers and helicopters. We believe the Russian-led forces will fill the skies over Israel with aircraft.

When Russia first started moving planes into Syria Russia sent in 34 bombers and several helicopters. In the next four or five weeks, Russia more than doubled the number of bombers to 69. The growing number of planes indicates a plan to expand the war.

In addition to this, DEBKAfile reported that Iran has sent dozens of planes to Syria to escort Russian bombers (First Iranian fighter jets over Syria alongside Russian bombers; Nov. 22, 2015.) The report said some of these planes are operating near Syria’s border with Israel.

That is a no, no. And the fact that Russia may have sent in missiles that can shoot down Israel’s jets makes it very dangerous for northern Israel. Israel’s use of a big bomb or a powerful missile is not inconceivable.

The step backward concerns Turkey’s downing of the Russian plane.  Not  all agree, but many think Togarmah of the north quarters is Turkey. If this is right, Turkey will be on Russia’s side in the Battle of Gog and Magog.

But Turkey’s downing of the Russian plane has provoked a harsh response from Russia. Mr. Putin quickly suspended cooperation with Turkey’s military, threatened economic retaliation, suggested that Russian citizens should leave Turkey, started bombing Turkish sites and allies in Syria, started jamming some Turkish electronic military communications and started destroying trucks that have been delivering stolen oil that Turkey was illegally buying from the Islamic State.

On the other side, Pres. Erdogan has warned Russia not to play with fire and there have been at least two reports that Turkey may be interfering with the movement of some Russian merchant ships and the ships in Russia’s Black Sea fleet. It is an explosive situation that Russia most surely will not tolerate and it could drag in NATO and touch off a nuclear war.

It is difficult to say what will happen. The two will have to make up in a hurry or it will be a while before the battle of Gog and Magog takes place.

Anyway, the problem between Russia and Turkey is a step backward, but the introduction of Russian missiles that can hit northern Israel and the buildup of planes from Russia and Iran are two signs that Bible prophecy is still moving toward the predicted scenario.

Prophecy Plus Ministries
Daymond & Rachel Duck