Israel – The Way of Christ Ministries

Daniel 12:4 – Knowledge Will Increase

But thou, O Daniel, shut up the words, and seal the book, even to the time of the end: many shall run to and fro, and knowledge shall be increased.

Daniel 12 gives us a great picture of the end-of -the-age, and the deliverance of Israel. In this chapter there is one telling sentence that many scholars say that points a prophecy that is being fulfilled in our very time. That scripture referenced is this verse, Daniel 12:4, where it says. “many shall run to and fro, and knowledge shall be increase”. Some say that this is the telling sign that is bring fulfilled in our generation. The sign of going to and from and the increase in human knowledge. They point out the dynamic speed at which we can obtain knowledge on a subject these days via the internet. With apps like “hey Google”, “Alexis”, “Siri”, and other AI technologies we can find information on anything, and write our own dissertation, or even a book on knowledge that we did not have two minutes ago. It can then be published to the whole world in a matter of seconds. The availability of specialized and advanced training and collage has exploded across the globe. These institutions of higher learning are no long just available to the rich and elite in society, but they have been made accessible to the poor and the meek of societies all over the world.

As a result, before 1900 human knowledge increased at a rate of doubling every century. By the end of WWII human knowledge increased at a rate of doubling every 25 years. Today if is dependent on the field of knowledge, but in general human knowledge doubles every 13 months to 2 years. With the advent of AI, it is expected that we will soon be able to double human knowledge every 12 hours. This could very well be an indicator of the end times that Daniel is talking about.

If you also consider the “to and fro” aspect of the verse, then we can see an increase in the ability of people to travel long distances in shorter periods of time. We even have areas of the globe that were isolated for the entire history of the earth, that are now readily accessible through specialized vehicles and equipment. We have military submarines that have been recorded to go as deep as 1500 m below sea level. The Lockheed SR-71 can reach Mack 3.3 (2,100 mph). Trips around the globe that were once impossible are now completed in minutes. Many saber rattles point to these things as signs of the end times that were spoken of by Jesus and the prophets. These are discussed as signs of the apocalypse on podcasts and prophecy conferences from different corners of the globe. Admittedly, these could be a part of the meaning of the prophecy of Daniel mentioned here.

Scripture often has a dual application, one that we can readily see and one that is deeper in meaning, in context. The entire journal of Daniel is an example of this dual meaning. While we see the workings of how God is sovereign and judges Israel and then delivers them by his grace. That is not all to the story; in the deeper context we see the representation of Babylon as the World System that comes together to enslave Israel. We also see Daniel as a type of Christ who is to overcome the world and bring salvation to Israel from his obedience to the will of the Father. We see the playing out of the war between the antichrist and the Christ depicted in the enslavement of the kingdoms of the world to Babylon, and then the imminent redemption of the world by God through Darius. With all these things in mind, let us examine the context of this passage in Daniel.

First let us get some perspective. Apocalyptic or Eschatology (study of last things) written in the bible was not written to the world. It is written to the Church and to Israel and Judah. They are not intended to be scarry subjects that need to have a cell phone or newspaper in one hand and the scriptures in the other. They are meant as an answer to a question. When and How will you come? They are written as an encouragement. The Revelation of Jesus Christ given through the Apostle John was written during a time of intense persecution of the church. Saints were being tortured to death, martyred for their faith. There question was, when is Jesus going to return? What is going on with the promise? In similar fashion we have the writing of Daniel to Judah. Jerusalem and the temple have been destroyed; Judah is broken. The people have been enslaved and subjected to the rule of foreign gods. Some have been tortured and killed for their faith. The question becomes, where is God? Did he abandon us? When will he avenge his name and deliver his people?

This section of Daniel is only a small part of that answer that is given by God. We cannot pull it out of context of the rest of the book, nor the rest of end-times prophecy. Daniel reveals that God has not abandoned Judah, nor Israel. Jehovah will send a savior to deliver Israel and Judah. He will send them the Messiah. This messiah was prophesied to come through the tribe of Judah. (Genesis 49:10) Before this messiah does come there will be a going of to and from and knowledge will increase. This will be an indicator that the figs are ready for harvest. Jesus himself spoke of these events of the end of days when he said. “Now learn a parable of the fig tree; When his branch is yet tender, and putteth forth leaves, ye know that summer is nigh: So likewise ye, when ye shall see all these things, know that it is near, even at the doors.” (Matthew 24:32-33) Jesus said that we should study and when these things are seen, we should be prepared for his arrival. So we must study the meaning of the text.

The text in question is a follow up on the preceding events. Remember Daniel is speaking to Israel and Judah. The antichrist will come and the lands will be divided. For 3 ½ years the power to divide the people of God will be given to this antichrist and many will be martyred for not bowing down to the foreign god. Then Michael will stand up and the deliverance of Israel and Judah will come. The righteous will be delivered and the wicked condemned. Then the scripture says, “But thou, O Daniel, shut up the words, and seal the book, even to the time of the end: many shall run to and fro, and knowledge shall be increased.”. Later it is repeated, Go thy way, Daniel: for the words are closed up and sealed till the time of the end (Daniel 12:9).

I remember when I was in school and when final exams came. Suddenly I was very interested in what the text of the books said. I needed to know all the information, that I should have already known, and would have known, if I would have studied and listened in class. I know needed the information for the final test, that would determine if I was to be a success or a failure. So the night before the exams I would study very intensely. Flipping through the pages, and the books, reading summaries. My eyes would go “to and fro” in search of any truth I could find to help me to anticipate the questions on the test and to prepare for the final examination. I suspect that this is the true meaning of this passage.

The meaning of this passage and the whole book was sealed until the end times. The understanding of this passage and others would not be comprehendible until the final days. Then people will get serious about seeking the true God. Israel would be willing to lay aside its religion and the ways of the world to seek God himself. They would search the scriptures and reread Daniel to see what they missed. In the end times they would accept a false messiah, and when their eyes were opened to their folly, they would seek out the true Messiah. Their eyes would be opened. What could be the event that opens their eyes? Well the two previous verses talk about the delivery of those whose names are found in the book of life, and the resurrection of the saints. It would appear that the rapture may be the trigger event that alerts the Jews that their messiah did come.

Knowledge is always shown to be from God in the scriptures. (Hosea 4:6-7; Psalms 119:66; Proverbs 1:5,7; 2:6; 9:10;1 Corinthians 12:8; 2 Peter 1:3; Isaiah 28:29) The increase in knowledge would be an increase in understanding of God and his Word. They would search the scriptures like a student studying for the final exam. James, the half-brother of Jesus wrote in his epistle, “If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him.” (James 1:5). So just as God seeks those who seek him, when the descendants of Israel ask for understanding, he will give it to them.

They will have their eyes opened by the Holy Spirit and they will see that Jesus is the promised Messiah; that they rejected. They will repent and turn to God. Then God (Jesus) will come to deliver them in righteousness and glory. Jesus said, “And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations; and then shall the end come. When ye therefore shall see the abomination of desolation, spoken of by Daniel the prophet, stand in the holy place, (whoso readeth, let him understand:)” (Matthew 24:14-15). Jesus himself refers the Jews to look back to Daniel the prophet, in the last days to gain understanding.

We can certainly see how the common interpretation of this verse, Daniel 12:4, can mean that human knowledge will increase and that our ability to move about the world quicker and more freely would be increased. However, considering the surrounding scripture we cannot make the mistake of interpreting this verse with modern gentile eyes. We can instead take the information already given to the target audience. The target audience is the Jews in captivity and the Jews of the Tribulation.

Its purpose is to encourage them of a day of deliverance by their anointed Messiah. The surrounding text supports that the meaning of the book will not be understandable to Israel until the end is near. Then in the re-study of the book of Daniel, and the prophecies of Isaiah, Ezekeil, Jesus, and other prophets, along with the events unfolding, they will finally understand the truth of Jesus Christ and receive their salvation. We as Christians, can already see these things and we should pray for peace for Israel and their salvation in Messiah Jesus.

H.R.6090 – Antisemitism Awareness Act of 2023

My dear friends. This is not the normal kind of post that I put on this site. However, I think that there are some forces working underhandedly in the world. These forces would strip us of our Christian rights to worship and also to possess a Holy Bible. They know that a straight out attack on Christianity has never worked in the past, and have moved to more subtle approaches. One of which is a progressive warming of the waters to a slow boil. If you have heard of the analogy that a frog will jump from a boiling pot of water, but he will stay an die in a pot that is slowly heated until it boils him alive. This is the tactic I am speaking of. The changing of a definition. Making it unbinding so no one will care how it is worded. Then later accept the poorly written definition as an accepted policy. Now make the policy a law. This is what is happening right before your eyes.

There is a bill that is silently making its way through Congress. It has already passed the House of Representatives and is awaiting its vote in the Senate. If this bill is passed, it will potentially change the face of Christianity in the US and consequently in the world. This has been a slow multistep progression to silence Christianity in the US and to make the Bible illegal in the US. It made a non-binding definition that was made in Bucharest, Romania a policy of the US State Department. Now this legislation will arm the federal government against Christians in the US.

HR 6090 “Antisemitism Awareness Act of 2023” made the State Departments “Defining of Antisemitism” policy, which is based on the Bucharest, May 2016, unbinding definition of antisemitism, into a criminal offense. This is declared in Sec. 4 Definitions of ZHR 6090. Where it reads,

“For purposes of this Act, the term “definition of antisemitism”—

(1) means the definition of antisemitism adopted on May 26, 2016, by the IHRA, of which the United States is a member, which definition has been adopted by the Department of State; and

(2) includes the “[c]ontemporary examples of antisemitism” identified in the IHRA definition.” (https://www.congress.gov/bill/118th-congress/house-bill/6090/text)

I am not anti-Semitic, and I think that the Jews should be free of oppression, and allowed to live free of harm, just like any other people. I believe that God has not abandoned them and that he is working actively in the life of Israel to restore his people and blesses those who bless them, and curses those who curse them. However, in this referred to definition, the US Congress makes Christians into criminals, and so opens the door for corporate persecution of Christians in the US and in the world.

The referred to definition in HR 6090 is the one adopted by the US State Department that includes the following line in it’s definition.

Using the symbols and images associated with classic antisemitism (e.g., claims of Jews killing Jesus or blood libel) to characterize Israel or Israelis. (US Department of State) Defining Antisemitism https://www.state.gov/defining-antisemitism/)

That would make such scripture and the preaching here on a hate crime. This sharing or maybe even just having a Bible that reads the following from Acts and 1 Thessalonians could put you in danger of the government.

Be it known unto you all, and to all the people of Israel, that by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom ye crucified, whom God raised from the dead, even by him doth this man stand here before you whole. (Acts 4:10).

For ye, brethren, became followers of the churches of God which in Judaea are in Christ Jesus: for ye also have suffered like things of your own countrymen, even as they have of the Jews: Who both killed the Lord Jesus, and their own prophets, and have persecuted us; and they please not God, and are contrary to all men: (1 Thessalonians 2:14-15).

I know that there are some Arians who use these verses to bring violence against the Jewish people. It is wrong and should be stood up against. However, this bill and definition also says that the Jewish people should not be held accountable for the actions of one or even a few Jewish people or activists, so the Christians should not be held accountable for a few cultic followers or activists.

The thing about this bill is that in it’s definition, it refers to a definition that is outside of the bill itself. It is even a definition that is not under the scrutiny of any US legislation. So as the international community may change the definition, the definition would automatically be changed in the US legal system. How foolish is this? On the face this legislation is something that most lawmakers would want to sign their name to. Who wouldn’t want to be associated with a bill that stands up for the oppressed and the needy, the wrongly accused through history. Every Jewish and Christian legislature would love to have their name on this document. However, would they have done the homework and looked at the source of the definition, then the Christian representative would have seen that in voting for this, they vote away their own freedom of religion, and the freedom of speech would be stripped from every pulpit in America.

I say that if such a bill is to be passed there should be some changes first. (1) The applicable definition should be fully defined within the bill itself, and not refer to an outside document, especial not an international document. (2) Provisions should be given to protect other religious texts and speech that also allow protection for the Jewish community.

Please contact your US Senator to at least have them do the research into the definition of the bill and to see it they would still support such a piece of legislation. There are ways to protect the Jewish members of our society against Antisemitism without criminalizing other religious groups. I just do not fee this bill is what it claims itself to be.

Once again I believe and affirm that the descendants of Abraham, Issac, Jacob, and King David are the blessed and chosen people of God, and that they should be protected.

Now the LORD had said unto Abram, Get thee out of thy country, and from thy kindred, and from thy father’s house, unto a land that I will shew thee: 2And I will make of thee a great nation, and I will bless thee, and make thy name great; and thou shalt be a blessing: 3And I will bless them that bless thee, and curse him that curseth thee: and in thee shall all families of the earth be blessed. (Genesis 12:3)

Let us find a good way to bless the people of God. Let us help Israel have true peace. Pray for the peace of Israel. Stand in defense of Israel. Share the hope in Jesus Christ with Israel.

Jacob and Redemption in Christ (Genesis 35:10)

“And God said unto him, Thy name is Jacob: thy name shall not be called any more Jacob, but Israel shall be thy name: and he called his name Israel.” (Genesis 35:10)

The name Jacob means “seizing by the heel”. Jacob was named this because when Jacob and Esau were born, they were born as twins. Even in the womb they struggled against one another. Esau came out first which meant that he was the eldest and that he would have the inheritance of his Father. Blessings would have been bestowed on him, as the first born, that far exceeded the blessings received by his younger brother Jacob. Jacob was born holding onto the heel of Esau, as if trying to stop him from being born first. Now this is probably just a little of my mind running into fantasy, to imagine that an infant would know of such things as inheritances and birthrights from the womb. However, the fact that these two fought with one another in the womb is documented in the scriptures.

There is another meaning to the name Jacob, supplanting. Supplanting is defined as to replace, displace, supersede, or to take the place of another, as through force or scheming. We would consider this deception. So much so that Jacob’s name has become to be called “deceiver”. Jacob had most definitely lived up to his name. In his younger life Jacob tricked his older brother, Esau, into selling his birthright to Jacob for a pot of chili. He took advantage of his brother in his weakened state and took away his future as the air to Isaac and the promises of God inherited from Abraham. Later Jacob would deceive Isaac into bestowing the greater blessings of God onto him instead of his older brother. He did this through an elaborate scheme that involved many levels of deception and lying.

Yet the inheritance had been passed on and so had the blessings been given to Jacob because of his scheming and deceptions. God is honorable and faithful, so he keeps his word to Abraham, and Isaac in honoring their designation of Jacob as the heir and patriarch of the family. These events were not a surprise to God. He even predicted that these events would transpire. When Rebecca, Jacob’s and Esau’s mother, was feeling the struggling in her womb, before their birth, she asked God why this was happening. God’s reply is recorded in Genesis 25:23, “And the Lord said unto her, Two nations are in thy womb, and two manner of people shall be separated from thy bowels; and the one people shall be stronger than the other people; and the elder shall serve the younger”. Thus God gave Rebecca a prophecy concerning not only her sons, but the nations that would descend from each of them. Still we look at Jacob and we say to ourselves, “what a despicable man he was”.

What kind of selfish, arrogant man would lie, steal, and cheat their own family brother out of what was rightfully his? Who would be so selfish to tear his family apart for his own desires? What kind a callous heart it must take to deceive the father that had protected and cared for you your whole life. What a shameful display of arrogance to take advantage of the blind, and elderly. Only a dishonorable, opportunistic man takes advantage of the hungry and feeds them with such devastating deception? We can point the finger all day long at Jacob; can we not? Still we must be honest enough to see a little of Jacob in us as well.

Have some of us not deceived others for our own gain? Have some of us not told a little lie to ease the harshness of the truth in our selfishness? Mother’s hide snacks from the children. Children seem to never know “who broke the lamp or got into the cookie jar”. Husbands and wives lying to one another about where they have been, what they were doing, who they were doing it with. Shaving a little time here and there at work, stealing from their employers. Maybe false reporting on earned income for taxes, or other things of like these. There are countless ways that we put our own selfish desires ahead of others and lie and deceive others to get ahead. We deceive others by omitting information, denying the truth, exaggerating information, and even fabricating information.

There is even a definition for using “true” statements to give a false or distorted view of the truth in order to influence the impressions of other and mislead their decision making. This is referred to as paltering. If you have ever watched syndicated news or a politician, you have probably been a victim of such a ploy. My dad used to always tell me that if someone asked you a question, always tell them the truth, but; don’t tell them any more than they asked for. That is sound advice from someone who is trying to tell themselves that they are an honest man, who does not want someone getting the wrong impression from knowing the whole of the truth.

Let me further illustrate. One night, when I was a teen, I borrowed my step-mom’s car. I ended up getting in an accident and I totaled the car. When my dad asked why I was driving, I told him I just wanted to go see a friend. That was the truthful answer to his question. What I didn’t include was that I was going to see a friend that my dad had told me to stay away from. You see I did not tell him that I was in disobedience of his wishes. This lie saved me from a severe punishment. I am sure you can find in you past some kind of half-truth you have told to get away with something or to avoid chastisement.

We are not so far from the shameful actions of Jacob, are we? You see we are a namesake to our father. We lie because that is what we know how to do. Jesus said, “Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, because there is not truth in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own: for he is a lair, and the father of it.” (John 8:44)

Jacob lied because he was carnal. He was of the kingdom of Satan. One of the Hebrew names for the devil is cheater. This also carries the following synonyms: deceitful, deceiver, fraudulent, swindler. See when we act in these manners, we are also acting like Jacob. Jacob was acting out his sinful nature, given to him at the beginning by the fall of man, by the deception of Satan. We also are a product of this sinful state. We do not know what it means to truly be “good”. We could care less about trying to be good. Like Jacob, we are also of our father the devil, there is no truth in us. The good news is that God already knew this about Jacob, and he already knows this about us. God already had a plan for Jacob that started before he was in the womb.

God told Jacob, “thy name shall not be called any more Jacob”. God removed Jacob’s identity. He removed the shame associated with the name of Jacob. Jacob, had left his home for 20 years, running from the things he had done in his past. Now God was giving him a second chance at life. A life that would be far greater than the one he had left behind. God not only took his old name away; he gave him a new name. This name would be a greater name then the one he previously had. He was given a clean slate and a new promise and a new way of life. A life that would bring the promises of God to bear in his life, the life of his descendants, and the lives of everyone in the world. God would fulfill his promises to Abraham. This is such a great picture of what Christ has done for those who believe on him.

Revelation 2:17 tells us a promise made by God. He says, “He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To him who overcomes, to him I will give some of the hidden manna, and I will give him a white stone, and a new name written on the stone which no one knows but he who receives it.” Isn’t that awesome, we have a new name in Christ. We have a new identity that is given to us by God himself. This name is holy to the Lord. Only you and the Lord will know your new name. Your slate has been wiped clean. You have a new identity. You are no longer the shameful creature held in bondage by sin and death. Instead you will be alive like never before. You will eat of the blessings of God and be called by a new name, a redeemed soul!

The Apostle Paul also tells us about this when he writes to the Corinthians. Paul tells us that anyone who believes and follows Jesus Christ is a new creature. He uses the verb “is”, it has already happened. The old person we used to be and all the things we did in the past are gone. Everything about us has become new in Christ. Paul tells us that this process if part of our reconciliation to God. This is only possible through the blood of Jesus Christ, who was made sin for us. Jesus was the righteousness of God. He was guilty of no sin. However, he accepted the blame and penalty for our sin. In this way, our sin was transferred to him, and his righteousness was accounted towards us. (2 Corinthians 5:17-21) Now, John says, not only are we forgiven, but we have a new heavenly Father. (1 John 3:1)

Now with this new identity, and this new Father, we can be like him instead of our previous father. We no longer must submit to the will of the flesh and Satan. We are set free from that previous live and now obey our spiritual Father in Heaven. Just as Jacob no longer had to live under the shame of his previous life, but instead could live a victoriously and blessed in his new life, we can also live a blessed and victorious life in Jesus Christ. We have been redeemed, not because of what we did or even our own will. We have been redeemed because of what God did of his own will, because he loved us even when we were his enemy. But now, we who live in faith in Jesus Christ are no longer his enemies.

We are his son’s and daughters. We are his ambassadors. We are the witness of his love and his grace. If you believe that Jesus is the Son of God who came and took the blame for your sin, and died in your place. Knowing in your heart that his death paid the price for your sin, and you believe that he was resurrected on the third day, then you have eternal life. Now that your eternal salvation is secure in Christ, you need to testify to that end. You need to take your first step in obedience and be baptized by emersion. Baptism is not necessary for salvation, but it is necessary in your testimony. Baptism is recognized throughout the world as a mark of believing in Jesus Christ.