As Jesus builds His church, He is unlocking secrets we will need to understand the times in which we live.
After providing Daniel with a shocking prophetic overview of the last days, the angel Gabriel instructed him, “Go your way, Daniel. For these words are closed up and sealed until the time of the end” (Dan. 12:9; see also Dan. 12:4).
The words “closed up” actually come from a Hebrew word meaning “encrypted” or “encoded.” The word “sealed” means “preserved,” like a sealed canning jar used to preserve food.
These things written of in prophecy have been closed up and sealed for a future time—a time that is now coming upon us. It seems as though God is swiftly unsealing and decoding these prophecies as we approach the coming of Christ.
You see, God meant for His people to understand the cryptic prophecies relating to the last days. For believers there is no fear, only an exciting hope promised by Jesus Himself and confirmed by the apostles in their writings.
Jesus said, “When these things begin to happen, look up and lift up your heads, for your redemption is drawing near” (Luke 21:28), and “Let not your heart be troubled. You believe in God. Believe also in Me. In My Father’s house are many dwelling places. If it were not so, I would have told you. I am going to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself, that where I am, you may be also” (John 14:1–3).
The apostle Paul wrote, “Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that you may abound in hope, through the power of the Holy Spirit” (Rom. 15:13). The apostle John shared the words of Jesus: “Because you have kept My word of patience, I also will keep you from the hour of temptation which shall come upon the entire world, to test those who dwell on the earth” (Rev. 3:10).
Jesus cried out, “Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavily burdened, and I will give you rest” (Matt. 11:28). In Revelation, we read, “The Spirit and the bride say, ‘Come.’ Let him who hears say, ‘Come.’ Let him who is thirsty come. Let him who desires take the water of life freely” (22:17). {eoa}
Dr. Dave Williams served for over 30 years as pastor of Mount Hope Church in Lansing, Michigan, with over 500 outreach ministries around the world. Dave led the church in giving over $40,000,000 to world and local missions. His leadership training course, “The Art of Pacesetting Leadership,” is credited with catapulting one church from 226 to over 4,000. Another church went from 8 to over 1,000. His all-time best-selling book, The New Life: The Start of Something Wonderful, is a practical, step-by-step guide to help new believers become established in their Christian walk and has sold over 2.5 million copies. His latest book, Hope in the Last Days, is published by Charisma House. Dave now focuses on helping young ministers whenever he has an opportunity.
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