In chapter 8 of the book of Daniel, a vision was revealed to him by the bank of Ulai Canal. Upon seeing the vision, Daniel sought to understand it. The vision is explained to him in verses 15-27. Before explaining the nitty gritty of his vision, we will deal with the time frame and what happened in verses 15-19.
The narrative
unfolds when Daniel sees a figure resembling a man standing beside him. A voice
belonging to a man calls out to Gabriel, the archangel of God, to elucidate the
vision for Daniel. As Gabriel approaches, Daniel is overcome with fear and
falls prostrate on his face. A voice addresses him, “Son of man, understand
that the vision pertains to the time of the end.”
Overwhelmed by what was happening, Daniel, prostrated and in deep reverence, fell into a deep sleep. The angel touched him, made him stand upright, and spoke to him, saying, “Behold, I am going to let you know what will occur at the final period of the indignation, for it pertains to the appointed time of the end.”
It’s essential to grasp the historical context in which Daniel witnessed this vision, during the final stages of the Babylonian empire, a significant period in history. The ‘period of indignation’ mentioned by the angel refers to the period that Judah was taken into captivity in Babylon. The phrase ‘appointed time of the end’ suggests the time frame for these events to unfold. Therefore, the phrase ‘end of the time’ is better understood as the end of the Old Testament era, not as Christians typically interpret it. This implies that what Daniel saw were events that occurred in the inter-testament period.
Like Daniel, we should strive to comprehend the situation, the events that influence our lives, and God's purpose for us, His believers in His grand scheme of things. In doing so, we can better navigate the challenges that arise and find solutions to overcome the uncertainties of life.
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