Bible prophecy is a riddle. And difficult to solve.
I think I discovered the answer to an important riddle in Bible prophecy. And it’s one that many are still trying to understand. But not because of any wisdom on my part. Understanding comes from the Holy Spirit. I’m just a broken clay vessel.
Who among us can accurately solve the riddle, or more correctly, numerous riddles of Bible Prophecy? Many people throughout the centuries have tried. Many of the great prophets of the Old Testament received direct revelations from God. And interestingly, many times they didn’t understand their own prophetic messages. The messages came to them. And they wrote what they saw or heard. We find many of those revelations recorded in the scriptures. In some cases, years would pass. In confusion, the prophet asked the Lord for clarification.
Perhaps the most notable prophet, to which this applies, is Daniel. He received direct messages and visions from high-ranking angelic messengers. Those messengers, such as the angel Gabriel, came directly from the throne of God. Many times, the visions troubled Daniel. Or, he was fearful as to the meaning of the terrible images. So, he asked for understanding. At times, the angel gave him the understanding he sought.
Other times, he was left to wonder. And tremble.
The Time of the End
Daniel 12: 1-4
1 “At that time shall arise, Michael, the great prince who has charge of your people. And there shall be a time of trouble, such as never has been since there was a nation till that time. But at that time your people shall be delivered, everyone whose name shall be found written in the book. 2 And many of those who sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, some to everlasting life, and some to shame and everlasting contempt. 3 And those who are wise shall shine like the brightness of the sky above, and those who turn many to righteousness, like the stars forever and ever. 4 But you, Daniel, shut up the words and seal the book, until the time of the end. Many shall run to and fro, and knowledge shall increase.”
The riddle is Sealed. That is, until the end.
The end of God’s prophetic story is approaching. So, the puzzling riddle will now come into focus.
Many parts of the prophecy riddle are known. When Isaiah wrote about the virgin giving birth to a baby. It was confusing. To Isaiah, and those who read it. But when Jesus was born in Bethlehem. The puzzle was solved. For many people, shepherds, in particular, the lights went on. And Isaiah’s words in chapter 53, or David’s similar passages in Psalm 22, left scholars scratching their heads.
Until the Lord cried in agony, as he died on the cross. And in his groaning and death, another puzzle was solved. But sadly, too many people are still blind to the truth.
Well, I think I solved another riddle.
But not me, the Lord granted understanding to this clay vessel. I don’t receive visions like Daniel. I follow the patterns set by the Apostles. They read the scriptures. And the Holy Spirit led them into understanding.
All of us should do the same. The following verse makes that clear.
The Promise of the Holy Spirit
John 16:11 And in regard to judgment, because the prince of this world has been condemned. 12 I still have much to tell you, but you cannot yet bear to hear it. 13 However, when the Spirit of truth comes, He will guide you into all truth. For He will not speak on His own, but He will speak what He hears, and He will declare to you what is to come.
Jesus was blunt with the disciples. Sometimes they weren’t ready for the truth. The same is true for all of us. The world at large isn’t ready for the truth. And most of the Body of Christ isn’t ready either. Sorry folks, but it’s true.
Daniel wanted to know more. Gabriel told him to wait. The message was sealed. But now, understanding has arrived.
The disciples wanted answers. The Lord spoke in parables. And when he did, we can almost see the puzzled look on the disciples’ faces. At one point, Jesus asked them, “Do you understand what I say?” And they all nodded. And when they did, the rocks in their heads rattled around, making it clear that they didn’t understand.
I’m joking of course. But they didn’t understand. And we don’t either. Too often, we haven’t got any clue about the meaning of the things we read in the Bible. It’s hard work, and true understanding only comes from the Holy Spirit’s guidance.
https://thewritelife.tech/2018/09/12/daniels-statue-the-bronze-kingdom-alexander-great/
The riddle of which I speak.
So, as I said at first, I think I’ve solved a riddle.
Here’s the passage.
The Great Prostitute and the Beast
1 Then one of the seven angels who had the seven bowls came and said to me, “Come, I will show you the judgment of the great prostitute who is seated on many waters.
2 with whom the kings of the earth have committed sexual immorality, and with the wine of whose sexual immorality the dwellers on earth have become drunk.”
3 And he carried me away in the Spirit into a wilderness, and I saw a woman sitting on a scarlet beast that was full of blasphemous names, and it had seven heads and ten horns.
4 The woman was arrayed in purple and scarlet, and adorned with gold and jewels and pearls, holding in her hand a golden cup full of abominations and the impurities of her sexual immorality.
5 And on her forehead was written a name of mystery: “Babylon the great, mother of prostitutes and of earth’s abominations.”
6 And I saw the woman, drunk with the blood of the saints, the blood of the martyrs of Jesus. When I saw her, I marveled greatly.
7 But the angel said to me, “Why do you marvel? I will tell you the mystery of the woman and of the beast with seven heads and ten horns that carries her.
It was and is not
8 The beast that you saw was, and is not, and is about to rise from the bottomless pit and go to destruction. And the dwellers on earth whose names have not been written in the book of life from the foundation of the world will marvel to see the beast because it was and is not and is to come.
9 This calls for a mind with wisdom: the seven heads are seven mountains on which the woman is seated;
10 they are also seven kings, five of whom have fallen, one is, the other has not yet come, and when he does come he must remain only a little while.
11 As for the beast that was and is not, it is an eighth but it belongs to the seven, and it goes to destruction.
12 And the ten horns that you saw are ten kings who have not yet received royal power, but they are to receive authority as kings for one hour, together with the beast.
13 These are of one mind, and they hand over their power and authority to the beast.
14 They will make war on the Lamb, and the Lamb will conquer them, for he is Lord of lords and King of kings, and those with him are called and chosen and faithful.”
A clear riddle
I believe I now understand this passage as fully as I ever have. The identity of the beast terrified Daniel. He wanted to know more about it. The angel essentially said no. It’s become clear to me, why so many in the Body of Christ, can’t see it and won’t. That is until they see the beast for what it is and was and will be. And there is another beast that stands in the way. This too clouds the vision of many Christians. The wrong beast stands in the way. It is like a shadow that covers the understanding of so many.
Comparing scripture with scripture reveals the truth. It’s really that simple. But for now, I’ll keep the answer to the riddle to myself. It’s not important that I say what I’ve found. The truth will come out soon. The truth is becoming clear. Others already know this.
For now, I’ll let you do your own homework. And I’ll follow in the pattern set by the Lord. He told the disciples, that he had much to tell them. But they weren’t able to bear the truth.
I’ll leave you with a clue to the riddle. The beast you seek is the leopard. He is of the seven and becomes the eighth.
The beastly riddle that puzzled Daniel
Daniel 7:7 After this I saw in the night visions, and behold, a fourth beast, terrifying and dreadful and exceedingly strong. It had great iron teeth, it devoured and broke in pieces and stamped what was left with its feet. It was different from all the beasts that were before it, and it had ten horns.
8 I considered the horns, and behold, there came up among them another horn, a little one, before which three of the first horns were plucked up by the roots. And behold, in this horn were eyes like the eyes of a man, and a mouth speaking great things.
https://thewritelife.tech/2018/04/25/habakkuk-one-a-stunning-answer-from-god-to-a-prophets-plea-for-help/
Let me know what you think.