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EPILOGUE
As I conclude this work, I hope it has helped fill the void between responsible biblical scholarship and endtime theories. Too often, the only scrutiny given endtime scenarios is that of other prophecy writers seeking to promote their own endtime scheme. This book's purpose is to be a life line to sincere persons drowning in a sea of prophetic speculation.
Much debate is waged over biblical issues because the variety of information on a given subject over the course of the Bible's 66 books often cannot be harmonized into a single opinion. Hence, the hundreds of Christian denominations in America today. Too often, doctrines are determined by proof texting; a most destructive method of understanding Scripture. Interpreters who proof text, take a verse here, a verse there, and formulate an opinion without taking into consideration the variety of circumstances surrounding a particular passage, or book.
Futurists are guilty of proof texting. They view the Bible as a single infallible document and attempt to harmonize all texts speaking of 'the end,' the 'last days,' or a future time of glory into a series of events leading up to the second advent of Jesus Christ. But as this study of the popular pre-tribulation theory in Daniel has demonstrated, such a compilation of proof texting destroys the author's original intent. I might add that this is not a rejection, or denial of biblical prophecy, but a recognition that the book of Daniel does not prophesy future events.
The book of Daniel is unique. It results from a pivotal period in Jewish history. At the time of Daniel's composition, Greek culture was replacing traditional Jewish lifestyle under the encouragement of the Seleucid King Antiochus Epiphanes. A party of apostate Jews abandoned their faith in God, and welcomed the Greek's Hellenism. Meanwhile, Jews loyal to God were persecuted to the point of martyrdom. Judaism was facing extermination - a situation far removed from 20th century Christianity.
Daniel's author sought to encourage faith and perseverance among his people during that difficult era. His tool was a character named Daniel who endured similar tests of faith in Nebuchadnezzar's Babylonian court. Daniel faced difficult decisions, and was even threatened with death. But Daniel never flinched in the eyes of God. In the end, Daniel was told to, "go your way, and rest; you shall rise for your reward at the end of the days." (Daniel 12:13)
The author links the legendary Daniel with the crisis under Antiochus by employing symbolic visions spanning this 470-year era. The visions demonstrate that God's plan for mankind is on schedule. Everything that has happened, including the immediate persecution, is part of God's world plan, and it is about to reach completion.
Unfortunately, much of the author's important message has been suppressed by futuristic interpreters who view the book of Daniel as a blueprint of future events. Daniel's visions are manipulated in an attempt to equate the course of world history to biblical prophecy. Futuristic interpreters devise a schedule of future events from Daniel's visions, wherein other biblical texts are incorporated. The result is an elaborate theory which lends itself to speculation of world-ending events such as the rise of a revived Roman Empire, Antichrist, and tribulation period.
This study has demonstrated that the book of Daniel prophesies no such events. Futuristic interpretive methods, which deal with contradictory texts by creating gaps in history, or devising complex mathematical schemes, are an insult to sincere Christians.
Futuristic interpreters recognize the focus on Antiochus Epiphanes and his persecution of the Jews in Daniel 8;11:2-35. The literal historical events depicted in these visions has been compared to the controversial visions in Daniel 2; 7; 9; 11:36-12:13. The conclusion is an unmistakable correspondence between all of Daniel's visions. Each vision symbolically portrays history from the Babylonian/Persian era to the time of Antiochus in the second century B.C.
The 20th century application of Daniel lies not in the fixing of future events from its pages, but in recognizing that God is the master of creation, and as Daniel, Christians must resist paganism and remain faithful to Him at all costs.
Daniel's author shows that the mightiest of kings, such as Nebuchadnezzar, can be humbled by God's power. Others, like Cyrus the Persian, can be used to work God's will and overthrow the greatest of empires. Daniel's author believes God is in control of the world at all times. And even though Judaism is under fire from a heathen king, God is also the master of Antiochus and will bring him down at the appointed time. And then, those who have remained loyal to God will take part in the glorious kingdom to come.
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