Daniel described the End Time as “troublous times”; Paul described them as “perilous times.” Are such times divinely appointed for us at this time in history? As we come to the end of another year in God’s good providence, perhaps we need to ponder the “concept” of time for our present age and the future, in the light of the Scriptures. We must consider if these troublous and perilous times are to be a part of God’s appointment for our history?
Eternity versus Time
First, several concepts must be presented in order to understand where we are in history. In our last article we observed that God is eternal and dwells in the dimension of eternity. He has no beginning and He has no end. Therefore, there is no past or future with God. He dwells in the infinite present tense of His continual existence. He is not a part of the concept of time; thus, all of His purposes and plans are found in eternity.
We also observed that when God created the universe (including the angels), He simultaneously created the dimension of time, which automatically initiated the concept of beginnings, a past, a present, and a future. Nevertheless, the concept of universe time and even angelic time is different from our time on earth. It is interesting to note that the evolutionists declare millions and billions of years for the formation of the stars and the universe; however, these evolutionists are measuring only from earth’s perspective, a time perspective very limited and very different from other time dimensions of the universe.
Our time is based on our solar system, which is very small compared to other heavenly systems; and time to us, both circular and linear, is based on the rotation of our planet and its revolution around the sun. In contrast, an angelic-time concept is not based on our solar system.
Although God inhabits eternity, He works in time and through time. The universe was created by God before this physical earth, and we do not know the concept of time God worked through to create the universe. But, we are clearly told in Scripture that God worked in six earthly days to bring about the creation of this earth, rather than choosing to create it in a moment of time.
Genesis 1:14 states, “And God said, Let there be lights in the firmament of the heaven to divide the day from the night; and let them be for signs, and for seasons, and for days, and years.” It is declared from this verse that God used these firmament lights for the concept of time. Times were appointed, and at the end of the week of creation, there was the appointment of the Sabbath, the seventh day. Time commenced with linear history and chronology and with circular seconds, minutes, and hours (as we divide daily time).
The Appointment of Time
Just how important is time in God’s thinking as it concerns planet Earth and mankind? Leviticus 23 speaks of divinely appointed feasts that were to be held on selected days of the year. The Feast of Passover was to be on 14th day of the first month (our April), the Feast of Unleavened Bread on the 15th, and the Feast of First Fruits on the 16th. The Feast of Pentecost was fifty days from the Feast of First Fruits. Then in the tenth month (our October) the Feast of Trumpets fell on the 1st, the Feast Day of Atonement on the 10th, and the Feast of Tabernacles on the 15th.
Though God resides in eternity, He is deeply concerned with time—His use of time is not an accident. When He works in His creation, He is infinitely meticulous in that work within the dimension of time. Let us note just a few of the announced times of God’s works, callings, and appointments. The Bible is careful to record that Abraham was 75 years old when he entered into the land of Canaan; he was 86 when Ishmael was born and 100 years old when Isaac was born. Joseph was 17 years old when he was sold by his brothers to the Midianites going down into Egypt, and 30 years old when he was taken from prison and made prime minister of Egypt. The story unfolds with 7 years of plenty and 7 years of famine. Then Jacob sends his sons down into Egypt 2 years into the famine. Later we read in Exodus 12 of the exodus taking place 430 years to the day from the time that Jacob went down into Egypt. Centuries later, Jeremiah 29 speaks of the captivity of Judah lasting 70 years. Within the Book of Daniel we read at the end of the 70 years, another 70 “weeks” of years with a total of 490 years being appointed against the Jews and Jerusalem. Then those weeks of years are broken down to 7 weeks of years (49 years), 62 weeks of years (434 years), and one remaining week (7 years).
In Hebrews 1:2 we are told that God made the “worlds” (Gr. “ages”). These ages or segments of time for the history of the world have already been appointed by Him. Daniel 8:19 states that God has appointed the end of time. Acts 17:26 gives the words of Paul: “And hath made of one blood all nations of men for to dwell on all the face of the earth, and hath determined the times before appointed, and the bounds of their habitation.” In Acts 17:31 Paul declares, “Because he hath appointed a day, in the which he will judge the world in righteousness by that man whom he hath ordained.” Christ spoke in the Olivet Discourse of the treading down of Jerusalem by the Gentiles “until the times of the Gentiles be fulfilled.” Such “times” began with Nebuchadnezzar and will continue through Antichrist.
The Bible also speaks of time appointed by God for individuals. The classic chapter on time is Ecclesiastes 3; it presents beginnings and continuances, with the providential principle, “To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven” (verse 1). Following this statement, sixteen couplets of time are listed covering life and its appointments. Solomon reveals the truth in Ecclesiastes 8:6, “To every purpose there is time and judgment”; he will also reveal in 8:5b that “a wise man’s heart discerneth both time and judgment.” Job declares in chapter 14 verse 14, “All the days of my appointed time will I wait.” In Hebrews 9:27 we are told that “it is appointed unto man once to die”; the literal Greek rendering is that there is a specific day laid up for one’s death. Also note Genesis 47:29: “The time drew nigh that Israel must die.”
Reasons for Time
Five main reasons for time may be observed. (1) God works in and through His creation in the dimension of time. (2) Time is given as probation of an individual, or a church, or a community, or a nation, or the world. (3) God deals in seasons with mankind, either for man to get right with God or to enter into a deeper realm of spiritual living. Genesis 6:3 states, “My spirit shall not always strive with man.” To the Christian—Today if you hear His voice, harden not your heart. For individuals to get right with God, there is a time element (a season) that God has appointed. Mercy is not so much the doing away of judgment; mercy is the postponement or the delay of judgment. Often in this mercy period a soul gets right with God. (4) Time is needed for the building of character, for the entering into the deeper things of God, and for the perfection of the Atonement in the Christian life. (And also, the building of an ungodly life over the process of time demands a segment of time.) (5) Time brings out what is in us—whether in a person, church, school, nation, or world. How much time is needed or taken is up to the individual heart, local church, family, nation, or world.
God gave Cain an opportunity of time. Genesis 4:7 declares, “If thou doest well, shalt thou not be accepted? And if thou doest not well, sin lieth at the door. And unto thee shall be his desire, and thou shalt rule over him.” Although a season of opportunity was given to Cain, Cain eventually killed Abel. He passed the day of opportunity to right his wrong heart. Another season of time is presented in Genesis 6, where God declared to Noah that only 120 years would be given in His striving with man before the judgment of all flesh would come. Centuries later, our Beloved Lord grieved over the city Jerusalem when He lamented, “O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, . . . how often would I have gathered thy children together, as a hen doth gather her brood under her wings, and ye would not! Behold, your house is left unto you desolate” (Luke 13:34, 35). At the Triumphal Entry the Lord, beholding the city and weeping over it, said, “If thou hadst known, even thou, at least in this thy day, the things which belong unto thy peace! But now they are hid from thine eyes. . . . because thou knewest not the time of thy visitation” (Luke 19:42, 44b).
Seasons of God’s Dealings
God has appointed seasons of dealing with humanity. We come into the world as a baby and enter a season of life for childhood, then for a teenager, then as a young adult, into a prime adult season, and finally into the autumn season. How will we respond to God in each of these seasons?
In these days of modern evangelism, we must be aware that an individual cannot come to Christ anytime he or she chooses. A person must come to Christ in God’s season: “No man can come to me, except the Father which hath sent me draw him” (John 6:44). There must be godly sorrow that works repentance unto salvation (2 Cor. 7:10). It must be, “To day if ye will hear his voice, Harden not your hearts” (Heb. 3:7, 8a). “Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, when the times of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord” (Acts 3:19). We also read in Jeremiah 46:17, “They did cry there, Pharaoh king of Egypt is but a noise; he hath passed the time appointed.” Felix believed he could dictate the appropriate time to hear God’s Word through Paul. Although he requested a more convenient season, we never read that Felix “trembled” again after Paul’s initial preaching (Acts 24:25, 26).
Yes, God has seasons of His workings for an individual, and individuals must not fall behind the time of grace. This is also true of God’s dealings with a local church; for if they do not respond when the truth is brought to them, God may not send that spiritual opportunity again. The callings of God for a people to repent and return to Him are only for a season. This has been true of the Fundamentalist movement. It may have sinned beyond the time of God’s dealings to now witness God giving it over to the Neo-Christianity. It is possible to pass the day of grace.
History: Planned by God
We repeat the truth that time and history are a love gift from the Father to the Son. Both time and history have already been planned out and are unfolding according to the appointment of a Sovereign God. The thousands of prophecies given in Scripture prove that God knows both the future and that He is the controlling factor of history. Note Daniel 2:21, 22:
And He changeth the times and the seasons: he removeth kings, and setteth up kings: he giveth wisdom unto the wise, and knowledge to them that know understanding. He revealeth the deep and secret things: he knoweth what is in the darkness, and the light dwelleth with him.
After having received from God the meaning of Nebuchadnezzar’s dream and being brought before him for the interpretation, Daniel made it known to him:
The secret which the king hath demanded cannot the wise men, the astrologers, the magicians, the soothsayers, shew unto the king; But there is a God in heaven that revealeth secrets, and maketh known to the king Nebuchadnezzar what shall be in the latter days. Thy dream, and the visions of thy head upon thy bed, are these: As for thee, O king, thy thoughts came into thy mind upon thy bed, what should come to pass hereafter: and he that revealeth secrets maketh known to thee what shall come to pass (2:27–29).
Perhaps Nebuchadnezzar was anxious to learn from the prophetic information conveyed by the dream in order to change prophecy, that a new time or season be established. However, Daniel made it clear that the God of the Jews was the One Who arranged the times and the seasons. The word times is the broader term for the years, and the word seasons refers to the suitable time to do a thing. Note Daniel 7:25:
And he shall speak great words against the most High, and shall wear out the saints of the most High, and think to change times, and laws: and they shall be given into his hand until a time and times and the dividing of time.
This passage reveals that the Antichrist will come speaking great words against the God of heaven. Likewise, his attitude toward God’s saints will be with equal hatred. Not only will the Antichrist make war with the saints, but also he will harass them (7:21). Another declaration is noted that this man will “think” that he can change times and laws—the “laws” being the basic laws such as government, property, marriage, morals, etc. But such changes will come down upon him with great destruction. We are reminded of how during the French Revolution of the 1700s the leaders tried to change the week from seven days to ten with the hope of getting more work out of the people; they soon discovered it profoundly affected both working beasts and men. The Antichrist will even “think” to change the calendar and history, but he will not do it. Nevertheless, we are told some existing concepts will be given into his hands for 3½ years.
Daniel 2 reveals that God establishes the rise and fall of empires; Isaiah 45 speaks of His divine appointment of certain men used to bring about the downfall of previous empires (such as Cyrus who would overthrow Babylon). These times will be called by Jesus Christ “the times of the Gentiles” (covering from the days of Nebuchadnezzar to the Antichrist). Paul declared in Acts 17:26, “And hath made of one blood all nations of men for to dwell on all the face of the earth, and hath determined the times before appointed, and the bounds of his habitation.”
Yes, all the times and seasons have been meticulously appointed by God. God has also appointed all of the epochs that unfold history. Whatever we may call them—the good times, the bad times, the evil times, the troublous times, or the perilous times—they all are a part of the flow of God’s sovereignty. God uses men; God uses men in spite of men. He does not make them do evil, but He works through their evil. Even the wrath of men will praise God (Ps. 76:10). Only God could work history out amidst all the workings of evil men.
The Last Days and the End Time
The Bible gives clear evidence that God has appointed a time in history when the Last Days will begin. This time period began with the coming of God’s Son (Acts 2:16,17; Heb. 1:2). The last days would be appointed for the Church, that is, the Church mainly of the Gentile world. The last two thousand years have been the Church Ages, for as Paul designated in Romans 11:25, “That blindness in part is happened to Israel, until the fulness of the Gentiles be come in.” This fullness of the Gentiles will come to an end at the Rapture, when the Church concept will cease. Another time of God’s dispensational economy will then begin—the Great Tribulation Period.
God has appointed the ages. And though man’s world system seems to presently control and dominate the concept of time, God is working through it all in accordance with His times and seasons. Though we find ourselves in the Last Days, yet there is a concluding time prophesied. Daniel spoke of the End Time (Dan. 8:17b, 19b). Jesus Himself gave us greater details in the two segments of the End Time and the end of the age. There is the beginning of the End Time (Matt. 24:4–8) and then the end of the End Time (24:9–14). We truly believe we are in this second segment.
The Church on earth has gone through many apostasies. When God brought the Reformation into history, it profoundly affected the age time for Christianity. The Evangelical Revival brought the Church into its deepest insights of redemption, drawing the heart more to the inward workings of grace rather than simply the outward. This became a movement in a time period to prepare for the Second Coming of Christ.
But, oh, how sad, after the greatest spiritual move of God within the Church on earth, the present Church age has brought the final plunge of the Church into the global apostasy, becoming the prelude to the coming of Antichrist. This is the worst, the most deceptive falling away of the Church in all of its history. It is not so much the apostasy of Romanism (the oldest Christian apostasy); it is the apostasy of the great move of God in the Reformation and the Evangelical revivalist movements. We have entered into the public, universal falling away of the institutional church, which continues to declare the terms Gospel, Jesus Christ, and Christianity. Yet it is another Gospel, another Jesus, and another Christianity, because the institutional church has denounced the literality of the Bible and the historical Jesus. Christianity is the only religion that has publicly renounced the historicity of its sacred writing, the Bible, and its true Christ, and has created a modern Jesus and a modern concept of being a “Christian.” Yes, we have witnessed the public death of Christianity. We have come to the end of the Church as a witness on earth; it has become the voice of apostasy rather than “the pillar and ground of truth.”
Troublous Times/Perilous Times
God’s Word gives witness that just before the Great Tribulation Period, there will be tribulation, troubles, like never before. The reason for these troubles is not only to set the stage in God’s providence for the coming of Antichrist, but also for the final preparation of a people to end the Church age—the precious fruit at the end of the Church. The concept of the Church is only for the Last Days; there will come an end for its need.
Be patient therefore, brethren, unto the coming of the Lord. Behold, the husbandman waiteth for the precious fruit of the earth, and hath long patience for it, until he receive the early and latter rain. Be ye also patient; stablish your hearts: for the coming of the Lord draweth nigh (James 5:7, 8).
The “former rain” was for the sowing of the seed, which came on the Day of Pentecost and continued for many years through the Book of Acts. But we are in the “latter rain,” the preparation of the harvest, which seems to have commenced around 1850. But just before the coming of the Lord (as revealed in Matthew 24 and many other passages of Scripture), trouble will be a part of the End Time. Only troubles can bring about the fruit. The eve of the Great Tribulation Period will also have tribulation; it will be difficult for the remnant Christian. There will be wars and rumors of wars. It will necessitate individuals such as the present political leaders to bring about the perilous times, the troublous times, nations with perplexities, yea, forerunners of the Antichrist, forerunners of the False Prophet, to place the world in the posture of the finality of the Day of Man.
Conclusion
We are convinced that historically and prophetically the entirety of history is to be found in the Bible, yet God has placed enough mystery in the prophecies that only He knows the complete detail. There will be a coming battle between Michael and the Dragon Satan (Rev. 12:7–12), which Satan will lose and be cast to the ground; he will know that his time is short when this happens (according to his own readings of the Bible). As Nebuchadnezzar perhaps desired to alter history by wanting to know prophecy, Satan will try to do this. Nevertheless, God is sovereign! Only God knows the fullness of time and the intricacies of that time; and no matter what man or the Devil will do, God is in absolute control.
Troublous times are now found in every compartment of mankind. We are on the eve of a world war that will eclipse all previous world wars of the twentieth century. The powers of Russia, as well as China, are on the rise; the earthly insanity of Iran and North Korea is flaunting itself before the West. Will the next twelve months witness the end of America as we have known it; what will be its end? We pray that in God’s wrath He will remember mercy on the Remnant.
There is a final action that the Lamb of God will secure for the resolve of these increasing troublous times. Revelation 5:7 speaks of the Lamb of God taking a book of seven seals from the hand of the Father. What is this book? We read initially that it will take a “worthy” one to even look upon it: “And no man in heaven, nor in earth, neither under the earth, was able to open the book, neither to look thereon” (verse 3); and John the Beloved “wept much, because no man was found worthy to open and to read the book, neither to look thereon” (verse 4). So, this book or scroll must be of great value for man and the provisions of God’s promises for man. Some have speculated that this book is the Scriptures; but thank God, the Bible is not sealed to us! Others have thought of it to be the scroll of history, or the sealed scroll of God’s eternal purpose. My earthly father, Dr. O. Talmadge Spence, writes the following in his commentary The Book of Revelation:
Since previous chapters have dealt with the church, this cannot be the church. “Church” will only come back into the book of Revelation in the conclusion (22:16), and only address it as in the beginning. Since creation was dealt with in chapter 4, this book is not of creation. This book represents “the title deed” to an estate that man, in the Garden of Eden, lost in his fall. A “possession” is to be redeemed (Ephesians 1:14). Note also Romans for the need of this. There is a final redemption promised in the New Testament, yet in the future. This is it; this “book,” here in this context, is the title deed to that redemption. This consummates the “Day of the Lord” and Christian destiny! . . . These seals are viewed as binding a scroll at seven different places, which in the unfolding will bring the reader to each sealed point. All seven will be broken before the end. The Great Tribulation Period begins with Seal One (page 27).
This acknowledgment of the “book” is needed here to present the title-deed of total restoration of all that was lost in the fall. Also, this is the grand provision of greater grace than was received before the fall. Beyond the arrival of the saints here, there still remains the future glory yet to be made manifest and revealed in the Book of Revelation by John (page 30).
The breaking of the seals reveals judgments from God needed before the Redeemer is to take possession of the earth to restore the final inheritance possession. The time of these things includes the entire duration of the Judgment Period (page 31).
Remember that Christ through the Tribulation Period is taking that book sealed with seven seals and bringing about the resolve of the Day of Man. When this is resolved, He will come and set up His kingdom, and the kingdoms of this world will become the kingdoms of our Lord and of His Christ. The stone out of the mountain (Daniel 2) will come and smite the image at the feet, at the finality of man’s kingdom, scattering it all to the winds. Then that Stone will fill the whole earth, and we will witness the rule and reign of Christ on earth. The last Adam will restore what the first man Adam lost. Yes, the Son of Man will redeem what Adam lost in the Fall.
This, dear reader, is our hope, our Blessed Hope. Yea, this is a picture of the love gift of the Father to the Son and of how it all will be given to Him. David saw this Messianic King resolving time and history:
Yet have I set my king upon my holy hill of Zion. I will declare the decree: the Lord hath said unto me, Thou art my Son; this day have I begotten thee. Ask of me, and I shall give thee the heathen for thine inheritance, and the uttermost parts of the earth for thy possession. Thou shalt break them with a rod of iron; thou shalt dash them in pieces like a potter’s vessel. Be wise now therefore, O ye kings: be instructed, ye judges of the earth. Serve the Lord with fear, and rejoice with trembling. Kiss the Son, lest he be angry, and ye perish from the way, when his wrath is kindled but a little. Blessed are all they that put their trust in him (Ps. 2:6–12).
By God’s sovereign decree, this resolving of time and history will come to pass!
Postscript
What will be the concept of time after this resolution? Both in the Hebrew and Greek languages, the Old and New Testament speak of eternity in a time concept—it is “ages upon ages,” a time unending, or time that is never spent. We must remember that Jesus Christ, Who resided in eternity (the habitation of God) before He came to earth, then entered into time as part of His permanent existence.
From the time He entered into that body within the womb of the Virgin Mary, He has existed in two dimensions. It is part of His existence forever. When we read of events in heaven (such as Revelation chapters 4, 5, or 19), a sequence is found that demands a concept of time. But let us not get caught up in only one concept of time. Everything that has a beginning lives in a dimension of time. There is angelic time, which is different from human time. Human time now is based on the rotation of the earth as well as its revolution around the sun. There is no sun or rotation concept in heaven, and there will be no sun for the new earth. However, this does not mean there is no time; heavenly time simply will not be a concept of time as we know now.
The unfolding “of the ages upon ages” will bring the exploration of the universe, worship to God, singing, and proclamation of eternal truth to all of the creation of God. Time will be part of this eternal experience, but again, what will be the concept of time then? It could not be said then that time is being “wasted” or that we are “spending too much time” on something, for time will never be spent up. The anonymously-added verse to John Newton’s autobiographical hymn sums it up clearly:
When we’ve been there ten thousand years,
Bright shining as the sun,
We’ve no less days to sing God’s praise
Than when we first begun.