Knowledge shall be Increased

The modern age, especially our present time (the information era), is unique with the ability of people to travel all over the planet, within 24 hours, at a moment's notice. It is also unique with the accumulation and availability of massive quantities of information (and misinformation). Check out this prophecy from Daniel 12:4 regarding the "time of the end" (written about 2500 years ago):

"Many shall run to and fro, and knowledge shall be increased." (KJV)

That is such a simple and accurate description of our world today!

The first part of this verse is also very enlightening in its apparent indication that much of Daniel's prophecies won't be understood until the "time of the end."

High-Church and many traditional mainline denominations often criticize the Premillennial view of eschatology, stating that it is relatively new in the history of theology. I disagree on point, and believe that it was the actual view of the first-century Church, but that is hard to prove based upon the scarcity of extra-Biblical theological writings from that time. But it is true that the majority of Christendom, including Roman Catholicism, Eastern Orthodoxy, Anglicanism, Lutheranism, and many Reformed denominations, hold a differing view. It is clear that those, primarily evangelicals, who hold the Premillennial view are in the minority. But this does not surprise me at all. As Daniel 12:4 seems to indicate, the understanding of eschatological prophecy (at least Daniel's writings, which are so critical to establishing an overall understanding) were to be "shut up" and "sealed" until "the time of the end."

If the early Church, including that of the first-century, held to what is now known as the Premillennial view, there are many reasons why theological traditions may have drifted away over the centuries. I won't get into those reasons here, but perhaps in a future blog entry.