Daniel 12:4 (ESV) 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.

Yesterday I quoted Jesus when He was asked for signs of the end times. The devotional was not about the end times, it was about reminders. During your reading of those signs, did thoughts of other prophecies come to mind? I had said that the Holy Spirit brings scriptures into remembrance and this is how God speaks to us.

So does the devil.

I was once so stuck in that endless cycle of trying to piece all the end time prophecies together that I did little else. Does that sound like God? God brings scriptures with purpose to glorify Himself and to further Kingdom life. Getting stuck in a loop of information that led nowhere is one of Satan’s schemes.

The words of Daniel 12:4 are definitely prophetic and are meant to comfort us. All prophecy for Christians should be a comforting experience. It is a message from God the Father to us. It is not meant to create panic, stress, or zealous interference. That is Satan’s game.

Running to and fro could mean a variety of things. We will often link this to other prophetic messages and draw conclusions that satisfy our reasoning abilities. Is that God speaking or just us looking to be that increase in knowledge? Is the increase of knowledge secular or spiritual? We would like to say both because it pleases our sensibilities.

Luke 12:35,37 (ESV)

You Must Be Ready

Stay dressed for action and keep your lamps burning, Blessed are those servants whom the master finds awake when he comes. Truly, I say to you, he will dress himself for service and have them recline at table, and he will come and serve them.

Doesn’t that sound more like the Lord than what the devil had to offer?

Ephesians 6:11 (ESV) Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil.

We need reminders from time to time as to who the real enemy is and his schemes. Our focus of that fact is often hidden from us by the observing of others. This is nothing new. Today might present itself with a new set of behaviors that make life more difficult for everyone. It is not anything new.

Matthew 24:3-8 (ESV)

Signs of the End of the Age

As he sat on the Mount of Olives, the disciples came to him privately, saying, “Tell us, when will these things be, and what will be the sign of your coming and of the end of the age?” And Jesus answered them, “See that no one leads you astray. For many will come in my name, saying, ‘I am the Christ,’ and they will lead many astray. And you will hear of wars and rumors of wars. See that you are not alarmed, for this must take place, but the end is not yet. For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom, and there will be famines and earthquakes in various places. All these are but the beginning of the birth pains.

Look at verse 8. This is just the beginning. I know that believers have been looking forward to the return of the King for nearly 2000 years. That is nothing new and neither are the distractions. They take on different forms, some more dangerous than other, but have existed from His resurrection until now. This is nothing new.

2 Corinthians 2:11 (ESV) so that we would not be outwitted by Satan; for we are not ignorant of his designs.

We need to be reminded from time to time of who the enemy truly is and how to defeat his schemes.