Daniel desired to know what would be the end of
these things, but God said to him: "But thou, O Daniel, shut up the
words, and seal the book, even to the time of the end". (Daniel 12:4)
It is reasonable to expect that Jehovah would indicate something by
which "the time of the end" could be discerned when it arrived. He did
not say to Daniel to look for some words emblazoned across the sky that
the end had come, but told him to look for such evidences as could be
seen and understood by men familiar with the prophecies, and who in the
light of the prophecies should be watching for their fulfillment. He did
not expect Daniel to understand it in his day, because he said: "Go thy
way, Daniel: for the words are closed up and sealed till the time of the
end".--Daniel 12:9.
[402]When that time should arrive, what was to be expected? Jehovah
answers: "Many shall run to and fro, and knowledge shall be increased".
(Daniel 12:4) From and shortly after 1799, the date of the beginning of
"the time of the end", we should expect to find an increase of knowledge,
particularly with reference to the Bible. Prior to that time the people
had been kept in ignorance of the Bible. It was the practice of the
Papacy to forbid any one aside from the clergy class to have access to
the Bible; in fact, it was made a crime under the Roman law, subjecting
the offender to heavy penalties for having in possession a copy of the
Bible.
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