Yes — the book of Revelation is easier to understand now because present-day technology makes its prophecies believable and because the time of the end, when Daniel was told understanding would open, is near.
Les Feldick says prophecy would still be hard to believe without satellite technology, which now makes it believable that the whole world could see the two witnesses ascend from Jerusalem. Daniel himself recorded that he heard but did not understand, and was told the words were sealed until the time of the end. Since we are so close to that time, the book becomes plain.
Daniel 12:4 — God tells Daniel to seal the book until the time of the end, when knowledge shall be increased — this shows why understanding is greater now.
Daniel 12:8-9 — Daniel admits he did not understand, and the angel tells him the words are closed up and sealed till the time of the end.
Revelation 1:3 — A blessing is pronounced on the reader of Revelation, showing the book is meant to be read and understood.
Daniel the prophet wrote end-time prophecy and then admitted, "And I heard, but I understood not" (Daniel 12:8). The angel replied, "Go thy way, Daniel: for the words are closed up and sealed till the time of the end" (Daniel 12:9). Daniel 12:4 adds that at the time of the end, "many shall run to and fro, and knowledge shall be increased." Thus the Bible itself says full understanding of these prophetic words was not intended until the end times. Revelation 1:3 says, "Blessed is he that readeth, and they that hear the words of this prophecy, and keep those things which are written therein: for the time is at hand." Revelation 11:12 describes the two witnesses being called up to heaven: "And they heard a great voice from heaven saying unto them, Come up hither. And they ascended up to heaven in a cloud; and their enemies beheld them."
Les teaches that all Scripture is inspired by God, yet the Old Testament prophets did not necessarily understand everything they wrote. Daniel is the clearest example: Daniel himself wrote "And I heard, but I understood not." The understanding of these prophecies was not opened until the time of the end. Les also tells his classes "almost every night" that all of this prophecy would still be hard to believe if it weren't for present-day technology. He specifically uses satellite television to show how the whole world could see the two witnesses ascend from Jerusalem — something that was hard to buy before modern communications. Les encourages reading Revelation because it begins with "blessed is he that readeth" — meaning you and I — and every symbolic teaching in the book comes back to a literal meaning and literal truth. He also explains that Revelation should be taken on a chronological basis by watching the time factor, since the book does not unfold chapter after chapter.
In Daniel 12:8, Daniel says, "And I heard, but I understood not." In verse 9 he is told, "Go thy way, Daniel: for the words are closed up and sealed till the time of the end." Daniel 12:4 also says that at the time of the end "knowledge shall be increased." So Scripture indicates that earlier generations were not meant to fully grasp these prophecies; that understanding belongs to the end times.
Les Feldick says he tells his classes almost every night that all prophecy would still be hard to believe if it weren't for present-day technology. He points to Revelation's account of the two witnesses ascending from Jerusalem and says that until satellite technology it was tough to buy that the whole world would see them go up. Now, with live broadcasts from anywhere on earth, that prophecy becomes believable.
Revelation 1:3 says, "Blessed is he that readeth, and they that hear the words of this prophecy." Les says this means the blessing is for you and I. He also says every symbolic teaching in Revelation comes back to a literal meaning and literal truth, and all we have to do is search the Scriptures.
Les teaches that the easiest way to understand Revelation is to take it on a chronological basis rather than just chapter after chapter, because the book does not unfold chronologically. He explains that you have to skip back and forth and watch the time factor to see whether a passage deals with the first half of the Tribulation, the middle, or the last half.
Daniel Did Not Understand What He Wrote
Les shows that Daniel, even as an inspired writer, did not understand the end-time prophecy he recorded, which supports why understanding is opened at the end.
Revelation Is a Book to Be Read
Les explains that Revelation begins with a blessing on the reader and that its symbolism always points to a literal truth, so it is meant to be studied.
Satellite Technology Makes Prophecy Believable
Les says present-day technology makes prophecy believable, and specifically that satellite television explains how the whole world can see the two witnesses ascend from Jerusalem.
How Les Teaches Revelation Chronologically
Les's method for understanding Revelation is to track the time factor by reading it chronologically, since the book does not unfold in chapter order.
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But everybody just loves the Book of Revelation. You know I noticed that in my classes years ago already, I told my class people, I said, you know, I can't quite understand it that everybody just loves to have me teach Revelation or Genesis. Oh I mean we can just fill the rooms up on those two books.
Revelation Requires the Whole Bible
Les says coming to Revelation without the rest of Scripture is like a child in a calculus class without arithmetic; when you have followed the whole Bible, the things in Revelation fit together.
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And then you jump over to the book of Revelation, chapter 21, and what does John say? And I, John, saw a new heaven and a new earth. Oh, it all fits, see? But all right, this is just to prove, and this is all I try to get people to understand. Take God at his word, and it makes everything turn right side up. If we simply believe what he has said. Now we've got the timeline up there.
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Then anyway, Israel will go about burying the dead, and so on and so forth. Now let's come back to Revelation. I think I've picked up everything that I accidentally skipped, and like I tell people, that's what I like about being informal. I don't have to be so cut and dried, and be so perfect, because I'm trusting that my audience isn't looking for that.
Daniel 12:4: But thou, O Daniel, shut up the words, and seal the book, even to the time of the end: many shall run to and fro, and knowledge shall be increased.
This verse shows that the book was deliberately sealed until the time of the end, when knowledge would increase.
Daniel 12:8: And I heard, but I understood not: then said I, O my Lord, what shall be the end of these things?
Daniel's own testimony shows he did not understand the end-time prophecy he wrote.
Daniel 12:9: And he said, Go thy way, Daniel: for the words are closed up and sealed till the time of the end.
The direct answer to Daniel's confusion: understanding was reserved for the time of the end.
Revelation 1:3: Blessed is he that readeth, and they that hear the words of this prophecy, and keep those things which are written therein: for the time is at hand.
This blessing on readers shows Revelation is meant to be read and understood by believers.
Revelation 11:12: And they heard a great voice from heaven saying unto them, Come up hither. And they ascended up to heaven in a cloud; and their enemies beheld them.
The worldwide visibility of this event is what satellite technology now makes easy to imagine.
Daniel himself wrote that he heard but did not understand, and he was told the words were sealed until the time of the end. Les also says that before satellite technology it was hard to believe the whole world would see the two witnesses ascend from Jerusalem.
Daniel wrote inspired end-time prophecy but did not yet grasp what he was writing. God told him the words were closed up and sealed till the time of the end.
Les says Revelation is full of symbolism, but every symbolic teaching comes back to a literal meaning and literal truth. He encourages searching the Scriptures to find those truths.
Satellite television and modern communications make it easy to imagine how the whole world could instantly see events in Jerusalem, such as the two witnesses ascending to heaven.
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