Some people can’t wait to find out how a story will end, so they read the end of a book first. Experts say this not always a bad idea. By knowing how a story ends, the reader focuses on the details of the events and gets more from the story. Maybe that’s why God revealed certain prophetic facts to Daniel—but not everything. We read in Daniel chapter 12 that after a heavenly visitor gave him certain facts, Daniel asked, “How will all this end, my lord?” The messenger replied, “Go now, Daniel, for what I have said is kept secret and sealed until the time of the end. Many will be purified, cleansed, and refined by these trials. But the wicked will continue in their wickedness, and none of them will understand. Only those who are wise will know what it means.” Like many of us, Daniel tried to get the details of the future. Of course, today we know a lot more about the future since Jesus came and told us more of what to expect. We long to know the exact time of His return. We don’t know that, but we know God expects us to always love Him intensely, to treat others with love, justice, and respect as we wait for His return.
Dr. Melvin E. Banks, Sr.
Dr. Melvin E. Banks, Sr. is the founder and chairman of UMI (Urban Ministries, Inc.). Under his direction, UMI has grown to be a leading publisher of Christian education resources for churches in the African American community. Read More
