Dan 7 shows us the heavenly courtroom and shows that it takes place at a time after the rise of the 11th horn of Dan 7, after the persecution of the saints and before the 2nd coming.
Dan 8 tells us that the Dan 7 courtroom event started in 1844.
Bob, In this post I'm going to expand on your insights because thus far in this thread I believe you are closer to understanding the timing of Rev. 4&5. than others. First let me say, it is my understanding that this prophecy begins in Rev.4:1 and continues in chronological order thr., 6:17. This court room scene/event, took place at a specific point in time, in heaven, in the past, which prophecy clearly reveals, when you understand the importance of chronology, which is a new progressive revelation which earlier expositors were unaware.
In Rev. 4 & 5 no mention of timing is given. However, that is not a problem when we understand that no one single prophecy is a stand alone. Meaning it is just one peace of the puzzle. We need all the pieces to see the completed picture the puzzle presents. With this thought in mind, Bob and I, and many other students of prophecy recognize, that the court room scene in (Dan.7:9,10) is the same scene/event that was given to John centuries latter in (Rev. 4&5). However, in Dan. 7, the timing is revealed.
This is how the hermeneutic of chronology pinpoints the time:
Dan. 7:8, Daniel sees another horn rising amongst ten horns. (students of prophecy have named it the, Little horn power, the 11 horn, whatever, but all the specification add up to it being the Papacy). The next chronological event is the court room scene/event. So the chronological order thus far in the prophecy is this: Rise of the lion, (Babylon), followed by the bear(Medo-Persia) followed by the Leopard(Greece) followed by the Monster beast, 4th,(Rome) followed by the ten horns, (tribal nations which broke up Rome) followed by the Little Horn/Papacy. followed by the "court room event".
Now we go to vss. 25,26, here an angle answers some of Daniel's previous question regarding the 4th beast, and the horns that came up. Vs.25 speaking of the Papacy says: "... and they [the saints] shall be given into his [papacy's] hand until a time and times and the dividing of time. [1260 years] Insertions mine. Do not overlook the word "UNTIL". It is a preposition, meaning, up to (the point in time of the event mentioned) The event of which "until" is attached is the 1260 years of persecutions the saints endured under the papacy's supreme rule, 538-1798.
Vs. 26, But the judgment [decision of the heavenly court] shall sit,[carried out] and they[God's servants on earth] shall take away his [papacy's] dominion...
Naturally, human beings cannot see what is taking place in Heaven, so God has linked events in Heaven with events on Earth. The “Heaven-Earth Link-age Law.” When prophetic events transpire on Earth, “linked events” occur in Heaven. For example, when the 1,260 years allotted to the papacy comes to an end, the courtroom scene described in verses 9 and 10 will occur in Heaven. We know this because the Father has issue a restraining order against the papacy. As a result, the power of the Roman Catholic Church was abruptly end. The church losted control over the nations of Europe. The pope was captured and exiled to France in February 1798. This event on Earth is linked to the restraining order the Father issued in Heaven.
Therefore, by combining more details from prophecy coverings the same event, by understanding the importance of chronology, and by confirming this chronology with recorded historical records we are able to pinpoint the timing of Rev. 4&5 as 1798.
So, Bob, I will have to disagree with you in that the court room event of Dan. 7, started in 1844. Here is why:
According to the chronology of prophecy 4:1-6:17, After Jesus receives the book sealed with seven seals, chapter 6, begins the sequence of Christ opening the seals. Contrary to what early expositors thought (expositors centuries before William Miller) although he excepted their interpretation of the seals. They believed the seals covered the history of the christian church. Adventist still promote this teaching.
However, I believe progressive revelation has revealed even more amazing revelations about Jesus. And isn't that what the book of Revelation is intended to do? Consider the following insights:
"The seven seals represent a seven step process that will, at the end of the 1,000 years, reveal everything about the love and full identity of Jesus Christ. The Father has ordained that everyone in the universe should know that Jesus Christ is Almighty God, just like Himself. Jesus is made of the same eternal substance as the Father and He has the same powers and prerogatives as the Father. Jesus is a separate, distinct, co-eternal member of the Godhead. Yet, Jesus was willing to lay aside His powers and prerogatives and surrender Himself to the will of the Father in order to save mankind. The humility of Jesus is also seen in the Father.
After Jesus received the book sealed with seven seals, the Father took “a back seat.” The Father gave Jesus sovereign authority and promoted Him to the position of High Priest, to cleanse the heavenly sanctuary of sin, so that the drama of sin and the exoneration of God’s government of love could be brought to a successful conclusion. Jesus still continues to carry this enormous responsibility today.
The seven seals can be compared to seven political campaigns in the sense that the purpose of a political campaign is the exposure of a candidate with his or her ideas on “the way government should run.” The purpose of the seven seals is a seven- step exposure of Jesus as the savior of sinners, Almighty God, Prince of Peace, King of kings, and Lord of lords.
The seven seals reveal Jesus:
Seal 1:
The salvation of Jesus (After the papacy was wounded in 1798, the Holy Spirit put a compelling desire within Protestants to broadcast salvation through faith in Christ around the world.)
Seal 2:
The teachings of Jesus (In the early 1800's the Holy Spirit began promoting Protestants to establish Bible societies in Europe and the United states)
Seal 3:
The judgment of Jesus (pre-advent judgement, this seal was broken in 1884. This seal perfectly aligns with the scene in Dan. 7:9,10 where the court was seated and the books were opened. It aligns with the cleansing of heavens temple mentioned in Dan. 8:14. The Holy Spirit led people into the timely understanding of truth through William Miller and early Adventist.
Seal 4:
The sovereign authority of Jesus (Father wants everyone to know that like Himself, Jesus is a sovereign God. To demonstrate the sovereign authority of Jesus to a religiously diverse world, God must use divine action. For 2,000 years, Christians have been trying to tell the world who Jesus is, and today, 75% of the world has no knowledge or interest in Jesus. Jesus will implement the wrath of God [seven trumpet judgements, salvation is still opened, followed by the seven last plagues, no mercy, no salvation) and God’s actions will force everyone to consider who Jesus really is. During the Great Tribulation, many people will lament, “Why is God punishing everyone? He already knows who will be saved and who will be lost! Why doesn’t He save the righteous and destroy the wicked and be done with this?” Of course, the Father foreknew who would be saved and who would not before the world was created, but He will not allow anyone to see what He foreknew until the seventh seal is broken at the end of the 1,000 years. Let me be clear. Jesus does not know who will be saved and who will not! This is why Jesus began judging the dead in 1844
and He will judge the living in real time. Jesus can only pass judgment on what is seen and heard. This is why the Books of Record are necessary. Jesus judges the dead according to their deeds. Jesus will judge the living according to their deeds, but He will only do so after we have been tested, during the seven trumpet judgements of Rev.8, which are opened at the forth seal, and one forth of earths population will be killed.
Seal 5:
The faith of Jesus
Seal 6: The glory of Jesus
Seal 7: The deity of Jesus
When Jesus is revealed for all that He is at the end of the 1,000 years, the universe will see that the three members of the Godhead are inseparably united. They are submissive to each other. They are one in purpose, plan, and action and they love their children with as much love as they love one another. They are mirrors of each other. When Jesus came to Earth at His First Advent, most of the world was unaware of His arrival. When Jesus comes to Earth the second time, the result will be much different. Every eye will see Him. The whole world will know who He is. The saints will rejoice and the wicked will perish.
I know this is different than what adventist teach today still, but does it not harmonize more with prophecy and magnify more fully the sovereignty and Love of God?
Blessings
