The Scattering Before the End

At the end of the prophetic revelation given to Daniel, he sees two angels on the banks of the river looking toward the man clothed in linen--the person speaking to him--standing above the waters of the river. The one addressed by them is obviously far superior to them and is surely the Son of God (as more fully described at the beginning of the revelation in Chapter 10). The two angels want to know how long it will be until the things revealed to Daniel come to pass. The answer from the Lord is indefinite, but he emphasises that something must be accomplished just before the end: the breaking in pieces of the power of the people of God--a most striking and unexpected response. The lesson is that the glorious deliverance of the church will be preceded by the worst of circumstances. God purposes that for his greater glory his church must be reduced to greatest extremity before his salvation appears. It is the way of God also to bring his children into times of great distress before he puts forth his hand to deliver them.