A sign of the End Times? (translation, America, Revelation, prophet)

[A4B4]

I came across the following verse the other day, prophesizing about the End Times:
"But you, Daniel, close up and seal the words of the scroll until the time of the end. Many will go here and there to increase knowledge." (Daniel 12:4, NIV)

The second clause caught my attention, especially since other translations say "...and knowledge shall be increased" (see New King James Version, American Standard Version, etc.) The New Life Version reads: "...and knowledge will be more and more."

Then I thought about how more and more non-Canonical texts were being discovered, at various locations. Anyone else think these new texts could be the medium by which we'll increase our knowledge?

[BruceDLimber]

Greetings!

I seriously doubt we'll learn a lot from non-canonical sources, though there are always a few possibilities, of course. Whether or not they'll be feasible to investigate seriously is another matter.

I'm a Baha'i, and IOV the sealing of the books spoken of in Daniel did indeed happen, but the seals were broken in the mid-Nineteenth Century by our Founder, Baha'u'llah. He wrote approximately half of what are now the 200 volumes of Baha'i scripture, and one of these in particular, The Book of Certitude (aka Kitab-i-Iqan), itself was the unsealing! (It's our primary theological work, and expounds on the history of religions and the process of Divine Revelation, among other things....)

If you'd like to see it, you can find it at either:

• www.reference.bahai.org (this site is multilingual), or
• www.bahaistudy.org (this site also has videos and talking books).

So I wish you good hunting! :-)

My regards,

Bruce

[angellous_evangellous]

Originally Posted by A4B4

Then I thought about how more and more non-Canonical texts were being discovered, at various locations. Anyone else think these new texts could be the medium by which we'll increase our knowledge?

Absolutely!

Non-canonical texts increase our knowledge, but not because of your proof-text. The non-canonical texts help us understand the language, social context, philosophical context, and everything else imaginable to help us interpret biblical texts.

[FFH]

Originally Posted by AfourBfour

Anyone else think these new texts could be the medium by which we'll increase our knowledge?

No, the knowledge Daniel was talking about is all inclusive. Computers have given the average person access to knowledge without limits.

These new translations, of the King James, simply cause confusion and serve no purpose but to convolute the original translation.

The King James version is the closest to the original text, next to the Joseph Smith Inspired version of the Bible's original text, it being true and correct.

The most correct English translation of the Bible is the Joseph Smith Inspired version, next is the King James, then all other versions fall into place after that, and become more and more convoluted.

[FFH]

Originally Posted by angellous_evangellous

Absolutely!

Non-canonical texts increase our knowledge, but not because of your proof-text. The non-canonical texts help us understand the language, social context, philosophical context, and everything else imaginable to help us interpret biblical texts.

I respectfully disagree. There is a danger in re-writing God's holy inspired words. This only serves the person who has changed the words, when he or she sells his or her own version or interpretations of the Bible, for his or her own personal financial gain.

Versions of the Bible, other than the Joseph Smith Inspired, serve only one purpose, to cause confusion among the saints of God.

[Deut 13:1]

Originally Posted by FFH

The most correct English translation of the Bible is the Joseph Smith Inspired version, next is the King James, then all other versions fall into place after that, and become more and more convoluted.

And you base this on your extensive knowledge of Hebrew/Greek? No??? Then you base this upon your faith.

[Deut 13:1]

Originally Posted by FFH

Versions of the Bible, other than the Joseph Smith Inspired, serve only one purpose, to cause confusion among the saints of God.

What about the MT? Is that worse then Joseph Smith's 'inspired' version?

[FFH]

Originally Posted by Deut 13:1

What about the MT? Is that worse then Joseph Smith's 'inspired' version?

The King James Old Testament was translated from the Masorah or Masoretic text, which is an altered text, courtesy of the Masoretes, and we can assume it should match up to the King James, but when compared side by side, it's apparent that further alterations have taken place, since the King James was translated.

[Super Universe]

Originally Posted by FFH

I respectfully disagree. There is a danger in rewriting God's holy inspired words. This only serves the person who has changed the words, when he or she sells his or her own version or interpretations of the Bible, for his or her own personal financial gain.

Versions of the Bible, other than the Joseph Smith Inspired, serve only one purpose, to cause confusion among the saints of God.

Danger in re-writing God's worlds? But weren't they rewritten by Joseph Smith? Is everything in the Book of Mormon the same as the King James Version?

If you can believe that revelation has come to humans at least three times, the Old Testament, New Testament, the Book of Mormon, then why not another?