"A time, and times, and the dividing of time" is the same prophetic period of 1,260 years, the reign of the papacy. This was to be followed by a period of "dispersion," and such Protestantism has been, for the people of God have been scattered in hundreds of bodies. But this dispersion was to be "_ended_" some time, and then the people of God would "know all these things." "And I heard, but I understood not: and said I, O Lord, _what will be the end_ of these things? And he said, Go, Daniel: for the words are closed and sealed up _to the time of the end_" (verse 9). At the "time of the end" the dispersal of God's saints was to cease. This predicts the evening-time reformation, and the nature of its work is shown in the following verse: "Many must be CHOSEN OUT, _and thoroughly whitened, and tried with fire, and sanctified_" (verse 10). The same spiritual movement is also predicted by Ezekiel. In chapter 34 he describes the people of God as sheep (see verse 31). These sheep are represented as abused, oppressed, and scattered by false shepherds. Their gathering in this Last Reformation is predicted in verses 11 and 12: "For thus saith the Lord God; Behold I, even I, will both search my sheep, and seek them out. As a shepherd seeketh out his flock in the day that he is among his sheep that are scattered; _so will I seek out my sheep, and will deliver them out of all places where they have been scattered in the cloudy and dark day_." Reader, this is the work of reformation that God is now accomplishing in the world. Babylon is spiritually fallen, and God is calling his people out. In the well-known Jamieson, Fausset, and Brown Commentary, Rev. A.R. Fausset, commenting on Rev. 18:4, has well said: "Even in the Romish Church, God has a people; but they are in great danger; their only safety is in coming out of her at once. So also in every apostate or world-conforming church, there are some of God's visible and true church, who, if they would be safe, _must come out_." When literal Babylon was overthrown, the Jews escaped to their own land. Likewise God's people in spiritual Babylon are commanded to come out, and with songs of rejoicing they are to make their way to Mount Zion, and then lend all their efforts to the one work of restoring primitive truth, thus making Jerusalem "the joy of the whole earth." Like the Jews of old, "the ransomed of the Lord _shall return_ and COME TO ZION with songs and everlasting joy upon their heads: they shall obtain joy and gladness, and sorrow and sighing shall flee away" (Isa. 35:10).