On hearing his words, some of the people said, "Surely this man is the Prophet." Others said, "He is the Christ." Still others asked, "How can the Christ come from Galilee? Does not the Scripture say that the Christ will come from David's family and from Bethlehem, the town where David lived?" Thus the people were divided because of Jesus. (John 7:40-43).

These passages illustrate the point that a wrong or even half-baked understanding is worse than none at all. Jesus' words were convicting. However, there were some who doubted him based on an incomplete knowledge of the scriptures. They knew that the Christ would come from Bethlehem (Micah 5:2); however, they apparently weren't aware that he would come from Galilee as well (Isaiah 9:1-2).

The Holy Spirit has been opening up the scriptures and showing that these prophecies provide detail about the close of earth's history (GC 341-342). We believe he has been doing this because they are imminently to be fulfilled and we need to understand them in a way not necessary for previous generations. While we may not know for a fact that we are the last generation, there is evidence to tell us we need to be particularly paying attention. A significant part of that evidence is the clarity with which the prophecies in Daniel and Revelation are unfolding.