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Seal Up : Do Not Seal Up The Prophecy

Comparing Daniel and Revelation

Everyone likes a good mystery and what could be more mysterious than visions of the “time of the end”. This website provides Biblical evidence that the “time of the end” is the Last Days of the Old Covenant (OC) nation of Israel, including Jerusalem and the Temple. This subject is discussed in several scriptures, including Daniel and Revelation, as well as Jesus’ Olivet discourse (Matthew 23, 24 & Luke 21) and Peter’s first epistle.

It is important to recognise the historical context and audience relevance of each scripture passage. Daniel lived in the Old Testament (OT) period under the OC. Jesus and his Apostles lived in the NT period at the commencement of the New Covenant: a time of REVELATION and FULFILLMENT of OT prophecy.

As Edward E. Stevens 1 notes: ‘Daniel was promised that there would be further revelation about “these things” given “in the time of the end”… when his people would be “completely shattered” (Daniel 12:4-9). The only complete shattering of the Jewish people since Daniel’s day to ours was the AD 70 destruction! Therefore, the “end-time” spoken of in Daniel 12, must have been the AD 70 generation.’ (“What Happened in A.D. 70?”, p 27 1)

Furthermore: ‘Jesus and the apostles refer to Daniel’s prophecies and apply them to the first century and AD 70. Daniel’s “end time” was the “complete end” that would occur when the Jews were “completely shattered” (see Daniel 9:26,27; 10:14; 11:27.35,40; 12:4,6,7,9,13).’ (“What Happened in A.D. 70?”, p 27 1)

Brian L. Martin 2 notes: “… there is a striking similarity between Daniel’s being told that all things would be finished when the power of the holy people was completely shattered, and Christ’s prediction that the destruction of Jerusalem would witness the fulfillment (of) all things which were written.” (“Behind the Veil of Moses” p 218 2)

Seal The Book

Stevens points out another important historical fact: ‘Daniel was told to “seal up” his book because the end time was still a long way off (Daniel 12:4,9). However, John was told not to seal up his book (Revelation) because the time of its fulfillment was “at hand” (Rev 22:10).’ (“What Happened in A.D. 70?”, p 27 1)

Martin agrees: “What was sealed to Daniel 500 years earlier was revealed in ca. AD 30 by Jesus to His disciples to be for their generation; it was also proclaimed by Peter in the mid-AD 60s to be ‘at hand’.” (“Behind the Veil of Moses” p 219 2)

Here are the actual passages in the book of Daniel:

“… seal up the vision, for it refers to many days from now.” (Daniel 8:26);

“… what is to happen to your people in the latter days. For the vision is for days yet to come.” (Daniel 10:14);

“… shut up the words and seal the book, until the time of the end.” (Daniel 12:4);

“… Go your way, Daniel, for the words are shut up and sealed until the time of the end.” (Daniel 12:9).

Compare what John was commanded c. AD 62:

“And he said to me, Do not seal up the words of the prophecy of this book, for the time is near.” (Revelation 22:10)

Caleb T. Graham 3 has written an interesting article comparing Daniel and Revelation: “Do Not Seal the Words of the Prophecy”.

See: https://authenticrev.wordpress.com/2020/02/02/do-not-seal-the-words-of-the-prophecy/

Here is a short extract of the article:

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Is it important to note who is told to seal up the vision, and who is told NOT to seal it up? And is it important for us to understand WHY they were told either TO seal it or NOT to seal it?
…

• – Daniel lived in the 6th century BC (about 600 years before Christ, in the Babylonian Empire, as well as the Medes and Persians)
• – John lived in the first century AD (in the time of Christ, under the Roman Empire)
• – Daniel is told to SEAL up the vision
• – John is told NOT to seal it up
• – Daniel is told it was not time
• – John was told the time is near
• – Daniel was told it was many days in the future
• – John was told it must shortly take place

… So here’s the big question, if it’s SEALED up in the 6th century BC, when Daniel was alive, and if it’s the SAME, and it’s left OPEN by John (as opposed to “shut” like it was in Daniel 12:4), because the time is NEAR, then isn’t 1,900+ years enough time to warrant a statement like we see in Daniel 8:26 and 10:14?
…

Daniel got 2 direct statements that let him know it was way off in his future. Yet the same prophecy is left UNSEALED and OPEN by John in the first century a few decades after the ascension of Christ, and he’s told exactly WHY…

   The time was at hand, and near, for the things written in the book to take place.

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Conclusion

The “time of the end” refers to the end of Old Covenant Israel, including Jerusalem and the Temple, which occurred during the Roman siege of Jerusalem c. AD 66-70. Daniel was forewarned about this terrible destruction, but not informed about the date. Hundreds of years later, c. AD 30, Jesus announced that the destruction of Jerusalem and the Temple would soon occur, during the lifetime of his 1st Century disciples:

“Truly, I say to you, all these things will come upon this generation.” (Matthew 23:36);

“Truly, I say to you, this generation will not pass away until all these things take place.” (Matthew 24:34);

“for these are days of vengeance, to fulfill all that is written.” (Luke 21:22);

“Truly, I say to you, this generation will not pass away until all has taken place.” (Luke 21:32).

In the final decade before “the end”, Apostle Peter wrote to 1st Century Christians dispersed across the Roman Empire:

“The end of all things is at hand; therefore be self-controlled and sober-minded for the sake of your prayers.” (1 Peter 4:7).

Just as Jesus and his Apostles predicted, the wrath of God fell upon the last wicked generation of Old Covenant Israel, at the parousia coming of the Son of Man in AD 70. All was fulfilled. Praise God. Amen.

Read more on the prophesied “imminence” of the parousia (“Second Coming”) of Christ in these articles:

• Essays on Book Of Revelation
• Time Statements
• MELLO: Things Were “About To” Happen
• “Soon” Means “Soon”
• The Holy City ‐ New Jerusalem

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