Daniel 12.9-Daniel is Reminded to Preserve and Seal Up the Prophecy for the End Time
Wenstrom Bible Ministries
Pastor-Teacher Bill Wenstrom
Tuesday September 16, 2014
Daniel: Daniel 12:9-Daniel is Reminded to Preserve and Seal Up the Prophecy for the End Time
Lesson # 382
Please turn in your Bibles to Daniel 12:6.
Daniel 12:6 And one said to the man dressed in linen, who was above the waters of the river, “How long will it be until the end of these wonders?” 7 I heard the man dressed in linen, who was above the waters of the river, as he raised his right hand and his left toward heaven, and swore by Him who lives forever that it would be for a time, times, and half a time; and as soon as they finish shattering the power of the holy people, all these events will be completed.” 8 As for me, I heard but could not understand; so I said, “My lord, what will be the outcome of these events?” 9 He said, “Go your way, Daniel, for these words are concealed and sealed up until the end time.” (NASB95)
This verse stands in direct contrast with Daniel’s question.
In other words, Daniel asked a question of the man dressed in linen in response to his prophetic statements but the man dressed in linen declined to tell Daniel anything about events which will take place after the prophetic events presented in Daniel 12:7 are fulfilled.
However, the man dressed in linen in Daniel 12:11-12 did provide Daniel information regarding the interval of time between the Second Advent and the millennial kingdom.
“Go” is the verb hā·lǎḵ (הָלַךְ) (haw-lak´), which is used in relation to Daniel carrying out the command to preserve in writing the prophetic statements he had just received and then seal them up in a scroll for future generations.
The imperative mood is an imperative of command expressing the authority of the man dressed in linen over Daniel.
It expresses his desire that Daniel carry out this important duty of preserving in writing the prophetic statements he had just received and then sealing them up in a scroll for future generations.
“For these words are concealed and sealed up until the end time” is not presenting the basis for the previous command.
Rather, it is an emphatic statement emphasizing the importance of Daniel carrying out the command to preserve in writing the great prophetic revelation he had just received and sealing it up in a scroll for future generations.
“Words” is the noun dā∙ḇār (דָּבָר) (daw-bawr), which means “(prophetic) statements” referring to the prophecy recorded in Daniel 11:2-12:3 and 7, which contains revelation regarding God’s prophetic program for the nation of Israel during the Times of the Gentiles.
The articular construction of this noun is anaphoric meaning that it is pointing back to this revelation recorded in Daniel 11:2-12:3 and 12:7.
“Concealed” is the verb sā·ṯǎm (סָתַם) (saw-tham´), which can mean “to conceal, to keep secret” but here it means “to preserve” the words of the prophecy in the sense of preserving it in writing.
Therefore, the man dressed in linen is ordering Daniel to preserve the revelation he received in writing and not to conceal this information.
This interpretation is indicated by the fact that historically Daniel did in fact write down this revelation on a scroll and it became a part of the Old Testament canon.
The verb contains the idea of keeping it safe until the day it is needed, which would be during the seventieth week.
Further indicating this interpretation is correct is that if the angel wanted Daniel to conceal the vision he would have used the verb sā·ṯǎr (סָתַר) (saw-thar´), which means “to hide or conceal.”
The participle form of this verb is indicating something which ought to be done indicating that Daniel “must” preserve these prophetic statements he had received in writing for future generations.
“Sealed up” is the verb ḥā·ṯǎm (חָתַם) (khaw-tham´), which means “to seal” but in the sense of making something secure.
It does not mean “to seal” in the sense of keeping secret or concealing information but rather it means to make the contents of a scroll secure by placing a wax seal upon it.
Therefore, ḥā·ṯǎm is speaking of Daniel placing a wax seal upon the scroll which contains the revelation in writing in order to secure it in the sense of preventing tampering or accessibility by enemies.
The participle form of this verb is indicating something which ought to be done indicating that Daniel “must” seal up in a scroll this great prophetic revelation for future generations after he had preserved it in writing.
“Until the end time” refers is the last three and a half years of the seventieth week.
Therefore, the man dressed in linen is telling Daniel that he wants this great prophetic revelation he received to be preserved in writing up to the last three and a half years of the seventieth week.
The revelation not only pertains to the period of 530-164 BC. but also it pertains to the seventieth week and in particular the last three and a half years of the seventieth week and after it when Christ will establish His millennial kingdom on the earth.
Daniel 12:9 However, he commanded, “Go, Daniel, indeed these statements must be preserved and then sealed up in a scroll up to the end time.” (My translation)
So the man dressed in linen ordered Daniel to preserve the revelation he received in writing and not to conceal this information.
The Lord did not want Daniel to conceal or hide the revelation recorded in Daniel 11:2-12:3 and 7 since God gave Daniel this revelation to warn the faithful remnant in Israel in future generations.
Specifically it was to warn and encourage those faithful Jews who would live during the persecution of Antiochus Epiphanes IV in the second century B.C. and during the last three and a half years of the seventieth week under the persecution of the Antichrist.
God wanted to encourage these Jews who will live during these persecutions.
Therefore, here in Daniel 12:9 we have a reference to the ancient practice of making a scroll secure and preserving it by sealing it with a wax seal.
Here in Daniel 12:9 as was the case in Daniel 12:4 Daniel is instructed to place a wax seal upon the scroll which contains the revelation in writing in order to secure it in the sense of preventing tampering or accessibility by enemies.
The Lord’s order in Daniel 12:9 echoes the angel’s order in Daniel 12:4.
Daniel 12:4 “Therefore, as for you, Daniel, preserve these statements and then seal up in a scroll up to the end time.” (Author’s translation)
Therefore, after communicating to Daniel, God’s prophetic program for the nation of Israel during the Times of the Gentiles and after it, the angel and the man dressed in linen order Daniel to preserve this revelation in writing in a scroll and then to affix a wax seal to this scroll so as to protect its contents.
This great prophetic revelation appears now in Daniel 11:2-12:3 and 7.
Now, in Daniel 12:4 and 9, God wants the revelation he communicated to Daniel through the angel and His Son which is recorded in Daniel 11:2-12:3 to be preserved up to the end time which speaks of the seventieth week and in particular up to the last three and a half years of the seventieth week and beyond.
In other words, the angel wants Daniel to preserve this revelation for future generations in both Israel and among the Gentiles who would trust in the Lord for salvation.
This fourth and final great prophetic revelation Daniel received from God contains prophecies that were fulfilled between 530-164 B.C.
These are recorded in Daniel 11:2-35.
It also contains revelation regarding the last three and a half years of the seventieth week and after it.
It contains revelation regarding events taking place at the Second Advent such as the resurrection of Old Testament saints and receiving their rewards.
These are recorded in Daniel 11:36-12:3 and 7.
God wants future generations in Israel and among the Gentiles to receive this revelation.
He wants those who trust in Him who live in the period between 530-164 B.C. to have this revelation so that they can derive encouragement from it.
He wants them to have it so as to produce faith in them to trust in Him as sovereign over history and over the Gentile rulers who will oppress and persecute them.
God wants those who trust in Him during the seventieth week to have this revelation for this same reason.
It will encourage them as they endure persecution from the Antichrist.
It will encourage them and make clear to them that this persecution is only for a brief period of time.
This revelation was also designed to produce faith in them in the sense that it is designed to cause them to trust in Him because it shows that He is sovereign, omnipotent and omniscience and all wise.
He is omniscient in the sense that He knows these events will occur because He has all knowledge of every event and every person and every decision that will take place in human and angelic history.
He is omnipotent in that He can bring to pass that which He predicts will take place centuries before.
He is sovereign in the sense that prophecy reveals that God is sovereign over human history.