And I heard, but I understood not: then said I, O my Lord, what shall be the end of these things?
Daniel heard the revelation of trouble, deliverance and resurrection reaching far into the future, but he did not understand it, so he asked his Lord what shall be the end of these things. He was answered that the words are closed up and sealed till the time of the end, so that neither he nor any other could understand them until most of their prophetic history was past. In the time of the end the seal is removed when the Lion of the tribe of Judah unseals the book, so the book of Daniel is unsealed in the Revelation and carried forward to the last scenes of this earth's history. Then many run to and fro with increased knowledge of the approaching judgment, and many are purified and made white and tried, while the wicked do wickedly and do not understand, but the wise understand. The chapter is therefore a warning that all must read attentively, study carefully and understand before the time of the end, forming the character needed to pass through the test of the last days.
Daniel's Question and Answer
Daniel heard the revelation of the end of time — the time of trouble, the deliverance, and the resurrection reaching far into the future — but he did not understand what he heard, so he asked his Lord what shall be the end of these things. It was his second inquiry of how long it shall be to the end of time, asking again after hearing what was revealed about the last days. The answer given him was to go his way, for the words are closed up and sealed till the time of the end.
That sealing meant neither Daniel himself nor anyone else could understand the prophecy until the time of the end, when much of it should be fulfilled. From the very nature of the prophecy it was to remain sealed until most of its prophetic history was past, for God did not disclose all of His purpose to Daniel. Only when that time comes would the words be unsealed and understood.
Daniel was told to go his way till the end, to rest, and to stand in his lot at the end of the days, to bear his sealed testimony that was to be understood at the end of the days. Since the seal has been removed, the light of truth shines upon his visions, and he stands in his lot bearing that testimony. His question was answered further by the blessing pronounced on him that waits and comes to the 1335 days.
Unsealed in the Last Days
The seal is removed in the time of the end when the Lion of the tribe of Judah unseals the book and gives to John on Patmos the revelation of what shall be in the last days, so the book of Daniel is unsealed in the Revelation and carries forward to the last scenes of this earth's history. Daniel's sealed testimony is borne when the first angel's message is proclaimed to the world. Then the prophecy is to be unsealed and understood, with many running to and fro with the knowledge of its great subject, which is the approaching judgment. The light given to Daniel is to reach the world with increased clarity, and knowledge of Christ and the prophecies concerning Him will grow as earth's history nears its close.
Those who search Scripture with a sincere desire to know God will understand more, for God opens the sealed truths to those who are ready to understand them. At that time many shall be purified and made white and tried, while the wicked shall do wickedly and none of the wicked shall understand, but the wise shall understand. This work of purification and understanding applies to the present time, and those who choose obedience and accept the cross are among those being purified and tried. The wicked fail to understand because sin is transgression of the law of God, and those who reject light on the law cannot understand the proclamation of the first, second, and third angels' messages.
The chapter together with the Revelation holds established points of faith and foundation principles greatly blessed in providence that must be held fast unto the end. Past experiences with the old waymarks are to be revived and taken up in work to be done, while in the last days severe trials will test faith and every conceivable invention will try to make these points of none effect.
Warning to Study and Prepare
The twelfth chapter of Daniel is a warning that all must read attentively, study carefully, and understand before the time of the end. It calls God's people to heed its message as they prepare for the final test. It warns of events and signs relevant to the present time, with urgent warnings people need in order to prepare for what is coming. It teaches what characters God's people must form in order to pass through the test and proving of the last days.
It rebukes spiritual weakness and backsliding and not knowing what one believes. It warns ministers who claim to believe the truth while not sanctified through it that unless a change comes in their lives they will say that the Lord delays His coming.
The prophecy is to be studied now because cities will grow worse and worse with strife and bloodshed and at last be struck by earthquakes with buildings thrown down and burned. This leads into the time of trouble such as never was and the deliverance of everyone found written in the book. Daniel heard that revelation of trouble, deliverance and resurrection but did not grasp it and asked how these things would end, and he was told to go on his way because the message remains shut until the time of the end when many will be cleansed and tested while evil people keep doing evil without grasping the message but the wise grasp it.
The end asked about is Christ seeing of the travail of His soul and being satisfied. It is when the Lord God omnipotent reigns with praise from all His servants small and great and the marriage of the Lamb is come with His wife made ready arrayed in fine linen clean and white, for the fine linen is the righteousness of saints. The unfolding of prophetic history prepares the way for further light until the whole is complete. The inquiry is made while the last message of warning is sounded amid the closing scenes of this earth's history.
Daniel heard the revelation of trouble, deliverance and resurrection reaching far into the future, but he did not understand it, so he asked his Lord what shall be the end of these things. He was answered that the words are closed up and sealed till the time of the end, so that neither he nor any other could understand them until most of their prophetic history was past. In the time of the end the seal is removed when the Lion of the tribe of Judah unseals the book, so the book of Daniel is unsealed in the Revelation and carried forward to the last scenes of this earth's history. Then many run to and fro with increased knowledge of the approaching judgment, and many are purified and made white and tried, while the wicked do wickedly and do not understand, but the wise understand. The chapter is therefore a warning that all must read attentively, study carefully and understand before the time of the end, forming the character needed to pass through the test of the last days.
Daniel's Question and Answer
Daniel heard the revelation of the end of time — the time of trouble, the deliverance, and the resurrection reaching far into the future — but he did not understand what he heard, so he asked his Lord what shall be the end of these things. It was his second inquiry of how long it shall be to the end of time, asking again after hearing what was revealed about the last days. The answer given him was to go his way, for the words are closed up and sealed till the time of the end.
That sealing meant neither Daniel himself nor anyone else could understand the prophecy until the time of the end, when much of it should be fulfilled. From the very nature of the prophecy it was to remain sealed until most of its prophetic history was past, for God did not disclose all of His purpose to Daniel. Only when that time comes would the words be unsealed and understood.
Daniel was told to go his way till the end, to rest, and to stand in his lot at the end of the days, to bear his sealed testimony that was to be understood at the end of the days. Since the seal has been removed, the light of truth shines upon his visions, and he stands in his lot bearing that testimony. His question was answered further by the blessing pronounced on him that waits and comes to the 1335 days.
Unsealed in the Last Days
The seal is removed in the time of the end when the Lion of the tribe of Judah unseals the book and gives to John on Patmos the revelation of what shall be in the last days, so the book of Daniel is unsealed in the Revelation and carries forward to the last scenes of this earth's history. Daniel's sealed testimony is borne when the first angel's message is proclaimed to the world. Then the prophecy is to be unsealed and understood, with many running to and fro with the knowledge of its great subject, which is the approaching judgment. The light given to Daniel is to reach the world with increased clarity, and knowledge of Christ and the prophecies concerning Him will grow as earth's history nears its close.
Those who search Scripture with a sincere desire to know God will understand more, for God opens the sealed truths to those who are ready to understand them. At that time many shall be purified and made white and tried, while the wicked shall do wickedly and none of the wicked shall understand, but the wise shall understand. This work of purification and understanding applies to the present time, and those who choose obedience and accept the cross are among those being purified and tried. The wicked fail to understand because sin is transgression of the law of God, and those who reject light on the law cannot understand the proclamation of the first, second, and third angels' messages.
The chapter together with the Revelation holds established points of faith and foundation principles greatly blessed in providence that must be held fast unto the end. Past experiences with the old waymarks are to be revived and taken up in work to be done, while in the last days severe trials will test faith and every conceivable invention will try to make these points of none effect.
Warning to Study and Prepare
The twelfth chapter of Daniel is a warning that all must read attentively, study carefully, and understand before the time of the end. It calls God's people to heed its message as they prepare for the final test. It warns of events and signs relevant to the present time, with urgent warnings people need in order to prepare for what is coming. It teaches what characters God's people must form in order to pass through the test and proving of the last days.
It rebukes spiritual weakness and backsliding and not knowing what one believes. It warns ministers who claim to believe the truth while not sanctified through it that unless a change comes in their lives they will say that the Lord delays His coming.
The prophecy is to be studied now because cities will grow worse and worse with strife and bloodshed and at last be struck by earthquakes with buildings thrown down and burned. This leads into the time of trouble such as never was and the deliverance of everyone found written in the book. Daniel heard that revelation of trouble, deliverance and resurrection but did not grasp it and asked how these things would end, and he was told to go on his way because the message remains shut until the time of the end when many will be cleansed and tested while evil people keep doing evil without grasping the message but the wise grasp it.
The end asked about is Christ seeing of the travail of His soul and being satisfied. It is when the Lord God omnipotent reigns with praise from all His servants small and great and the marriage of the Lamb is come with His wife made ready arrayed in fine linen clean and white, for the fine linen is the righteousness of saints. The unfolding of prophetic history prepares the way for further light until the whole is complete. The inquiry is made while the last message of warning is sounded amid the closing scenes of this earth's history.