- Home
- Bible
- Daniel
- Chapter 12
- Verse 12
Daniel 12:4
Verse
Context
Sermons
Kathryn Kuhlman
Leonard RavenhillLeonard Ravenhill
Vance Havner
Dr. A.E. Wilder-Smith
T. Austin-SparksSummary
Commentary
- Adam Clarke
- Keil-Delitzsch
- Jamieson-Fausset-Brown
- John Gill
- Tyndale
Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
Shut up the words, and seal the book - When a prophet received a prediction concerning what was at a considerable distance of time, he shut his book, did not communicate his revelation for some time after. This Daniel was commanded to do, Dan 8:26. See also Isa 29:10, Isa 29:11; Rev 22:10. Among the ancients, those were said to seal, who in the course of their reading stamped the places of which they were yet doubtful, in order to keep them in memory, that they might refer to then; again, as not yet fully understood. This custom Salmasius, in his book De modo Usurarum, p. 446, proves from Hesychius. Many shall run to and fro - Many shall endeavour to search out the sense; and knowledge shall be increased by these means; though the meaning shall not be fully known till the events take place: Then the seal shall be broken, and the sense become plain. This seems to be the meaning of this verse, though another has been put on it, viz., "Many shall run to and fro preaching the Gospel of Christ, and therefore religious knowledge and true wisdom shall be increased." This is true in itself; but it is not the meaning of the prophet's words.
Carl Friedrich Keil and Franz Delitzsch Old Testament Commentary
The Close of the Revelation of God and of the Book As the revelation in Daniel 8 closes with the direction, "Wherefore shut thou up the vision" (Dan 8:26), so this before us closes with the command (Dan 12:4), "But thou Daniel shut up these words;" and as in the former case החזון denotes the vision interpreted to him by the angel, so here הדּברים can only be the announcements of the angel, Daniel 11:2-12:3, along with the preceding appearance, Daniel 10:2-11:1, thus only the revelation designated as דּבר, Dan 10:1. Accordingly, also, סתן is obviously to be interpreted in the meaning illustrated and defended under Dan 8:25, to shut up in the sense of guarding; and thus also חתם, to seal. Thus all the objections against this command are set aside which Hitzig has derived from the sealing, which he understands of the sealing up of the book, so that he may thereby cast doubt on the genuineness of the book. It is disputed whether הספר is only the last revelation, Daniel 10-12 (Hvernick, v. Leng., Maurer, Kran.), or the whole book (Bertholdt, Hitzig, Auberlen, Kliefoth). That ספר might designate a short connected portion, a single prophecy, is placed beyond a doubt by Nah 1:1; Jer 51:63. The parallelism of the members of the passage also appears to favour the opinion that הספר stands in the same meaning as הדּברים. But this appearance amounts to a valid argument only under the supposition that the last revelation stands unconnected with the revelations going before. But since this is not the case, much rather the revelation of these chapters is not only in point of time the last which Daniel received, but also forms the essential conclusion of all earlier revelations, then the expression used of the sealing of this last revelation refers plainly to the sealing of the whole book. This supposition is unopposed. That the writing down of the prophecy is not commanded to Daniel, cannot be objected against. As this is here and in Dan 8:26 presupposed as a matter of course, for the receiving of a revelation without committing it to writing is not practicable, so we may without hesitation suppose that Daniel wrote down all the earlier visions and revelations as soon as he received them, so that with the writing down of the last of them the whole book was completed. For these reasons we understand by הספר the whole book. For, as Kliefoth rightly remarks, the angel will close, Dan 12:4, the last revelation, and along with it the whole prophetical work of Daniel, and dismiss him from his prophetical office, as he afterwards, Dan 12:13, does, after he has given him, Dan 12:5-12, disclosures regarding the periods of these wonderful things that were announced. He must seal the book, i.e., guard it securely from disfigurement, "till the time of the end," because its contents stretch out to the time of the end. Cf. Dan 8:26, where the reason for the sealing is stated in the words, "for yet it shall be for many days." Instead of such a statement as that, the time of the end is here briefly named as the terminus, down to which the revelation reaches, in harmony with the contents of Daniel 11:40-12:3, which comprehend the events of the time of the end. The two clauses of Dan 12:4 are differently explained. The interpretation of J. D. Michaelis, "Many shall indeed go astray, but on the other side also the knowledge shall be great," is verbally just as untenable as that of Hvernick, "Many shall wander about, i.e., in the consciousness of their misery, strive after salvation, knowledge." For שׁוּט signifies neither to go astray (errare) nor to wander about, but only to go to and fro, to pass through a land, in order to seek out or search, to go about spying (Zac 4:10, of the eyes of God; Eze 27:8, Eze 27:26, to row). From these renderings there arises for this passage before us the meaning, to search through, to examine, a book; not merely to "read industriously" (Hitzig, Ewald), but thoroughly to search into it (Gesenius). The words do not supply the reason for the command to seal, but they state the object of the sealing, and are not (with many interpreters) to be referred merely to the time of the end, that then for the first time many shall search therein and find great knowledge. This limiting of their import is connected with the inaccurate interpretation of the sealing as a figure either of the incomprehensibility of the prophecy or of the secrecy of the writing, and is set aside with the correct interpretation of this figure. If Daniel, therefore, must only place the prophecy securely that it may continue to the time of the end, the sealing thus does not exclude the use of it in transcriptions, then there exists no reason for thinking that the searching into it will take place only for the first time in the end. The words וגו רבּים ישׁטטוּ are not connected with the preceding by any particle or definition of time, whereby they should be limited to קץ עת. To this is to be added, that this revelation, according to the express explanation of the angel (Dan 10:14), refers to all that shall be experienced by the people of Daniel from the time of Cyrus to the time of the end. If, then, it must remain sealed or not understood till the time of the end, it must have lain unused and useless for centuries, while it was given for the very purpose of reflecting light on the ways of God for the pious in all times, and of imparting consolation amid their tribulations to those who continued stedfast in their fidelity. In order to serve these purposes it must be accessible at all times, so that they might be able to search into it, to judge events by it and to strengthen their faith. Kliefoth therefore is right in his thus interpreting the whole passage: "Daniel must place in security the prophecies he has received until the time of the end, so that through all times many men may be able to read them and gain understanding (better: obtain knowledge) from them." הדּעת is the knowledge of the ways of the Lord with His people, which confirms them in their fidelity towards God.
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary
shut up . . . seal the book--John, on the contrary, is told (Rev 22:10) not to seal his visions. Daniel's prophecy refers to a distant time, and is therefore obscure for the immediate future, whereas John's was to be speedily fulfilled (Rev 1:1, Rev 1:3; Rev 22:6). Israel, to whom Daniel prophesied after the captivity, with premature zeal sought after signs of the predicted period: Daniel's prophecy was designed to restrain this. The Gentile Church, on the contrary, for whom John wrote, needs to be impressed with the shortness of the period, as it is, owing to its Gentile origin, apt to conform to the world, and to forget the coming of the Lord (compare Mat 25:13, Mat 25:19; Mar 13:32-37; Pe2 3:8, Pe2 3:12; Rev 22:20). run to and fro--not referring to the modern rapidity of locomotion, as some think, nor to Christian missionaries going about to preach the Gospel to the world at large [BARNES], which the context scarcely admits; but, whereas now but few care for this prophecy of God, "at the time of the end," that is, near its fulfilment, "many shall run to and fro," that is, scrutinize it, running through every page. Compare Hab 2:2 [CALVIN]: it is thereby that "the knowledge (namely, of God's purposes as revealed in prophecy) shall be increased." This is probably being now fulfilled.
John Gill Bible Commentary
But thou, O Daniel, shut up the words,.... Of the book, in which he had wrote the visions and prophecies delivered to him: this he is bid to "shut up", to keep it from the common and profane people, who would only burlesque it; and to keep it to himself, as a peculiar treasure committed to his care; and though it was not kept from the saints and people of God, from their reading it, yet he was not to interpret and explain it to them; it was to remain a secret until the time of its accomplishment was come, or, however, near at hand; so that this denotes the obscurity of the prophecy, and the great difficulty of understanding it; it being like a book that is shut and sealed, as follows, see Rev 5:1, and seal the book, even to the time of the end; till the time comes appointed for the fulfilment of it, which shows that it reached to times at a great distance; that till these times were come, or near, it would be as a sealed book, and yet the accomplishment of it would be sure and certain, as what is sealed is: many shall run to and fro, and knowledge shall be increased; that is, towards the end of the time appointed, many persons will be stirred up to inquire into these things delivered in this book, and will spare no pains or cost to get knowledge of them; will read and study the Scriptures, and meditate on them; compare one passage with another; spiritual things with spiritual, in order to obtain the mind of Christ; will peruse carefully the writings of such who have gone before them, who have attempted anything of this kind; and will go far and near to converse with persons that have any understanding of such things: and by such means, with the blessing of God upon them, the knowledge of this book of prophecy will be increased; and things will appear plainer the nearer the accomplishment of them is; and especially when accomplished, when prophecy and facts can be compared together: and not only this kind of knowledge, but knowledge of all spiritual things, of all evangelic truths and doctrines, will be abundantly enlarged at this time; and the earth will be filled and covered with it, as the sea with its waters; see Isa 11:9.
Tyndale Open Study Notes
12:4 Daniel was to keep the prophecy a secret (cp. 7:28; 8:26); it would be unveiled at God’s proper time, the time of the end.
Daniel 12:4
The End Times
3Then the wise will shine like the brightness of the heavens, and those who lead many to righteousness will shine like the stars forever and ever.4But you, Daniel, shut up these words and seal the book until the time of the end. Many will roam to and fro, and knowledge will increase.”
- Scripture
- Sermons
- Commentary
Anaheim Talk
By Kathryn Kuhlman9.9K1:29:27ConferenceDAN 12:4JOL 2:24JHN 17:6ACT 1:8ROM 8:171JN 4:4In this sermon, the preacher emphasizes that war in the Middle East is inevitable and that the stage is set for it. He believes that the word of God is more up to date than tomorrow's newspaper. The preacher also talks about the great mercy of God and how he has witnessed the manifestation of God's power in healing people who have no faith. He shares personal experiences of hardship and emphasizes the importance of faith and being a part of the great restoration of the fruits and gifts of the Holy Spirit.
Revival Series 1 - Part 2
By Leonard Ravenhill7.4K42:20RevivalDAN 12:4ACT 2:1REV 1:1In this sermon, the speaker discusses the importance of prayer and the distractions that can prevent us from truly focusing on God. He highlights the materialistic and comfortable lifestyle that many people have, contrasting it with the spiritual poverty that can result from neglecting prayer. The speaker also mentions the global dominance of communism and the need for the church to rise up and rely on Jesus Christ for guidance and strength. The sermon references the story of Gideon from the Bible as an example of someone who initially doubted his own worth but ultimately embraced his calling as a mighty man of valor.
Strengthen Me Just Once - Alternate 2
By Leonard Ravenhill7.3K1:19:02SamsonJDG 16:6PSA 107:20DAN 12:4MAT 16:26LUK 9:23ACT 1:8REV 22:10In this sermon, the preacher emphasizes the importance of having a genuine experience with God that requires sacrifice and dedication. He compares the pursuit of spiritual anointing to the dedication of athletes and successful businessmen. The preacher also highlights the need for believers to agonize in prayer and seek the Holy Spirit's anointing through blood and fire. He warns against relying on material possessions and comforts, emphasizing the importance of a life fully surrendered to God. The sermon references the story of Gideon and Samson from the Bible to illustrate the power and impact of a spirit-anointed life.
From Babylon to Jerusalem - (Daniel) ch.1:1-1:8
By Zac Poonen5.6K1:01:05From Babylon To JerusalemGEN 18:32LEV 25:1LEV 25:18JER 5:1JER 25:11DAN 12:4MAT 5:28In this sermon, the speaker discusses the book of Daniel and its relevance to the end times. The book is divided into two parts: the first six chapters are historical and the last six chapters are prophetic. The main theme throughout the book is the absolute sovereignty of God over everything. The speaker emphasizes the importance of learning from the mistakes of others and highlights the significance of studying the Old Testament for our instruction.
Knowing What to Do
By Vance Havner4.4K26:10RevivalDAN 12:4MAT 24:44LUK 1:17LUK 4:24ROM 14:171CO 12:28REV 2:20In this sermon, the preacher emphasizes the importance of understanding the overall purpose of God in history when discussing current events in the light of the Bible. He uses the story of Rip and the wrong George to illustrate how people often miss the mark when it comes to understanding God's plan. The preacher also highlights the futility of trying to create a kingdom of heaven out of unregenerate humanity and warns against the dangers of pursuing political projects without considering God's purpose. He concludes by discussing the promise of the Lord's return and the need for righteousness, as well as the potential consequences of ignoring God's warnings and living in moral decay.
Locks & Keys
By Dr. A.E. Wilder-Smith1.6K1:05:44SciencePRO 16:31PRO 18:15PRO 25:2ECC 7:24ECC 8:1DAN 12:4JHN 1:1In this sermon, the speaker discusses the concept of the Logos in biology and how it relates to the teaching of biology in schools. He encourages the audience, particularly those involved in teaching biology, to recognize the evidence that supports the presence of the Logos in biology. The speaker provides examples and suggests that the audience refer to books at the back of the room for more detailed information on the chemistry and information theory behind his claims. He also briefly mentions the connection between cells in the body and the church as the body of Christ, emphasizing the importance of collaboration and dedication to the greater whole.
The Horizon of Christ - Part 10
By T. Austin-Sparks1.5K37:29ChristGEN 3:15DAN 12:4MAT 24:141CO 15:25PHP 3:102PE 3:10REV 22:7In this sermon, the speaker discusses the signs of the near approach of the Lord's coming. One sign is the increase of knowledge in the world, with deep secrets being revealed and becoming common knowledge. This intensification of knowledge is seen as an indication that the end is near. Another sign is the intensification of evil and godlessness, with the speaker expressing concern over the state of youth and the increase in crime. The sermon concludes with a reminder of the grace of God and the gathering of believers from different nations and peoples.
Atlantic Lyman conf.1972-01 Studies in Daniel 01
By Joseph Balsan72956:26ISA 55:6DAN 12:4MAT 24:14JHN 3:3JHN 3:7ROM 5:6In this sermon, the speaker emphasizes the importance of adapting to one's surroundings and being open-minded. He mentions the challenges faced by four young men in Israel who were influenced by the culture around them. The speaker also discusses the significance of accepting God's gift of salvation and recognizing His power and generosity. He then transitions to discussing the book of Daniel, specifically focusing on the historical fulfillment of events in the first six chapters and the visions of the four empires in chapters 2 and 7. The sermon concludes with a prayer for the audience to be stirred and obedient to God in a time of spiritual decline.
Biblical Trends Related to Globalization (Dan. 12:4)
By Mike Bickle2853:48ProphecyGlobalizationISA 60:1DAN 12:4MAT 24:14MAT 28:19ACT 1:82TI 3:11JN 5:19REV 13:3REV 13:7Mike Bickle discusses the significant biblical trends related to globalization, emphasizing how the world is increasingly interconnected in various aspects such as economy, culture, and governance. He highlights that this phenomenon, once unimaginable, is now a reality, setting the stage for prophetic events foretold in Scripture, including the rise of a global government and the spread of both righteousness and wickedness. Bickle points out that the rapid increase in travel and knowledge, as prophesied in Daniel 12:4, is crucial for understanding the current global narrative and the urgency for believers to engage with it. He encourages the church to recognize the larger storyline of God's plan amidst personal struggles, reminding them of the significant role they play in the unfolding events of history.
Details About the Tribulation (Dan. 12:4-13)
By Mike Bickle151:11:11Spiritual PreparednessEnd TimesDAN 12:1DAN 12:4Mike Bickle emphasizes the significance of Daniel chapter 12, where a mighty angel reassures Daniel of God's ultimate victory amidst the great tribulation, the most intense period in human history. He highlights that this generation will witness unprecedented angelic activity and a powerful outpouring of God's glory, leading to both the greatest deliverance and the greatest wickedness. Bickle urges believers to prepare themselves spiritually, as understanding the prophetic scriptures will provide wisdom and courage in these challenging times. He stresses the importance of being fully engaged with God and turning others towards righteousness, as many will be purified and refined during this period. Ultimately, he calls for a radical commitment to living out one's faith in the face of escalating darkness and deception.
(New Wine in New Wineskins) 17. Signs That Point to the Return of Christ
By Zac Poonen0Signs Of The TimesReadiness for Christ's ReturnEXO 19:10DAN 12:4HOS 6:2MAT 24:7MAT 24:33LUK 21:291TI 4:12TI 3:42PE 3:8REV 22:17Zac Poonen emphasizes the signs that indicate the imminent return of Christ, highlighting the significant changes in the world since 1939, including wars, famines, natural calamities, and a dramatic increase in knowledge and rebellion. He draws parallels between current events and biblical prophecies, urging believers to be observant and prepared for Christ's return. Poonen stresses the importance of personal purification and readiness, as well as the call to both unbelievers and believers to respond to the Holy Spirit's invitation.
The Signs of Christ's Coming
By Zac Poonen0DAN 12:4MAT 24:7LUK 21:291TI 4:12TI 3:4Zac Poonen discusses the signs that indicate the imminent return of Christ, including the increase in wars, famines, earthquakes, knowledge, and travel, as well as the rise of immorality, rebellion, and cults. He emphasizes the significance of the rebirth of the nation of Israel in fulfilling biblical prophecies. Poonen highlights the urgency for believers to be vigilant and prepared for Christ's return as the signs align with the current state of the world.
Revelation Is Sufficient
By Chip Brogden0DAN 12:4JHN 14:6ACT 7:54ACT 26:16GAL 1:11PHP 3:7COL 2:32TI 3:71PE 2:8Chip Brogden emphasizes the importance of receiving revelation from God, contrasting earthly knowledge with spiritual truth revealed by the Heavenly Father. He highlights that true spiritual growth comes from knowing Jesus Christ through divine revelation, not just accumulating facts from various sources. Brogden explains that the foundation of the Church, the Ecclesia, is built upon individuals who have received the Revelation of Jesus Christ, as seen in the transformation of Paul from a persecutor to a preacher through divine revelation.
The Enochian Walks With God
By Jane Lead0DAN 12:4ROM 5:121CO 15:45EPH 1:101TH 5:23Jane Lead preaches about the universal love and redemption of God, emphasizing the transformation from a fallen state to a quickening spirit through Christ. She discusses the higher glory intended by God for mankind, transcending the initial created image. Lead also mentions the necessity of passing through degrees of purification for all souls, whether in bodies or out, and the provision of regions for this purpose. She addresses objections regarding the presumption of salvation after death, highlighting the punishment of witnessing others' rest while lacking redemption.
V. the Material Earth Sign
By Lewis Sperry Chafer0ISA 35:1ISA 60:1DAN 12:4HAB 2:14ROM 8:21Lewis Sperry Chafer preaches about the prophetic anticipation of material glory and blessings during the kingdom age, highlighting the transformation of the wilderness, the healing of the blind, deaf, lame, and mute, the deliverance of creation from corruption, and the increase of knowledge in the end times. He emphasizes the material transformation foretold in prophecy and the rapid advancements in technology and knowledge in our generation as a prelude to the ultimate glory that will fill the earth.
The Signs of the Redeemer's Return
By A.W. Pink0Signs Of The TimesReadiness for Christ's ReturnEZK 21:27DAN 12:4MAT 16:2MRK 4:26LUK 21:281TH 5:12TI 3:1JAS 5:12PE 3:3REV 3:14A.W. Pink emphasizes the signs indicating the imminent return of the Redeemer, urging believers to be vigilant and discerning of the times. He reflects on the historical expectations of Christ's return, the prophetic signs that have been fulfilled, and the current state of the church and society, which he describes as a mix of spiritual awakening and apostasy. Pink warns against the dangers of complacency and ignorance of Scripture, encouraging the faithful to recognize the signs of the times and prepare for the coming of the Lord. He highlights the importance of understanding prophecy and the urgency of living in light of Christ's return.
- Adam Clarke
- Keil-Delitzsch
- Jamieson-Fausset-Brown
- John Gill
- Tyndale
Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
Shut up the words, and seal the book - When a prophet received a prediction concerning what was at a considerable distance of time, he shut his book, did not communicate his revelation for some time after. This Daniel was commanded to do, Dan 8:26. See also Isa 29:10, Isa 29:11; Rev 22:10. Among the ancients, those were said to seal, who in the course of their reading stamped the places of which they were yet doubtful, in order to keep them in memory, that they might refer to then; again, as not yet fully understood. This custom Salmasius, in his book De modo Usurarum, p. 446, proves from Hesychius. Many shall run to and fro - Many shall endeavour to search out the sense; and knowledge shall be increased by these means; though the meaning shall not be fully known till the events take place: Then the seal shall be broken, and the sense become plain. This seems to be the meaning of this verse, though another has been put on it, viz., "Many shall run to and fro preaching the Gospel of Christ, and therefore religious knowledge and true wisdom shall be increased." This is true in itself; but it is not the meaning of the prophet's words.
Carl Friedrich Keil and Franz Delitzsch Old Testament Commentary
The Close of the Revelation of God and of the Book As the revelation in Daniel 8 closes with the direction, "Wherefore shut thou up the vision" (Dan 8:26), so this before us closes with the command (Dan 12:4), "But thou Daniel shut up these words;" and as in the former case החזון denotes the vision interpreted to him by the angel, so here הדּברים can only be the announcements of the angel, Daniel 11:2-12:3, along with the preceding appearance, Daniel 10:2-11:1, thus only the revelation designated as דּבר, Dan 10:1. Accordingly, also, סתן is obviously to be interpreted in the meaning illustrated and defended under Dan 8:25, to shut up in the sense of guarding; and thus also חתם, to seal. Thus all the objections against this command are set aside which Hitzig has derived from the sealing, which he understands of the sealing up of the book, so that he may thereby cast doubt on the genuineness of the book. It is disputed whether הספר is only the last revelation, Daniel 10-12 (Hvernick, v. Leng., Maurer, Kran.), or the whole book (Bertholdt, Hitzig, Auberlen, Kliefoth). That ספר might designate a short connected portion, a single prophecy, is placed beyond a doubt by Nah 1:1; Jer 51:63. The parallelism of the members of the passage also appears to favour the opinion that הספר stands in the same meaning as הדּברים. But this appearance amounts to a valid argument only under the supposition that the last revelation stands unconnected with the revelations going before. But since this is not the case, much rather the revelation of these chapters is not only in point of time the last which Daniel received, but also forms the essential conclusion of all earlier revelations, then the expression used of the sealing of this last revelation refers plainly to the sealing of the whole book. This supposition is unopposed. That the writing down of the prophecy is not commanded to Daniel, cannot be objected against. As this is here and in Dan 8:26 presupposed as a matter of course, for the receiving of a revelation without committing it to writing is not practicable, so we may without hesitation suppose that Daniel wrote down all the earlier visions and revelations as soon as he received them, so that with the writing down of the last of them the whole book was completed. For these reasons we understand by הספר the whole book. For, as Kliefoth rightly remarks, the angel will close, Dan 12:4, the last revelation, and along with it the whole prophetical work of Daniel, and dismiss him from his prophetical office, as he afterwards, Dan 12:13, does, after he has given him, Dan 12:5-12, disclosures regarding the periods of these wonderful things that were announced. He must seal the book, i.e., guard it securely from disfigurement, "till the time of the end," because its contents stretch out to the time of the end. Cf. Dan 8:26, where the reason for the sealing is stated in the words, "for yet it shall be for many days." Instead of such a statement as that, the time of the end is here briefly named as the terminus, down to which the revelation reaches, in harmony with the contents of Daniel 11:40-12:3, which comprehend the events of the time of the end. The two clauses of Dan 12:4 are differently explained. The interpretation of J. D. Michaelis, "Many shall indeed go astray, but on the other side also the knowledge shall be great," is verbally just as untenable as that of Hvernick, "Many shall wander about, i.e., in the consciousness of their misery, strive after salvation, knowledge." For שׁוּט signifies neither to go astray (errare) nor to wander about, but only to go to and fro, to pass through a land, in order to seek out or search, to go about spying (Zac 4:10, of the eyes of God; Eze 27:8, Eze 27:26, to row). From these renderings there arises for this passage before us the meaning, to search through, to examine, a book; not merely to "read industriously" (Hitzig, Ewald), but thoroughly to search into it (Gesenius). The words do not supply the reason for the command to seal, but they state the object of the sealing, and are not (with many interpreters) to be referred merely to the time of the end, that then for the first time many shall search therein and find great knowledge. This limiting of their import is connected with the inaccurate interpretation of the sealing as a figure either of the incomprehensibility of the prophecy or of the secrecy of the writing, and is set aside with the correct interpretation of this figure. If Daniel, therefore, must only place the prophecy securely that it may continue to the time of the end, the sealing thus does not exclude the use of it in transcriptions, then there exists no reason for thinking that the searching into it will take place only for the first time in the end. The words וגו רבּים ישׁטטוּ are not connected with the preceding by any particle or definition of time, whereby they should be limited to קץ עת. To this is to be added, that this revelation, according to the express explanation of the angel (Dan 10:14), refers to all that shall be experienced by the people of Daniel from the time of Cyrus to the time of the end. If, then, it must remain sealed or not understood till the time of the end, it must have lain unused and useless for centuries, while it was given for the very purpose of reflecting light on the ways of God for the pious in all times, and of imparting consolation amid their tribulations to those who continued stedfast in their fidelity. In order to serve these purposes it must be accessible at all times, so that they might be able to search into it, to judge events by it and to strengthen their faith. Kliefoth therefore is right in his thus interpreting the whole passage: "Daniel must place in security the prophecies he has received until the time of the end, so that through all times many men may be able to read them and gain understanding (better: obtain knowledge) from them." הדּעת is the knowledge of the ways of the Lord with His people, which confirms them in their fidelity towards God.
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary
shut up . . . seal the book--John, on the contrary, is told (Rev 22:10) not to seal his visions. Daniel's prophecy refers to a distant time, and is therefore obscure for the immediate future, whereas John's was to be speedily fulfilled (Rev 1:1, Rev 1:3; Rev 22:6). Israel, to whom Daniel prophesied after the captivity, with premature zeal sought after signs of the predicted period: Daniel's prophecy was designed to restrain this. The Gentile Church, on the contrary, for whom John wrote, needs to be impressed with the shortness of the period, as it is, owing to its Gentile origin, apt to conform to the world, and to forget the coming of the Lord (compare Mat 25:13, Mat 25:19; Mar 13:32-37; Pe2 3:8, Pe2 3:12; Rev 22:20). run to and fro--not referring to the modern rapidity of locomotion, as some think, nor to Christian missionaries going about to preach the Gospel to the world at large [BARNES], which the context scarcely admits; but, whereas now but few care for this prophecy of God, "at the time of the end," that is, near its fulfilment, "many shall run to and fro," that is, scrutinize it, running through every page. Compare Hab 2:2 [CALVIN]: it is thereby that "the knowledge (namely, of God's purposes as revealed in prophecy) shall be increased." This is probably being now fulfilled.
John Gill Bible Commentary
But thou, O Daniel, shut up the words,.... Of the book, in which he had wrote the visions and prophecies delivered to him: this he is bid to "shut up", to keep it from the common and profane people, who would only burlesque it; and to keep it to himself, as a peculiar treasure committed to his care; and though it was not kept from the saints and people of God, from their reading it, yet he was not to interpret and explain it to them; it was to remain a secret until the time of its accomplishment was come, or, however, near at hand; so that this denotes the obscurity of the prophecy, and the great difficulty of understanding it; it being like a book that is shut and sealed, as follows, see Rev 5:1, and seal the book, even to the time of the end; till the time comes appointed for the fulfilment of it, which shows that it reached to times at a great distance; that till these times were come, or near, it would be as a sealed book, and yet the accomplishment of it would be sure and certain, as what is sealed is: many shall run to and fro, and knowledge shall be increased; that is, towards the end of the time appointed, many persons will be stirred up to inquire into these things delivered in this book, and will spare no pains or cost to get knowledge of them; will read and study the Scriptures, and meditate on them; compare one passage with another; spiritual things with spiritual, in order to obtain the mind of Christ; will peruse carefully the writings of such who have gone before them, who have attempted anything of this kind; and will go far and near to converse with persons that have any understanding of such things: and by such means, with the blessing of God upon them, the knowledge of this book of prophecy will be increased; and things will appear plainer the nearer the accomplishment of them is; and especially when accomplished, when prophecy and facts can be compared together: and not only this kind of knowledge, but knowledge of all spiritual things, of all evangelic truths and doctrines, will be abundantly enlarged at this time; and the earth will be filled and covered with it, as the sea with its waters; see Isa 11:9.
Tyndale Open Study Notes
12:4 Daniel was to keep the prophecy a secret (cp. 7:28; 8:26); it would be unveiled at God’s proper time, the time of the end.