TIME SEALED UP

In response to Daniel’s inquiry, the angel replied, “O Daniel, shut up the words, and seal the book, even to the time of the end: many shall run to and fro, and knowledge shall be increased.” ^{22Daniel 12:4.} Again, “Go thy way, Daniel: for the words are closed up and sealed till the time of the end.” ^{23Daniel 12:9.}LDT 42.2

What so exercised the mind of Daniel was the “when,” the “how long,” and “what shall be the end.” These were the points that perplexed and troubled the prophet, and these things only were to be sealed up till the time of the end, and not the whole book of Daniel, as some have supposed. These words were not, then, written in vain, never to be understood; for the time was to come when the wise should understand. ^{24Daniel 12:10.} When the appointed time should come for this sealed matter to be opened — for the “when,” the “what,” and the “end” of these periods to be unsealed and made plain-when the time of the end should come, many would “run to and fro” through the Scriptures, searching into these things, and knowledge on the close of these prophetic times would be increased.LDT 42.3

That this is the idea conveyed in the foregoing language will be made more clear by the following translations of the text:—LDT 43.1

Dr. Adam Clarke says, “Many shall endeavor to search out the sense; and knowledge shall be increased-by this means.”LDT 43.2

In the German Bible of Luther, Revised, we read, “So shall many come over it, and find great understanding.”LDT 43.3

The German Parallel Bible reads, “Many shall run it through, and so the knowledge will be increased.”LDT 43.4

The German Bible of L. Van Ess, admitted also by the pope to Catholic readers, translates it, “Many will search it through, and the knowledge will be great.”LDT 43.5

The Swedish Bible reads, “Many shall search in it, and knowledge shall become great.”LDT 43.6

The Danish-Norwegian, Revised, reads, “Many shall eagerly search, and knowledge shall become much.”LDT 43.7

In the prediction concerning the sealing up and the opening of these words, the accuracy of prophetic fulfilment is again seen; namely, that the event, the time, the knowledge of the period of time, shall be sealed up, and when it shall be opened and understood by “many.” This event is calledLDT 43.8