THE WORDS AND BOOK CLOSED AND SEALED
Daniel 12:4: “But thou, 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.” It is often brought as an objection to the advocacy of the views here presented, that “others have written on the subject, and they have discovered nothing of which you speak. If these things are so, why did they not find it out?” Has any new revelation been made to you, that you know so much more than the wise and good who have gone before you?”APEC 106.1
To this it is replied, No; I do not profess any new revelation on the subject. And as an explanation of the reason why “the wise and good” have not discovered these things, I will direct the inquirer to the text quoted above. The prophecy was, by divine command, closed and sealed, even to the time of the end. How then could the wisest or best of men understand what God had closed and sealed? But I have proved that the time of the end has come, and has continued from 1798 to the present time. And are we not authorized to look for an increase of knowledge at the time of the end? Most certainly. And we have it: for the last forty years there has been more said and written on the prophecies, and more light reflected on them, than, for centuries before. And light continues to increase. And those who can be persuaded to give up the old tradition of a temporal millennium, and search the Bible for themselves, see the light. But how can those “believe who seek honor one of another, and not that honor which comes from God?” But the seal is now evidently broken; and many run to and fro; and knowledge on this and all other subjects is increased.APEC 106.2
Verses 5-7. A new scene is presented, and two celestial beings were heard conversing; one inquired, “How long shall it be to the end of these wonders?” The wonders are the events foretold in the 11th and first three verses of the 12th chapter. “The other replied, and lifted up his hand to heaven, and sware by him that liveth, forever, that it shall be for a time, times, and an half; and when he shall have accomplished to scatter the power of the holy people, all these things shall be finished.”APEC 107.1
That the first part of this text has been fulfilled, has been already demonstrated. (See the third division, the kingdom of God at hand.) That the latter part is in a rapid course of fulfilment, all who know anything of the state of the world at the present time, I think, will acknowledge. What is meant by scattering the power of the holy people? Daniel exclaimed, “I heard, but I understood not Then said I, O my Lord, what shall be the end of these things?” The time when they should be accomplished had already been stated But he did not understand the meaning of the concluding event, the scattering the power, etc. It was replied to him, “the words are closed up and sealed, even to the time of the end.” As much as to say, it was not for him to know the full meaning; that was reserved for others. But an intimation of the nature of the event was given. Verse 10: “Many shall be purified, and made white and tried.” There shall be a great revival of religion at the time of the end, and many shall be converted. “But the wicked shall do wickedly.” The wicked shall still hold on their wicked course. “The wise shall understand.” Those who believe God’s word will understand the Scriptures and the signs of the times. “But none of the wicked shall understand.” They who remain enemies to God shall be overtaken as a thief.APEC 107.2
The scattering of the power of the holy people is the extension of the gospel. The term should rather have the idea of spreading attached to it. It is the same event as that promised by the Savior, Matthew 24:14: “This gospel of the kingdom must be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations. Then shall the end come.”APEC 108.1
That this work is rapidly going forward, and that God is succeeding it in a very gracious manner, by pouring out his Spirit on all flesh, is too manifest to need proof. Never before were such efforts made for the spread of the gospel. And never before were the heathen so eager to receive it. What is done by England and America is but a part of what is being done in this work. God is raising up laborers by hundreds, where but yesterday, as it were, all was the darkness of the grave respecting the gospel. Is not the end, then, evidently near?APEC 108.2
Verse 11: “And from the time that the daily sacrifice shall be taken away and the abomination that maketh desolate set up, there shall be 1290 days.” “The daily sacrifice,” we have seen above, was the pagan sacrifices offered in Rome. 1290 days were to elapse from the time they ceased to be offered, to the fall of papal rule. Paganism ceased in Rome A. D. 508. 1290 years (for we are to reckon those days, years) would bring us to 1798, when the papal dominion fell.APEC 108.3
Verse 12: “Blessed is he that waiteth and cometh to the 1335 days.” From the same period, the taking away the daily, to the end, should be 1335 days or years. The daily was taken away 508. 1335 years added to that, will bring us to A. D. 1843. “But go thou thy way till the end be; for thou shalt rest, and stand in thy lot at the end of the days.” At the end of 1335 years, then, the end will come, and Daniel will stand in his lot, with all the sanctified.APEC 109.1
A few more remarks, and this division of the subject shall be dismissed. We have already seen that Daniel was directed to shut up the words and seal the book to the time of the end; and afterward, when he wished to understand further respecting the prophecy he uttered, he was told that the words were closed and sealed to the time of the end. Now let this fact be compared with Acts 1:6, 7. When the disciples asked the Lord, “Wilt thou at this time restore the kingdom to Israel?” he replied, “It is not for you to know the times and seasons which the Father hath put in his own power.” The time of the end had not then come, therefore they were not permitted to understand the times foretold by the holy prophets. See also 1 Peter 1:10-12. There we are told that the prophets searched and inquired diligently, what, and what manner of time, the Spirit of Christ did signify, when it testified beforehand the sufferings of Christ and the glory that should follow-everlasting glory. But it was revealed to them that they ministered, not to themselves, but to after generations. And how applicable are these remarks to Daniel. The Spirit of Christ taught him, and then directed him to close the words and seal the book to the time of the end; and the words were shut up and the book sealed to the time of the end. But that time has come.APEC 109.2