Popular preaching claims that the mysteries “sealed” by the Prophet Daniel will be disclosed at last in the final years of this age, presumably, within the present or so-called “last generation.” But this understanding overlooks the verbal links between the books of Daniel and Revelation, and especially the explicit declarations of the latter. The “sealed scroll” opened by the “Lamb” is none other than Daniel’s “scroll,” only now, its contents are unveiled in the visions received by John while on the Isle of Patmos.
Put
another way, with the death, resurrection, and exaltation of Jesus, the period
of the “last days” commenced, the era of fulfillment. The “mysteries of God”
that were previously hidden are now revealed in him, and the Nazarene now reigns
from the divine throne over events on the Earth. Thus, what was enigmatic and
partial at best in the Book of Daniel is made clear in Revelation.
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In short, certain popular interpretations of end-time prophecy may be waiting for revelation and insight that already is hidden in plain sight on the pages of the New Testament.
At
the close of his visions, an angel commanded Daniel “to close the words and
seal the book until the season of the end.” In contrast, in the Book of Revelation,
the “scroll” is unsealed from the Book’s first paragraph, thus revealing
its contents for all to see. Daniel was told to “seal the scroll,” but John
was commanded NOT to seal it. The verbal parallels are deliberate and
telling.
The
first word in the Greek text of Revelation is apokalupsis. It means an “unveiling, disclosure, revelation.” And so, God gave the
visions of the Book to Jesus so he would show His “servants what things must
come to pass soon.”
The visions in the Book disclose previously hidden information. They are not intended to veil information or to mystify its readers.
At
the end of his vision, Daniel “wondered but none understood” his vision. Its
significance remained a mystery even to the prophet. In contrast, anyone who
hears and heeds the “prophecy” of Revelation is pronounced “blessed”
since in it the “things that must come to pass soon” are disclosed, at
least to those who have “ears to hear what the Spirit is saying to the
assemblies.”
DISCLOSURE
- (Daniel 12:4) – “But you, Daniel, close up the words and seal the book until the time of the end; many will run to and fro, and knowledge shall abound.”
- (Revelation 1:1-3) – “The Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave to him to point out unto his servants THE THINGS WHICH MUST COME TO PASS with speed… For THE SEASON IS NEAR.”
The
purpose of Revelation is declared in its opening paragraph - To “show
God’s servants by signs WHAT THINGS
MUST COME TO PASS soon.” And these “things” include the
various events depicted in the visions received by John while he was “on the
isle of Patmos.”
In
the immediate context, the plural noun rendered “servants” refers to the
“seven congregations of Asia,” and the first verse of the Book alludes
to the interpretation of the dream of the “great image with a head of gold”
provided by the prophet Daniel to King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon:
- “There is a God in heaven that reveals mysteries and has shown the king WHAT THINGS MUST COME TO PASS in latter days” - (Daniel 2:26-28).
In
the Septuagint version, the Greek clause is an exact match to the one
recorded in the Greek text of Revelation, only the original term “latter
days” is changed to “soon.” In other words, what was in the distant
future for Daniel is now imminent for John and the “assemblies of Asia.”
The
declaration that “THE SEASON is
near” echoes the angel’s instructions to Daniel: “But, you, Daniel, close the words and seal the
book until the SEASON of the end. In
both Daniel and Revelation, the English term “season” represents
the Greek noun kairos, meaning “season, a set
time.”
As
before, the commandment given to John changes the time reference from “end”
in Daniel to “near” or engus in Revelation. The latter is a Greek term for something that is “near, imminent,
proximate; that which is at hand.”
In
other words, what was in a remote future for Daniel is imminent if not already
underway for the readers of the Book of Revelation.
DO NOT SEAL
At
the conclusion of Revelation, the angel tells John NOT “to
seal the sayings of the prophecy of this book, for THE SEASON IS AT HAND.” This is a deliberate contrast to
the command given to Daniel. That which the latter was commanded to seal, John is
ordered explicitly NOT TO SEAL. Thus, the time of disclosure has arrived
- (Revelation 22:10).
And
in Revelation, Jesus is the “Faithful Witness, the Firstborn of the Dead,
and the Ruler of the kings of the Earth.”
He became the “Faithful Witness” in his death, the “Firstborn
of the Dead” through his resurrection, and he has been the “Ruler of the
kings of the Earth” since his consequent exaltation to the throne of God.
Thus,
with his death, resurrection, and exaltation, the “last days” have commenced
in earnest. And this is, in part, why the “Dragon” and his earthly
agents, the “Beast from the Sea,” the “False Prophet,” and “Babylon”
expend all their energies waging war on the saints. Satan is enraged, knowing
that he has only a “short time” remaining.
In
Jesus, the “season” of the “end” has dawned, the time to unseal the
“words of the scroll” that were sealed centuries ago by Daniel. The period
known as the “last days” has arrived in earnest and is now well underway.