How does this verse connect with Daniel's sealed visions in Daniel 12:4? Setting the Scene “Then the seven thunders spoke, and when they had sounded, I was about to write. But I heard a voice from heaven saying, ‘Seal up what the seven thunders have spoken, and do not write it down.’” (Revelation 10:4) Echoes of Daniel 12:4 “But you, Daniel, close up and seal the words of the scroll until the time of the end; many will roam about, and knowledge will increase.” (Daniel 12:4) Shared Themes: What Sealing Signifies • Divine ownership: the message belongs to God, not the prophet • Perfect timing: truth unveiled only when God decrees • Preservation: the prophecy remains intact, protected from corruption • Expectation: a signal that more is coming in God’s redemptive plan Key Differences Between Daniel’s Seal and John’s Seal • Scope – Daniel is told to seal the entire prophecy concerning the “time of the end” – John is told to seal only the thunder utterances; the rest of Revelation is open • Timing – Daniel’s seal endures “until the time of the end” (12:9) – John later hears, “Do not seal up the words of the prophecy of this book, because the time is near” (Revelation 22:10) • Progress – Daniel looks forward to an age when knowledge will increase – John writes near the culmination of that age, yet some mystery still remains (Revelation 10:7) Progressive Revelation Across Scripture • Revelation 5:1–9: the sealed scroll opened by the Lamb shows God moving from concealment to disclosure • 1 Peter 1:10–12: prophets glimpsed future grace but understood it only partially • Deuteronomy 29:29: “The secret things belong to the LORD our God, but the things revealed belong to us…” Why Some Truths Remain Sealed Today • To highlight God’s sovereignty and our dependence • To guard believers from speculation that distracts from obedience • To preserve awe and expectancy for the final unveiling at Christ’s return Living in Light of What Is Revealed • Hold fast to the clear gospel message already unsealed (1 Corinthians 15:1–4) • Trust God’s timetable, knowing He will complete His mystery (Revelation 10:7) • Walk in readiness, recognizing that sealed mysteries underscore the nearness of the end (Romans 13:11–12) |
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