How does Revelation 22:10 connect with Daniel's sealed prophecy in Daniel 12:4? The Contrast Between Sealed and Unsealed • Daniel 12:4 commands, “But you, Daniel, roll up and seal the book until the time of the end…”. • Revelation 22:10 reverses that instruction: “Then he told me, ‘Do not seal up the words of prophecy in this book, because the time is near.’ ”. • Daniel’s prophecy was deliberately closed for a future generation; John’s prophecy is deliberately opened because its fulfillment has moved into view. Why Daniel’s Scroll Was Sealed • God gave Daniel visions spanning Gentile world-powers (Daniel 2; 7) and Israel’s future (Daniel 9). • Yet the prophet was told his words were for “the time of the end,” a period beyond his lifetime when: – “Many will roam to and fro” (global movement). – “Knowledge will increase” (an explosion of information). • Sealing indicated preservation and limited understanding until God’s appointed moment (cf. Isaiah 29:11). Why John’s Scroll Is Open • Revelation unfolds the same “time of the end” Daniel foresaw, but now that time is “near” (Revelation 1:3; 22:10). • Christ’s first coming, death, and resurrection inaugurated the last days (Hebrews 1:2). • The church therefore needs unsealed prophecy to persevere and proclaim the gospel amid intensifying opposition (Revelation 1:9; 13:10). Key Parallels That Link the Two Prophets • Angelic messengers: Daniel 12:6–7; Revelation 10:5–6. • Time indicators: “time, times, and half a time” (Daniel 12:7) corresponds to 42 months/1,260 days (Revelation 11:2–3; 12:6,14). • Resurrection hope: Daniel 12:2–3; Revelation 20:4–6; 21:4. • Final judgment: Daniel 7:9–10; 12:1; Revelation 20:11–15. Implications for Today • We live during the overlap of Daniel’s “sealed” future and John’s “open” present—the prophetic clock is running. • The nearness of fulfillment calls for readiness (Matthew 24:42) and confident witness (Revelation 22:17). • Scripture’s literal accuracy assures us every promise—including Christ’s return (Acts 1:11) and the new creation (Revelation 21:1)—will occur exactly as written. Summing Up Daniel saw the distant horizon and was told to close the book; John stood at the threshold of fulfillment and was told to leave his book open. The shift from “seal” to “do not seal” signals that God’s redemptive plan has reached its final phase, inviting believers to understand, trust, and proclaim the prophetic word that is now unveiled. |
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