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The received Book of Daniel was 'shut up', 'closed up', 'sealed'!
Dan 12:4 "But you, Daniel, shut up the words, and seal
the book until the time of the end; ..."
12:9 And he said, "Go your way, Daniel, for the words
are closed up and sealed till the time of the end."
Notice, this was clearly stated in two verses!
'Shut up' and 'Closed up' - 'until the time of the end'!
Question - "With so many people studying this book over many centuries,
how is it possible that this book could remain closed?".
The current approach to the study of the Book of Daniel
1) To accept that the stated and implied historical
information was to be taken literally.
This generally means to accept the Babylonian,
Medo-Persian, Greek and Roman sequence of empires.
For most the four beasts in Daniel chapter 7 are
considered a repetition of the Daniel chapter 2
teaching.
In effect many consider this predicted, now
historical, information as proof of the truly
sovereign nature of God.
2) To focus upon unravelling the intended end-time
portrayals in a so-called 'professional' manner.
Accepting only the obvious use of symbolism.
3) To accept the well known 'day for a year' principle,
but cast doubt upon other time period connections.
4) Link to the Book of Revelation - as some common
symbolism is present in both books.
5) Utilise information present in history books, e.g.
Books of the Maccabees, to arrive at historical
information not specifically stated in Scripture.
So, has this apparently professional approach resulted in consensus?
Unfortunately not.
Prophetic Scripture represents something like a complex jigsaw.
And, like a complex jigsaw, one will know the jigsaw has been
successfully completed. When all the pieces have finally fitted
nicely together and a smooth cohesive image has finally become
visible.
Indeed, if the above five points were all that was necessary the
secrets of the Book of Daniel should have already been revealed.
There should already be clear agreement amongst professional
bible scholars.
As this is not the case:
It is apparent that God's initial 'sealing'
was stronger than initially anticipated.
What mechanisms may have been embodied within the text of Book of
Daniel to ensure a truly robust sealing. A sealing which could only
be circumvented with the active assistance of God.
Mechanisms to ensure enhanced complexity.
1) Increase the level of symbolism and the complexity
of number conversion to the point where even a
biblically learned and gifted individual can not
comprehend.
This is the approach taken with Daniel chapter 8.
Where even Daniel, despite serious effort and
consultation with others could not begin to fathom
the meaning.
2) Use knowledge of Old Covenant information or
requirements, some of which may not be fully
recognised or understood.
Examples:
a) 'mene, mene, tekel, upharsin' in Daniel
chapter 5.
b) Number of days in a normal biblical year
- connected to 'seven times' of Daniel 4:16.
c) Meaning of 'appointed' in verse 12:7.
3) Use a double application of symbolism.
A symbolic representing a further symbolic!
Have a presented explanation of a symbol,
not represent the final reality, but just a
further symbol which needs to be explained.
An example would be the ram and goat entities
being defined as 'Media and Persia' and 'Greece'.
While not making it apparent that 'Media and Persia'
and 'Greece' are themselves being used as symbols
for other entities.
4) Present a reasonably easily derived 'decoy' view.
Thereby causing would be interpreters to expend
significant volumes of thought, research and
commentary on what would always be a 'dead end'
line of reasoning.
Two prominent prophecies needed researchers to
be fully distracted!
a) The four parts of the Daniel chapter 2 statue.
Everyone focuses upon Babylon and the following
three empires. Ensuring researchers consider
associated historical facts and discuss data
associated with all the four empires.
Preventing researchers from realising that the
structure itself was the key message (and that
the presented structure had to be applied to
another entity).
b) The crucial 9:24-27 prophecy being delivered
prior to the rebuilding of the temple which
was about five centuries before the crucifixion
of Christ. Giving the strong impression that
this was essence of the prophecy. Therefore,
preventing the identification and focus upon
another much less apparent perspective.
5) Require the bible student/scholar also develop
a comprehensive perspective of biblical chronology.
Without which many implied long time periods could
not be understood or confirmed.
6) The use of uncommon Aramaic or Hebrew words,
grammar or text.
Examples: a) "and to part one was set up",
referring to the chapter 7 bear.
b) the unusual grammar form of the
word 'sevens' in chapter 9.
7) Increase the level of presented detail so that it
exceeds easy recollection. Then combine this with
an extensive use of symbolism. Making the resulting
task of resolution appear insurmountable.
Daniel chapter 11 is an example of such an approach.
Approaches, that would ensure the book would remain 'closed'!
Closed - until God chose otherwise.
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