Yes, Daniel's prophecies were intentionally sealed until the end times, so understanding was not possible until recently.
According to Daniel 12, the words were closed up and sealed until the time of the end. Les Feldick notes that it wasn't until the late 1800s that men began to comprehend prophecy, and understanding has increased since then as the end time approaches.
Daniel 12:4 — God tells Daniel to shut up the words and seal the book until the time of the end, directly explaining why understanding was delayed.
Daniel 12:8 — Daniel himself admits he did not understand what he wrote, showing that the prophecies were not meant to be understood at that time.
In Daniel 12, God instructs Daniel to 'shut up the words, and seal the book, even to the time of the end' (Daniel 12:4). This sealing indicates that the prophecies were not meant to be fully understood until the appointed time. Daniel himself confessed, 'I heard, but I understood not' (Daniel 12:8), even after writing these prophecies. The Bible says that at the time of the end, 'many shall run to and fro, and knowledge shall be increased' (Daniel 12:4), suggesting that understanding would come only when the end drew near.
Les Feldick explains that Daniel's prophecies were closed and sealed until the end times, so for centuries they were not clearly understood even by scholars and theologians. He observes that it wasn't until the late 1800s and the turn of the century that men began to get a comprehension of prophecy. He attributes this increased understanding to the Holy Spirit opening the Scriptures as the end time approaches, and he notes that modern technology makes end-time prophecies more believable and easier to understand today.
Les Feldick points out that it wasn't until the late 1800s and the turn of the century that men began to get a comprehension of prophecy. Before that, there was not a clear-cut teaching of how these things would unfold. He says that by 1900, many teachers were gaining a fairly clear perspective, and today it is even easier to understand.
No, Daniel did not understand what he wrote. He said, 'I heard, but I understood not' (Daniel 12:8). Les emphasizes that even though Daniel received these revelations, he couldn't comprehend the full picture, and God told him not to worry about it because it wasn't for him to know until the time of the end.
Les Feldick explains that Daniel was a book of prophecy that was almost just so much gobbledygook to most scholars and theologians through history because it contained so many end-time scenarios they couldn't comprehend. Therefore, it was a closed book until the time of the end, when it would be opened up.
Les points out that with modern communications and satellite television, we can see events happening around the world instantly, making the book of Revelation and other end-time prophecies more believable and understandable. He says all you have to do is attach these prophecies to modern technology and it makes sense.
Daniel told to seal the book
Les explains that God told Daniel to shut up the words and seal the book until the time of the end, meaning the prophecies were closed for about 2,500 years.
Understanding of prophecy began in late 1800s
Les says it wasn't until the late 1800s that men began to comprehend prophecy, and that understanding has become easier as we approach the end time.
Daniel did not understand what he wrote
Les highlights that Daniel himself admitted he did not understand what he wrote, showing that the prophecies were not meant to be understood at that time.
Daniel was a closed book to scholars
Les explains that Daniel's prophecies were like gobbledygook to scholars because they couldn't comprehend the end-time scenarios, making it a closed book until now.
Modern technology makes prophecy understandable
Les points out that modern technology and instant communication make end-time prophecies more believable and understandable today.
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That's as far as you have to go. He has put His stamp of approval on the book of Daniel as being a book of prophecy. And so we don't have to conjecture, well, you know, is this something that's not for real? Of course it is. And as I've pointed out ever since we started back in Genesis, just like these three books written uniquely out of the land, all of these just show us and tell us that this bo…
Daniel's words were not understood
Les reiterates that Daniel heard but did not understand, comparing it to New Testament revelations about the end times.
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.
God commands Daniel to seal the prophecy until the end times, explaining why understanding was delayed.
Daniel 12:8: And I heard, but I understood not: then said I, O my Lord, what shall be the end of these things?
Daniel admits he did not understand the prophecies he received, confirming that they were sealed from comprehension.
God told Daniel to seal the book until the time of the end, meaning the prophecies were not meant to be fully understood until the end times approached. This is why people didn't understand them until recently.
According to Les Feldick, it wasn't until the late 1800s and the turn of the century that men began to comprehend prophecy. This understanding has increased as the end time draws nearer.
No, Daniel said, 'I heard, but I understood not' (Daniel 12:8). He knew that terrible times were coming, but he could not understand the details.
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