Daniel 12:4: But thou, O Daniel shut up the words and seal the book to the time of the end. Many shall run to and fro, and knowledge shall increase.”

 

I am continually researching the Jewish and Christian literature and occasionally I will reprint an old study with some new updates to give some deeper insights I have gleaned from my studies.  This passage is one such study.  I have posted this study two times and now a third with additional material. I tend to keep coming back to this passage as I believe we are approaching the time of the end and the words sealed up by Daniel are beginning to be revealed through or increase of knowledge of the ancient dead Semitic languages as well as new Archaeological discoveries. Maybe I am wrong, but somehow I feel God is using our modern technologies and science to open up to us an understanding that has been sealed up for over 2,500 years.

 

There are many interpretations of this verse and I will not declare any of them to be wrong, I only would like to give my idea for your consideration. I will not be disappointed if you reject it but I do hope you might find it not only a blessing but an encouragement for these latter days.  I lay no claim to special insight or revelation, just a little practical application from the teachings of the sages which may very well be misapplied, but might well give you a different take on this passage.

 

Daniel is commanded to do two things.  He is to shut up the words (devar). Note this is not words amar but words devar.  Devar is the same in Hebrew and are words from the heart, words that carry power particularly when it comes from God’s heart. Some scholars have said that the word devar is the Hebrew equivalent to the Greek word rhema.  They may be right. The word is spelled Daleth a doorway, Beth the heart and Resh God’s power. The spiritual application of devar is a gateway or portal to the heart of God’s and His power.  Daniel is commanded to shut these powerful words up.  Shut up in Hebrew (chapters 1 and 8-13 are in Hebrew, 2-7 are n Aramaic) is sethom.  This is to keep in protective custody.  It has the idea of concealing vital information.  Our modern equivalent is the witness protective program in our legal system. A witness is kept in protective custody, not allowing him to speak or interact with anyone until it is time to give his testimony.  That is sethom.

 

Daniel is then told to seal the book up.  The word seal is similar to sethom only it is chethom.  This is used for the putting of a royal seal on a document.  Only those with proper authority can break the seal.  The word book is sofar which is a word for book or papyrus scroll, but it is also used to express the recording of the verbal words of God.  Daniel was to put a seal on these words that could only be opened by those who had the proper authority.

 

So what is this special event when these words which are to be placed into protective custody are to be spoken again?   And just when will the time come when someone with the right authority can unseal this message?   It is the time of the end.  Kes which has the idea of reaching it’s limits, the end of timewhen time reaches it’s limits.

 

Here is an interesting thought to consider.  The sages teach that time is like a corkscrew that starts at a wide bottom and narrows as it gets to the top.  This is why at the time of Noah men live to be hundreds of years old where today the life span is under 100.  Time, as Einstein pointed out is relative.  A 900 year old man during Noah’s time is like a 90 year old man today because that corkscrew of time gets narrower as you get closer to the top.  The sages teach that there are portals opening as time journeys to the apex and these portals create similar major event.  A similar portal will open creating a similar event in history.  One example is the abomination of desolation. This has occurred many times in history.  It is a recurring event and viewed as a recurring portal.  Only as the corkscrew of time narrows, these events get closer together until it reaches the point where the events are almost parallel to each other. That is why Jesus said in the last days there shall be wars and rumors of wars. There has always been wars and rumors of war, but perhaps Jesus is referring to this reoccurring of events that are opening portals closer to each other.

 

Hence men running to and fro yeshotetu rabim or more accurately in the Hebrew  from the starting point to the end point  which is expressing the idea that the recurring events and time has come so close to the top of the corkscrew where all tangent points come together, that man will move from one portal to the other portal in one life time, where in the past it would talk a dozen lifetimes, or a half dozen lifetimes and maybe three lifetimes, then two and finally one life time to see an event reoccur.  Increase in wars and rumors of wars, increase in earthquakes, and natural disasters is a natural result of the corkscrew of time narrowing and a sign that time is about to reach it’s apex or the tip or the end.

 

When this happens, knowledge will increase.  The word knowledge yada represents a knowledge of God.   Hebrew Scriptures show that each generation builds upon the knowledge of God from the former generation with greater knowledge being added to the new generation.  When humankind reaches that tip of the corkscrew  or the end of time, they will have reached that level of knowledge of God where they can then hear the testimony which has been shut up or sethom.  Whatever that may be.

 

What are these Words?  After thirty five years of studying the Jewish Talmud and other Jewish Literature and the advances in linguistics and Archaeology, I have my ideas, but I will not share them in print for I could be wrong.  I will share them in private however. Invite me over for a bagel and I will share my thoughts with you, but I believe many, particularly those reading my blog would only respond, “I’ve been thinking the same thing.”

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