John Calvin Commentary 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." — Daniel 12:4 (ASV)

We have already explained that “the time of the end” is a period previously fixed on by God and settled by His own counsel. The following word refers to tracing out and running to and fro, but not necessarily in a bad sense, while it also signifies to investigate. Interpreters explain the angel’s meaning as if many would be unworthy to receive this prophecy from Daniel; and therefore it was to be closed up and only enigmatically delivered to a few, because scarcely one in a hundred would pay attention to what he had delivered.

I think the Holy Spirit has a different intention here. The angel’s advice is this: There is no reason why this prophecy should cause despondency or dismay because few would receive it. Although it would be universally despised and ridiculed, nevertheless shut it up like a precious treasure. Isaiah has a passage nearly similar (Isaiah 8:16): Close up my law, seal the testimony among my disciples.

Isaiah’s spirit would be broken when he perceived himself an object of universal derision and God’s sacred oracles trodden underfoot; thus he might lose all courage and decline his office as a teacher. But God affords him comfort: Close up, says He, my law among my disciples, and do not notice this profane crew; although they all despise your teaching, do not suppose your voice deserves their ridicule; close it up, close it up among my disciples, says He; however few may embrace your teaching, yet let it remain sacred and laid up in the hearts of the pious. The Prophet afterwards says, Behold my children with me. Here he boasts in his contentment with very few, and thus triumphs over the impious and insolent multitude.

So at the present time in the Papacy and throughout the whole world, impiety prevails so extensively that there is scarcely a single corner in which the majority agree in true obedience to God. As God foresaw how very few would embrace this prophecy with becoming reverence, the angel desired to animate the Prophet, lest he grow weary and consider this prophecy of little value because it failed to command the applause of the whole world.

Close up the book, then. But what does the phrase imply? Not to hide it from all men, but to satisfy the Prophet when he saw so few reverently embracing the teaching so plainly set before him by the angel. This is not properly a command; the angel simply tells Daniel to hide or seal up this book and these words, offering him at the same time much consolation.

If all men despise your doctrine and reject what you set before them—if the majority pass it by contemptuously—shut it up and seal it, not treating it as valueless, but preserving it as a treasure. I deposit it with time; you lay it up among my disciples. You, Daniel; here the Prophet’s name is mentioned.

If you think yourself to be alone, yet companions will afterwards be added to you who will treat this prophecy with true piety. Shut up, then, and seal it until the time of the end; for God will prove by the event that He has not spoken in vain, and experience will show that I was sent by Him, since every occurrence has been previously predicted.

Many shall investigate, and knowledge shall increase. Some writers take this second clause in a contrary sense, as if many erratic spirits would run about with vague speculations and wander from the truth. But this is too forced. I do not hesitate to suppose the angel to promise the arrival of a period when God would collect many disciples to Himself, although at the beginning they would be very few and insignificant.

Many, then, shall investigate; meaning, though they are most careless and slothful while boasting themselves God’s people, yet God would gather to Himself a great multitude from other quarters. Small indeed and insignificant is the apparent number of the faithful who care for the truth of God and who show any eagerness to learn it, but do not let this scarcity move you.

The sons of God will soon increase. Many shall investigate, and knowledge shall increase. This prophecy will not always be buried in obscurity; the Lord will eventually cause many to embrace it to their own salvation. This event really came to pass. Before Christ’s coming, this doctrine was not esteemed according to its value.

The extreme ignorance and grossness of the people is notorious, while their religion was nearly overthrown until God afterwards increased His Church. And at the present time, anyone who will carefully consider this prediction will experience its utility. This can scarcely be fully expressed in words; for, unless this prophecy had been preserved and laid up like an inestimable treasure, much of our faith would have passed away. This divine assistance affords us strength and enables us to overcome all the attacks of the world and of the devil.

Prayer:

Grant, Almighty God, since we have to engage in battle throughout the course of our lives, and our strength is liable to fail in various ways, that we may be supported by Your power and so persevere to the end. May we never grow weary, but learn to overcome the whole world and to look forward to that happy eternity to which You invite us. May we never hesitate while Christ Your Son fights for us, in whose hand and power our victory is placed; and may He ever admit us into alliance with Himself in that conquest which He has procured for us, until at length He will gather us at the last day into the enjoyment of that triumph in which He has gone before us. Amen.