John Calvin Commentary Daniel 12:9

"And he said, Go thy way, Daniel; for the words are shut up and sealed till the time of the end." — Daniel 12:9 (ASV)

Although Daniel was not moved by any foolish curiosity to ask the angel about the outcome of these wonderful events, he still did not receive what he asked for. God intended for some of His predictions to be partially understood, and the rest to remain hidden until the time of complete revelation arrived.

This is the reason why the angel did not reply to Daniel. The desire, in truth, was devout, and, as we have said before, it was not unlawful; but God, knowing what was best for him, did not grant his request. He is dismissed by the angel, because the words were shut up and sealed. The angel uses this expression in a sense different from the previous one.

For he ordered Daniel to close and seal the words like precious treasures, as they would be disregarded by many unbelievers, and by almost all the people. Here then, he says, the words were closed up and sealed, as there was no suitable time for revealing them. It was as if he had said that nothing had been predicted either vainly or rashly, but the full blaze of light has not yet illuminated the prediction; therefore, we must wait until the truth itself is proven by the event, and so the divine message of the angel is made clear.

This is the summary. He then says, until the time of the end. Someone might object: then for what purpose was this prediction given? For Daniel himself, who was instructed by the angel, could not fully understand his own message, and the rest of the faithful, although skilled in these prophetic studies, felt themselves in a maze here. The answer is ready: until the time of the end; and we must also remember that neither Daniel nor the rest of the faithful were deprived of all the benefit of this prophecy, for God explained to them whatever was sufficient for the needs of their own times. I must touch on some points briefly, in order to finish today.