The sealing was symbolic of a barrier to understanding. The meaning of Daniel 8–12 would not be fully grasped until the “time of the end.” As we shall see, the opening of this treasure house of prophetic knowledge would come progressively. This explains why there has been such divergence of opinion as to what these prophecies mean. God made it clear that those prophecies could not be understood until the time they were needed. No effort to know or solve the time periods of Daniel 12, as one example, would meet with success until the very end. It simply was not part of God’s plan. There are “great and solemn events which we must know as we stand on the very threshold of their fulfillments.”[2]

“These messages were given not for those who uttered the prophecies but for us who are living amid the scenes of their fulfillment.”[3]

How do we know that it was only a portion of Daniel that was to be sealed? Hippolytus wrote a remarkable treatise on Daniel 1–7 in the third century. He understood those chapters much like we do today.[4]

Secondly, E. G. White affirms that only a part of that book was closed.

“In the Revelation all the books of the Bible meet and end. Here is the complement of the book of Daniel. One is a prophecy; the other a revelation. The book that was sealed is not the Revelation, but that portion of the prophecy of Daniel relating to the last days. The angel commanded, ‘But thou, O Daniel, shut up the words, and seal the book, even to the time of the end.’ Daniel 12:4.”[5]

This is quite a revealing comment. Daniel was not instructed to seal prophetic understanding until the final Hebrew portion was presented. And then, as will be seen, only one of two visions of Daniel 8–12 was to be closed. It was the vision that, repeatedly, Gabriel, then Jesus, said related to the time of the end (eth qets).

“As the message of Christ’s first advent announced the kingdom of His grace, so the message of His second advent announces the kingdom of His glory. And the second message, like the first, is based on the prophecies. The words of the angel to Daniel relating to the last days were to be understood in the time of the end. At that time, ‘many shall run to and fro, and knowledge shall be increased.’ ‘The wicked shall do wickedly: and none of the wicked shall understand; but the wise shall understand.’ Dan. 12:4, 10.”[6]

Another unique setting unfolds in these special chapters. They are sequenced, event-filled messages and are repeatedly set within time periods. Two of those messages were so important that heaven would not let Gabriel convey the details to Daniel. Jesus, the “man clothed in linen” (12:6) and the “certain saint” (8:13) personally appeared to the prophet to state those time periods. Fascinating and extremely important to grasp, most of the time periods were incomplete. One might reveal an ending but no beginning. Another beginning and no clear ending. This revelatory technique was developed for a specific reason. Since the visions were presented in segments, partially due to Daniel’s inability to receive them all at once, that prophetic unveiling helps the student to tie the right positions together. It also prevents spurious manipulation of the periods. Knowing this incredible way the messages were given, there is only one way the timing pieces can be linked to each other.

The expanse of time covered by all these prophetic time periods spans from the decree to reestablish the theocracy of Israel in their homeland (9:25) to the deliverance of God’s people and the special resurrection (12:2).

Many scholars have attempted to show that the little horn of Daniel 7 is the same period as the little horn of Daniel 8. This conclusion avoids several key differences. Parallels do not always mean the same timing. The differences must also be studied. As this is done, vast frontiers of new light open. In this case, a second rise of the papacy.

In contrast to the four sequenced kingdoms of Daniel 2 and 7 (Babylon, Medo-Persia, Greece and Rome), the vision of chapter 8 begins with a ram (vs 3), which refers to Medo-Persia (vs 20) in an end-time setting. Why isn’t there a representation of Babylon to make a perfect recapitulation or repetition of Daniel 2 and 7? Some say it is because he was in Babylon and the vision looked forward – thus, Medo-Persia. Daniel was in Babylon for the other two visions also. This is not only a new vision, it introduces an entirely new message. In the previous visions the focus was on the kingdoms. Here, the focus is on the restoration of a covenant people. The kingdoms of Daniel 8 are timing markers for the prophecy. That, in turn, becomes an interpretative key.

The two animals presented – the ram and he-goat – are sanctuary atonement animals. The emphasis of the vision begins and is actually on Persia, the last and higher ram horn. Darius was the last Mede ruler and Cyrus the first in a series of Persian kings that followed: Cambyses (530-533 B.C.), False Smerdis (522-486 B.C.), the great King of Persia Xerxes I (Ahasuerus of Esther’s time;[7] 485-465 B.C.) and Artaxerxes I (Artaxerxes Longimanus;[8] 464-424 B.C.)

Why is the focus on Persia? That is the time period when the visions of Daniel 8–12 began. The issues do not relate to Babylon or the Medes. The 2300 atonement-year prophecy and the 490-year probationary prophecy for God’s people began during the Persian Empire, specifically during the reign of Artaxerxes I.

The ram, the animal used as a trespass offering, represented the Ram of God. His people were challenged to become like Him, outlined in 9:24. They were to put away sin and transgression and be restored fully to heaven’s favor. This is covenant completion imagery. The he-goat represents Satan, working through his agencies, especially the little horn, trying to thwart the covenant promise from being fulfilled.

Thus, the broad themes in Daniel 8–12 draw on deep spiritual issues for God’s remnant people. The brush sweeps over the canvas of time and rests finally on the great final battle between Christ and His people and Satan and his. It is a miniature portrayal of the whole book of Revelation, yet filled with unique information as Revelation’s introduction. God presents to His people details about events and time periods related to the very end of time.