Daniel 8:26 - Printer Friendly

ESV: The vision of the evenings and the mornings that has been told is true, but seal up the vision, for it refers to many days from now."

NIV: "The vision of the evenings and mornings that has been given you is true, but seal up the vision, for it concerns the distant future."

NASB: And the vision of the evenings and mornings Which has been told is true; But as for you, keep the vision secret, Because it pertains to many days in the future.'

CSB: The vision of the evenings and the mornings that has been told is true. Now you are to seal up the vision because it refers to many days in the future."

NLT: This vision about the 2,300 evenings and mornings is true. But none of these things will happen for a long time, so keep this vision a secret.'

KJV: And the vision of the evening and the morning which was told is true: wherefore shut thou up the vision; for it shall be for many days.

NKJV: “And the vision of the evenings and mornings Which was told is true; Therefore seal up the vision, For it refers to many days in the future.”

Gabriel (Daniel 8:15–16) affirmed that the prior mention of evenings and the mornings was true (Daniel 8:13–14). He advises Daniel to "seal up" what has been seen (Daniel 8:1–2) so it can be preserved. As Daniel will later note (Daniel 9:21–23; 10:21), he was guided to write his words in precisely the way God wanted. This process of writing under God's inspiration is defined in 2 Peter 1:21: "For no prophecy was ever produced by the will of man, but men spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit."

These fulfillments are far in Daniel's future, as he wrote in the mid-sixth-century BC. Events contained in this vision were at least several centuries away. Some, like those referring to the end times, were millennia in the future as they have yet to be fulfilled. "Sealing" a scroll kept the loose ends secured so it would be more durable.

In an earlier comment, Daniel heard that this time of trouble would last some 2,300 "evenings and mornings" (Daniel 8:14). The book of Genesis uses the phrase "evening and morning" to refer to a day, but some commentators believe this might mean a total of 2,300 evenings plus mornings, or 1,150 days. This would make the time roughly the same as the "great tribulation" predicted later (Daniel 9:27), but with some discrepancy.

More widely accepted is that this terrible time would end on or about 164 BC with the death of Antiochus IV Epiphanes, who had come to power around 170 BC. His evil included terrible persecution and desecration of the Jewish temple. Some commentators link the number 2,300 to the total number of sacrifices—morning and evening—which would have been prevented between the temple's defilement around 167 BC and its cleansing after Epiphanes' death. After being purified, the twice-daily sacrifices were able to resume.

Daniel 8:15–27 includes the angel Gabriel's explanation of Daniel's vision, along with Daniel's reaction. The symbols Daniel saw predict the end of the Medo-Persian empire, the rise and fall of Alexander the Great, and the emergence of a tyrant who persecutes the Jewish people. Though the prophecy has been "explained" Daniel doesn't fully grasp everything that's going to occur. What he's told is disturbing enough to keep him bedridden for several days.

Daniel sees a vision, later explained to him by the angel Gabriel. A swift-moving goat overpowers a two-horned ram. This represents the conquest of Greece over Medo-Persia. Then the goat's horn shatters, replaced by four more; this predicts Alexander the Great's death and succession. Later, a ruler arises to brutally persecute God's people. This prophecy refers to Antiochus IV Epiphanes, who desecrated the temple and outlawed Jewish religious practices. It also foreshadows the end times when the Antichrist will be tied to similar events. The experience leaves Daniel temporarily bedridden.

The first 6 chapters of Daniel recorded events from his life. The final chapters record his visions of the future. The prior chapter contained a dream involving several animals, depicting powerful nations. The vision explained here also deals with conquering empires, but also touches on events to come in the end times. Daniel's next passage includes his prayer for Israel and further explanation of what will happen in the last days of human history.

The book of Daniel contains famous Old Testament stories and prophecies. Daniel was taken from the Israelite people and made an advisor for a conquering empire. He demonstrates faithfulness and wisdom during many years serving in this role. Though Daniel does not deliver a public message, Jesus refers to him as a "prophet" (Matthew 24:15). The first portion of the book mostly describes Daniel's interpretations of dreams and other events. The second portion looks ahead to the end times. Daniel is classified in English Bibles as a "major" prophet, meaning the book is relatively long and the content has broad implications. The book of Revelation echoes and expands on many of the same themes.