Daniel 8:26And 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. https://www.kingjamesbibleonline.org/Daniel-Chapter-8/
In this study we will discuss what the phrase in Daniel 8:26 “shut thou up the vision” means. For all previous verse studies go to my website www.propheasy.com and to CATEGORIES and you can find all previous Daniel 8 verse by verse studies under the CATEGORY Daniel 8.
First a Review of the Word Vision as used in two different ways in this verse:
These words concern the second word used for “vision” in this verse. It is “chazown”. The first word for vision used In this verse was in the first phrase regarding the evening and the morning was “mareh” in reference to the “appearance of the man”.
These two different words translated from Hebrew with the word vision are used in the chapter of Daniel 8. They refer to two different things. You can review that in our Bible Study discussion regarding Daniel 8:15 in which both these different words for vision are first used together. Below I have shared from the Strong’s Concordance the different Hebrew words translated vision H4758 and H2377.
And the vision H4758 of the evening H6153 and the morning H1242 which was told H559 is true: H571 wherefore shut thou up H5640 the vision; H2377 for it shall be for many H7227 days. H3117
The first mention is vision Hebrew 4758 meaning:
מַרְאֶה marʼeh, mar-eh'; from H7200; a view (the act of seeing); also an appearance (the thing seen), whether (real) a shape (especially if handsome, comeliness; often plural the looks), or (mental) a vision:—× apparently, appearance(-reth), × as soon as beautiful(-ly), countenance, fair, favoured, form, goodly, to look (up) on (to), look(-eth), pattern, to see, seem, sight, visage, vision. https://www.blueletterbible.org/lang/Lexicon/Lexicon.cfm?strongs=H4758&t=KJV
For the sake of simplicity we will use the translation, “appearance”. For reference, we saw this first in our study on Daniel 8:15 regarding the “appearance of the Mighty man” who we found out was Michael or Christ.
Daniel 8:15And it came to pass, when I, even I Daniel, had seen the vision, and sought for the meaning, then, behold, there stood before me as the appearanceof a man. https://www.kingjamesbibleonline.org/Daniel-Chapter-8/
The second word used for vision in Daniel 8:26 is Hebrew H2377 from the Strong’s meaning:
חָזוֹן châzôwn, khaw-zone'; from H2372; a sight (mentally), i.e. a dream, revelation, or oracle:—vision. https://www.blueletterbible.org/lang/Lexicon/Lexicon.cfm?strongs=H2377&t=KJV
This word “chazown” is used repeatedly throughout Daniel 8 regarding the 2300 day vision of Daniel 8:1-14.
“SHUT THOU UP”
or
CATHAM
This word “catham” translated as the whole phrase “wherefore shut thou up” from the Strong’s Concordance is used as follows:
סָתַם çâtham, saw-tham'; or שָׂתַם sâtham; (Numbers 24:15), a primitive root; to stop up; by implication, to repair; figuratively, to keep secret:—closed up, hidden, secret, shut out (up), stop.
In Ezekiel this word “catham” is translated “secret”.
Ezekiel 28:3Behold, thou art wiser than Daniel; there is no secret that they can hide from thee: https://www.kingjamesbibleonline.org/Ezekiel-Chapter-28/
The word “catham” translated again “shut up” and “closed up” is also used in the same context in Daniel 12:4 & 9 regarding the entire book of Daniel. Also in these verses we get another hint regarding when the words of Daniel would begin to be understood. His words would not be understood, or would be kept secret or hidden for a very long time, not until the “time of the end”.
Here in these verses the word “catham” is translated “seal” or “close up and sealed”.
Daniel 12:4But 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 12:9And he said, Go thy way, Daniel: for the words are closed up and sealed till the time of the end.
THE TIME OF THE END
We also know from Daniel 8:17 that the 2300 day vision (chazown) of Daniel 8:1-14 would be understood at the “time of the end”.
Daniel 8:17So he came near where I stood: and when he came, I was afraid, and fell upon my face: but he said unto me, Understand, O son of man: for at the time of the end shall be the vision. https://www.kingjamesbibleonline.org/Daniel-Chapter-8/
From Daniel 11:31 we know “the time of the end” follows a time of persecution. And we know “the time of the end” is an “appointed” time.
Daniel 11:31And arms shall stand on his part, and they shall pollute the sanctuary of strength, and shall take away the daily sacrifice, and they shall place the abomination that maketh desolate.
32And such as do wickedly against the covenant shall he corrupt by flatteries: but the people that do know their God shall be strong, and do exploits.
33And they that understand among the people shall instruct many: yet they shall fall by the sword, and by flame, by captivity, and by spoil, many days.
34Now when they shall fall, they shall be holpen with a little help: but many shall cleave to them with flatteries.
35And some of them of understanding shall fall, to try them, and to purge, and to make them white, even to the time of the end: because it is yet for a time appointed. https://www.kingjamesbibleonline.org/Daniel-Chapter-11/
In the book of Daniel the only other place the word translated “appointed” is used is in Daniel 12:6. This word meaning from the Strong’s Concordance is:
מוֹעֵד môwʻêd, mo-ade'; or מֹעֵד môʻêd; or (feminine) מוֹעָדָה môwʻâdâh; (2 Chronicles 8:13), from H3259; properly, an appointment, i.e. a fixed time or season; specifically, a festival; conventionally a year; by implication, an assembly (as convened for a definite purpose); technically the congregation; by extension, the place of meeting; also a signal (as appointed beforehand):—appointed (sign, time), (place of, solemn) assembly, congregation, (set, solemn) feast, (appointed, due) season, solemn(-ity), synogogue, (set) time (appointed). https://www.blueletterbible.org/lang/lexicon/lexicon.cfm?Strongs=H4150&t=KJV
Daniel 12:6And one said to the man clothed in linen, which was upon the waters of the river, How long shall it be to the end of these wonders?
7And I heard the man clothed in linen, which was upon the waters of the river, when he held up his right hand and his left hand unto heaven, and sware by him that liveth for ever that it shall be for a time, times, and an half; and when he shall have accomplished to scatter the power of the holy people, all these things shall be finished.
Here Daniel is told when the time of the end begins and when it will end. It begins at a time, times, and a half. It ends when he shall have accomplished to scatter the power of the holy people.
As previously seen, a time is a fixed season and conventionally a year. So a time, times and a half would be three and a half years. In prophecy that equals 3 ½ years or 1260 days. From history and scripture we know that is the time of the reign of the papacy (a church/state power) from 538 AD until 1798 AD.
The scattering of the power of the holy people is a reference to a scattering of the gospel message to the world following persecution of Stephen in Acts 8:1. After a period of persecution but with freedom from papal reign after 1798, in a movement called the Great Awakening, Protestant missionaries went to all parts of the world once again with the gospel. Jesus backs this up.
Matthew 24:14And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations; and then shall the end come. https://www.kingjamesbibleonline.org/Matthew-Chapter-24/
Therefore the “Time of the End” is not the final end of time but does culminate in the final end of time as regards the gospel message. To refresh, the book of Daniel as well as the 2300 prophecy of Daniel 8 would not be understood til the “time of the end”.
REVELATION 10 SISTER CHAPTER TO THE SECRETS IN THE BOOK OF DANIEL
Along with all the 1260 day prophecies in the book of Revelation we are also shown a picture of the little book of Daniel being opened.
Revelation 10:1And I saw another mighty angel come down from heaven, clothed with a cloud: and a rainbow was upon his head, and his face was as it were the sun, and his feet as pillars of fire:
2And he had in his hand a little book open: and he set his right foot upon the sea, and his left foot on the earth,
3And cried with a loud voice, as when a lion roareth: and when he had cried, seven thunders uttered their voices.
4And when the seven thunders had uttered their voices, I was about to write: and I heard a voice from heaven saying unto me, Seal up those things which the seven thunders uttered, and write them not.
The Mighty Angel is Jesus Christ. He comes as the Mighty man or angel. We have already discovered Him as Michael, Prince of Princes, King of Kings, Lord of Hosts! He is in battle array as Michael or Captain of the Lord’s Hosts. The controversy is between Michael and Satan as described in Revelation 12 and specifically on this earth as He comes down from Heaven.
His dress is symbolic. See comparative chapters in the Bible describing Him the same way. (Luke 9:28,34; Matthew 17:2&5; Mark 9:2-3,7; 1 Corinthians 10:1-4; Ezekiel 1:27,28; Daniel 10:6). He comes clothed with symbolisms of deliverance and promise and triumph. These include the cloud in which He led the children of Israel through the wilderness; the rainbow which symbolized the covenant promise that a flood would not destroy the earth again; the face of the sun symbolizing Christ as the victorious Son of Righteousness; and the feet of pillars of fire symbolizing his victorious walk through trial and temptation on this earth for us.
Setting His right foot on the sea and His left foot on the land shows His supreme power and authority over the whole earth.
Revelation 10:5And the angel which I saw stand upon the sea and upon the earth lifted up his hand to heaven,
6And sware by him that liveth for ever and ever, who created heaven, and the things that therein are, and the earth, and the things that therein are, and the sea, and the things which are therein, that there should be time no longer:
7But in the days of the voice of the seventh angel, when he shall begin to sound, the mystery of God should be finished, as he hath declared to his servants the prophets. https://www.kingjamesbibleonline.org/Revelation-Chapter-10/
The angel does exactly what the angel of Daniel 12 does. He stands on the sea and the earth and lifts his hand to heaven and swares by God, that there should be time no longer. This is interesting because the longest time prophecy is that of the 2300 days of Daniel 8. Daniel 8 and the book of Daniel are full of messages in the Bible in relation to time.
Daniel 12:6And one said to the man clothed in linen, which was upon the waters of the river, How long shall it be to the end of these wonders?
7And I heard the man clothed in linen, which was upon the waters of the river, when he held up his right hand and his left hand unto heaven, and sware by him that liveth for ever that it shall be for a time, times, and an half; and when he shall have accomplished to scatter the power of the holy people, all these things shall be finished. https://www.kingjamesbibleonline.org/Daniel-Chapter-12/
Revelation 10:6&7 essentially tell us the same as Daniel 12:6&7 that after the times are fulfilled, then the mystery of God (sealed messages found in the gospel or testimony of Jesus) would be finished or end with the 7th trumpet angel.
Daniel is a book sealed and Revelation is the opening of secrets as they relate to Jesus Christ (Revelation 1:1-3).
The mighty Angel of Revelation 10 cries with a loud voice as when a lion roars. Jesus is the Lion of the tribe of Juda (Revelation 5:5). When the lion roars, “the Lord hath spoken, who can but prophesy” Amos 3:8.
Amos 3:7Surely the Lord GOD will do nothing, but he revealeth his secret unto his servants the prophets.
8The lion hath roared, who will not fear? the Lord GOD hath spoken, who can but prophesy? https://www.kingjamesbibleonline.org/Amos-Chapter-3/
And this is exactly what happened. The secrets of the little book of Daniel were opened to the prophets of God. “And when He had cried seven thunders uttered their voices.” Seven thunders uttered their voices to John the Revelator. But he was told to seal them. We can find the seven sealed thunders in Revelation 6. John sees the future but is told to seal it as Daniel was. These seven sealed thunders with the book of Daniel would be revealed or opened to the prophets after the 1260 years of papal rule when the Mighty Angel would roar with a loud voice. This loud voice can be found in Revelation 5 which prefaces the seals of Revelation 6. It asks the question, “Who is worthy to open the book, to loose the seven seals?” Only the Lion of the tribe of Juda or Lamb of God was worthy to open the book. And so the loud voice is telling us of the Righteousness of Christ!
This loud voice is also found in the 1st, 3rd, 4th and 5th angel’s messages of Revelation 14 and the angel of Revelation 18:1 regarding the 2nd angel’s message of Revelation 14 as well as the 7th angel of Revelation 16 and the voice of Revelation 21:3. The gospel, the fall of Babylon, the warning of judgment or not to receive the mark of the beast, the harvest message, and the message of winepress of the wrath of God, the final message to “come out of Babylon before it is too late” and the message of God dwelling with His people are the seven messages given with a loud voice or cry throughout Revelation.
Shortly following the demise ( or wounded head) of papal rule in 1798, people were inspired to study the book of Daniel. As the mystery of Daniel 8 was unfolding in the minds of the people they misunderstood it and believed Jesus would return to this earth in 1844 to cleanse the earth as His sanctuary. They were much disappointed when He did not return. But after this disappoint studied further to understand the message was in reference to the work going on in heaven as it relates to earth. They understood Jesus was entering a new phase of His work leading to the final end. That during this phase before the end, the gospel would go forth to all the world; the message about the hour of His judgement would go with it “making right” the wrong ideas promoted by the man of sin within the hearts of men regarding the character of God and worship of Him; hearts would be tested to see if they believed and accepted the message of salvation; but key to all of this would be our understanding of the role Jesus plays as our true High Priest in heaven. This was all predicted to happen in the following verses of Revelation 10.
Revelation 10:8And the voice which I heard from heaven spake unto me again, and said, Go and take the little book which is open in the hand of the angel which standeth upon the sea and upon the earth.
9And I went unto the angel, and said unto him, Give me the little book. And he said unto me, Take it, and eat it up; and it shall make thy belly bitter, but it shall be in thy mouth sweet as honey.
10And I took the little book out of the angel's hand, and ate it up; and it was in my mouth sweet as honey: and as soon as I had eaten it, my belly was bitter.
11And he said unto me, Thou must prophesy again before many peoples, and nations, and tongues, and kings. https://www.kingjamesbibleonline.org/Revelation-Chapter-10/
Although the movement of the 19th century called the “Great Awakening” historically was also wrought with disappointment, God used it to get ready for another greater message to take to the world being the message of the righteousness of Christ. This message would continue to bring the gospel to the world and remove the traditions of the merits of false worship or trust in man and would put the faith of men in the righteousness of Christ for their salvation. If you are in a church who is not preaching these messages find one that does. Because the third angel following these first two angel’s messages is a warning not to receive the mark (worship based on fear or trust in mammon) of the beast (papal power). As we have discovered it is also a message within Daniel 8. Daniel 8 gives us a picture of how the papacy destroyed true worship of God and the character of God. It also gives us a picture of the Mighty Man Jesus Christ who has won the battle with sin for us. You have a picture of each character. Will you worship the image of the beast (man of sin)? Who will you choose, Jesus Christ who gave His life for you or the man of sin who demands your homage?
Revelation 14:6And I saw another angel fly in the midst of heaven, having the everlasting gospel to preach unto them that dwell on the earth, and to every nation, and kindred, and tongue, and people,
7Saying with a loud voice, Fear God, and give glory to him; for the hour of his judgment is come: and worship him that made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and the fountains of waters.
8And there followed another angel, saying, Babylon is fallen, is fallen, that great city, because she made all nations drink of the wine of the wrath of her fornication. 9And the third angel followed them, saying with a loud voice, If any man worship the beast and his image, and receive his mark in his forehead, or in his hand,
10The same shall drink of the wine of the wrath of God, which is poured out without mixture into the cup of his indignation; and he shall be tormented with fire and brimstone in the presence of the holy angels, and in the presence of the Lamb:
11And the smoke of their torment ascendeth up for ever and ever: and they have no rest day nor night, who worship the beast and his image, and whosoever receiveth the mark of his name.
12Here is the patience of the saints: here are they that keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus.
Daniel 8:26 – The Daniel 8 Key to our understanding of good and evil
Daniel 8:26And 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. https://www.kingjamesbibleonline.org/Daniel-Chapter-8/
Daniel 8:26 tells us that our understanding of Daniel 8 depends upon two things: First, our understanding “the evening and the morning” to be the continual, everlasting provision of Christ as Sacrifice and High Priest for us; second, our understanding of the 2300 vision as the “cleansing of the sanctuary” or making right what Satan through the little horn power (papacy) tried to destroy of who God is and the sanctuary message of Christ within the temple of our hearts and minds. These things were not
fully understood or were kept secret until the time of the end to give Satan full opportunity to show his designs on the world through the man of sin. History is a lesson book. To cleanse, justify or make a wrong right, one must understand the wrong and the right. The world tolerated Jesus for 3 ½ years Who came to show us the right. The devil through the papacy took 1260 years to show us the wrong.
This is a day and age to understand the Word of God and to understand right from wrong!