4. shut up . . . seal the book--John, on the contrary,
is told
(Re 22:10)
not to seal his visions. Daniel's prophecy refers to a distant
time, and is therefore obscure for the immediate future, whereas John's
was to be speedily fulfilled
(Re 1:1, 3; 22:6).
Israel, to whom Daniel prophesied after the captivity, with
premature zeal sought after signs of the predicted period: Daniel's
prophecy was designed to restrain this. The Gentile Church, on
the contrary, for whom John wrote, needs to be impressed with the
shortness of the period, as it is, owing to its Gentile origin, apt to
conform to the world, and to forget the coming of the Lord (compare
Mt 25:13, 19;
Mr 13:32-37;
2Pe 3:8, 12;
Re 22:20).
run to and fro--not referring to the modern rapidity of locomotion,
as some think, nor to Christian missionaries going about to preach the
Gospel to the world at large
[BARNES], which the context scarcely
admits; but, whereas now but few care for this prophecy of God, "at the
time of the end," that is, near its fulfilment, "many shall run to and
fro," that is, scrutinize it, running through every page. Compare
Hab 2:2
[CALVIN]: it is thereby that "the knowledge
(namely, of God's purposes as revealed in prophecy) shall be
increased." This is probably being now fulfilled.
JFB.
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