Verse 4: “But you Daniel, close up these things and seal the book until the time of the end. Many are going to go to and fro, and knowledge shall increase.”

Close up: Seal up. Daniel was told not to say anymore. Much of what Daniel has said is not for us to understand the past but for us to understand the future.

Until the time of the end: This entire book has relevance for the last days. We are only going to understand it more fully when we are in the last days. As such, we only understand it in a very general way now.

Going to go to and fro: People are going to wander around aimlessly.

Knowledge shall increase: The explosion of knowledge (which we have certainly seen in our generation) has not brought any revelation or insight to humanity. In many ways we have seen society regress as knowledge has increased (Romans 1:21-32)

Verse 5: “And I, Daniel, looked and behold two others. They were standing one here on one side of the river and the other on the other side of the river.”

Two others: Two other angels.

Verse 6: “ And someone said to the man who was clothed in fine linen, who was above the waters of the river: ‘Until when is the time of these wonders?’”

Someone: This could be either Daniel asking, or it could be a conversation, that Daniel was privy to, happening between the two angels.

Until when is the time of these wonders?: When will these things we have been hearing about, the establishment of the Kingdom, take place/happen?

Verse 7: “And I heard the man clothed in fine linen, who was above the waters of the river. He lifted up his right hand and his left hand to the heavens and he swore by the One who lives forever that it shall be for a time, times and a half time. And when the power of the holy people has been completely shattered all these things shall come to an end.”

The One who lives forever: God

A time, times, and a half time: The majority of the prophecy in Daniel will take place in those final 3.5 years (time = 1 year, times = 2years, half a time = 1/2 a year). The Jewish people are going to go through 3.5 years of intense suffering as these events take place.

Power of the holy people has been completely shattered: As long as we are trying to save ourselves, as long as we are trying to work out our salvation through our own means, nothing is going to happen. This reliance on self has to be shattered/ destroyed. The people are going to learn to trust and depend on God at this time.