to see here a forecast of the incarceration of the Beast, the False Prophet

and Satan as revealed in the Apocalypse.

'To make an end of sins' -- The word 'chatham' occurs again in the

sentence: 'to seal up the vision and prophecy'.  Job uses the expression: 'my

transgression is sealed up in a bag, and thou sewest up mine iniquity' (Job

14:17).  In Deuteronomy 32:34 the Lord is quoted as saying: 'Is not this laid

up in store with Me, and sealed up among My treasures', and goes on to speak

of the day of vengeance.  In Daniel 12:4 there is a paronomasia, 'shut up'

being satham, and 'seal' being chatham, and this is repeated in verse 9,

'shut up' being there 'close up'.  It appears that the sense of 'sealing'

here is not so much that of confirmation as of 'closing' or 'shutting up'.

The one other reference to 'sealing' in Daniel is in connection with the den

of lions (6:17), and the object of that sealing is given: 'That the purpose

might not be changed concerning Daniel'.

'To make reconciliation for iniquity'.  Here the word is kaphar, and

means 'to make atonement'.  This is vital.  This is precious.  It belongs to

no one section of the redeemed.  In spite of what certain words in the

English translation may from a superficial reading appear to teach, atonement

belongs to both Old and New Testaments.  This vital theme is too vast to be

dealt with here, but we have devoted some space to it in the series entitled

Thus end the first three blessings that are to come.

Three more follow

as a sequel:

'To bring in age -abiding righteousness'.

'To seal up the vision and prophecy'.

'To anoint the Most Holy'.

Righteousness is to be the characteristic of Jerusalem and her people

at the time of the end:

'Thou shalt be called, The city of righteousness, the faithful city'

(Isa. 1:26).

'A King shall reign in righteousness' (Isa. 32:1).

'For Zion's sake will I not hold My peace, and for Jerusalem's sake I

will not rest, until the righteousness thereof go forth as brightness'

(Isa. 62:1).

It is not easy to arrive at an understanding of the words, 'to seal up

vision and prophecy'.  Some think that their purport may be that vision and

prophecy will have finished their work and be no more needed.  The statement

may mean that God will set His seal to vision and prophecy and all will be

fulfilled.  Or, as Daniel 12:4 indicates, a sealing up of the prophecies

until the time of the end may be foreshadowed.  Malachi is called in

Rabbinical writings, 'The Seal of the Prophets' because, with him, Old

Testament prophecy comes to an end.  At present, however, we feel it wise to

refrain from expressing a decided opinion as to the true interpretation, and

we think that our readers will hold with us, that rather than risk the

perpetuation of error it is better thus to refrain.

'To anoint the Most Holy'.  In Scripture the words translated 'Most

Holy' are never used of persons, but always of things dedicated to God.  They