Adventistische Schriften über: "How is the statement 'to seal the face and the prophecy' in Daniel 9:24 to be understood?"

The expression “to seal the face and the prophecy” in Daniel 9:24 is primarily understood in Adventist biblical interpretation as an act of confirmation or ratification. Through the literal fulfillment of the 70 weeks (490 years) in the life and death of Jesus Christ, the correctness of the time period was proven, which in turn authenticated the overarching vision of the 2300 days from Daniel 8. The seal therefore does not represent the ending of revelations, but the legal authentication of the prophetic time measure “one day for a year.”

The Meaning of Sealing as Confirmation

»To seal the face and the prophecy." Sealing means: 1. To close and fasten. 2. To confirm as a legal instrument, just as weights and measures are sealed and legalized by the government. Thus, through the fulfillment of the seventy weeks, the face from chapter 8 and the prophecy from chapter 9 of Daniel should be ratified or confirmed and the time measure sealed: one day for a year.«

1 - Josiah Litch, Prophetic Expositions, vol. 1 (PREX1 134.4)

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Christ’s Death as the Seal of the Vision

»Christ’s death “sealed the face,” i.e., it confirmed or affirmed the time period given therein—because if we count back from the time of his death, we find that 490 years take us to the year 457 before his birth, the time when “the face” begins... Thus, if 490 days of the “face” represent 490 years, it is certain that the entire 2300 days likewise represent that many years.«

2 - Signs of the Times [J.V. Himes], The Advent Herald, and Signs of the Times Reporter [Himes], vol. 6 (HST December 28, 1842, page 115.2)

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Distinguishing from Other Interpretations

»Brother J. seems to understand this as applying to all visions and prophecies and interprets the term “seal” in the sense of ending. But that appears to be a rather forced interpretation. “The face and the prophecy” is undoubtedly singular and refers to a very specific prophecy. If this vision, as I believe, is a key to the preceding vision, then “the face” and the “prophecy” are the face and the prophecy of the 2300 days. This vision should be sealed in the sense of confirmation through the fulfillment of the 70 weeks.«

3 - Signs of the Times [J.V. Himes], The Advent Herald, and Signs of the Times Reporter [Himes], vol. 3 (HST June 1, 1840, page 34.10)

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Linkage between Daniel 8 and Daniel 9

»There are only two meanings for the term “seal.” They are first “to make secret” and second “to make secure.” ... It shows that the prediction of the seventy weeks necessarily refers to something else outside of itself, called “the face,” with respect to which it performs this work of “sealing.” ... It naturally and obviously refers to the face that Daniel did not fully explain... the face of the eighth chapter.«

4 - Uriah Smith, The Sanctuary and the Twenty-three Hundred Days of Daniel 8:14 (STTHD 61.2)

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