²⁶ “This vision about the 2,300 evenings and mornings^[a] is true. But none of these things will happen for a long time, so keep this vision a secret.”

Daniel’s Vision of a Messenger

10 In the third year of the reign of King Cyrus of Persia,^[a] Daniel (also known as Belteshazzar) had another vision. He understood that the vision concerned events certain to happen in the future—times of war and great hardship.

⁹ But he said, “Go now, Daniel, for what I have said is kept secret and sealed until the time of the end.

⁴ But you, Daniel, keep this prophecy a secret; seal up the book until the time of the end, when many will rush here and there, and knowledge will increase.”

¹⁴ Now I am here to explain what will happen to your people in the future, for this vision concerns a time yet to come.”

¹⁰ Then he instructed me, “Do not seal up the prophetic words in this book, for the time is near.

²⁷ “Son of man, the people of Israel are saying, ‘He’s talking about the distant future. His visions won’t come true for a long, long time.’

⁴ When the seven thunders spoke, I was about to write. But I heard a voice from heaven saying, “Keep secret^[a] what the seven thunders said, and do not write it down.”

³ Then I said to her, “You must live in my house for many days and stop your prostitution. During this time, you will not have sexual relations with anyone, not even with me.^[a]”

⁴ This shows that Israel will go a long time without a king or prince, and without sacrifices, sacred pillars, priests,^[b] or even idols!

¹¹ It even challenged the Commander of heaven’s army by canceling the daily sacrifices offered to him and by destroying his Temple. ¹² The army of heaven was restrained from responding to this rebellion. So the daily sacrifice was halted, and truth was overthrown. The horn succeeded in everything it did.^[a]

¹³ Then I heard two holy ones talking to each other. One of them asked, “How long will the events of this vision last? How long will the rebellion that causes desecration stop the daily sacrifices? How long will the Temple and heaven’s army be trampled on?”

¹⁴ The other replied, “It will take 2,300 evenings and mornings; then the Temple will be made right again.”

Gabriel Explains the Vision

¹⁵ As I, Daniel, was trying to understand the meaning of this vision, someone who looked like a man stood in front of me.