A Bold Thesis: The Prophecies Were Sealed … Until Now
Daniel Unsealed is a groundbreaking commentary by Dan Bruce that offers a bold, historically grounded interpretation of the predictive prophecies in the biblical Book of Daniel. With careful analysis and deep reverence for the biblical text, Bruce argues that Daniel’s prophecies were not meant to be understood—by anyone—until they would be divinely unsealed at a specific moment in modern history happening at the time of the end (see Dan. 12:4, 9).
The unsealing has now occurred. It was observed by millions on June 7, 1967, the day when Israeli paratroopers recaptured the Old City of Jerusalem and the Temple Mount during the Six-Day War. That event is identified by Bruce as the precise fulfillment of Daniel 8:14—“unto 2,300 evening-mornings; then shall the sanctuary be cleansed.” According to Bruce, this event marks the moment when God unsealed the prophetic visions that had remained closed since they were first recorded, just as the prophet Daniel had predicted.
What sets Daniel Unsealed apart from centuries of well-meaning commentaries is its central claim: that no interpreter prior to 1967 could have correctly understood Daniel’s time-specific prophecies—not even theological giants like Isaac Newton or John Walvoord. Bruce contends that all previous interpretations were necessarily flawed because they attempted to decode prophecies that God Himself said would remain sealed “until the time of the end.”
The centerpiece of Bruce’s analysis is his treatment of Daniel 8:14. Where others have interpreted the “2,300 evening-mornings” as days or sacrifices, Bruce presents a striking alternative: 2,300 Passover nights. He argues that this count begins with the Battle of Granicus in 334 BCE—when Alexander the Great began his conquest of the Persian Empire (see Dan. 8:5-8)—and ends with the Passover of 1967, just weeks before the liberation of the Temple Mount by Israel. The result? Exactly 2,300 Passovers. Not a symbolic approximation. Not an allegorical guess. A precise, verifiable match between prophecy and historical fact.
This unwavering commitment to exact historical fulfillment is the interpretive key Bruce uses throughout the book. He insists that true prophecy must align not only with Scripture, but also with the documented timeline of real-world events—especially thos in Jewish history. Bruce avoids the common mistake of inserting the Church Age into Daniel’s Jewish framework. Instead, he keeps the focus where the text puts it: on “thy people” (the Jews) and “thy holy city” (Jerusalem).
Bruce is respectful of past scholars and commentators, acknowledging their sincerity and insights, but he gently corrects what he sees as a foundational error: they were trying to interpret something that God had not yet revealed. His aim is not to discredit them, but to honor the integrity of Scripture and God’s stated timeline.
Though thoroughly researched and deeply theological, Daniel Unsealed remains accessible. Bruce avoids academic jargon, explains key Hebrew terms clearly, and provides helpful timelines, appendices, and footnotes to guide the reader. The tone is reverent and edifying, reminding readers that the purpose of prophecy is not to satisfy curiosity, but to build faith in a God who acts in history.
For those skeptical of predictive prophecy, Bruce points to the Dead Sea Scrolls—dated long before 1967—which already contained Daniel 8:14. This removes any possibility of the prophecy being written after the fact and strengthens Bruce’s case that its exact fulfillment came centuries later, right on time.
Ultimately, Daniel Unsealed challenges readers to reconsider long-held assumptions and to witness the power of prophecy fulfilled—not symbolically, but historically. Whether you’re a student of Scripture, a skeptic of prophecy, or simply curious about God’s hand in modern history, this book offers a compelling case that the time of the end has come—and the Book of Daniel is no longer sealed.
Complete book available for free download here.