Max Planck, considered by many as the father of quantum theory, once remarked that “science advances one funeral at a time.” His observation, though stark, captures a profound reality: new ideas in science often meet fierce resistance not because they lack evidence, but because they challenge the deeply held convictions of those who built their careers on older frameworks. It is not through persuasion alone that innovation triumphs; rather, it is through generational change. As the adherents of the old guard pass away, younger minds, unburdened by entrenched loyalties, are freer to embrace new truths.
This dynamic is not confined to the laboratory or the halls of academia. It is also vividly present within religious communities, particularly among theologians in seminaries who serve as the self-appointed stewards of tradition. My experience with Christian and Jewish theologians regarding the prophecies recorded in the Book of Daniel has borne out a similar pattern of reluctance to consider new insights. For decades, I have maintained—based on careful study of both Scripture and historical events—that the long-sealed prophecies of Daniel were unsealed for understanding on June 7, 1967, when Jerusalem and the Temple Mount returned to Jewish control during the Six-Day War, fulfilling the prophecy in Daniel 8:13-14. I set forth the details of this conclusion in my book Daniel Unsealed. Among the many Bible scholars who have read the book, not one has been able to show my interpretations are contrary to the biblical text or documented history.
My approach is straightforward but rigorous: any valid interpretation of a Bible prophecy must agree exactly with both the biblical text and documented history. No guesses, no approximations, and no bending of timelines are allowed. The criteria are strict because the stakes are high—biblical prophecy claims divine authorship, and it deserves to be handled with precision, not speculation.
Despite the strength of the textual and historical evidence, established theologians have largely resisted the interpretations that I set forth in my book. Some reflexively cling to older, less coherent theories that predate the fulfillment event that unsealed the prophecy in Daniel, chapter 8. Others dismiss the idea not because they have disproven it, but because accepting it would require rethinking deeply ingrained doctrinal systems. Much like the aging scientists of Planck’s day, many theologians have built their theological edifices without room for the possibility that Daniel’s prophecies could have been fulfilled and unsealed in modern times—especially in a manner so public, specific, and undeniable.
This resistance is not surprising. Paradigm shifts are inherently unsettling, whether in physics or theology. But just as science ultimately progresses when fresh eyes are willing to examine evidence without the baggage of old assumptions, so too will theological understanding advance when future generations of believers reexamine Scripture with openness and courage, examining the text to understand exactly what it says while at the same time adhering to its inerrancy and inspiration. The truth does not change; but our willingness to see it—and to adjust our understanding to align with it—must be continually renewed.
As Max Planck noted, genuine progress often requires patience. The day will come when new generations will recognize what God has already revealed, and they will marvel that it took so long for others to see it.
Download a free PDF copy of Daniel Unsealed here.