_Baltassar. Chaldee: a letter is wanting. (Haydock) --- This Baltassar was slain. (Chap. v.) (Calmet) --- The two visions happened before that event. (Worthington) --- The. Protestant: "visions of his head, upon his bed. Then he wrote the dream, and told the sum of the matters." (Haydock)_... [ Continue Reading ]
_Winds, to imply the tumults occasioned by fresh kingdoms (Worthington) in the world. (Theod.)_... [ Continue Reading ]
_Four great beasts; viz. the Chaldeans, Persian, Grecian, and Roman empires. But some rather choose to understand the fourth beast of the successors of Alexander the great, more especially of them that reigned in Asia and Syria, (Challoner) or in Egypt. (Chap. ii. 40.) (Haydock)_... [ Continue Reading ]
_Man. The emperors of Babylon were forced to confess that they were nothing more. (Calmet) --- Their cruel and rapid conquests (Worthington) are denoted by this monstrous animal. Its wings shew how the lands were divided between the Medes and Persians. Perhaps Neriglissor, &c. shared a part. (Chap.... [ Continue Reading ]
_Bear, which is cruel, and eats what is set before it greedily. (Worthington) --- Side. Cyrus did not attack the Jews. (St. Jerome) --- He stood ready to attack the Chaldeans. --- Three. He ruled over the Medes and Chaldeans, as well as over the Persians. (Calmet) --- Rows. Greek: "wings or sides" o... [ Continue Reading ]
_Leopard, a small spotted beast, may denote the size and disposition of Alexander, as well as his rapid conquests. When he was asked how he had subdued so many, he answered, "by never putting off." (Calmet) --- Four. He led his forces on all sides; (Haydock) and after his death, his empire was divid... [ Continue Reading ]
Unlike. It is not named: but shews the incomparable power of the Romans, governed by kings, consuls, tribunes, dictators, emperors, at different times. (Worthington) --- This in the opinion generally received, which we shall explain. Yet many think that the kingdoms of Syria and Egypt are designated... [ Continue Reading ]
_Little horn. This is commonly understood of antichrist. It may also be applied to that great persecutor, Antiochus Epiphanes, as a figure of antichrist. (Challoner) --- He was the youngest son of Antiochus the great, and was a hostage of Rome. While he was returning, his elder brother died, and Epi... [ Continue Reading ]
_Ancient. The Son is born of the Father, and the Holy Ghost proceeds from both, yet all three are coeternal. (Worthington) --- Hence the Father is sometimes painted in this manner, though he be a pure spirit. His throne resembled that seen by Ezechiel, Chap. i. (Haydock) --- He takes cognizance of a... [ Continue Reading ]
_Fire. Psalm xcvi. 3. --- Thousands. Greek implies one million and one hundred millions. (Menochius) --- The angels are very numerous, particularly the highest, styled assistants. (St. Thomas Aquinas; Worthington)_... [ Continue Reading ]
_Spoke. I wished to see how the king would be punished. He felt the hand of God as he was going to destroy all the Jews, when he pretended to repent. (1 Machabees vi. and 2 Machabees ix. 4.) His successors could not much disturb the Jews. (ver. 13.) (Calmet)_... [ Continue Reading ]
_Time. Each of the four empires had its period assigned. That of Rome attracted the prophet's attention most, and is mentioned first. (Menochius)_... [ Continue Reading ]
_Heaven. Christ appeared about sixty years after the subversion of the Syrian monarchy. Yet these expressions literally refer to his second coming. (Matthew xxvi. 64.) (Calmet) --- He had the form of man, as he had the nature. (Menochius) --- He is clearly predicted. by his power antichrist is overt... [ Continue Reading ]
_Destroyed. The eternal dominion of Christ could not be expressed in stronger terms. He seems to allude to them, Matthew xxviii. 18. (Calmet)_... [ Continue Reading ]
_Earth. The first was on the point of disappearing. (Chap. v. 31.) (Haydock)_... [ Continue Reading ]
_Most High, (Th.) or rather Chaldee: "the very high saints of God;" as also verses 22, 25, and 27._... [ Continue Reading ]
_Saints. The Machabees at last prevailed. Christ will punish the Jews. (Matthew xxiv. 30.)_... [ Continue Reading ]
_Greater. Chaldee: "unlike," as verse 7. Epiphanes was a greater scourge of the Jews than any of the preceding._... [ Continue Reading ]
CHAPTER VII. _ Mightier. Chaldee again, "unlike." Antiochus the great had lost many provinces: but his son was the most implacable enemy of God's people. He subdued them, Egypt and Armenia; or his three competitors. (verse 8.)_... [ Continue Reading ]
_Against, or "over against," like an accuser. Sym.: "as if he were God." --- Laws. He did this with regard to the Jews, (1 Machabees i. 41.) (Calmet) prohibiting their festivals. Antichrist will do the like, and pretend to work miracles. (Haydock) --- A time, &c. That is, three years and a half; whi... [ Continue Reading ]
_Him. The power of the Machabees was too limited, to be here understood. The Church and Christ must be meant._... [ Continue Reading ]
_Word. The angel spoke no more at this time. (Calmet)_... [ Continue Reading ]