Hear. Daniel begins to offer instruction peculiar to the Church. For God had formerly appointed him an interpreter and instructor to, profane kings. But he now appoints him a teacher to the Church, that he may exercise his office within it, and instruct the sons of God in the bosom of the Church. We... [ Continue Reading ]
He repeats again, _He saw in his vision during the night_. Again, I say, Daniel affirms that he brought forward nothing but what God had authoritatively delivered to him. For we know that in the Church all human traditions ought to be treated as worthless, since all men’s wisdom is vanity and lies.... [ Continue Reading ]
After Daniel had beheld these great commotions which were shaking the earth in different parts, another vision was offered to him. What has already been said concerning the troubled sea and the conflict of the winds, is extended to the four monarchies, concerning which we shall now treat. A certain... [ Continue Reading ]
It is clear that the four monarchies are here depicted. But it is not agreed upon among all writers which monarchy is the last, and which the third. With regard to the first, all agree in understanding’ the vision of the Chaldean Empire, which was joined with the Assyrian, as we saw before. For Nine... [ Continue Reading ]
Here the Prophet. proclaims how he was instructed by a dream concerning the second beast. If we will only judge by the event, this beast doubtless represented the kingdom of the Medes and Persians, although the Prophet specifies the Persians, as the Medes had long ago submitted to their yoke. _Behol... [ Continue Reading ]
Daniel has already spoken of two empires, namely, the Chaldean and Persian. Interpreters agree in the necessity for referring this vision to the Macedonian Empire. He compares this kingdom to a leopard, or, as some translate, a panther, since Alexander obtained his great power through swiftness alon... [ Continue Reading ]
There is greater difficulty in this Fourth Monarchy. Those who are endued with moderate judgment, confess this vision to be fulfilled in the Roman Empire; but they afterwards disagree, since what is here said of the fourth beast many transfer to the Pope, when it is added a Little Horn sprang up; bu... [ Continue Reading ]
Daniel proceeds with his description of the fourth beast. First, he says, _he was attentive_, with the intention of rousing us to serious meditation. For what is said of the fourth beast, was remarkably memorable and worthy of notice. This, then, is the reason why God struck the heart of his servant... [ Continue Reading ]
Daniel now relates how he saw another figure, namely, God sitting on his throne to exercise judgment. We shall see it afterwards concerning Christ, but Daniel now teaches only the appearance of God in his character of a judge. This was the reason why many persons extend this prophecy to the second A... [ Continue Reading ]
Daniel proceeds with what he commenced in the former verse. He says a splendor or stream of fire; for נהר, _neher_, may be used in both senses, since נהר, _neher_, signifies both “to flow” and “to shine.” Yet, since he previously spoke of splendor, the word “stream” will suit the passage very well;... [ Continue Reading ]
Since the presumptuous speaking of the little horn terrified the Prophet, he now says he was _attentive in considering this portion_. He next says, _The beast was slain, and his body was consumed by the burning of fire_. This ought clearly to be referred to the end of the Roman empire. For, from the... [ Continue Reading ]
Without doubt the Prophet refers to what ought to come first in order, as the empires of which he is speaking were extinct before the Roman. Hence these verbs ought to be taken in the pluperfect tense, because the power had been already removed from the other three beasts. For the Hebrews were, accu... [ Continue Reading ]
After Daniel has narrated how he saw God on the throne of judgment, openly exercising his power and laying open to the world what was formerly hidden from it, namely, his supreme authority in its government, he now adds the second part of the vision_, As it were the Son of man appeared in the clouds... [ Continue Reading ]
The Prophet; confirms and explains more clearly in this verse what he had said in the former one. For we may collect from it how the personage previously mentioned arrived at the Ancient of days, who is God, namely, _because power was given to him. _For although Christ truly ascended into heaven, (M... [ Continue Reading ]
Daniel says, his spirit was either cut off or vanished, as if he suffered some mental deficiency. In this way God wished to communicate to his servant the magnitude of the vision. And he inspires us also with reverence for this vision, lest we should treat it coldly and commonly. But we ought to und... [ Continue Reading ]
Here the angel answers Daniel concerning the four beasts which had been shewn him in the vision. He says, therefore, _Four kingdoms arose, _and by the name kingdom he means monarchy; for we know that the Persians had many kings until Alexander transferred to himself the empire of the East. Although... [ Continue Reading ]
Thus this prophecy was fulfilled, namely, _The four beasts took upon themselves the empire which properly belonged to the sacred lofty ones; _that is, to God’s elect sons, who, though dwellers on earth, are dependent on heaven. In this interpretation I see nothing forced, and whoever prudently weigh... [ Continue Reading ]
Here the Prophet interrogates the angel concerning the Fourth Beast more attentively and carefully; as we formerly saw him touched with greater admiration on beholding the beast which was formidable beyond the other three, so that neither a name nor representation could be found for it. As, therefor... [ Continue Reading ]
He says, therefore, _He also inquired about the ten horns which were on the head of the beast, and of the other horn which had arisen, _meaning the small one, _and concerning the three horns falling from the face of the beast. _We have shewn how provinces were denoted by the tell horns, and how the... [ Continue Reading ]
The Prophet now adds what he had omitted. The angel does not yet answer him, but as he had not sufficiently expressed how the little horn waged war with the sons of God, he now supplies the omission. He says, therefore, _he saw _— this ought to be received by way of correction; _I saw, _says he, mea... [ Continue Reading ]
It now follows, _Until the Ancient of days came, judgment was given to the saints of the lofty ones _No doubt the Prophet says God came in the same sense as before; namely, when he erected his tribunal and openly appeared as the judge of the world in the person of Christ. He does not here set before... [ Continue Reading ]
This reply of the angel is subject to the same obscurity as the vision itself, but it ought to be sufficient to calm the minds of the faithful to know that various changes should arise and shake the whole earth; for as many troubles were, prepared for the saints, so also they were braced up to forti... [ Continue Reading ]
He afterwards adds, _The ten horns are the ten kings which should arise _These Ten Kings are clearly comprehended under one empire, and there is no question here of separate persons. In the Persian kingdom, we observed many kings, and yet the image of the second beast was single, while it embraced a... [ Continue Reading ]
The angel now explains a little more clearly what the Prophet had formerly touched upon but briefly, namely, this last king should be a manifest and professed enemy to the Church. We yesterday showed how miserably and cruelly the Church had been harassed by many tyrants. And if we compare these tyra... [ Continue Reading ]
The, angel now answers Daniel concerning the death of the fourth beast. For we said when the Caesars had transferred the empire to themselves, the strength of the senate and of the people was enervated; but because the name still remained, the fourth beast is not said to have been slain until foreig... [ Continue Reading ]
This verse assures us how these predictions concerning the destruction of the beast regard the Church’s safety. Thus the faithful might know themselves noticed by God, and how the changes which successively happened tended to the same end, the acknowledgment on the part of the pious of their continu... [ Continue Reading ]
In this verse Daniel first says the vision was concluded, and thus the faithful might rest satisfied in looking for nothing beyond it. For we know how restless are the fancies of mankind, and how insane a disease is a vain curiosity. God is aware of what is useful for our information, and so he adop... [ Continue Reading ]