_And at that time_, &c. It is usual with the prophets, when they foretel the troubles of the church, to furnish it, at the same time, with proper supports and consolations; and none are so sovereign, of such general application, so easily accommodated to every case, and of such powerful efficacy, as... [ Continue Reading ]
_And many that sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake_ This may be understood, 1st, Of those saints who rose from the dead immediately upon the resurrection of Christ, spoken of Matthew 27:52, where we read that _the graves were opened; and many bodies of the saints which slept arose, and came o... [ Continue Reading ]
_They that be wise_ Namely, that are wise unto salvation through faith in Christ, that are truly godly and righteous, _shall shine as the brightness of the firmament_ Shall be clothed with glory and immortality; shall have bodies conformed to Christ's glorious body; _shall shine forth_, says Jesus,... [ Continue Reading ]
_But thou, shut up the words, and seal the book_ By this was intimated, 1st, That _the writing of truth_ (see Dan 10:21) was finished, and therefore the book that contained it is ordered to be closed; 2d, That the time of its full and final accomplishment was distant; for the prophecies which were s... [ Continue Reading ]
_Then I, Daniel, looked_ Here begins an account of a new vision that appeared to Daniel, confirming and explaining the former; for Gabriel, it seems, had finished his narrative, and what now follows is added by way of illustration. Some will have these other two angels to be the guardians of Persia... [ Continue Reading ]
_And he held up his right hand and his left unto heaven_ It was the general custom, in swearing, to lift up one hand to heaven: see Genesis 14:22; Deuteronomy 32:40; but here Christ is represented as holding up both his hands, as a greater confirmation of the truth and importance of what he was abou... [ Continue Reading ]
_And I heard, but I understood not_ I did not understand what time was allotted for bringing to pass this event, namely, the restoration of the Jewish nation, or the complete overthrow of all antichristian powers. The prophets, it must be observed, did not always receive the interpretation of what w... [ Continue Reading ]
_Many shall be purified, and made white, and tried_ See chap. Daniel 11:35, where the same words are found, but in different order. They are words of general and ordinary use, expressive of the purification intended to be produced in the minds of men by afflictions. If we would ascertain their impor... [ Continue Reading ]
_And from the time that the daily sacrifice shall be taken away_ It is here declared, that the whole time that these calamities would last, should run somewhat beyond _a time, times, and half a time_, namely, thirty days beyond it; for _a time, times, and a half_ signify only twelve hundred and sixt... [ Continue Reading ]
_But go thou thy way till the end be_ The prophet had been making inquiries respecting the end of these wonders; and the angel, having given him all the information that was needful either for himself or future times, now dismisses him, with an encouraging declaration concerning the happiness which... [ Continue Reading ]