_DANIEL'S VISION OF FOUR BEASTS, AND OF GOD'S KINGDOM. THE INTERPRETATION THEREOF._ _Before Christ 555._ THE historical part of the book of Daniel was finished with the last chapter; the remaining part of this book acquaints us with the visions which at different times were communicated to the pro... [ Continue Reading ]
BEHOLD, THE FOUR WINDS—STROVE, &C.— What was revealed to Nebuchadnezzar concerning the four great empires of the world was again revealed to Daniel, with some additions, about forty-eight years after. But what was represented to Nebuchadnezzar in the form of a great image, was exhibited to Daniel in... [ Continue Reading ]
DANIEL 7:4. _THE FIRST WAS LIKE A LION_— This is the kingdom of the Babylonians; and the king of Babylon is in like manner compared to a lion, Jeremiah 5:6 and said to fly as an _eagle,_ Jeremiah 48:40. He is also compared to an _eagle,_ Ezekiel 3:7. The lion is esteemed the king of beasts, and the... [ Continue Reading ]
A SECOND, LIKE TO A BEAR— These animals are not only emblems of strength and power, but must be allowed to be here used with peculiar propriety. This second, is the kingdom of the Medes and Persians; and the largest bears were found in Media, a mountainous, rough, cold country, covered with woods. T... [ Continue Reading ]
LO, ANOTHER, LIKE A LEOPARD— This third kingdom is that of the Macedonians or Grecians, who, under the command of Alexander the Great, overcame the Persians, and reigned next after them; and it is most fitly compared to a _leopard_ upon several accounts. The leopard is remarkable for its swiftness;... [ Continue Reading ]
BEHOLD, A FOURTH BEAST, &C.— The _fourth_ kingdom is represented by a _fourth beast, dreaded, terrible, and exceeding strong._ Daniel was curious to know particularly what this might mean, Daniel 7:19 and the angel answers him, Daniel 7:23. This kingdom can be no other than the Roman empire, which a... [ Continue Reading ]
ANOTHER LITTLE HORN— This refers to Antichrist, or the papal usurpation. See on Daniel 7:24.... [ Continue Reading ]
I BEHELD TILL THE THRONES WERE CAST DOWN— _Till thrones were set_ or _placed._ The metaphors and figures here used are borrowed from the solemnities of earthly judicatures, and particularly the great Sanhedrin of the Jews; where the father of the consistory sat, with his assessors placed on each sid... [ Continue Reading ]
I BEHELD THEN BECAUSE OF THE VOICE, &C.— _The beast will be destroyed, because of the great words which the horn spake._ The destruction of the beast will be the destruction of the horn also; and consequently the _horn_ is a part of the fourth beast, or of the Roman empire. Bishop Newton.... [ Continue Reading ]
AS CONCERNING THE REST, &C.— When the dominion was taken away from _the rest of the beasts,_ their bodies were not destroyed, but suffered to continue still in being: but when the dominion shall be taken away from this beast, his body shall be totally destroyed, because other kingdoms succeeded to t... [ Continue Reading ]
I SAW IN THE NIGHT VISIONS— This has always been, and can only be, understood of the Messiah. Hence the expression, _Son of man,_ was a known phrase for the Messiah among the Jews, as appears from several of their own writers. ענני _Anani,_ the word here used, and which signifies _clouds,_ was also... [ Continue Reading ]
THERE WAS GIVEN HIM DOMINION— All these kingdoms shall in their turns be destroyed, but the kingdom of the Messiah shall stand for ever. It was in allusion to this prophesy that the angel said of Jesus before he was conceived in the womb, _He shall reign over the house of Jacob for ever, and of his... [ Continue Reading ]
DIVERSE— _Different,_ and so Daniel 7:23. There is no mention of the _nails of brass_ in the 7th verse, where this beast is first described. But Daniel certainly would never have desired to have been informed concerning this circumstance in the beast, if he had not seen these _nails._ See Houbigant'... [ Continue Reading ]
THE TEN HORNS—ARE TEN KINGS— Or _kingdoms;_ and so Daniel 7:17. If we fix the aera for these ten kingdoms to the eighth century, the chief governments will be found to be, 1. The senate of Rome, who revolted from the Grecian emperors, and claimed and exerted the privilege of choosing a new western e... [ Continue Reading ]
HE SHALL SPEAK GREAT WORDS— Symmachus reads, _He shall speak great words, as the Most High;_ setting up himself above all laws divine and human; arrogating to himself godlike attributes, and titles of _holiness_ and _infallibility._ Exacting obedience to his ordinances and decrees, in preference to,... [ Continue Reading ]
BUT THE JUDGMENT SHALL FIT— _Then the judgment,_ &c. The reference seems, ultimately at least, to the future and final judgment; "The destruction of the impious shall be eternal." But before this, shall all the earthly kingdoms be destroyed, Ezekiel's prophesy in chap. 38: and 39: against Gog in the... [ Continue Reading ]
MY COGITATIONS MUCH TROUBLED ME, &C.— _My thoughts,_ &c. Daniel was much troubled, _and his countenance changed in him,_ at the foresight of the calamities to be brought upon the church by the _little horn._ But _he kept the matter in his heart._ Much more may good men now be grieved at these calami... [ Continue Reading ]