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Daniel Chapter
Twelve
New King James Version (NKJV)
INTRODUCTION TO DANIEL 12
This
chapter begins with an account of a time of exceeding great trouble to the
people of God
who are comforted with the consideration of Michael the great
Prince being on their side
and with a promise of deliverance
with the
resurrection of the dead
and the glorious state of wise and good men upon
that
Daniel 12:1
and
Daniel is ordered to shut up and seal the book of the prophecy
until a time when
it should be better understood
Daniel 12:4
next
follows a question put by an angel to Christ
and his answer to it
with
respect to the time of the fulfilment of those wonderful events
Daniel 12:5.
Daniel
not understanding what he heard
asks what would be the end of those
things
Daniel 12:8 in
answer to which he is bid to be content with what he knew; no alteration would
be among men; things would be neither better nor worse with them
Daniel 12:9
a time
is fixed for the accomplishment of all
Daniel 12:11
and
it is promised him that he should have rest after death
and rise again
and
have his lot and share with the blessed
Daniel 12:13.
Daniel 12:1 “At that time
Michael shall stand up
The great prince who stands watch over the sons
of your people; And there shall be a time of trouble
Such as never was since
there was a nation
Even to that time. And at that time your people
shall be delivered
Every one who is found written in the book.
YLT 1`And at that time stand up
doth Michael
the great head
who is standing up for the sons of thy people
and there hath been a time of distress
such as hath not been since there hath
been a nation till that time
and at that time do thy people escape
every one
who is found written in the book.
And at that time shall Michael stand up
.... The
Archangel
who has all the angels of heaven under him
and at his command
the
Son of God
our Lord Jesus Christ; who is as God
as the name signifies
truly and
really God
and equal in nature
power
and glory
to his divine Father:
"he shall stand up"; which is not to be understood of his
incarnation
or manifestation in the flesh
for this refers to times long after
that; yet neither of his personal appearance in the clouds of heaven
and
standing upon the earth in the latter day; but of his spiritual presence among
his people
and protection of them
and continuance with them: this respects
the spiritual reigns of Christ
the Lamb's standing upon Mount Zion
and the
144
000 with him
Revelation 14:1
and this will be at that time
when the eastern antichrist
the Turk
will be
destroyed; for the words are closely connected with the last verse of the
preceding chapter; and when also the western antichrist
the pope of Rome
will
come to his end; for
as they rose
so they will fall
much about the same
time; and then Christ will rise and stand up
as the glorious Head of the
church
and as a triumphant Conqueror over all his enemies
and take to himself
his great power
and reign
and that kingdom which of right belongs to him.
The great Prince which standeth for the children of thy people; the King of
kings
and Lord of lords
the Prince of the kings of the earth; great in his
person
and in his office; great in dignity
power
and authority; who always
did
and ever will
stand on the side of the true Israel of God: he espoused
their cause very early; he wrought out salvation for them in time; he
intercedes for them now in heaven
and will appear to be their patron and
defender against all their enemies in the latter day: here it seems to have
special regard to the people of the Jews
Daniel's people; whom Christ shall
appear unto
and for
in an eminent manner
to convert and save them
help and
assist them
protect and defend them.
And there shall be a time of trouble
such as never was since
there was a nation even to that same time; that is
ever since the
world was
from the beginning of it
from the creation of the world; not only
from the time that the Jews became a people
which was at their coming out of
Egypt
as some understand it
but from the beginning of time; and so our Lord
interprets it
who seems to have this passage in view in Matthew 24:21
there have been many great and sore troubles in the world
great confusions in
it
and convulsions of it
strange and amazing changes in it; very afflictive
and distressing times have been to each of the kingdoms
nations
and cities
which have been entirely overthrown; but never was any like to this; which
respects not the distresses of the Jews in the times of Antiochus
or at the
destruction of Jerusalem by the Romans; nor does it seem to respect them at
all
at least they will have no further share and concern in it
than as they
will be in connection with other people
among whom they will be at this time;
and it will be to them rather a time of deliverance and salvation than of
distress; but it is that time of trial
and hour of temptation
that shall come
upon all the world
Revelation 3:10 as
it may concern the church and people of God
it is the last struggle of the
beast
of antichrist
at the time of his downfall and ruin
when he will make
his last effort; this will be the last persecution of the saints
which will be
short and sharp; the slaying of the witnesses
which will affect the whole
interest of Christ everywhere; and as this concerns others
it designs the
pouring out of the vials of God's wrath upon all the antichristian states
and
all those judgments and calamities which will come upon the nations of the
world
signified by the harvest and vintage; see Revelation 14:14
&c.: and this time of trouble
for the nature
quality
and extent of it
will exceed any and all that ever were in the world.
And at that time thy people shall be delivered; the Jews
the
people of Daniel; these shall be delivered not only from the then present
outward troubles
not only from their present captivity and afflictions
but
from their spiritual evils; from the bondage of sin
and the captivity of
Satan; their disbelief of the Messiah; their confidence in their own
righteousness
and attachment to the traditions of their fathers; they shall be
turned from their transgressions
and return to the Lord their God
and David
their King
and shall be truly converted
and spiritually and eternally saved
Romans 11:25.
Every one that shall be found written in the book; in the book
of life
as Jacchiades; in the book of God's eternal purposes and decrees
concerning the salvation of his people by Christ; for it is according to these
that God saves and calls men
whether Jews or Gentiles
2 Timothy 1:9.
Daniel 12:2 2 And
many of those who sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake
Some to everlasting life
Some to shame and everlasting
contempt.
YLT 2`And the multitude of those
sleeping in the dust of the ground do awake
some to life age-during
and some
to reproaches -- to abhorrence age-during.
And many of them that sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake
.... Which is
not to be understood in a figurative and metaphorical
sense
as by R. Jeshuah
the Jew
Porphyry the Heathen
and by some Christian writers; neither of the
deliverance of the Jews from the troubles of Antiochus
or their present
captivity; nor of the spiritual resurrection of them
or others
from their
state of infidelity to a profession of the Gospel
which in some is real
in
others only hypocritical; but
in a literal sense
of the resurrection of the
dead at the last day
which
with respect to the righteous
will take place
upon the personal appearance of Christ at first
1 Thessalonians 4:16
for
as death is oftentimes compared to "sleep"
in which the senses
are bound up
and the body is in a state of inactivity; see John 11:11
so the
resurrection from the dead is expressed by awaking out of sleep
when the body
shall rise fresh and vigorous
in full health and strength
as a man out of a
comfortable sleep; see Psalm 17:15. The
word "many" is used
either because
as all will not sleep
so all
will not be awaked; there will be some that will be alive and awake at Christ's
coming
1 Corinthians 15:51
or
as it signifies
a multitude
Psalm 97:1 and so
here the innumerable multitude of the dead
who are afterwards distributively
considered; and indeed the word is sometimes used for "all"; see Romans 5:15
some to everlasting life; to the enjoyment of
everlasting life and happiness with Christ in the world to come; a phrase often
used in the New Testament
though never before in the Old; expressive of that
felicity and bliss which the saints enjoy in heaven after this life is over
first in the separate state of the soul
and then
at the resurrection
in soul
and body
and of the everlasting continuance of it; they that shall enjoy this
are those that are written in the Lamb's book of life
or are ordained unto
eternal life; who are redeemed by the blood of Christ
regenerated by his
Spirit and grace
justified by his righteousness
adopted into the family of
God
are heirs of God
and joint heirs with Christ; these are the dead in
Christ
which rise first:
and some to shame and everlasting contempt; wicked men
who lived in a course of sin in this world
without any remorse or shame; but
when they shall rise from the dead
they will rise with all their sins upon
them
and with a full conviction of them in their consciences; and will be
ashamed of them
and to appear before God the Judge of all; and will be had in
contempt by the Lord
by elect angels
and all good men; and this reproach
shall never be wiped off; see Isaiah 66:24. Our
Lord seems manifestly to have respect to this passage
when he speaks of men
coming out of their graves at the last day
"some unto the resurrection of
life
and others unto the resurrection of damnation"
John 5:28 and upon
these words it may well be thought the Apostle Paul grounded his faith of the
resurrection of the dead
both just and unjust
Acts 24:15
and
though the resurrection of both is spoken of here and elsewhere together
yet
it will be at distinct periods of time; the resurrection of the just at the
beginning of the thousand years
and that of the wicked at the end of them
Revelation 20:5
between which will be the intermediate state of the saints dwelling with Christ
on earth; where they will be favoured with his presence
and the rewards of his
grace
to which the following verse has respect.
Daniel 12:3 3 Those
who are wise shall shine Like the brightness of the firmament
And those who
turn many to righteousness Like the stars forever and ever.
YLT 3And those teaching do shine
as the brightness of the expanse
and those justifying the multitude as stars
to the age and for ever.
And they that be wise shall shine as the brightness of the
firmament
.... That are wise
not in things natural and civil
but in
things spiritual; who are wise unto salvation; that are wise to know
themselves
their state and condition by nature; their impurity and impotence;
the insufficiency of their own righteousness; the exceeding sinfulness of sin
and the dangerous circumstances they are in; that are wise to know Christ
and
him crucified; to believe in him
and trust in him for everlasting life and
salvation: these at the resurrection shall shine
both in body and soul; their
bodies shall be fashioned like to the glorious body of Christ; their souls shall
be filled with perfect light and knowledge
and be completely holy
without any
sin upon them; and this light and glory that will be upon both soul and body
will be like the brightness of the heavens when the sun is risen; yea
it will
be like the brightness and glory of the sun itself
as our Lord affirms;
having
as it seems
respect to this passage
Matthew 13:43. Some
render it
"they that instruct"F9משכילים
"erudiunt"
Munster; "erudientes"
Junius & Tremellius;
"qui alios instituerint"
Grotius. ; or make others wise
and so
restrain it to ministers of the word; but the more general sense is best; and
besides
they are more particularly described in the next clause:
and they that turn many to righteousness as the stars forever and
ever; or
"that justify many"F11מצדיקי "justificantes"
Pagninus
Montanus
Junius & Tremellius; "qui justificaverint"
Calvin
Piscator. ;
that teach the doctrine of a sinner's free justification by the righteousness
of Christ; that lead and direct souls sensible of sin
and of the weakness of
their own righteousness
to the righteousness of Christ
as being that only
which justifies before God; otherwise it is God alone that justifies men
by
imputing the righteousness of his Son unto them: but these show men the way of
justification
or that which God takes to justify sinners; and this being the
principal doctrine of the GospeL
they are denominated from it; and no man deserves
the name of a Gospel minister that does not preach it
though this is not all
that they preach; they preach all other doctrines of the Gospel in connection
with it
and also instruct men thus justified to live soberly
righteously
and
godly: now
as these are stars in the church of Christ below
who receive their
light from Christ the sun of righteousness
and communicate it to his people;
so they will continue stars in the Millennium state
and appear exceeding
glorious
having the glory of God and Christ upon them
and not only then
but
to all eternity. These words are applied to the days of the Messiah by the JewsF12Shemot
Rabba sect. 15. fol. 102. 4. .
Daniel 12:4 4 “But
you
Daniel
shut up the words
and seal the book until the time of the end;
many shall run to and fro
and knowledge shall increase.”
YLT 4And thou
O Daniel
hide
the things
and seal the book till the time of the end
many do go to and fro
and knowledge is multiplied.'
But thou
O Daniel
shut up the words
.... Of the book
in which he had wrote the visions and prophecies delivered to him: this he is
bid to "shut up"
to keep it from the common and profane people
who
would only burlesque it; and to keep it to himself
as a peculiar treasure
committed to his care; and though it was not kept from the saints and people of
God
from their reading it
yet he was not to interpret and explain it to them;
it was to remain a secret until the time of its accomplishment was come
or
however
near at hand; so that this denotes the obscurity of the prophecy
and
the great difficulty of understanding it; it being like a book that is shut and
sealed
as follows
see Revelation 5:1
and seal the book
even to the time of the end; till the time
comes appointed for the fulfilment of it
which shows that it reached to times
at a great distance; that till these times were come
or near
it would be as a
sealed book
and yet the accomplishment of it would be sure and certain
as
what is sealed is:
many shall run to and fro
and knowledge shall be increased; that is
towards the end of the time appointed
many persons will be stirred up to
inquire into these things delivered in this book
and will spare no pains or
cost to get knowledge of them; will read and study the Scriptures
and meditate
on them; compare one passage with another; spiritual things with spiritual
in
order to obtain the mind of Christ; will peruse carefully the writings of such who
have gone before them
who have attempted anything of this kind; and will go
far and near to converse with persons that have any understanding of such
things: and by such means
with the blessing of God upon them
the knowledge of
this book of prophecy will be increased; and things will appear plainer the
nearer the accomplishment of them is; and especially when accomplished
when
prophecy and facts can be compared together: and not only this kind of
knowledge
but knowledge of all spiritual things
of all evangelic truths and
doctrines
will be abundantly enlarged at this time; and the earth will be
filled and covered with it
as the sea with its waters; see Isaiah 11:9.
Daniel 12:5 5 Then
I
Daniel
looked; and there stood two others
one on this riverbank and the
other on that riverbank.
YLT 5And I have looked -- I
Daniel -- and lo
two others are standing
one here at the edge of the flood
and one there at the edge of the flood
Then I Daniel looked
and
behold
there stood other two
.... Other two
angels
besides the man clothed with linen
Daniel 12:6 or rather
besides the angel who had given Daniel the long account of things that were to
come to pass
in the preceding chapter
and the beginning of this; whom Daniel
being attentive to that account
had not observed before; but now
that being
finished
he looks about him
and takes notice of those other two who were
standing
being ministering spirits to Christ
and ready to execute his orders:
the one on this side of the bank of the river
and the other on
that side of the bank of the river; Hiddekel or Tigris
as
appears from Daniel 10:4. The
reason of this position was chiefly on account of Christ
the man clothed with
linen
who stood upon or above the water of the river
in the midst of it; and
to show that they were waiting upon him
and ready to go every way he should
send them to do his will; and also on account of Daniel
that he might hear
what was said
whether to Christ
or to one another; since
being at such a
distance
their voice must be loud; and indeed the design of all that follows
to the end of the chapter is to inform him
and by him the church and people of
God in all future ages
of the time and end of all these things before
delivered in the prophecy.
Daniel 12:6 6 And
one said to the man clothed in linen
who was above the waters of
the river
“How long shall the fulfillment of these wonders be?”
YLT 6and he saith to the one
clothed in linen
who [is] upon the waters of the flood
`Till when [is] the
end of these wonders?'
And one said to the man clothed with linen
.... One of
the angels on one side of the bank of the river spoke to Christ
who appeared
in a human form
as a presage of his future incarnation; and as clothed in
linen
expressive of his priestly office
and of his purity and holiness
which
qualified him for it; See Gill on Daniel 10:6. Which
of the angels it was that spake is not said
or on which side of the river he
stood; very probably each of them spake in their turn
and joined: in the same
request to Christ:
which was upon the waters of the river: or aboveF13ממעל למימי "super
aquas"
Pagninus; "desuper aquas"
Montanus; "supra
aquas"
Calvin
Cocceius
Michaelis. them; denoting his power and dominion
over men
kingdoms
and nations
sometimes signified by waters
and even over
those the most tumultuous and raging:
how long shall it be to the end of these wonders
these
wonderful things before predicted
concerning the state and condition of the
people of God
their troubles and afflictions
the fall and ruin of antichrist
and the glorious things that shall follow upon that: angels
as they are
inquisitive creatures
and pry into the mysteries of grace
so into those of
Providence; especially such as concern the church of God
for whom they have a
great regard; of the secrets of which they have no knowledge until revealed
unto them; though this question seems to be put not so much for their own sakes
as for the sake of Daniel
who was present
but had not that courage and
presence of mind as they had; nor could use that freedom with Christ as they
did
at least at first
till encouraged by their example.
Daniel 12:7 7 Then
I heard the man clothed in linen
who was above the waters of the river
when he held up his right hand and his left hand to heaven
and swore by Him
who lives forever
that it shall be for a time
times
and half a
time; and when the power of the holy people has been completely shattered
all these things shall be finished.
YLT 7And I hear the one clothed
in linen
who [is] upon the waters of the flood
and he doth lift up his right
hand and his left unto the heavens
and sweareth by Him who is living to the
age
that
`After a time
times
and a half
and at the completion of the
scattering of the power of the holy people
finished are all these.'
And I heard the man clothed in linen
which was upon the waters of
the river
.... Christ
as he appeared in a human form
and as the High
Priest our profession
and as the Mediator that has power over all flesh; so he
pronounced articulate sounds with a human voice
and so loud
clear
and
distinct
that Daniel could hear every word he said
and for whose sake it was
said:
when he held up his right hand and his left hand unto heaven; the lifting
up of the right hand is a gesture used in swearing
and the lifting up of both
hands is either for the greater solemnity of the action
or with respect to the
two angels that stood one on one side of him
and the other on the other
that
both might be eyewitnesses of this solemn affair; though lifting up both hands
is often a prayer gesture
and there may be a mixture of both in this action
of both praying and swearing; Christ
as the High Priest
intercedes for his
church and people
that their faith fail not till the end of their troubles
comes:
and sware by him that liveth for ever; by the living
God
the immortal One
who only hath immortality. MaimonidesF14Moreh
Nevochim
par. 1. c. 72. p. 146. So R. Joseph Albo
Sepher Ikkarim
l. 1. c.
69. בחי העולם "per
vitam aeternitatis"
so some in Gejerus. interprets it
"by the Life
of the world"; that is
by God
who is the Life of the world
that gives
life and being to all creatures; all live
and move
and have their being in
him
and so is greater than all
and by whom an oath is only to be taken.
Christ
as man
swears by his divine Father
who
as such
was greater than he;
though
if we understand it of God
Father
Son
and Spirit
the one
only
true
and living God
there is no impropriety in Christ's swearing by himself
the living God
which is a character he sometimes bears; see Hebrews 3:12
what
he here swears to is
that it shall be for a time
times
and an half; that it would
be so long to the end of these wonderful things; or that the troubles of the church
would last so long
and
at the end of that date here fixed
a glorious scene
would open
and amazing things appear
to the great joy and comfort of the
saints. "Time" signifies a prophetic year
or 360 years; and
"times" two prophetic years
or 720 years; and half a time half a
prophetic year
or 180 years
in all 1260 years; which is the exact date and
duration of the reign of antichrist
of the church's being in the wilderness
and of the witnesses prophesying in sackcloth
and of the treading under foot
the holy city
expressed both by 1260 days
and by forty two months
which are
the same; see Revelation 11:2
and when he shall have accomplished to scatter the power of the
holy people: that is
either
"when he (God) shall have finished the
scattering the power of the holy people"
the Jews; when the dispersion of
them
who were formerly a holy people to the Lord
and shall be so again
will
be over; and they shall be gathered out of all nations where they have been
dispersed
and
being converted
shall return to their own land: or
"when
he" (antichrist) "shall have done scattering"
the church and
people of God in general; when his wars with the saints
and victories over
them
will be ended; and particularly when the slaying of the witnesses will be
over
at which time there will be a great scattering of the saints; they will
be as sheep without a shepherd
their pastors being smitten
slain
or removed
into corners; all which things will be fulfilled about the end of the date
before mentioned:
and then all these things shall be finished; or
as the
same glorious Person explains it
"time will be no longer
and the mystery
of God will be finished"
Revelation 10:6
the time of antichrist's reign
and of the troubles of the church
and the
witnesses' prophesying in sackcloth
will be protracted no longer than the
time
and times
and half a time
or the 1260 days
or forty months
that is
1260 years; then all the afflictions of the church will be at an end
and
glorious times will succeed
as before spoken of; the spiritual reign of
Christ
the first resurrection
and the Millennium
in their order.
Daniel 12:8 8 Although
I heard
I did not understand. Then I said
“My lord
what shall be the
end of these things?”
YLT 8And I have heard
and I do
not understand
and I say
`O my lord
what [is] the latter end of these?'
And I heard
but understood not
.... Daniel heard what
Christ said
in answer to the angel
but he did not understand the meaning of
it
which he ingenuously confesses; he did not understand what was meant by
"time"
and "times"
and "half a time"; what kind
of time this was
and when and how it would end
and which he was very desirous
of knowing:
then said I
O my Lord
what shall be the end of these things? he applied
not to the angel that put the above question
but to the man clothed with
linen; to Christ
whom he perceived to be a divine Person
a Person of
dominion
power
and authority
superior to angels
and his Lord and God; and
who only could resolve the question he puts
which is somewhat different from
that of the angel's
Daniel 12:6
that
respects the length of time
to the accomplishment of these things; this the
quality at the end of them
what kind of end they should have; or what the
signs
symptoms
and evidences of the end of them
by which the true end of
them might be known. Mr. Mede renders it
"what are these latter
times?" perhaps it might be rendered better
"what is the last of
these things?"F15מה אחרית אלה "quid erit
novissimum horum?" Munster; "postremum horum?" Calvin. what is
the last thing that will be done
that so it may be known when all is over?
Daniel 12:9 9 And
he said
“Go your way
Daniel
for the words are closed up and
sealed till the time of the end.
YLT 9And he saith
`Go
Daniel;
for hidden and sealed [are] the things till the time of the end;
And he said
go thy way
Daniel
.... About thy business;
attend to civil affairs
the affairs in which he was concerned in the king's
court
and ask no more questions concerning this matter; but be content with
the prophecies that have been delivered to thee
and with what knowledge thou
hast of them: or he is bid to go and write in a book the several visions he had
seen
and the predictions related to him; that he might read them
and meditate
on them at his leisure
and transmit them to future posterity
for their use:
or go the way of all flesh
prepare for death and eternity; for in the present
state he was not to expect a full revelation of these things; but should rest
satisfied with what he knew
and assure himself with the full performance of
them
and that he should have his share of the blessed times in the Millennium
and of the ultimate glory
as in Daniel 12:13.
For the words are closed up
and sealed till the time of the end; that is
till
the time comes
or draws near
that they shall be accomplished; till then they
would not be clearly understood
but remain in a great measure dark and
obscure
though sure and certain: it is suggested they would not always remain
so; time is the best interpreter of prophecy
and
the nearer the time of the
accomplishment of it is
the clearer it appears
things leading the way to it
being gradually fulfilled; but clearest of all when it is accomplished; then it
is no more shut and sealed
but open and manifest; See Gill on Daniel 12:4.
Daniel 12:10 10 Many
shall be purified
made white
and refined
but the wicked shall do wickedly;
and none of the wicked shall understand
but the wise shall understand.
YLT 10Purify themselves
yea
make themselves white
yea
refined are many: and the wicked have done
wickedly
and none of the wicked understand
and those acting wisely do
understand;
Many shall be purged
and made white
and tried
.... Though
Christ does not give
in plain
clear
and explicit terms
an answer to the
above question
when
and how
and what would be the end of the church's
troubles and afflictions; yet he here points out the use of them
which for the
present should be chiefly attended to; and
when duly considered
would be a
means of causing the saints to endure them with more patience and cheerfulness:
many should be hereby made more pure and holy
and more free from their spots
their chaff
and their dross; their corruptions
and the power of them
weakened; their graces tried
and become more bright and shining; and they
themselves a greater ornament to the religion they profess: hereby they should
be "purified"
or cleansed from the chaff of their sins; or be
separated
as the chaff is by the fan
from hypocrites and ungodly men
who
would not be able to endure persecution for the sake of the Gospel: and
"be made white"; as cloth is by the fuller; freed both from their own
spots in their garments
being led to the blood of Christ to wash their
garments
and make them white therein; which afflictions may be the means of
guiding them to
under the direction of the blessed Spirit; and from such
persons who were spots in their feasts of love: and "be tried"
as
gold and silver in the furnace
and so be rid of their own dross
and of the wicked
of the earth
who are like unto it; see the note on Daniel 11:35.
But the wicked shall do wickedly; go on in a course of
sin
and be never the better for the afflictive dispensations of Providence;
these either mean formal professors
that turn apostates from the faith
and
become openly wicked livers; or the profane world in common; and particularly
furious persecutors of the saints: such as each of these there will be till the
end of things come; see Revelation 22:11
and none of the wicked shall understand; neither the
doctrines of the Gospel spiritually and experimentally; nor the providences of
God
and what he is doing in the world; and particularly not the prophecy of
this book
and especially what has been just delivered:
but the wise shall understand; more or less of each of
these things
such as are wise unto salvation; that search the Scriptures
seek
to God by prayer
and are much in meditation
and make use of every help for
the understanding of divine things
and even of these prophecies; and
especially towards the close of time
as the accomplishment of them draws near.
Daniel 12:11 11 “And
from the time that the daily sacrifice is taken away
and the
abomination of desolation is set up
there shall be one thousand two
hundred and ninety days.
YLT 11and from the time of the
turning aside of the perpetual [sacrifice]
and to the giving out of the
desolating abomination
[are] days a thousand
two hundred
and ninety.
And from the time that the daily sacrifice shall be taken away
.... This is
in part an answer to the above questions
as they relate to the end of things:
some dates are given
by which it might in general be known when and how these
things would end: and these dates begin with the removal of the daily
sacrifice; that is
the doctrine of atonement and satisfaction for sin by the sacrifice
of Christ
the antitype of the daily sacrifice under the law; this was taken
away by antichrist
when he got to his height; when he established the doctrine
of works
and opposed the merits of men to the merits of Christ
and his own
pardons
indulgences
penances
&c. to the satisfaction of Christ:
and the abomination that maketh desolate; image
worship; the abomination of the Mass
and other acts of idolatry and
superstition:
there shall be a thousand two hundred and ninety days; from the
beginning of the reign of antichrist to the end of it are one thousand two
hundred and sixty days or years
or forty two months
which is the same
according to Revelation 13:5
here thirty days or years are added
which begin where the other end
and is
the time allotted for the conversion of the Jews
and other things
making way
for the kingdom of Christ; and which the reign of antichrist was an hinderance
of
but should now immediately take place.
Daniel 12:12 12 Blessed
is he who waits
and comes to the one thousand three hundred and
thirty-five days.
YLT 12O the blessedness of him
who is waiting earnestly
and doth come to the days
a thousand
three hundred
thirty and five.
Blessed is he that waiteth
and cometh to the one thousand three
hundred five and thirty days. Which is an addition of forty five days or
years more
beginning at the end of one thousand two hundred and ninety
and
make up this sum; during which time the vials will be poured out upon all the
antichristian states
and the Turkish empire be destroyed
and all the enemies
of Christ and his church removed
and clear way made for the setting up of his
kingdom in the world in a more visible and glorious manner; and therefore happy
is the man that will be found waiting for these times
and live to enjoy them.
There are various ways taken in the computation and application of these one
thousand three hundred and thirty five days by Jews and Christians. LipmanF16Nizzachon
No. 332. the Jew makes them to be the same with "time"
and
"times"
and "half a time"
Daniel 12:7
"time" he supposes
designs the space of four hundred and eighty
years
from the Israelites going out of Egypt to the building of the first
temple; times the space of four hundred and ten years which is as long as that
temple stood; and "half a time" half of these two spaces
that is
four hundred and forty five years; all which make up one thousand three hundred
and thirty five; but strange it is that time should signify a larger space than
"times". Much more ingenious is the computation of Jacchiades on the
text
who makes the account to describe the space of time from the days of
Daniel to the end of the world. He supposes there were three thousand three
hundred and ninety one years
from the beginning of the world to Daniel; he
then takes and joins the one thousand two hundred and ninety days in the
preceding verse
which he understands of years with the one thousand three
hundred and thirty five days or years in this
which make together two thousand
six hundred and twenty five; and
added to the above
the whole is six thousand
and sixteen years; which agrees with the opinion of Elias
in the TalmudF17T.
Bab. Sanhedrin
fol. 97. 1.
that the world shall stand six thousand years.
Many Christian interpretersF18Broughton in loc. L'Empereur
Not. in
Jacchiad. in loc. Huls. Theolog. Jud. par. 1. p. 77
78. apply it to the times
of Antiochus; and reckon them thus
understanding them of days; and not years;
from the time of his taking away the daily sacrifice
to the restoration of it
by Judas Maccabaeus
were three years and a half and some days
in all one
thousand two hundred and ninety
as in the preceding verse; during which time
the temple was profaned by idolatrous worship
the altar demolished
and the
daily sacrifice ceased
and was a time of great distress with the Jews; and
which
though greatly alleviated by the success of Judas
yet their calamities
were not over until the death of Antiochus
which happened forty five days
after; and these
added to the above number
make one thousand three hundred
and thirty five days; at the close of which it was happy times with them
being
delivered from so cruel and powerful an enemy; and therefore blessed were they
that waited and came to this time. This passage Mr. Brightman applies to the
Turkish empire; and thinks that time
and times
and half a time; Daniel 12:7
measure the space of the power of that empire; "time" signifying one
hundred years; "times" two hundred years; "half a time"
fifty years; in all three hundred and fifty years; which added to one thousand
three hundred
when that empire began
the date ends in one thousand six
hundred and fifty
when he supposes
it would begin to decline; to which
if
you add forty five days or years
as here
it will bring it down to one
thousand six hundred and ninety five
when he thought it would be utterly
extinct; but time has shown this to be a mistake. Mr. MedeF19Works
B. 3. p. 720. thinks these numbers are to be reckoned from the profanation of
the temple by Antiochus; and that the first number
one thousand two hundred
and ninety
ended in the year of Christ one thousand one hundred and twenty
three
when antichrist was come to his height
and was discerned by many to be
the person that was prophesied of as such; and the latter number
one thousand
three hundred and thirty five ended in the year of Christ one thousand one
hundred and sixty eight
when the Waldenses
Albigenses
and others separated
from the church of Rome as antichristian
upon which violent persecutions were
raised upon them: but then not happy
but miserable times
followed on these;
unless this blessedness spoken of is to be applied to the martyrs that died for
the sake of Christ
as in Revelation 14:13.
Another learned manF20Henr. Wolphius lib. de tempore apud Brightman
in loc. was of opinion that these numbers are to be counted from the
destruction of Jerusalem by Titus Vespasian
A.D. 71
from whence the first
number fell on the year 1361
at which time the school at Prague was founded by
Charles king of Bohemia
and the errors and tyranny of antichrist began to be
openly opposed by the same; and the second number ended in the year 1406
when
the light of the Gospel broke out more clearly; so that the angel here
pronounces those blessed who overlived these first seeds of the Gospel being
brought to light; but something of great importance and cause of more joy
is
here intended. Wherefore
upon the whole
it seems best to interpret these
numbers as at first
of the date of the reign of antichrist
and as showing the
full and certain end of it; when there will be blessed times
halcyon days
indeed!
Daniel 12:13 13 “But
you
go your way till the end; for you shall rest
and will arise to
your inheritance at the end of the days.”
YLT 13And thou
go on to the end
then thou dost rest
and dost stand in thy lot at the end of the days.'
But go thou thy way till the end be
.... Prepare for death
and expect to be under the power of it
to lie in the grave
till the end of
the world
until the resurrection morn:
for thou shalt rest; from all toil and
labour
from all sin and sorrow; his body in the grave
his soul in the bosom
of Christ: and stand in thy lot at the end of the days; signifying that he
should rise again from the dead
have his part in the first resurrection
his
share of the glory of the Millennium state
and his portion in the heavenly
inheritance of the saints; the antitype of Canaan
which was divided by lot to
the children of Israel: and
in the faith and hope of this
it became him to be
contented and satisfied; believing the accomplishment of all that had been
shown him
and looking for the blessedness which was promised him. Agreeable to
which is the paraphrase of Jacchiades;
"but
thou
O Daniel
go to the end of thy life in this world; and
after thou art
dead
rest in the rest of paradise; and at the end of days thou shall stand and
live in the resurrection of the dead
and shall enjoy thy good lot in the world
to come'.
──《John Gill’s
Exposition of the Bible》