_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 ]