Daniel 7

Notes

Ver. 1, 8, 11, 12, 17-25. The tempestuous Sea denotes this world filled with contention, violence, and confusion. To represent their emptiness and gradual decay, the four successive monarchies had been represented by a terrible image seen in a forgotten dream. Here, to represent their mischievous nature, they are represented as ravenous beasts. The Lion, with eagle's wings soon plucked, and his heart turned into the heart of a man, represents the Chaldean monarchy, strong and despotic, rapid in its conquests; but quickly after Nebuchadnezzar's death all dismembered, weakened, and dispirited. The Bear, raising itself on one side, having three ribs in its mouth, and devouring much flesh, represents the Medo-Persian monarchy, fierce and savage, but at last lazy and luxurious, raising up itself on the side of Persia, carrying its conquests almost only to the westward, conquering the three kingdoms of Lydia Chaldea, and Egypt, and making fearful slaughter and spoil, especially among the Chaldeans. The Leopard, with four wings and four heads, marked the Grecian monarchy, agile, crafty, and spotted by a mixture of vices and virtues;—under Alexander, astonishingly rapid in its conquests; and, after his death, parted into the four kingdoms of Macedonia, Lesser Asia, Syria, and Egypt. The fourth beast, different in form, and dreadfully terrible and strong, with iron teeth, and ten horns, represented the Roman empire, which, in a most fearful manner, by powerful armies, conquered and tyrannized over the known world for many ages, and at last was divided into ten different kingdoms or states. The Little Horn, which sprung up after the rest, and plucked up three of the former, and which had eyes like the eyes of a man, and a mouth speaking great things, is the Papal authority, which arose from small beginnings, and, dispossessing three of the Italian powers, became a civil as well as an ecclesiastical principality; and which is noted for craft, circumspection, and vigilance; for blasphemous boasting of their own excellencies and prerogatives, even against God, his laws, and ordinances; for making proud decrees to bind men's consciences; and for the persecution of his people.—It continues 1260 years, or three times, or years, and a half, in prophetic language;—and on account of it, Rome, the seat thereof, will be at last destroyed: whereas, though the Chaldeans, Persians, and Greeks had their imperial power taken from them, they long remained a people.

Ver. 9, 10, 13, 14, 18, 22, 26, 27 represent Jehovah as judging and condemning to ruin these monarchies, especially the Roman, that the gospel kingdom of his Son might be established in the world. His white robes denote his unspotted righteousness and holiness in all his proceedings. His white hairs represent his eternity, venerable majesty, and the ripeness of his counsels. His fiery throne his awful scrutiny and fearful condemnations. Its burning wheels and fiery stream denote the swift execution of his sentences and fearful severity of his judgments. His numerous ministers are his angels, and the agents in his providence. The opening of the books denotes the exact discovery he makes of men's works, and the infinite equity and regularity of his decisions. The power here given to the Son of man implies not only his ascension into heaven, but his authority to destroy the Roman and Antichristian powers, in order that his gospel church may fill the whole world, especially in the millennium.

Ver. 6. A leopard—a beast of great swiftness, that springs upon its prey—a striking emblem of the rapid conquests of Alexander of Macedon. Wings—four heads—the four kingdoms of Macedon and Greece, Thrace and Bithynia, Egypt, Syria, into which the Grecian empire was divided on the death of Alexander. C.

Ver. 7. A fourth beast—the Roman empire—'diverse from all the beasts that were before it'—not in language (for in that it was akin to the Greek); nor in religion, for it was idolatrous; nor in form of government, for in that it was in common with all the others; but it was 'diverse' chiefly in this characteristic—its predecessors all openly professed conquest, that they might enslave; Rome always professed reluctant interference, that she might extend popular liberty; and under this mask became, in the language of her flatterers, 'the mistress of the world;' while, in the end, she left not one shred of liberty beyond the privilege of 'Roman citizenship,' most sparingly bestowed upon favoured individuals or cities. Ten horns—ten kingdoms, ver. 24. As 'seven' is the emblem of completeness in relation to progressive time, so 'ten' is the emblem of completeness in relation to coexistent property. C.

Ver. 9. Cast down. Rather, till they were placed or set up for judgment.—Ancient of days. God the Father, on the throne of power, in the process of putting all things under the feet of Jesus, 1 Co. 15. 27. C.

Ver. 11. Great words—such as the assumption of 'infallibility;' power to absolve from oaths; to impose new laws; to sell deliverance from purgatory, and grant titles even in heaven.—Till the beast was slain. Till the western Roman monarchy, in all its forms, was destroyed—an awful warning to Europe! 'Bewise now therefore, O ye kings; be instructed, ye judges of the earth; kiss the Son, lest he be angry and ye perish; blessed are all they that put their trust in him,' Ps. 2. 10. C.

Ver. 12. Had their dominion taken away. The Babylonian, the Medo-Persian, and Grecian monarchies were successively destroyed, as influential powers; but they are still in being under different names, and continue to drag out a dependent and merely tolerated existence, of which the only security is, not their own internal strength, but the mutual jealousy of the great European powers. C.

Ver. 18. Saints of the Most High may literally be rendered, 'But the righteous ones of the holy ones (or holy places, see Ep. 2.6) shall receive the kingdom.' The idea of 'places' is not merely sustained by the marginal authority and Ep. 2.6, but by the words translated 'most high God,' ch. 3. 26, and 'high God,' ch. 3. 32, which are the same in both, and literally signify 'God of the high, or highest, place.' C.

Ver. 24. The Heruli, Ostrogoths, and Lombards were successively overcome, and their territory annexed to the Papacy, under pretence, nay, perhaps at first, with the sincere intention of being used as means for extending the gospel—and thus the popedom became a temporal kingdom among the ten kingdoms of the West. C.

Ver. 25. Shall wear out the saints. By persecutions; thus the early crusades nearly extirpated the Waldenses and Albigenses: thus the Inquisition suppressed, and for many years seemed to have annihilated, every seed of the Reformation in Italy and Spain: while in Germany, France, Great Britain, and Ireland, massacres, martyrdoms, and dragonades were successively employed to 'wear out' the patience of the saints, extinguish their light, and leave the earth in darkness.—Until a time and times and the dividing of time. 'Time,' a year; 'times,' two years; 'dividing,' half a year: 1260 prophetic days, a day for a year, Eze. 4.6. At what time these years commence is matter of most serious question. They have generally been dated from 533, when Justinian issued his first edict in favour of the popedom; but others commence as high as 756. Time will reveal it, for the word is sure. C.

Reflections.—Thrice happy is that retirement from business and courts which is filled up with intimate fellowship with God, and with discoveries of the secrets of his covenant and providence! What a troubled, unsettled, ever-changing, and noisy world is ours, made by the ambitious and contentious men who dwell in it! But all their empires, established by iniquity, are but contemptible things before the eternal God, and mischievous and destructive to one another! Infinite is the glory and majesty, the power and equity, of the Most High; and certain, but tremendous, his appearance for the ruin of his opposers and the establishment of his church! Yea, the reproach of Jesus' cross is effectually wiped away in his solemn exaltation to glory; and shall be in the glory of his church, especially in the millennial and heavenly state. O how affecting are noted revelations from God! There is great need to search into their meaning by prayer and meditation; and, conscious of our weakness, to consult such as can instruct us. And if we ask we shall find. If we run to and fro in diligent search, we shall understand knowledge.