mh_parser/vol_split/27 - Daniel/Chapter 7.xml

<div2 id="Dan.viii" n="viii" next="Dan.ix" prev="Dan.vii" progress="70.92%" title="Chapter VII">
<h2 id="Dan.viii-p0.1">D A N I E L.</h2>
<h3 id="Dan.viii-p0.2">CHAP. VII.</h3>
<p class="intro" id="Dan.viii-p1" shownumber="no">The six former chapters of this book were
historical; we now enter with fear and trembling upon the six
latter, which are prophetical, wherein are many things dark and
hard to be understood, which we dare not positively determine the
sense of, and yet many things plain and profitable, which I trust
God will enable us to make a good use of. In this chapter we have,
I. Daniel's vision of the four beasts, <scripRef id="Dan.viii-p1.1" osisRef="Bible:Dan.7.1-Dan.7.8" parsed="|Dan|7|1|7|8" passage="Da 7:1-8">ver. 1-8</scripRef>. II. His vision of God's throne of
government and judgment, <scripRef id="Dan.viii-p1.2" osisRef="Bible:Dan.7.9-Dan.7.14" parsed="|Dan|7|9|7|14" passage="Da 7:9-14">ver.
9-14</scripRef>. III. The interpretation of these visions, given
him by an angel that stood by, <scripRef id="Dan.viii-p1.3" osisRef="Bible:Dan.7.15-Dan.7.28" parsed="|Dan|7|15|7|28" passage="Da 7:15-28">ver.
15-28</scripRef>. Whether those visions look as far forward as the
end of time, or whether they were to have a speedy accomplishment,
is hard to say, nor are the most judicious interpreters agreed
concerning it.</p>
<scripCom id="Dan.viii-p1.4" osisRef="Bible:Dan.7" parsed="|Dan|7|0|0|0" passage="Da 7" type="Commentary"/>
<scripCom id="Dan.viii-p1.5" osisRef="Bible:Dan.7.1-Dan.7.8" parsed="|Dan|7|1|7|8" passage="Da 7:1-8" type="Commentary"/><div class="Commentary" id="Dan.viii-p1.6">
<h4 id="Dan.viii-p1.7">The Vision of the Four
Beasts. (<span class="smallcaps" id="Dan.viii-p1.8">b. c.</span> 555.)</h4>
<p class="passage" id="Dan.viii-p2" shownumber="no">1 In the first year of Belshazzar king of
Babylon Daniel had a dream and visions of his head upon his bed:
then he wrote the dream, <i>and</i> told the sum of the matters.
  2 Daniel spake and said, I saw in my vision by night, and,
behold, the four winds of the heaven strove upon the great sea.
  3 And four great beasts came up from the sea, diverse one
from another.   4 The first <i>was</i> like a lion, and had
eagle's wings: I beheld till the wings thereof were plucked, and it
was lifted up from the earth, and made stand upon the feet as a
man, and a man's heart was given to it.   5 And behold another
beast, a second, like to a bear, and it raised up itself on one
side, and <i>it had</i> three ribs in the mouth of it between the
teeth of it: and they said thus unto it, Arise, devour much flesh.
  6 After this I beheld, and lo another, like a leopard, which
had upon the back of it four wings of a fowl; the beast had also
four heads; and dominion was given to it.   7 After this I saw
in the night visions, and behold a fourth beast, dreadful and
terrible, and strong exceedingly; and it had great iron teeth: it
devoured and brake in pieces, and stamped the residue with the feet
of it: and it <i>was</i> diverse from all the beasts that
<i>were</i> before it; and it had ten horns.   8 I considered
the horns, and, behold, there came up among them another little
horn, before whom there were three of the first horns plucked up by
the roots: and, behold, in this horn <i>were</i> eyes like the eyes
of man, and a mouth speaking great things.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Dan.viii-p3" shownumber="no">The date of this chapter places it before
<scripRef id="Dan.viii-p3.1" osisRef="Bible:Dan.5.1-Dan.5.31" parsed="|Dan|5|1|5|31" passage="Da 5:1-31"><i>ch.</i> v.</scripRef>, which was
in the last year of Belshazzar, and <scripRef id="Dan.viii-p3.2" osisRef="Bible:Dan.6.1-Dan.6.28" parsed="|Dan|6|1|6|28" passage="Da 6:1-28"><i>ch.</i> iv.</scripRef>, which was in the first of
Darius; for Daniel had those visions in the first year of
Belshazzar, when the captivity of the Jews in Babylon was drawing
near a period. Belshazzar's name here is, in the original, spelt
differently from what it used to be; before it was
<i>Bel-she-azar—Bel is he that treasures up riches.</i> But this
is <i>Bel-eshe-zar—Bel is on fire by the enemy.</i> Bel was the
god of the Chaldeans; he had prospered, but is now to be
consumed.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Dan.viii-p4" shownumber="no">We have, in these verses, Daniel's vision
of the four monarchies that were oppressive to the Jews.
Observe,</p>
<p class="indent" id="Dan.viii-p5" shownumber="no">I. The circumstances of this vision. Daniel
had interpreted Nebuchadnezzar's dream, and now he is himself
honoured with similar divine discoveries (<scripRef id="Dan.viii-p5.1" osisRef="Bible:Dan.7.1" parsed="|Dan|7|1|0|0" passage="Da 7:1"><i>v.</i> 1</scripRef>): He <i>had visions of his head
upon his bed,</i> when he was asleep; so God sometimes revealed
himself and his mind to the children of men, when deep sleep fell
upon them (<scripRef id="Dan.viii-p5.2" osisRef="Bible:Job.33.15" parsed="|Job|33|15|0|0" passage="Job 33:15">Job xxxiii.
15</scripRef>); for when we are most retired from the world, and
taken off from the things of sense, we are most fit for communion
with God. But when he was awake he <i>wrote the dream</i> for his
own use, lest he should forget it as a dream which passes away; and
he <i>told the sum of the matters</i> to his brethren the Jews for
their use, and gave it to them in writing, that it might be
communicated to those at a distance and preserved for their
children after them, who shall see these things accomplished. The
Jews, misunderstanding some of the prophecies of Jeremiah and
Ezekiel, flattered themselves with hopes that, after their return
to their own land, they should enjoy a complete and uninterrupted
tranquility; but that they might not so deceive themselves, and
their calamities be made doubly grievous by the disappointment, God
by this prophet lets them know that they shall have tribulation:
those promises of their prosperity were to be accomplished in the
spiritual blessings of the kingdom of grace; as Christ has told his
disciples they must expect persecution, and the promises they
depend upon will be accomplished in the eternal blessings of the
kingdom of glory. Daniel both wrote these things and spoke them, to
intimate that the church should be taught both by the scriptures
and by ministers' preaching, both by the written word and by word
of mouth; and ministers in their preaching are to <i>tell the sum
of the matters</i> that are written.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Dan.viii-p6" shownumber="no">II. The vision itself, which foretels the
revolutions of government in those nations which the church of the
Jews, for the following ages, was to be under the influence of. 1.
He observed the <i>four winds to strive upon the great sea,</i>
<scripRef id="Dan.viii-p6.1" osisRef="Bible:Dan.7.2" parsed="|Dan|7|2|0|0" passage="Da 7:2"><i>v.</i> 2</scripRef>. They strove
which should blow strongest, and, at length, blow alone. This
represents the contests among princes for empire, and the shakings
of the nations by these contests, to which those mighty monarchies,
which he was now to have a prospect of, owed their rise. One wind
from any point of the compass, if it blow hard, will cause a great
commotion in the sea; but what a tumult must needs be raised when
the four winds strive for mastery! This is it which the kings of
the nations are contending for in their wars, which are as noisy
and violent as the battle of the winds; but how is the poor sea
tossed and torn, how terrible are its concussions, and how violent
its convulsions, while the winds are at strife which shall have the
sole power of troubling it! Note, This world is like a stormy
tempestuous sea; thanks to the proud ambitious winds that vex it.
2. He saw <i>four great beasts come up from the sea,</i> from the
<i>troubled waters,</i> in which aspiring minds love to fish. The
monarchs and monarchies are represented by <i>beasts,</i> because
too often it is by brutish rage and tyranny that they are raised
and supported. These beasts were <i>diverse one from another</i>
(<scripRef id="Dan.viii-p6.2" osisRef="Bible:Dan.7.3" parsed="|Dan|7|3|0|0" passage="Da 7:3"><i>v.</i> 3</scripRef>), of different
shapes, to denote the different genius and complexion of the
nations in whose hands they were lodged. (1.) <i>The first</i>
beast <i>was like a lion,</i> <scripRef id="Dan.viii-p6.3" osisRef="Bible:Dan.7.4" parsed="|Dan|7|4|0|0" passage="Da 7:4"><i>v.</i>
4</scripRef>. This was the Chaldean monarchy, that was fierce and
strong, and made the kings absolute. This lion had <i>eagle's
wings,</i> with which to fly upon the prey, denoting the wonderful
speed that Nebuchadnezzar made in his conquest of kingdoms. But
Daniel soon sees the <i>wings plucked,</i> a full stop put to the
career of their victorious arms. Divers countries that had been
tributaries to them revolt from them, and make head against them;
so that this monstrous animal, this winged lion, is made to
<i>stand upon the feet as a man, and a man's heart is given to
it.</i> It has lost the heart of a lion, which it had been famous
for (one of our English kings was called <i>Cœur de
Lion—Lion-heart</i>), has lost its courage and become feeble and
faint, dreading every thing and daring nothing; they are put in
fear, and made to know themselves to be but men. Sometimes the
valour of a nation strangely sinks, and it becomes cowardly and
effeminate, so that what was the head of the nations in an age or
two becomes the tail. (2.) The <i>second</i> beast was <i>like a
bear,</i> <scripRef id="Dan.viii-p6.4" osisRef="Bible:Dan.7.5" parsed="|Dan|7|5|0|0" passage="Da 7:5"><i>v.</i> 5</scripRef>. This
was the Persian monarchy, less strong and generous than the former,
but no less ravenous. This bear <i>raised up itself on one side</i>
against the lion, and soon mastered it. It <i>raised up one
dominion;</i> so some read it. Persia and Media, which in
Nebuchadnezzar's image were the <i>two arms</i> in one breast, now
set up a joint government. This bear had <i>three ribs in the mouth
of it between the teeth,</i> the remains of those nations it had
devoured, which were the marks of its voraciousness, and yet an
indication that though it had devoured much it could not devour
all; some ribs still stuck in the teeth of it, which it could not
conquer. Whereupon it was said to it, "<i>Arise, devour much
flesh;</i> let alone the bones, the ribs, that cannot be conquered,
and set upon that which will be an easier prey." The princes will
stir up both the kings and the people to push on their conquests,
and let nothing stand before them. Note, Conquests, unjustly made,
are but like those of the beasts of prey, and in <i>this</i> much
worse, that the beasts prey not upon those of their own kind, as
wicked and unreasonable men do. (3.) The third beast was <i>like a
leopard,</i> <scripRef id="Dan.viii-p6.5" osisRef="Bible:Dan.7.6" parsed="|Dan|7|6|0|0" passage="Da 7:6"><i>v.</i> 6</scripRef>.
This was the Grecian monarchy, founded by <i>Alexander the
Great,</i> active, crafty, and cruel, like a <i>leopard.</i> He had
<i>four wings of a fowl;</i> the lion seems to have had but two
wings; but the leopard had four, for though Nebuchadnezzar made
great despatch in his conquests Alexander made much greater. In six
years' time he gained the whole empire of Persia, a great part
besides of Asia, made himself master of Syria, Egypt, India, and
other nations. This beast had <i>four heads;</i> upon Alexander's
death his conquests were divided among his four chief captains;
Seleucus Nicanor had Asia the Great; Perdiccas, and after him
Antigonus, had Asia the Less; Cassander had Macedonia; and
Ptolemeus had Egypt. <i>Dominion</i> was <i>given</i> to this
<i>beast;</i> it was given of God, from whom alone promotion comes.
(4.) The fourth beast was more fierce, and formidable, and
mischievous, than any of them, unlike any of the other, nor is
there any among the beasts of prey to which it might be compared,
<scripRef id="Dan.viii-p6.6" osisRef="Bible:Dan.7.7" parsed="|Dan|7|7|0|0" passage="Da 7:7"><i>v.</i> 7</scripRef>. The learned are
not agreed concerning this anonymous beast; some make it to be the
Roman empire, which, when it was in its glory, comprehended ten
kingdoms, Italy, France, Spain, Germany, Britain, Sarmatia,
Pannonia, Asia, Greece, and Egypt; and then the little horn which
rose by the fall of three of the other horns (<scripRef id="Dan.viii-p6.7" osisRef="Bible:Dan.7.8" parsed="|Dan|7|8|0|0" passage="Da 7:8"><i>v.</i> 8</scripRef>) they make to be the Turkish
empire, which rose in the room of Asia, Greece, and Egypt. Others
make this fourth beast to be the kingdom of Syria, the family of
the Seleucidæ, which was very cruel and oppressive to the people of
the Jews, as we find in Josephus and the history of the Maccabees.
And herein that empire was diverse from those which went before,
that none of the preceding powers compelled the Jews to renounce
their religion, but the kings of Syria did, and used them
barbarously. Their armies and commanders were the <i>great iron
teeth</i> with which they <i>devoured and broke in pieces</i> the
people of God, and they <i>trampled upon the residue</i> of them.
The <i>ten horns</i> are then supposed to be ten kings that reigned
successively in Syria; and then the <i>little horn</i> is Antiochus
Epiphanes, the last of the ten, who by one means or other
undermined three of the kings, and got the government. He was a man
of great ingenuity, and therefore is said to have eyes <i>like the
eyes of a man;</i> and he was very bold and daring, had a <i>mouth
speaking great things.</i> We shall meet with him again in these
prophecies.</p>
</div><scripCom id="Dan.viii-p6.8" osisRef="Bible:Dan.7.9-Dan.7.14" parsed="|Dan|7|9|7|14" passage="Da 7:9-14" type="Commentary"/><div class="Commentary" id="Dan.viii-p6.9">
<h4 id="Dan.viii-p6.10">The Vision of the Four
Beasts. (<span class="smallcaps" id="Dan.viii-p6.11">b. c.</span> 555.)</h4>
<p class="passage" id="Dan.viii-p7" shownumber="no">9 I beheld till the thrones were cast down, and
the Ancient of days did sit, whose garment <i>was</i> white as
snow, and the hair of his head like the pure wool: his throne
<i>was like</i> the fiery flame, <i>and</i> his wheels <i>as</i>
burning fire.   10 A fiery stream issued and came forth from
before him: thousand thousands ministered unto him, and ten
thousand times ten thousand stood before him: the judgment was set,
and the books were opened.   11 I beheld then because of the
voice of the great words which the horn spake: I beheld <i>even</i>
till the beast was slain, and his body destroyed, and given to the
burning flame.   12 As concerning the rest of the beasts, they
had their dominion taken away: yet their lives were prolonged for a
season and time.   13 I saw in the night visions, and, behold,
<i>one</i> like the Son of man came with the clouds of heaven, and
came to the Ancient of days, and they brought him near before him.
  14 And there was given him dominion, and glory, and a
kingdom, that all people, nations, and languages, should serve him:
his dominion <i>is</i> an everlasting dominion, which shall not
pass away, and his kingdom <i>that</i> which shall not be
destroyed.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Dan.viii-p8" shownumber="no">Whether we understand the fourth beast to
signify the Syrian empire, or the Roman, or the former as the
figure of the latter, it is plain that these verses are intended
for the comfort and support of the people of God in reference to
the persecutions they were likely to sustain both from the one and
from the other, and from all their proud enemies in every age; for
it is written for their learning on whom the ends of the world have
come, that they also, through patience and comfort of this
scripture, might have hope. Three things are here discovered that
are very encouraging:—</p>
<p class="indent" id="Dan.viii-p9" shownumber="no">I. That there is a judgment to come, and
God is the Judge. Now men have their day, and every pretender
thinks he should have his day, and struggles for it. But <i>he that
sits in heaven laughs at them,</i> for he sees that <i>his day is
coming,</i> <scripRef id="Dan.viii-p9.1" osisRef="Bible:Ps.37.13" parsed="|Ps|37|13|0|0" passage="Ps 37:13">Ps. xxxvii. 13</scripRef>.
<i>I beheld</i> (<scripRef id="Dan.viii-p9.2" osisRef="Bible:Dan.7.9" parsed="|Dan|7|9|0|0" passage="Da 7:9"><i>v.</i> 9</scripRef>)
<i>till the thrones were cast down,</i> not only the thrones of
these beasts, but <i>all rule, authority, power,</i> that are set
up in opposition to the kingdom of God among men (<scripRef id="Dan.viii-p9.3" osisRef="Bible:1Cor.15.24" parsed="|1Cor|15|24|0|0" passage="1Co 15:24">1 Cor. xv. 24</scripRef>): such are the thrones
of the kingdoms of the world, in comparison with God's kingdom;
those that see them set up need but wait awhile, and they will see
them cast down. <i>I beheld till thrones were set up</i> (so it may
as well be read), Christ's throne and the throne of his Father. One
of the rabbin confesses that these thrones are <i>set up,</i> one
for <i>God,</i> another for the <i>Son of David.</i> It is the
<i>judgment</i> that is here <i>set,</i> <scripRef id="Dan.viii-p9.4" osisRef="Bible:Dan.7.10" parsed="|Dan|7|10|0|0" passage="Da 7:10"><i>v.</i> 10</scripRef>. Now, 1. This is intended to
proclaim God's wise and righteous government of the world by his
providence; and an unspeakable satisfaction it gives to all good
men, in the midst of the convulsions and revolutions of states and
kingdoms, that <i>the Lord has prepared his throne in the heavens
and his kingdom rules over all</i> (<scripRef id="Dan.viii-p9.5" osisRef="Bible:Ps.103.19" parsed="|Ps|103|19|0|0" passage="Ps 103:19">Ps. ciii. 19</scripRef>), <i>that verily there is a God
that judges in the earth,</i> <scripRef id="Dan.viii-p9.6" osisRef="Bible:Ps.58.11" parsed="|Ps|58|11|0|0" passage="Ps 58:11">Ps.
lviii. 11</scripRef>. 2. Perhaps it points at the destruction
brought by the providence of God upon the empire of Syria, or that
of Rome, for their tyrannizing over the people of God. But, 3. It
seems principally designed to describe the last judgment, for
though it follow not immediately upon the dominion of the fourth
beast, nay, though it be yet to come, perhaps many ages to come,
yet it was intended that in every age the people of God should
encourage themselves, under their troubles, with the belief and
prospect of it. Enoch, the seventh from Adam, prophesied of it,
<scripRef id="Dan.viii-p9.7" osisRef="Bible:Jude.1.14" parsed="|Jude|1|14|0|0" passage="Jude 1:14">Jude 14</scripRef>. Does the mouth of
the enemy <i>speak great things,</i> <scripRef id="Dan.viii-p9.8" osisRef="Bible:Dan.7.8" parsed="|Dan|7|8|0|0" passage="Da 7:8"><i>v.</i> 8</scripRef>. Here are far greater things which
the mouth of the Lord has spoken. Many of the New-Testament
predictions of the judgment to come have a plain allusion to this
vision, especially St John's vision of it, <scripRef id="Dan.viii-p9.9" osisRef="Bible:Rev.20.11-Rev.20.12" parsed="|Rev|20|11|20|12" passage="Re 20:11,12">Rev. xx. 11, 12</scripRef>. (1.) The Judge is <i>the
Ancient of days</i> himself, <i>God the Father,</i> the glory of
whose presence is here described. He is called <i>the Ancient of
days,</i> because he is God <i>from everlasting to everlasting.</i>
Among men we reckon that <i>with the ancient is wisdom,</i> and
<i>days shall speak;</i> shall not all flesh then be silent before
him who is <i>the Ancient of days?</i> The glory of the Judge is
here set forth by his garment, which was <i>white as snow,</i>
denoting his splendour and purity in all the administrations of his
justice; and the <i>hair of his head</i> clean and white, <i>as the
pure wool,</i> that, as the white and hoary head, he may appear
venerable. (2.) The throne is very formidable. It is <i>like the
fiery flame,</i> dreadful to the wicked that shall be summoned
before it. And the throne being movable upon wheels, or at least
the chariot in which he rode the circuit, the <i>wheels</i> thereof
are <i>as burning fire,</i> to devour the adversaries; for <i>our
God is a consuming fire,</i> and with him are <i>everlasting
burnings,</i> <scripRef id="Dan.viii-p9.10" osisRef="Bible:Isa.33.14" parsed="|Isa|33|14|0|0" passage="Isa 33:14">Isa. xxxiii.
14</scripRef>. This is enlarged upon, <scripRef id="Dan.viii-p9.11" osisRef="Bible:Dan.7.10" parsed="|Dan|7|10|0|0" passage="Da 7:10"><i>v.</i> 10</scripRef>. As to all his faithful friends
there <i>proceeds out of the throne of God and the Lamb a pure
river of water of life</i> (<scripRef id="Dan.viii-p9.12" osisRef="Bible:Rev.22.1" parsed="|Rev|22|1|0|0" passage="Re 22:1">Rev. xxii.
1</scripRef>), so to all his implacable enemies there <i>issues and
comes forth from</i> his throne a <i>fiery stream, a stream of
brimstone</i> (<scripRef id="Dan.viii-p9.13" osisRef="Bible:Isa.30.33" parsed="|Isa|30|33|0|0" passage="Isa 30:33">Isa. xxx.
33</scripRef>), a <i>fire</i> that shall <i>devour before him.</i>
He is a swift witness, and his word a word upon the wheels. (3.)
The attendants are numerous and very splendid. The Shechinah is
always attended with angels; it is so here (<scripRef id="Dan.viii-p9.14" osisRef="Bible:Dan.7.10" parsed="|Dan|7|10|0|0" passage="Da 7:10"><i>v.</i> 10</scripRef>): <i>Thousand thousands minister
to him,</i> and <i>ten thousand times ten thousand stand before
him.</i> It is his glory that he has such attendants, but much more
his glory that he neither needs them nor can be benefited by them.
See how numerous the heavenly hosts are (there are <i>thousands of
angels</i>), and how obsequious they are—they <i>stand before
God,</i> ready to go on his errands and to take the first
intimation of his will and pleasure. They will particularly be
employed as ministers of his justice in the last judgment day, when
the <i>Son of man shall come, and all the holy angels with him.</i>
Enoch prophesied that the Lord should come <i>with his holy
myriads.</i> (4.) The process is fair and unexceptionable: <i>The
judgment is set,</i> publicly and openly, that all may have
recourse to it; and <i>the books are opened.</i> As in courts of
judgment among men the proceedings are in writing and upon record,
which is laid open when the cause comes to a hearing, the
examination of witnesses is produced, and affidavits are read, to
clear the matter of fact, and the statute and common-law books are
consulted to find out what is the law, so, in the judgment of the
great day, the equity of the sentence will be as incontestably
evident as if there were books opened to justify it.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Dan.viii-p10" shownumber="no">II. That the proud and cruel enemies of the
church of God will certainly be reckoned with and brought down in
due time, <scripRef id="Dan.viii-p10.1" osisRef="Bible:Dan.7.11-Dan.7.12" parsed="|Dan|7|11|7|12" passage="Da 7:11,12"><i>v.</i> 11,
12</scripRef>. This is here represented to us, 1. In the destroying
of the fourth beast. God's quarrel with this beast is <i>because of
the voice of the great words which the horn spoke,</i> bidding
defiance to Heaven, and triumphing over all that is sacred; this
provokes God more than any thing, for the <i>enemy to behave
himself proudly,</i> <scripRef id="Dan.viii-p10.2" osisRef="Bible:Deut.32.27" parsed="|Deut|32|27|0|0" passage="De 32:27">Deut. xxxii.
27</scripRef>. <i>Therefore</i> Pharaoh must be humbled, because he
has said, <i>Who is the Lord?</i> and has said, <i>I will pursue, I
will overtake.</i> Enoch foretold that <i>therefore</i> the Lord
would come to <i>judge the world,</i> that he might <i>convince all
that are ungodly of their hard speeches,</i> <scripRef id="Dan.viii-p10.3" osisRef="Bible:Jude.1.15" parsed="|Jude|1|15|0|0" passage="Jude 1:15">Jude 15</scripRef>. Note, Great words are but idle
words, for which men must give account in the great day. And see
what becomes of this beast that talks so big: He <i>is slain,</i>
and <i>his body destroyed and given to the burning flame.</i> The
Syrian empire, after Antiochus, was destroyed. He himself died of a
miserable disease, his family was rooted out, the kingdom wasted by
the Parthians and Armenians, and at length made a province of the
Roman empire by Pompey. And the Roman empire itself (if we take
that for the fourth beast), after it began to persecute
Christianity, declined and wasted away, and the body of it was
destroyed. <i>So shall all thy enemies perish, O Lord!</i> and be
<i>slain before thee.</i> 2. In the diminishing and weakening of
the other three beasts (<scripRef id="Dan.viii-p10.4" osisRef="Bible:Dan.7.12" parsed="|Dan|7|12|0|0" passage="Da 7:12"><i>v.</i>
12</scripRef>): They had <i>their dominion taken away,</i> and so
were disabled from doing the mischiefs they had done to the church
and people of God; but <i>a prolonging in life was given them, for
a time and a season,</i> a set time, the bounds of which they could
not pass. The power of the foregoing kingdoms was quite broken, but
the people of them still remained in a mean, weak, and low
condition. We may allude to this in describing the remainders of
sin in the hearts of good people; they have corruptions in them,
the lives of which are prolonged, so that they are not perfectly
free from sin, but the dominion of them is taken away, so that sin
does not <i>reign in their mortal bodies.</i> And thus God deals
with his church's enemies; sometimes he breaks the teeth of them
(<scripRef id="Dan.viii-p10.5" osisRef="Bible:Ps.3.7" parsed="|Ps|3|7|0|0" passage="Ps 3:7">Ps. iii. 7</scripRef>), when he does
not break the neck of them, crushes the persecution, but reprieves
the persecutors, that they may have space to repent. And it is fit
that God, in doing his own work, should take his own time and
way.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Dan.viii-p11" shownumber="no">III. That the kingdom of the Messiah shall
be set up, and kept up, in the world, in spite of all the
opposition of the powers of darkness. Let the heathen rage and fret
as long as they please, God will <i>set his King upon his holy hill
of Zion.</i> Daniel sees this in vision, and comforts himself and
his friends with the prospect of it. This is the same with
Nebuchadnezzar's foresight of the <i>stone cut out of the mountain
without hands,</i> which broke in pieces the image; but in this
vision there is much more of pure gospel than in that. 1. The
Messiah is here called the Son of man—<i>one like unto the Son of
man;</i> for he was <i>made in the likeness of sinful flesh,</i>
was <i>found in fashion as a man. I saw one like unto the Son of
man,</i> one exactly agreeing with the idea formed in the divine
counsels of him that in the fulness of time was to be the Mediator
between God and man. He is <i>like unto the son of man,</i> but is
indeed the Son of God. Our Savior seems plainly to refer to this
vision when he says (<scripRef id="Dan.viii-p11.1" osisRef="Bible:John.5.27" parsed="|John|5|27|0|0" passage="Joh 5:27">John v.
27</scripRef>) that the <i>Father</i> has therefore <i>given him
authority to execute judgment</i> because he is <i>the Son of
man,</i> and because he is the person whom Daniel saw in vision, to
whom a kingdom and dominion were to be given. 2. He is said to
<i>come with the clouds of heaven.</i> Some refer this to his
incarnation; he descended <i>in the clouds of heaven,</i> came into
the world unseen, as the glory of the Lord took possession of the
temple in a cloud. The empires of the world were beasts that
<i>rose out of the sea;</i> but Christ's kingdom is from above: he
is the <i>Lord from heaven.</i> I think it is rather to be referred
to his ascension; when he returned to the Father the eye of his
disciples followed him, till <i>a cloud received him out of their
sight,</i> <scripRef id="Dan.viii-p11.2" osisRef="Bible:Acts.1.9" parsed="|Acts|1|9|0|0" passage="Ac 1:9">Acts i. 9</scripRef>. He made
that cloud his chariot, wherein he rode triumphantly to the upper
world. He comes swiftly, irresistibly, and comes in state, for he
<i>comes with the clouds of heaven.</i> 3. He is here represented
as having a mighty interest in Heaven. When the cloud received him
out of the sight of his disciples, it is worth while to enquire (as
the sons of the prophets concerning Elijah in a like case) whither
it carried him, where it lodged him; and here we are told,
abundantly to our satisfaction, that <i>he came to the Ancient of
days;</i> for he ascended to <i>his Father and our Father,</i> to
<i>his God and our God</i> (<scripRef id="Dan.viii-p11.3" osisRef="Bible:John.20.17" parsed="|John|20|17|0|0" passage="Joh 20:17">John xx.
17</scripRef>); from him he came forth, and to him he returns, to
be glorified with him, and to sit down at his right hand. It was
with a great deal of pleasure that he said, <i>Now I go to him that
sent me.</i> But was he welcome? Yes, not doubt, he was, for
<i>they brought him near before him;</i> he was introduced into his
Father's presence, with the attendance and adorations of <i>all the
angels of God,</i> <scripRef id="Dan.viii-p11.4" osisRef="Bible:Heb.1.6" parsed="|Heb|1|6|0|0" passage="Heb 1:6">Heb. i.
6</scripRef>. God <i>caused him to draw near and approach to
him,</i> as an advocate and undertaker for us (<scripRef id="Dan.viii-p11.5" osisRef="Bible:Jer.30.21" parsed="|Jer|30|21|0|0" passage="Jer 30:21">Jer. xxx. 21</scripRef>), that we through him might be
<i>made nigh.</i> By this solemn near approach which he made to the
Ancient of days it appears that the Father accepted the sacrifice
he offered, and the satisfaction he made, and was entirely well
pleased with all he had done. He was <i>brought near,</i> as our
high priest, who for us enters within the veil, and as our
forerunner, 4. He is here represented as having a mighty influence
upon this earth, <scripRef id="Dan.viii-p11.6" osisRef="Bible:Dan.7.14" parsed="|Dan|7|14|0|0" passage="Da 7:14"><i>v.</i>
14</scripRef>. When he went to be glorified with his Father he had
a <i>power given him over all flesh,</i> <scripRef id="Dan.viii-p11.7" osisRef="Bible:John.17.2 Bible:John.17.5" parsed="|John|17|2|0|0;|John|17|5|0|0" passage="Joh 17:2,5">John xvii. 2, 5</scripRef>. With the prospect of this
Daniel and his friends are here comforted, that not only the
dominion of the church's enemies shall be taken away (<scripRef id="Dan.viii-p11.8" osisRef="Bible:Dan.7.12" parsed="|Dan|7|12|0|0" passage="Da 7:12"><i>v.</i> 12</scripRef>), but the church's head
and best friend shall have <i>the dominion given him;</i> to him
<i>every knee shall bow</i> and <i>every tongue confess.</i>
<scripRef id="Dan.viii-p11.9" osisRef="Bible:Phil.2.9-Phil.2.10" parsed="|Phil|2|9|2|10" passage="Php 2:9,10">Phil. ii. 9, 10</scripRef>. To him
are given <i>glory and a kingdom,</i> and they are given by him who
has an unquestionable right to give them, which, some think with an
eye to these words, our Savior teaches us to acknowledge in the
close of the Lord's prayer, <i>For thine is the kingdom, the power,
and the glory.</i> It is here foretold that the kingdom of the
exalted Redeemer shall be, (1.) A universal kingdom, the only
universal monarchy, whatever others have pretended to, or aimed at:
<i>All people, nations, and languages,</i> shall <i>fear him,</i>
and be under his jurisdiction, either as his willing subjects or as
his conquered captives, to be either ruled or overruled by him. One
way or other, the kingdoms of the world shall all become his
kingdoms. (2.) An everlasting kingdom. His <i>dominion</i> shall
not <i>pass away</i> to any successor, much less to any invader,
and his kingdom is <i>that</i> which <i>shall not be destroyed.</i>
Even the gates of hell, or the infernal powers and policies, shall
not prevail against it. The church shall continue militant to the
end of time, and triumphant to the endless ages of eternity.</p>
</div><scripCom id="Dan.viii-p11.10" osisRef="Bible:Dan.7.15-Dan.7.28" parsed="|Dan|7|15|7|28" passage="Da 7:15-28" type="Commentary"/><div class="Commentary" id="Dan.viii-p11.11">
<h4 id="Dan.viii-p11.12">The Vision of the Four
Beasts. (<span class="smallcaps" id="Dan.viii-p11.13">b. c.</span> 555.)</h4>
<p class="passage" id="Dan.viii-p12" shownumber="no">15 I Daniel was grieved in my spirit in the
midst of <i>my</i> body, and the visions of my head troubled me.
  16 I came near unto one of them that stood by, and asked him
the truth of all this. So he told me, and made me know the
interpretation of the things.   17 These great beasts, which
are four, <i>are</i> four kings, <i>which</i> shall arise out of
the earth.   18 But the saints of the most High shall take the
kingdom, and possess the kingdom for ever, even for ever and ever.
  19 Then I would know the truth of the fourth beast, which
was diverse from all the others, exceeding dreadful, whose teeth
<i>were of</i> iron, and his nails <i>of</i> brass; <i>which</i>
devoured, brake in pieces, and stamped the residue with his feet;
  20 And of the ten horns that <i>were</i> in his head, and
<i>of</i> the other which came up, and before whom three fell; even
<i>of</i> that horn that had eyes, and a mouth that spake very
great things, whose look <i>was</i> more stout than his fellows.
  21 I beheld, and the same horn made war with the saints, and
prevailed against them;   22 Until the Ancient of days came,
and judgment was given to the saints of the most High; and the time
came that the saints possessed the kingdom.   23 Thus he said,
The fourth beast shall be the fourth kingdom upon earth, which
shall be diverse from all kingdoms, and shall devour the whole
earth, and shall tread it down, and break it in pieces.   24
And the ten horns out of this kingdom <i>are</i> ten kings
<i>that</i> shall arise: and another shall rise after them; and he
shall be diverse from the first, and he shall subdue three kings.
  25 And he shall speak <i>great</i> words against the most
High, and shall wear out the saints of the most High, and think to
change times and laws: and they shall be given into his hand until
a time and times and the dividing of time.   26 But the
judgment shall sit, and they shall take away his dominion, to
consume and to destroy <i>it</i> unto the end.   27 And the
kingdom and dominion, and the greatness of the kingdom under the
whole heaven, shall be given to the people of the saints of the
most High, whose kingdom <i>is</i> an everlasting kingdom, and all
dominions shall serve and obey him.   28 Hitherto <i>is</i>
the end of the matter. As for me Daniel, my cogitations much
troubled me, and my countenance changed in me: but I kept the
matter in my heart.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Dan.viii-p13" shownumber="no">Here we have, I. The deep impressions which
these visions made upon the prophet. God in them put honour upon
him, and gave him satisfaction, yet not without a great allay of
pain and perplexity (<scripRef id="Dan.viii-p13.1" osisRef="Bible:Dan.7.15" parsed="|Dan|7|15|0|0" passage="Da 7:15"><i>v.</i>
15</scripRef>): <i>I Daniel was grieved in my spirit, in the midst
of my body.</i> The word here used for the <i>body</i> properly
signifies a <i>sheath</i> or <i>scabbard,</i> for the body is no
more to the soul; that is the weapon; it is that which we are
principally to take care of. The <i>visions of my head troubled
me,</i> and again (<scripRef id="Dan.viii-p13.2" osisRef="Bible:Dan.7.28" parsed="|Dan|7|28|0|0" passage="Da 7:28"><i>v.</i>
28</scripRef>), <i>my cogitations much troubled me.</i> The manner
in which these things were discovered to him quite overwhelmed him,
and put his thoughts so much to the stretch that his spirits failed
him, and the trance he was in tired him and made him faint. The
things themselves that were discovered amazed and astonished him,
and put him into a confusion, till by degrees he recollected and
conquered himself, and set the comforts of the vision over against
the terrors of it.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Dan.viii-p14" shownumber="no">II. His earnest desire to understand the
meaning of them (<scripRef id="Dan.viii-p14.1" osisRef="Bible:Dan.7.16" parsed="|Dan|7|16|0|0" passage="Da 7:16"><i>v.</i>
16</scripRef>): <i>I came near to one of those that stood by,
to</i> one of the angels that appeared attending the <i>Son of
man</i> in his glory, and <i>asked him the truth</i> (the true
intent and meaning) <i>of all this.</i> Note, It is a very
desirable thing to take the right and full sense of what we see and
hear from God; and those that would know must ask by faithful and
fervent prayer and by <i>accomplishing a diligent search.</i></p>
<p class="indent" id="Dan.viii-p15" shownumber="no">III. The key that was given him, to let him
into the understanding of this vision. The angel <i>told him,</i>
and told him so plainly that he made him <i>know the interpretation
of the thing,</i> and so made him somewhat more easy.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Dan.viii-p16" shownumber="no">1. <i>The great beasts</i> are great
<i>kings</i> and their kingdoms, great monarchs and their
monarchies, <i>which shall arise out of the earth,</i> as those
beasts did <i>out of the sea,</i> <scripRef id="Dan.viii-p16.1" osisRef="Bible:Dan.7.17" parsed="|Dan|7|17|0|0" passage="Da 7:17"><i>v.</i> 17</scripRef>. They are but <i>terræfilii—from
beneath;</i> they savour of the earth, and their foundation is
<i>in the dust;</i> they are of the earth earthy, and they are
written in the dust, and to the dust they shall return.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Dan.viii-p17" shownumber="no">2. Daniel pretty well understands the first
three beasts, but concerning the fourth he desires to be better
informed, because it differed so much from the rest, and was
<i>exceedingly dreadful,</i> and not only so, but very mischievous,
or it <i>devoured and broke in pieces,</i> <scripRef id="Dan.viii-p17.1" osisRef="Bible:Dan.7.19" parsed="|Dan|7|19|0|0" passage="Da 7:19"><i>v.</i> 19</scripRef>. Perhaps it was this that put
Daniel into such a fright, and this part of the visions of his head
troubled him more than any of the rest. But especially he desired
to know what the <i>little horn</i> was, that <i>had eyes,</i> and
a <i>mouth that spoke very great things,</i> and whose countenance
was more fearless and formidable than that of <i>any of his
fellows,</i> <scripRef id="Dan.viii-p17.2" osisRef="Bible:Dan.7.20" parsed="|Dan|7|20|0|0" passage="Da 7:20"><i>v.</i> 20</scripRef>.
And this he was most inquisitive about because it was this horn
that <i>made war with the saints, and prevailed against them,</i>
<scripRef id="Dan.viii-p17.3" osisRef="Bible:Dan.7.21" parsed="|Dan|7|21|0|0" passage="Da 7:21"><i>v.</i> 21</scripRef>. While no more
is intimated than that the children of men make war with one
another, and prevail against one another, the prophet does not show
himself so much concerned (<i>let the potsherds strive with the
potsherds of the earth,</i> and be dashed in pieces one against
another); but when they <i>make war with the saints,</i> when the
<i>precious sons of Zion, comparable to fine gold,</i> are broken
as <i>earthen pitchers,</i> it is time to ask, "What is the meaning
of this? Will the Lord cast off his people? Will he suffer their
enemies to trample upon them and triumph over them? What is this
same horn that shall prevail so far against the saints?" To this
his interpreter answers (<scripRef id="Dan.viii-p17.4" osisRef="Bible:Dan.7.23-Dan.7.25" parsed="|Dan|7|23|7|25" passage="Da 7:23-25"><i>v.</i>
23-25</scripRef>) that this <i>fourth beast</i> is a <i>fourth
kingdom,</i> that <i>shall devour the whole earth,</i> or (as it
may be read) <i>the whole land.</i> That the <i>ten horns are ten
kings,</i> and the <i>little horn</i> is another king that shall
subdue three kings, and shall be very abusive to God and his
people, shall act, (1.) Very impiously towards God. He shall
<i>speak great words against the Most High,</i> setting him, and
his authority and justice, at defiance. (2.) Very imperiously
towards the people of God. He shall <i>wear out the saints of the
Most High;</i> he will not cut them off at once, but wear them out
by long oppressions and a constant course of hardships put upon
them, ruining their estates and weakening their families. The
design of Satan has been to <i>wear out the saints of the Most
High,</i> that they may be no more in remembrance; but the attempt
is vain, for while the world stands God will have a church in it.
He shall <i>think to change times and laws,</i> to abolish all the
ordinances and institutions of religion, and to bring every body to
say and do just as he would have them. He shall trample upon laws
and customs, human and divine. <i>Diruit, ædificut, mutat quadrata
rotundis—He pulls down, he builds, he changes square into
round,</i> as if he meant to alter even the ordinances of heaven
themselves. And in these daring attempts he shall for a time
prosper and have success; they shall be given into his hand
<i>until time, times, and half a time</i> (that is, for three years
and a half), that famous prophetical measure of time which we meet
with in the Revelation, which is sometimes called forty-two months,
sometimes 1260 days, which come all to one. But at the end of that
time the <i>judgment shall sit and take away his dominion</i>
(<scripRef id="Dan.viii-p17.5" osisRef="Bible:Dan.7.26" parsed="|Dan|7|26|0|0" passage="Da 7:26"><i>v.</i> 26</scripRef>), which he
expounds (<scripRef id="Dan.viii-p17.6" osisRef="Bible:Dan.7.11" parsed="|Dan|7|11|0|0" passage="Da 7:11"><i>v.</i> 11</scripRef>) of
the beast being <i>slain and his body destroyed.</i> And (as Mr.
Mede reads <scripRef id="Dan.viii-p17.7" osisRef="Bible:Dan.7.12" parsed="|Dan|7|12|0|0" passage="Da 7:12"><i>v.</i> 12</scripRef>)
<i>as to the rest of the beast,</i> the ten horns, especially the
little <i>ruffling</i> horn (as he calls it), they had their
dominion taken away. Now the question is, Who is this enemy, whose
rise, reign, and ruin, are foretold? Interpreters are not agreed.
Some will have the fourth kingdom to be that of the Seleucidæ, and
the little horn to be Antiochus, and show the accomplishment of all
this in the history of the Maccabees; so Junius, Piscator, Polanus,
Broughton, and many others: but others will have the fourth kingdom
to be that of the Romans, and the <i>little horn</i> to be Julius
Cæsar, and the succeeding emperors (says Calvin), the antichrist,
the papal kingdom (says Mr. Joseph Mede), that <i>wicked one,</i>
which, as this <i>little horn,</i> is to be consumed by the
<i>brightness of Christ's second coming.</i> The pope assumes a
power to <i>change times and laws, potestas</i>
<b><i>autokratorike</i></b>—<i>an absolute and despotic power,</i>
as he calls it. Others make the <i>little horn</i> to be the
<i>Turkish empire;</i> so Luther, Vatablus, and others. Now I
cannot prove either side to be wrong; and therefore, since
prophecies sometimes have many fulfillings, and we ought to give
scripture its full latitude (in this as in many other
controversies), I am willing to allow that they are both in the
right, and that this prophecy has primary reference to the Syrian
empire, and was intended for the encouragement of the Jews who
suffered under Antiochus, that they might see even these melancholy
times foretold, but might foresee a glorious issue of them at last,
and the final overthrow of their proud oppressors; and, which is
best of all, might foresee, not long after, the setting up of the
kingdom of the Messiah in the world, with the hopes of which it was
usual with the former prophets to comfort the people of God in
their distresses. But yet it has a further reference, and foretels
the like persecuting power and rage in Rome heathen, and no less in
Rome papal, against the Christian religion, that was in Antiochus
against the pious Jews and their religion. And St. John, in his
visions and prophecies, which point primarily at Rome, has plain
reference, in many particulars, to these visions of Daniel.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Dan.viii-p18" shownumber="no">3. He has a joyful prospect given him of
the prevalency of God's kingdom among men, and its victory over all
opposition at last. And it is very observable that in the midst of
the predictions of the force and fury of the enemies this is
brought in abruptly (<scripRef id="Dan.viii-p18.1" osisRef="Bible:Dan.7.18 Bible:Dan.7.22" parsed="|Dan|7|18|0|0;|Dan|7|22|0|0" passage="Da 7:18,22"><i>v.</i> 18
and again <i>v.</i> 22</scripRef>), before it comes, in the course
of the vision, to be interpreted, <scripRef id="Dan.viii-p18.2" osisRef="Bible:Dan.7.26-Dan.7.27" parsed="|Dan|7|26|7|27" passage="Da 7:26,27"><i>v.</i> 26, 27</scripRef>. And this also refers,
(1.) To the prosperous days of the Jewish church, after it had
weathered the storm under Antiochus, and the power which the
Maccabees obtained over their enemies. (2.) To the setting up of
the kingdom of the Messiah in the world by the preaching of his
gospel. <i>For judgment Christ comes into this world,</i> to rule
by his Spirit, and to make all his saints <i>kings and priests to
their God.</i> (3.) To the second coming of Jesus Christ, when the
saints shall judge the world, shall sit down with him on his throne
and triumph in the complete downfall of the devil's kingdom. Let us
see what is here foretold. [1.] <i>The Ancient of days shall
come,</i> <scripRef id="Dan.viii-p18.3" osisRef="Bible:Dan.7.22" parsed="|Dan|7|22|0|0" passage="Da 7:22"><i>v.</i> 22</scripRef>. God
shall judge the world by his Son, to whom he has <i>committed all
judgment,</i> and, as an earnest of that, he <i>comes</i> for the
deliverance of his oppressed people, comes for the setting up of
his kingdom in the world. [2.] <i>The judgment shall sit,</i>
<scripRef id="Dan.viii-p18.4" osisRef="Bible:Dan.7.26" parsed="|Dan|7|26|0|0" passage="Da 7:26"><i>v.</i> 26</scripRef>. God will make
it appear that he <i>judges in the earth,</i> and will, both in
wisdom and in equity, plead his people's righteous cause. At the
great day he will <i>judge the world in righteousness by that man
whom he has ordained.</i> [3.] The <i>dominion</i> of the enemy
shall be <i>taken away,</i> <scripRef id="Dan.viii-p18.5" osisRef="Bible:Dan.7.26" parsed="|Dan|7|26|0|0" passage="Da 7:26"><i>v.</i>
26</scripRef>. All Christ's enemies shall be made his footstool,
and shall be <i>consumed and destroyed</i> to the end: these were
the apostle uses concerning the man of sin, <scripRef id="Dan.viii-p18.6" osisRef="Bible:2Thess.2.8" parsed="|2Thess|2|8|0|0" passage="2Th 2:8">2 Thess. ii. 8</scripRef>. He shall be <i>consumed</i>
with the <i>spirit of Christ's mouth</i> and <i>destroyed with the
brightness of his coming.</i> [4.] <i>Judgment is given to the
saints of the Most High.</i> The apostles are entrusted with the
preaching of a gospel by which the <i>world shall be judged.</i>
All the saints by their faith and obedience condemn an unbelieving
disobedient world; in Christ their head they shall judge the world,
shall <i>judge the twelve tribes of Israel,</i> <scripRef id="Dan.viii-p18.7" osisRef="Bible:Matt.19.28" parsed="|Matt|19|28|0|0" passage="Mt 19:28">Matt. xix. 28</scripRef>. See what reason we have to
honour those that fear the Lord; how mean and despicable soever the
saints now appear in the eye of the world, and how much contempt
soever is poured upon them; they are the <i>saints of the Most
High;</i> they are near and dear to God, and he owns them for his,
and <i>judgment</i> is <i>given to them.</i> [5.] That which is
most insisted upon is that <i>the saints of the Most High shall
take the kingdom, and possess the kingdom for ever,</i> <scripRef id="Dan.viii-p18.8" osisRef="Bible:Dan.7.18" parsed="|Dan|7|18|0|0" passage="Da 7:18"><i>v.</i> 18</scripRef>. And again (<scripRef id="Dan.viii-p18.9" osisRef="Bible:Dan.7.22" parsed="|Dan|7|22|0|0" passage="Da 7:22"><i>v.</i> 22</scripRef>), The <i>time came that
the saints possessed the kingdom.</i> And again (<scripRef id="Dan.viii-p18.10" osisRef="Bible:Dan.7.27" parsed="|Dan|7|27|0|0" passage="Da 7:27"><i>v.</i> 27</scripRef>), The <i>kingdom and dominion,
and the greatness of the kingdom under the whole heavens, shall be
given to the people of the saints of the Most High.</i> Far be it
from us to infer hence that dominion is founded on grace, or that
this will warrant any, under pretence of saintship, to usurp
kingship. No; <i>Christ's kingdom is not of this world;</i> but
this intimates the spiritual dominion of the saints over their own
lusts and corruptions, their victories over Satan and his
temptations, and the triumphs of the martyrs over death and its
terrors. It likewise promises that the gospel kingdom shall be set
up, a kingdom of grace, the privileges and comforts of which now,
<i>under the heavens,</i> shall be the earnest and first-fruits of
the kingdom of <i>glory in the heavens.</i> When the empire became
Christian, and princes used their power for the defence and
advancement of Christianity, then the <i>saints possessed the
kingdom.</i> The saints rule by the Spirit's ruling in them (and
<i>this is the victory overcoming the world, even their faith</i>)
and by making the kingdoms of this world to become Christ's
kingdom. But the full accomplishment of this will be in the
everlasting happiness of the saints, the kingdom that cannot be
moved, which we, according to his promise, look for (that is the
<i>greatness of the kingdom</i>), the crown of glory that fades not
away—that is the <i>everlasting kingdom.</i> See what an emphasis
is laid upon this (<scripRef id="Dan.viii-p18.11" osisRef="Bible:Dan.7.18" parsed="|Dan|7|18|0|0" passage="Da 7:18"><i>v.</i>
18</scripRef>): The saints shall possess the kingdom <i>for ever,
even for ever and ever;</i> and the reason is because he whose
saints they are is the <i>Most High</i> and <i>his kingdom is an
everlasting kingdom,</i> <scripRef id="Dan.viii-p18.12" osisRef="Bible:Dan.7.27" parsed="|Dan|7|27|0|0" passage="Da 7:27"><i>v.</i>
27</scripRef>. He is so, and therefore theirs shall be so.
<i>Because I live, you shall live also,</i> <scripRef id="Dan.viii-p18.13" osisRef="Bible:John.14.19" parsed="|John|14|19|0|0" passage="Joh 14:19">John xiv. 19</scripRef>. His kingdom is theirs; they
reckon themselves exalted in his exaltation, and desire no greater
honour and satisfaction to themselves than that <i>all
dominions</i> should <i>serve and obey him,</i> as they shall do,
<scripRef id="Dan.viii-p18.14" osisRef="Bible:Dan.5.27" parsed="|Dan|5|27|0|0" passage="Da 5:27"><i>v.</i> 27</scripRef>. They shall
either be brought into subjection to his golden sceptre or brought
to destruction by his iron rod.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Dan.viii-p19" shownumber="no">Daniel, in the close, when he ends that
matter, tells us what impressions this vision made upon him; it
overwhelmed his spirits to such a degree that his
<i>countenance</i> was <i>changed,</i> and it made him look pale;
but he <i>kept the matter in his heart.</i> Note, The heart must be
the treasury and store-house of divine things; there we must hide
God's word, as the Virgin Mary kept the sayings of Christ,
<scripRef id="Dan.viii-p19.1" osisRef="Bible:Luke.2.51" parsed="|Luke|2|51|0|0" passage="Lu 2:51">Luke ii. 51</scripRef>. Daniel kept
<i>the matter in his heart,</i> with a design, not to keep it from
the church, but to keep it for the church, that what he had
received from the Lord he might fully and faithfully deliver to the
people. Note, It concerns God's prophets and ministers to treasure
up the things of God in their minds, and there to digest them well.
If we would have God's word ready in our mouths when we have
occasion for it, we must keep it in our hearts at all times.</p>
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