Bible Heaven/Bible Heaven.iso/online/mhcc27/v29900

Text File | 1994-03-02 | 6KB | 104 lines

29900
 #9-14 These verses are for the comfort and support of the people
 of God, in reference to the persecutions that would come upon
 them. Many New Testament predictions of the judgment to come,
 have plain allusion to this vision; especially #Re 20:11,12|.
 The Messiah is here called the Son of man; he was made in the
 likeness of sinful flesh, and was found in fashion as a man, but
 he is the Son of God. The great event foretold in this passage,
 is Christ's glorious coming, to destroy every antichristian
 power, and to render his own kingdom universal upon earth. But
 ere the solemn time arrives, for manifesting the glory of God to
 all worlds in his dealings with his creatures, we may expect
 that the doom of each of us will be determined at the hour of
 our death; and before the end shall come, the Father will openly
 give to his incarnate Son, our Mediator and Judge, the
 inheritance of the nations as his willing subjects.

29906
 #15-28 It is desirable to obtain 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. The angel told Daniel
 plainly. He especially desired to know respecting the little
 horn, which made war with the saints, and prevailed against
 them. Here is foretold the rage of papal Rome against true
 Christians. St. John, in his visions and prophecies, which point
 in the first place at Rome, has plain reference to these
 visions. Daniel had a joyful prospect of the prevalence of God's
 kingdom among men. This refers to the second coming of our
 blessed Lord, when the saints shall triumph in the complete fall
 of Satan's kingdom. The saints of the Most High shall possess
 the kingdom for ever. Far be it from us to infer from hence,
 that dominion is founded on grace. It promises that the gospel
 kingdom shall be set up; a kingdom of light, holiness, and love;
 a kingdom of grace, the privileges and comforts of which shall
 be the earnest and first-fruits of the kingdom of glory. But the
 full accomplishment will be in the everlasting happiness of the
 saints, the kingdom that cannot be moved. The gathering together
 the whole family of God will be a blessedness of Christ's
 coming.
29920
 * Daniel's vision of the ram and the he-goat. (1-14) The
 interpretation of it. (15-27)

 #1-14 God gives Daniel a foresight of the destruction of other
 kingdoms, which in their day were as powerful as that of
 Babylon. Could we foresee the changes that shall be when we are
 gone, we should be less affected with changes in our own day.
 The ram with two horns was the second empire, that of Media and
 Persia. He saw this ram overcome by a he-goat. This was
 Alexander the Great. Alexander, when about thirty-three years of
 age, and in his full strength, died, and showed the vanity of
 worldly pomp and power, and that they cannot make a man happy.
 While men dispute, as in the case of Alexander, respecting the
 death of some prosperous warrior, it is plain that the great
 First Cause of all had no more of his plan for him to execute,
 and therefore cut him off. Instead of that one great horn, there
 came up four notable ones, Alexander's four chief captains. A
 little horn became a great persecutor of the church and people
 of God. It seems that the Mohammedan delusion is here pointed
 out. It prospered, and at one time nearly destroyed the holy
 religion God's right hand had planted. It is just with God to
 deprive those of the privileges of his house who despise and
 profane them; and to make those know the worth of ordinances by
 the want of them, who would not know it by the enjoyment of
 them. Daniel heard the time of this calamity limited and
 determined; but not the time when it should come. If we would
 know the mind of God, we must apply to Christ, in whom are hid
 all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge; not hid from us, but
 hid for us. There is much difficulty as to the precise time here
 stated, but the end of it cannot be very distant. God will, for
 his own glory, see to the cleansing of the church in due time.
 Christ died to cleanse his church; and he will so cleanse it as
 to present it blameless to himself.

29934
 #15-27 The eternal Son of God stood before the prophet in the
 appearance of a man, and directed the angel Gabriel to explain
 the vision. Daniel's fainting and astonishment at the prospect
 of evils he saw coming on his people and the church, confirm the
 opinion that long-continued calamities were foretold. The vision
 being ended, a charge was given to Daniel to keep it private for
 the present. He kept it to himself, and went on to do the duty
 of his place. As long as we live in this world we must have
 something to do in it; and even those whom God has most
 honoured, must not think themselves above their business. Nor
 must the pleasure of communion with God take us from the duties
 of our callings, but we must in them abide with God. All who are
 intrusted with public business must discharge their trust
 uprightly; and, amidst all doubts and discouragements, they may,
 if true believers, look forward to a happy issue. Thus should we
 endeavour to compose our minds for attending to the duties to
 which each is appointed, in the church and in the world.
29947
 * Daniel considers the time of the captivity. (1-3) His
 confession of sin, and prayer. (4-19) The revelation concerning
 the coming of the Messiah. (20-27)

 #1-3 Daniel learned from the books of the prophets, especially
 from Jeremiah, that the desolation of Jerusalem would continue
 seventy years, which were drawing to a close. God's promises are
 to encourage our prayers, not to make them needless; and when we
 see the performance of them approaching, we should more
 earnestly plead them with God.