Daniel and the Revelation

Front matter

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DANIEL AND THE

REVELATION.

Preface

lieve to be the book wherein God has undertaken to reveal his will to mankind, should come to be regarded in such a light. But a great fact, to which the reader's attention is called in the following paragraph, is believed to contain for this state of things both an explanation and an antidote.

6. There are two general systems of interpretation adopted by different expositors in their efforts to explain the sacred Scriptures. The first is the mystical or spiritualizing system invented by Origen, to the shame of sound criticism and the curse of Christendom ; the second is the system of literal interpretation, used by such men as Tyndale, Luther, and all the Reformers, and furnishing the basis for every advance step which has thus far been made in the reformation from error to truth as taught in the Scriptures. According to the first system, every declaration is supposed to have a mystical or hidden sense, which it is the province of the interpreter to bring forth ; by the second, every declaration is to be taken in its most obvious and literal sense, except where the context and the well-known laws of language show that the terms are figurative, and not literal ; and whatever is figurative must be explained by other portions of the Bible which are literal.

7. By the mystical method of Origen, it is vain to hope for any uniform understanding of either Daniel or the Revelation, or of any other book of the Bible ; for that system (if it can be called a system) knows no law but the uncurbed imagination of its adherents ; hence there are on its side as many different interpretations of Scripture as there are different fancies of different writers. By the literal method, everything is subject to well-established and clearly-defined law ; and, viewed from this standpoint, the reader will be surprised to see how simple, easy, and clear many portions of the Scriptures at once become, which, according to any other system, are dark and unsolvable. It is admitted that many figures are used in the Bible, and that much of the books under consideration, especially that of the Revelation, is clothed in symbolic language ; but it is also claimed that the Scriptures introduce no figure which they do not somewhere furnish literal language to explain. This volume is offered as a consistent exposition of the books of Daniel and the Revelation according to the literal system.

8. The study of prophecy should by no means be neglected ; for it is the prophetic portions of the word of God which especially constitute it a lamp to our feet and a light to our path. So both David and Peter unequivocally testify. Ps. 119 : 105 ; 2 Peter 1 : 19.

9. No sublimer study can occupy the mind than the study of those books in which He who sees the end from the beginning, looking forward through all the ages, gives, through his inspired prophets, a description of coming events for the benefit of those whose lot it would be to meet them.

10. An increase of knowledge respecting the prophetic portions of the word of God was to be one of the characteristics of the last days. Said the angel to Daniel, " But thou, O Daniel, shut up the words, and seal the

PREFACE.

book, even to the time of the end : many shall run to and fro, and knowledge shall be increased;" or, as Michaelis's translation reads: "When many shall give their sedulous attention to the understanding of these things, and knowledge shall be increased." It is our lot to live this side the time to which the angel told Daniel to thus shut up the words and seal the book. That restriction has now expired by limitation. In the language of the figure, the seal has been removed, and many are running to and fro, and knowledge has marvelously increased in every department of science ; yet it is evident that this prophecy specially contemplates an increase of knowledge concerning those prophecies that are designed to give us light in reference to the age in which we live, the close of this dispensation, and the soon-coming transfer of all earthly governments to the great King of Righteousness, who shall destroy his enemies, and crown with an infinite reward every one of his friends. The fulfilment of the prophecy in the increase of this knowledge, is one of the pleasing signs of the present time. For more than half a century, light upon the prophetic word has been increasing, and shining with ever-growing luster to our own day.

11. In no portion of the word of God is this more apparent than in the books of Daniel and the Revelation ; and we may well congratulate ourselves on this, for no other parts of that word deal so largely in prophecies that pertain to the closing scenes of this world's history. No other books contain so many chains of prophecy reaching down to the end. In no other books is the grand procession of events that leads us through to the termination of probationary time, and ushers 'us into the realities of the eternal state, so fully and minutely set forth. No other books embrace so completely, as it were in one grand sweep, all the truths that concern the last generation of the inhabitants of the earth, and set forth so comprehensively all the aspects of the times, physical, moral, and political, in which the triumphs of earthly woe and wickedness shall end, and the eternal reign of righteousness begin. We take pleasure in calling attention especially to these features of the books of Daniel and the Revelation, which seem heretofore to have been too generally overlooked or misinterpreted.

12. There seems to be no prophecy which a person can have so little excuse for misunderstanding as the prophecy of Daniel, especially as relates to its main features. Dealing but sparingly in language that is highly figurative, explaining all the symbols it introduces, locating its events within the rigid confines of prophetic periods, it points out the first advent of the Messiah in so clear and unmistakable a manner as to call forth the execration of the Jews upon any attempt to explain it, and gives so accurately, and so many ages in advance, the outlines of the great events of our world's history, that infidelity stands confounded and dumb before its inspired record.

13. And no effort to arrive at a correct understanding of the book of the Revelation needs any apology ; for the Lord of the prophecy has him-

(i

PREFACE.

self pronounced a blessing upon him that readeth and they that hear the words of this prophecy, and keep the things that are written therein ; for the time is at hand. Rev. 1 : 1-3. And it is with an honest purpose of aiding somewhat in arriving at this understanding, which is set forth by the language above referred to as not only possible but praiseworthy, that an exposition of this book, according to the literal rule of interpretation, has been attempted.

14. With thrilling interest we behold to-day the nations marshaling their forces, and pressing forward in the very movements described by the royal seer in the court of Babylon twenty-five hundred years ago, and by John on Patmos eighteen hundred years ago ; and these movements — hear it, ye children of men — are the last political revolutions to be accomplished before this earth plunges into her final time of trouble, and Michael, the great Prince, stands up, and his people, all who are found written in the book, are crowned with full and final deliverance. Dan. 12 : 1, 2.

15. Are these things so ? "Seek," sa3 r s our Saviour, "and ye shall find ; knock, and it shall be opened unto you." God has not so concealed his truth that it will elude the search of the humble seeker.

With a prayer that the same Spirit by which those portions of Scripture which form the basis of this volume were at first inspired, and whose aid the writer has sought in his expository efforts, may rest abundantly upon the reader in his investigations, according to the promise of the Saviour in John 16 : 7, 13, 15, this work is commended to the candid and careful attention of all who are interested in prophetic themes. U. S.

Battle Creek, Mich., ) January, 1891 . f

Chapter I. Page

Daniel in Captivity . . . . . . . 24

Characteristics of the Sacred Writings — Five Historical Facts — Prophecy of Jerusalem's Captivity — The Holy City Three Times Overthrown — God's Testimony against Sin — Condition and Treatment of Daniel and his Companions — Character of King Nebuchadnezzar — Signification of Pagan Names — Daniel's Integrity — The Result of his Experiment — Daniel Lives till the Time of Cyrus.

CHAPTER II. The Great Image ........ 32

A Difficulty Explained — Daniel Enters upon his Work — Who were the Magicians — Trouble between the King and the Wise Men — The Ingenuity of the Magicians — The King's Sentence against Them — Remarkable Providence of God — The Help Sought by Daniel — A Good Example — Daniel's Magnanimity — A Natural Character — The Magicians Exposed — What the World Owes to the People of God — Appropriateness of the Symbol — A Sublime Chapter of Human History — Beginning of the Babylonian Kingdom—What is Meant by a Universal Kingdom — Description of Babylon — The Heavenly City — Babylon's Fall — Stratagem of Cyrus — Belshazzar's Impious Feast — Prophecy Fulfilled — Babylon Reduced to Heaps — The Second Kingdom, Medo-Persia — Persian Kings, and Time of their Reign — Persia's Last King — Alexander the Great — His Contemptible Character — The Fourth Kingdom — The Testimony of Gibbon — Influences which Undermined Rome — A False Theory Examined — What the Toes Signify — Rome Divided — Names of the Ten Divisions — Subsequent History — God's Kingdom Still Future — Its Nature, Location, and Extent.

CHAPTER III. The Fiery Ordeal . , . . 78

Nebuchadnezzar's Image vs. God's — Devotion of Idolaters — The Jews Accused — The King's Forbearance — The Fiery Furnace — Its Effect on the Chaldeans — The Course of the Three Worthies — The Wonderful Deliverance — Its Effect on the King's Mind — Integrity Honored.

CHAPTER IV. Nebuchadnezzar's Decree . . . . . ' 85

The Oldest Decree on Record — Humiliation Confessed — -A Good Example — Nebuchadnezzar's Condition — -God's Dealing with the King — The Magicians Humbled — A Remarkable Illustration — Mercy in Judgment — An Important Key to Prophetic Interpretation — Angels Interested in Human Affairs — The King's Acknowledgment — Daniel's Hesitation — His Delicate Answer to the King — Judgments Conditional — -The Lesson Unheeded — The Blow Falls — The King's Restoration — The End Gained — Nebuchadnezzar's Death — Summary of his Experience.

CHAPTER V. Belshazzar's Feast ........ 94

Closing Scene of Babylon's History — Celebration'of the Conquest of Judea — The Sacred Vessels Desecrated — God Interferes with the Revelry — The Phantom Hand — Change of Scene — Daniel Called — The Lesson to the King — The Writing Interpreted — The Fulfilment Follows — Edwin Arnold's Prize Poem.

CHAPTER VI. Daniel in the Lions' Den . .... 106

Date of the Persian Kingdom — Cyrus Sole Ruler — Paul's Reference to Daniel's Experience — Extent of the Persian Kingdom — A Fiendish Plot — Righteousness Daniel's only Fault — False Witness of the Conspirators — Daniel Undisturbed — The Decree Secured — The Victim Ensnared — The King's Dilemma — Daniel Cast into the Lions' Den — His Wonderful Preservation — Fate of Daniel's Accusers — Daniel Doubly Vindicated — The King's Decree.

CONTENTS.

CHAPTER VII. The Four Beasts 113

Chronological Connection — Rule of Scripture Interpretation — Signification of the Symbols — The Kingdoms Identical with those of Daniel 2 — Why the Vision is Repeated — Change in Babylonish History — Deterioration of Earthly Governments — The Symbol of the Bear Explained — Grecia the Third Kingdom — Rapidity of its Conquests — Testimony of Rollin — Signification of the Four Heads of the Leopard Beast — The Nondescript — Signification of the Ten Horns — A Little Horn among the Ten — The Judgment Scene — A Temporal Millennium Impossible — Character of the Little Horn — Gradual Development of the Romish Church — Opposition of the Arians — The Three Horns Plucked Up — Millions of Martyrs — A Feeble Defense — Paganism Outdone — Meaning of Time, Times, and a Half — Date of Papal Supremacy — Date of Papal Overthrow — Rome a Republic — The Power of the Papacy Waning in Its Stronghold — A Later Judgment — The Ecumenical Council — Victor Emmanuel's United Italy — End of the Pope's Temporal Power — Its Coming Destruction.

CHAPTER VIII. The Ram, He-Goat, and Little Horn .... 145

Change from Chaldaic to Hebrew — Date of Belshazzar's Reign — Date of this Vision — Where was Shushan ? — A Prophecy of Isaiah Fulfilled — The Angel Explains the Symbols— How the Goat Represents the Grecians — Alexander the Great — Battle at the River Granicus — Battle at the Passes of Issus — The Great Battle of Arbela — Subversion of the Persian Kingdom, b. c. 331 — Alexander's Famous Reply to Darius — The World Will not Permit Two Suns nor Two Sovereigns — Increase of Power — Alexander's Disgraceful Death — Division of the Kingdom — The Roman Horn — How it Came out of Ome of the Horns of the Goat — Antiochus Epiphanes not this Horn — Rome the Power Symbolized by the Little Horn — What is the ' ' Daily" — Two Desolating Powers Brought to View — When Oppression of the Saints Will End — The 2300 Days not here Explained — The Sanctuary Explained — What the Cleansing of the Sanctuary Is — The King of Fierce Countenance — By What Means the Romans Prospered — The Explanation not Finished — The Reason Why.

CONTENTS.

CHAPTER IX. The Seventy Weeks .183

The Short Time between the Visions — Daniel's Understanding of Jeremiah's Prophecy — Daniel's Wonderful Prayer — Gabriel again Appears — Vision of Chapter 8 Explained — Connection between Chapters Eight and Nine Established — The Time Explained — The Seventy Weeks — The Meaning of ' ' Cut Off " — Testimony of Dr. Hales — Date of the Seventy Weeks — The Decree of Cyrus — The Decree of Darius — The Decree of Artaxerxes — The Year 457 before Christ — Date of Christ's Baptism — Date of Christ's Crucifixion — Invention of the Christian Era — Intermediate Dates — Harmony Established — The Genuine Reading — Ptolemy's Canon — The End of the 2300 Days.

CHAPTER X. Daniel's Last Vision 213

Time of Daniel's Various Visions — How Cyrus Became Sole Monarch — Daniel's Purpose in Seeking God — Scriptural Fasting — Another Appearance of the Angel Gabriel — The Effect upon Daniel — Daniel's Age at this Time — The Answer to Prayer Sometimes not Immediately Apparent — Who Michael Is — Daniel's Solicitude for his People — The Relation of Christ and Gabriel to the King of Persia and the Prophet Daniel.

CHAPTER XI. A Literal Prophecy 222

Succession of Kings in Persia — The Rich King — The Largest Army ever Assembled in the World — Meaning of the Phrase "Stand Up" — Alexander in Eclipse — His Kingdom Divided among his Four Leading Generals — Location of the King of the North and the King of the South — Macedon and Thrace Annexed to Syria — The Syrian Kingdom Stronger than the Kingdom of Egypt — Divorce and Marriage of Antiochus Theos — Laodice's Revenge — Berenice and her Attendants Murdered — Ptolemy Euergetes Avenges the Death of his Sister — Syria Plundered — 2500 Idols Carried to Egypt — Antiochus Magnus Avenges the Cause of his Father — Defeated by the Egyptians — Ptolemy Overcome by his Vices — Another Syrian Campaign against Egypt — New Complications — Rome Introduced — Syria and Macedonia Forced to Retire — Rome Assumes the Guardianship of the Egyptian King — The Egyptians Defeated — Antiochus Falls before the Romans — Syria Made a Roman Province — Ju-

CONTENTS.

dea Conquered by Pompey — Caesar in Egypt — Exciting Scenes — Cleopatra's Stratagem — Caesar Triumphant — Veni, Vidi, Vici — Caesar's Death — Augustus Caesar — The Triumvirate — The Augustan Age of Rome — The Birth of our Lord — Tiberius, the Vile

— Date of Christ's Baptism — Rome's League with the Jews — Caesar and Antony — The Battle of Actium — Final Overthrow of Jerusalem — What is Meant by Chittim — The Vandal War — The " Daily" Taken Away — Justinian's Famous Decree — The Goths Driven from Rome — Long Triumph of the Papacy — The Atheistical King— The French Revolution of 1793 — The Bishop of Paris Declares himself an Atheist — France as a Nation Rebels against the Author of the Universe — The Marriage Covenant Annulled — -God Declared a Phantom, Christ an Impostor — Blasphemy of a Priest of Illuminism — A Dissolute Female the Goddess of Reason — Titles of the Nobility Abolished — Their Estates Confiscated — The Land Divided for Gain — Termination of the Reign of Terror — Time of the End, 1798 — Triple "War between Egpyt, France, and Turkey — Napoleon's Dream of Eastern Glory

— He Diverts the War from England to Egypt — His Ambition Embraces all Historical Lands of the East — Downfall of the Papacy — Embarkation from Toulon — Alexandria Taken — Battle of the Pyramids — The Combat Deepens — Turkey, the King of the North, Declares War against France — Napoleon's Campaign in the Holy Land — Beaten at Acre — Retires to Egypt — Called back to France — Egypt in the Power of Turkey — Tidings out of the East and North — The Crimean War of 1853 — Predicted by Dr. Clarke from this Prophecy in 1825 — The Sick Man of the East

— The Eastern Question ; What is It ? — Russia"s Long-Cherished Dream — The Last Will and Testament of Peter the Great — Startling Facts in Russian History — The Prophecy of Napoleon Bonaparte — Kossuth's Prediction — Russia's Defiant Attitude in 1870 — The Russo-Turkish War of 1877 — The Berlin Congress — Turkey Bankrupt — The Whole Empire Mortgaged to the Czar — Wonderful Shrinkage of Turkish Territory — The Wonder of Statesmen — The Eastern Question in the Future.

CHAPTER XII. Closing Scenes •. . . . . . 293

The Reign of Christ — The Grand Signal of its Approach — What Events are Next in Order — The Time of Trouble — The Resurrection — The Key to the Future — Some to Life, Some to Shame

— Promised Rewards of the Coming Day — The Sealed Book Opened — Knowledge Wonderfully Increased — The Progress of a Thousand Years Made in Fifty — The Wise Understand — Daniel Stands in his Lot.

THE BOOK OF THE REVELATION.

CHAPTER I. Introductory Vision ....... 323

The Title and Character of the Book — Its Object — Christ's Angel — His Benediction — The Churches in Asia — The Seven Spirits — Prince of the Kings of the Earth — His Coming Visible

— The Church's Response — John's Experience — The Cause of Banishment — In the Spirit — The Lord's Day — Alpha and Omega — The Revelation to be Understood.

CHAPTER II. The Seven Churches . . . . . . . 345

The Church of Ephesus— Definition — The Cause of Complaint

— The Nicolaitanes — The Promise to the Victor— The Tree of Life — The Church in Smyrna — Tribulation Ten Days — The Overcomer's Reward — The Church in Pergamos — Satan's Seat

— Antipas — The Cause of Censure — The Promise — The New Name — Thyatira — The Woman Jezebel.

CHAPTER III. The Seven Churches. — Continued . . . . 363

Sardis, Definition of — White Raiment — The Book of Life — Philadelphia Defined — The Key of David — Signification of Laodicea — Neither Cold nor Hot — The Counsel — The Final Promise.

CHAPTER IV. The Heavenly Sanctuary . . . . . 384

Four and Twenty Elders — Seven Lamps of Fire — The Sea of Glass — The Happy Unrest.

CHAPTER V. The Heavenly Sanctuary. — Continued .... 391

The Book — The Angelic Challenge — Christ Prevails — The Anticipation — A Clean Universe.

CONTENTS.

CHAPTER VI. The Seven Seals

Symbols Explained — Souls under the Altar — The Great Earthquake at Lisbon — Darkening of the Sun and Moon — Falling of the Stars — An Objection Answered — The Great Prayer-Meeting.

Sealing of the 144,000 435

Symbols Explained — The Seal of God — The 144,000 — The True Israel — The New Jerusalem a Christian City — Out of the Great Tribulation

CHAPTER VIII. The Seven Trumpets . . . . . . . 452

Encouragement for Christians — Complement of Daniel's Prophecy — Testimony of Standard Historians — Rome Divided — The Western Empire Extinguished — Alaric, Genseric, Attila, and Theodoric.

CHAPTER IX. The Seven Trumpets. — Continued ..... 469

Rome and Persia — Chosroes Overthrown — The Rise of Mohammedanism — The Bottomless Pit — The Five Months' Torment — An Established Date — Surrender to the Turks — Constantinople Taken — The Use of Firearms Foretold — Cessation of the Ottoman Supremacy — A Remarkable Prophecy Fulfilled.

The Book Opened — The Time of the End — Close of the Prophetic Periods — Sounding of the Seventh Trumpet — The Sweet and the Bitter.

CHAPTER XI. The Two Witnesses 497

An Important Message — The French Revolution of 1793 — Spiritual Sodom — Crush the Wretch! — The Bible Triumphant — The Nations Angry — God's Temple in Heaven Opened.

CHAPTER VII.

CHAPTER X.

Proclamation of the Advent

CONTENTS.

CHAPTER XII. The Gospel Church 509

A Wonderful Scene in Heaven — Definite Data — Satan Defeated The Trial of the Church — The Coming Joy.

CHAPTER XIII. Persecuting Powers Professedly Christian . . .520

A Change of Symbols — The Papac}' — Comparison with the Little Horn of Daniel 7 — Deadly Wound — How it was Healed — Another Beast — The United States in Prophecy — Wonderful Growth of our Country — "A Place for Everything, and Everything in its Place "— The Coming Crisis — The Path of Safety — The Beginning of the End — The Number of his Name.

CHAPTER XIV. The Three Messages .... . . 582

A Glorious Culmination — The 144.000 — The Proclamation of the Advent — A Moral Fall — The Severest Denunciation of Wrath in all the Bible — The Commandments of God — A Blessing on the Dead — Wickedness Swallowed Up.

CHAPTER XV. The Seven Last Plagues . . . . . . . 638

Preparation for the Plagues — An Impressive Scene — God's Judgments Righteous — Mercy Withdrawn from the Earth — The Sea of Glass — The Glorious Victory — Well with the Righteous.

CHAPTER XVI. The Plagues Poured Out . . . . . 641

The Plagues of Egypt — Death in the Sea — Fountains of Blood — A Scorching Sun — Egyptian Darkness — Decay of Turkey — The Eastern Question — Spirits of Devils — The Battle of Armageddon — The Air Infected — Babylon Judged — Terrific Effects of the Great Hail — Close of the Scene.

CHAPTER XVII. Babylon — the Mother . . . . . . . 657

Church and State — Different Forms of Roman Government — The Eighth Head — Waning away of Papal Power — Symbolic Waters.

CONTENTS.

CHAPTER XVIII. Babylon — the Daughters . . . . . 663

Popery beyond Reformation — Its Influence still Felt — Apostate Christendom — Separation between the Good and the Bad — Amazing Judgments — The Will for the Deed.

Chapter XIX

Triumph of the Saints . . . • . . . . 680

The Marriage of the Lamb — The Bride the Lamb's Wife — The Marriage Supper — Heaven Opened — A Startling Contrast — The Beast Taken — The Lake of Fire.

CHAPTER XX. The First and Second Resurrections .... 687

The Bottomless Pit — Binding of Satan — Exaltation of the Saints — The Second Resurrection — The Second Lake of Fire — The Sentence Executed.

CHAPTER XXL The New Jerusalem . . . . . .702

The New Heaven and Earth — The Holy City — Wonderful Dimensions — Precious Stones — The Rainbow Foundations — No Need of the Sun.

Chapter XXII

The Tree and the River of Life . . . . . 716

The Home of Peace — The Tree of Life — John's Emotions — Without the City — The Gracious Invitation — " Through the Gates" — The Lord's Promise — The Church's Response — God

All in All.

Index of Authors ........ 745

Index of Texts • 748

Page.

Portrait of Author , Frontispiece.

The Great World-Kingdom Image, Dan. 2 : 34, 38 . 41 Babylon Taken by Cyrus ..... 50 Alexander Removing the Ruins at Babylon . . 52 Alexander Commanding the Conflagration of Persepolis. 56 Map of The Four Kingdoms {In Four Colors) . 65 The Three Hebrews Refusing to Bow to Nebuchadnezzar's

Image 78

The Three Hebrews in the Fiery Furnace . .81

The Humiliation of Nebuchadnezzar .... 89

Daniel Interpreting the Writing on the Wall . . 97 Daniel in the Liqns' Den . . . - . . . 109 The Lion — Symbol of Babylon . . . .113

The Bear — Symbol of Medo-Persia . . . .115

The Leopard — Symbol of Grecia . . . . .116

The Fourth Beast — Symbol of Rome . . . . 117

The Little Horn — Symbol of the Papacy . . .118 Prominent Martyrs . . . . . . . 138

The Ram — Symbol of Medo-Persia .... 146

The He-Goat — Symbol of Grecia. .... 147

The Little Horn of Daniel VIII . . . . .151

The Temple at Jerusalem in the Time of Christ . 165 The Angel Gabriel again Visiting the Prophet Daniel 187 Diagram of the 70 AVeeks and 2300 Days . .. 191

The Battle of Actium, Fulfilling Dan. 11:25 . . 247

Storming of the Bastile, in the French Revolution 268 [16]

ILLUSTRATIONS.

The Goddess of Reason 270

Peter the Great ....... 285

Map Illustrating the Eastern Question (In Four Colors) 289 Increase of Knowledge, Plate I . . . .307

Increase of Knowledge, Plate II ... 308 John Writing the Revelation . . . . .321

The Isle of Patmos . . . . . .. . 336

Meteoric Shower, or Falling Stars of Nov. 13, 1833 . 422

The Vandals Invading Africa ..... 459

Attila. King of the Huns 462

Woe, Woe, Woe, to the Inhabiters of the Earth ! . 469

Mohammed and Mohammed II . . . . . 473

Saracenic Warrior . . . . . . . 476

Turkish Warrior . . . . . . . . 482

The Angel on Sea and Land . . . . 488

The Gospel Church . . . . . . 509

The Dragon — Pagan Rome: The Leopard Beast — Papal

The Reformers Preaching the Gospel . . . .516

Eminent Reformers . . . . . . . 518

The Two-Horned Beast — Protestant America . . 527

Map Showing Territorial Growth of the United States 537 The Everlasting Gospel . . . . . .585

The Three Messages of Revelation 14 619

The Seven Angels Pouring Out the Seven Last Plagues 644

The Great Earthquake . 652

The Message of Rev. 18:1 663

Babylon Falls, like a Millstone Thrown into the Sea 678

The Angel Showing John the Holy City . . . 706

Colors in the Foundation of the New Jerusalem . 712

The Banyan Tree, Illustrating the Tree of Life . 718 2 in tire

SSfijp HAT the book of Daniel was written by the person whose ym* name it bears, there is no reason to doubt. Ezekiel, who A was contemporary with Daniel, bears testimony, through the spirit of prophecy, to his piety and uprightness, ranking him in this respect with Noah and Job : " Or if I send a pestilence into that land, and pour out my fury upon it in blood, to cut off from it man and beast; though Noah, Daniel, and Job were in it, as I live, saith the Lord God, they shall deliver neither son nor daughter; they shall but deliver their own souls by their righteousness." Eze. 14 : 19, 20. His wisdom also, even at that early day, had become proverbial, as appears from the same writer. To the prince of Tyrus he was directed of the Lord to say, "Behold, thou art wiser than Daniel ; there is no secret that they can hide from thee." Eze. 28:3. But above all, our Lord recognized him as a prophet of God, and bade his disciples understand the predictions given through him for the benefit of his church: "When ye therefore shall see the abomination of desolation, spoken of by Daniel the prophet, stand in the holy place (whoso readeth, let him understand), then let them which be in Judea flee into the mountains." Matt. 24 : 15, 16.

Though we have a more minute account of his early life than is recorded of that of any other prophet, yet his birth and lineage are left in complete obscurity, except that he was of the

Introduction

royal line, probably of the house of David, which had at this time become very numerous. He first appears as one of the noble captives of Judah, in the first year of Nebuchadnezzar, king of Babylon, at the commencement of the seventy years' captivity, b. c. 606. Jeremiah and Habakkuk were yet uttering their prophecies. Ezekiel commenced soon after, and a little later, Obadiah; but both these finished their work years before the close of the long and brilliant career of Daniel. Three prophets only succeeded him, Haggai and Zechariah, who exercised the prophetic office for a brief period contemporaneously, b. c. 520-518, and Malachi, the last of the Old-Testament prophets, who flourished a little season about b. c. 397.

During the seventy years' captivity of the Jews, b. c. 606- 536, predicted by Jeremiah (Jer. 25 : 11), Daniel resided at the court of Babylon, most of the time prime minister of that ' brilliant monarchy. His life affords a most impressive lesson of the importance and advantage of maintaining from earliest youth strict integrity toward God, and furnishes a notable instance of a man' s maintaining eminent piety, and faithfully discharging all the duties that pertain to the service of God, while at the same time engaging in the most stirring activities, and bearing the weightiest cares and responsibilities that can devolve upon men in this earthly life.