was in ruins: a plain proof that they could not relate to it. Hear the testimony of Ezra. The temple (not the city) was “builded and finished according to the commandment of the God of Israel, and according to the commandment of Cyrus and Darius and Artaxerxes kings of Persia. And this house was finished on the third day of the month Adar which was the sixth year of the reign of Darius the king." Chap. vi. 14. 15. and 515 B. C. *Seventy years after these decrees were executed or fulfilled, Nehemiah went up to Jerusalem and found it lying "waste." He says "I went and viewed the walls of Jerusalem which were broken down, and the gates thereof were consumed with fire. Then I went to the gate of the fountain, but there was no place for the beast that was under me to pass. Having inspected the delapidations, he returned and assembled the elders of the Jews, and thus addressed them: "Ye see the distress that we are in, how Jerusalem lieth waste, and the gates thereof are burned with fire: come and let us build the wall of Jerusalem, that we be no more a reproach:" and they replied, "let us arise and build. I contend therefore that the prophecy has not been fulfilled, and that at some future time there will go forth the predicted decree or "command to restore and build Jerusa *See Prideaux's Con. and Scott on the place. lem," and from that period to the coming of Messiah the Prince, will be seven weeks: and that in 62 weeks the street will be built again, and the wall, even in troublous times. Dan. ix. 25. These troubles will arise from the invading armies of Prince Gog and his allies, the beast, the false prophet, and the ten kings who will make war with the Lamb, and the Lamb shall overcome them, for he is Lord of Lords, and King of kings." Rev. xvii. 11-14. This will be the time of trouble such as never was, and such as never will be again, foretold, Dan. xii. 1. Joel i. 6. ii. 1. 2. 10. 11. 20. iii. 1. 9-17. Mic. iv. 11–13. vii. 14-17. Zeph. iii. 8. Hag. ii. 6-9. 22. Zech. xii. 2—5. xiv. 1-5. Mat. xxiv. 21. Mark xiii. 19.* Then "the people of the prince to come shall destroy the city and the sanctuary." ver. 26. Yet this very hostile prince shall by flatteries and threatenings confirm the covenant, league, or armistice by which he will promise to make peace with the Jews; but though he will confirm it with many for one week, yet he will not keep his word, but in the midst of the week cause the sacrifice and oblation to cease. Many commentators say "the prince that shall come," is the Messiah, and that he did confirm the covenant with *Faber says "the events foretold in the above scriptures are synchronical." many for one week, that is from the commencement of the public ministry of John the Baptist to the Pentecost; and in the midst of the week he did cause the sacrifice and oblation to cease by the offering up of himself. But this was not fulfilled at the first advent, for he did not cause them to cease in the midst of the week, but they continued until the destruction of Jerusalem, which was 37 years after the crucifixion; which is more than five weeks of years according to the mystic reckoning. But I believe the prince that shall come "is the antichristian power which shall destroy the city and sanctuary:-and he shall cause the "sacrifice and the oblation to cease; and upon the wing of abominations he shall make it desolate even until the consummation," which will be shortly after; "and that determined" in the seven last plagues or the vials of God's wrath, "shall be poured upon the desolater.*" ver. 27. This siege, and decisive battle is foretold by many of the prophets: "Behold the day of the Lord cometh, and thy spoil shall be divided in the midst of thee: for I will gather all nations against Jerusalem to battle; and the city shall be taken, and the houses rifled, and the women ravished; and half of the city shall go forth into captivity, *See Sir Isaac Newton's, Obs. on Dan. p. 147. 151. and the residue of off from the city." the people shalt not be cut See also Joel iii. 1. 2. 9-17. Mic. iv. 11-13. DAN. X. In the third year of Cyrus king of Persia, Daniel had another revelation, and the thing was true, but the time when it should take place was far distant; "the time appointed was long." ver. 1. This communication was made to Daniel by "a man clothed in linen." ver. 5. Previously to this time the prophet had been mourning three full weeks; and the heavenly messenger had been hindered "one and twenty days.' But when he arrived, he said, "I am come to make thee understand what shall befall thy people in the latter (Heb. last) days for yet the vision shall be for many (Heb. last) days." ver. 14. 15. Daniel was greatly affected by the communication, and he became dumb, sorrowful and weak; but the Angel came again and strengthened him, and prepared him for a fuller revelation of future events, adding, "I will show thee that which is noted in the scriptures of truth." ver. 21. DAN. XI. It I think this chapter contains a prophecy of events which were to take place in several kingdoms bordering upon bordering upon Palestine. may be yet future, though the events recorded in history seem to confirm the following interpretation. That the "four kings" ver. 2. 2. . are Cambyses, Smerdis, Darius Hystaspes, and Xerxes. The "mighty king," Alexander the Great. That "the south" in the fifth verse is Egypt, and “the north" Syria. That "the king of the south ver. 9. was Ptolemy Euergetes, and the king of the north Seleucus Callinicus. That the daughter of women" ver. 17. was Cleopatra. The "vile person" ver. 21. Antiochus Epiphanes. The "prince of the covenant" Onias. That "the two kings" were Antiochus Epiphanes and Ptolemy Philometor. The former did great exploits, and returned to Syria. 66 ver. 28. But the following verses, on this view of the subject are unintelligible. It is generally admitted that there is a chasm, or long interval of time between the beginning of this chapter and the latter end of it. Some have supposed it to be at the 20th verse, some at the 30th, and others at the 36th, but I incline to think with Mr. Burgh* that it really exists between the 4th and 5th verses and continues from the division of the Grecian Empire to the last days, and that the succeeding verses remain to be fulfilled. There is the same immense interval in chap. viii. and commencing from the same point of history, the division of the Grecian Em *Lectures on the second Advent, p. 161–163. |