pire. The notable horn of the he goat evidently refers to Alexander the Great. The interpreting Angel thus explains it, "The rough goat is the king of Grecia: and the great horn that is between his eyes is the first king. Now that being broken, whereas four stood up for it, four kings shall stand up out of the nation, but not in his power." Now mark the transition, "And in the latter time of their kingdom, when the transgressors are come to the full, a king of fierce countenance, and understanding dark sentences, shall stand up; and his power shall be mighty, but not by his own power, and he shall destroy the mighty and the holy people. And through his policy also he shall cause craft to prosper in his hand; and he shall magnify himself in his heart, and by peace shall destroy many; he also shall stand up against the Prince of princes; but he shall be broken without hand." ver. 21-25. Evidently referring to "that wicked one whom the Lord shall consume with the spirit of his mouth, and destroy with the brightness of his coming," Such chasms are of frequent occurrence in the prophecies. David often speaks of his natural son and heir, and then is instantly led by the Spirit to speak of the Messiah. So Jesus, when foretelling the destruction of Jerusalem, without any visible break, predicted his Second Advent. Chittim, ver. 30. is thought to be Italy, and the Romans the subject of the prophecy. But commentators differ widely among themselves as to the interpretation of the remaining verses. I incline to think that "Prince Gog," Ezek. xxxviii. 2. "the king of fierce countenance," Dan. viii. 23. "the wilful king," xi. 36. "the man of sin," II. Thess.ii. 3. and "the eighth head of the beast, Rev. xvii. 11. are but different titles of the personal Antichrist which shall arise in the last days. Though there is many a man of sin, "and even now there are many antichrists," yet I believe the chief one foretold in Scripture is not yet born, but at "the time of the end," he will be raised up and do the works assigned him, "for that, that is determined shall be done.' ver. 36. He will be the commander in chief of all the armies that shall be gathered together against Jerusalem, after it is rebuilt, and the sacrificial worship is re-established. Then the mighty armies under his command shall pollute the sanctuary of strength, ver. 31. and shall take away the daily sacrifice, and not content with the destruction of the altar, they shall place the abomination that maketh desolate in its stead. ver. 31. He will have indignation against the holy covenant; that is the gospel, or Christ and his religion; and such as aid his Ꭰ measures against it, he shall corrupt by flatteries. But the people that know their God shall do great things, by establishing schools, circulating the scriptures, and diffusing knowledge in general: thus "they shall instruct many," nevertheless they will not be able to stem the torrent of persecution bearing down upon them by those in power, therefore they shall fall by the sword, and by flame, and by captivity many days." This season will be one of great vicissitude, so that when they fall they shall be helped sufficiently to cheer them with the hope of permanent success: but many of their professed supporters will be insincere, and will cleave to them by flatteries; and some of the most eminent shall fall, to try their brethren, and to purge and make them white, even to the time of the end. And during this time a king, pope or supreme ruler, at the head of this mighty confederacy, "shall do according to his will, and he shall exalt himself, and magnify himself above every god, and he shall speak marvellous things against the God of gods, and shall prosper until the indignation be accomplished." ver. 36. "Neither shall he regard the God of his fathers, nor the Messiah, the desire of women, nor regard any god, for he shall magnify himself above all." But in his own estate or jurisdiction he shall establish a new religion, having a new god whom "he shall honour as a god of forces, even a god whom his fathers knew not: and it will have a costly and gorgeous ritual; and he will honour this new god with gold and silver, and with precious stones and pleasant things. Thus shall he do in the most strong holds;" and he will require all his subjects to be of his religion, and those that submit will be made princes in the earth, "and he shall cause them to rule over many, and shall divide the land for gain." ver. 39. Having prospered for a short period, just at the time of the end, God will raise up enemies from the north and south, and they shall come against him like a whirlwind, with chariots and with horsemen, and with many ships; but still he shall prosper, and he shall enter Palestine the glorious land, and many people and nations shall be overthrown but these shall escape out of his hand, Edom and Moab and the chief of the children of Ammon. But he shall conquer other countries and "the land of Egypt shall not escape. ver. 42. He shall have at his command the treasures of gold and silver; and the Libyans and the Ethiopians shall be his allies. But news respecting his enemies in the east and north shall trouble him, and rouse his wrath, so that he shall go forth with great fury to destroy and extirpate them; and being in Judea he shall plant the taber nacles of his palaces between the seas in the glorious holy mountain" of Zion, which shall be his head quarters; "yet he shall come to his end and none shall help him.” ver. 45. CHAPTER XII. This chapter is a continuation of the same prophecy as the preceding, and ought not to have been separated from it. Sometime after the Jews are restored, Antichrist will invade Judea; "at that time shall Michael stand up, the great prince (Messiah) which standeth for the children of thy people, and there shall be a time of trouble such as never was since there was a nation even to that same time." ver. 1. Mat. xxiv. 21. Mark xiii. 19. and at that time the Jews shall be delivered "every one that shall be found written in the book," by which I understand the book of the living. About this time will be the Resurrection, when "many of them that sleep in the dust shall awake, some to everlasting life and some to shame and everlasting contempt." And they that be wise shall shine as the brightness of the firmament, and they that turn many to righteousness as the stars for ever and ever." Then follows the closing address of the heavenly messenger to the prophet. "But thou, O Daniel, shut up the words and seal the book even to the time of the end:" and as he was attending to this parting address, he looked and behold two |