Commentary on Daniel, Chapter 2 · Questions · Question 59 – Question 61
59. Quest. v. 44. In the daies of what kings Christs kingdome should be raised vp.
1. The Latin interpreter readeth, in the daies of these kingdomes, which Lyran. Pint. with others, vnderstand of the Romane Empire, which is called kingdomes in the plurall, quia multa regna continebat sub se, because it contained many kingdomes vnderunder it: and they giuegive this sense, that while the Romane Monarchie yet continued, the kingdome of Christ should begin. Pappus.
2. Bullinger somewhat diuerslly by these kings vnderstandeth …iuers princes of the Romane Empire, as Augustus and Antonius, betweene whom Herod went vntounto the Capitol, beeing by them confirmed in his kingdome.
Contra. But that these times can not be vnderstood of the Romane Empire at all, hence it is euident; because this 5. kingdome must be raised vp in the ende of the other: Now the Romane Empire most of all flourished when Christ was borne: it was not then the fourth kingdome here spoken of: See other arguments against this opinion▪ question 49.
3. The Iewes do vnderstand this fourth kingdome of the Turkish dominion, & they confound the Macedonian and Romane Empire together, making them both one, because they say the Romanes had their originall from the Grecians: and this is their deuise, that they should not be forced to finde the beginning of Christs kingdome vnderunder the fourth Monarchie of the Romanes.
Contra. 1. The fourth kingdome cannot be the Turkish segnorie, which came 600. yeares at the least after the other 3. kingdomes were dissolued; but by Daniels description, the fourth kingdome must followe immediately vponupon the dissolution of the other. 2. Though the Romanes had their beginning from Troy in Asia minor, yet that was destroyed a 1000. yeares well nie before the ende of the three first Monarchies: therefore the Romanes could not then be counted one kingdome with the Grecians. 3. Likewise the Turks came from the mount Caspian, and out of the greater Asia: then by this reason they might as well confound the Turkish gouernement, with the Babylonian or Persian Monarchie, which had their chiefe dominions in the greater Asia.
3. Therefore the times of these kings must be referred vntounto the last kings of the fourth kingdome, which consisted of Syria, and Egypt, as the two legges thereof, as is before shewed, quest. 50. And so Hugo verie well expoundeth, in diebus vnius ex illis, in the dayes of these kings or kingdomes, that is one of them: and in the ende of them as the word is taken, Ezech. 7. 12. the time is come, that is the ende: to the same purpose, gloss. ordinar. his regnis pracurrentibus, these kingdomes going before, as beeing forerunners, the kingdome of Christ was both prophesied of and came.
This beeing agreed vponupon, that this time is the ende of these kingdomes: yet there is this doubt. Iunius seemeth to vnderstand this king to be Herod, who was an Arabian, and so of the kindred of the kings of Syria, who vsurped the kigdome of the Iewes: and in his time Christ came: But this cannot be so fit to find this forth kingdom, among the people of God in Iudea, it must be a forren kingdome that was cruell and yron-like towards that nation.
And the kingdome of Syria was dissolued a good while before by Pompey before Herod was king.
Therefore I rather consent to them, which vnderstand this time to be the ende of Ptolomies house and race: for vntill Herod the house of Ptolomie continued: for Antonie, who confirmed Herod in his kingdome, married Cleoptra the daughter and heire of Ptolomie Piper.
60. Quest. How Christs kingdome is said to destroy other kingdomes.
1. Seeing that three of these Monarchies and kingdomes were destroied before Christs birth, how is Christs kingdome saide to destroy them: and seeing kingdomes are set vp by God, and the Apostle saith, that the powers that be, are ordained of God, Rom. 13.how is Christ said to destroy that, which he setteth vp?
Answ. 1. Though those kingdomes were in act dissolued before Christs comming in the flesh, yet because Christs kingdome is euerlasting, and beganne not with his incarnation, those kingdomes were destroied by the power of Christs eternall kingdome: for as the Lord saith concerning Cyrus, I guided thee, though thou knewest it not, Isa. 45. 5. As the Lord Christ was the founder and setter vp of Cyrus kingdome, to deliuer his people; so the same kingdome, when it opposed it selfe against Christ and his Church, was by the same power of Christ pulled downe.
2. Christ indeede setteth vp kingdomes in respect of the power and authoritie giuen vntounto them, which is of God: and he maintaineth vpright and iust kings, as the wise man saith, Prov. 8. 15. By me kings raigne, and Princes decree iust things. But vniust kings, and tyrannicall kingdomes Christ destroyeth: not that he is an enemie to the place and gouernment, but he setteth himselfe against all such kingdomes, as oppose themselues to the Church of God: so it is true, conteri & comminui a Christo terrena imperia accidentaliter, that, as it were accidentally Christ doth diminish and breake in pieces terrene kingdomes, as they are aduersaries to the kingdome of Christ. Calvin.
61. Quest. Whether Christ at his comming did in deede destroy the temporall dominions.
1. Pererius thinketh that Christ is said to destroy them, non eversa temporali dominatione, sed sublata idololatria, not in ouerthrowing their temporall dominion, …ut in taking away their idolatrie.
Contra. But this can not be the meaning: for the idolatrie of the heathen gouernours was not abolished till the time of Constantine, which was 300. yeares after Christ: beside the three first Monarchies were dissolued, of the Chaldeans, Persians, Grecians, and yet they were not purged of their idolatrie.
2. Therefore the destruction of these kingdomes must be vnderstood of the outward ruine and fall of them: as both in fact was euident, that the foure kingdomes described by the image were so dissolued, and this was best answerable to the vision, wherein the image was seene to be broken all to pieces, and dashed together by the stone cut out of the mountaine.