Commentary on Daniel, Chapter 7 · Doctrines 1 · Question 52 – Question 54
52. Quest. What is meant, by a time, times, and a part of time. v. 25.
1. Some by these termes vnderstand, not any certaine definite time, but take it at large, for a certaine season not determined. 2. Others vnderstand precisely a certen prefixed time.
1. Of the first sort, 1. some doe vnderstand, longam durationem, a long continuance of time, yet certaine and determined with God, Papp. So Bullinger calleth it, praefinitum tempus sol: Deo cognitum, a time defined, but onelyonly knowne vntounto God: to the same purpose also Calv. Genevens. Melancth. 2. Oecolampad. also here defineth not any certaine time, but giueth this reason, of three times and an halfe, which maketh halfe a propheticall weeke, dimidiat Deus hebdomadam, God halueth the weeke, because he will not be angrie for euer: as our blessed Sauiour saith, that for the Elects sake those daies shall be shortned. But it is euident, that a certaine time is here prefixed and limited: and that by times, yeares are signified, as c: 4. in the vision of the great tree, by seauen times, are vnderstood seauen yeares.
2. They which vnderstand here a certen time, 1. some would hauehave hereby signified so many yeares, as there be daies in 3. yeares and an halfe: as R. Levi saith, that the desolation of the Temple shall continue a 1335. yeares, which number of daies Daniel hath, c. 12. 12. But the grosse blindnes of these Rabbins is euident to all the world: for since the last and finall desolation of the Iewes Temple by the Romanes, there are past aboue a 1500. yeares. 2. Osiander applying this prophecie to the Turke, by three yeares and an halfe, which containeth in his estimate a 1178. daies (but it commeth to a 1278. daies) vnderstandeth so many yeares from the first rising of Mahomet in the yeare 613. so long he thinketh the Turkish tyrannie shall rage: but it is not necessarie, that all the halfe time should be fulfilled: it sufficeth that the tearme exceede somewhat a thousand yeares. But this can not hang together, that if the account be of so many yeares, an hundred or two should be cut off from the reckoning, for this were to make the prophecies very vncerten.
3. Now some precisely here would hauehave vnderstood three yeares and an halfe, which time they limit for the tyrannie of Antichrist in the ende of the world, Hierom. Lyran. Hug. But this is an vncerten and vnprobable opinion, that Antichrist shall raigne iust three yeares and an halfe before the comming of Christ: for, 1. then it might be gessed at what time Christ should come to iudgement, if we may come so neare as within 3. yeares and an halfe. 2. S. Paul sheweth that the Romane Empire onelyonly letted the comming of Antichrist, 2. Thess. 2. 7. which beeing long since dissolued, the Empire beeing translated to Germanie, and the name thereof onelyonly left, Antichrist must be alreadie reuealed to the world.
4. The historicall sense then is, that the very time is here described how long Antiochus should be suffered to change the times and lawes in polluting the Temple, and abolishing the sacrifices, which was iust three yeares and tenne daies: for this desolation beganne in the 145. yeare of the kingdome of the Seleucians, the 15. day of the monethmonth Chisleu, 1. Macch. 1. 57. and in the 148. yeare, the 25. day of the same monethmonth Chisleu, the true worship of God was restored, and sacrifices offered. And 80. daies after that, which maketh in all 1290 daies, on the 25. day of the monethmonth Xanticus the last but one, in the same yeare 148. Antiochus confirmed the Iewes lawes and manner of worship: 2. Macch. 11. 33. Iun. annotat. The historie then beeing so correspondent vntounto the prophecie, we neede not search any further for the right meaning thereof.
53. Quest. What is meant by the halfe or diuiding of time, v. 25.
The word properly signifieth a diuiding, and so consequently a part: phalag is deriued of phelag, to diuide: whence Peleg had his name, because in his time the earth was diuided, Gen. 10. 25. whereupon some doe read, a part of time, Iun. Polan. Montan. or diuiding of time, Genevens. the Latine following the Septuag. readeth, dimidium foreign, halfe of time, which reading because it is retained and vsed Apoc. 12. 14. is not to be refused.
1. Some now by this diuiding of time, vnderstand not any set tearme, as Calvin, who thereby thinketh to be signified, that those daies should be diuided, that is, shortened for the Elect sake. Melancthon thus interpreteth, that when the Turke is come to the height of his power, subita fiet inclinatio, there shall be a sudden change and inclination. But if time doe signifie a yeare according to the propheticall phrase, as c. 11. 13. the times of yeares beeing expired, then the halfe or part of time, shall signifie the halfe, or part of a yeare.
2. Hierome by the halfe, vnderstandeth iust sixe moneths, and so 3. yeares and halfe maketh an 1260 daies, Apoc. 12. 6. which is all one with 42. moneths, Apoc. 11. 2. Pint. But 3. yeares and an halfe make iust 1278. daies: counting 15. daies ouer in the 3. yeares, and 3. daies ouer in sixe moneths: therefore precisely there are not by this account 3. yeares and an halfe.
3. Iunius, whome Polanus followeth, by this part of time noteth to be signified ten daies onelyonly: but that cannot be the diuiding or halfe of time, which reading is before approoued because of that place, Apoc. 12. 14.
4. Wherefore rather this place is expounded by that Dan. 12. 11. from the time that the daily sacrifice shall be taken away, shall be a 1290 daies: So that it is counted the halfe of time, beeing much about it, though it sometime come short, as in the summe of a 1260 daies, there want 18. daies of 3. yeares and an halfe, and sometime shoote ouer, as in 1290 daies there are 12. daies more then three yeares and an halfe.
54. Quest. How this kingdome is said to be giuen to the holy people, v. 27. which is said v. 14. to be giuen to the Sonne of man.
1. Because first and principally this kingdome is giuen vntounto Christ, as the first borne of eueryevery creature, and in him communicated vntounto the Saints his members: there is no contradiction betweene these two places: for so both the spirituall kingdome, as likewise the Priesthood is in this life graciously communicated by Christ our head vntounto his members: as the Apostle saith, Apoc. 1. 6. He hath made vsus Kings and Priests to God euen his father: As also through Christ his members are made partakers of his euerlasting kingdome: as our blessed Sauiour saith, Luk. 12. 32. Feare not litle flocke, it is your Fathers will to giuegive you a kingdome.
2. Here then that cauill of the Iewes may easily be remooued: who by this would gather, because the holy people are here mentioned, to whome this kingdome is giuen: that by the Sonne of man, vers. 14. the Messiah is not vnderstood, but the whole posteritie of Abraham, and so likewise here: But whereas the Prophet saw one as the sonne of man, that can not be applied to Abrahams posteritie, who could not be said to be as man: they were then men beeing and existing: but Christ is said to be as the Sonne of man, because he was not yet incarnate: this vision was praeludium incarnationis, &c. a forewarning of his incarnation. So then v. 14. the author and foundation of this spirituall kingdome which is giuen vntounto the Church is signified: for vnlesse Christ did sit at the right hand of God, and had all power giuen vntounto him, the Church should hauehave no kingdome at all. Calvin.
3. An other cauill also of Barbinel may be answered, who will hauehave this vnderstood of an earthly and terrene kingdome, the kingdome vnderunder the whole heauen is giuen vntounto them: for this ignorant Rabbin maketh a difference betweene beeing in the earth, and of the earth: the spirituall kingdome of Christ is in the world, though it be not of the world, Ioh. 18. 36.
4. And whereas this kingdome is generall ouer all the earth, it must be extended further, then ad primum exordium, to the first beginning: for the Gospel of Christ was not at the first preached ouer all the world, but was receiued onelyonly of a few: it was in processe of time propagated into all parts of the world, Calvin.