Commentary on Daniel, Appendix · Exercise 1
The first exercise perused and examined.
In this first part of his treatise Graserus taketh vponupon him to prooue, that the legges of the image, c. 2. and the fourth beast described c. 7. cannot signifie the kingdome of the Grecians, which succeeded Alexander, as of the Seleucians in the North, and of the Ptolomes, and Lagidae in the South, as Iunius doth well interpret: but that by the fourth Monarchie of the Romanes is signified, which to this day continueth, diuided into two parts, as the two legs thereof, the kingdome of the Pope in the West, and of the Turke in the East: and that not the Monarchie onelyonly of Alexander, but of him and his successors ioyntly is described, by the bellie and sides of the image, c. 2. and by the third beast, c. 7. His arguments are these.
Argum. 1. The third beast called the leopard, is vnlike vntounto the other two before it, the lion, which signifieth the Chaldean Monarchie, and the beare taken for the Persian state: But if Alexander in his owne person were this Leopard, he should not be vnlike the first, for he was an absolute Monarch, as the Chaldean kings were: whereas the Persian state was not entire, but consisted partly of the power of the Persians, partly of the Medes, like to the Polonian state, which standeth in the ioynt authoritie of the Polonians and Lithuanians: And beside, not the persons of the kings, but the kingdomes themselues, are here compared together, P. 37.
Answ. 1. The dissimilitude of these beasts consisteth not in the vnlike forme of gouernement: for the state of the Persian kings was as absolutely Monarchicall, as was the Empire of the Chaldeans: though their kingdome consisted of diuerse vnited parts, yet that letteth not the kingly power to be absolutely Monarchicall: but the difference between these kingdomes, was in other qualities, as the one exceeded the other in strength, or in more hard and cruell gouernement: as is shewed before in the 17. and 18. questions vponupon the 7. chapter. 2. not the kingdomes onelyonly, but the kings together with their kingdomes are compared together: as c. 2. 38. Daniel saith to Nebuchadnezzar, thou art this kingdom of gold: as his Monarchie was as gold in respect of them which succeeded, so he was as gold beeing compared also to his successors. So Alexanders person together with his kingdome was this third beast: as the little horne, cap. 7. ver. 8. signifieth Antiochus person with his kingdome.
Argum. 2. The liues of these beastes were prolonged for a certaine time, and period, c. 7. 12. But Alexanders kingdome ouer the Macedonians continued but 12. yeares from his fathers death: his Monarchie but halfe so long, after he had ouercome the power of Persia: in so short a time what periods, and conuersion of times could be obserued? p. 38.
Answ. That place is not vnderstood of the continuance or periods of those kingdomes, (and yet this supposall of the fatall periods of kingdomes, is found by experience, to be but a speculatiue imagination) for the text saith, the dominion of the beasts they had taken away before: the meaning is, that their liues, that is, some remainder and reliques of those beasts should continue after their dominion and kingdome was ended, and determined: and so there remained some portion of the Macedonian kingdome euen after Alexander, and of other the former Monarchies, as is further shewed, c. 7. quest. 39.
Argum. 3. The third beast had 4. heads: which are taken by Iunius for the fowre chiefe regiments, which were vnderunder Alexander, managed by his principall and chiefe captaines: But those 4. captaines are signified by the fowre hornes, which came not vp, till the great horne, which signifieth Alexander, was broken, for they came vp in stead of that great horne, c. 8. 8. pag. 40.
Answ. 1. Graserus here confoundeth the visions of the 7. and 8. chapter: he maketh the Leopard, c. 7. and the Goat, c. 8. to signifie the same, whereas the goat more generally comprehendeth the whole Grecian Monarchie, both vnderunder Alexander and his successors: as appeareth by the little horne, which in the vision of the 7. chapter commeth out of the fourth beast: but in the 8. chapter, both that great horne, which was Alexander, and the 4. hornes which came vp in the place thereof, and the little horne which came forth out of one of the fowre hornes, doe all arise out of one and the same beast, namely the goat. 2. these fowre principalities in the 7. chapter, are 4. heads of that beast, while they managed the affaires of the kingdome vnderunder Alexander, and Arideus his brother: But after they tooke vponupon them to be kings, they are said to be fowre hornes, which did rise vp in the place of the great horne.
Argum. 4. In the 8. chapter, the goat is interpreted to be the kingdome of Grecia, and the great horne, is the first king thereof, namely Alexander: he then maketh not that beast alone, but the whole kingdome of Grecia is vnderstood, whereof Alexander was but the first king.
Answ. It is granted, that the goat in the 8. chapter, signifieth the whole kingdome of Grecia, both of Alexander and his successors: but it followeth not, that the third beast, the Leopard in the 7. chapter, should therefore comprehend likewise both the one and the other, as is shewed in the answer to the former argument. 2. in the 11. chapter, v. 4. there is an euident distinction made betweene the kingdome of Alexander and of his successors: for it is said, his kingdome shall be broken, and shall be diuided toward the fowre winds, and not to his posteritie: Graserus here answereth, that the same kingdome remained still; for that which is diuided, is not destroyed or dissolued, pag. 43. If this were a good answer, the 4. Monarchies described by the image, c. 2. should be all one: for they made all but one generall bodie set forth by that image, one succeeding another, as the parts and members of the bodie doe one depend vponupon another.
Argum. 5. The 4. beast was vnlike to all the rest, it had yron teeth, it was more fierce and terrible then the former, but so was not the kingdom of the Seleucians more terrible to the world, then the three former of the Chaldeans, Persians, Alexander: it cannot therefore be taken for that kingdome, p. 50. And whereas Iunius well obserueth, that these beasts are described respectiuely, as they were toward the people of God, vntounto whom the Seleucians were more cruell, then any of the other Monarchies: Graserus would thus remooue this answer:
1. The beasts c. 7. are not more strictly to be taken, then the parts of the image, cap. 2. but there they are described generally by the defferent qualities of gold, siluer, brasse, yron, one beeing thus compared to an other. 2. Daniel in particular sheweth, in the description of the little horne, wherein this beast should be more terrible to the people of God, then the other: so that in so generall a description it had beene superfluous to insinuate the same. 3. If these visions had specially concerned the people of God, the Prophet would hauehave penned his prophesie in the Hebrewe, not in the Chalde tongue, Graser. p. 52. 53.
Answ. 1. In the vision of the image, the fowre Monarchies are compared together by those different qualities of the fowre mettals, yet with relation vntounto the people of God: toward whom the first Monarchie in generall was as gold, the second as siluer, to the rest, see quest. 45. c. 2. 2. though in particular that little horne were more cruell to the people of God, then the other hornes, yet generally also the fourth beast, was more sauage vntounto Gods people, then the precedent Monarchies: therefore in this description there is no superfluous iteration: and yet it is not denied, but that typically this fourth beast may shadowe forth the Monarchie of the Romanes: because c. 7. 23. it is said to deuoure the whole earth, and the Euangelist S. Iohn, Apocal. 13. in the description of the Romane Empire, which is likened to a beast with 7. heads, and ten hornes, hath reference to this vision.
3. This booke is written in Chalde, because when Daniel wrote he was in Chalde, where these things were shewed and done: and therefore for the more credit of the storie, it is written in the Chalde. And beside it was requisite that the Chaldeans should vnderstand what was to befall them in time to come, how their Monarchie should be subuerted for their pride and oppression, that hereby they might be admonished to be more equall toward the people of God: see more hereof in the generall obseruations premised, concerning the diuerse readings vsed in this booke.
Argum. 6. This fourth beast is set forth to hauehave yron teeth, it deuoured, and brake in peices, and stamped the rest vnderunder the feete: this description agreeth not vntounto the kingdome of the Seleucians, or Antiochians. 1. for they did not not stampe the rest vnderunder their feete: they were rather stamped vponupon and troden vnderunder feete by the Romanes; who triumphed ouer Antiochus the great, who farre exceeded in power his sonne Antiochus Epiphanes, p. 58. 2. and if this be referred to the violence offred to religion, for the which Antiochus did grieuously torment diuerse: others did the like before, as Nebuchadnezzar by setting vp a golden image would hauehave drawne them from their religion, p. 56. 3. neither did Antiochus so preuaile against the Iewes: for in the end they resisted him, and restored religion, and setled the state of the commonwealth, p. 62.
Answ. 1. This their stamping and treading vnderunder feete, is especially meant of the oppression of the people of God: although Antiochus also did more hurt and damage vntounto Egypt, then any of his fathers before him, c. 11. v. 24. 2. though Nebuchadnezzar commaunded his golden image to be worshipped, yet that was but one speciall act in a particular place: he did not cause a generall reuolting from religion, not yet prophaned and polluted the Sanctuarie, which things Antiochus did. 3. In the end Antiochus tyrannie was stayed by the valiant resistance of the Macchabees, (as there is no tyrannicall gouernement perpetuall) but yet, while he had his time, he did much mischiefe, and tyrannized more cruelly then euer any had done before.
Argum. 7. Iunius interpreteth the 10. hornes of the fourth beast, c. 7. to be the tenne kings of Syria, among whom two kings of Egypt must be counted, Ptolome Euergetes, and Ptolome Philopator, who subdued Syria, and so Antiochus Epiphanes was the 10. from Seleucus Nicanor. Against this interpretation, Graserus thus obiecteth: 1. that if these tenne hornes were tenne kings, whose particular historie is described, c. 11. why should there be more then 10. kings there spoken of: there are 14. kings of the North and South at the least there pointed at. 2. there is no reason, if any of the Egyptian kings shoud be numbred among the Seleucians, that the first Ptolome the sonne of Lagus should be omitted, that twice subdued Syria, p. 66. 3. Iunius himselfe excludeth Seleucus Nicanor in that prophesie, c. 11. 5. by one of his Princes vnderstanding Philopator the son of Ptolome Lagi: whereas the pronoune hath relation vntounto Alexander, and by one of his Princes, is vnderstood Seleucus one of Alexanders Princes, pag. 68.
Answ. 1. True it is, that the historie of 14. kings is abridged c. 11. 6. of the South, and 8. of the North: but the other are prophesied of for the more euidence of the historie: and in that prophesie the Angel doth not onelyonly entreate of the tenne hornes of the beast, which came out of the kingdome of the North, but expoundeth the first vision of the two legges of the image, shewing how they knocked and beat one vponupon an other. 2. Graserus himselfe giueth the reason, why Ptolome Lagi is not counted among the rulers of Syria, because he then subdued Syria, quando Seleucus de eius possessione ne cogitare audebat, &c. when Seleucus as yet durst not so much as thinke of possessing that kingdome, p. 69. the kingdome of the Seleucians then was not yet begunne, when Ptolome subdued Syria, and therefore the other two rather are counted in the number of the Syrian hornes and kings then he, namely Euergetes and Philopator, who subdued Syria after the Seleucians were confirmed and setled in their kingdome: and because speciall mention is made of the victorie and conquest of these two against the kings of the North; of Euergetes, c. 11. 8. of Philopator, v. 11. 3. Iunius is deceiued, in vnderstanding these words, one of his Princes, of Ptolome Philopator, rather then of Seleucus Nicanor: as is further shewed, c. 11. quest. 18. and we confesse with Graserus, Iunium interdum dormitare; that Iunius and his followers may sometime be a sleepe, and be deceiued, p. 70. for no mans iudgement is so perfect, to be followed in euerie thing: yet this is no let but that his former exposition of the tenne hornes, may verie well stand.
Argum. 8. Further Graserus thus obiecteth against these tenne hornes thus interpreted, and the little horne comming vp among them vnderstood to be Antiochus: 1. These tenne hornes of the beast must come vp at one time, for how can it be called a tenne horned beast, if one should come vp after an other? and the little horne is said to come vp among them, therefore they came vp together. 2. the little horne shall rise vp after the tenne, c. 7. 24. it was then the eleuenth rather then the tenth. p. 73. 3. The kingdome of the beast endeth with the destruction of this little horne, c. 7. 11. and then the euerlasting kingdome of Christ succeedeth: but the kingdome of the Seleucians ended not in Antiochus: many of that line succeeded afterward: and there was almost as many ye…es from Antiochus Epiphanes death vntounto the comming of Christ, as there were from Alexanders death vntounto Antiochus, Graser. p. 74.
Answ. 1. It is not necessarie, that these 10. hornes should come vp all at once, because the beast is said to hauehave tenne hornes: like as the beast is described with seuen heads, Apoc. 17. which are interpreted to be 7. kings v. 10. and yet were they not altogether, but fiue were fallen, one is, and one is to come, v. 10. this little horne is said to come vp among them, that is, it was one of them: see more hereof, c. 7. quest. 26. in the ende.
2. The little horne is said to come vp after them, that is the last of them: as Iunius translateth, post quos exurget postremus, after the which it shall rise vp last, c. 7. 24. as the word acharan, signifieth both an other, and the last, so it was the tenth in number, and in some sort the eleuenth also, as much differing from the rest: see c. 7. 29. 2.
3. The beast is said to be slaine, when the little horne was destroyed, not because then the kingdome of the Seleucians was vtterly extinguished: but the power and glorie thereof beganne more and more to be abated after Antiochus, vntill it was taken from the Seleucians, and giuen to Tigranes king of Armenia, and last of all dissolued by the Romanes. This translating of the kingdome from the house of the Seleucians vntounto Tigranes, happened about 80. yeares after Antiochus death: and about 80. yeares after this translating of the kingdome was our Blessed Sauiour borne: see before, c. 7. qu. 38.
Argum. 9. And that Antiochus Epiphanes cannot be the little horne spoken of, Graserus thus argueth: 1. it is called a little horne: but Antiochus Epiphanes could not be said to be little, beeing sonne vntounto Antiochus the great, though he had an elder brother, pag. 76. 2. the shewe of this little horne in the ende was greater, then of his fellowes: but Antiochus Epiphanes was not greater then his father called Antiochus the great. 3. this little horne had a mouth, that spake words, not against the most high, as the most interpreters read: but ex parte al…issimi, letzad, on the part of the Almightie: as Vatablus, Pagnin, and Montanus: Thus did not Antiochus: But it must be referred to him, qui impietati suae Dei nomen praetendet, which shall pretend the name of God in all his impietie, Graserus pag. 80.
Answ. 1. Antiochus Epiphanes, is said to be that little horne, because he was the younger sonne, and so not borne vntounto the kingdome, and his elder brother had a sonne Demetrius: so that Antiochus Epiphanes was an vsurper of the kingdome.
2. Antiochus Epiphanes was not simply greater then his father, but he carried himselfe more stoutly and proudly against the people of God, then any of his predecessors: and he also practised against Egypt, and did them more hurt then any of his predecessors: as it is said, Dan. 11. 24. he shall doe that (namely to Egypt) which his fathers hauehave not done, not his fathers fathers: these words beeing so manifest, I wonder that Graserus so much forgetteth himselfe thus to write, constat parentem Antiochum non minores yes contra Egyptum gessisse, it is euident that Antiochus his father did attempt no lesse matters aganst Egypt.
3. That word letzad, signifieth not on the part, but rather against the part of the most high: as let ziddim is vsed, Iudg. 2. 3. thornes against their sides: and that this is the meaning, that he shall speake words against the most high, is euident, c. 7. v. 8. where he is said to hauehave a month speaking presumptuous things: and c. 11. 36. he shall speake marueilous things against the most high.
Argum. 10. Further he thus obiecteth: 1. this little horne pulled away three other before it: this can not be shewed of Antiochus: Iunius vnderstandeth, that he remooued Philopator, who had ouercome Antiochus his father: but yet he continued king of Egypt still, his horne then was not broken: an other of these hornes pulled away, he saith was Seleucus, his elder brother, whose death he procured: but the text saith contrarie, that he entred peaceably, c. 11. 21. Demetrius Seleucus sonne was the third: but neither can it be shewed, that Antiochus caused him to be killed, neither was he any of the ten hornes, he was not king before Antiochus: these three hornes then, are rather three kingdomes, which this litle horne should surprise. p. 84.
2. Iunius by a time, two times, and a part, vnderstandeth the tearme of 3. yeares and 10. daies, during which the profanation of the Sanctuarie continued: But then the spirit of God had of purpose wrapped vp a manifest historie in obscure tearmes: and the word here vsed signifieth rather halfe, then a part of time: this propheticall prediction of a time, two times, and an halfe, is in the Apocalyps applied to signifie the whole time of the persecution of the Church vnderunder Antichrist: which is set forth by such obscure tearmes, to the ende that the time of Christs comming, which should immediatly follow after that tearme ended, be not knowne. Graser. p. 86.
Ans. 1. Though Philopators horne, that is, gouernment in Egypt, were not pulled away, yet his power and dominion ouer Syria was remooued by Antiochus Epiphanes, and so his horne there was broken. And although Antiochus entred peaceably by flatterie, yet he might secretly contriue the death of Seleucus his elder brother, as he did: & the third horne plucked vp before him, was not Demetrius, but rather Antiochus his father, whome he procured to be slaine in a certaine sedition: see before c. 7. qu. 28. in the ende.
2. The time of prophaning the Temple is expressed in prophetical tearmes, as other prophesies are, not with affected obscuritie, but to the ende that they might be held in suspense, vntill they saw the accomplishment thereof: the word pelag vsed c. 7. 25. and chatz, c. 11. 7. signifieth, not onelyonly an halfe, but a part of time: see before c. 12. qu. 19. in the end. In the Apocalyps there is an allusion to this time: but the historicall accomplishment was before the first comming of Christ.
Argum. 11. Whereas Iunius vnderstandeth, c. 7. 11. by the slaying of the beast, the death of Antiochus, by the destruction of his bodie, the extirpation and rooting out of his familie, and by giuing it to the burning fire, the torments which he endured beeing aliue: Graserus thus obiecteth: 1. That S. Paul referreth this to the destruction of Antichrist, which he setteth forth in three degrees: the reuealing or detecting of that wicked man; the consuming of him by the spirit of Christs mouth; and his vtter abolishing with the brightnes of his comming: and he vnderstandeth not the first comming of Christ in the flesh, as Iunius, but his glorious comming to iudgement, 2. Thess. 2. 8. Graser. p. 89.
2. Whereas Iunius thinketh the little horne described in the vision in the 7. c. and in the 8. c. to be the same: Graserus thinketh that the little horne spoken of in the 7. signifieth Mahomet, and the little horne in the 8. the Pope. p. 92.
3. Whereas Iunius thinketh that the historie of this little horne is more fully described in the end of the 11. ch. these reasons are against it: 1. because no mention is made in the 11. ch. of the ten hornes, nor of the three hornes taken away before the little horne. 2. nor of the eyes and mouth of the little horne. 3. and his end is farre diuers: for c. 7. his bodie is destroied and giuen to the burning fire: but in the 11. chap. he is described dying by some fatall disease, as beeing forsaken of his friends. p. 98.
Ans. 1. S. Paul may in the same phrase of speach set forth the destruction of Antichrist, whereby Daniel describeth the death of Antiochus, and yet not vnderstand the same thing: As in the Apocalyps the Euangelist in the phrase of speech alludeth to diuers visions in Ezekiel and Daniel, and yet applieth them to a diuers purpose.
2. The litle horne spoken of, c. 7. and c. 8. is the same, as may appeare by the description of it: it is in both places called a little horne, in the 7. it hath a mouth speaking presumptuous things, v. 8. and in the 8. ch. v. 25. he shall extoll himselfe against the Prince of Princes: Mahomet and the Pope came too late, to be historically vnderstood by this little horne: for this little horne must come forth out of one of the foure hornes, which did rise vp in the place of the great horne (which was Alexander) beeing broken: But there was no remainder of Alexanders kingdome long before the rising vp of the Mahometane or Popish sect.
3. It is not necessarie, because the particular historie of the little horne is more at large followed, c. 11. that therefore there should be a rehearsall of the same things, which were touched before concerning the same horne, but rather one vision supplieth that, which was omitted in the other: for to what purpose should the vision be renewed, if the same things in eueryevery respect should be iterated: The foure Euangelists doe write the same historie of the doings and sayings of Christ; yet some hauehave one thing that is not to be found in an other. And the diuers relation of the ende of Antiochus is no such matter to insist vponupon: for the diuersitie is herein, that chap. 7. the destruction of the beast, that is, of the kingdome of the Seleucians, is set forth, and in the 11. c. the death of Antiochus, as is before shewed at large, c. 7. qu. 38.
Argum. 12. Graserus proceedeth to deliuer and confirme his owne interpretation of these visions: by the fourth beast he vnderstandeth the Romane Empire, and by the two legges of the image, the two parts of the Romane Empire, one in the East, the other in the West, which was extended in length from one to the other 700. Germane miles: this diuision beganne vnderunder Augustus and Antonius: afterward Constantine built new Rome in the East: and these two legges to this day, are the Turke in the East, and the Pope in the West. p. 99. 100.
Ans. That neither the Romane, nor Turkish Empire is signified by the two legges of the image, c. 2. nor by the fourth beast, c. 7. is at large shewed before, c. 2. qu. 49. and c. 7. qu. 21. whether I referre the Reader. And further this euident argument there is thereof, that the toes of the image beeing partly of yron, partly of clay, are saide to mingle themselues with the seede of men, they shall ioyne in marriage one with an other, but that band shall not hold: this was euidently performed, when the kings of the North and South, were linked in marriage together, as Ptolome Philadelphus gaue his daughter Berenice to Antiochus Theos in marriage, as is prophesied, Dan. 11. 6. see c. 11. qu. 20. 21. and the king of the North, namely Antiochus Megas, gaue his daughter (to wit) Cleopatra, to wife to Ptolome Epiphanes, c. 11. 17. Seeing that the Prophet himselfe expoundeth the vision, shewing, how and of whome this mingling of seede is to be vnderstood: they wearie themselues in vaine, that seeke for the accomplishment of this prophesie elswhere, as Graserus doth in the Papacie, where there hath beene such combination of marriages. p. 103. But he can not shew how the two legges, the kings of the North and South, hauehave in the Papacie so ioyned and combined themselues.
Arg. 13. 1. By the ten hornes are rather vnderstood ten kingdomes, then kings, as Grecia, Macedonia, Asia, Syria, Egyptus, Africa, Hispania, Gallia, Germania, Illyricum. 2. The litle horne signifieth Mahomet, called litle in respect of his obscure beginning. 3. The 3. hornes plucked vp before it are the 3. kingdomes of Syria, Egypt, Africa, which the Turke inuaded. 4. The mouth speaking proud things, is the new Law of the Turkes Alcaron brought in by Mahomet. p. 109.
Answ. 1. That these visions appertaine not vntounto the Romane or Turkish Empire, is shewed at large, c. 7. quest. 21. whether I desire the Reader to hauehave recourse: 2. seeing the 10. hornes, and the 3. hornes which were plucked vp before the little horne, are interpreted by the Angel to be so many kings, not kingdoms, it is too great boldnesse to vnderstand them to be kingdomes, not kings. 3. this little horne must come out of the fourth beast or Monarchie, and hauehave the power thereof: But Mahomet and the Turke did not spring out of the Romane Empire, but alwaies did oppose themselues vntounto it. 4. though Mahomet had a mouth speaking presumptuous things, it followeth not, that he was this little horne: for not one of the properties, but all must agree vntounto him, that is signified by this little horne. 5. Graserus himselfe conesseth, spiritum sanctum in hac visione Antiochi historiam tractare, that the holy spirit doth in this vision handle the storie of Antiochus, but yet so, as that he maketh him a patterne to describe and proportion our Antichrist by, p. 91. If then this prophesie were historically fulfilled in Antiochus, it is not properly referred to any other, but onelyonly typically and by way of analogie, which we doe not denie.
Argum. 14. These visions shewed vntounto Daniel concerne the last times toward the end of the world, as 1. appeareth by the phrase of speach, which the Prophet vseth: as c. 8. 17. in the last time shall be the vision: v. 19. I will shew thee, what shall be in the last wrath: but the wr…th which Antiochus shewed against the people of God, was not the last: p. 103. & v. 26. it shall be for many daies: p. 115. and c. 10. 1. the time appointed is long. 2. The Prophet Isai speaking of the reiection of the Iewes, and calling of the Gentiles saith, c. 29. 17. Yet a little while, and Lebanon shalbe turned into Carmel, &c. this was aboue 500. years before the comming of Christ: if the space of 500. yeares be counted but a little time, how then can halfe that time be counted long, from the time of this prophecie to the destruction of the Temple by Antiochus? Graser. p. 119. 3. The Prophet himselfe maketh euident mention in these prophesies of the second comming of Christ to iudgement, as c. 2. he speaketh of the cutting out of the stone without hands, whereby is signified the suddennes of Christs second comming: and c. 7. of the setting vp of the thrones, and of the comming of the Sonne of man in the clouds: and c. 12. euident mention is made of the resurrection of the dead. p. 121. 4. The Prophet is bid to seale vp the vision, because it was for many daies, c. 7. 26. as for the same reason Iohn is bid not to seale vp the words, because the time was at hand, Apoc. 22. 10. p. 122. 5. And that Daniels prophecie concerneth the last times, may be thus gathered: Apoc. 10. 7. there it is said, The mysterie of God shall be finished, as he hath declared to his seruants the Prophets: of these Prophets Daniel was one, therefore to him was declared this mysterie, concerning the finall destruction of Antichrist. p. 123.
Ans. 1. The words, in the time of the ende (shall be) the vision, are well interpreted by Iunius in the time defined or determined: legneth ketz, at the ende of time, signifieth the same, that lemoghed ketz, the appointed time of the ende: so likewise v. 19. the words are, what shall be in the last of this wrath, not in the last wrath: for the word acharith is a substantiue, and signifieth the extremitie and end of this wrath; which should be shewed by Antiochus. 2. Time is said to be long & short in respect of the subiect, & matter in hand: so that the same continuance of time may be said to be long in one respect, which is counted short in an other. The Prophet Isai counted but a short time vntounto the comming of Christ, in regard of the continuance of the Church of Christ afterward: and so all the time after the first comming of Christ in the flesh, is but short in comparison of his euerlasting kingdome. This notwithstanding, this tearme of 300. yeares, from Daniels time vntill Antiochus, may be counted long, in respect of the present state of the Iewes Commonwealth, which was not to continue long. So the seruant, whose eare was boared through, is saide to serue his master for euer, Exod. 21. 6. namely vntounto the yeare of Iubile, which might take vp the whole tearme of his life. 3. That neither in this place, c. 2. nor in the other prophesie, c. 7. the second comming of Christ to iudgement is described: see before at large, c. 2. qu. 55. c. 7. qu. 31. and to what purpose also mention is made of the resurrection of the dead, c. 12. see further handled, c. 12. qu. 7. qu. 8. 4. Iohn is willed not to seale vp the prophesie, because part thereof was presently to take effect: but Daniel is bid to seale vp his, because yet 300. yeares should expire, before the prophesie should take place. 5. The Prophets, which are there spoken of, might be the Apostles, as S. Paul among the rest, to whome the mysterie of iniquitie was reuealed: and the olde Prophets also prophesied of the last times, which also was reuealed to Daniel: but hereof it followeth not, that therefore Daniel in these visions specially prophesieth of the great Antichrist: whome notwithstanding typically we graunt he describeth vnderunder this propheticall prediction of Antiochus.