A Complete History and Mystery of the Old and New Testament, Volume 3 · Appendix · Chapter 10
Dan. XI. and XII.
REmarks Firſt, Upon Dan. 11. 'tis an Hiſtory as well as a Prophecy.
Mark 1. The Angel Gabriel revealeth from Chriſt unto Daniel, after his Prayer, Dan 9. and his Faſting three Weeks, Dan. 10. (whereby he was prepared to receive this Prophecy) the plain Naked Truth, which ſhould ſuddenly and certainly come to paſs, ver. 2. where (ſaith Grotius, &c. this eleventh Chapter ought to begin and from thence Gabriel explains the former Viſion of the Ram, and of the He-Goat, Dan. 8. ſpeaking only of ſuch Kings of Perſia, as either hindred or help'd the Temple.
Mark 2. He foretels that the Perſian Monarchy (which had obſtructed the building of God's Temple) ſhould be deſtroy'd by Alexander the Great, after it was come to its foreign or heighth, wherein it could bring into the Field, even Millions of Men, and cover the Seas with its Ships, and thinking to drive down all before them, ver. 2, 3.
Mark 3. Then that Grecian Empire (which ſwallow'd up the Perſian) when it ſeems in its Zenith, and moſt Ruffling Grandeur, expecting Embaſſadors at Babylon from all the World, ſhall be broken like brittle ware, and be divided into four of Alexander's Chieftains, Caſſander, Antigonus, Seleucus and Ptolomy, ver. 4.
Mark 4. Then he foretels the Intestine Wars, that ſhould ariſe among thoſe Succeſſors of Alexander; ſeven ſeveral times, from ver. 5, to ver. 20. the laſt of which ſeven Wars was betwixt Ptolomy, Philometer, and Antiochus Epiphanes, whom Gabriel calls a Vile Perſon, ver. 21. who ſhould conquer Egypt, ver. 22, to 28. but be recall'd by Rumours, ver. 40, &c. the Year before his Death his ſucceſs ripen'd him for Ruine.
Mark 5. He foretels the ſad State of the Jews all this Time, who laying betwixt Egypt on the South, and Syria on the North, and ſo they were like Bread-corn betwixt two Mill-stones grinded to Powder, during all thoſe ſeven Wars aforeſaid, their marches to and fro being commonly through the Bowels of Judea, but more eſpecially by this Vile Antiochus, not ſo much Epiphanes or Famous, but Epimanes Infamous for his Madneſs againſt the Jews, ver. 28, 30. to 39. and again ver. 41, to 45. and 1 Maccab. Chap. 1.2.3.4.5. and 6. N.B. Though God's Church here went to wrack, both by the North and by the South, yet both North-wind and South ſhall blow good to it at laſt, Cant. 4.16. God's Favour makes them Favonian, or favourable Winds, &c.
Remarks Secondly, Upon Dan. 12. that brings in the Good and Comfort of the Church.
Mark 1. 'Tis promis'd that Michael the strong Christ will protect his Church from the Perſecutions of Antiochus (that Type of Antichrist) and deliver all his Elect Temporally or Eternally, ver. 1, 2, 3.
Mark 2. Antiochus (and ſo Antichrist's) Time of Perſecution is limitted more darkly, ver. 5, 6. but more plainly upon Daniel's farther enquiry, ver. 8, to 12. The Man Christ Jeſus, ver. 7. tells him, the end ſhall not be till Time, Times, and half were over, which he numbers fully in one thouſand two hundred and ninety Days, ver. 11. before Antiochus's Death: And then he adds forty five Days more, ver. 12. for ſome ſignal Mercy, as that Victory Judas Maccabeus obtain'd about that time, &c. this Addition made the former to be one thouſand three hundred and thirty five. N.B. The number of the Beast Antichrist ſix hundred and ſixty ſix, if doubled make one thouſand three hundred and thirty three, and three Years and half, make up one thouſand three hundred and thirty five compleat.
Mark 3. Daniel is bid, 1. To Seal up this Prophecy, ver. 4. the Secret of it was reſerved to be made known in after Times. And 2. He muſt be ſatisfied herewith and prepare for Death, having a Promiſe both of Rest in his Grave, and at his Reſurrection out of it, ver. 9, 13. here Daniel hath a kind Diſmiſſion from Troubles, as Rev. 14.13, &c.