Visions and Prophecies of Daniel Expounded, Prophecy 5 · Part 2 · Section 14
Sect. 14. The other part, containing the Expoſition of v. 36. and downward, to the end of the Chapter.
FRom v. 36. to v. 41. Graſerus hath expounded this Prophecy of Antichriſt, with whom I do conſent for the greateſt part. But afterwards he turneth to Allegories, far fetcht, remote and unnaturall to this Prophecy of Daniel. For in all the Prophecy foregoing no ſuch courſe hath been obſerved: But I conceive, there will be no need to flye to ſuch uncouth Interpretations, for the cleering of the Prophecy; as ſhall appear in the Proceſſe of the Expoſition.
Of the Characters of Antichriſt.
Verſ. 36. And the King] that is, Antichriſt ſpoken of before.
ſhall do what him liſt] arrogating power above Law, contrary to Law, beyond Law, 2 Theſſ. 2, 3, 7. Dan. 7.25.
and ſhall exalt himſelf, and magnifie himſelf] contrary to Chriſt, who humbled himſelf, Phil. 2.7, 8.
above every god] that is, all that is called god, Kings and Magiſtrates, 2 Theſſ. 2.3. Joh. 10.35. Pſal. 82.6.
and he ſhall ſpeak] that is, Magiſtrally, Doctorally, as an independent Law-maker in things ſpirituall.
marvellous things] That is, Errors of an high nature, againſt the Offices and Worſhip of the Son of God, with great pride and preſumption, and in a marvellous ſtrain of Scholaſticall profundity. See c. 7, 8, 25. c. 8.23, 24, 25. 2 Pet. 2.8. Jude 16. Apoc. 13.5. 1 Tim. 4.5.
againſt the God of Gods] Chriſt, Michael the Prince of Princes, c. 12.1. and 8.11, 25. Apoc. 1.5. and 17.14. Pſa. 89.27. How this is done, is declared, Verſe 31, 37; 38, 39. c. 8.11, 12. and 7.25. by nullifying his offices, removing his Laws, Worſhip, ſetting up his own devices and abominations.
and ſhall proſper] As c. 8.11, 12, 24. whereby is noted a continuation with proſperous ſucceſſe, in this his inſolent preſumption.
untill the indignation be accompliſhed] That is, untill the end of Antichriſt his raign and perſecution, Verſe 30. with c. 12.7.
for an accurate determination is made.] To the end of a time, two times and half, 1260. dayes, 42. moneths, c. 12.7, 11, 12. and 7.25. Apoc. 11.2. and 3. and 12.6, 14. and 13.5, 6. See Iſa. 10.22, 23. and 28.22. Dan. 9.27.
Verſe 37. Neither ſhall he regard the God of his fathers] That is, he ſhall not regard Chriſt, regarded by the Apoſtles, in the way of his Ordinances: but he ſhall not regard him, that is, not deny him abſolutely, but ſlight him, in changing his Ordinances at his own plaeſure.
nor the deſire of women] Heb. foreign the lawfull deſire of women, that is, marriage, which he regardeth not; that is, lightly eſteems in all, forbids to the Clergy, as it is foretold, 1 Tim. 4.3.
nor regard any god] For he advanceth himſelf above the Civill Magiſtrate, deſpiſing Government, 2 Pet. 2.10.
For he ſhall magnifie himſelf above all.] above all orders and kinds of Government; Firſt Eccleſiaſticall, for he ſhall not regard the god of his fathers. Secondly, Oeconomicall, for he ſhall not regard the lawfull deſire of women. Thirdly Politicall, for he ſhall not regard any god. And in all theſe he regardeth not the god of his fathers, becauſe his fathers the Apoſtles regarded and preached the offices of Chriſt unto the world, Apoc. 1.5. the lawfull uſe of Marriage, Heb. 13.4. and obedience to the Magiſtrate, Rom. 13.1.
Verſe 38. But in his place] That is, the place of Chriſt.
he ſhall honour the god of Temples] ſo foreign, as Verſe. 31. that is, the Saints, to whom the Temples are dedicated, and images ſet up therein. This god, Antichriſt is ſaid to honour: which is a generall word, comprehending all degrees of religious worſhip, foreign.
and a god whom his fathers knew not] That is, the grand Idol in the Maſſe, the breaden god, a god not known or heard off, muchleſſe acknowledged by his Fathers the Apoſtles. Or elſe all the Idols of Antichriſt in generall are ſignified hereby: for they were all unknown to his fore-fathers the Apoſtles.
ſhall he honour] bowing, kneeling, cringing, knocking of the breaſt before it, yielding divine worſhip to it, and conſecrating to it things of price, as in the next words.
with gold, and ſilver, and precious ſtones, and pleaſant things.] For with theſe in offrings and ornaments, Antichriſt honoreth both the god of Temples and the breaden god, ſetting a great part of his divine honour in externall pomp and luſtre and earthly magnificence. His golden Images, guildings, coverings of gold, pleaſant paintings, conſecrated veſſels of gold and ſilver, veſtments and copes ſet with gold, ſilver, pearl, adorned with pleaſant works, are abundant witneſſes hereof.
Verſe 39. And he ſhall do in the munitions of Temples with a ſtrange God] That is, with the Idols before declared, which are kept and worſhipped in thoſe muniments or ſtrong holds, to wit, in thoſe ſtrong and ſtately edifices. The particle foreign doth ſometimes ſignifie as much as foreign or in, not only to or for. But how in thoſe ſtrong holds or Temples he ſhall do with a ſtrange god, it ſeemeth to be cleerly ſhewed, Verſe 31. to wit, by polluting the ſanctuary the ſtrong hold, and by taking away out of it the daily ſacrifice, and by ſetting up therein; namely, In the ſaid ſanctuary the ſtrong hold, the abomination making deſolate, which is the ſtrange god here ſpoken off.
whom he ſhall acknowledge, he ſhall encreaſe with glory, and he ſhall cauſe them to rule over many.] That is, whom Antichriſt ſhall ſee and acknowledge to be faithfull unto him, and defenders of his idolatries, he ſhall make them to rule over many both in Church and Common weale. For (to uſe the words of Bullinger) he createth and confirmeth Kings, conſtituteth Princes, ordaineth Biſhops, Doctors and Prelates of the Church, neither doth he conſtitute any other through the world, but ſuch as ſweare to be for him and his Religion. Whence, and happily more truly, the ſaid Bullinger tranſlateth the words after this manner: which whoſoever ſhall acknowledge, even as the Antichriſtian Princes and Prelates do, thoſe Antichriſt ſhall encreaſe with honours, and ſhall cauſe them to rule over many.
and he ſhall divide the land for gain.] For as the ſame Authour addeth, lands of all kinds, Collations, Offices, Prebends, Places of government, and moſt ample riches in the Land, he beſtoweth upon that kind of people only: But he beſtoweth the ſame as a reward of their faithfull ſervice, and yet not altogether freely, but for gain alſo, receiving ſome part of the benefice beſtowed.