Chapter 12:
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Introduction 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 Ezekiel Hosea
Daniel 12
Complete Concise
After the prediction of the troubles of the Jews under
Antiochus, prefiguring the troubles of the Christian church under the anti-christian
power, we have here, I. Comforts, and very precious ones, prescribed as cordials
for the support of God's people in those times of trouble; and they are such
as may indifferently serve both for those former times of trouble under
Antiochus and those latter which were prefigured by them (v. 1-4). II. A
conference between Christ and an angel concerning the time of the continuance of
these events, designed for Daniel's satisfaction (v. 5-7). III. Daniel's
enquiry for his own satisfaction (v. 8). And the answer he received to that
enquiry (v. 9-12).
Verses 1-4
It is usual with the prophets, when they foretel the grievances
of the church, to furnish it at the same time with proper antidotes, a remedy
for every malady. And no relief is so sovereign, of such general application, so
easily accommodated to every case, and of such powerful efficacy, as those that
are fetched from Christ and the future state; thence the comforts here are
fetched.
I. Jesus Christ shall appear his church's patron and
protector:
At that time, when the persecution is at the hottest,
Michael
shall stand up, v. 1. The angel had told Daniel what a firm friend Michael
was to the church, ch. 10:21. He all along showed this friendship in the upper
world; the angels knew it; but now
Michael shall stand up in his
providence, and work deliverance for the Jews,
when he sees that their power
is gone, Deu. 32:3. 6. Christ is
that great prince, for he is the
prince
of the kings of the earth, Rev. 1:5. And, if he stand up for his church, who
can be against it? But this is not all:
At that time (that is, soon
after) Michael shall stand up for the working out of our eternal salvation; the
Son of God shall be incarnate, shall be
manifested to destroy the works of
the devil. Christ
stood for the children of our people when he was
made sin and a curse for them, stood in their stead as a sacrifice, bore the
cure for them, to bear it from them. He stands for them in the intercession he
ever lives to make within the veil, stands up for them, and stands their friend.
And after the destruction of antichrist, of whom Antiochus was a type, Christ
shall
stand at the latter day upon the earth, shall appear for the
complete redemption of all his.
II. When Christ appears he will recompense tribulation to those
that trouble his people. There shall
be a time of trouble, threatening to
all, but ruining to all the implacable enemies of God's kingdom among men,
such
trouble as never was since there was a nation. This is applicable.
1. To the destruction of Jerusalem, which Christ calls (perhaps with an eye to
this prediction) such a
great tribulation as was not since the beginning of
the world to this time, Mt. 24:21. This the angel had spoken much of (ch.
9:26, 27); and it happened about the same time that Christ set up the
gospel-kingdom in the world, that Michael our prince
stands up. Or, 2. To
the judgment of the great day, that day that shall
burn as an oven, and
consume the proud and all that do wickedly; that will be such a
day of
trouble as never was to all those whom Michael our prince stands against.
III. He will work salvation for his people:
"At that
time thy people shall be delivered, delivered from the mischief and ruin
designed them by Antiochus, even all those that were marked for preservation,
that were
written among the living," Isa. 4:3. When Christ comes
into the world he will save his spiritual Israel from sin and hell, and will, at
his second coming, complete their salvation, even the salvation of as many as
were given him, as many as have
their names in the book of life, Rev.
20:15. They were written there before the world, and will be
found written
there at the end of the world, when the books shall be opened.
IV. There shall be a distinguishing resurrection of those that
sleep
in the dust, v. 2. 1. When God works deliverance for his people from
persecution it is a kind of resurrection; so the Jews' release out of Babylon
was represented in vision (Eze. 37) and so the deliverance of the Jews from
Antiochus, and other restorations of the church to outward prosperity; they were
as
life from the dead. Many of those who had long slept in the dust of
obscurity and calamity shall then awake, some to that life, and honour, and
comfort which will be lasting, everlasting; but to others, who, when they return
to their prosperity, will return to their iniquity, it will be a resurrection to
shame and contempt, for the
prosperity of fools will but expose them and
destroy them. 2. When, upon the appearing of Michael our prince, his gospel is
preached, many of those who
sleep in the dust, both Jews and Gentiles,
shall be awakened by it to take upon them a profession of religion, and shall
rise out of their heathenism or Judaism; but, since there will be always a
mixture of hypocrites with true saints, it is but some of those who are
raised
to life to whom the gospel is a
savour of life unto life, but others
will be raised by it
to shame and contempt, to whom the gospel of Christ
will be a
savour of death unto death, and Christ himself set for their
fall. The net of the gospel encloses both good and bad. But, 3. It must be meant
of the general resurrection at the last day:
The multitude of those that
sleep in the dust shall awake, that is, all, which shall be a great many.
Or,
Of those that sleep in the dust many shall arise to life and many to
shame. The Jews themselves understand this of the resurrection of the dead at
the end of time; and Christ seems to have an eye to it when he speaks of the
resurrection
of life and the
resurrection of damnation (Jn. 5:29); and upon this
the Jews are said by St. Paul to expect a
resurrection of the dead both of
the just and of the unjust, Acts 24:15. And nothing could come in more
seasonably here, for, under Antiochus's persecution, some basely betrayed
their religion, others bravely adhered to it. Now it would be a trouble to them
that, when the storm was over, they could neither reward the one nor punish the
other; this therefore would be a satisfaction to them, that they would both be
recompensed according to their works in the resurrection. And the apostle,
speaking of the pious Jews that suffered martyrdom under Antiochus, tells us
that though they were tortured yet they
accepted not deliverance, because
they
hoped to obtain this better resurrection, Heb. 11:35.
V. There shall be a glorious reward conferred on those who, in
the day of trouble and distress, being themselves
wise, did
instruct
many. Such were taken particular notice of in the prophecy of the
persecution (ch. 11:33), that they should do eminent service, and yet should
fall
by the sword and by flame; now, if there were not another life after this,
they would be
of all men most miserable, and therefore we are here
assured that they shall be recompensed
in the resurrection of the just
(v. 3):
Those that are wise (that are
teachers, so some read it,
for teachers have need of wisdom, and those that have wisdom themselves should
communicate it to others)
shall shine as the brightness of the firmament,
shall shine in glory, heavenly glory, the glory of the upper world; and those
that by the wisdom they have, and the instructions they give, are instrumental
to
turn any, especially to
turn many to righteousness, shall shine
as
the stars for ever and ever. Note, 1. There is a glory reserved for all the
saints in the future state, for all that are wise, wise for their souls and
eternity. A man's wisdom now
makes his face to shine (Eccles. 8:1), but
much more will it do so in that state where its power shall be perfected and its
services rewarded. 2. The more good any do in this world, especially to the
souls of men, the greater will be their glory and reward in the other world.
Those that turn
men to righteousness, that
turn sinners from the
errors of their ways and help to
save their souls from death (Jam.
5:20), will share in the glory of those they have helped to heaven, which will
be a great addition to their own glory. 3. Ministers of Christ, who have
obtained mercy of him to be faithful and successful, and so are made
burning
and shining lights in this world, shall shine very brightly in the other
world, shall shine
as the stars. Christ is
the sun, the fountain,
of the lights both of grace and glory; ministers, as stars, shine in both, with
a light derived from him, and a diminutive light in comparison of him; yet to
those that are
earthen vessels it will be a glory infinitely transcending
their deserts. They shall
shine as the stars of different magnitudes,
some in less, others in greater lustre; but, whereas the day is coming when the
stars shall fall from heaven as leaves in autumn, these stars shall
shine for
ever and ever, shall never set, never be eclipsed.
VI. That this prophecy of those times, though sealed up now,
would be of great use to those that should live then, v. 4. Daniel must now
shut
up the words and seal the book because the
time would be long ere
these things would be accomplished: and it was some comfort that the Jewish
nation, though, in the infancy of their return from Babylon, while they were few
and weak, they met with obstructions in their work, were not persecuted for
their religion till a long time after, when they had grown to some strength and
maturity. He must
seal the book because it would not be
understood,
and therefore would not be regarded, till the things contained in it were
accomplished; but he must keep it safely, as a treasure of great value, laid up
for the ages to come, to whom it would be of great service; for
many shall
then run to and fro, and knowledge shall be increased. Then this hidden
treasure shall be opened, and many shall search into it, and dig for the
knowledge of it, as for silver. They shall
run to and fro, to enquire out
copies of it, shall collate them, and see that they be true and authentic. They
shall read it over and over, shall meditate upon it, and run it over in their
minds;
discurrentthey shall discourse of it, and talk it over among
themselves, and compare notes about it, if by any means they may
sift out
the meaning of it; and thus
knowledge shall be increased. By consulting
this prophecy on this occasion they shall be led to
search other
scriptures,
which shall contribute much to their advancement in useful knowledge; for
then
shall we know if we follow on to know the Lord, Hos. 6:3. Those that would
have their knowledge increased must take pains, must not sit still in
slothfulness and bare wishes but
run to and fro, must make use of all the
means of knowledge and improve all opportunities of getting their mistakes
rectified, their doubts resolved, and their acquaintance with the things of God
improved, to know more and to know better what they do know. And let us here see
reason to hope that, 1. Those things of God which are now dark and obscure will
hereafter be made clear, and easy to be understood.
Truth is the daughter of
time. Scripture prophecies will be expounded by the accomplishment of them;
therefore
they are given, and for that explication they are reserved.
Therefore
they are
told us before, that,
when they do come to pass, we may
believe. 2. Those things of God which are despised and neglected, and thrown by
as useless, shall be brought into reputation, shall be found to be of great
service, and be brought into request; for divine revelation, however slighted
for a time, shall be
magnified and made honourable, and, above all, in
the
judgment of the great day, when the books shall be opened, and that
book among the rest.
Verses 5-13
Daniel had been made to foresee the amazing revolutions of
states and kingdoms, as far as the Israel of God was concerned in them; in them
he foresaw troublous times to the church, suffering trying times, the prospect
of which much affected him and filled him with concern. Now there were two
questions proper to be asked upon this head:
When shall the
end be?
And,
What shall the
end be? These two questions are asked and
answered here, in the close of the book; and though the comforts prescribed in
the foregoing verses, one would think, were satisfactory enough, yet, for more
abundant satisfaction, this is added.
I. The question,
When shall the end be? is asked by an
angel, v. 5, 6. Concerning this we may observe,
1. Who it was that asked the question. Daniel had had a vision
of Christ in his glory, the
man clothed in linen, ch. 10:5. But his
discourse had been with the angel Gabriel, and now he
looks, and
behold
other two (v. 5), two angels that he had not seen before,
one upon the
bank of the river on one side and the other on the other side, that, the
river being between them, they might not whisper to one another, but what they
said might be heard. Christ stood
on the waters of the river, (v. 6),
between
the banks of Ulai; it was therefore proper that the angels his attendants
should stand on either bank, that they might be ready to go, one one way and the
other the other way, as he should order them. These angels appeared, (1.) To
adorn the vision, and make it the more illustrious; and to add to the glory of
the Son of man, Heb. 1:6. Daniel had not seen them before, though it is probable
that they were there; but now, when they began to speak, he looked up, and saw
them. Note, The further we look into the things of God, and the more we converse
with them, the more we shall see of those things, and still new discoveries will
be made to us; those that know much, if they improve it, shall know more. (2.)
To confirm the discovery, that
out of the mouth of two or three witnesses the
word might be established. Three angels appeared to Abraham. (3.) To inform
themselves, to hear and ask questions; for the mysteries of God's kingdom are
things which the
angels desire to look into (1 Pt. 1:12) and they are
known
to the church, Eph. 3:10. Now one of these two angels said,
When shall
the end be? Perhaps they both asked, first one and then the other, but
Daniel heard only one.
2. To whom this question was put, to the
man clothed in
linen, of whom we read before (ch. 10:5), to Christ our great high priest,
who
was upon the waters of the river, and whose spokesman, or interpreter, the
angel Gabriel had all this while been. This river was Hiddekel (ch. 10:4), the
same with Tigris, the place whereabout many of the events prophesied of would
happen; there therefore is the scene laid. Hiddekel was mentioned as one of the
rivers that watered the garden of Eden (Gen. 2:14); fitly therefore does Christ
stand upon that river, for by him the trees in the paradise of God are watered.
Waters
signify
people, and so his standing upon the waters denotes his dominion
over all; he
sits upon the flood (Ps. 29:10);
he treads upon the
waters of the sea, Job 9:8. And Christ, to show that this was he, in the
days of his flesh
walked upon the waters, Mt. 14:25. He was
above the
waters of the river (so some read it); he appeared in the air over the
river.
3. What the question was:
How long shall it be to the end of
these wonders? Daniel would not ask the question, because he would not pry
into what was hidden, nor seem inquisitive concerning the times and the seasons,
which the Father has
put in his own power, Acts 1:7. But, that he might
have the satisfaction of the answer, the angel put the question in his hearing.
Our Lord Jesus sometimes answered the questions which his disciples were afraid
or ashamed to ask, Jn. 16:19. The angel asked as one concerned,
How long
shall it be? What is the time prefixed in the divine counsels for the
end
of these wonders, these suffering trying times, that are to pass over the
people of God? Note, (1.) The troubles of the church are the
wonder of
angels. They are astonished that God will suffer his church to be thus
afflicted, and are anxious to know what good he will do his church by its
afflictions. (2.) Good angels know no more of things to come than God is pleased
to discover to them, much less do evil angels. (3.) The holy angels in heaven
are concerned for the church on earth, and lay to heart its afflictions; how
much more then should we, who are more immediately related to it, and have so
much of our peace in its peace?
4. What answer was returned to it by him who is indeed the
numberer
of secrets, and knows things to come.
(1.) Here is a more general account given of the continuance of
these troubles to the angel that made the enquiry (v. 7), that they shall
continue
for a time, times, and a half, that is, a year, two years, and
half a year, as was before intimated (ch. 7:25), but the one half of a
prophetical week. Some understand it indefinitely, a certain time for an
uncertain; it shall be
for a time (a considerable time), for
times
(a longer time yet, double what it was thought at first that it would be), and
yet indeed it shall be but
half a time, or a part of a time; when it is
over it shall seem not half so much as was feared. But it is rather to be taken
for a certain time; we meet with it in the Revelation, under the title sometimes
of three days and a half, put for three years and a half, sometimes forty-two
months, sometimes 1260 days. Now this determination of the time is here [1.]
Confirmed by an oath. The man
clothed in linen lifted up both his hands
to
heaven, and swore by him that lives for ever and ever that it should be so.
Thus the
mighty angel whom St. John saw is brought in, with a plain
reference to this vision, standing with his
right foot on the sea and
his
left foot on the earth, and with his hand lifted up to heaven, swearing
that
there shall be no longer delay, Rev. 10:5, 6. This Mighty One that Daniel
saw stood with
both feet on the water, and swore with
both hands
lifted up. Note, An oath is of use for confirmation; God only is to be sworn by,
for he is the proper Judge to whom we are to appeal; and lifting up the hand is
a very proper and significant sign to be used in a solemn oath. [2.] It is
illustrated with a reason. God will suffer him to prevail
till he shall have
accomplished to scatter the power of the holy people. God will suffer him to
do his worst, and run his utmost length, and then
all these things shall be
finished. Note, God's time to succour and relieve his people is when their
affairs are brought to the last extremity;
in the mount of the Lord it shall
be seen that Isaac is saved just when he lies ready to be sacrificed. Now
the event answered the prediction; Josephus says expressly, in his book of the
Wars
of the Jews, that Antiochus, surnamed Epiphanes, surprised Jerusalem by
force,
and held it three years and six months, and was then
cast out
of the country by the Asmoneans or Maccabees. Christ's public ministry
continued
three years and a half, during which time he endured the
contradiction of sinners against himself, and lived in poverty and disgrace; and
then when his power seemed to be quite scattered at his death, and his enemies
triumphed over him, he obtained the most glorious victory and said,
It is
finished.
(2.) Here is something added more particularly concerning the
time of the continuance of those troubles, in what is said to Daniel, v. 11, 12,
where we have, [1.] The event fixed from which the time of the trouble is to be
dated, from the
taking away of the daily sacrifice by Antiochus, and the
setting
up of the image of Jupiter upon the altar, which was the
abomination of
desolation. They must reckon their troubles to begin indeed when they were
deprived of the benefit of public ordinances; that was to them the
beginning
of sorrows; that was what they laid most to heart. [2.] The continuance of
their trouble; it shall last 1290 days,
three years and
seven months,
or (as some reckon)
three years, six months, and
fifteen days; and
then, it is probable, the daily sacrifice was restored, and the abomination of
desolation taken away, in remembrance of which the
feast of dedication
was observed even to our Saviour's time, Jn. 10:22. Though it does not appear
by the history that it was exactly so long to a day, yet it appears that the
beginning of the trouble was in the 145th year of the Seleucidae, and the end of
it in the 148th year; and either the restoring of the sacrifice, and the taking
away of the image, were just so many days after, or some other previous event
that was remarkable, which is not recorded. There are many particular times
fixed in the scripture-prophecies, which it does not appear by any history,
sacred or profane, that the event answered, and yet no doubt it did punctually;
as Isa. 16:14. [3.] The completing of their deliverance, or at least a further
advance towards it, which is here set forty-five days after the former, and,
some think, points at the death of Antiochus, 1335 days after his profaning the
temple.
Blessed is he that waits and comes to that time. It is said (1
Mac. 9:28; 10:1) that the Maccabees, under a divine conduct,
recovered the
temple and the city. Many good interpreters make these to be prophetical
days (that is, so many years), and date them from the destruction of Jerusalem
by the Romans; but what events they then fall upon they are not agreed. Others
date them from the corruption of the gospel-worship by the antichrist, whose
reign is confined in the Apocalypse to 1260 days (that is, years), at the end of
which he shall begin to fall; but thirty years after he shall be quite fallen,
at the end of 1290 days; and whoever lives forty years longer, to 1335 days,
will see glorious times indeed. Whether it looks so far forward or no I cannot
tell; but this, however, we may learn,
First, That there is a time fixed
for the termination of the church's troubles, and the bringing about of her
deliverance, and that this time will be punctually observed to a day.
Secondly,
That this time must be waited for with faith and patience.
Thirdly, That,
when it comes, it will abundantly recompense us for our long expectations of it.
Blessed is he who, having waited long, comes to it at last, for he will
then have reason to say,
Lo, this is our God, and we have waited for him.
II. The question,
What shall the end be? is asked by
Daniel, and an answer given to it. Observe,
1. Why Daniel asked this question; it was because, though he
heard
what was said to the angel, yet he did not
understand it, v. 8.
Daniel was a very intelligent man, and had been conversant in visions and
prophecies, and yet here he was puzzled; he did not understand the meaning of
the
time, times, and the part of a time, at least not so clearly and with
so much certainty as he wished. Note, The best men are often much at a loss in
their enquiries concerning divine things, and meet with that which they do not
understand.
But the better they are the more sensible they are of their own weaknesses and
ignorance, and the more ready to acknowledge them.
2. What the question was:
O my Lord! What shall be the end of
these things? He directs his enquiry not to the angel that talked with him,
but immediately to Christ, for to whom else should we go with our enquiries?
"What shall be the final issue of these events? What do they tend to? What
will then end in?" Note, When we take a view of the affairs of this world,
and of the church of God in it, we cannot but think, What will be the end of
these things? We see things move as if they would end in the utter ruin of God's
kingdom among men. When we observe the prevalence of vice and impiety, the decay
of religion, the sufferings of the righteous, and the triumphs of the ungodly
over them, we may well ask,
O my Lord! what will be the end of these things?
But this may satisfy us in general, that all will end well at last. Great is the
truth, and will prevail at long-run. All opposing rule, principality, and power,
will be put down, and holiness and love will triumph, and be in honour, to
eternity. The end, this end, will come.
3. What answer is returned to this question. Besides what refers
to the time (v. 11, 12), of which before, here are some general instructions
given to Daniel, with which he is dismissed from further attendance.
(1.) He must content himself with the discoveries that had been
made to him, and not enquire any further:
"Go thy way, Daniel; let
it suffice thee that thou has been admitted thus far to the foresight of things
to come, but stop here.
Go thy way about the king's business again, ch.
8:27.
Go thy way, and record what thou hast seen and heard, for the
benefit of posterity, and covet not to see and hear more at present." Note,
Communion with God is not our continual feast in this world; we sometimes are
taken to be witnesses of Christ's glory, and we say,
It is good to be here;
but we must go down from the mount, and have there no continuing city. Those
that know much
know but in part, and still see there is a great deal that
they are kept in the dark about, and are likely to be so till the veil is rent;
hitherto their knowledge shall go, but no further.
"Go thy way, Daniel,
satisfied with what thou hast."
(2.) He must not expect that what had been said to him would be
fully understood till it was accomplished:
The words are closed up and
sealed, are involved in perplexities, and are likely to be so,
till the
time of the end, till the end of these things; nay, till the end of all
things. Daniel was ordered to
seal the book to the time of the end, v. 4.
The Jews used to say,
When Elias comes he will tell us all things.
"They are
closed up and sealed, that is, the discovery designed to
be made by them is now fully settled and completed; nothing is to be added to it
nor taken from it, for it is
closed up and
sealed; ask not
therefore after more."
Nescire velle quae magister maximus docere non
vult erudita inscitia estHe has learned much who is willing to be ignorant of
those things which the great teacher does not choose to impart.
(3.) He must count upon no other than that, as long as the world
stands, there will still be in it such a mixture as now we see there is of good
and bad, v. 10. We long to see all wheat and no tares in God's field, all corn
and no chaff in God's floor; but it will not be till the time of ingathering,
till the winnowing day, comes; both must
grow together until the harvest.
As it has been, so it is, and will be,
The wicked shall do wickedly, but
the
wise shall understand. In this, as in other things, St. John's Revelation
closes as Daniel did. Rev. 22:11,
He that is filthy, let him be filthy still;
and he that is holy, let him be holy still. [1.] There is no remedy but that
wicked people
will do wickedly; and such people there are and will be in
the world to the end of time.
So said the proverb of the ancients, Wickedness
proceeds from the wicked (1 Sa. 24:13); and the observation of the moderns
says the same. Bad men will do bad things; and a
corrupt tree will
never
bring forth good fruit. Do men
gather grapes of thorns, or bring
forth good things from an evil treasure in the heart? No; wicked practices are
the natural products of wicked principles and dispositions.
Marvel not at the
matter then, Eccl. 5:8. We are told, before, that the
wicked will do
wickedly; we can expect no better from them: but, which is worse,
none of
the wicked shall understand. This is either,
First, A part of their
sin. They
will not understand; they shut their eyes against the light,
and none so blind as those that will not see.
Therefore they are
wicked
because they
will not understand. If they did but rightly know the truths
of God, they would readily obey the laws of God, Ps. 82:5. Wilful sin is the
effect of wilful ignorance; they
will not understand because
they are
wicked; they
hate the light, and come not to the light,
because
their deeds are evil, Jn. 3:19. Or,
Secondly, It is a part of their
punishment; they will do wickedly, and therefore God has given them up to
blindness
of mind, and has said concerning them,
They shall not understand, nor
be
converted and healed, Mt. 13:14, 15. God will not
give them eyes to
see, because they will do wickedly, Deu. 29:4. [2.] Yet, bad as the world
is, God will secure to himself a remnant of good people in it; still there shall
be some, there shall be many, to whom the providences and ordinances of God
shall be
a savour of life unto life, while to others they are
a savour
of death unto death. First, the providences of God shall do them good:
Many
shall be purified, and made white, and tried, by their troubles (compare ch.
11:35), by the same troubles which will but stir up the corruptions of the
wicked and make them do more wickedly. Note, The afflictions of good people are
designed for their trial; but by these trials they are
purified and
made
white, their corruptions are purged out, their graces are brightened, and
made both more vigorous and more conspicuous, and are
found to praise, and
honour, and glory, 1 Pt. 1:7. To those who are themselves sanctified and
good every event is sanctified, and works for good, and helps to make them
better.
Secondly, The word of God shall do them good. When the
wicked
understand not, but stumble at the word, the
wise shall understand.
Those who are wise in practice shall understand doctrine; those who are
influenced and governed by the divine law and love shall be illuminated with a
divine light. For if any man will
do his will he shall
know the truth,
Jn. 7:17.
Give instruction to a wise man, and he will be yet wiser.
(4.) He must comfort himself with the pleasing prospect of his
own happiness in death, in judgment, and to eternity, v. 13. Daniel was now very
old, and had been long engaged both in an intimate acquaintance with heaven and
in a great deal of public business on this earth. And now he must think of
bidding farewell to this present state:
Go thou thy way till the end be.
[1.] It is good for us all to think much of going away from this world; we are
still going, and must be gone shortly, gone the way of all the earth. That must
be our way; but this is our comfort, We shall not go till God calls for us to
another world, and till he has done with us in this world, till he says,
"Go
thou thy way; thou hast finished thy testimony, done thy work, and
accomplished as a hireling thy day, therefore now,
Go thy way, and leave
it to others to take thy room." [2.] When a good man goes his way from this
world he enters into rest:
"Thou shalt rest from all thy present
toils and agitations, and shalt not see the evils that are coming on the next
generation." Never can a child of God say more pertinently than in his
dying moments,
Return unto thy rest, O my soul! [3.] Time and days will
have an end; not only our time and days will end very shortly, but all times and
days will have an end at length; yet a little while, and time shall be no more,
but all its revolutions will be numbered and finished. [4.] Our rest in the
grave will be but
till the end of the days; and then the peaceful rest
will be happily disturbed by a joyful resurrection. Job foresaw this when he
said of the dead,
Till the heavens be no more, they
shall not awake,
nor be raised out of their sleep, implying that then they shall, Job 14:12.
[5.] We must every one of us
stand in our lot at the end of the days. In
the judgment of the great day we must have our allotment according to what we
were, and what we did, in the body, either,
Come, you blessed or,
Go,
you cursed; and we must
stand for ever in that lot. It was a comfort
to Daniel, it is a comfort to all the saints, that, whatever their lot is in the
days of time, they shall have a happy lot in
the end of the days, shall
have their
lot among the chosen. And it ought to be the great care and
concern of every one of us to secure a happy lot at last in the
end of the
days, and they we may well be content with our present lot, welcome the will
of God. [6.] A believing hope and prospect of a blessed lot in the heavenly
Canaan, at the end of the days, will be an effectual support to us when we are
going our way out of this world, and will furnish us with living comforts in
dying moments.
Chapter 12:
| Darby
| Geneva
| Gill
| Jamieson Faussett Brown
| Matthew Henry
| Matthew Henry Concise
| Wesley
| Index
| Bible Gateway |
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