Daniel 12

The deliverance of Gods people, vers. 1, &c. How long the troubles should yet last, 4. Daniel desireth to know this, 5. The Angel declareth it to him, 7 but he understood it not, 8. He is commanded to rest contented, 13.

1. And at that time [To wit, when Antiochus shall exceedingly vex and torment, afflict the Jews, and Antichrist the Church of the New Testament] shall Michael [See above chapter 10, on ver. 13.] stand up, [or get him up, to deliver his Church, first from the persecutions of Antiochus, and lastly also from the persecutions of the Antichrist] that great prince, which standeth for the children of thy people : [that is, which standeth fro the Church of God , defending and protecting it against all her enemies] when it shall be (such) a time of trouble as hath not been since there was a nation unto that same time: and at that time thy people shall be delivered, [that is, begin to be delivered, & the salvation of God shall come and at last be more and more accomplished bt the Lord Christ until the resurrection of the dead] every one that is found to be written in the book. [that is, that is ordained in the immutable counsel of God to be partaker of this deliverance. It is a phrase taken from men, among who it is usual, that those that are admitted to be free-men of any city, their names are registered or recorede in a book. See Exod. 32. on ver. 32.and Psal. 69.on ver. 29.and Ezek. 19.on ver. 9.]

2. And many [That is, the multitude, or all, divided into two heaps, there being many both heaps, as is declared in the sequel] of them that sleep [to wit, the sleep of death. See 1 Thes. 4. 16.] in the dust of the earth, [Heb. in the earth of dust] shall awake: [this must be understood of the general resurrection of the dead at the last day] these to everlasting life, and those to reproches and to everlasting horror. [See Matth. 25 .45. John 5:29.or loathing, or detestation. See Isa.chap. 66.the Annota.on ver. 24.]

3. Now the teachers [or the instructors, the understanding ones, they that make (others) wise. See above chapter 11. ver. 33.] Shall shine [or glister] as the brightness of the firmament, [that is, of heaven, of the stars of heaven. See Gen.chap. 1.on ver. 6. Compare Matth. 13. 43.] and theythat justify many, [or make many righteous, to wit, by their doctrine and instruction. See the Annotat . Ezek. 3.on ver. 18.] as the stars for ever and ever. [The Angel addeth this for the comfort of the godly, that are subject to many afflictions and persecutions here on earth]

4. And thou Daniel shut up these words, [See above chap.8.on ver.26.] and seal this book unto the time of the end: [So ver. 9. That is, till the time come when it shall please God to reveal this more perfectly] many shall search for it, the Hebrew word signifieth properly to run about, to go about , to run to and fro, to search for a thing diligently and to find it out. See Jod chapter 1.on ver. 7.] and knowledge shall be multiplied. [As if the Angel had said, though there be few now that are desirous to know the future estate of the Church, yet the time will come that many shall endeavour to get knowledge of these holy things, and shall likewise increase in knowledge]

5. And I Daniel looked, and behold, there stood other two [To wit, two other angels that were desirous to look into such things as there are, 1 Pet. 1. 12. These two Angels were otherthen that Angel that hitherto had talked with Daniel; also other then that Angel of whom is spoken above chapter 10.on ver. 4.] the one of this side of the bank, [Heb. lip] of the river [to wit, of the River Hiddekel. See above chapter 10.ver. 4.]

6. And he [To wit, one of them, or both of them one after another] said to the man clothed with linen, [See above chapter 10. 5.] which was above upon the water of the river, [that is, which hat power over all the heathen; for by waters nations are often signified in Scripture] how long shall it be till the shall be an end of these wonders? [when shall those things which are wonderful in apprehension have an end?]

7. And I heard that man clothed with linen, which was above upon the water of the river, and he lifted up his right hand and his left (hand) unto heaven, and swire by him that he liveth for ever, [Compare Rev. 10.ver. 5, 6.] that after an appointed time, appointed times, and an half [or a part, to wit, of the appointed time. See above chap.7. the Annotat.on ver. 25.] and when he [to wit God] shall have accomplished to scatter the hand of the holy people, [that is,shall have so humbled and weakened his people an Church, that it shall seem to be almost utterly subdued and destroyed] all these things shall be finished. [the hand &c.that is, all the power and strength of the people. Compare Deuteronomy 32:36. Others understand here by the hand, that hand whereby the holy people was oppressed, namely the power of Antiochus Epiphanes, of his souldiers and of his prosterity, that then those great persecutions should become to the highest, (Compare above chapter 7. 26) and that then God would arise to deliver his people. See above ver. 1. Compare above chapter 7. 26.]

8. I heard this, but I understood it not;[To wit, what is meant by an appointed time, appointed times and an half &c.] and I said, my Lord, [thus he called Christ with whom he talked] what shall be the end [Heb. the last] of these (things)? [Daniel desireth to know in plain terms when the Church of God should be delivered from that grievous persecution, and the true worship of God should be restored]

9. And he said, Go thy way Daniel, for these words are closed up and sealed {Compare above chapter 8.on ver. 26.] till the time of the end. [then shall this whole prophecy be open and clear, but before that time the right meaning thereof cannot be fully and certainly known in all the particulars thereof]

10. Many shall be purified , [Or, be cleansed and made white and refined: [A repetition of the prediction of the miseries that shall befal the Church of God : see above chapter 11. 35. Our Saviour Christ useth here three words by way of comparison. The first is taken from the cleansing of corn: as the corn is by the fan cleansed from the chaff, so are believers cleansed by the fan of persecution. The second word is taken from Fullers, that by fulling make th cloth clean and white The third similitude is taken from Gold-Smiths that refine the gold and the silver in their furnaces, purging out the dross. See above chapter 11. 35.] but the wicked shall deal wickedly, and none of the wicked shall understand it, [the meaning is, the wicked shall revolt and go on in their wickedness, and shall not understand these mysteries, though they be never so frequently and never so plainly laid open unto them. Compare Revel.chap. 22.ver. 11.] but the prudent shall understand it.

11. And from that time that the continual (offering) shall be taken away, [See above chapter 11.on verse 31.] and the wasting abomination shall be set, See hereof above chapter chapter 11.on ver. 31.] (there) shall be a thousand two hundred and ninety daies. [which make three years seven months and thirteen daies, if this be understood of the persecution of Antiochus Epiphanes, and if natural or common daies be here meant. But some among the learned take these daies to be meant of year-daies]

12. Blessed is he that waiteth and attaineth to the thousand three hundred & five & thirty daies.[or reacheth, cometh to the thousand three hundred and five & thirty daies [here are five and thirty daies more than ver. 11. And this is the meaning (as some conceive) that the estate of the people of the Jews shall be far better when there shall be yet expired five and fourty daies more then the three years seven months and thirteen daies; for then should they be altogether, freed and discharged from that cruel tryant Antiochus Epiphanes: he died in the beginning of the hundred fourty ninth year of the reign of Seleucus his prosterity, 1 Machach.chap. 6.ver. 8, and 16.]

13. But thou, go thy waies until the end, [to wit, till the end of thy life: order all thy affairs for it, set thy house in order for thou shalt die ere it be long] for thou shalt be freed and discharged from all trouble, and shalt rest from thy labour, thy soul shall be taken up into Abrahams bosom] and shalt rise up [to wit, at the resurrection of the dead at the last day] in thy lot, [that is, in thy portion of the heavenly inheritance which is prepared and ordained for thee with all the elect children of God according to the good will and pleasure of God.] in the end of the daies, [that is, at the end of the world, when thy soul being united with thy body, shall be taken up into the joy of eternal life, for and through the merits of Jesus Christ, the true Messiah, who is to be praised for ever, Amen. Rom.9. 5.]