Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on the Whole Bible
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Daniel
Book: Daniel
Chapter: 12
Overview:
The conclusion of the
Vision of the Scriptures of
Truth.
(1-4)
The times of the continuance of these events.
(5-13)
1-4. Michael signifies, "Who is like
God," and his name, with
the title of "the great
Prince," points out the Divine
Saviour.
Christ stood for the children of our people in their stead as a
Sacrifice, bore the
Curse for them, to
Bear it from them. He
stands for them in pleading for them at the
Throne of
Grace. And
after the
Destruction of
Antichrist, the
Lord Jesus shall stand
at the latter
Day upon the
Earth; and He shall appear for the
complete
Redemption of all his people. When
God Works
deliverance from
Persecution for them, it is as
Life from the
dead. When his
Gospel is preached, many who sleep in the
Dust,
both Jews and
Gentiles, shall be awakened
By it out of their
heathenism of Judaism. And in the
End the multitude that sleep
in the
Dust shall awake; many shall arise to
Life, and many to
shame. There is
Glory reserved for all the saints in the future
state, for all that are
Wise,
Wise for their souls and eternity.
Those who turn many to
Righteousness, who turn sinners from the
errors of their ways, and help to save their souls from
Death,
Jas 5:20, will share in the
Glory of those they have helped to
Heaven, which will add to their own
Glory.
5-13 One of the angels asking how long it should be to the
End
of these wonders, a solemn reply is made, that it would be for a
time, times, and a half, the period mentioned ch. 7:25, and in
the
Revelation. It signifies 1260 prophetic days or years,
beginning from the time when the power of the holy people should
be scattered. The imposture of Mohammed, and the papal
usurpation, began about the same time; and these were a twofold
attack upon the
Church of
God. But all will
End Well at last.
All opposing rule, principality, and power, shall be
Put down,
and
Holiness and
Love will triumph, and be in honour, to
eternity. The
End, this
End, shall come. What an amazing
Prophecy is this, of
So many varied events, and extending
through
So many successive ages, even to the general
resurrection!
Daniel must comfort himself with the pleasing
prospect of his own happiness in
Death, in
Judgment, and to
eternity. It is good for us all to think much of going away from
this world. That must be our way; but it is our comfort that we
shall not go till
God calls us to another world, and till he has
done with us in this world; till he says, Go thou thy way, thou
hast done thy work, therefore now, go thy way, and leave it to
others to take thy place. It was a comfort to
Daniel, and is a
comfort to all the saints, that whatever their
Lot is in the
days of their lives, they shall have a happy
Lot in the
End of
the days. And it ought to be the great care and concern of every
one of us to secure this. Then we may
Well be content with our
present
Lot, and welcome the will of
God. Believers are happy at
all times; they
Rest in
God By Faith now, and a
Rest is reserved
for them in
Heaven at last.