GENERAL PREFACE. IN presenting to the public a volume of Thoughts on the book of Daniel and the book of Revelation, we have but a few brief words to say to the reader. The books of Daniel and the Revelation stand naturally side by side, and should be studied together, as they are the counterpart of each other. The book has been written for a purpose, which is, 1. To lead you, reader, to receive what we believe to be the important truths which it teaches. 2. We wish you to believe the teaching of this volume, because many of the prophecies of Daniel and John concern your eternal welfare, if the view here taken of them is true, as we suppose. Intelligent conviction of prophetic truth will lead to a humble performance of practical duties; and the willing and the obedient are the only ones who shall eat the good of that goodly land upon which the redeemed will finally enter, as their eternal inheritance. 3. No person having the light placed before him, can continue to walk in darkness, and be guiltless. 4. It is the prophetic portions of God's word that especially constitute it a lamp to our feet, and a light to our path. Ps. 119:105; 2 Pet. 1:19. 5. No sublimer study can occupy the mind than those books in which He who sees the end from the beginning, looking forward through all the ages, gives, through his inspired prophets, a description of coming events, for the benefit of those whose lot it would be to meet them. 6. An increase of knowledge respecting the prophetic portions of the word of God, was to be one of the characteristics of the last days. Said the angel to Daniel, "But thou, O Daniel, shut up the words and seal the book, even unto the time of the end; many shall run to and fro, and knowledge shall be increased;" or, as Michælis' translation reads, "When many shall give their sedulous attention to the understanding of these things, and knowledge shall be increased." It is our lot to live this side the time to which the angel told Daniel to thus shut up the words and seal the book. That restriction has expired by limitation. In the language of the figure, the seal has been removed, and many are running to and fro, and knowledge is increased. While it is true that, of later years, knowledge has marvelously increased in every department of science, yet it is evident that this prophecy specially contemplates an increase of knowledge concerning those prophecies that are designed to give us light in reference to the age in which we live, the close of this dispensation, and the soon-coming transfer of all earthly governments to the great King of Righteousness, who shall destroy his enemies, and crown with an infinite reward, every one of his friends. The fulfillment of the prophecy in the increase of this knowledge, is one of the pleasing signs of the present time. For about half a century light upon the prophetic word has been increasing and shining with ever-growing luster to our own day. In no portion of the word of God is this more apparent than in the books of Daniel and the Revelation; and we may well congratulate ourselves in this; for no other parts of that word deal so largely in prophecies that pertain to the closing scenes of this earth's history. No other books contain so many chains of prophecy reaching down to the end. In no other books is the grand procession of events that leads us through to the termination of probationary time, and ushers us into the realities of the eternal state, so fully and minutely set forth. No other books embrace so completely, as it were in one grand sweep, all the truths that concern the last generation of the inhabitants of the earth, and set forth so comprehensively all the aspects of the times, physical, moral, and political, in which the triumph of earthly woe and wickedness shall end, and the eternal reign of righteousness begin. It is to call attention especially to these features of the books of Daniel and the Revelation, which seem heretofore to have been too generally overlooked, or misinterpreted, that these Thoughts are offered to the public. There seems to be no prophecy which a person can have so little excuse for misunderstanding, especially as relates to its main features, as the prophecy of Daniel. Dealing but sparingly in language that is highly figurative, explaining all the symbols it introduces, locating its events within the rigid confines of prophetic periods, it points out the first advent of the Messiah, in so clear and unmistakable a manner as to call forth the execration of the Jews upon any attempt to explain it, and gives so accurately, and so many ages in advance, the outlines of the great events of our world's history, that infidelity stands confounded and dumb before its inspired record. And no effort to arrive at a correct understanding of the book of Revelation needs any apology; for the Lord of the prophecy has himself pronounced a blessing upon him that readeth and they that hear the words of this prophecy, and keep the things that are written therein; for the time is at hand. And it is with an honest purpose of aiding somewhat in arriving at this understanding, which is set forth by the language above referred to as not only possible but praiseworthy, that an exposition of this book, according to the literal rule of interpretation, has been attempted. With thrilling interest we behold to-day the nations marshaling their forces and pressing forward in those movements described by the royal seer in the court of Babylon nearly twenty-five hundred years ago, and by John on barren Patmos nearly eighteen hundred years ago; and these movements -hear it, ye children of men-are the last political revolutions to be accomplished before this earth plunges into her final time of trouble, and Michael, the great Prince, stands up, and his people, all who are found written in the book, are crowned with full and final deliverance. Are these things so? "Seek," says our Saviour, "and ye shall find. Knock, and it shall be opened unto you." God has not so concealed his truth that it will elude the search of the humble seeker. With a prayer that the same Spirit by which those portions of Scripture which form the basis of this volume were at first inspired, whose aid the writer has sought in his expository efforts, may rest abundantly upon the reader in his investigations, this work is commended to the candid and careful attention of all who are interested in prophetic themes. U. S. BATTLE CREEK, MICH., Jan., 1882. CONTENTS. Characteristics of the Sacred Writings.-Five Historical Facts. -Prophecy of Jerusalem's Captivity.-The Holy City three times Overthrown.-God's Testimony against Sin.— Condition and Treatment of Daniel and his Companions.— Character of King Nebuchadnezzar.-Signification of Pa- gan Names.-Daniel's Integrity.-The Result of His A Difficulty Explained. -Daniel Enters upon His Work.- |