Thoughts on the Book of Daniel.
By Uriah Smith
Verse 3. And they that be wise shall shine as the brightness of the firmament; and they that turn many to righteousness, as the stars forever and ever. The margin reads “teachers” in place of “wise”: And they that be teachers shall shine as the brightness of the firmament; that is, of course, those who teach the truth and lead others to a knowledge of it, just previous to the time when the events recorded in the foregoing verses are to be fulfilled. And as the world estimates loss and profit, it costs something to be teachers of these things in these days. It costs reputation, ease, comfort, and often property; it involves labors, crosses, sacrifices, loss of friendship, ridicule, and not unfrequently, persecution. And the question is often asked, How can you afford it? How can you afford to keep the Sabbath, and perhaps lose a situation, reduce your income, or it may be even hazard your means of support? Oh, blind, deluded, sordid question! Make obedience to what God requires a matter of pecuniary consideration? How unlike is this to the noble martyrs who loved not their lives unto the death. No, the affording is all on the other side. When God commands, we cannot afford to disobey. And if we are asked, How can you afford to keep the Sabbath? we have only to ask in reply, How can you afford not to do it? And in the coming day, when those who have sought to save their lives shall lose them, and those who have been willing to hazard all for the sake of truth and its divine Lord, shall receive the glorious reward promised in the text, and be raised up to shine as the firmament and the imperishable stars forever and ever, it will then be seen who have been wise, and who, on the contrary, have made the choice of blindness and folly. The wicked and worldly now look upon Christians as fools and madmen, and congratulate themselves upon their superior shrewdness in shunning what they call their folly and avoiding their losses. We need make no response; for these who now deride this decision, will soon themselves reverse it, and that with terrible though unavailing earnestness. Verse 4. But thou, O Daniel, shut up the words, and seal the book, even to the time of the29end; many shall run to and fro, and knowledge shall be increased. The “words” and the “book” here spoken of, doubtless refer to the things which had been revealed to Daniel in this prophecy. These things were to be shut up and sealed, until the time of the end; that is, not to be specially studied or to any great extent understood, till that time. The time of the end, as has already been shown, commenced in 1798. As the book was closed up and sealed to that time, the plain inference is that at that time, or from that point, the book would be unsealed, or people would have their attention specially called to this part of the inspired word. What has been done on the subject of prophecy since that time? It is unnecessary to remind the reader. The prophecies, especially Daniel’s prophecy, have been under examination by all students of the word, wherever civilization has spread abroad its light upon the earth. And so the remainder of the verse, being a prediction of what should take place after the time of the end commenced, says, “Many shall run to and fro, and knowledge shall be increased.” Whether this running to and fro refers to the passing of people from place to place, and the great improvements in the facilities for transportation and travel, made within the last half century, or whether it means, as some understand it, a turning to and fro in the prophecies, that is, a diligent and earnest search into prophetic truth, the fulfillment is certainly and surely before our eyes. It must have its application in one of these two ways; and in both these directions the present age is very strongly marked. So of the increase of knowledge. It must refer either to the increase of knowledge in general, the developments of the arts and sciences, or an increase of knowledge in reference to those things revealed to Daniel, which were closed up and sealed to the time of the end. Here again, apply it which way we will, the fulfillment is most marked and complete. Look at the marvelous achievements of the human mind, and the cunning works of men’s hands, rivaling the magician’s wildest dreams, which have been accomplished within the last fifty years. It was recently stated in the Scientific American that more advancement had been made in all scientific attainments, and more progress in all that tends to domestic comfort, the rapid transaction of business among men, and the transmission of intelligence from one to another, than all that was done for three thousand years previous, put together. Or, on the other hand, look at the wonderful light which, within the past thirty years, has shone upon the Scriptures. The fulfillment of prophecy has been shown in the light of history. Applications are made which are beyond dispute, showing that the end of all things is near. Truly the seal has been taken from the book, and knowledge respecting what God has revealed in his word, is wonderfully increased. We think it is in this respect that the prophecy is more especially fulfilled. That we are in the time of the end when the book of this prophecy should no longer be sealed, but be open and understood, is shown by Rev. 10:1, 2, where a mighty angel is seen to come down from Heaven with a little book in his hand open. For proof that the little book, there said to be open, is the book here closed up and sealed, and that that angel delivers his message in this generation, see “Thoughts” on Rev. 10:2. Verse 5. Then I Daniel looked, and, behold, there stood other two, the one on this side of the bank of the river, and the other on that side of the bank of the river. 6. And one said to the man clothed in linen, which was upon the waters of the river, How long shall it be to the end of these wonders? 7. And I heard the man clothed in linen, which was upon the waters of the river, when he held up his right hand and his left hand unto heaven, and sware by him that liveth forever, that it shall be for a time, times, and a half; and when he shall have accomplished to scatter the power of the holy people, all these things shall be finished. The question, “How long shall it be to the end of these wonders?” undoubtedly has reference to all that has previously been mentioned, including the standing up of Michael, the time of trouble, the deliverance of God’s people, and the special and antecedent resurrection of verse 1. And the answer seems to be given in two divisions: First, a specific prophetic period is marked off; and secondly, an indefinite period follows before the conclusion of all these things is reached. Just as we have it in chap. 8:13, 14. When the question was asked, “How long the vision . . . to give both the sanctuary and the host to be trodden under foot?” the answer was, a definite period of 2300 days, and then an indefinite period of the cleansing of the sanctuary. So in the text before us, we have the period of a time, times, and a half, given, or 1260 years, and then an indefinite period of a continuance of the scattering of the power of the holy people, before the consummation. The 1260 years mark the period of papal supremacy. Why is this period here introduced? Probably because this power is the one which does more than any other in the world’s long history, in scattering the power of the holy people, or oppressing the church of God. But what shall we understand by the expression, “Shall have accomplished to scatter the power of the holy people”? A literal translation of the Septuagint seems to present it in a clearer light: “When, he shall have finished the scattering of the power of the holy people.” To whom does the pronoun “he” refer? According to the wording of this scripture, the antecedent would at first sight seem to be “Him that liveth forever,” or Jehovah; but, as an eminent expositor of the prophecies judiciously remarks, in considering the pronouns of the Bible, we are to interpret them according to the facts of the case; and hence must frequently refer them to an antecedent understood, rather than to some noun which is expressed. So here the little horn or man of sin, having been introduced by the particular mention of the time of his supremacy, namely 1260 years, may be the power referred to by the pronoun “he.” For 1260 years he had grievously oppressed the church, or scattered their power. After his supremacy is taken away, his disposition toward the truth and its advocates still remains, and his power is still felt to a certain extent, and he continues his work of oppression just as far as he is able, till—when? Till the last of the events brought to view in verse 1, the deliverance of God’s people, every one that is found written in the book. Being thus delivered, persecuting powers are no longer able to oppress them, their power is no longer scattered, the end of the wonders brought to view in this great prophecy is reached, and all its predictions are accomplished.