Dan. 12 Michael shall deliver Israel out of trouble: the general resurrection and recompence of the just and unjust, Dan. 12:1–4. Daniel heareth the times, but understandeth not: he is bid to wait the end, which shall be in his favour, Dan. 12:5–13.

Many interpret this of the heat of Antiochus’s persecution, but their arguments are not cogent; but the meaning is this, as after the death of Antiochus the Jews had some deliverance and respite, so there will be yet a more famous deliverance to the people of God when Michael your prince, i.e.

So enamoured are some of their notions, though found false and ill-grounded, that they will pertinaciously hold them, and seek still to prove one absurdity from another, as Grotius doth here, still expounding all of Antiochus, and so makes this resurrection metaphorical, and not the real ultimate…

Here the faithful are called wise, i. e. to salvation, and so these two members include teachers, and disciples that are truly taught the way of salvation, i.e. such as are taught of God to learn Christ as the truth is in Jesus, John 6:45, Eph. 4:21.

Shut up the words, and seal the book, even to the time of the end: by these words the angel doth not forbid all knowledge of the things here foretold, for whatsoever is written is written for our learning; but the meaning is, 1.

Two angels, waiting and ministering on Christ to observe his commands, by the banks of the river Tigris or Hiddekel, where this new vision was.

To the man clothed in linen; to Michael, Dan. 10:5; Christ, who seemed to stand between the banks, i.e. in the air above the waters, or upon them, Matt. 14:25; upon many people, say some, Rev. 10:2.

He held up his right hand and his left hand unto heaven: here he calls God to witness the truth of this thing: many reasons are given by sundry expositors of it why he held up both hands to heaven. 1. For the more sure and solemn confirmation of it. 2.

i.e. What is the meaning of all this, of the times, time, and half, when they begin and end; and when the enemies of the churches, and the sufferings of the church, shall have their end.

They shall not be clearly understood till the event make them good: see Dan. 12:4, Dan. 8:26. God is choice in keeping the keys of time at his own girdle, Acts 1:7.

Of this purging and purifying you heard before, Dan. 11:35; the meaning is, the great afflictions of the church are to prepare them, by taking away their filth, for the Bridegroom, as gold and silver are tried and refined.

These days are either, 1. Natural days, and properly so called, and so the times of Antiochus are hereby noted. Or, 2. Prophetical days, a day for a year, Ezek.

I have revealed to thee of these things what I had in commission, that thou and thy people should be prepared for the sufferings which will come upon them, and yet not without hope of a glorious deliverance.