Recent Expositions of Daniel. By Prof. W. H. Green, D. D. [pp. 397-424]

Recent Expositions of Daniel.
like combination ill this passage of the overthrow of this
furious oppressor, and the setting-ulp of the Kingdom of
Christ.
Two insuperable objections to the application of this view
to the present prophecy are, however, supplied by its opening verse. The first is that a definite period is here fixed for
the ushering in of the blessings consequent upon Mlessiah's
advent. Z6ckler concedes that the particulars described in
this verse are according to the uniform representation of
prophecy Messianic. He further not only allows but urges
that the weeks here spoken of are determinate measures of
time, that they are weeks of years, and that the seventy
weeks are, therefore, four hundred and ninety years. From
these premises the conclusion is inevitable, that the lapse of
this period must bring about the dawn of the Messianic era.
The definite chronological statement here made clearly distinguishes this prophecy from those in which the future is
merely spoken of in general terms, with nothing to indicate
whether the tilfilmnent is to take place in the nearer or remoter
future, or whether there are to be successive accomplishnlents
at distinct and even widely sundered points of time. The
time is exactly determined, and the thing to be looked for is
precisely stated.
Of the six clauses of this verse (ver. 24), it is not intimated
that the first five have any other than their proper Mlessianic
application. Only the last, "anointing a most holy," it is
suggested, was to have first an external literal filfilment in
the restoration of the temple service with its animal sacrifices
after its temporary interruption by Antiochus Epiphanes;
and subsequently to this it was to have a second, of whichl
the former was a type, in the erection of the more perfect
sanctuary and service of the New Testament, whose altar'was
the cross, anointed and consecrated by the blood of Christ,
himself the victim and the priest. Reconciliation for iniquity
and everlasting righteousness, are acknowledged to be the
very center of the gracious benefits purchased for us by
Christ. The sealing of vision and prophecy is understood, as
it nmust be, of the accomplishment of that which has been
the constant theme of all the prophets from the beginniing.
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