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Additional Comments |
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| 1 In the third year of Cyrus, king of Persia, a matter, was revealed unto Daniel, whose name was called Belteshazzar; and faithful was the matter, but [concerned] a great warfare, and he marked the word, and had understanding in the revelation. |
Third year of Cyrus – Cyrus typified Christ (see Isa. 44:28 + comments). Since the first year of the antitypical Cyrus' reign (i.e. our returned Lord) was 1874, the third year would be 1876. This seems to be the prophetic date indicated in this passage.
Daniel – In this case picturing the church in the flesh at the end of the age.
Understanding of the vision – "Write the vision and make it plane upon tables" - the Divine Plan of the Ages. |
| 2 In those days, I, Daniel, was mourning three sevens of days: |
Three full weeks – 21 days. |
| 3 food to delight in, did I not eat, neither flesh nor wine, came into my mouth, nor did I so much as, anoint, myself,–until were fulfilled three sevens of days. |
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| 4 And, on the twenty-fourth day of the first month,–when, I, was by the side of the great river, the same, is Tigris,
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| 5 then lifted I up mine eyes, and looked, and lo! a man, clothed in linen,–whose loins, were girded with the bright gold of Uphaz; |
Man clothed in linen – This is a special designation that applies prophetically to the 7th messenger, Pastor Russell. See Eze. 9:2,3,11
Loins were girded with fine gold – Being girt about the loins indicates servitude. In this case, the servant is "faithful and wise" - Matt. 24:45. Note, he is girded with fine gold - indicating Divine service. - We may further note that he was girt about the loins, indicating labor, i.e., he was still in the flesh. Contrast this with Rev. 1:13 where our Lord (in glory) is girt about the paps (not the loins). |
| 6 whose body, was like Tarshish-stone, and, his face, like the appearance of lightning, and, his eyes, were like torches of fire, and, his arms and his feet, like the look of bronze burnished,–and, the sound of his words, was like the sound of a multitude. |
His face as the appearance of lightning.. – Compare this (as well as vs 5) to the description of our Lord as given in Rev. 1:13-17
A point of clarification. "The man clothed in linen" is a designation for the seventh messenger to the church. He is used of the Lord to deliver the message of "present truth" to the Lord's people. As such, it often appears to be the Lord himself (as here in verse 6.) The description here of "His face as the appearance of lightning" does indeed describe a spirit being, our Returned Lord Jesus. "The man clothed in linen" is being used as His mouthpiece. |
| 7 And, I, Daniel, alone, beheld the revelation, and, the men who were with me, beheld not the revelation,–in truth, a great terror, had fallen upon them, and they had fled while hiding themselves. |
I Daniel alone saw the vision – Daniel pictures the Lord's people. It is only they who truly see the vision. Hab. 2:2 |
| 8 I, therefore, was left alone, and beheld this great revelation, and there remained in me no strength,–but, my freshness, was turned upon me into disfigurement, and I retained no strength. |
I – Daniel, picturing the same thing as the 'John' class in the book of Revelation, i.e., the church in the flesh during the time of our Lord's second advent.
Was left alone, and saw this great vision – None but the church class will be able to comprehend in its fullness the vision.
There remained no strength in me – Thus is the attitude of the Lord's people when they realize just how powerful and wonderful is the great Divine Plan of the Ages! These recognize their own nothingness in comparison.
My comliness .. into corruption – By comparison to the Truth we see ourselves as corrupt. Indeed we are corrupt and completely worthy of the death sentence were it not for the (completely unmerrited favor of) the Robe of Christ's Righteousness.
I retained no strength – of my own. No, from this point forward we recognize that ALL our strength comes from Him who loved us and bought us with His precious blood! |
| 9 So then I heard the sound of his words,–and, when I heard the sound of his words, then, I myself, came to be in a deep sleep upon my face, with, my face, to the earth. |
I was in a deep sleep – I = Daniel, the Lord's people. The deep sleep is suggestive of the wise and follish virgins who all "slumbered and slept." – See also additional comments for 1 Kings 19:5-8 |
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| 10 And lo! a hand, touched me; and roused me up on my knees and the palms of my hands. |
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| 11 Then said he unto me, O Daniel! man greatly delighted in! have understanding in the words which, I, am about to speak unto thee, and stand up where thou art, for, now, have I been sent unto thee. And, when he had spoken with me this word, I stood up trembling. |
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| 12 Then said he unto me, Do not fear, Daniel, for, from the first day that thou didst set thy heart to understand and to humble thyself before thy God, thy words were heard; and, I, am come, by reason of thy words. |
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| 13 But, the ruler of the kingdom of Persia, withstood me twenty-one days, but lo! Michael, one of the chief rulers, came in to help me,–and, I, left him there, beside the kings of Persia. |
Michael, one of the chief princes – "Michael, the first of the chief heads" - YLT. This is in harmony with what we have learned about Michael, i.e., this is another name for our Lord who is indeed "the chief head." |
| 14 So then I am come to let thee understand that which shall befall thy people in the afterpart of the days,–for yet is the vision for [those] days. |
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| 15 And, when he had spoken with me such words as these,–I set my face towards the earth, and was dumb. |
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| 16 Then lo! like the similitude of the sons of men, one was touching my lips,–so I opened my mouth, and spake, and said unto him who was standing before me, O my lord! By the revelation, my pains have seized me, and I retain no strength. |
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| 17 How then can the servant of this my lord speak with this my lord,–seeing that, as for me–henceforth, there remaineth in me no strength, and no, spirit, is left in me? |
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| 18 Then again there touched me one like in appearance to a son of earth, and he strengthened me. |
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| 19 And he said, Do not fear, O man greatly delighted in! peace to thee, be strong, yea be strong! And, as he spake with me, I gained strength, and said, Let my lord speak, for thou hast strengthened me. |
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| 20 And he said, Knowest thou wherefore I am come unto thee? But, now, must I return to fight with the ruler of Persia; I, therefore am going forth, and lo! the ruler of Greece, is coming. |
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| 21 Howbeit I will tell thee that which is inscribed in the writing of truth,–but there is no one who holdeth strongly with me concerning these things, save Michael your ruler. |
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