To the mind of Daniel, in a period so remote as he lived from the advent of Christ, and especially in a character like Daniel, evidently inspired and appointed to be a Prophet in the Church, in the awful times in which he lived; all that is here said of his grief, and the earnestness of his inquiry to be informed concerning the vision, was very highly proper and praise-worthy. But, I beg the Reader, rather to wait and watch the Lord's explanation of this and all other the prophetical parts of scripture, yet remaining to be fully made known, than presume to be wise above what is written. It is enough to make a truly awakened child of God to tremble, in beholding what unhallowed hands have written, and unregenerated hearts have suggested, concerning the Prophecies of God in the several ages of the Church. Reader! let you and I rest in what is here said concerning our Redeemer's kingdom, fully satisfied, for it is enough, and more we cannot need. Christ is here said to possess a kingdom, which shall be forever and ever. This is one precious truth. And there is another like it, with which indeed it is connected, and the one included in the other: namely, the kingdom and dominion, and the greatness of the kingdom shall be given to the people of the saints of the Most High, which shall be forever. Here then is enough for every child of God to know, and to rest in. To presume to go further, and to point to persons and things in the present day, to the compliment of one, and to the reproach of another, is to limit, in my humble opinion, the Holy One of Israel, and to hazard the divine displeasure. The Lord grant that his faithful ones may be kept faithful among that little handful of the saints of the Most High, as they are here called, which are now in the earth. It is to be exceedingly feared by what we behold in the present day, that it is indeed but a little handful, and much less than too many suppose. everyone that loves our Lord Jesus in sincerity and truth, may well be alarmed for the present awful times, and seriously ponder that alarming question of Jesus: when the Son of man cometh, shall he find faith on the earth? Luke 18:8.
Daniel 7:15-28
15 I Daniel was grieved in my spirit in the midst of my body,c and the visions of my head troubled me.
16 I came near unto one of them that stood by, and asked him the truth of all this. So he told me, and made me know the interpretation of the things.
17 These great beasts, which are four, are four kings, which shall arise out of the earth.
18 But the saints of the most High shall take the kingdom, and possess the kingdom for ever, even for ever and ever.
19 Then I would know the truth of the fourth beast, which was diverse fromd all the others, exceeding dreadful, whose teeth were of iron, and his nails of brass; which devoured, brake in pieces, and stamped the residue with his feet;
20 And of the ten horns that were in his head, and of the other which came up, and before whom three fell; even of that horn that had eyes, and a mouth that spake very great things, whose look was more stout than his fellows.
21 I beheld, and the same horn made war with the saints, and prevailed against them;
22 Until the Ancient of days came, and judgment was given to the saints of the most High; and the time came that the saints possessed the kingdom.
23 Thus he said, The fourth beast shall be the fourth kingdom upon earth, which shall be diverse from all kingdoms, and shall devour the whole earth, and shall tread it down, and break it in pieces.
24 And the ten horns out of this kingdom are ten kings that shall arise: and another shall rise after them; and he shall be diverse from the first, and he shall subdue three kings.
25 And he shall speak great words against the most High, and shall wear out the saints of the most High, and think to change times and laws: and they shall be given into his hand until a time and times and the dividing of time.
26 But the judgment shall sit, and they shall take away his dominion, to consume and to destroy it unto the end.
27 And the kingdom and dominion, and the greatness of the kingdom under the whole heaven, shall be given to the people of the saints of the most High, whose kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and all dominionse shall serve and obey him.
28 Hitherto is the end of the matter. As for me Daniel, my cogitations much troubled me, and my countenance changed in me: but I kept the matter in my heart.