cause the added words of the translators sometimes make the subject more difficult to understand. In such cases it is certainly better to leave out what has been added, and retain only that which the holy prophets themselves did write. " In Dan. 11: 31 we read of a military power or "arms which shall take away the daily, and they shall place the abomination that maketh desolate." Thus the prophet wrote, and the translators added the word "sacrifice" after "daily." In the Danish translation, the translators have added the word "service." Now let us add nothing. Then we read of two desolating powers, or abominations; to wit, the daily, and the abomination that maketh desolate. Then we understand that the military power spoken of should take away the daily, or continual abomination, and put another desolating abomination in the place of it. Likewise in Dan. 12:11 we read: “And from the time that the daily sacrifice shall be taken away, and the abomination that maketh desolate set up, there shall be a thousand two hundred and ninety days." Here the word “sacrifice" is also added after the word "daily," but here the same two abominations are evidently spoken of, the daily, or continual abomination, and the abomination that maketh desolate and again it is stated that the first is taken away and the second set up in the place of it. Just so the prophet writes in Dan. 8: 13, "How long shall be the vision concerning the daily and the transgression of desolation?" Here reference is evidently made to the daily or continual desolation, and the transgression of desolation, the two desolating powers to which both the sanctuary and the host should be given to be trodden under foot. The Emperor Justinian took away the daily desolation, or pagan Rome, in order to set up the abomination that maketh desolate, the papal Rome. Our Saviour also 2 Dan. 11:31. spoke of this abomination of desolation" when he warned his disciples against the Roman power which should come against Jerusalem and destroy it." By the help of the Roman emperors, beginning with Constantine, the papacy was set up on the ruins of pagan Rome. One desolating power took the place of another, and continued the work of persecuting and tormenting the people of God. The daily abomination was taken away in order to set up the abomination that maketh desolate. Or, as the apostle expresses it, "And now ye know what withholdeth that he might be revealed in his time. For the mystery of iniquity doth already work: only he who now letteth will let, until he be taken out of the way." Paganism withheld or kept back Catholicism; but as soon as paganism was taken out of the way in name, then that wicked was revealed, "the man of sin," "the son of perdition." Then the "mystery of iniquity" was revealed to the world in all its power and abomination. What these Desolating Powers Did. The little horn of Daniel 8, with its two desolating powers, succeeded in casting down the truth to the ground, and in treading both the sanctuary and the host under foot. When the prophet saw this in vision, it pained him much, and one of the angels asked of the other the question quoted at the beginning of this chapter, that Daniel might have the privilege of listening to the answer: "How long shall be the vision concerning the daily, and the transgression of desolation, to give both the sanctuary and the host to be trodden under foot? The daily, or continual (Danish translation), desolation was Rome pagan, and the transgression of desolation, Rome papal. Both of these desolating powers should do three things: (1) "Cast down the truth to the ground," 3 Matt. 24 15. 4 Dan. 12: II. 7 Dan. 8: 13. 5 2 Thess. 2: 6, 7. 8 and prosper in this wicked work; (2) tread under foot the sanctuary; and (3) tread under foot the host." It opposed the This was truly done by pagan Rome. truth of God, forbidding to preach the gospel. the sanctuary of God and his people. All this it practiced. and succeeded in doing. Pagan Rome exalted her own false doctrine, her idols, and temples, and she tormented and killed the saints of God by thousands. The prophet does not in this place speak of the earthly sanctuary, because that had no place in the new covenant, and the truth of God was found no longer in it after the death of Christ. Pagan Rome did tread under foot the sanctuary and host (or people) of the new covenant by exalting the sanctuaries and the service of the idols, and by exterminating those who would not honor her false. gods. As the pagans exalted their heathen temples, they tried to make people despise or tread under foot the temple of God in heaven and his holy people. Afterward papal Rome did all this to a much greater extent. Papal Rome forbade the reading of God's word, and condemned all as heretics who ventured to read it. This power has indeed cast down the truth of God to the ground in a wonderful manner, and has practiced and prospered; and the papal power has tormented and killed believers in so many horrible ways and to such an extent that it goes far beyond everything that has been done by all other persecuting powers. This power has trodden under foot the sanctuary of God in heaven by setting it aside and despising it, building beautiful temples on the earth, causing men to admire and honor them. They exalted and admired the right reverend (?) clergymen who ministered in these temples, and the sensual, glittering ceremonies carried on in them. Thus they forgot God and his beloved Son, who alone can save from sin and death. The people exalted man 8 Dan. 8: 12. 9 Verse 13. and human art and works instead of the works of God, and in the place of worshiping toward his holy temple, most people tried to find salvation in priests and popes, while they turned away from Christ, our blessed High Priest, who ministers in the sanctuary of the new covenant, and who is the only Saviour. Both these desolating powers have thus prospered in practicing these three things. They have cast the truth. to the ground and trodden under feet both the sanctuary and the host. God in his wonderful wisdom has thought best to suffer all this. It has brought to millions of Christians many tears, and gloomy days and years in miserable dungeons, with much pain and torment which seem impossible to bear. But the Holy Spirit has strengthened them, and enabled them to enjoy heavenly light in thick darkness, and to sing songs of praise to God in the worst .prisons. The time is now near when those who sleep in the dust shall awake. Then that which is sown in dishonor shall be raised in glory. They shall lift up their voices and sing for the majesty of the Lord. Their songs shall resound. from the uttermost parts of the earth, when the foundations of the earth shake, and islands and mountains are moved from their places. The heavenly trumpets sound through the air while the people of God meet their Saviour. What a wonderful ascension that will be when all the redeemed go home with their Redeemer to Zion! And what songs of praise they will sing when they stand on the sea of glass with the harps of God and partake of the marriage supper of the lamb! Then sorrow and pain shall never more be known. Eternal, unalloyed joy alone is left. They shall obtain joy and gladness, and sorrow and sighing shall flee away. 10 10 Dan. 12:2; 1 Cor. 15:43; Isa. 24: 14, 16, 18; Rev. 16:20; Matt. 24:31; 1 Thess. 4 : 16, 17; Rev. 15:2, 3; 19: 6, 9; Isa, 35: 10. |