I heard the man clothed in linen, who was above the waters of the river, when he held up his right hand and his left hand to heaven, and swore by him who lives forever that it will be for a time, times, and a half; and when they have finished breaking in pieces the power of the holy people, all these things will be finished.
ExplanationCommentary
Verse 7. Heaven. He thus shews that he is not God. Calmet.—Time often implies a year. Calmet. 4:13. Hence he means three years and a half. Christ assures us that those days shall be shortened, (Matthew 24:22) and the persecutor shall tarry a short time. Revelation 17:10 and 12:14. The same period is insinuated by 1290 days, (verse 11) and 1330. verse 12. The two witnesses prophesy 1260 days, during which the Church shall be fed in the wilderness. (Revelation 12:6.) But the term is most exactly specified by forty-two months. Revelation 11:2 and 13:5. Hence all the Fathers agree that the last persecution shall continue no longer. Worthington.—How absurdly do some Prot. explain this of years during which, they say, the papacy shall subsist! Whence will they date its origin? But they will readily trifle with the word of God, and admit any one to indulge his fancy, as long as he does not strike at the thirty-nine articles. If he do, he may expect that treatment of poor Stone, ( Bible.) whose death in the King’s Bench, aged 75, has been just announced. He pleaded that one article decided, “nothing was to be maintained which could not be proved by Scripture.” Yet he was deprived of his living by Dr. Porteus, who at one time was as eager to procure a change in the articles, yet was not prevented by his scruples from mounting the episcopal throne of Chester or of London. Stone had not this discretion. Rock. N. 306. He fell a victim to contradictory articles. He might be in error. But what right had Proteus to throw the first stone at him? or how will Protestants shew that any man is reprehensible for adopting the principles of the Reformation, which was entirely built on private interpretation? The applaud Luther, who established Scripture self-interpreted for the only rule, and they condemn Stone, Wesley, and so forth for acting accordingly. If they have such just weights and measures for their own, what wonder then if the rights of Catholics be disregarded? Bible.—Half a time. The idol of Jupiter remained just three years. Yet the temple was not ready for sacrifices till other ten days had elapsed. They had been interrupted six months before that idol was set up. Calmet.—We must date from the profanation and distress caused by Apllonius. 1 Maccabees 4:52. Jos. S. Hypol. Usher, A. 3836. Calmet.—Band. Lit. “hand.” Bible.—When the people shall be destitute of strength, God will miraculously deliver them.