John Calvin Commentary Daniel 8:1

"In the third year of the reign of king Belshazzar a vision appeared unto me, even unto me, Daniel, after that which appeared unto me at the first." — Daniel 8:1 (ASV)

Here Daniel recounts another vision, differing from the previous one as a part from the whole. For God wanted to show him first what various changes would happen before Christ’s advent. The second redemption was the beginning of a new life, since God then not only restored anew His own Church, but, as it were, created a new people; and for this reason, the departure from Babylon and the return to their country are called the second birth of the Church.

But as God at that time gave them only a taste of true and solid redemption, whenever the prophets speak of that deliverance, they extended their thoughts and their prophecies to the coming of Christ. God therefore, very appropriately, showed the Four Monarchies to His Prophet, so that the faithful would not grow weary in seeing the world so often in turmoil, and almost changing its form and nature.

Thus they would be subject to the most distressing worries, become a laughingstock to their enemies, and always remain contemptible and lowly, without the power to help themselves, under these constant upheavals. The faithful, then, were forewarned about these Four Monarchies, so that they would not suppose themselves rejected by God and completely deprived of His care.

But now God wanted to show only one part to His Prophet. As the destruction of the Babylonian empire was near, and the second kingdom was approaching, this dominion also would quickly come to its end, and then God’s people would be reduced to the utmost distress. And the main purpose of this vision is to prepare the faithful to bear patiently the horrible tyranny of Antiochus, which the Prophet discusses in this chapter.

Now, therefore, we understand the meaning of this prophecy, where God speaks of only two Monarchies, for the Chaldean kingdom was soon to be abolished: he first discusses the Persian kingdom, and next, adds that of Macedon, but omits all others, and proceeds directly to Antiochus, king of Syria.

He then declares that the most wretched confusion would prevail in the Church, for the sanctuary would be deprived of its dignity, and the elect people would be slain everywhere, without sparing even innocent blood. We shall also see why the faithful were informed beforehand of these grievous and oppressive calamities: to lead them to look up to God when oppressed by such extreme darkness.

And even today this prophecy is useful to us, so that our courage does not fail us in the extreme calamity of the Church, because a lasting picture of the Church in that calamitous and mournful state is presented to us. Although God often spares our weaknesses, yet the Church is never free from many distresses, and unless we are prepared to endure all struggles, we will never stand firm in the faith. This is the scope and explanation of the prophecy. I will discuss the rest later.

Prayer:

Grant, Almighty God, since You formerly permitted Your servants to maintain their courage in the midst of so many and such great upheavals, may we reap the same edification from these prophecies. And since we have fallen upon the fullness of times, may we profit from the examples of the ancient Church, and by the pious and holy admonitions which You have set before us. Thus may we stand firm and unconquered against all the attacks of Satan, the world, and the impious, and so may our faith remain impregnable, until at last we enjoy the fruit of its victory in Your heavenly kingdom, through Christ our Lord. Amen.

[Exposition continues from previous day's lecture]

I have written a short preface to this vision, which is described for us in this eighth chapter, to enable you to understand its contents, and to perceive the purpose for which it was given to the Prophet. Regarding the time, we must remember that the Prophet was informed of the victory of Cyrus and Darius while the Babylonian monarchy was still standing and flourishing.

Although Cyrus had already made great progress and had begun to lay waste the Chaldean territories, yet Belshazzar, as we have already seen, was carelessly enjoying his festivities. No one thought Cyrus would become the conqueror of such a great monarchy, because Belshazzar did not gather a large army to defend the boundaries of his kingdom. He thought he would repel all the endeavors of Cyrus as easily as possible; and the greater Cyrus’s violence, the more King Belshazzar hoped to overthrow him.

Now God wanted to show His servant these future events. First, the immediate change is revealed; and then the calamity that would ultimately follow is made known—the calamity, I mean, of the Church under King Antiochus and his successors. The Prophet therefore says:—