An Extract.
IT was on the banks of this river (“the great river, which is Hiddekel”), though in what part of its course we are not informed, that the beloved Daniel was favored with a vision of the Lord in His glory, and had events of great importance revealed to him, stretching onwards from his own times, to the latter days — days even yet not arrived. Three years had elapsed since Cyrus had proclaimed liberty for the captive Jews Babylon, but comparatively few had availed themselves of the permission; the many had learned to regard the city of their captivity as their home, indifferent to the desolation of Jerusalem, and forgetful of the covenant of Jehovah.
The faithful prophet, who must now have been not far from ninety years of age, had mourned over the carelessness of his brethren, with solemn fasting and humiliation. For three whole weeks he had eaten no pleasant bread, nor had tasted flesh or wine, nor allowed himself the comforts which his station and his infirmities usually required. As he sat on the bank of the river at the end of this time, perhaps engaged in confession of his people’s sin, suddenly there appeared to him the glorious form of‘One, whom, from the description of His person, we recognize to have been the Son of God. As when long afterward He manifested Himself to the beloved disciple, John, the Daniel of the Church, when in captivity — He was semi clothed in His priestly garment of fine linen, to express His office as the High Priest and Mediator of His people; He was girt with a girdle of gold, denoting His infinite holiness, and His preciousness in the sight of His Father, and also of His saints. His person had the radiant, transparent beauty of a stone, perhaps to intimate His perfect truth; His face as lightning, and His eyes as lamps of fire, might show His piercing omniscience, His instant detection of evil, and His terrible wrath to His enemies; while His arms and His feet of polished brass might express His illustrious power engaged to defend His people, and to tread, as in a winepress, His enemies.
And what was the effect of this glorious vision upon Daniel? He was even by the testimony of heaven itself, “a man greatly beloved.” His character, as far as it is recorded in the Word, seems peculiarly upright and spotless; he was accustomed to communion with God; and from his youth had been familiar with heavenly visions. Yet no sooner does he see “the King in His beauty,” than “there remains no strength in him; his comeliness is turned in him to corruption, and he retains no strength.” And so it has always been: the revelation of the Lord in His glorious holiness must always humble and break down the strength of nature. Holy Job found it so. He had heard of God “by the hearing of the ear;” but when his eye saw Him, he cried out, “Behold, I am vile: I abhor myself, and repent in dust and ashes.” Isaiah found it so: he saw the Lord sitting upon His throne, high and lifted up, and His train filled the temple; and the effect was to evoke the cry, “Woe is me! for I am undone; because I am a man of unclean lips!” Ezekiel found it so; for the vision of the glory of God which he saw, threw him upon his face, as one that had no strength. And John found it so. He had walked with his Lord in sweet companionship through the years of His public ministry, and had been admitted even to lean on His bosom; he had seen the glory of Jesus when transfigured upon the holy mount, when “His face did shine as the sun, and his raiment was white as the light;” he had looked upon His resurrection body, and had seen Him when taken up from the earth, when He soared away upon the cloud into the brightness of His Father’s presence. If any man could have beheld the unveiled glory of the risen Son of Man, it would surely have been John; yet when he saw Him, he fell at His feet as dead.
So that blessed event, which every believer ought to be looking for with earnest hope, the speedy return of Jesus to the Church, according to the closing promise of His Word, “Behold, I come quickly,” if it were to take place in our present condition, so far from filling us with unspeakable joy, would fill us with terror. These bodies could not bear the effulgence of His person, and hence it is graciously ordained that we shall be changed “in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye;” “this corruptible shall put on incorruption, and this mortal shall put on immortality;” our bodies be “changed and fashioned like unto His glorious body,” then we shall be able to gaze upon the full radiance of Jesus, and find it the “fullness of joy” to be “forever with the Lord.” 1 Corinthians 15. Psalms 16:1111Thou wilt show me the path of life: in thy presence is fulness of joy; at thy right hand there are pleasures for evermore. (Psalm 16:11). 1 Thessalonians 4.