contains a prediction of the period for which this kingdom of Antichrist was to last, — namely, for the mystical period of a time, times, and half a time, — that is, for one year, for two years (the word times, both in the Hebrew and Greek versions, being in the dual number), and for half a year; that is altogether, for three years and a half. What is meant by this symbolical period of three years and a half, we shall discuss later. In fine, in these two prophecies of Daniel, contained in the second and seventh chapters, we have the prediction of Christ's kingdom, and of Antichrist's kingdom; that the former was to be founded, as we have just observed, before the dissolution of the Roman empire, the latter shortly after that dissolution; that the former was to last for ever, and that the latter was to last for the symbolical period of three years and a half.
Now let us proceed to the eighth chapter of Daniel. In this chapter the Prophet relates a vision which he had concerning two of the four great monarchies, the four monarchies which formed the subject of the vision related in the last chapter. It may perhaps here be asked, of what use could it be to show the Prophet so many visions concerning the same thing? The reason is obvious;
