THE BOOK OF DANIEL UNLOCKED

Queen’s College, Oxford.

September 4, 1902.

Mr. Auchincloss has asked me to prefix a few words of introduction to his book:

There is little to say, as the book tells its own tale—clear and to the point.

He has very rightly taken the sidereal year as the basis of his calculations; any other system of computation ends only in difficulties.

But the reader will find other novelties, not the least among them being the fact that the prophecies of Daniel are made to end with the beginning of the history of the Christian Church, instead of lengthening out into a still unknown future; this is a great advance on previous interpreters. And he will doubtless be struck by calculations according to which the 1290 Days of the Hebrew Prophet terminated in A.D. 33.

Assouan, Egypt,

January 17, 1905.

Thus far I had written in 1902. Since then the public has shown that it can appreciate good work by the rapidity with which copy after copy of Mr. Auchincloss’ little book has been called for. It is now issued once more with additions and improvements, but otherwise in an unchanged form.

There is one paragraph in it to which the Assyriologist is now able to add a few words. Mr. Auchincloss draws attention to the sense of completeness and perfection which is associated in the Old Testament, not only with the number seven, but also with the number ten. It has long been known that the Babylonians possessed a week of seven days. But it is only recently that I have pointed out that they also possessed a week of five days. Besides the week of five days, however, there was a double week of ten days, the month consisting of thirty days and being divided into three equal parts.

PREFACE.

This study of the Book of Daniel is based on the conviction, that its word is in very deed the Word of God. In approaching the subject we have brought to the solution of its problems only such numerals as were known to the ancient Hebrews and to the writers of the New Testament. Numerals that were symbolized in their feasts and were current before times of rejoicing. But towering over all, we have brought God’s own standard of time, viz: the sidereal year, which the greatest of modern astronomers Laplace and Herschel tell us has not varied the ¹/₁₀₀ part of a second of time in the last 2000 years. We did so under the conviction that if the Book of Daniel was of human origin, a piece of historic fiction, it could not stand this severe test, yet if it was truly the Word of God it would be found resting on that bed rock, viz:—a year whose length was

365 days, 6 hours, 9 minutes and 9⁶/₁₀ seconds

a period unknown to the ancients but given to us by modern science. The Book has stood the test and its true character comes out in bold relief.

Without a perfectly fitting key, the tendency of its readers is to treat the Book lightly, call in question its statements and smile at its prophecies. Time, however, vindicates the statements of Daniel and fixes on them the seal of truth. Also, newly-found inscriptions both on rocks and tablets, together with ancient writings composed in those times, bring to confusion adverse criticism.

The Book of Daniel is a most important part of the Word of God, and is set like a gem among jewels. Its words of warning were sounded 600 years before the destruction of Jerusalem by Titus. Its prophecies are like mile-stones along the highway of Jewish history, each one bringing the observer nearer to Messiah’s kingdom, to that “Great and Notable day of the Lord”—Pentecost of A.D. 33—when the Holy Spirit was manifested to the Jews, also nearer to A.D. 39, the year of the manifestation to the Gentiles. Daniel alone of all the prophets received Divine illumination regarding these dates. They mark the remotest boundary of his book, and therefore bar the way to fanciful conclusions in regard to later times. Read aright, Daniel’s words have no uncertain sound, they are definite and exact like the forecast of an astronomer.

Viewed from every standpoint the grand old President of the Chaldean Court had a character of rare beauty and symmetry, that will continue to shine throughout the ages. He will stand in his lot to the end of the days; the noblest example of human courage coupled with unquestioning faith, the typical companion, the nobleman, courtier, seer and Prophet;—A MAN GREATLY BELOVED!