by Daniel, as measuring the duration of the Roman empire, the Romish apostacy, and as they bear upon the promised and desirable millennium.  The two prophets, Daniel and John, agree in fixing and limiting the domination of the Antichrist to 1260 years.  This agreement has been already pointed out.  The Lord, however, to allay the laudable anxiety of his “greatly beloved” servant Daniel, makes mention of two other periods of time, 1290 and 1335 days or years, (ch. xii. 11, 12.) Now, when we have manifold assurances that the great apostacy shall terminate with the close of the 1260 years, we may venture humbly to suppose, that the next thirty years may be occupied in the conversion of the Jews, and the remaining forty-five in the effectual calling of the residue of the gentile nations; so as to bring the kingdoms of the earth and the church of Christ to perfect organization and visible harmony, and the whole population of the globe into voluntary and avowed subjection to the Lord and his Anointed,—­to perfect millennial splendor, the nearest approximation to heaven. (Rom. xi. 25, 26; Ps. cii. 15, 16.) But “who shall live when God doeth this?” (Num. xxiv. 23.)—­The divine Author of this book, having given to mankind a complete and sufficient revelation of his will, containing invitations and warnings, at this juncture gives intimation that obstinate sinners shall at length be left to the consequences of their own free and perverse choice, “unjust and filthy still;” no further means to be employed for their conviction; but those who have embraced the offer of the gospel, shall be confirmed for ever in holiness and happiness,—­“righteous and holy still.”—­He also repeats the assurances of his sudden appearance to reward “every man according as his work shall be.”  The recompense which he brings will be of debt or justice to the impenitent unbeliever; but wholly of free grace to the believer; for the works of each class shall follow them, as decisive evidence of their respective characters, (ch. xiv. 13.)

13.  I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end, the first and the last.

V. 13.—­The Lord Christ here declares and asserts the eternity of his personal subsistence and official standing, as an all-sufficient guarantee of his ability and authority to deal with the righteous and the wicked, as also to bring to pass all events by his providence which are here predicted.  The same guarantee he had given at the beginning of the Apocalypse, (ch. i. 8.)

14.  Blessed are they that do his commandments, that they may have right to the tree of life, and may enter in through the gates into the city.

V. 14.—­Those who “do his commandments,” are believers, (John xiv. 15,) and no others can obtain a “right to the tree of life”—­all the blessings of Christ’s purchase:  for “without faith it is impossible to please God,” (Heb. xi. 6;) and “this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments.” (1 John v. 3.) “By the deeds of the law,”—­keeping the