THOUGHTS,

Critical and Practical,

ON THE

BOOK OF
OF DANIEL.

By URIAH SMITH,

AUTHOR OF "THOUGHTS ON THE Revelation," "MAN'S NATUre and DestinY,"
"THE SANCTUARY AND ITS CLEANSING," "THE UNITED STATES IN
PROPHECY," AND OTHER WORKS ON BIBLE SUBJECTS.

BATTLE CREEK, MICH.:

Seventh-Day Adventist Publishing Association.

1881.

ANNEX

Entered, according to Act of Congress, in the year 1881, by

URIAH SMITH,

In the Office of the Librarian of Congress, at Washington, D. C.

REVIEW AND HERALD, Printers, Electrotypers, and Binders.

PREFACE.

IN presenting to the public a volume of Thoughts on the Book of Daniel, more particularly an exposition of its prophecies, we have but a few brief words to say to the reader:

This book has been written and published, because—

1. We believe what it contains to be truth, and hence regard it as important that you believe it too.

2. We wish you to believe it, because many of these prophecies concern your eternal welfare, if the view here taken of them is truth, as we suppose. Intelligent conviction of prophetic truth will lead to a humble performance of practical duties; and the willing and the obedient are the only ones who shall eat of the good of that goodly land upon which the redeemed are soon to enter as their eternal inheritance.

3. No person, having the light placed before him, can continue to walk in darkness and be guiltless.

4. It is the prophetic portions of God's word which especially constitute it a lamp to our feet. Psa. 119:105; 2 Pet. 1:19.

5. No sublimer study can occupy the mind, than those books in which He who sees the end from the beginning, looking forward through all ages, gives, through his inspired prophets, a description of coming events for the benefit of those whose lot it would be to meet them. And

6. There is no prophecy which a person can have so little excuse for misunderstanding, as the prophecy of Daniel, especially as relates to its main features. Dealing but sparingly in language that is highly figurative, explaining all the symbols it introduces, locating its events within the rigid confines of prophetic periods, it points out the first advent of the Messiah in so clear and unmistakable a manner as to call forth the execration of the Jews upon all who shall endeavor to explain it, and gives so accurately, and