Original Douay–Rheims AnnotationsDaniel 12

Unto a time, and times, and half a time.

Our Saviour saying (Mat. 24. v. 22.) that the days (of Antichrist's great persecution) shall be shortened: and Apoc. 17. v. 10. the great persecutor that is to come, must tarry a short time, it is necessary to say, that the time of the same persecutor here signified to Daniel, as also before ch. 7 v. 25. & repeated Apoc. 12. v. 14. by these terms of a time, & times, and half a time, cannot possibly import any long time. ^{[1] [2]} And therefore the ancient Fathers uniformly understand by a time one year, by times two years, and so by half a time half a year. ^[3] Which is some what more clear in other terms, in this ch. v. 11. by a thousand two hundred ninety days, & v. 12. a thousand three hundred thirty days, & Apoc. 11. v. 3. Two witnesses shall prophesy (Against Antichrist) a thousand two hundred sixty days: Apoc. 12. v. 6. The Church shall be fed in the wilderness, the same number of days 1260. But most clearly Apoc. 11. v. 2. & Apoc. 13. v. 5. this great persecution shall endure 42. months, that is, three years & a half. ^[4]

• 1 Antichrist's persecution shall not be long.
• 2 Ancient fathers understand this term to be three years and a half. Agreeable to other scriptures.
• 3 S. Iren. l. 5. cont. heres. S. Iero. S. Theo. in hunc lo. S. Aug. l. 20. c. 23. civit. S. Prim. S. Beda. &c.
• 4 Hitherto we read Daniel in the Hebrew volume. That which followeth even to the end of the Book, is translated out of Theodotion's Edition.