Let us turn from the study of these verses with a deep couviction, that the second advent of Christ is one of the leading truths of Christianity. Let the Christ in whom we believe, be not only the Christ who suffered on Calvary, but the Christ who is coming again in person to judge the earth.
Notes. Luke XXI. 25—33.
26. — [And there ehaU he signSy do.] The prophecy, from this verse down to the end, takes a very wide range. It describes the last days of the world, the second personal advent of Jesus Christ, the circumstances which will attend that advent, and the duties which the prospect of that advent entails on all Clu-istians.
[8un„,Tnoon,. .stars... earth, .,8ea„.wave8.] It is not agreed among commentators whether tliese expressions are to be inter- preted literally or figuratively. It is undeniable that in symbolical prophecy the sea is an emblem of nations, and the heavenly bo(Ues an emblem of the rulers of nations. (See Gen. xxxvii. 9. Ezek. xxxii. 8. Joel ii. 10, 30. Rev. xvii. 15.) But it must be remembered, that the prophecy before us is not a symbolical one. Its predictions are plain, simple facts, and not clothed in figura- tive language. It seems, therefore, a high probability, that the language before us will receive a literal fulfilment in the events preceding and accompanying the second advent of Christ. The frame of nature was convulsed when the law of God was given at Sinai, and when Christ died on the cross. It is surely not too much to expect that it will be convulsed when Christ returns to judge the world.
26. — [Failing them,] The Greek word so translated is only found here in the New Testament. It means literally "fainting." Schleusner says that it signifies, " to faint from fear, to become not dead, but as if dead."
[Looking after.] The Greek word so rendered means literally " expectation." (Acts xii. 11.) It seems to signify that state of anxious suspense in which the world will be when it sees the first symptoms of the approaching advent of Christ, and yet knows not, and is unwilling to know, what they mean.
[On the earth.] Let it be noted, that the Greek word so trans- lated, in all the other fourteen places in the New Testament where it is used, is rendered, " the world."
[The powers of heaven.] The remarks made on verse 25 apply to this expression. It seems safest to take it literally.