ever hereafter," and does not imply a distant event. In reply, I would have it specially noted, that the Greek word here trans- lated " hereafter," is the very same that is used b}^ our Lord in the solemn words, just quoted, which he addressed to the chief priests when He was arraigned. (Matt. xxvi. 69.) In that case, there cannot be any reasonable doubt that He spoke of a far distant event and time. I believe, that in like manner. He speaks of a far distant event and time in this place.
As to the nature of Christ's future kingdom, and the inter- course which shall then be kept up by angels between earth and heaven, this is not the place to speak. I only remark, that the words before us will probably receive a far more real and literal accomplishment than many of us are expecting.
It is worthy of remark that Nathanael calls our Lord " the Son of Gro^l." Jesus in His prediction tells him he shall see angels ascending and descending on the " Son of man." He whom Nathanael now saw as a man, would yet appear as man glorified in the heavenly kingdom. He would even then be G-od-man. The expression " Son of man," here first used by St. •John, seems derived, as Chemnitius says, from Daniel's words in a prophecy about Messiah. (Dan. vii. 13, 14.) It is never applied to our Lord by any but Himself, except by Stephen. (Acts vii. 56.) Lightfoot thinks that " it is used so often by our Saviour about Himself, as intimating that he is the second Adam, the true seed of the woman."
In leaving this passage, the question naturally arises, Who was Nathanael ? How is it that we hear so little afterwards of so good a man and so clear-sighted a believer ?
Some think, as Augustine and others, that Nathanael was purposely not placed among our Lord's immediate companions and apostles, because he was a man of learning and knowledge, lest any should say that our Lord chose learned men to be His first ministers. I can see nothing in this argument. There is no evidence to my own mind that Nathanael was more leai-ned than other Jews of humble birth, in our Lord's time. More- over he was a friend of Philip, one of our Lord's apostles, and most probably a man of similar position and attainments. — In fact we are told elsewhere that he lived at " Cana of Galilee." (John xxi. 1.)
Some think, because Nathanael lived at Cana, that he was the same person as the apostle Simon the Canaanite, (Matt. x. 4 ; Mark iii. 18.)
Some think, that he was Stephen the martyr, because Stephen saw the hear 3ns opened in vision. (Acts vii. 56.)