generation of the Son as a thing then present [then vividly realized], as often soever as anything very worthy of the only- begotten of the Father occurs ; Acts xiii. 33, note. And thus it also represents [vividly presents to us] the glorious coming under the aspect of the judgments, which are altogether worthy of the Judge of the living and the dead ; comp. Kom. ii. 16, note. The beast and the false prophet are first of all cast into the lake of fire at the appearance of the coming of the Lord Jesus; and when He actually comes, all who are not found written in the book of life are cast into the lake of fire. The first judgment is a prelude and altogether peculiar specimen of the second judgment ; nay, it is in reality one and the same judg ment, only separated by time, and out of the whole period [Rev. viii. 2-xi. 1 5], falling under that portion which is marked now by the trumpet of the seventh angel.
The principal points of the subject-matter have been, I think, cleared up ; and we shall now proceed to illustrate what remains, viz. the phrases or particular expressions. — q anotfraffia, the apos tasy [falling away]) The Greek article is frequent in this para graph, 7) dtfoffraffia, — 6 avoftog, and it is to be referred (ascribed) either to what Paul had previously said, or to the prophecies of the Old Testament. — o avfyutfog rqg atuapriag, the Man of Sin) who is the greatest enemy of true righteousness. Paul so de scribes him, as to allude by way of contrast to Jesus Christ, and especially to the passage, Zech. ix. 9, 10 : for the King of Zion is, 1) Righteous; 2) Full of salvation; 3) Meek, and riding on an ass : in short, He is the author of peace. But His enemy is, 1) The Man of Sin ; 2) The son of perdition ; 3) He opposes and exalts himself : in short, he is the Iniquitous one [Wicked']. For where justice and equity [as opposed to the Iniquitous one : nefarius, fas] flourish, peace flourishes. The whole benefit derived from Christ is indicated by peace. But the Iniquitous one [Wicked] occasions all misery and calamity. The law is holy and just and good ; the avo/toc, on the other hand, is profane and unjust and evil. Moreover, what Paul principally declares elsewhere concerning Jesus, he declares the exact reverse concerning the enemy, ascribing to him revelation and mystery, coming signs, etc. — o vlbg r%g dTwAg/a^, that son of perdition) who will both consign as many as possible headlong