The Pulpit Commentary — Matthew — Volume 2 — Section 457

revolutions and changes of the moon. As the true Church, like the moon, borrowa its light from the Suo, viz. "of righteousness," so have spurious religious systems borrowed theirs f~om civil rulers. . The moon eclipsed represents a dispcnsationa.l change in the true Church, aod coofus1on to the fa.lee Churches. (4) Stars represent particular rulers, as princes and leaders in the state; and "angels" or ministers in the Church, The stars leaving their orbits and falling obviously imports the effects of revolution upon the leaders of religious corporations. 2. ~ace now the .ful,filment of the prophecy. (1) The Jewish system literally collapsed "imme<!.iately after the tribulation" of the days of the destruction of Jerusalem. The Romans took; a.way their "nation." They also took away their "place," or temple. And the destruction of the temple involved the abolition of the Levitical system, of which the temple was the very centre. Thus the sun, moon, and stars of that people came to grief together. (2) The prophecy had a furtlier fulfilment in the calamities, revolutions, and ultimaw overthrow of the Roman empire. We find the same figures applied in the Apocalypse, first to the overthrow of the pagan powers of the empire by Constantine; and next, to the subversion of the empire itself by the northern invaders (see Rev. vi. 12; viii. 12). The application of the word "immediately" in reference to these events will not surprise when we bke into account the character of prophetic language, and the vast range of time to which it is applied. (3) The final instalments of fulfilment will take place when the antichristian powers, civil and ecclesiastical, shall come into judgment. This event will come "immediately after the tribulation" upon the Jews comes to its end in their restoration to their land and covenants. (4) Who can say whether this prophecy may not also have a literal accomplishment in the mechanical heavens themselves? There is a remarkable relation between astronomical and political changes. 3, In all commotions Christ will be merdful, to his pecpl,e. "Aud he shall send forth his angels with a great sound of a trumpet," etc. (ver. 31), (1) These words may be applied to the calling of the Gentiles. They a.re ea.id to come from the "four winds" or "comers of the earth" (cf. eh. viii. 11, 12; Luke xiii. 281 29). God's message comes as the sound of a trumpet (cf. Numb. x.; Isa. lviii. l; Jer. vi. 17; Ezek. xxxiii. 3, 6; Rom. L 18). (2) They may be applied to the gathering of the Jews. They a.re still in a sense God's "elect." They a.re destined to be gathered out of all the nations into which God bas driven them in bis anger. The angels with the trumpet will be God's messengers in gathering them (cf. Dan. viii 10; Esth. viii 16; Jer. xv. 9; Amos viii. 9). (3) They may be applied to the gathering together of the elect of God, who shall be called forth from their graves " by the voice of the archangel, and the trump of God" ( cf. Exod. :x.ix. 13, 16; Lev. xxv. 9; 1 Thess. iv. 16; 1 Cor. xv. 52). II. 'l'RE "SIGN OF THE SoN OF MAN DT REA VEN," AND THE "COMlll'G OF THE SON OF II.AN IN THE CLOUDS OF BEA VEN," A.BE THE SAME. 1. This was t'he sign for which tl,e sapties c/,a'T/UJ'l/8'ed. (1) The Jewish rulers were offended at the mean appearance of Jesus. "The carpenter's Son I" "Of Nazareth I" "Have any of the rulers believed? " Pride baa a natural antipathy to humility. But the pride of all false glorying must be stained. (2) They overlooked, or refused to see, that Messiah was to come in this very qUJ1.lity of humiliation. The " Root out of a dry ground I" (see Isa. liL 14; liii 2, 3; Ps. xxii. 6; Mark ix. 2). The antitype of "David in all his afflictions." So of the "prophets and righteous men" who suffered for righteous- nes.,;' sake. (3) The rulers had refused the" signs which Jesus did," most unreason- ably accountiug them insufficient. Men a.re not now sceptics for la.ck of cogent evideuce. Unbelief is of the "evil heart" (cf. Ps. xiv. 1; Heh. iii. 12). (4) The sign from heaven. for which they clamoured., was that of the Prophet Daniel (cf. Dan. vii. 13; eh. xvi. 1). That sign was not intended for this generation. The sign from the earth-that of the Prophet Jonah, W&S to be given to them (see eh, xii. 38-40). 2. They wUl rueive it to their r.,onft/,fl,()11,, (1) Confounded by their pride, they missed the event of the fust advent of Messiah. Yet by that very pride which blinded them they were urged to fulfil the prophecies which they failed to see. Bo God makes the perversity of scepticism to praise him. (2) They confounded the time of the second advent. They looked for Messiah as a King when they should have looked for him as a Priest. Here also their pride confused them. (3) How will that pride be confounded when they shall see the very blessed Person whom they bad rejected and crucified, "coming in the clouds, of heaven, with power and great glory" I A11 the "sign of tho OH, xxiv.1-51.] THE GOSPEL ACCORDING TO ST. MATTHEW. 463