The Pulpit Commentary — Revelation — Section 513

Yer. 20.,- Longing for <Jhrist', a;dvmt. A1 to the expression "quickly," it. is to .be understood either on tlle principle (1) that one day is with the Lord as a thousand years; or (2) that there are many advents of Christ besides that last glorious one of which the New Testament says so much. . In support of this it is to be noted that the _prophecies of this book, as other prophecies, refer to classes of events, and not exclusively to any one event. Hence, wherever there is like conduct, whether good or e1•il1 there will be like recompense. Persecuting governments, and religions upholding tbem, will bring down on themselves Divine judgments. Such conditions of things, were present when St. John wrote, and the puniBhment of them was speeding on to its• fullil~nt. So we prefer to-understand the words of our text. Now, of-the Cl)mi11gs of Christ there are four, though not to all of them can the "quickly" of the ten be applied, except on the principle firat. named abov&, and which St. Peter teaches us. 1. To l'UNIIIH :NOTOBIOU& WBONG. The deatruction of Jerusalem was.thoo,.when St. John wrote, nigh at hand. TLe. overthrow of the persecuting,• pagan Roman empire was not far off; and, again and. again, in the judgments that.hine befallen nations and wicked rulers and Churches, of which the records of history tell so much, may be seen fulfilments of this word. And without any vindictive spirit, from pure love of truth and righteousness, and from concern for human well-being, the. faithful Church has responded, and will respond, to the announcement of Christ's advent for this end: "Amen. Even SJJ," etc. What a solemn reminder does this give to th.os& who, in daring, presumptuous way, sin against God I In the midst of their proud defiance of the Lord, he may-it is likely that he will-come and judge them for their sins. II. 'l'o BEIG!I OIi BARTH. That he will thus come the Seripture statements plainly declare. And these statements are very numerous. This ,coming of the Lord ill perpettally referred to in the New Testament,• and is predicted likewise in the Old Testament. No doubt the apostles believed it would be in their time. 'l'he Lord had not said it would-not, and hoping that it might--their wish becoming father to. their tliought-they spoke and wrote as if it would. We a:e distinctly forbidden to look t.Q them for information as to the date of this advent, for the Lord said to them, "It ia flOt for you to know." Therefore any words of theirs that seem to imply, as they dQ, the speedy,coming of Christ, are to be read with this remembrance, that it was not given w,them to speak authoritatively on this matter. .And in the later Epistles it is evident. that their earlier thoughts had become modified, and they had learnt tie contemplate as probable the fact that, the Lord's advent would not be in their time ; and hence they give directions for the ordering of the Church after they are gone (cf. Second Epistle to Timothy, etc.). And the declarations concerning our Lord'• advent to reign on earth are to be undtlf'stood.• literally. Mauy, no doubt, affirm ·that they are to be all interpreted of a ~piritual reign, and to be explained a.s tiguree, metaphors, and the like. But we have a principle of interpretation laid down for WI in the predictions concerning our Lord's first advent. What was there said of him litu-ally came to paa.s. A large part of the gospel history may be compiled from thou 570 TBE REVELATION OF ST. JOHN 'THE bIVINB. [ea ni1. 1-21,