Ver. 25.—And the stars shall be falling from heaven (Ecovra:éx Tov obpavod mimrorres), and the powers that are in the heavens shall be shaken. In the great events of the crea- tion recorded in Gen. i. the sun and the moon and the stars did not show their light until that period which is called the fourth day, So in the end of the world, the sun and the moon and the stars are represented as with- drawing their light, perhaps figuratively, but perhaps algo literally, in the course of some of the unknown physical changes which shall accompany the winding up of the present dispensation. To this agree the next words, “the powers that are in the heavens shall be shaken.” The powers may here mean those great unseen forces of nature by which the universe is now held in equipoise. When the Creator wills it, these powers shall be shaken. (See Job xxvi. 11, “The pillars of heaven tremble and are astonished at his reproof;” see also Isa. xxxiv. 4, “And all the host of heaven shall be dissolved, and the heavens shall be rolled together as asoroll.”) As the end of the world approaches, the elements will quiver and tremble.
Ver. 26.—And then shall they see the Son of man coming in clouds with great power and glory. St. Matthew (xxiv. 30) intro- duces here the words, “ Gus then shall & the sign of the Son of man in heaven.” Many of the Fathers, as St.
sostom, Jerome, Bede, and others, think that this sign will be the cross. Josephus (x. 8) says that shortly before the destrus- tion of Jerusalem, @ portent like a sword, littering asa star, appeared in the heavens. Bat surely the sign of the Son of man at the end of the world will be the Son of man himself coming in clouds. The clouds, covering the troubled heaven and now illu- minated by the brightness of his coming, will constitute “the sublime drapery of his presence ” (Dr. Morison).
Ver. 27.--And then shall he send forth the angels. This represents the great har- yest at the end of the world, when the angel-reapers shall be sent forth to separate the wicked from the just. The elect will be gathered from the four winds (é« ray teacdpuv avéuwv); literally, owt of the four windse—the winds representing figuratively
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every corner of the world; or, from the uttermost part of the earth to the uttermost part of heaven. At its extremities, in the horizon, there appears to be the end alike of earth and of heaven, as though earth and heaven joined, and the heaven termi- nated by melting into the earth and be- coming one with it. The expression simply means, “from horizon to horizon,” or from every part of the earth.
Vers. 28, 29.—Now from the fig treo learn her parable; that is, her own particular teaching. Our Lord makes frequent men- tion and use of the fig tree, as we have seen already. It is probable that a fig tree may have been near to them. When her branch is now become tender, and putteth forth its leaves, ye know that the summer is nigh. The branch («Addos) would be the young shoot, now become tender under the quick- ening influences of the spring; and this was an evident sign that the summer was at hand. The Asiatic fig tree requires a con- siderable amount of warmth to enable it to put forth leaves and fruit. Its rich flavour requires a summer heat to mature it. Aris- totle says that the fig is the choice food of bees, from which they make their richest honey. Then the fig tree does not flower after the ordinary manner; but produces flower and fruit at once from the tree, and rapidly matures the fruit. The lesson, therefore, from the fig tree is this—the speed with which she ripens her fruit when she feels the warmth of summer. In like man- ner, as soon as the disciples perceived the signs of Christ’s coming, they were to learn that he was close at hand, as certainly as the ripening fruit of the fig tree showed that summer was at hand.
Ver. 30.—This generation shall not pass away, until all these things be accomplished. This is one of those prophecies which admit of @ growing fulfilment. If the word “ peneration” (yeved) be understood (as it imay undoubtedly be understood) to mean the sum total of those living at a time on the earth, the prediction would hold true as far es the destruction of Jerusalem was concerned. The desiruction of Jeru- salem took place within the limits of the generation living in our Lord’s time; and there might be some of those whom he was then addressing who would live to see the event. His prediction amounted, in fact, to this, that the destruction of Jerusalem would take place within forty years of the time when he was speaking. But it may have a wider meaning. It may mean the Jewish people. Their city would be de- stroyed—their power overthrown. They would be “ peeled and scattered.” But they would still remain a distinct and separate nation to the end of the world. And there
202 THE GOSPEL ACCORDING TO ST, MARK. (cx. xu. 1—37,
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