Bible Heaven/Bible Heaven.iso/online/mhcc00/v00800

Text File | 1994-03-02 | 8KB | 133 lines

00808
 #34-39 Our Lord declares the miseries the inhabitants of
 Jerusalem were about to bring upon themselves, but he does not
 notice the sufferings he was to undergo. A hen gathering her
 chickens under her wings, is an apt emblem of the Saviour's
 tender love to those who trust in him, and his faithful care of
 them. He calls sinners to take refuge under his tender
 protection, keeps them safe, and nourishes them to eternal life.
 The present dispersion and unbelief of the Jews, and their
 future conversion to Christ, were here foretold. Jerusalem and
 her children had a large share of guilt, and their punishment
 has been signal. But ere long, deserved vengeance will fall on
 every church which is Christian in name only. In the mean time
 the Saviour stands ready to receive all who come to him. There
 is nothing between sinners and eternal happiness, but their
 proud and unbelieving unwillingness.
00814
 * Christ foretells the destruction of the temple. (1-3) The
 troubles before the destruction of Jerusalem. (4-28) Christ
 foretells other signs and miseries, to the end of the world.
 (29-41) Exhortations to watchfulness. (42-51)

 #1-3 Christ foretells the utter ruin and destruction coming upon
 the temple. A believing foresight of the defacing of all worldly
 glory, will help to keep us from admiring it, and overvaluing
 it. The most beautiful body soon will be food for worms, and the
 most magnificent building a ruinous heap. See ye not all these
 things? It will do us good so to see them as to see through
 them, and see to the end of them. Our Lord having gone with his
 disciples to the Mount of Olives, he set before them the order
 of the times concerning the Jews, till the destruction of
 Jerusalem; and as to men in general till the end of the world.

00817
 #4-28 The disciples had asked concerning the times, When these
 things should be? Christ gave them no answer to that; but they
 had also asked, What shall be the sign? This question he answers
 fully. The prophecy first respects events near at hand, the
 destruction of Jerusalem, the end of the Jewish church and
 state, the calling of the Gentiles, and the setting up of
 Christ's kingdom in the world; but it also looks to the general
 judgment; and toward the close, points more particularly to the
 latter. What Christ here said to his disciples, tended more to
 promote caution than to satisfy their curiosity; more to prepare
 them for the events that should happen, than to give a distinct
 idea of the events. This is that good understanding of the times
 which all should covet, thence to infer what Israel ought to do.
 Our Saviour cautions his disciples to stand on their guard
 against false teachers. And he foretells wars and great
 commotions among nations. From the time that the Jews rejected
 Christ, and he left their house desolate, the sword never
 departed from them. See what comes of refusing the gospel. Those
 who will not hear the messengers of peace, shall be made to hear
 the messengers of war. But where the heart is fixed, trusting in
 God, it is kept in peace, and is not afraid. It is against the
 mind of Christ, that his people should have troubled hearts,
 even in troublous times. When we looked forward to the eternity
 of misery that is before the obstinate refusers of Christ and
 his gospel, we may truly say, The greatest earthly judgments are
 but the beginning of sorrows. It is comforting that some shall
 endure even to the end. Our Lord foretells the preaching of the
 gospel in all the world. The end of the world shall not be till
 the gospel has done its work. Christ foretells the ruin coming
 upon the people of the Jews; and what he said here, would be of
 use to his disciples, for their conduct and for their comfort.
 If God opens a door of escape, we ought to make our escape,
 otherwise we do not trust God, but tempt him. It becomes
 Christ's disciples, in times of public trouble, to be much in
 prayer: that is never out of season, but in a special manner
 seasonable when we are distressed on every side. Though we must
 take what God sends, yet we may pray against sufferings; and it
 is very trying to a good man, to be taken by any work of
 necessity from the solemn service and worship of God on the
 sabbath day. But here is one word of comfort, that for the
 elect's sake these days shall be made shorter than their enemies
 designed, who would have cut all off, if God, who used these
 foes to serve his own purpose, had not set bounds to their
 wrath. Christ foretells the rapid spreading of the gospel in the
 world. It is plainly seen as the lightning. Christ preached his
 gospel openly. The Romans were like an eagle, and the ensign of
 their armies was an eagle. When a people, by their sin, make
 themselves as loathsome carcasses, nothing can be expected but
 that God should send enemies to destroy them. It is very
 applicable to the day of judgment, the coming of our Lord Jesus
 Christ in that day, #2Th 2:1|. Let us give diligence to make our
 calling and election sure; then may we know that no enemy or
 deceiver shall ever prevail against us.

00842
 #29-41 Christ foretells his second coming. It is usual for
 prophets to speak of things as near and just at hand, to express
 the greatness and certainty of them. Concerning Christ's second
 coming, it is foretold that there shall be a great change, in
 order to the making all things new. Then they shall see the Son
 of man coming in the clouds. At his first coming, he was set for
 a sign that should be spoken against, but at his second coming,
 a sign that should be admired. Sooner or later, all sinners will
 be mourners; but repenting sinners look to Christ, and mourn
 after a godly sort; and those who sow in those tears shall
 shortly reap in joy. Impenitent sinners shall see Him whom they
 have pierced, and, though they laugh now, shall mourn and weep
 in endless horror and despair. The elect of God are scattered
 abroad; there are some in all places, and all nations; but when
 that great gathering day comes, there shall not one of them be
 missing. Distance of place shall keep none out of heaven. Our
 Lord declares that the Jews should never cease to be a distinct
 people, until all things he had been predicting were fulfilled.
 His prophecy reaches to the day of final judgment; therefore he
 here, ver. 34, foretells that Judah shall never cease to exist
 as a distinct people, so long as this world shall endure. Men of
 the world scheme and plan for generation upon generation here,
 but they plan not with reference to the overwhelming,
 approaching, and most certain event of Christ's second coming,
 which shall do away every human scheme, and set aside for ever
 all that God forbids. That will be as surprising a day, as the
 deluge to the old world. Apply this, first, to temporal
 judgments, particularly that which was then hastening upon the
 nation and people of the Jews. Secondly, to the eternal
 judgment. Christ here shows the state of the old world when the
 deluge came. They were secure and careless; they knew not, until
 the flood came; and they believed not. Did we know aright that
 all earthly things must shortly pass away, we should not set our
 eyes and hearts so much upon them as we do. The evil day is not
 the further off for men's putting it far from them. What words
 can more strongly describe the suddenness of our Saviour's
 coming! Men will be at their respective businesses, and suddenly
 the Lord of glory will appear. Women will be in their house
 employments, but in that moment every other work will be laid
 aside, and every heart will turn inward and say, It is the Lord!
 Am I prepared to meet him? Can I stand before him? And what, in
 fact, is the day of judgment to the whole world, but the day of
 death to every one?