“Abba chose the Church in Jesus
Long before the world began,”
which seems to be the thought in these verses.
A. There is no reference to the Church, as such, in Eph. 1 until you come to vv. 21, 22; still those only who compose it are before the mind of the Apostle. Individuals were the objects of God’s choice before the foundation of the world. Election has to do with persons. Here it is the intentions of God—His purposes, which are the subject (v. 4). I would alter the word “church” in the hymn quoted, to “saints.” It would then be more like the truth, though it is rather too broad a term.
V. J. A. How is it that. Dan is not included in the tribes mentioned in Rev. 7
A. God here draws back the curtain, so to say, and shows us that in the midst of these courses of judgment He remembers mercy, and thinks of His ancient people-sealing a perfect number (i.e., 12 x 12 x =144,000) for preservation for the millennial earth. But judgment being then in course He is silent about Dan. He was the first tribe that went into idolatry (see Judg. 18 passim). It was a son of a Danite woman, whose father was an Egyptian; who blasphemed the name of Jehovah, and cursed, and who was stoned. (Lev. 24:10-16). This apostate is said to be typical of the Antichrist in the end. Of Dan, Jacob a-dying said, “Dan shall be a serpent by the way, an adder in the path, that biteth the horse heels, so that his rider shall fall backward” (Gen. 49:17). The deceit of the serpent and the treachery of the adder characterized his history.
How sweet to find that when grace restores these long scattered people after judgment has been satisfied under the government of God, that Dan has his portion and his ordered place in the land amongst the tribes. Ezekiel (chap. 48.) prophesies of this, and even counts him first in the order given. Jacob prophetically touched on his future blessing, even before he spoke of his apostasy (Gen. 49:16), in the words, “Dan shall judge his people as one of the tribes of Israel.”
Q. (1) Does Rev. 11:1 suppose the people to be in their own land, and the worship restored in the command to measure the temple, &c.?
2. Is this the first half week, at the end of which the beast breaks his covenant 4 For a second half week appears to conclude with the second woe (v. 2).
Does the third woe give another half week, &c?
A. (1.) The passage supposes that the people are in the land, and worship restored in the measure such will be before the kingdom is established. The external profession of Judaism is not owned, while a true remnant are.
(2, 3.) I believe the second half week, and it only, is here (as in all Scripture) counted and named. The first half week is always vague. (See my remarks on this in pp. 98, 99, 119, 120 of the present volume, Nos. 62, 63). The second woe commences at chap. 9:13, and runs on to chap. 11:14, embracing in its scope the parenthesis of chap. 10. The third woe trumpet is embraced in chap. 11:15-18, which takes in the closing moments of judgment which usher in the kingdom, and embraces the judgment of the great white throne, as well as the whole kingdom; in general terms.