That Blessed Hope
Unknown Author
Table of Contents
That Blessed Hope
Q. Rev. 22:16. Is it to the Church the Lord presents Himself as the morning star? If so, when? Is it on earth, after all the judgments? F. C.
A. The difficulty of F. C. will be entirely removed, I think, by the consideration, that Rev. 22:6-21 forms no part of the prophetic visions, but simply the concluding remarks of the book. The argument, that because it is after all the judgments, would prove too much, because it is after the account of the millennium and even of the new heavens and earth. Nobody would contend, I suppose, that the Church must remain on till then. To me it rather shows how independent the Church's hope is of the predicted judgments; for after these have been all stated, the Spirit recalls the saints to the coming of Christ as the joy of our hearts. That is, He thereby guards us, it seems to me, against the inference that the Lord cannot come before the events of prophecy happen.
That Blessed Hope
Q. A mislaid note inquires whether " that blessed hope" is equivalent to, or distinct from, "the glorious appearing of the great God and our Savior Jesus Christ."
A. I apprehend that the form of the phrase in Greek (one article to the two connected substantives) does not at all of necessity identify them, but only joins them in a common class. Compare 2 Thess. 2:1, where the same construction occurs. Yet none would maintain that " the coming or presence of our Lord Jesus Christ " is the same thing as " our gathering together unto him." They are meant, I think, to be regarded as associated together in the mind of the Holy Ghost, though in themselves distinct objects. It may help some to a better understanding of Titus 2:13, if they bear in mind that the true sense is "the appearing of the glory"—in contrast with the grace which has already appeared. (Ver. 11.) " That blessed hope" seems to me still nearer, and more personal, to the heart. (Compare 1 Tim. 1:1.)
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