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the disciples came unto him privately, saying, Tell us, when shall these things be? and what shall be the sign of thy coming, and of the end of the world? (4) And Jesus answered," &c.

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III. At the time of Christ's ascension, the Apostles were assured of his return by "two men "in white apparel."-The term "men" is doubtless used here, as in Luke xxiv. 4, with reference simply to the form of these celestial visitants. Compare Mark xvi. 5, and Luke xxiv. 4, with Mat. xxviii. 5, and John xx.

12.

Acts i. 10, "And while they looked steadfastly toward heaven as he went up, behold, two men stood by them in white apparel; (11) Which also said, Ye men of Galilee, why stand ye gazing up into heaven? This same Jesus, which is taken up from you into heaven, shall so come in like manner as ye have seen him go into heaven.”

It may be here remarked, that, in reading this passage, we are in danger of attaching more force to the expression in our version, "in like manner as," than the original words, & трónоv, require. These words have no necessary reference to the particular manner in which a thing is done, and, in every other instance, (Mat. xxiii. 37, Luke xiii. 34, Acts vii. 28, xv. 11, xxvii. 25, 2 Tim. iii. 8,) have been rendered, by our translators, simply "as," or "even as." Thus,

Acts vii. 28, "Wilt thou kill me, as thou didst the Egyptian yesterday."-2 Tim. iii. 8, "Now as Jannes and Jambres withstood Moses, so do these also resist the truth." - Mat. xxiii. 37, "How often would I have gathered thy children together, even as a hen gathereth her chickens under her wings."

In these passages, it is manifest that there is no refer

ence to precise manner. So that the meaning in Acts i. 11, may be, simply, "As ye have seen him go into heaven, so likewise shall he come again." Our words likewise (in like wise or manner) and also (entirely so) are precisely similar examples of words which have lost their full etymological force.

IV. The Apostles often speak of the second coming of Christ, as of a single event, and one familiar to their thoughts and expectations. Examples will be cited. from all the Apostolic writers.

1. PAUL. Heb. ix. 27, "And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment: (28) So Christ was once offered to bear the sins of many; and unto them that look for him shall he appear the second time, without sin, unto salvation.”

1 Cor. i. 7, "So that ye come behind in no gift; waiting for the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ."

1 Thess. ii. 19, "For what is our hope, or joy, or crown of rejoicing? Are not even ye in the presence of our Lord Jesus Christ at his coming?

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1 Thess. iii. 13, "At the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ with all his saints."

1 Thess. v. 23, "And I pray God your whole spirit and soul and body be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ."

1 Tim. vi. 14, “That thou keep this commandment without spot, unrebukable, until the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ."

Tit. ii. 13, "Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ."

Col. iii. 4, "When Christ, who is our life, shall appear, then shall ye also appear with him in glory."

Phil. iii. 20, " For our conversation is in heaven; from whence also we look for the Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ."

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1 Thess. i. 10, " And to wait for his Son from heaven."

2. JAMES.

nigh."

v. 8, "The coming of the Lord draweth

3. PETER.1 Pet. i. 7, "At the appearing of Jesus Christ."

1 Pet. i. 13, "The grace that is to be brought unto you at the revelation of Jesus Christ."

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1 Pet. v. 4, " And when the chief Shepherd shall appear, ye shall receive a crown of glory that fadeth not away."

2 Pet. iii. 4, " And saying, Where is the promise of his coming?".

Acts iii. 20, " And he shall send Jesus Christ, which before was preached unto you: (21) Whom the heaven must receive, until the times of restitution of all things."

4. JUDE. 14, "And Enoch also, the seventh from Adam, prophesied of these, saying, Behold, the Lord cometh with ten thousand of his saints, (15) To execute judgment upon all, and to convince all that are ungodly among them of all their ungodly deeds which they have ungodly committed, and of all their hard speeches which ungodly sinners have spoken against him."

5. JOHN. 1 John ii. 28, "And now, little children, abide in him; that when he shall appear, we may have confidence, and not be ashamed before him at his coming."

Rev. i. 7, "Behold, he cometh with clouds."

Rev. iii. 11, “Behold, I come quickly." — Also, Rev. xxii. 7, 12.

V. The view taken by the Apostles of Christ's future coming, as a single definite event, is further illustrated by their frequent use of the word DAY, to denote the time of his coming or of events associated with it. - The

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variety and the definiteness of the expressions, in which the word is so used, will appear from the following ex

tracts.

1 Cor. i. 7, "Waiting for the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ (8) Who shall also confirm you unto the end, that ye may be blameless in the day of our Lord Jesus Christ." 1 Cor. v. 5, "That the spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord Jesus." - See, also, 2 Cor. i. 14.

Phil. i. 6, "He which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ.”

Phil. ii. 16, "That I may rejoice in the day of Christ."

1 Thess. v. 2," The day of the Lord so cometh as a thief in the night."— See, also, 2 Pet. iii. 10.

2 Pet. iii. 12, "Looking for and hasting unto the coming of the day of God, wherein the heavens, being on fire, shall be dissolved."

Eph. iv. 30," And grieve not the Holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption.” pare Luke xxi. 28.

-Com

2 Pet. iii. 7," Reserved unto fire against the day of judgment and perdition of ungodly men."-See, also, 2 Pet. ii. 9; 1 John iv. 17.

Rom. ii. 16, "In the day when God shall judge the secrets of men, by Jesus Christ, according to my gospel.' also, Acts xvii. 31.

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See,

Jude 6," Unto the judgment of the great day." Rom. ii. 5, "Against the day of wrath and revelation of the righteous judgment of God."

2 Tim. i. 12, "I know whom I have believed, and am persuaded that he is able to keep that which I have committed unto him against that day.”—See, also, 2 Tim. i. 18; iv. 8.

1 Cor. iii. 13, “Every man's work shall be made manifest for the day shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by fire." - See, also, Heb. x. 25.

VI. Even the repeated use of certain terms, with specific application to the Second Advent, is not without its significance. Definiteness of name implies definiteness of idea. Of these terms thus specially applied,

1. 'Aπokáλvyis, revelation from heaven (also translated appearing and coming), occurs in 1 Cor. i. 7, 2 Thess. i. 7, 1 Pet. i. 7, 13, iv. 13; five times.

2. 'Eπipάveia, appearing (once translated brightness), occurs in 2 Thess. ii. 8, 1 Tim. vi. 14, 2 Tim. iv. 1, 8, Tit. ii. 13; five times.

3. Пapovoía, coming, occurs in Mat. xxiv. 3, 27, 37, 39, 1 Cor. xv. 23, 1 Thess. ii. 19, iii. 13, iv. 15, v. 23, 2 Thess. ii. 1, 8, James v. 7, 8, 2 Pet. i. 16, iii. 4, 1 John ii. 28; sixteen times.

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