IN this Epistle we have a roll of the services of the saints of God, and therefore we might expect to find in it some account of the services of the Lord Jesus, the Author and Finisher of faith. Accordingly, they are its subject. Other eminent servants of God only serve as the background to display Him. And it will be so with us. We shall be in heaven, the relief, so to speak, on which God will display Christ, each of us reflecting Him, and it will be our delight to be so.
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The appearing in the last verse is rather, “He shall be seen.” It applies to Israel, who will look on Him whom they have pierced, but includes our seeing Him at the rapture.
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At His first appearing “He was manifested.” He was done with sin by his first appearing; when He appears again, He has nothing to say to it, His enemies are consumed. “Whom the Lord shall consume with the breath of His mouth, and destroy with the brightness of His coming.” The very brightness of His appearing destroys the man of sin.
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“In the end of the world” should be “In the consummation of the ages.” The history of this world, the history of man, was closed by the cross. The arm that will execute judgment is suspended for awhile, while grace gathers out the elect and unites them to the Man who is seated at God’s right hand.
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You say, “That is my Saviour, tell me more about Him.” Every ray of the glory shows the value of His work. The glory with which He is surrounded only enhances the preciousness, the love, and the glory of the Lord Jesus Christ. The most precious thing in heaven has died for the vilest thing on earth — you and me.
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Mark the finality with which the Holy Ghost speaks — “Once in the end of the world hath He appeared”; He was “Once offered”; “One sacrifice for sins.” These are great facts. We have His past work on the cross; His present work of grace; and His future work of glory.
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Notwithstanding all our lightness, and frivolity, and failure, we are among “those who look for Him.” “Our light affliction which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory, while we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen.” The eternal weight of glory will not be ours in proportion to the steadfastness of our gaze at the things which are unseen.
If that were so, it would be but a poor complement of the glory we should possess.
ROCHFORT HUNT.