tained, if the same sense is given to it here which it bears in other parts of the New Testament. For instance, in Heb. ix. 26, "But now once in the end of the world," or rather worlds, ages, hath he (Christ) appeared to put away sin by the sacrifice of himself." Christ appeared at the conclusion of the age under the law, and it was to the end of this age that the disciples had reference in their private question to the Saviour. Again, see 1 Cor. x. 11, Now, all these things happened unto them for ensamples; and they are written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the worlds, or ages, are The ends of the ages had then already come. We are to understand the disciples as inquiring, "what shall be the sign of thy coming, and of the end of the age." come." Having ascertained the true sense of the disciples' question, let us observe particularly the Saviour's answer to it; taking care to observe that throughout his reply he keeps prominently in view, his coming, and THE END of the Mosaic age, concerning which they inquired. The first sign of his coming which Jesus pointed out was this: "Many shall come in my name saying, I am Christ, and shall deceive many." Matt. xxiv. 5, 11. Comp. Mark xiii. 5, 6. Luke xxi. 8. "These false Christs began to appear soon after our Lord's death, but they multiplied as the national calamit.es increased. Josephus informs us, that there were many who pretended to divine inspirarick, in his Exposition, says "the end of the age ;" and observes that the expression was synonymous to the coming of Christ. Wakefield renders it," the end of the age" as do also the Authors of the Improved Version; Bp. Pearce, on Matt. xiii. 40; Whitby on Matt. xii. 32, and Dr. Hammond on the same passage, with many more who might be named. tion deceived the people, leading out numbers of them into the desert. He does not indeed expressly say that they called themselves the Messiah or Christ yet he says that which is equivalent, viz: that they pretended that God would there show them the signs of liberty, meaning redemption from the Roman yoke, which the Jews expected the Messiah would do for them, (compare Luke xxiv. 21.) Josephus further adds, that an Egyptian false prophet led thirty thousand men into the desert, who were almost entirely cut off by Felix the Roman Procurator.1 The same historian relates that in the reign of Claudius, "the land was overrun with magicians, seducers, and imposters, who drew the people after them in multitudes into solitudes and deserts, to see the signs and miracles which they promised to show by the power of God.2 Felix, and afterwards Festus, governors of Judea, judging these proceedings to be the commencement of rebellion against the Romans, continually sent out detachments of soldiers, and destroyed great numbers of the deluded populace. Among these imposters were Dositheus the Samaritan, who affirmed that he was the Christ foretold by Moses; Simon Magus, who said that he appeared among the Jews as the Son of God; and Theudas, who pretending to be a prophet, pursuaded many of the people to take their goods and follow him to the river Jordan, declaring that he was divinely commissioned, and that at his command the waters would be divided, and give them a safe passage to the opposite side. Many other examples of pretended Messiahs might be adduced; but 1 Josephus, de Bell. Jud. lib. 2 c. 13. sec. 4, 5. 2 Josephus, Ant. Jud. lib. 20. c. 8, sec. 6. Ibid. lib. 20, c. 4, (al. 5) sec. 1. the preceding are sufficient to establish the truth of our Lord's prediction."-Horne's Intro. i. 615. Jesus points out the second sign of his coming in the following words: "And ye shall hear of wars and rumors of wars; see that ye be not troubled; for all these things must come to pass, but THE END (of the Mosaic age) is not yet." Matt. xxiv. 6. Mark xiii. 7. Luke xxi. 9. "These wars and commotions were as the distant thunder, that forebodes approaching storms. Previous to the destruction of Jerusalem, the greatest agitation prevailed in the Roman empire, and the struggle for succession to the imperial throne was attended by severe and bloody conflicts. Four emperors, Nero, Galba, Otho, and Vitellius, suffered violent deaths within the short space of eighteen months. The emperor Caligula commanded the Jews to place his statue in their temple; and in consequence of a positive refusal to comply with so impious a request, he threatened them with an invasion, which was prevented by his death.2 Jesus Christ added. See that ye (my disciples) be not troubled, as the Jews will be, expecting the approaching destruction of their nation; but the end is not yet: these events, alarming as they seemed, were only the preludes to the dreadful and tumultuous scenes that followed."Horne's Intro. i. 615. Jesus continues to say, "For nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom.” Matt. xxiv. 7. Mark xiii. 8. Luke xxi. 10. "In 1 In the Rev. David Simpson's Key to the Prophecies there is an instructive History of twenty-four false Messiahs, who deluded the Jews between the time of the Emperor Adrian and the year of Christ 1682. See pp. 133-148. 2 Josephus, Autiq. lib. 18. c. 8. (al. 9.) De Bell. Jud. lib. 2. c. 10. this prediction Christ declares that greater disturbances than those which happened under Caligula would take place in the latter part of Claudius's reign, and during that of Nero. The rising of nation against nation portended the dissensions, insurrections, and mutual slaughter of the Jews, and those of other nations, who dwelt in the same cities together; as particularly at Cæsarea,' where the Jews and Syrians contended about the right of the city, which contention at length proceeded so far, that above twenty thousand Jews were slain, and the city was cleared of the Jewish inhabitants. At this blow the whole nation of the Jews were exasperated, and dividing themselves into parties, they burnt and plundered the neighbouring cities of the Syrians, and made an immense slaughter of the people. The Syrians in revenge destroyed not a less number of the Jews, and every city, as3 Josephus expresses it, was divided into two armies. At Scythopolis1 the inhabitants compelled the Jews who resided among them to fight against their own countrymen; and after the victory, basely setting upon them by night, they murdered above thirteen thousand of them, and spoiled their goods. At Ascalon5 they killed two thousand five hundred, at Ptolemais two thousand, and made not a few prisoners. The Tyrians put many to death and imprisoned more. The people of Gadara did likewise, and all the other cities of Syria, in proportion as they hated or feared the Jews. At Alexandria the old enmity was revived between the Jews and 1 Josephus, Antiq. lib. 20. cap. 7. sec. 7 &c. De Bell. Jud. lib. 2. c. 13. sec. 7. c. 18. sec. 1. edit. Hudson. the preceding are sufficient to establish the truth of our Lord's prediction."-Horne's Intro. i. 615. Jesus points out the second sign of his coming in the following words: "And ye shall hear of wars and rumors of wars; see that ye be not troubled; for all these things must come to pass, but THE END (of the Mosaic age) is not yet." Matt. xxiv. 6. Mark xiii. 7. Luke xxi. 9. "These wars and commotions were as the distant thunder, that forebodes approaching storms. Previous to the destruction of Jerusalem, the greatest agitation prevailed in the Roman empire, and the struggle for succession to the imperial throne was attended by severe and bloody conflicts. Four emperors, Nero, Galba, Otho, and Vitellius, suffered violent deaths within the short space of eighteen months. The emperor Caligula commanded the Jews to place his statue in their temple; and in consequence of a positive refusal to comply with so impious a request, he threatened them with an invasion, which was prevented by his death.2 Jesus Christ added. See that ye (my disciples) be not troubled, as the Jews will be, expecting the approaching destruction of their nation; but the end is not yet: these events, alarming as they seemed, were only the preludes to the dreadful and tumultuous scenes that followed."—— Horne's Intro. i. 615. Jesus continues to say, "For nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom.' Matt. xxiv. 7. Mark xiii. 8. Luke xxi. 10. "In 1 In the Rev. David Simpson's Key to the Prophecies there is an instructive History of twenty-four false Messiahs, who deluded the Jews between the time of the Emperor Adrian and the year of Christ 1682. See pp. 133-148. 2 Josephus, Autiq. lib. 18. c. 8. (al. 9.) De Bell. Jud. lib. 2. c. 10. |