Master, see what manner of stones" and what buildings are here! And Jesus answering said unto him, "Seest thou these great buildings? "the days will come, in the which there shall not be left one stone upon another, that shall "not be thrown down. And as he sat upon the mount of Olives over Mount against the temple, Peter, and James, Olivet, and John, and Andrew, asked him

66

Place.

privately, Tell us, when shall these things be? and what shall be the sign when all these things shall be fulfilled? And Jesus answering them began to say, "Take heed lest any man de"ceive you for many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ; and shall de"ceive many: and the time draweth near: go ye not therefore after them. But when 66 ye shall hear of wars and commotions, be "not terrified: for these things must first "come to pass; but the end is not by and by. "Then said he unto them, Nation shall rise "against nation, and kingdom against king"dom: and great earthquakes shall be in di"vers places, and famines, and pestilences;

There was scarcely any thing more remarkable in this celebrated temple, than the stupendous size of the stones, that composed this edifice, which the Jews flattered themselves was built for eternity.

b

The very foundations of the temple were ploughed up by the Romans.

Not long after our Lord's ascension, several impostors appeared, some pretending to be the Messsah, and others to foretel future events.

The end and destruction of the Jewish state shall not be immediately.

66

66

"and fearful sights and great signs shall there "be from heaven. These are, the beginnings "of sorrows. But before all these, they shall lay their hands on you, and persecute you, delivering you up to the synagogues, and into prisons, being brought before kings and ru"lers for my name's sake. And it shall turn "to you for a testimony. Settle it therefore "in your hearts, not to meditate before what 66 ye shall answer: for I will give you a mouth "and wisdom, which all your adversaries shall "not be able to gainsay nor resist: and then "shall many be offended. Now the brother "shall betray the brother to death, and the "father the son; and children shall rise up "against their parents, and shall cause them "to be put to death. And ye shall be hated "of all men for my name's sake. But there "shall not a hair of your head perish. And 66 many false prophets shall rise, and shall de"ceive many. And because iniquity shall "abound, the love of many shall wax cold.* "But he that shall endure unto the end, the "same shall be saved. And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world, "for a witness unto all nations; and then shall

66

For a proof of your innocence, faith and constancy. Many Christians, terrified with these persecutions, shall become apostates from their religion, and renounce their faith.

It is remarkable that none of the Christian converts are known to have perished in the siege and destruction of Jerusalem: they having all escaped to Pella, a small town beyond Jordan.

The ardour of many in embracing Christianity shall' greatly abate.

66

6.

C

"the end come. When ye therefore shall see "the abomination" of desolation, spoken of by Daniel the prophet, stand in the holy place, (whoso readeth, let him understand:) "then let them which be in Judea flee into "the mountains: let him which is on the house-top not come down to take any thing "out of his house. Neither let him which is "in the field return back to take his clothes. "For these be the days of vengeance, that all things which are written may be fulfilled. "And woe unto them that are with child, and "to them that give suck in those days! But pray ye that your flight be not in the winter, neither on the sabbath day: for in those "days shall be affliction, such as was not from

66

66

66

the beginning of the creation, which God "created unto this time, neither shall be. "And they shall fall by the edge of the sword, "and shall be led away captive into all na"tions and Jerusalem shall be trodden down "of the Gentiles, until the times of the Gen

a The end of the Jewish state and government.

Meaning the Roman army which besieged Jerusalem, upon whose standards were depicted the images of their emperor and tutelary gods, the worship of which idols was held an abomination by the Jews. Dan. ix. 27.

G

Escape by the shortest way possible that is, by the stairs on the outside. See note Sec. 30. The Jewish houses being low, the roofs flat, and defended with parapets, people went upon them for air, retirement, and other purposes.

When the weather is severe, the roads rough, and the days short.

The Jews deemed it unlawful on the sabbath-day to travel

more than a mile or two.

66

a

"tiles be fulfilled. And except those days "should be shortened, there should no flesh be "saved: but for the elect's sake those days shall "be shortened." Then if any man shall say unto you, Lo, here is Christ, or there; believe it "not. For there shall arise false Christs, and "false prophets, and shall shew great signs "and wonders; insomuch, that, (if it were "possible,) they shall deceive the very elect. "Behold, I have told you before. Wherefore "if they shall say unto you, Behold, he is in "the desert; go not forth: behold, he is in "the secret chambers; believe it not. For as "the lightning cometh out of the east, and

d

shineth even unto the west; so shall also "the coming of the Son of man be. For "wheresoever the carcase is, there will the "eagles' be gathered together. Immediately "after the tribulation of those days shall the sun be darkened, and the moon shall not

66

66

give her light, and the stars shall fall from "heaven. And there shall be upon the earth3 "distress of nations, with perplexity; the sea "and the waves roaring; men's hearts failing “them for fear, and for looking after those things which are coming on the earth :" for

a Until the Gentiles be converted.

The period of the siege was shortened for the sake of those who had been converted to Christianity.

с

Particular parts of the temple.

d As visible and sudden.

The Jewish nation.

f The Roman armies, whose standards were eagles. These are figures meant to express the fall of Jerusalem, and overthrow of its state and government.

On the land of Judea,

2

66

"the powers of heaven shall be shaken. And "then shall appear the sign of the Son of man in heaven: and then shall all the tribes "of the earth mourn, and they shall see the "Son of man* coming in the clouds of heaven "with power and great glory. And he shall "send his angels with a great sound of a trumpet, and they shall gather together his elect from the four winds, from one end of "heaven to the other.

66

46

b

"And when these things begin to come to pass, then look up, and lift up your heads; "for your redemption draweth nigh.

66

66

66

"Now learn a parable of the fig-tree; "When his branch is yet tender, and putteth "forth leaves, ye know that summer is nigh: "so likewise ye, when ye shall see all these things, know that the kingdom of God is near, even at the doors. Verily I say unto you, This generation shall not pass, till all "these things be fulfilled. Heaven and "earth shall pass away, but my words shall "not pass away. But of that day and that "hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels "which are in heaven, neither the Son," but "the Father. But as the days of Noe were, "so shall also the coming of the Son of man

Coming to execute judgment on the guilty Jews.

His messengers or ministers to preach his gospel, and gather his disciples from the four quarters of the earth.

All these events relative to the destruction of Jerusalem took place within forty years after our Saviour delivered this prophecy.

He speaks this only in his human nature, and prophetic capacity.