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DaveRC
Guest
That is, the Jewish heaven shall perish, and the sun and moon of its glory and happiness shall be darkened -- brought to nothing. The sun is the religion of the Jewish church, the moon is the government of the Jewish state; and the stars are the judges and doctors of both. Compare Isa. xiii. 10; Ezek. xxxii. 7, 8.
John Lightfoot, A Commentary on the New Testament from the Talmud anf Hebraica: Matthew-1 Corinthians
The darkening of the sun and moon, the falling of the stars, and the shaking of the powers of heaven, denote the utter extinction of the light of prosperity and privilage to the Jewish nation; the unhinging of their whole constitution in church and state; the violent subversion of the authority of their princes and priests; the abject miseries to which the people in general, especially their chief persons, would be reduced; the moral or religious darkness they would be consigned.
Thomas Scott, The Holy Bible Containing the Old and New Testaments; with explanatory notes, practical observations, and copious marginal references
Thus it is that in prophetic language great commotions and revolutions upon the earth, are often represented by commotions and changes in the heavens.
Thomas Newton, Dissertations on the Prophecies
Our Saviour goes on, to set forth the calamities that should befall the Jewish nation, immediately after the destruction of Jerusalem. So entire was the subversion of their ecclesiastical and civil state, that it may be metaphorically represented by the sun, moon, and stars, losing their light, and all the heavenly bodies being dissolved.
W. Dalton, An Explanatory and Practical Commentary on the New Testament
In ancient Hieroglyphic writings the sun, moon, and stars represented empires and states, with their sovereigns and nobility. The eclipse of these luminaries was said to denote temporary national disasters, or an entire overthrow of any state. This is still an Eastern mode of writing, and there are some classical examples of it. The Prophets frequently employ it, so that their style seems to be a speaking hieroglyphic. Thus Isaiah describes the destruction of Babylon, and Ezekiel describes that of Egypt - in accordance with this prediction, Josephus gives an account of the persecution and slaughter of the nobility and principal men in the city by the infuriated Zealots, comparing their number at twelve thousand.
John Forster, The Gospel-Narrative
In ancient cultures these astronomical symbols represented rulers.
Allen Ross, The Bible Knowledge Commentary
We might fill volumes with extracts showing how exegates and writers of New Testament doctrine assume as principal not to be questioned that such highly wrought language as Matt. xxiv, 29-31... taken almost verbatim from Old Testament prophecies of judgment on nations and kingdoms which long ago perished, must be literally understood. Too little study of Old Testament ideas of judgment, and apocalyptic language and style, would seem to be the main reason for this one sided exegesis. It will require more than assertion to convince thoughtful men that the figurative language of Isaiah and Daniel, admitted on all hands to be such in those ancient prophets, is to be literally interpreted when used by Jesus or Paul.
Milton S. Terry, Biblical Hermeneutics
ON GENESIS 37:9:
The second dream involved celestial images - the sun, the moon, and stars being easily recognized for their significance for rulership.
Allen Ross, Creation and Blessing
Almost the same symbols appeared in the visions of the apostle John (Revelation 12:1), again probably representing Israel and the twelve tribes.
Henry M. Morris, The Genesis Record
ON REVELATION 12:1:
The sun, moon, and stars indicate a complete system of government and remind the reader of Genesis 37:9. God had caused royal dignity to rest in Israel in the line of David.
Charles L. Feinberg, Liberty Bible Commentary
John Lightfoot, A Commentary on the New Testament from the Talmud anf Hebraica: Matthew-1 Corinthians
The darkening of the sun and moon, the falling of the stars, and the shaking of the powers of heaven, denote the utter extinction of the light of prosperity and privilage to the Jewish nation; the unhinging of their whole constitution in church and state; the violent subversion of the authority of their princes and priests; the abject miseries to which the people in general, especially their chief persons, would be reduced; the moral or religious darkness they would be consigned.
Thomas Scott, The Holy Bible Containing the Old and New Testaments; with explanatory notes, practical observations, and copious marginal references
Thus it is that in prophetic language great commotions and revolutions upon the earth, are often represented by commotions and changes in the heavens.
Thomas Newton, Dissertations on the Prophecies
Our Saviour goes on, to set forth the calamities that should befall the Jewish nation, immediately after the destruction of Jerusalem. So entire was the subversion of their ecclesiastical and civil state, that it may be metaphorically represented by the sun, moon, and stars, losing their light, and all the heavenly bodies being dissolved.
W. Dalton, An Explanatory and Practical Commentary on the New Testament
In ancient Hieroglyphic writings the sun, moon, and stars represented empires and states, with their sovereigns and nobility. The eclipse of these luminaries was said to denote temporary national disasters, or an entire overthrow of any state. This is still an Eastern mode of writing, and there are some classical examples of it. The Prophets frequently employ it, so that their style seems to be a speaking hieroglyphic. Thus Isaiah describes the destruction of Babylon, and Ezekiel describes that of Egypt - in accordance with this prediction, Josephus gives an account of the persecution and slaughter of the nobility and principal men in the city by the infuriated Zealots, comparing their number at twelve thousand.
John Forster, The Gospel-Narrative
In ancient cultures these astronomical symbols represented rulers.
Allen Ross, The Bible Knowledge Commentary
We might fill volumes with extracts showing how exegates and writers of New Testament doctrine assume as principal not to be questioned that such highly wrought language as Matt. xxiv, 29-31... taken almost verbatim from Old Testament prophecies of judgment on nations and kingdoms which long ago perished, must be literally understood. Too little study of Old Testament ideas of judgment, and apocalyptic language and style, would seem to be the main reason for this one sided exegesis. It will require more than assertion to convince thoughtful men that the figurative language of Isaiah and Daniel, admitted on all hands to be such in those ancient prophets, is to be literally interpreted when used by Jesus or Paul.
Milton S. Terry, Biblical Hermeneutics
ON GENESIS 37:9:
The second dream involved celestial images - the sun, the moon, and stars being easily recognized for their significance for rulership.
Allen Ross, Creation and Blessing
Almost the same symbols appeared in the visions of the apostle John (Revelation 12:1), again probably representing Israel and the twelve tribes.
Henry M. Morris, The Genesis Record
ON REVELATION 12:1:
The sun, moon, and stars indicate a complete system of government and remind the reader of Genesis 37:9. God had caused royal dignity to rest in Israel in the line of David.
Charles L. Feinberg, Liberty Bible Commentary
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