FOOTNOTE - fta1 Throughout our conversation he always spoke of Him as Jesus; and I as the Lord Jesus. fta2 New Testament Commentary , Matthew 12:43-45.

FOOTNOTE - ftb1 It is mere tradition that would exclude the Evangelist Luke from this category, and the facts outweigh the tradition. ftb2 Dean Farrar’s Life and Work of St . Paul , vol. i. p. 598. The italics are mine. I shall have occasion to refer to this passage again with reference to the truth of the Coming. ftb3 That it has a secondary meaning is clearly indicated by the 17th verse. ftb4 In its highest fulfillment the sheaf of the first-fruits is Christ personally; but dispensationally it typifies the redeemed of this Christian age, “a kind of first-fruits of His creatures” ( James 1:18). ftb5 These words are quoted from Dr. Bloomfield’s Greek Testament . “Mysteries of the faith” he again defines as “certain verities hitherto quite unknown, and which could be derived from no other source but a Divine revelation.”

FOOTNOTE - ftc1 Jeremiah prophesied from the thirteenth year of Josiah (627 B.C.) until the fall of Jerusalem in the eleventh year of Zedekiah (587 B.C.). See Jeremiah 1:2,3. ftc2 The Apostle Paul’s commission to the Jews is generally overlooked: “the people and the Gentiles, unto whom I send thee” ( Acts 26:17). “To both the people and the Gentiles; not the Gentiles only.” Alford in loco . ftc3 The A.V. makes the 15th verse of Romans 11 contradict verse 2, where a different, Greek word is used. And the R.V. is quite as unsatisfactory, for it uses a stronger phrase in ver. 15 than in ver. 2. (See The Oxford English Dictionary .) A garment befouled with filth is “thrown away,” but a garment that impedes our movements is “thrown off”‘ The word used in ver. 15 occurs in its verbal form in this very sense in Mark 10:50. ftc4 55th Canon of the Convention of 1603. ftc5 It is noteworthy that the Epistles to the Thessalonians, Corinthians, and Galatians are addressed to churches , whereas his Epistles after this date — Ephesians, Philippians, Colossians — are addressed to “the saints” in those places.

FOOTNOTE - ftd1 The same phrase, “My gospel,” occurs also in ch. 2:16. How can anyone imagine that the Apostle would call the gospel his , save in the sense that it was the subject of a special revelation to himself! ftd2 The first kai in this sentence is obviously epexegetic. If read otherwise, as in our English versions, the Apostle is made to distinguish between the gospel of Christ and a gospel of his own. And “the Scriptures of the Prophets” is a mistranslation that reduces the Apostle’s words to an absurdity. For he is thus made to say that this “mystery” gospel was kept secret in all the past, and yet that it was plainly taught in the Old Testament Scriptures. The Greek is simple and clear. In ch. 1:2, the words are: “His prophets in holy writings” (i .e . the Old Testament Scriptures). In ch. 16:25, 26, the words are: “prophetic writings” (the inspired Scriptures of the New Testament). A prophet is “one who, moved by the Spirit of God, declares to men what he has received by inspiration” (Grimm’s Lexicon ). And therefore “prophetic” is equivalent to inspired ; the element of foretelling the future is merely incidental. ftd3 It is a gratifying proof of increasing light that so many modern expositors explain the words that follow (“and to all that are afar off”) as referring to the Jews of the dispersion. To say that the promise was to Gentiles is utterly opposed to Scripture. (See e .g . Romans 9:4; 15:8; Ephesians 2:12; etc., etc.) It is certain, moreover, that not one of Peter’s audience would put such a meaning on his words. ftd4 Sunday is thus designated in our older statutes. ftd5 These last clauses are taken from the Preface to the ninth edition of The Silence of God , a book in which I have sought to unfold the forgotten truth of “the mystery of God.”

FOOTNOTE - fte1 For the only alternative would be that heaven was about to be brought under kingly rule. The word basileia means either kingly rule or the sphere in which that rule prevails. fte2 Not “every Israelite,” but Israel as a nation. For Romans 11. does not deal with questions of individual salvation at all, but with national and dispensational distinctions. (See Alford’s Greek Testament Commentary .) fte3 Ephesians and Colossians. It is not specifically mentioned in Philippians. fte4 See Appendix 2.

FOOTNOTE - ftf1 These grand words are quoted from Dean Alford’s commentary upon Luke 24:27. ftf2 This would be merely a return to the state of things existing when Romans 11 was written. ftf3 See Appendix 3. ftf4 Hebrews 9:28 is misread when cited as a warrant for the phrase. The subject there is the doctrine of the Sin-offering. When Aaron passed within the veil, the people watched till he came out again to bless them.

So also Christ, having been once offered to bear the sins of many, shall be seen a second time , apart from sin, by them that wait for Him unto salvation. The words of our A.V., “shall appear the second time,” convey a wrong impression. The word translated “appear” in Both A. V. and R.V. is not that employed respecting the Lord’s coming, but the ordinary word for being seen. I have therefore modified to this extent the R.V. reading given above.

This will have a literal fulfillment for Israel; but it is a great doctrinal truth for the people of God in every age. It is the Hebrews aspect of the truth of the Death and Resurrection of Christ in Romans. ftf5 The “thousand years” of Revelation 20:4 is taken by some to mean, not a definite chronological era, but a vast period of time. ftf6 The 40th and 41st verses of ch. 24 are explained by verse 31. It is not taking His elect out of the earth, but gathering them together upon earth for the earthly kingdom.

FOOTNOTE - ftg1 That it was the leaders who had fallen is an obvious inference: it is so in every persecution. ftg2 This appears very plainly from the first part of both ch. 4 and ch. 5. ftg3 Alford’s note here is: “This first has no reference whatever to the ‘first resurrection’ ( Revelation 20:5,6), but answers to then in verse 17.”

This is of great importance if we are to understand Scripture aright.

The first resurrection of Revelation 20 is so called in relation to the resurrection after the 1000 years. It belongs to the future dispensation of a restored Israel. The faithful martyrs of the Great Tribulation will then be raised from the dead. (New Testament Commentary , in loco .) ftg3 “Being found naked” is the condition produced by death. “Being clothed upon” refers, not to the Resurrection but to the coming of the Lord. “The thought is that of one who…wishes, as he expects, to remain till that Coming (comp. 1 Corinthians 15:51; Thessalonians 4:15), to let the incorruptible body supervene on the corruptible, to be changed instead of dying.” (Bishop Ellicott’s New Testament Commentary for English Reader’s .) ftg4 “To die is gain” is the evil creed of a suicide. The Apostle never said that!” ftg5 This is the meaning given to the word in Grimm’s Lexicon .. It occurs also in Romans 8:19,23,25; 1 Corinthians 1:7; Galatians 5:5; Hebrews 9:28. Grimm remarks that it is scarcely found out of the New Testament. ftg6 The 14th verse of Philippians 3 is sometimes taken as referring to the Coming. But verse 12 vetoes such an exegesis. See Appendix 4. ftg7 “Bringing salvation to all men” suggests a serious error; and moreover the word here used is an adjective. And surely, having regard to English idiom, the A. V. hendiadys rendering, “the glorious appearing,” is right, for The R.V. rendering throws a wholly false emphasis upon “glory.” It is a strange exegesis which makes “the great God” a synonym for The Father : Scripture does not employ one term when another is intended.

FOOTNOTE - fth1 I say this because the fact is admitted by expositors of various schools, many of whom have no sympathy with the hope. fth2 For the Lord’s coming for His heavenly people having already taken place, “the Christian Church” will have reached the full development of its apostasy, and will then be awaiting its fearful doom. fth3 As regards the 70 weeks, see Appendix 1. fth4 At the Coming of the Lord, His own people within the professing Church will be called up to heaven, and that Church will be left to its doom. It may be asked again, “Will there be no longer any salvation for sinners within the apostate professing Church?” Surely the Divine principles of Romans 2:7 will hold good in that future age, as fully as in the past; and therefore, until “the great day of wrath” (which comes after the Tribulation) there will be mercy for those who seek it aright. Very many waverers, perhaps, will be startled into repentance by the Coming of the Lord.

FOOTNOTE - fti1 The words are Professor Tyndall’s. fti2 The same Hebrew word is used. fti3 It is an exclamation, like Galatians 4:15. And announcement is the primary and common meaning of the word here translated “promise.” It might be freely rendered, “What has become of His announcement?” fti4 The conflict between science and Scripture” in regard to Genesis 1 is mainly due to misreading Genesis. It does not describe the creation of the earth, but its refurnishing am a home for man. fti5 The Progress of Doctrine in the New Testament (Macmillan & Co.). I had the satisfaction of appealing successfully for the reissue of this book a dozen years ago. fti6 Dr. Plummer’s Church of the Early Fathers , chapter 7. fti7 De Habitu Virgimum . fti8 Wordsworth’s Church History , vol. 3. p. 92. fti9 Dill’s Roman , Society , p. 113. fti10 And this was one of the “Ecumenical Councils” which were recognized in England even after the Reformation. At the Ephesus Council of eighteen years later the “orthodox” majority made free use of their hired bullies, and Flavian, Bishop of Byzantium, received such brutal treatment that he died of his injuries. As another illustration of what, in his Bampton Lectures, Canon Liddon calls “the illuminated mind of primitive Christendom,” it may be mentioned that in the struggle for the Popedom between the rival factions of Damasus and Ursinus, corpses were left on the pavement of one of the Roman churches in a single day. fti11 The body of Salvian’s treatise containing this terrible indictment of the Primitive Church is given in Taylor’s Ancient Christianity , together with quotations from Augustine and others of the Fathers in support of his testimony. The preceding clauses are taken from The Buddha of Christendom now republished as The Bible or the Church . fti12 Froude’s Council of Trent . fti13 Since these pages were written, a sadder book even than Newman’s Apologia has been published, viz. Monsignor Benson’s Confessions of a Convert . The fact that such men as these are led by the prevalent superstitions about “the Church” to make shipwreck of their Christian life proves the need of plain speaking on this subject. And surely all who are connected with either of the historic Churches of the Reformation have a peculiar right, if not a special responsibility, to undertake the unwelcome task.

FOOTNOTE - ftj1 In these days to hold that the Lord of glory was duped by Jewish superstitions about the Divine authority of Holy Scripture is proof of enlightenment, but a man is “past praying for” who exposes the pestilent superstitions about the Church, which are the stock-in-trade of the Apostasy! ftj2 Dean Alford in loco . The italics are his own. ftj3 These words are Dr. Alfred Edersheim’s. ftj4 Hatch’s Bampton Lectures , 1880 (vii.). ftj5 _O ejco>menov . — Hebrews 10:37.

FOOTNOTE - ftk1 The primary meaning of bh~ma is a space on which to put one’s foot, as in Acts 7:5; then, a raised place, a platform or pulpit, as in Nehemiah 8:4 (LXX). This is its usual meaning in classical Greek.

Then, a throne ( Acts 12:21) and a judgment-seat. ftk2 N .T . Synonyms , Second Series. In his concluding sentence he says, “The severer meaning is involved in the word in other places in the New Testament where it occurs.” The primary meaning of the word, according to Grimm, is “easy, slight, ordinary, mean, worthless, of no account.” ftk3 I find that Bishop Wordsworth makes a suggestion of this kind in him commentary on the passage. ftk4 To cite a case of another kind, will nothing be heard in that day of the evil work of Christian advocates of the Higher Criticism apostasy, by whom many a Christian life is wrecked, and multitudes of young Christians are stumbled? ( Matthew 18:6.)

FOOTNOTE - ftl1 The Expositor’s Greek Testament . Dean Alford’s Commentary tells us that the word here rendered generation has the meaning of a race or family of people. ftl2 The history of the C.M.S. might save us from the baneful superstitions about “the Christian Church” which are so prevalent, and which are the great hindrance to a spiritual revival today. (See chap. 9., ante , especially pp. 97 ff.) These superstitions are opposed to the XXXIX Articles. See Canon Eden’s Churchman’s Theological Dictionary on Art. XIX, p. 87. ftl3 The Babylonian cult, which the “Higher Critics” regard as the source from which the cult of the Pentateuch was evolved, was the traditional and corrupt phase of that primeval revelation. ftl4 See Appendix V. ftl5 It was a kindred misuse of the truth of the Divine counsels which led “the Christian Church” to oppose the pioneers of Gospel work in heathendom. We need a “Calvin Society” to clear that great teacher’s name from the reproach of “Calvinism”! ftl6 There is no doubt as to the meaning of the words, viz. that He would come “quickly, speedily, without delay” (Grimm’s Lexicon ). The gloss, that when He does come He will come suddenly, is a sorry quibble. I may add, it is a glaring misuse of 2 Peter 3:8 to apply it here at all; and that not only because of the reason stated on p. 84, ante but also because the Lord here speaks in His human name, as when He taught by the Sea of Galilee, or at the Last Supper — “I Jesus…I am coming quickly.” The mystery deepens when we realize that, if this strange hypothesis be true, the Lord’s inspired Apostles were misled by His words. And it becomes overwhelming when we mark the care with which He warned His Jewish disciples in relation to His returning as Son of Man, that he would not come quickly .

APPENDIX - ftm1 The incidental questions involved in the chronology of the judgments of the exilic era, and of the seventy weeks, age too numerous and far too important to be treated in an Appendix note. But they are fully dealt with in The Comin Prince ; or , The Seventy Weeks of Daniel , a book that has been before the public for thirty years, and is now in the ninth edition.

APPENDIX - ftn1 To interpret Ephesians 5:31 in a carnal sense is an outrage upon Scripture. ftn2 Jerwish Social Life , p. 153. It is noteworthy that in 2 Corinthians 11:2 the Apostle does not use the word “bride,” but the ordinary word for an unmarried girl.

APPENDIX - fto1 Referring to the exegesis of Philippians 3:8-14, my greatly esteemed friend, the late Dr. E. W. Bullinger, added the following note to a most cordial commendation of, Forgotten Truths : “We would remind our readers that ano in Philippians 3:14 is not an ajective , meaning ‘high’ as to quality, but an adverb , meaning ‘upward’ as to direction; and that the verb katantao ( Philippians 3:11)…is always used of a personal or material arrival at a definite situation.”

This is an enigma to me. Of the thirteen occurrences of katantao , nine are found in Acts and four in the Epistles ( 1 Corinthians 10:11; 14:36; Ephesians 4:13; and Philippians 3:11). Save only in Acts 26:7, where he quotes the Apostle Paul, the Evangelist always uses the word in its primary meaning of “a personal or material arrival at a given situation.” But the word has a secondary meaning, which Grimm defines as “to attain to a thing”; and Philippians 3:11 is one of the passages he cites to illustrate this. Indeed a careful study of the texts above enumerated suggests that the Apostle Paul uses the word always and only in this secondary sense.