SEV Biblia, Chapter 24:31
Y enviar sus ngeles con trompeta y gran voz; y juntarn sus escogidos de los cuatro vientos, de un cabo del cielo hasta el otro.
Clarke's Bible Commentary - Matthew 24:31
Verse 31. He shall send his angels] touv aggelouv, his messengers, the apostles, and their successors in the Christian ministry. With a great sound of a trumpet] Or, a loud-sounding trumpet- the earnest affectionate call of the Gospel of peace, life, and salvation.
Shall gather together his elect] The Gentiles, who were now chosen or elected, in place of the rebellious, obstinate Jews, according to Our Lord's prediction, chap. viii. 11,12, and Luke xiii. 28,29. For the children of the kingdom, (the Jews who were born with a legal right to it, but had now finally forfeited that right by their iniquities) should be thrust out. It is worth serious observation, that the Christian religion spread and prevailed mightily after this period: and nothing contributed more to the success of the Gospel than the destruction of Jerusalem happening in the very time and manner, and with the very circumstances, so particularly foretold by our Lord. It was after this period that the kingdom of Christ began, and his reign was established in almost every part of the world.
To St. Matthew's account, St. Luke adds, Luke xxi. 24, They shall fall by the edge of the sword, and shalt be led away captive into all nations; and Jerusalem shall be trodden down by the Gentiles, till the times of the Gentiles be fulfilled. The number of those who fell by the sword was very great. ELEVEN HUNDRED THOUSAND perished during the siege. Many were slain at other places, and at other times. By the commandment of Florus, the first author of the war, there were slain at Jerusalem 3,600, Joshua.
WAR, b. ii. c. 14. By the inhabitants of Caesarea, above 20,000. At Scythopolis, above 13,000. At Ascalon, 2,500. At Ptolemais, 2,000. At Alexandria, 50,000. At Joppa, when taken by Cestius Gallus, 8,400. In a mountain called Asamon, near Sepporis, above 2,000. At Damascus, 10,000. In a battle with the Romans at Ascalon, 10,000. In an ambuscade near the same place, 8,000. At Japha, 15,000. Of the Samaritans, on Mount Gerizim, 11,600. At Jotapa, 40,000. At Joppa, when taken by Vespasian, 4,200. At Tarichea, 6,500. And after the city was taken, 1,200.
At Gamala, 4,000, besides 5,000 who threw themselves down a precipice.
Of those who fled with John, of Gischala, 6,000. Of the Gadarenes, 15,000 slain, besides countless multitudes drowned. In the village of Idumea, above 10,000 slain. At Gerasa, 1,000. At Machaerus, 1,700. In the wood of Jardes, 3,000. In the castle of Masada, 960. In Cyrene, by Catullus the governor, 3,000. Besides these, many of every age, sex, and condition, were slain in the war, who are not reckoned; but, of those who are reckoned, the number amounts to upwards of 1,357,660, which would have appeared incredible, if their own historian had not so particularly enumerated them. See Josephus, WAR, book ii. c. 18, 20; book iii. c. 2, 7, 8, 9; book iv. c. 1, 2, 7, 8, 9; book vii. c. 6, 9, 11; and Bp. Newton, vol. ii. p. 288-290.
Many also were led away captives into all nations. There were taken at Japha, 2,130. At Jotapa, 1,200. At Tarichea, 6,000 chosen young men, who were sent to Nero; others sold to the number of 30,400, besides those who were given to Agrippa. Of the Gadarenes were taken 2,200. In Idumea above 1,000. Many besides these were taken in Jerusalem; so that, as Josephus says, the number of the captives taken in the whole war amounted to 97,000. Those above seventeen years of age were sent to the works in Egypt; but most were distributed through the Roman provinces, to be destroyed in their theatres by the sword, and by the wild beasts; and those under seventeen years of age were sold for slaves. Eleven thousand in one place perished for want. At Caesarea, Titus, like a thorough- paced infernal savage, murdered 2,500 Jews, in honour of his brother's birthday; and a greater number at Berytus in honour of his father's. See Josephus, WAR, b. vii. c. 3. s. 1. Some he caused to kill each other; some were thrown to the wild beasts; and others burnt alive. And all this was done by a man who was styled, The darling of mankind! Thus were the Jews miserably tormented, and distributed over the Roman provinces; and continue to be distressed and dispersed over all the nations of the world to the present day. Jerusalem also was, according to the prediction of our Lord, to be trodden down by the Gentiles. Accordingly it has never since been in the possession of the Jews. It was first in subjection to the Romans, afterwards to the Saracens, then to the Franks, after to the Mamalukes, and now to the Turks. Thus has the prophecy of Christ been most literally and terribly fulfilled, on a people who are still preserved as continued monuments of the truth of our Lord's prediction, and of the truth of the Christian religion. See more in Bp. Newton's Dissert. vol. ii. p. 291, &c.
John Gill's Bible Commentary
Ver. 31. And he shall send his angels , etc.] Not the angels, i.e. ministering spirits, so called, not from their nature, but their office, as being sent forth by God and Christ; but men angels, or messengers, the ministers and preachers of the Gospel, whom Christ would call, qualify, and send forth into all the world of the Gentiles, to preach his Gospel, and plant churches there still more, when that at Jerusalem was broken up and dissolved.
These are called angels, because of their mission, and commission from Christ, to preach the Gospel; and because of their knowledge and understanding in spiritual things; and because of their zeal, diligence, and watchfulness. With a great sound of a trumpet , meaning the Gospel; (see Isaiah 27:13) so called in allusion either to the silver trumpets which Moses was ordered to make of one piece, and use them for the calling of the assembly, the journeying of the camps, blowing an alarm for war, and on their solemn and festival days, ( Numbers 10:1-10). The Gospel being rich and precious, all of a piece, useful for gathering souls to Christ, and to his churches; to direct saints in their journey to Canaans land; to encourage them to fight the Lords battles; and is a joyful sound, being a sound of love, grace, and mercy, peace, pardon, righteousness, life and salvation, by Christ: or else so called, in allusion to the trumpet blown in the year of jubilee; which proclaimed rest to the land, liberty to prisoners, a release of debts, and restoration of inheritances; as the Gospel publishes rest in Christ, liberty to the captives of sin, Satan, and the law, a payment of debts by Christ, and a release from them upon that, and a right and title to the heavenly inheritance. The Vulgate Latin reads it, with a trumpet, and a great voice; and so does Munsters Hebrew Gospel; and so it was read in four of Bezas copies: and they shall gather his elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other ; that is, by the ministration of the Gospel; the Spirit of God accompanying it with his power, and grace, the ministers of the word should gather out of the world unto Christ, and to his churches, such persons as God had, before the foundation of the world, chosen in Christ, unto salvation, through sanctification of the Spirit, and belief of the truth; wherever they are under the whole heavens, from one end to another; or in any part of the earth, though at the greatest distance; for in ( Mark 13:27) it is said, from the uttermost part of the earth, to the uttermost part of the heaven. The Jews say, that in the after redemption (i.e. by the Messiah) all Israel shall be gathered together by the sound of a trumpet, from the four parts of the world.
Matthew Henry Commentary
Verses 29-41 - Christ foretells his second coming. It is usual for prophets to spea of things as near and just at hand, to express the greatness an certainty of them. Concerning Christ's second coming, it is foretol that there shall be a great change, in order to the making all thing new. Then they shall see the Son of man coming in the clouds. At his first coming, he was set for a sign that should be spoken against, but at his second coming, a sign that should be admired. Sooner or later all sinners will be mourners; but repenting sinners look to Christ, an mourn after a godly sort; and those who sow in those tears shal shortly reap in joy. Impenitent sinners shall see Him whom they have pierced, and, though they laugh now, shall mourn and weep in endles horror and despair. The elect of God are scattered abroad; there ar some in all places, and all nations; but when that great gathering da comes, there shall not one of them be missing. Distance of place shal keep none out of heaven. Our Lord declares that the Jews should neve cease to be a distinct people, until all things he had been predictin were fulfilled. His prophecy reaches to the day of final judgment therefore he here, ver. 34, foretells that Judah shall never cease to exist as a distinct people, so long as this world shall endure. Men of the world scheme and plan for generation upon generation here, but the plan not with reference to the overwhelming, approaching, and mos certain event of Christ's second coming, which shall do away ever human scheme, and set aside for ever all that God forbids. That will be as surprising a day, as the deluge to the old world. Apply this, first to temporal judgments, particularly that which was then hastening upo the nation and people of the Jews. Secondly, to the eternal judgment Christ here shows the state of the old world when the deluge came. The were secure and careless; they knew not, until the flood came; and the believed not. Did we know aright that all earthly things must shortl pass away, we should not set our eyes and hearts so much upon them a we do. The evil day is not the further off for men's putting it fa from them. What words can more strongly describe the suddenness of ou Saviour's coming! Men will be at their respective businesses, an suddenly the Lord of glory will appear. Women will be in their hous employments, but in that moment every other work will be laid aside and every heart will turn inward and say, It is the Lord! Am I prepare to meet him? Can I stand before him? And what, in fact, is the day of judgment to the whole world, but the day of death to every one?
Greek Textus Receptus
και 2532 CONJ αποστελει 649 5692 V-FAI-3S τους 3588 T-APM αγγελους 32 N-APM αυτου 846 P-GSM μετα 3326 PREP σαλπιγγος 4536 N-GSF φωνης 5456 N-GSF μεγαλης 3173 A-GSF και 2532 CONJ επισυναξουσιν 1996 5692 V-FAI-3P τους 3588 T-APM εκλεκτους 1588 A-APM αυτου 846 P-GSM εκ 1537 PREP των 3588 T-GPM τεσσαρων 5064 A-GPM ανεμων 417 N-GPM απ 575 PREP ακρων 206 N-GPN ουρανων 3772 N-GPM εως 2193 CONJ ακρων 206 N-GPN αυτων 846 P-GPM
Vincent's NT Word Studies
31. With a great sound of a trumpet (meta salpiggov fwnhv megalhv). Some read with a great trumpet. The blowing of trumpets was anciently the signal for the host of Israel on their march through the desert. I summoned to war, and proclaimed public festivals, and marked the beginnings of months; Num. x. 1-10; Ps. lxxxi. 3. Hence the symbolism of the New Testament. Jehovah's people shall be summoned before their king by sound of trumpet. Compare the proclamation of Christ as king at the trumpet of the seventh angel, Apoc. xi. 15.
Robertson's NT Word Studies
24:31 {With a great sound of a trumpet} (meta salpiggos fwnes megales). Some MSS. omit (fwnes) "sound." The trumpet was the signal employed to call the hosts of Israel to march as to war and is common in prophetic imagery (#Isa 27:13). Cf. the seventh angel (#Re 11:15). Clearly "the coming of the son of man is not to be identified with the judgment of Jerusalem but rather forms its preternatural background" (Bruce).
