CHAPTER 25
Ch. 24, 25.
A GREATER LORD
This is levelled at the Jewish race, and only received its fulfilment in their case, after their plot against our Saviour.
(<J) Their ancient holy place, at any rate, and their Temple are to this day as much destroyed as Sodom.
Yet though they have suffered in accordance with the prediction, they have not hitherto turned to Christ, on Whose account they have suffered so much.
And so the prophecy before us is justly inspired to say : "And neither so have ye returned to me, saith the Lord."
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(251) From Obadiah.
Of the T'loo Lords, Father and Son, and of the Call {^) of the Gentiles.
[Passage quoted, Obad. i.] Thk Lord God has heard a report from the Lord.
And this report was about the call of the Gentiles.
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From Zechariah.
That God the Word bein^ Lord confesses that lie was sent (c) by a Greater Lord.
[Passage quoted, Zech. ii. 8.] L", then, the Lord that sent (Him) is Lord Almighty, and He that says He was sent is so also, surely there are Two ; And He that was sent as Almighty Lord of the nations says clearly, " He sent me."
THE PROOF OF THE GOSPEL
Bk. V.
CHAPTER 2G (d) The same, and concerning the Call of the Gentiles.
[Passage quoted, Zech. ii. lo, ii.] And this prophecy is like the former one, telling of the coming of the Christ to men, and the call of the Gentiles to salvation through Him.
(252) "For I the Lord myself will come," He says, "and at My coming no longer Israel of old, nor one single nation of the earth alone, but many nations shall take refuge in the greater and high Lord, the God of Me Myself and of the Universe, to Whom fleeing the nations shall reap the great harvest of being called and actually becoming the people of God, and of dwelling in the midst of her that is called the daughter of Zion."
(b) So it is common in Holy Scripture to call the Church of God on earth, as being as it were a daughter of the heavenly Zion.
And this good news is told in the oracle which says :
" Rejoice and be glad, O daughter of Zion, because I come, and I will dwell in the midst of thee."
For we believe that God the AN'ord dwells in the midst of the Church.
As Mau. indeed He promised when He said, " Lo, I am with you all
XXV111.20.
j|)g days, until the end of the world''—and, "Where two or Mntt.xviii. three are gathered together in my name, there am
I in the 20.
(c) midst of them.''
And when, He says :
"I the Lord Myself, do come and dwell in the midst of you ; thou shalt receive a greater knowledge of God, for I the Lord will refer the cause of My being sent to men to My Father who sent Me.
Thou shalt know that the Lord Almighty has sent Me unto you."
And then in such words as these the Lord Himself speaks about another Lord and God, " And I will strengthen them in the Lord their God, and in my name shall they boast, saith the Lord."'
Who then arc those who boast in the (d) Lord ?
Ch. 27, 28.
ANGEL OF COVENAN T
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How again the Lord narrates concerning another Lord, and this is cleat ly His Father.
(253) [Passage quoted, Zech. iii. i.] And here again the Lord says that another Lord will rebuke the devil.
The Lord that is speaking with Him is not himself the rebuker, but tells of another Lord.
Wherein I consider there is clear proof of the existence of two Lords, the Father and God of the Universe, and One after the Father, Who has received the lordship and dominion of all things begotten.
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(b) From Malachi.
That the Almighiy God calls the Angel of the Covenant Christ, and the same Being Lord.
[Passage quoted, Mai. iii.
1-2.] This, too, is like the former prophecies.
For the Lord God(c) Himself, the Almighty, says that a Lord will come in His own temple, speaking of another : And He surely means God the Word.
And after this also He names Him "the Angel of the Covenant" of \\hom, too. Almighty God leaches that He will Him send forth before His face, saying, " lk"hold, I send forth my angel before my face."
And this same Being, Whom He has called " My angel," He calls Lord directly after, and adds, "The Lord shall suddenly come, and the Angel of the Covenant."
Thus having (tl) referred to one and the same Being, He proceeds, " Behold he comes, and who will abide the day of his coming?" meaning His Second and Glorious Coming.
And the Lord who makes this prophecy is God, the Sovereign of the Universe.