Mal 3:2, Rev 6:15-16 | JFB | e4.org | 2. ( ). The Messiah would come, not, as they expected, to flatter the theocratic nation's prejudices, but to subject their principles to the fiery test of His heart-searching truth ( ), and to destroy Jerusalem and the theocracy after they had rejected Him. His mission is here regarded as a whole from the first to the second advent: the process of refining and separating the godly from the ungodly beginning during Christ's stay on earth, going on ever since, and about to continue till the final separation ( ). The refining process, whereby a third of the Jews is refined as silver of its dross, while two-thirds perish, is described, (compare ).

‏ Malachi 3:2

2. (Mal 4:1; Re 6:16, 17). The Messiah would come, not, as they expected, to flatter the theocratic nation's prejudices, but to subject their principles to the fiery test of His heart-searching truth (Mt 3:10-12), and to destroy Jerusalem and the theocracy after they had rejected Him. His mission is here regarded as a whole from the first to the second advent: the process of refining and separating the godly from the ungodly beginning during Christ's stay on earth, going on ever since, and about to continue till the final separation (Mt 25:31-46). The refining process, whereby a third of the Jews is refined as silver of its dross, while two-thirds perish, is described, Zec 13:8, 9 (compare Isa 1:25).

‏ Revelation of John 6:15-16

15. kings . . . hid themselves—Where was now the spirit of those whom the world has so greatly feared? [BENGEL].

great men—statesmen and high civil officers.

rich men . . . chief captains—The three oldest manuscripts, A, B, C, transpose thus, "chief captains . . . rich men."

mighty—The three oldest manuscripts, A, B, and C read, "strong" physically (Ps 33:16).

in—literally "into"; ran into, so as to hide themselves in.

dens—"caves."

16. from the face— (Ps 34:16). On the whole verse, compare Ho 10:8; Lu 23:30.