9. I beheld till--I continued looking till.
thrones . . . cast down--rather, "thrones were
placed" [Vulgate and LUTHER],
namely, for the saints and elect angels to whom "judgment is given"
(Da 7:22),
as assessors with the Judge. Compare
Da 7:10,
"thousand thousands ministered unto Him"
(Mt 19:28;
Lu 22:30;
1Co 6:2, 3;
1Ti 5:21;
Re 2:26; 4:4).
In English Version the thrones cast down are those of the
previously mentioned kings who give place to Messiah.
Ancient of days--"The everlasting Father"
(Isa 9:6).
HE is the Judge here, as THE
SON does not judge in His own cause, and it is His
cause which is the one at issue with Antichrist.
sit--the attitude of a judge about to pass sentence.
white--The judicial purity of the Judge, and of all things round
Him, is hereby expressed
(Re 1:14).
wheels--as Oriental thrones move on wheels. Like the rapid
flame, God's judgments are most swift in falling where He wills them
(Eze 1:15, 16).
The judgment here is not the last judgment, for then there will
be no beast, and heaven and earth shall have passed away; but it is
that on Antichrist (the last development of the fourth kingdom),
typical of the last judgment: Christ coming to substitute the
millennial kingdom of glory for that of the cross
(Re 17:12-14; 19:15-21; 11:15).
JFB.
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