5. I . . . come near . . . to
judgment--I whom ye challenged, saying, "Where is the God of
judgment?"
(Mal 2:17).
I whom ye think far off, and to be slow in judgment, am "near," and
will come as a "swift witness"; not only a judge, but also an
eye-witness against sorcerers; for Mine eyes see every sin,
though ye think I take no heed. Earthly judges need witnesses to
enable them to decide aright: I alone need none
(Ps 10:11; 73:11; 94:7,
&c.).
sorcerers--a sin into which the Jews were led in connection with their
foreign idolatrous wives. The Jews of Christ's time also practised
sorcery
(Ac 8:9; 13:6;
Ga 5:20;
JOSEPHUS [Antiquities, 20.6;
Wars of the Jews, 2.12.23]). It shall be a characteristic of the
last Antichristian confederacy, about to be consumed by the brightness
of Christ's Coming
(Mt 24:24;
2Th 2:9;
Re 13:13, 14; 16:13, 14;
also
Re 9:21; 18:23; 21:8; 22:15).
Romanism has practised it; an order of exorcists exists in that
Church.
adulterers--
(Mal 2:15, 16).
fear not me--the source of all sins.
JFB.
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