Declaring the end from the beginning
The end of the Jewish state, both as a church, and a
commonwealth, from the first settlement of it in the times of
Moses, and by him, ( Deuteronomy
32:29 ) . The end of the world, and all things in it, as
early as the times of Enoch, the seventh from Adam, ( Jude 1:14 Jude 1:15 ) . The end and
issue of every event, at least of many very remarkable and
momentous ones, before they came to pass; and particularly things
relating to Christ, the beginning and end; the fulfilling end of
the moral law for righteousness; the scope and design of the
ceremonial law, to which that tended, and in which it issued; as
well as the end of the whole Scripture, of the prophecies and
promises of it: and this end was declared very early, and spoken
of by all the prophets that were from the beginning of the world;
and which is a full proof of the omniscience of God, and so of
his true deity, ( Luke 1:70 ) ( Genesis 3:15
) . And from the ancient times the things that are not yet
done;
that were not at this time done, though they are since: such as
the captivity of the Jews, and their return from it; also the
incarnation of Christ, his obedience and sufferings, and the
glory that should follow; his resurrection, ascension, and
session at the right hand of God; the work of redemption by him;
the effusion of the Spirit; the spread of the Gospel among the
Gentiles, and their conversion; and others which are now not yet
done; as the conversion of the Jews in the latter day, and the
bringing in the fulness of the Gentiles; the glory of the church
in those times as to knowledge, peace, purity, power, and
authority; the destruction of antichrist; and the second coming
of the Messiah; all which have been declared from ancient times;
and as the former have been accomplished, there is reason to
believe the latter will: saying, my counsel shall
stand;
the purposes and decrees of God, which are within himself, wisely
formed by him, eternal and not frustrable; and which shall stand,
or be accomplished, being the counsels of him who is all wise,
all knowing, all powerful, unchangeable, true, and faithful;
whether they respect the providence of God in relation to the
world in general, and the government of it, or to particular
persons, and their affairs, from the time of their birth to their
death; or whether they respect his grace and goodness in the
salvation of men; such as his purpose according to election, the
covenant of his grace, redemption by Christ, the effectual
calling, and eternal glorification; all which, as they are
according to the will and counsel of God; stand firm and sure,
and shall have their full accomplishment; see ( Psalms 33:11
) ( Proverbs
19:21 ) . And I will do all my pleasure;
as he has done in creation, and does in providence, so he has
done, can do, and does in grace, in predestination and
redemption, and in the effectual calling. And particularly this
may refer to the deliverance of the Jews by Cyrus, a type of
Christ, and deliverance by him, as follows:
Isaiah 46:10
