The Parable of the Ten Virgins Opened, Parable · Verse 13 · Question 3
Queſt. 3. What is the Meaning of theſe words, Ye know not that Day or Hour?
Anſw. 1. It cannot be Denied, but that the Apoſtles themſelves are Primarily intended (here) by that word, Ye, whom Chriſt Directeth this ſpeech unto, in Anſwer to their fore-going Queſtions, Mat. 24. 3. Now, theſe Apoſtles were very Ignorant, in that particular; yea, notwithſtanding what Chriſt had Newly ſaid: As is apparent, both from his Preſent Affirmation of it Here, and from their Queſtion afterwards, implying their ſudden Expectation of it, Acts 1. 6. Whoſe being Ignorant thereof at ſuch a Time, may yet conſiſt with their more clearly knowing it afterwards, and Others alſo, or ſince John had his Revelations, and the Spirit's giving forth. John 16. 13. yet were Theſe (in Their Day) concerned to Watch, though onelyonly with Reſpect unto the Near approaching Ruine of Jeruſalem, which was an Emblem of Chriſt's Coming, which John Lived to ſee, John 21. 22. and which are therefore intermingled, both in the Diſciples Queſtion, and Chriſt's Anſwer, Luke 21. 7. 12. 20. 24, 25. 27. 32.
2. By this word [Ye] may be intended the Generality of Diſciſciples afterwards, as is Evinced by Chriſt's ſaying, John 13. 10. Ye are clean, (that is, Generally) but not All, that is, excepting Judas in Particular. And ſo this may import the General Ignorance (of ſuch a Myſtery) among Profeſſors in following times, which yet may be conſiſtent with a Clearer Diſcovery thereof to ſome Particular Perſons; and more eſpecially towards the End. Thus none of the Wicked (at ſuch a time) ſhall Underſtand, Dan. 12. 10. but all the Viſion will be (to ſuch) a ſealed Book, Iſa. 20. 11. ſo that no Man or Counſellor will Anſwer a word, Iſa. 41. 28. But yet the Wiſe ſhall Underſtand, Dan. 12. 10. and there will be ſome Firſt (or Chief one) with Good Tiding of that Kind, Iſa. 21. 27.
3. This may be Univerſally Interpreted: and ſo, No Man doth Know.
1. When Chriſt's Perſonal Coming will be, nor yet the Angels, Mat. 24. 35. neither the Son of Man himſelf, Mark 13. 32. Which Perſonal Coming is not wholly (here) to be Excluded; and ſo that ſometime is applyed to the whole, or both, Mat. 27. 44. which yet is onelyonly Meant, with reference unto the one, Luke 23. 39. And ſo there may (perhaps) be ſome more full Diſcovery, (though it be little Underſtood) as to Chriſt's Coming with the Seventh Trumpet's Sounding; becauſe there is a ſeeming Series of Myſtical Numbers (in the Scripture) continued beyond that time, or till the Jews Converſion, as ſome conceive. But after which time, (viz. the literal Jews Converſion) no Sober Perſons do Pretend to any ſuch kind of Myſtical Numbers; till Chriſt himſelf ſhall Come in Perſon.
2. Yet neither is that former Coming known by any Man.
1. In Reſpect of Punctuality, viz. the very Day and Hour, as is here Expreſſed; and wherein (poſſibly) the Emphaſis may lye. Iſrael's Deliverance out of Egypt was fulfilled unto a Day, Exod. 12. 41. whereas their coming out of Babylon, is onelyonly ſaid to be in ſuch a Year, 2 Chron. 36. 21, 22. And therefore Gentile-Saints may not Expect to know the very Day of their Redemption out of Babylon in the Myſtery, (much leſs out of Aſſyria Afterwards) ſince this would not be granted to the Jews of Old, who yet are firſt, in point of Outward Priviledges, Rom. 3. 1, 2. But as the Aſſyrian's Fall was ſignified (as ſome conceive) within the Compaſs of a Year, 2 Kings 19. 29. and which fell out that very Night, v. 35. So Time will ſhew the Meaning of thoſe Ten Prophetical Days allotted unto Satan, Rev. 2. 10. whoſe Name is never mentioned in a Revelation ſence, but either before the Babyloniſh Beaſt came up, Rev. 12. 9. or after the Return of that Captivity, Zech. 3. 1, 2.
2. Yet will I alſo grant, that no Man knoweth Certainly, (as foreign here uſed ſignifies,) the MonethMonth or Year, (nor poſſibly a longer time) with reference unto This Coming of the Bridegroom here. King David's Diſpenſation was a Type of Chriſt's, Amos 9. 11. and though he Knew, or did Believe, that he ſhould ſee the Goodneſs of the Lod (in that Reſpect) before his Death, Pſal. 27. 13. yet did he not certainly know the very Year of his Advancement; elſe would he not have fled to Achiſh, 1 Sam. 27. 2. When Saul's Deſtruction was to come in little more than one Year after, v. 7. compared with Chap. 29. 1. 11. and Chap. 31. 1. And thus, not any Man doth know how long; that is to ſay, not as a Prophet, Pſal. 74. 9. or in a way of certain and Infallible Knowledge.