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(Isa. 1: 26). Before the age-times began God was all in all, when the ages shall have
reached their consummation God will be all in all.
"That which hath been is now."
Type and prophecy continually repeat the final truth. One antichrist there shall be, but
there are also many antichrists. Even Scripture moves in the greatest of circles, and God
Himself stretches out across the ages to bring a ruined world back to Himself. Such were
the lessons which Koheleth learned as he contemplated the times and seasons of human
activity. May we drink deeply into the spirit of this passage, and though exercised with
the sore travail which God gives, be cheered with the joy of faith, which is also the gift of
God.
#11.
Adam; his relation to the theme (6: 10).
pp. 179 - 184
The reader is expected to weigh and examine the many and varied investigations
conducted by Koheleth. Just a passing note or so must suffice for the details of the next
chapter or two.
Chapter 3: 18.--The marginal rendering of the A.V. and the text of the R.V., together
with the suggested version of the Companion Bible, show that some difficulty has been
experienced in arriving at the true meaning of this verse. The most difficult word to
place is that translated "manifest". One of its most frequent meanings is "to purify".
Parkhurst places this as the primary meaning.
"The commandment of the Lord is pure" (Psa. 19: 8).
"To cleanse as is wheat from chaff" (Jer. 4: 11, 23: 28).
"To purify", as by suffering and trial (Dan. 12: 10).
"Fuller's sope" (Mal. 3: 2).
Isa. 1: 25 has been rendered, "I will melt down as with alkaline salt thy dross, and I
will remove all thy base metal". We suggest that the meaning of Eccles. 3: 18 is
somewhat as follows:--
"I said in mine heart concerning the estate of the sons of men, that God might purify,
winnow, cleanse as by trial them, and that they might see that, apart from resurrection,
the one event levels all to that of the beasts that perish."
Koheleth evidently did not believe the philosophic conceit so universally believed
to-day that man possesses an immortal soul; he left that for these more enlightened days.
Though wisdom excel folly, the wise man dieth "AS THE FOOL". Though man bear the
image of God, he dieth "AS THE BEAST'. Psa. 49: bears unequivocal testimony to the
truth of Eccles. 3: 18, 21. This is indeed the final thought expressed by Koheleth at the
close of his investigations:--