Attributed commentary excerpt
John Gill's Exposition on Habakkuk 2:3
A historical reference excerpt for this verse. Read it alongside the biblical text and other available sources.
Exposition of the Old and New Testament
John Gill (1697–1771) · 18th-century historical commentary
Source: BibleWord.ai's local reference edition of this named work.
For the vision [is] yet for an appointed time, etc.] Not the present vision only, but vision or prophecy in general: it was a doubt that arose in the minds of the prophet and other good men, upon the notice given that the Chaldeans would be raised up to the destruction of the Jews; that then the law of God would cease, his worship would not continue; vision and prophecy would be no more; it would be all over with the doctrine of the law and the prophets: now in answer to this, and to remove this doubt, they are assured that vision or prophecy should “yet”, or still, continue, and even “to the appointed time”; the time fixed for the continuance of it, notwithstanding the people of the Jews should be carried captive into another land: and accordingly so it was; there were prophets, as Daniel and Ezekiel, in the time of the captivity; and, after it, Haggai, Zechariah, and Malachi; yea, the law and the prophets were until John; for vision and prophecy were to be sealed up by the Messiah, and not before; (see <421616> Luke 16:16 <270924>Daniel 9:24) it was true indeed with respect to the present vision or prophecy concerning the Messiah, that that was not to be fulfilled presently; there was some considerable time first to elapse; there was a time appointed for the accomplishment of it, and it would remain till that time, and then be most surely fulfilled; which would be before the sceptre departed from Judah, while the second temple was yet standing, and when Daniel’s seventy weeks, or four hundred and ninety years, were come; which were the limited, determined, and appointed time for the Messiah’s coming, the time appointed of the Father, the fulness of time; so there was an appointed time for his coming to take vengeance on the Jewish nation, for their rejection of him, to which the apostle applies these words, (<581037>Hebrews 10:37) and also for his spiritual coming, to visit his people in a gracious way; there is a set time to favour Zion and her children; as well as there is a day fixed for his second coming, or coming to judgment. But at the end it shall speak, and not lie; or rather, “he shall speak”f71; and so in the following clauses it should be rendered, not “it”, but “he”; and so the apostle has taught us to interpret it of a person, and not a thing, (<581037>Hebrews 10:37) that is, “at the end” of the time appointed, or at the end of the Jewish state, both civil and ecclesiastic, the Messiah should appear, as he did, which is called the end of the world, (<461011>1 Corinthians 10:11 <581026>Hebrews 10:26) when a new world began, the world to come, the Gospel dispensation, of which Christ is said to be the Father, in the Greek version of (<230906>Isaiah 9:6) (see <580205>Hebrews 2:5) and being come, he shall “speak”; or, as it may be rendered, “at the end thereof” shall be “the speaker”, or “preacher”f72; that shall publish and proclaim the glad tidings of the Gospel; and this agrees with Christ, the Logos, or Word of God, the great Prophet that should be raised up in the church, the teacher sent of God, the Wonderful Counsellor, and faithful witness; who spoke out the whole mind and will of God; published the everlasting Gospel; delivered out the doctrines of grace and truth; and spoke such words of grace as never man did, and with such power and authority as the Scribes and Pharisees did not. Some render the words, “and he shall break forth as the morning”f73; so the word is used in (<220217>Song of Solomon 2:17 <220406>So…
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