I take it, that this suspended place had its form actually and externally at the destruction of Jerusalem. Then also “this generation” took its place externally: the earthly local centralisation of the Church was externally set aside (it was really from the time of Stephen’s death, when the first martyr left the world to go, as to his spirit, on high), and the Lord’s hand having set aside the earth as His place, all was in abeyance, till He personally took up the matter again—coming again in connection with a similar overturning: the fitting of which two events together is what constitutes the force of Matt. xxiv. 1—43. In the meanwhile, the throne was really set up in heaven—giving the evidence that every thing had failed on earth; but that nothing could fail in the purpose and throne of God. With this the book commences; and the protracted condition of the churches is brought in after the throne is set up, as incidental before the unfolding of the actings in the world, of the throne so set up in faithfulness. I hold therefore that the things that are, and this address to the churches, give this double character, as to period, to the Revelations. If we take the things that are, as that which actually existed in the time of St. John, then it closes with the actual existence
