Psalms 68:18

Isaiah 53:12

Luke 10:18

Verse 18. I beheld Satan, &c. Satan here denotes evidently the prince of the devils who had been cast out by the seventy disciples, for the discourse was respecting their power over evil spirits. Lightening is an image of rapidity or quickness. I saw Satan fall quickly or rapidly--as quick as lightning. The phrase "from heaven" is to be referred to the lightning, and does not mean that he saw Satan fall from heaven, but that he fell as quick as lightning from heaven or from the clouds. The whole expression then may mean, "I saw at your command devils immediately depart, as

quick as the flash of lightning. I gave you this power--

I saw it put forth--and I give also now, in addition

to this, the power to tread on serpents," &c.

(u) "Satan as lightning" Rev 12:8,9

Luke 11:22

Verses 14-23. Mt 12:22 and Mt 12:23-30

Verse 22.

(k) "stronger than he" Is 53:12, Col 2:15

John 12:31

Verse 31. Now is the judgment of this world. Greek, "crisis." This expression, doubtless, has reference to his approaching death, and whatever he means by judgment here relates to something that was to be accomplished by that death. It cannot mean that then was to be the time in which the world was to be finally judged, for he says that he did not come then to judge the world (Jn 12:47, 8:15), and he has clearly declared that there shall be a future day when he will judge all mankind. The meaning of it may be thus expressed:

"Now is approaching the decisive scene, the eventful

period--the crisis--when it shall be determined who

shall rule this world. There has been a long

conflict between the powers of light and darkness--

between God and the devil. Satan has so effectually

ruled that he may be said to be the prince of this

world; but my approaching death will destroy his

kingdom, will break down his power, and will be the

means of setting up the kingdom of God over man."

The death of Christ was to be the most grand and effectual of all means that could be used to establish the authority of the law and the government of God, Rom 8:3,4. This it did by showing the regard which God had for his law; by showing his hatred of sin, and presenting the strongest motives to induce man to leave the service of Satan; by securing the influences of the Holy Spirit, and by his putting forth his own direct power in the cause of virtue and of God. The death of Jesus was the determining cause, the grand crisis, the concentration of all that God had ever done, or ever will do, to break down the kingdom of Satan, and set up his power over man. Thus was fulfilled the prediction (Gen 3:15),

"I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and

between thy seed and her seed; it shall bruise thy

head, and thou shalt bruise his heel."

Now shall the prince of this world. Satan, or the devil, Jn 14:30, 16:11. He is also called the god of this world, 2Cor 4:4, Eph 6:12: "The rulers of the darkness of this world "--that is, the rulers of this dark world--a well-known Hebraism. He is also called "the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience," Eph 2:2. All these names are given him from the influence or power which he has over the men of this world, because the great mass of men have been under his control and subject to his will.

Be cast out. His kingdom shall be destroyed; his empire shall come to an end. It does not mean that his reign over all men would entirely cease then, but that then would be the crisis, the grand conflict in which he would be vanquished, and from that time his kingdom begin to decline, until it would finally cease, and then be free altogether from his dominion. See Lk 10:18, Col 1:18-20, Acts 26:18; 1Cor 15:25,26; Rev 20:14.

(f) "the prince of this world" Lk 10:18, Jn 16:11, Acts 26:18, Eph 2:2
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