01-17-2008, 09:37 PM
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 | Puritanboard Librarian | | Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: Warrenton, VA, USA
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FWIW, I don't think it is necessary to dwell on the question of which specific apostle's name fills the number twelve slot. I think the reference to "the names of the Lamb's twelve Apostles" is a reference that is intended to suggest completeness, with respect to the company of the Apostles and the doctrine that the preached.
I think, perhaps, a passage worth noting in this regard to the meaning of completeness is Gen. 42.13, 32: Quote:
13 And they said, Thy servants are twelve brethren, the sons of one man in the land of Canaan; and, behold, the youngest is this day with our father, and one is not.
We be twelve brethren, sons of our father; one is not, and the youngest is this day with our father in the land of Canaan.
| Here the patriarchs refer to themselves (those speaking in the first text being unaware that Joseph stood before them) as being of the number twelve though not all were thought to be alive or present. It is the number that signifies the complete group of brethren though the group present was not complete.
James Durham, Commentary Upon the Book of Revelation, p. 976: Quote:
Followeth, (ver. 14) the foundations: more excellent than that of Solomon's Temple of cedar-wood and stone. It hath twelve foundations: this signifieth the durableness and eternity of that city, that no time can make it decay, more than any enemy can storm it; it is well founded, not having one foundation only, but twelve for its security.
A word is added to the foundations (as formerly to the gates) the names of the Lamb's twelve Apostles are written on them. By twelve, is understood all: in a word, here their Doctrine which they preached is meant, (as Eph. 2.20. where the Church is built on the foundation of the Prophets and Apostles) which Word endureth for ever, 1 Pet. 1.25. and so God's faithfulness sustaineth heaven that it is never moved, but endureth to all eternity according to that Word and Gospel which was preached through the world by all the Apostles: yea, the Prophets and Ministers of Christ; But the Apostles, for honor's sake, are mentioned for all. And this is not inconsistent with heaven to have their names on the foundation, seeing they are not the foundations themselves, but the faithfulness of God in the preached Gospel shall be more manifest then nor now; and His Ministers in that Jerusalem shall have a special dignity, as founders or builders use to have their names graven on the walls for their honor.
| Arthur Dent, The Ruin of Rome; Or, An Exposition Upon the Whole Revelation, p. 394: Quote: |
And in every gate the name of an apoftle, fo that all the gates had the names of the Lamb's twelve apoftles, to fignify that the ground and foundation of this city is laid upon the 'doctrine of the apoftles and prophets, Jefus Chrift himfelf being the chief corner-ftone,' Eph. ii. 20.
| G.K. Beale, The Book of Revelation: A Commentary on the Greek Text, pp. 1070-1071: Quote:
Therefore, "twenty-four" has the idea of completeness (2 x 12) of the representation of God's people before God's presence in the temple...
Comparison of 21:14 with Eph. 2:20 reveals a striking similarity. In Ephesians also the apostles are pictured as forming part of the "foundation" [] of the "holy temple," which is the church. Together with the apostolic foundation are "prophets," along with Christ, the "cornerstone."
| F. Nigel Lee, John's Revelation Unveiled: Quote:
Sixth. It is also true that the Church Militant here on this present Earth -- is founded on the 'Canon' alias the Measuring-Rod of God's Holy Word. This means the Older Testament's teachings of the 'twelve' Patriarchal Tribes of the children of Israel, and the Newer Testament's teachings of the 'twelve' Apostles of the Lamb -- as all reflected in the twenty-four heavenly Elders.
This is so -- even though the Tribes and Apostles are not exactly twelve each. It is again so -- even though they themselves are not literalistically the gates and the foundations of that heavenly city.
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__________________
Andrew Myers
Husband of Jessica, Father of Jackson, Katie and Samuel
Member, Presbyterian Reformed Church of Northern Virginia
Warrenton, VA USA
Editor, The Matthew Poole Project
"Let your Morning Thoughts, and your last Evening Thoughts, be what shall become of you to all Eternity." -- Matthew Poole
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