"...For yet a very little while..." Sometimes we do not want to believe this, and we say: you are only comforting us, Apostle Paul. But before this Paul says: "It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God!" In the Greek text...
"...For yet a very little while..." Sometimes we do not want to believe this, and we say: you are only comforting us, Apostle Paul. But before this Paul says: "It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God!" (Heb. 10:31). And in the Greek text the word is "phoberon," which is somehow clearly associated with the Russian word "phobia." In Russian usage, phobia means precisely an inner painful state when there is no real external danger: just darkness or height, just an enclosed space, and so on. We have this inner state: we both want the End and fear it. Because of this uncertainty, because of our inner confusion, this End does not come.
For the Lord, as the Bridegroom, comes when love has been established. Imagine a bridegroom and bride who are preparing to be married, but the bride is afraid, unsure, wavering; she does not yet have that radiant, happy, calm love that longs to give itself in service to the beloved. Would their wedding be right in that case? Still, it would be premature.
In the same way, even if we speak only about the Church and its members, we do not yet have this deep, quiet, calm love. We still fear ourselves and frighten others. We fear punishment, vengeance, recompense; we simply fear, without ourselves knowing what, because "no one has ever returned from there." What kind of "wedding" (that is, the End) can we speak of?
But this does not mean that we are alone. We can say that we were "betrothed" by Christ's First Coming, and we need to build our relationship with Him. In any case, He is here, He is near. And of course, it is "a little while longer," because when there is love, time flows in a special way: separations are endless, meetings seem to fly by so quickly, and overall there is this feeling that there it is, just a little longer, and eternity will pour into the soul.
10
10:26 For when we - Any of us Christians. Sin wilfully - By total apostasy from God, termed "drawing back," Heb 10:38.After having received the experimental knowledge of the gospel truth, there remaineth no more sacrifice for sins - None but that which we obstinately reject.
10:28 He that, in capital cases, despised (presumptuously transgressed) the law of Moses diedwithout mercy - Without any delay or mitigation of his punishment.
10:29 Of how much sorer punishment is he worthy, who - By wilful, total apostasy. It does not appear that thispassage refers to any other sin. Hath, as it were, trodden underfoot the Son of God - A lawgiver far more honourable than Moses. And counted the blood wherewith the better covenant was established, an unholy, a common, worthless thing. By which he hath been sanctified - Therefore Christ died for him also, and he was at leastjustified once. And done despite to the Spirit of grace - By rejecting all his motions.
10:30 The Lord will judge his people - Yea, far more rigorously than the heathens, if they rebel against him. Deu 32:35, etc
10:31 To fall into the hands - Of his avenging justice.
10:32 Enlightened - With the knowledge of God and of his truth.
10:34 For ye sympathized with all your suffering brethren, and with me in particular; and received joyfully the loss of your own goods.
10:35 Cast not away therefore this your confidence - Your faith and hope; which none can deprive you of but yourselves.
10:36 The promise - Perfect love; eternal life.
10:37 He that cometh - To reward every man according to his works.
10:38 Now the just - The justified person.Shall live - In God's favour, a spiritual and holy life.By faith - As long as he retains that gift of God.But if he draw back - If he make shipwreck of his faith My soul hath no pleasure in him - That is, I abhor him; I cast him off. Hab 2:3, etc
10:39 We are not of them who draw back to perdition - Like him mentioned Heb 10:38.But of them that believe - To the end, so as to attain eternal life.