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Expanded Comments |
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| 1 Words of a preacher, son of David, king in Jerusalem: |
Words of the Preacher – Written in later life, when Solomon's heart had grown sick with excess of sensuous pleasures. R1517:5, R1532:2
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| 2 Vanity of vanities, said the Preacher, Vanity of vanities: the whole [is] vanity. |
Vanity of vanities – Proving his theme from his own experience, Solomon counsels to others a different course. R1517:5
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| 3 What advantage [is] to man by all his labour that he laboureth at under the sun |
What profit – An important question, especially for the young; but all would do well to carefully consider it. R1532:2
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| 4 A generation is going, and a generation is coming, and the earth to the age is standing. |
But the earth – The physical earth. A69
"God created it to be inhabited." (Isa. 45:18) R1116:6*; SM313:T
Abideth for ever – Therefore not to be destroyed by the great tribulations, earthquakes, etc., predicted in the Scriptures. HG398:3; HG417:5
Despite the conclusions of science that the solar system is gradually running down and that eventually the earth will become cold and lifeless. Q771:1
The elements that are for man's supplies will never be exhausted; but will be re-utilized in new forms in a circle that will last into eternity. Q772:2
Therefore "the time of the end" (Dan. 12:4) refers to the end of the age or dispensation, and not to the end of the world. Dxv; OV26:3; Q848:4; HG314:3
In spite of all the creeds of Christendom to the contrary. R2971:2
Ages may end and be succeeded by other ages, but the same physical earth remains. PD18/26; R1615:4
We anticipate that some change will take place in the near future, making the earth more fit than at present for the Millennial kingdom. R3154:6
There is no reason why it should be destroyed; it is not to be burned up with literal fire. SM318:1, SM791:1; R5364:4, R3074:6
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| 5 Also, the sun hath risen, and the sun hath gone in, and unto its place panting it is rising there. |
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| 6 Going unto the south, and turning round unto the north, turning round, turning round, the wind is going, and by its circuits the wind hath returned. |
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| 7 All the streams are going unto the sea, and the sea is not full; unto a place whither the streams are going, thither they are turning back to go. |
They return again – So shall it be with the Word of the Lord, it shall not return unto him void, without fruit. R3598:4
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| 8 All these things are wearying; a man is not able to speak, the eye is not satisfied by seeing, nor filled is the ear from hearing. |
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| 9 What [is] that which hath been it [is] that which is, and what [is] that which hath been done it [is] that which is done, and there is not an entirely new thing under the sun. |
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| 10 There is a thing of which [one] saith: 'See this, it [is] new!' already it hath been in the ages that were before us! |
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| 11 There is not a remembrance of former [generations]; and also of the latter that are, there is no remembrance of them with those that are at the last. |
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| 12 I, a preacher, have been king over Israel in Jerusalem. |
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| 13 And I have given my heart to seek and to search out by wisdom concerning all that hath been done under the heavens. It [is] a sad travail God hath given to the sons of man to be humbled by it. |
Sore travail – The present experience under the dominion of sin. R1533:5
Thus testifies one of the most successful men, from the world's standpoint, that ever lived. R1532:3
Exercised therewith – So that when the Millennial kingdom comes they may be ready for the duty of submission to God. R1533:5
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| 14 I have seen all the works that have been done under the sun, and lo, the whole [is] vanity and vexation of spirit! |
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| 15 A crooked thing [one] is not able to make straight, and a lacking thing is not able to be numbered. |
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| 16 I I spake with my heart, saying, 'I, lo, I have magnified and added wisdom above every one who hath been before me at Jerusalem, and my heart hath seen abundantly wisdom and knowledge. |
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| 17 And I give my heart to know wisdom, and to know madness and folly: I have known that even this [is] vexation of spirit; |
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| 18 for, in abundance of wisdom [is] abundance of sadness, and he who addeth knowledge addeth pain.' |
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