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Expanded Comments |
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| 1 The words of the Preacher, the 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, saith the Preacher, vanity of vanities; all 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 profit hath a man of all his labour which he taketh 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 One generation passeth away, and another generation cometh: but the earth abideth for ever. |
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 The sun also ariseth, and the sun goeth down, and hasteth to his place where he arose. |
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| 6 The wind goeth toward the south, and turneth about unto the north; it whirleth about continually, and the wind returneth again according to his circuits. |
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| 7 All the rivers run into the sea; yet the sea is not full; unto the place from whence the rivers come, thither they return again. |
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 things are full of labour; man cannot utter it: the eye is not satisfied with seeing, nor the ear filled with hearing. |
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| 9 The thing that hath been, it is that which shall be; and that which is done is that which shall be done: and there is no new thing under the sun. |
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| 10 Is there any thing whereof it may be said, See, this is new? it hath been already of old time, which was before us. |
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| 11 There is no remembrance of former things; neither shall there be any remembrance of things that are to come with those that shall come after. |
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| 12 I the Preacher was king over Israel in Jerusalem.
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| 13 And I gave my heart to seek and search out by wisdom concerning all things that are done under heaven: this sore travail hath God given to the sons of man to be exercised therewith. |
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 are done under the sun; and, behold, all is vanity and vexation of spirit. |
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| 15 That which is crooked cannot be made straight: and that which is wanting cannot be numbered. |
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| 16 I communed with mine own heart, saying, Lo, I am come to great estate, and have gotten more wisdom than all they that have been before me in Jerusalem: yea, my heart had great experience of wisdom and knowledge. |
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| 17 And I gave my heart to know wisdom, and to know madness and folly: I perceived that this also is vexation of spirit. |
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| 18 For in much wisdom is much grief: and he that increaseth knowledge increaseth sorrow. |
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