按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
hus the way was prepared for them to reject the Saviour。
At the time of the birth of Christ the nation was chafing under the rule of her foreign masters； and racked with internal strife。 The Jews had been permitted to maintain the form of a separate government； but nothing could disguise the fact that they were under the Roman yoke； or reconcile them to the restriction of their power。 The Romans claimed the right of appointing and removing the high priest； and the office was often secured by fraud； bribery； and even murder。 Thus the priesthood became more and more corrupt。 Yet the priests still possessed great power； and they employed it for selfish and mercenary ends。 The people were subjected to their merciless demands； and were also heavily taxed by the Romans。 This state of affairs caused widespread discontent。 Popular outbreaks were frequent。 Greed and violence； distrust and spiritual apathy； were eating out the very heart of the nation。
Hatred of the Romans； and national and spiritual pride； led the Jews still to adhere rigorously to their forms of worship。 The priests tried to maintain a reputation for sanctity by scrupulous attention to the ceremonies of religion。 The people； in their darkness and oppression； and the rulers； thirsting for power； longed for the coming of One who would vanquish their enemies and restore the kingdom to Israel。 They had studied the prophecies； but without spiritual insight。 Thus they overlooked those scriptures that point to the humiliation of Christ's first advent； and misapplied those that speak of the glory of His second coming。 Pride obscured their vision。 They interpreted prophecy in accordance with their selfish desires。
（31）
Chapter 3
〃The Fullness of the Time〃
〃When the fullness of the time was come； God sent forth His Son； 。 。 。 to redeem them that were under the law； that we might receive the adoption of sons。〃 Gal。 4：4； 5。
The Saviour's coming was foretold in Eden。 When Adam and Eve first heard the promise； they looked for its speedy fulfillment。 They joyfully welcomed their first…born son； hoping that he might be the Deliverer。 But the fulfillment of the promise tarried。 Those who first received it died without the sight。 From the days of Enoch the promise was repeated through patriarchs and prophets； keeping alive the hope of His appearing； and yet He came not。 The prophecy of Daniel revealed the time of His advent； but not all rightly interpreted the message。 Century after century passed away； the voices of the prophets ceased。 The hand of the oppressor was heavy upon Israel； and many were ready to exclaim； 〃The days are prolonged； and every vision faileth。〃 Ezek。 12：22。
32
But like the stars in the vast circuit of their appointed path； God's purposes know no haste and no delay。 Through the symbols of the great darkness and the smoking furnace； God had revealed to Abraham the bondage of Israel in Egypt； and had declared that the time of their sojourning should be four hundred years。 〃Afterward；〃 He said； 〃shall they come out with great substance。〃 Gen。 15：14。 Against that word； all the power of Pharaoh's proud empire battled in vain。 On 〃the self…same day〃 appointed in the divine promise； 〃it came to pass； that all the hosts of the Lord went out from the land of Egypt。〃 Ex。 12：41。 So in heaven's council the hour for the coming of Christ had been determined。 When the great clock of time pointed to that hour； Jesus was born in Bethlehem。
〃When the fullness of the time was come； God sent forth His Son。〃 Providence had directed the movements of nations； and the tide of human impulse and influence； until the world was ripe for the coming of the Deliverer。 The nations were united under one government。 One language was widely spoken； and was everywhere recognized as the language of literature。 From all lands the Jews of the dispersion gathered to Jerusalem to the annual feasts。 As these returned to the places of their sojourn； they could spread throughout the world the tidings of the Messiah's coming。
At this time the systems of heathenism were losing their hold upon the people。 Men were weary of pageant and fable。 They longed for a religion that could satisfy the heart。 While the light of truth seemed to have departed from among men； there were souls who were looking for light； and who were filled with perplexity and sorrow。 They were thirsting for a knowledge of the living God； for some assurance of a life beyond the grave。
As the Jews had departed from God； faith had grown dim； and hope had well…nigh ceased to illuminate the future。 The words of the prophets were uncomprehended。 To the masses of the people； death was a dread mystery； beyond was uncertainty and gloom。 It was not alone the wailing of the mothers of Bethlehem； but the cry from the great heart of humanity； that was borne to the prophet across the centuries；the voice heard in Ramah； 〃lamentation； and weeping； and great mourning； Rachel weeping for her children； and would not be comforted； because they are not。〃 Matt。 2：18。 In 〃the region and shadow of death；〃 men sat unsolaced。 With longing eyes they looked for the
33
coming of the Deliverer； when the darkness should be dispelled； and the mystery of the future should be made plain。
Outside of the Jewish nation there were men who foretold the appearance of a divine instructor。 These men were seeking for truth； and to them the Spirit of Inspiration was imparted。 One after another； like stars in the darkened heavens； such teachers had arisen。 Their words of prophecy had kindled hope in the hearts of thousands of the Gentile world。
For hundreds of years the Scriptures had been translated into the Greek language； then widely spoken throughout the Roman Empire。 The Jews were scattered everywhere； and their expectation of the Messiah's coming was to some extent shared by the Gentiles。 Among those whom the Jews styled heathen were men who had a better understanding of the Scripture prophecies concerning the Messiah than had the teachers in Israel。 There were some who hoped for His coming as a deliverer from sin。 Philosophers endeavored to study into the mystery of the Hebrew economy。 But the bigotry of the Jews hindered the spread of the light。 Intent on maintaining the separation between themselves and other nations； they were unwilling to impart the knowledge they still possessed concerning the symbolic service。 The true
34
Interpreter must come。 The One whom all these types prefigured must explain their significance。
Through nature； through types and symbols； through patriarchs and prophets； God had spoken to the world。 Lessons must be given to humanity in the language of humanity。 The Messenger of the covenant must speak。 His voice must be heard in His own temple。 Christ must come to utter words which should be clearly and definitely understood。 He； the author of truth； must separate truth from the chaff of man's utterance； which had made it of no effect。 The principles of God's government and the plan of redempti