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last generation； saw the world involved in a deception similar to that which
caused the destruction of Jerusalem。 The great sin of the Jews was their
rejection of Christ； the great sin of the Christian world would be their
rejection of the law of God； the foundation of His government in heaven and
earth。 The precepts of Jehovah would be despised and set at nought。 Millions
in bondage to sin； slaves of Satan； doomed to suffer the second death； would
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refuse to listen to the words of truth in their day of visitation。 Terrible
blindness！ strange infatuation！
Two days before the Passover； when Christ had for the last time departed
from the temple； after denouncing the hypocrisy of the Jewish rulers； He
again went out with His disciples to the Mount of Olives and seated Himself
with them upon the grassy slope overlooking the city。 Once more He gazed
upon its walls； its towers； and its palaces。 Once more He beheld the temple
in its dazzling splendor； a diadem of beauty crowning the sacred mount。
A thousand years before； the psalmist had magnified God's favor to Israel in
making her holy house His dwelling place： 〃In Salem also is His tabernacle；
and His dwelling place in Zion。〃 He 〃chose the tribe of Judah； the Mount
Zion which He loved。 And He built His sanctuary like high palaces。〃 Psalms
76：2； 78：68； 69。 The first temple had been erected during the most
prosperous period of Israel's history。 Vast stores of treasure for this
purpose had been collected by King David； and the plans for its construction
were made by divine inspiration。 1 Chronicles 28：12； 19。 Solomon； the wisest
of Israel's monarchs； had completed the work。 This temple was the most
magnificent building which the world ever saw。 Yet the Lord had declared by
the prophet Haggai； concerning the second temple： 〃The glory of this latter
house shall be greater than of the former。〃 〃I will shake all nations； and
the Desire of all nations shall come： and I will fill this house with glory；
saith the Lord of hosts。〃 Haggai 2：9； 7。
After the destruction of the temple by Nebuchadnezzar it was rebuilt about
five hundred years before the birth of Christ by a people who from a
lifelong captivity had returned to a wasted and almost deserted country。
There were then among them aged men who had seen the glory of Solomon's
temple； and who wept at the foundation of the new building； that it must be
so inferior to the former。 The feeling that prevailed is forcibly described
by the prophet： 〃Who is
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left among you that saw this house in her first glory？ and how do ye see it
now？ is it not in your eyes in comparison of it as nothing？〃 Haggai 2：3；
Ezra 3：12。 Then was given the promise that the glory of this latter house
should be greater than that of the former。
But the second temple had not equaled the first in magnificence； nor was it
hallowed by those visible tokens of the divine presence which pertained to
the first temple。 There was no manifestation of supernatural power to mark
its dedication。 No cloud of glory was seen to fill the newly erected
sanctuary。 No fire from heaven descended to consume the sacrifice upon its
altar。 The Shekinah no longer abode between the cherubim in the most holy
place； the ark； the mercy seat； and the tables of the testimony were not to
be found therein。 No voice sounded from heaven to make known to the
inquiring priest the will of Jehovah。
For centuries the Jews had vainly endeavored to show wherein the promise of
God given by Haggai had been fulfilled； yet pride and unbelief blinded their
minds to the true meaning of the prophet's words。 The second temple was not
honored with the cloud of Jehovah's glory； but with the living presence of
One in whom dwelt the fullness of the Godhead bodilywho was God Himself
manifest in the flesh。 The 〃Desire of all nations〃 had indeed come to His
temple when the Man of Nazareth taught and healed in the sacred courts。 In
the presence of Christ； and in this only； did the second temple exceed the
first in glory。 But Israel had put from her the proffered Gift of heaven。
With the humble Teacher who had that day passed out from its golden gate；
the glory had forever departed from the temple。 Already were the Saviour's
words fulfilled： 〃Your house is left unto you desolate。〃 Matthew 23：38。
The disciples had been filled with awe and wonder at Christ's prediction of
the overthrow of the temple； and they desired to understand more fully the
meaning of His words。 Wealth； labor； and architectural skill had for more
than forty years been freely expended to enhance its splendors。 Herod
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the Great had lavished upon it both Roman wealth and Jewish treasure； and
even the emperor of the world had enriched it with his gifts。 Massive blocks
of white marble； of almost fabulous size； forwarded from Rome for this
purpose； formed a part of its structure； and to these the disciples had
called the attention of their Master； saying： 〃See what manner of stones and
what buildings are here！〃 Mark 13：1。
To these words； Jesus made the solemn and startling reply： 〃Verily I say
unto you； There shall not be left here one stone upon another； that shall
not be thrown down。〃 Matthew 24：2。
With the overthrow of Jerusalem the disciples associated the events of
Christ's personal coming in temporal glory to take the throne of universal
empire； to punish the impenitent Jews； and to break from off the nation the
Roman yoke。 The Lord had told them that He would come the second time。 Hence
at the mention of judgments upon Jerusalem； their minds reverted to that
coming； and as they were gathered about the Saviour upon the Mount of
Olives； they asked： 〃When shall these things be？ and what shall be the sign
of Thy coming； and of the end of the world？〃 Verse 3。
The future was mercifully veiled from the disciples。 Had they at that time
fully comprehend the two awful facts the Redeemer's sufferings and death；
and the destruction of their city and templethey would have been
overwhelmed with horror。 Christ presented before them an outline of the
prominent events to take place before the close of time。 His words were not
then fully understood； but their meaning was to be unfolded as His people
should need the instruction therein given。 The prophecy which He uttered was
twofold in its meaning； while foreshadowing the destruction of Jerusalem； it
prefigured also the terrors of the last great day。
Jesus declared to the listening disciples the judgments that were to fall
upon apostate Israel； and especially the retributive vengeance that would
come upon them for their rejection and crucifixion of the Messiah。
Unmistakable signs would precede the awful climax。 The dreaded hour would
come
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suddenly and swiftly。 And the Saviour warned His followers： 〃When ye
therefore shall see the abomination of desolation； spoken of by Daniel the
prophet； stand in the holy place； （whoso readeth； let him understand：） then
let them which be in Judea flee into the mountains。〃 Matthew 24：15； 16； Luke
21：20； 21。 When the id