the desire of ages-第133节
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hat death He should die。〃 This is the crisis of the world。 If I become the propitiation for the sins of men； the world will be lighted up。 Satan's hold upon the souls of men will be broken。 The defaced image of God will be restored in humanity； and a family of believing saints will finally inherit the heavenly home。 This is the result of Christ's death。 The Saviour is lost in contemplation of the scene of triumph called up before Him。 He sees the cross； the cruel； ignominious cross； with all its attending horrors； blazing with glory。
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But the work of human redemption is not all that is accomplished by the cross。 The love of God is manifested to the universe。 The prince of this world is cast out。 The accusations which Satan has brought against God are refuted。 The reproach which he has cast upon heaven is forever removed。 Angels as well as men are drawn to the Redeemer。 〃I； if I be lifted up from the earth；〃 He said； 〃will draw all unto Me。〃
Many people were round about Christ as He spoke these words； and one said； 〃We have heard out of the law that Christ abideth forever： and how sayest Thou； The Son of man must be lifted up？ who is this Son of man？ Then Jesus said unto them； Yet a little while is the light with you。 Walk while ye have the light； lest darkness come upon you： for he that walketh in darkness knoweth not whither he goeth。 While ye have light； believe in the light； that ye may be the children of light。〃
〃But though He had done so many miracles before them； yet they believed not on Him。〃 They had once asked the Saviour； 〃What sign showest Thou then； that we may see； and believe Thee？〃 John 6：30。 Innumerable signs had been given； but they had closed their eyes and hardened their hearts。 Now that the Father Himself had spoken； and they could ask for no further sign； they still refused to believe。
〃Nevertheless among the chief rulers also many believed on Him； but because of the Pharisees they did not confess Him； lest they should be put out of the synagogue。〃 They loved the praise of men rather than the approval of God。 To save themselves from reproach and shame； they denied Christ； and rejected the offer of eternal life。 And how many through all the centuries since have been doing the same thing！ To them all the Saviour's warning words apply： 〃He that loveth his life shall lose it。〃 〃He that rejecteth Me；〃 said Jesus； 〃and receiveth not My words； hath one that judgeth him： the word that I have spoken； the same shall judge him in the last day。〃 John 12：48。
Alas for those who knew not the time of their visitation！ Slowly and regretfully Christ left forever the precincts of the temple。
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Chapter 69
On the Mount of Olives
Christ's words to the priests and rulers； 〃Behold； your house is left unto you desolate〃 （Matt。 23：38）； had struck terror to their hearts。 They affected indifference； but the question kept rising in their minds as to the import of these words。 An unseen danger seemed to threaten them。 Could it be that the magnificent temple； which was the nation's glory； was soon to be a heap of ruins？ The foreboding of evil was shared by the disciples； and they anxiously waited for some more definite statement from Jesus。 As they passed with Him out of the temple； they called His attention to its strength and beauty。 The stones of the temple were of the purest marble； of perfect whiteness； and some of them of almost fabulous size。 A portion of the wall had withstood the siege by Nebuchadnezzar's army。 In its perfect masonry it appeared like one solid stone dug entire from the quarry。 How those mighty walls could be overthrown the disciples could not comprehend。
As Christ's attention was attracted to the magnificence of the temple； what must have been the unuttered thoughts of that Rejected One！ The view before Him was indeed beautiful； but He said with sadness； I see it all。 The buildings are indeed wonderful。 You point to these walls as apparently indestructible； but listen to My words： The day will come when 〃there shall not be left one stone upon another； that shall not be thrown down。〃
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Christ's words had been spoken in the hearing of a large number of people； but when He was alone； Peter； John； James； and Andrew came to Him as He sat upon the Mount of Olives。 〃Tell us；〃 they said； 〃when shall these things be？ and what shall be the sign of Thy coming； and of the end of the world？〃 Jesus did not answer His disciples by taking up separately the destruction of Jerusalem and the great day of His coming。 He mingled the description of these two events。 Had He opened to His disciples future events as He beheld them； they would have been unable to endure the sight。 In mercy to them He blended the description of the two great crises； leaving the disciples to study out the meaning for themselves。 When He referred to the destruction of Jerusalem； His prophetic words reached beyond that event to the final conflagration in that day when the Lord shall rise out of His place to punish the world for their iniquity； when the earth shall disclose her blood； and shall no more cover her slain。 This entire discourse was given； not for the disciples only； but for those who should live in the last scenes of this earth's history。
Turning to the disciples； Christ said； 〃Take heed that no man deceive you。 For many shall come in My name； saying； I am Christ； and shall deceive many。〃 Many false messiahs will appear； claiming to work miracles； and declaring that the time of the deliverance of the Jewish nation has come。 These will mislead many。 Christ's words were fulfilled。 Between His death and the siege of Jerusalem many false messiahs appeared。 But this warning was given also to those who live in this age of the world。 The same deceptions practiced prior to the destruction of Jerusalem have been practiced through the ages； and will be practiced again。
〃And ye shall hear of wars and rumors of wars： see that ye be not troubled： for all these things must come to pass； but the end is not yet。〃 Prior to the destruction of Jerusalem； men wrestled for the supremacy。 Emperors were murdered。 Those supposed to be standing next the throne were slain。 There were wars and rumors of wars。 〃All these things must come to pass；〃 said Christ； 〃but the end ＇of the Jewish nation as a nation＇ is not yet。 For nation shall rise against nation； and kingdom against kingdom： and there shall be famines； and pestilences； and earthquakes； in divers places。 All these are the beginning of sorrows。〃 Christ said； As the rabbis see these signs； they will declare them to be God's judgments upon the nations for holding in bondage His chosen people。 They will declare that these signs are the token of the advent of
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the Messiah。 Be not deceived； they are the beginning of His judgments。 The people have looked to themselves。 They have not repented and been converted that I should heal them。 The signs that they represent as tokens of their release from bondage are signs of their destruction。
〃Then shall they deliver you up to be afflicted； and shall kill you： and ye shall be hated of all nations for My name's sake。 And then shall many be offended； and shall betray one another； and shall hate one another。〃 All this the Christians suffered。 Fathers and mothers betrayed their children。 Children betrayed their parents。 Friends delivered their friends up to the Sanhedrin。 The persecutors wrought out their purpose by killing Stephen； James； and other Christians。
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Through His servants； God gave the Jewish people a last opportunity to repent。 He manifested Himself through His witnesses in their arrest； in their trial； and in their imprisonment。 Yet their judges pronounced on them the death sentence。 They were men of whom the world was not worthy； and by killing them the Jews crucified afresh the Son of God。 So it will be again。 The authorities will make laws to restrict religious liberty。 They will assume the right that is God's alone。 They will think they can force the conscience； which God alone should control。 Even now they are making a beginning； this work they will continue to carry forward till they reach a boundary over which they cannot step。 God will interpose in behalf of His loyal； commandment…keeping people。
On every occasion when persecution takes place； those who witness it make decisions either for Christ or against Him。 Those who manifest sympathy for the ones wrongly condemned show their attachment for Christ。 Others are offended because the principles of truth cut directly across their practice。 Many stumble and fall； apostatizing from the faith they once advocated。 Those who apostatize in time of trial will； to secure their own safety； bear false witness； and betray their brethren。 Christ has warned us of this； that we may not be surprised at the unnatural； cruel course of those who reject the light。
Christ gave His disciples a sign of the ruin to come on Jerusalem； and He told them how to escape： 〃When ye shall see Jerusalem compassed with armies； then know that the desolation thereof is
