the desire of ages-第134节
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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 nigh。 Then let them which are in Judea flee to the mountains； and let them which are in the midst of it depart out； and let not them that are in the countries enter thereinto。 For these be the days of vengeance； that all things which are written may be fulfilled。〃 This warning was given to be heeded forty years after； at the destruction of Jerusalem。 The Christians obeyed the warning； and not a Christian perished in the fall of the city。
〃Pray ye that your flight be not in the winter； neither on the Sabbath day；〃 Christ said。 He who made the Sabbath did not abolish it； nailing it to His cross。 The Sabbath was not rendered null and void by His death。 Forty years after His crucifixion it was still to be held sacred。 For forty years the disciples were to pray that their flight might not be on the Sabbath day。
From the destruction of Jerusalem； Christ passed on rapidly to the greater event； the last link in the chain of this earth's history；the coming of the Son of God in majesty and glory。 Between these two events； there lay open to Christ's view long centuries of darkness； centuries for His
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church marked with blood and tears and agony。 Upon these scenes His disciples could not then endure to look； and Jesus passed them by with a brief mention。 〃Then shall be great tribulation；〃 He said； 〃such as was not since the beginning of the world to this time； no； nor ever shall be。 And except those days should be shortened； there should no flesh be saved： but for the elect's sake those days shall be shortened。〃 For more than a thousand years such persecution as the world had never before known was to come upon Christ's followers。 Millions upon millions of His faithful witnesses were to be slain。 Had not God's hand been stretched out to preserve His people； all would have perished。 〃But for the elect's sake；〃 He said； 〃those days shall be shortened。〃
Now； in unmistakable language； our Lord speaks of His second coming； and He gives warning of dangers to precede His advent to the world。 〃If any man shall say unto you； Lo； here is Christ； or there； believe it not。 For there shall arise false christs； and false prophets； and shall show great signs and wonders； insomuch that； if it were possible； they shall deceive the very elect。 Behold； I have told you before。 Wherefore if they shall say unto you； Behold； He is in the desert； go not forth： behold； He is in the secret chambers； believe it not。 For as the lightning cometh out of the east； and shineth even unto the west； so shall also the coming of the Son of man be。〃 As one of the signs of Jerusalem's destruction； Christ had said； 〃Many false prophets shall rise； and shall deceive many。〃 False prophets did rise； deceiving the people； and leading great numbers into the desert。 Magicians and sorcerers； claiming miraculous power； drew the people after them into the mountain solitudes。 But this prophecy was spoken also for the last days。 This sign is given as a sign of the second advent。 Even now false christs and false prophets are showing signs and wonders to seduce His disciples。 Do we not hear the cry； 〃Behold； He is in the desert〃？ Have not thousands gone forth into the desert； hoping to find Christ？ And from thousands of gatherings where men profess to hold communion with departed spirits is not the call now heard； 〃Behold； He is in the secret chambers〃？ This is the very claim that spiritism puts forth。 But what says Christ？ 〃Believe it not。 For as the lightning cometh out of the east； and shineth even unto the west； so shall also the coming of the Son of man be。〃
The Saviour gives signs of His coming； and more than this； He fixes the time when the first of these signs shall appear： 〃Immediately after the tribulation of those days shall the sun be darkened； and the moon
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shall not give her light； and the stars shall fall from heaven； and the powers of the heavens shall be shaken： and then shall appear the sign of the Son of man in heaven： and then shall all the tribes of the earth mourn； and they shall see the Son of man coming in the clouds of heaven with power and great glory。 And He shall send His angels with a great sound of a trumpet； and they shall gather together His elect from the four winds； from one end of heaven to the other。〃
At the close of the great papal persecution； Christ declared； the sun should be darkened； and the moon should not give her light。 Next； the stars should fall from heaven。 And He says； 〃Learn a parable of the fig tree； When his branch is yet tender； and putteth forth leaves； ye know that summer is nigh： so likewise ye； when ye shall see all these things； know that He is near； even at the doors。〃 Matt。 24：32； 33； margin。
Christ has given signs of His coming。 He declares that we may know when He is near； even at the doors。 He says of those who see these signs； 〃This generation shall not pass； till all these things be fulfilled。〃 These signs have appeared。 Now we know of a surety that the Lord's coming is at hand。 〃Heaven and earth shall pass away；〃 He says； 〃but My words shall not pass away。〃
Christ is coming with clouds and with great glory。 A multitude of shining angels will attend Him。 He will come to raise the dead； and to change the living saints from glory to glory。 He will come to honor those who have loved Him； and kept His commandments； and to take them to Himself。 He has not forgotten them nor His promise。 There will be a relinking of the family chain。 When we look upon our dead； we may think of the morning when the trump of God shall sound； when 〃the dead shall be raised incorruptible； and we shall be changed。〃 1 Cor。 15：52。 A little longer； and we shall see the King in His beauty。 A little longer； and He will wipe all tears from our eyes。 A little longer； and He will present us 〃faultless before the presence of His glory with exceeding joy。〃 Jude 24。 Wherefore； when He gave the signs of His coming He said； 〃When these things begin to come to pass； then look up； and lift up your heads； for your redemption draweth nigh。〃
But the day and the hour of His coming Christ has not revealed。 He stated plainly to His disciples that He Himself could not make known the day or the hour of His second appearing。 Had He been at liberty to reveal this； why need He have exhorted them to maintain an attitude of constant expectancy？ There are those who claim to know the very day and hour of our Lord's appearing。 Very earnest are they in mapping out
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the future。 But the Lord has warned them off the ground they occupy。 The exact time of the second coming of the Son of man is God's mystery。
Christ continues； pointing out the condition of the world at His coming： 〃As the days of Noah were； so shall also the coming of the Son of man be。 For as in the days that were before the Flood they were eating and drinking； marrying and giving in marriage； until the day that Noah entered into the ark； and knew not until the Flood came； and took them all away； so shall also the coming of the Son of man be。〃 Christ does not here bring to view a temporal millennium； a thousand years in which all are to prepare for eternity。 He tells us that as it was in Noah's day； so will it be when the Son of man comes again。
How was it in Noah's day？ 〃God saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth； and that every imagination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually。〃 Gen。 6：5。 The inhabitants of the antediluvian world turned from Jehovah； refusing to do His holy will。 They followed their own unholy imagination and perverted ideas。 It was because of their wickedness that they were destroyed； and today the world is following the same way。 It presents no flattering signs of millennial glory。 The transgressors of God's law are filling the earth with wickedness。 Their betting； their horse racing； their gambling； their dissipation； their lustful practices； their untamable passions； are fast filling the world with violence。
In the prophecy of Jerusalem's destruction Christ said； 〃Because iniquity shall abound； the love of many shall wax cold。 But he that shall endure unto the end； the same shall be saved。 And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations； and then shall the end come。〃 This prophecy will again be fulfilled。 The abounding iniquity of that day finds its counterpart in this generation。 So with the prediction in regard to the preaching of the gospel。 Before the fall of Jerusalem； Paul； writing by the Holy Spirit； declared that the gospel was preached to 〃every creature which is under heaven。〃 Col。 1：23。 So now； before the coming of the Son of man； the everlasting gospel is to be preached 〃to every nation； and kindred； and tongue； and people。〃 Rev。 14：6； 14。 God 〃hath appointed a day； in the which He will judge the world。〃 Acts 17：31。 Christ tells us when that day shall be ushered in。 He does not say that all the world will be converted； but that 〃this g
