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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 idolatrous standards of the Romans should be set up in
the holy ground； which extended some furlongs outside the city walls； then
the followers of Christ were to find safety in flight。 When the warning sign
should be seen； those who would escape must make no delay。 Throughout the
land of Judea； as well as in Jerusalem itself； the signal for flight must be
immediately obeyed。 He who chanced to be upon the housetop must not go down
into his house； even to save his most valued treasures。 Those who were
working in the fields or vineyards must not take time to return for the
outer garment laid aside while they should be toiling in the heat of the
day。 They must not hesitate a moment； lest they be involved in the general
destruction。
In the reign of Herod； Jerusalem had not only been greatly beautified； but
by the erection of towers； walls； and fortresses； adding to the natural
strength of its situation； it had been rendered apparently impregnable。 He
who would at this time have foretold publicly its destruction； would； like
Noah in his day； have been called a crazed alarmist。 But Christ had said：
〃Heaven and earth shall pass away； but My words shall not pass away。〃
Matthew 24：35。 Because of her sins； wrath had been denounced against
Jerusalem； and her stubborn unbelief rendered her doom certain。
The Lord had declared by the prophet Micah： 〃Hear this； I pray you； ye heads
of the house of Jacob； and princes of the house of Israel； that abhor
judgment； and pervert all equity。 They build up Zion with blood； and
Jerusalem with iniquity。 The heads thereof judge for reward； and the priests
thereof teach for hire； and the prophets thereof divine for money： yet will
they lean upon the Lord； and say； Is not the Lord among us？ none evil can
come upon us。〃 Micah 3：9…11。
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These words faithfully described the corrupt and self…righteous inhabitants
of Jerusalem。 While claiming to observe rigidly the precepts of God's law；
they were transgressing all its principles。 They hated Christ because His
purity and holiness revealed their iniquity； and they accused Him of being
the cause of all the troubles which had come upon them in consequence of
their sins。 Though they knew Him to be sinless； they had declared that His
death was necessary to their safety as a nation。 〃If we let Him thus alone；〃
said the Jewish leaders； 〃all men will believe on Him： and the Romans shall
come and take away both our place and nation。〃 John 11：48。 If Christ were
sacrificed； they might once more become a strong； united people。 Thus they
reasoned； and they concurred in the decision of their high priest； that it
would be better for one man to die than for the whole nation to perish。
Thus the Jewish leaders had built up 〃Zion with blood； and Jerusalem with
iniquity。〃 Micah 3：10。 And yet； while they slew their Saviour because He
reproved their sins； such was their self…righteousness that they regarded
themselves as God's favored people and expecte