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Having portrayed before the priests their crowning act of wickedness； Christ now put to them the question； 〃When the lord therefore of the vineyard cometh； what will he do unto those husbandmen？〃 The priests had been following the narrative with deep interest； and without considering the relation of the subject to themselves； they joined
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with the people in answering； 〃He will miserably destroy those wicked men； and will let out his vineyard unto other husbandmen； which shall render him the fruits in their seasons。〃
Unwittingly they had pronounced their own doom。 Jesus looked upon them； and under His searching gaze they knew that He read the secrets of their hearts。 His divinity flashed out before them with unmistakable power。 They saw in the husbandmen a picture of themselves； and they involuntarily exclaimed； 〃God forbid！〃
Solemnly and regretfully Christ asked： 〃Did ye never read in the Scriptures； The stone which the builders rejected； the same is become the head of the corner： this is the Lord's doing； and it is marvelous in our eyes？ Therefore say I unto you； The kingdom of God shall be taken from you； and given to a nation bringing forth the fruits thereof。 And whosoever shall fall on this stone shall be broken： but on whomsoever it shall fall； it will grind him to powder。〃 Matthew 21：34…44。
Christ would have averted the doom of the Jewish nation if the people had received Him。 But envy and jealousy made them implacable。 They determined that they would not receive Jesus of Nazareth as the Messiah。 They rejected the Light of the world； and henceforth their lives were surrounded with darkness as the darkness of midnight。 The doom foretold came upon the Jewish nation。 Their own fierce passions； uncontrolled； wrought their ruin。 In their blind rage they destroyed one another。 Their rebellious； stubborn pride brought upon them the wrath of their Roman
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conquerors。 Jerusalem was destroyed； the temple laid in ruins； and its site plowed like a field。 The children of Judah perished by the most horrible forms of death。 Millions were sold to serve as bondmen in heathen lands。
That which God purposed to do for the world through Israel； the chosen nation； He will finally accomplish through His church on earth today。 He has 〃let out His vineyard
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unto other husbandmen；〃 even to His covenant…keeping people； who faithfully 〃render Him the fruits in their seasons。〃 Never has the Lord been without true representatives on this earth who have made His interests their own。 These witnesses for God are numbered among the spiritual Israel； and to them will be fulfilled all the covenant promises made by Jehovah to His ancient people。
Today the church of God is free to carry forward to completion the divine plan for the salvation of a lost race。 For many centuries God's people suffered a restriction of their liberties。 The preaching of the gospel in its purity was prohibited； and the severest of penalties were visited upon those who dared disobey the mandates of men。 As a consequence； the Lord's great moral vineyard was almost wholly unoccupied。 The people were deprived of the light of God's word。 The darkness of error and superstition threatened to blot out a knowledge of true religion。 God's church on earth was a verily in captivity during this long period of relentless persecution as were the children of Israel held captive in Babylon during the period of the exile。
But； thank God； His church is no longer in bondage。 To spiritual Israel have been restored the privileges accorded the people of God at the time of their deliverance from Babylon。 In every part of the earth； men and women are responding to the Heaven…sent message which John the revelator prophesied would be proclaimed prior to the second coming of Christ： 〃Fear God； and give glory to Him； for the hour of His judgment is come。〃 Revelation 14：7。
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No longer have the hosts of evil power to keep the church captive； for 〃Babylon is fallen； is fallen； that great city；〃 which hath 〃made all nations drink of the wine of the wrath of her fornication；〃 and to spiritual Israel is given the message； 〃Come out of her； My people； that ye be not partakers of her sins； and that ye receive not of her plagues。〃 Verse 8； 18：4。 As the captive exiles heeded the message； 〃Flee out of the midst of Babylon〃 （Jeremiah 51：6）； and were restored to the Land of Promise； so those who fear God today are heeding the message to withdraw from spiritual Babylon； and soon they are to stand as trophies of divine grace in the earth made new； the heavenly Canaan。
In Malachi's day the mocking inquiry of the impenitent； 〃Where is the God of judgment？〃 met with the solemn response： 〃The Lord 。 。 。 shall suddenly come to His temple； even the Messenger of the covenant。 。 。 。 But who may abide the day of His coming？ and who shall stand when He appeareth？ for He is like a refiner's fire； and like fullers' soap： and He shall sit as a refiner and purifier of silver： and He shall purify the sons of Levi； and purge them as gold and silver； that they may offer unto the Lord an offering in righteousness。 Then shall the offering of Judah and Jerusalem be pleasant unto the Lord； as in the days of old； and as in former years。〃 Malachi 2：17； 3：1…4。
When the promised Messiah was about to appear； the message of the forerunner of Christ was： Repent； publicans and sinners； repent； Pharisees and Sadducees； 〃for the kingdom of heaven is at hand。〃 Matthew 3：2。
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Today； in the spirit and power of Elias and of John the Baptist； messengers of God's appointment are calling the attention of a judgment…bound world to the solemn events soon to take place in connection with the closing hours of probation and the appearance of Christ Jesus as King of kings and Lord of lords。 Soon every man is to be judged for the deeds done in the body。 The hour of God's judgment has come； and upon the members of His church on earth rests the solemn responsibility of giving warning to those who are standing as it were on the very brink of eternal ruin。 To every human being in the wide world who will give heed must be made plain the principles at stake in the great controversy being waged； principles upon which hang the destinies of all mankind。
In these final hours of probation for the sons of men； when the fate of every soul is so soon to be decided forever； the Lord of heaven and earth expects His church to arouse to action as never before。 Those who have been made free in Christ through a knowledge of precious truth； are regarded by the Lord Jesus as His chosen ones； favored above all other people on the face of the earth； and He is counting on them to show forth the praises of Him who hath called them out of darkness into marvelous light。 The blessings which are so liberally bestowed are to be communicated to others。 The good news of salvation is to go to every nation； kindred； tongue； and people。
In the visions of the prophets of old the Lord of glory was represented as bestowing special light upon His church
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in the days of darkness and unbelief preceding His second coming。 As the Sun of Righteousness； He was to arise upon His church； 〃with healing in His wings。〃 Malachi 4：2。 And from every true disciple was to be diffused an influence for life； courage； helpfulness； and true healing。
The coming of Christ will take place in the darkest period of this earth's history。 The days of Noah and of Lot picture the condition of the world just before the coming of the Son of man。 The Scriptures； pointing forward to this time； declare that Satan will work with all power and 〃with all deceivableness of unrighteousness。〃 2 Thessalonians 2：9； 10。 His working is plainly revealed by the rapidly increasing darkness； the multitudinous errors； heresies； and delusions of these last days。 Not only is Satan leading the world captive； but his deceptions are leavening the professed churches of our Lord Jesus Christ。 The great apostasy will develop into darkness deep as midnight。 To God's people it will be a night of trial； a night of weeping； a night of persecution for the truth's sake。 But out of that night of darkness God's light will shine。
He causes 〃the light to shine out of darkness。〃 2 Corinthians 4：6。 When 〃the earth was without form； and void； and darkness was upon the face of the deep；〃 〃the Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters。 And God said； Let there be light： and there was light。〃 Genesis 1：2； 3。 So in the night of spiritual darkness； God's word goes forth； 〃Let there be light。〃 To His people He says； 〃Arise； shine； for thy light is come； and the glory of the Lord is risen upon thee。〃 Isaiah 60：1。
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〃Behold；〃 says the Scripture； 〃the darkness shall cover the earth； and gross darkness the people： but the Lord shall arise upon thee； and His glory shall be seen upon thee。〃 Verse 2。 Christ； the outshining of the Father's glory； came to the world as its light。 He came to represent God to men； and of Him it is written that He was anointed 〃with the Holy Ghost and with powe