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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 expected the Lord to deliver them
from their enemies。 〃Therefore；〃 continued the prophet； 〃shall Zion for your
sake be plowed as a field； and Jerusalem shall become heaps； and the
mountain of the house as the high places of the forest。〃 Verse 12。
For nearly forty years after the doom of Jerusalem had been pronounced by
Christ Himself； the Lord delayed His judgments upon the city and the nation。
Wonderful was the long…suffering of God toward the rejectors of His gospel
and the murderers of His Son。 The parable of the unfruitful tree represented
God's dealings with the Jewish nation。 The command had gone forth； 〃Cut it
down； why cumbereth it the ground？〃 （Luke 13：7） but divine mercy had spared
it yet a little longer。 There were still many among the Jews who were
ignorant of the character and the work of Christ。 And the children had not
enjoyed the opportunities or
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received the light which their parents had spurned。 Through the preaching of
the apostles and their associates； God would cause light to shine upon them；
they would be permitted to see how prophecy had been fulfilled； not only in
the birth and life of Christ； but in His death and resurrection。 The
children were not condemned for the sins of the parents； but when； with a
knowledge of all the light given to their parents； the children rejected the
additional light granted to themselves； they became partakers of the
parents' sins； and filled up the measure of their iniquity。
The long…suffering of God toward Jerusalem only confirmed the Jews in their
stubborn impenitence。 In their hatred and cruelty toward the disciples of
Jesus they rejected the last offer of mercy。 Then God withdrew His
protection from them and removed His restraining power from Satan and his
angels； and the nation was left to the control of the leader she had chosen。
Her children had spurned the grace of Christ； which would have enabled them
to subdue their evil impulses； and now these became the conquerors。 Satan
aroused the fiercest and most debased passions of the soul。 Men did not
reason； they were beyond reasoncontrolled by impulse and blind rage。 They
became satanic in their cruelty。 In the family and in the nation； among the
highest and the lowest classes alike； there was suspicion； envy； hatred；
strife； rebellion； murder。 There was no safety anywhere。 Friends and kindred
betrayed one another。 Parents slew their children； and children their
parents。 The rulers of the people had no power to rule themselves。
Uncontrolled passions made them tyrants。 The Jews had accepted false
testimony to condemn the innocent Son of God。 Now false accusations made
their own lives uncertain。 By their actions they had long been saying：
〃Cause the Holy One of Israel to cease from before us。〃 Isaiah 30：11。 Now
their desire was granted。 The fear of God no longer disturbed them。 Satan
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was at the head of the nation； and the highest civil and religious
authorities were