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The Spirit of Prophecy Volume 4
Satan was at the head of the nation, and the highest civil and religious
authorities were under his sway.
The leaders of the opposing factions at times united to plunder
and torture their wretched victims, and again they fell upon each
other’s forces, and slaughtered without mercy. Even the sanctity of
the temple could not restrain their horrible ferocity. The worshipers
were stricken down before the altar, and the sanctuary was polluted
with the bodies of the slain. Yet in their blind and blasphemous
presumption the instigators of this hellish work publicly declared
that they had no fear that Jerusalem would be destroyed, for it was
God’s own city. To establish their power more firmly, they bribed
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false prophets to proclaim, even when Roman legions were besieging
the temple, that the people were to wait for deliverance from God.
To the last, multitudes held fast to the belief that the Most High
would interpose for the defeat of their adversaries. But Israel had
spurned the divine protection, and now she had no defense. Unhappy
Jerusalem! rent by internal dissensions, the blood of her children,
slain by one another’s hands, crimsoning her streets, while alien
armies beat down her fortifications and slew her men of war!
All the predictions given by Christ concerning the destruction of
Jerusalem were fulfilled to the letter. The Jews experienced the truth
of his words of warning, “With what measure ye mete, it shall be
measured to you again.”
Signs and wonders appeared, foreboding disaster and doom. A
comet, resembling a flaming sword, for a year hung over the city. An
unnatural light was seen hovering over the temple. Upon the clouds
were pictured chariots mustering for battle. Mysterious voices in the
temple court uttered the warning words, “Let us depart hence.” The
eastern gate of the inner court, which was of brass, and so heavy
that it was with difficulty shut by a score of men, and having bolts
fastened deep into the firm pavement, was seen at midnight to be
opened of its own accord.
For seven years a man continued to go up and down the streets
of Jerusalem, declaring the woes that were to come upon the city.
By day and by night he chanted the wild dirge, “A voice from the
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east; a voice from the west; a voice from the four winds; a voice
against Jerusalem and the temple; a voice against the bridegroom
and the bride; and a voice against all the people.” This strange being