Basic HTML Version
22
From Here to Forever
would be their rejection of the law of God, the foundation of His
government in heaven and earth. Millions in bondage to sin, doomed
to suffer the second death, would refuse to listen to words of truth in
their day of visitation.
Magnificent Temple Doomed
Two days before the Passover, Christ again went with His dis-
ciples to the Mount of Olives overlooking the city. Once more He
gazed upon the temple in its dazzling splendor, a diadem of beauty.
Solomon, the wisest of Israel’s monarchs, had completed the first
temple, the most magnificent building the world ever saw. After its
destruction by Nebuchadnezzar, it was rebuilt about five hundred
years before the birth of Christ.
But the second temple had not equaled the first in magnificence.
No cloud of glory, no fire from heaven, descended upon its altar. The
ark, the mercy seat, and the tables of the testimony were not to be
found there. No voice from heaven made known to the priest the will
of God. The second temple was not honored with the cloud of God’s
[20]
glory, but with the living presence of One who was God Himself
manifest in the flesh. The “Desire of all nations” had come to His
temple when the Man of Nazareth taught and healed in the sacred
courts. 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 wonder at Christ’s predic-
tion of the overthrow of the temple, and they desired to understand
the meaning of His words. Herod the Great had lavished upon it
both Roman and Jewish treasure. Massive blocks of white marble,
forwarded from Rome, formed part of its structure. 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
.
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
. The Lord had told the disciples
that He would come the second time. Hence, at the mention of