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 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 false prophets to proclaim； even while 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。〃
Matthew 7：2。
Signs and wonders appeared； foreboding disaster and doom。 In the midst of
the night an unnatural light shone over the temple and the altar。 Upon the
clouds at sunset were pictured chariots and men of war gathering for battle。
The priests ministering by night in the sanctuary were terrified by
mysterious sounds； the earth trembled； and a multitude of voices were heard
crying： 〃Let us depart hence。〃 The great eastern gate； which was so heavy
that it could hardly be shut by a score of men； and which was secured by
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immense bars of iron fastened deep in the pavement of solid stone； opened at
midnight； without visible agency。Milman； The History of the Jews； book 13。
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 east！ a voice from the west！ a
voice from the four winds！ a voice against Jerusalem and against the temple！
a voice against the bridegrooms and the brides！ a voice against the whole
people！〃Ibid。 This strange being was imprisoned and scourged； but no
complaint escaped his lips。 To insult and abuse he answered only： 〃Woe； woe
to Jerusalem！〃 〃woe； woe to the inhabitants thereof！〃 His warning cry ceased
not until he was slain in the siege he had foretold。
Not one Christian perished in the destruction of Jerusalem。 Christ had given
His disciples warning； and all who believed His words watched for the
promised sign。 〃When ye shall see Jerusalem compassed with armies；〃 said
Jesus； 〃then know that the desolation thereof is nigh。 Then let them which
are in Judea flee to the mountains； and let them which are in the midst of
it depart out。〃 Luke 21：20； 21。 After the Romans under Cestius had
surrounded the city； they unexpectedly abandoned the siege when everything
seemed favorable for an immediate attack。 The besieged； despairing of
successful resistance； were on the point of surrender； when the Roman
general withdrew his forces without the least apparent reason。 But God's
merciful providence was directing events for the good of His own people。 The
promised sign had been given to the waiting Christians； and now an
opportunity was offered for all who would； to obey the Saviour's warning。
Events were so overruled that neither Jews nor Romans should hinder the
flight of the Christians。 Upon the retreat of Cestius； the Jews； sallying
from Jerusalem； pursued after his retiring army； and while both forces were
thus fully engaged； the Christians had an opportunity to leave the city。 At
this time the country also
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had been cleared of enemies who might have endeavored to intercept them。 At
the time of the siege； the Jews were assembled at Jerusalem to keep the
Feast of Tabernacles； and thus the Christians throughout the land were able
to make their escape unmolested。 Without delay they fled to a place of
safetythe city of Pella； in the land of Perea； beyond Jordan。
The Jewish forces； pursuing after Cestius and his army； fell upon their rear
with such fierceness as to threaten them with total destruction。 It was with
great difficulty that the Romans succeeded in making their retreat。 The Jews
escaped almost without loss； and with their spoils returned in triumph to
Jerusalem。 Yet this apparent success brought them only evil。 It inspired
them with that spirit of stubborn resistance to the Romans which speedily
brought unutterable woe upon the doomed city。
Terrible were the calamities that fell upon Jerusalem when the siege was
resumed by Titus。 The city was invested at the time of the Passover； when
millions of Jews were assembled within its walls。 Their stores of provision；
which if carefully preserved would have supplied the inhabitants for years；
had previously been destroyed through the jealousy and revenge of the
contending factions； and now all the horrors of starvation were experienced。
A measure of wheat was sold for a talent。 So fierce were the pangs of hunger
that men would gnaw the leather of their belts and sandals and the covering
of their shields。 Great numbers of the people would steal out at night to
gather wild plants growing outside the city walls； though many were seized
and put to death with cruel torture； and often those who returned in safety
were robbed of what they had gleaned at so great peril。 The most inhuman
tortures were inflicted by those in power； to force from the want…stricken
people the last scanty supplies which they might have concealed。 And these
cruelties were not infrequently practiced by men who were themselves well
fed； and wh