The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1896-05-30
SUNDAY SCHOOL LESSON.
THE PROPHLCY ~ REFERLNCE 10
DESTRUCTION or JAEtS4LEA.
The International Sunday > hool Lesson
for Tomorrow as Expounded By
Rev. Edward l.. rell.

May 31.-Dcs,ruction OK Jerusalem roIe-
told. Luke xxi.. .U--G.
Sayin. a thing is so does not make II
40. however emphatic We may be In say
ing II. The EFFORT 10 establish the ihean-
ia. OF this mysterious prophecy py CIV
ing TO an individual opinion the force ol
= thus saith the Lord, mas mus l@l
proven a dismal failure. III we want 10
make the prophecy reIer solely 10 the De,
struction OF Jerusalem, We can 40 II, ana
not sentence nor a word VIII talt ~
yield the meaning wanted. IL we 90 10
II to ina a vision OF the second Soini'e,
It will appear as clear as sunbeam. ~
we have settled IL in our minus 'iae
Jesus saw three visions, one through inc
other. as in dissolying Views-we Will nave
no difficulty in mapping them al our an"
clearly distinguishing tuem one from an
other. We can get out OF thlS psopneey
what We want. IL We want SometnHe
10 III a theory, we have only to construct
tho theory aud then look for a M. III
wo want 10 ina truth, We had oelter so
10 the lesson cOnfessing that there are
some things we don't know ana Wlillhg
that some things shall be hidden, ana
ready TO receive with thankful hearts
Whatever the Holy Spirit may choose 10
reveal.
That a large part OF this prophecy re-
fers 10 the destruction OF Jerusalem no
one VIII deny. The fact IN which we are
particularly interested here IS that TINS
prophecy was literally fulfilled in every
particular. The stones in the iouhaa,
ton OF the temple. which Jesus declared
should not remain one upon the otneI
were forty feet I'm length by twenty IN
breadth. Malmonides a Jewish rabbi. de-
clares that THE very foundations or the
temple were digeed up according 10
the Roman custom Many false Christs
We're 10 arise. Josephus says that WINE
Felix was pIOcUratOr or Judea impOsNeEs
or this stamp were so frequent that some
were taken ana killed almost every oay.
We know that there were wars, ana az
one time 80 many rumors OF wars tEat
the people neglected 10 cultivate their
lands. The different tetrarohies and pro
VinccS rose against each other Whlle the
earthquakes spoken Of probably allud-
ed 10 connections among the people rain
or than TO connections In the earth, bo'h
were frequent. The fearful sights and
great signs, and like expressions, are
probably hguratiye representations or
the distress and connections OF the times
similar expressions were frequently used
In this way by the prophets. The disci-
pies were prosecuted, delivered up 10 the
synag0gues and into prisons and we
know that when they came before kings
and governors. they were given mouth
and wisdom" They were betrayed by
parents and brethren and kinsmen
Jerusalem was Composed with ar
mics" and the Christians residing there
remembered the words or Jesus and
when Cestius Gallus suddenly raised the
siege they hastily retreated across the
Jordan TO Pella and were saved. And the
days which followed were filed with such
awful calamltes that all men felt that IL
was a time OF vengeance. And those
who did not fall by the sword were led
away captive unto all nations. the hand
soonest going to grace the triumph OF
Titus in Rome, those under seventeen be-
ing sold for slaves, and the rest being
distributed through the Roman provinces
10 work In the mines or TO be destroyed
in theatres by the sword and by Wild
beasts. And Jerusalem Is still trodden
down Of the Gentlles. and will be until
the times of the Gentiles-their oppor-
tuuity 10 accept Christie fulhlled.
Whether the verses which follow refer
10 the second coming OF Christ or to
his coming into all parts Of the world
from the destruction OF Jerusalem, and
the great connections incident TO the tear
ing down of the old and the building up
OF the new. We may not speak with an
thority; but we have the highest authort-
" for saying that our Lord will come
again. however often he may have al
ready come. For the Lord himself shall
descend from heaven with a shout, with
the voice of the archange and with the
trump OF Cod"
And whatever all this noise and con-
fusion may refer 10, great social upheav-
ais should not discourage US. but should
cause us 20 lit up our heads for they
are signs that the Gospel Is doing It's
work. 1.-THE greater the commotion. the
stronger the sign that the good time ~
near al hand just AS the bursting or
the buds on the fig-tree tell US that
summer Is a hand.
And whether this generation refers
10 the generation then living or 10 that
age 10 the Jewish race. we may be sure
that nlther generation nor age nor
race can slip out Of Gods grasp until his
word has been fulfilled Heaven and
earth shall pass away, but My word shah
not pass away
n was fitting that such a word should
be followed by a solemn warning. or that
dav knOweth no man. The important
thing for the disciples was 10 watch.
The Important thing for Us is 20 watch.
Let us take heed 10 ourselves lest we
overload our hearts with the pleasures or
cares OF this life making us dun and
heavy and careless about that which Is
20 come az time we know not And let
ms be watchful and prayerful always that
we may be able 20 stand accepted before
the Son OF Man. EDWARD l.. PELL.