Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1896-05-28
THE SUNDAY SCHOOL.
International Lesson for May 81, 1905
Destruction of Jerusalem Foretold-
Luke 81: 2O-36.

ARRANGED from Peloubet's Notes.1
GOLDEN TEXT.-Heaven and earth shall
pass away. but my words shall not pass
away.-Luke 81: SO.
THE SECTION includes verses 5-SS The
parallel passages are Matthews "a anc
Mark L.
TIaE.-Tuesday. April 4. a D. so, toward
evening.
P1.AcE.-The slope of Mount of Olives
the way from the temple to Bethany. over
looking the city of Jerusalem.
LESSON NOTES.
I.-QUEsTIoNINGs BY THE WAY.-V.T
Matthew 24:3; Mark, 1873, 4, As
Jesus with His disciples left the temple,
at the close of His last great day of pub
lie teaching, they called His attention
to the magnificent temple buildings,
reputed one of the wonders of the
world. They pointed out the solid foun-
dation, some of the stones of which
were more than 40 feet long, 20 broad
and IL high. Jesus reply was that
the time was coming when not one
of them should be left upon an
other. Amazed and perpleXed by this
answer, they pressed Jesus to explain.
Tell us, when shall these things be,
and what shall be the sign of Thy COM
ing. and of the end of the world?''
What follows is the answer to these
questions.
IL. VISIONS OF THE FUTURE.-Vs. S-2T.
Matthew 24:5-31; Mark 1851. First,
He tells of the immediate future; the
troublous times which preceded the de-
struction of Jerusalem, the difficulties
in the midst of which they were to
lay the foundations of the church. The
temple was to be destroyed, false
ChriSts would arise, then would come
great wars and rumors of war, and all
kinds of disturbance and commotion.
Nature itself would seem to sympathize
with the moral upheavals and revolu-
tons. Second, He tells of the destruc-
ton of Jerusalem, and the end of that
age or dispensation. when We shall
see Jerusalem compasSed by armies
The first siege came in A d. &c, under
Cestius. then the disciples could ''know
that the desolation thereof is Nigh
Let them who are in Judea flee to
the mountains" Jesus practically for
bids His disciples to join in the ter
rible series of -evolts, and fierce insur-
rection, and frantic but useless at
lacks upon the Romans, or the fanatic
al disputes between the different fac.
tions of the Jews.
Let them which are in the midst
of it (the city, depart out" 1t is said
that not single Christian persisted in
the siege, because all obeyed.
These be the days of vengeance,s of
the Divine punishment on account of
their sins. Josephus declares that the
ulisfortunes of all men, from the be-
ginning of the world, if they be COM
pared to those of the Jews. arc not
so terrible as theirs were,'' NOR did
any age ever produce Il generation more
fruitful OF wickednesS from the begin
ming of the world
And they shall fall by the edge OF
the sword, and shall be led away cap
tive into all nations" This latter fact
has continued till this day. There are
about s, 1000, 900 JewS>in the world some
what more than the number in Pales-
tine at the time of Christ. There are
100000 Jews in Russia, 1,644, 900 in
Austria, 562. 900 in Germany, los, 900 in
Turkey, $4,000 in France and 1000 in
Great Britain. In New York city there
are 100000. Jerusalem shall be trod-
den down of the Gentiles.'' Romans,
Saracens, Persians, Franks, Norsemen.
Turks, all have ''trodden down Jerusa-
lem since then.
Verses 1927 seem 10 look beyond the
destruction of Jerusalem to the final
coming ot the Son of Man. though ap
plicable to both events. The same con-
ditions will prevail. The sea and the
waves roaring" express wildly the wild
connections among the people, polit-
ical and social agitations. Then shall
they see the Son of Man coming" All
these things must necessarily precede
the coming of the Son of Man. The
commotion in the clouds and darkness
are the sign that the light is working.
The social upheavals are proofs that
truth and the Gospel are living powers,
and are doing their work.
III. PROMISES OF COMFORT AND HOPE
vs.. 1888, also Is and 10; Matthew
24:13, Il. These promises expressed or
implied are four in number. u The
promised coming of Christ is q great
JOY. Then look up" do not despair
when you see this commotion. your
redemption draweth nigh (2) The
triumph was certain. My words shall
not pass away" 90 They would be
safe. and a. the Gospel was to be
preached to oil the world.
". How To ACT IN VIEW OF THESE
THINGs.-Vs. 1896. First, take heed to
yourselves. Be on your guard against
the dangers which are SO insidious,