The state republican. (Jefferson City, Mo.) 1871-1896, 1896-05-28

the answer to this question.
A warning. He first warns them OF
something that should come to pass
before the destruction Of Jerusalem.
There should arise false Christs, and
they should hear Of wars and commo-
ions. Nation should rise against ma
ton, and there should be earthquakes,
famines, pestilences, fearful sights
and great signs from heaven. But
before all these they shall lay their
hands on you, and prosecute You, deliv-
ering you up to the synagogues, and
into prisons, being brought before
kings and rulers for my Names
sake" He drew q real picture of the
history of the church from the resur.
rection till the destruction Of Jerusa-
lem assuring them, however, that not
q hair of their head should perish, and
exhorting them to "possess their souls
in patience. VERSES s-19.)
First prediction (20).-"When ye
shall see Jerusalem comprised with
armies" On this very spot where Je.
sus sat and talked, the famous legion
of the Roman army was encsmped dur
ing the siege, a few years Later. The
investment of the city by the armies
of Vespasian and Titus occurred in
the year 70 A. d. and was a military
fete of such gradual process that the
Thrsetio~u hnI ft.nn RI lnnnrt n11t nf
the city and fee to the mountains
Those in the country were warned not
to enter into the city, (21.) Avail
ing themselve of the cessation Of hos
t~ilities, from time to time, after the
first approach against the city by
Tertius Gallus and in obedience to
this command of Jesus the Christians
retired to a town called Pella, beyond
the Jordan, and not one of them per-
ished in the siege.
Second prediction (22-24).-The lam
guage of the 22d verse would indicate
that these days Of vengence were the
just penalty for their sins, in fulfill
ment Of threatenings that had been
made against them. 1t was the fulfill
ment of the prophecy in II last lesson
that "Whosoever shall fall upon the
stone shall be broken to pieces,
but on whomsoever it shall fall, it will
scatter him as dust. The cup of
their iniquity was full. Josephus
says "No age, from the beginning of
the world, ever produced a generation
so fruitful of wickedness as this. ~
Verse "a gives but a fain. intimation
of the terrible suffering of this siege.
In Matthew it is said, "Then shall be
great tribulation such AS was not since
the beginning of the world to this
time, no, nor ever shall be-" And
such was literally true. The horrors
of war, sedition, famine, and 'pesti-
lence were unparalleled in the history
| of the world. The details are too sicken-
ing to recount. 1t was necessary to
throw GOO, 600 corpses over the walls.
captives were taken during the wal,
and 1, 100, 900 persisted in the siege.
| BY command of Titus 500 were crucified
every day OH the walls around the city.
That they should be lied away cap
tive into all the nations is still in
process of fulfillment in the fact that
there are now about s, 900, 900 Jews in
the world scattered among all the ma
tions of earth "trodden down of the
Gentiles."
Third prediction (25.2S).-In this
discourse the destruction of Jerusalem
and the second personal coming OF
Christ Mt tie end of the world are SC
interviewer that il is somewhat diff
cult to distinguish the references The
language is highly figurative and may
refer to both events and Christ passes
from events that were to occur in the
near futrue to those which We're cen
turtles or %milleniums off without call
ing attention to the fact In striking
contrast with His first coming il
weakness as in the babe Of Bethlehem
this second coming of the Son of Mar
shall be lin a cloud with power ant
great glory 1t will be open anC
manifest to all and accompanied by
such display Of personal dignity ant
authority that all men will at ono,
recognize His claims; the good re
joicing at His coming and His enemies
nn1l,r, nn tln snp,,,fa;no 70 hid,
them from the wrath of the Lamb"
A lesson from nature (29 30)-A
the budding trees indicate the approach
ing summer and the sere and yellow
leaf the approaching winter SO are W
taught to observe the signs Of tn,
times, and to judge of the great mora
events of Gods Kingdom. Verse 8
found its fulGllment in the then pres
ent generation of Jews who lived t,
witness the downfall of their natioj
Verse 33, onr golden text. is a solem.
confirmation of the truth of the fore
going statements. And the lesson con
cIudes, verses 81, 30, 80, with a warn
ing and exhortation that we be read
for this coming, let it be when it wi
or come how it may. This is the prac
tical question for all.
Applications, Il. The great event
of history do not simply "happen !;
but Gods providences opperatin
through His laws may be discerne
and interpreted by the wise who woul
heed Christ's injunction to study til
"signs of the times"
2. We learn from Bible teachin
throughout that evil doing will brin
its own punishment sooner OF latel
God is long suffering and forbearin
but is nevertheless a God of justice.
8. "Surfeiting, drunkenness, an
the cares of this life" so blind IL
minds and hearts of men that they ca
not see the awful doom into which the
are plunging. Christ kindly hangs OF
the signal flag Of warning--"Take hee
to your lives"