The Universalist. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1884-1897, 1896-05-23
DESTRUCTION OF JERUSALEM
FORETOLD.
May 81. 1896.
Lesson TX.
INTRODUCTION.

INTRODUCTION.
TT is natural that the Jews should
have regarded the fall of Jerusalem and
the constant dispersion of their nation
as equivalent to the destruction OF the
world. For what was their worldY 1t
could not, in the nature of things, have
been the cosmos, or the revolving globe.
Their world was their aion their visible
section of the unbounded plain they i'm
agined was spread out under the empy-
rian. Jerusalem was the capital of their
world.-That the Jewish prOphe-
cies of national calamities should be
interpreted by Christian scholars as
identical with the prophecies OF destruc-
ton of the cosmos, is more surprising
1t is, however, a sign OF advancing
intelligence in Protestant Christendom
that we have, today. from the hands OF
the international Commission. group
of the most threatening prophecies OF
Jesus commended to us under the sug-
eestive title, OBSTRUCTION of Jerusalem
Foretold." We find in the Universalist
Expositor of May, 1888. an elaborate ex-
position of our lesson passage by Hosea
Ballou. His strenuous contention is
that the passage, and its undoubted
parallel in the twenty-fourth and twen-
ty fifth chapters of Matthew, refer to
the approaching destruction OF Jerusa-
lem. This was then Universalist her
esy. That heresy is now orthodox.
SCHOLARS STUDY.
TIME.-Same as last lesson.
PLACE.-MountO Olives, on the way
from Jerusalem to Bethany.
GOLDEN TEXT.-"Heavem and
earth shall pass aa0ay, but ing aoords
shall not pass aUay."-LUKE 81: 33.
UNIV RSALIST CATE
CHISM.-XXII. How long does the
punishment of the sinner last? Until
the end of punishment is secured IN the
changed life of the sinner.-Ez. 1871.
LESSON STORY.
We have for our lesson passage
section of the final public utterance OF
Jesus. He will. it is true, yet remain
three days in the flesh, and will hold
momentous private conversations with
his disciples, reports of which will come
to US; but after this Tuesday OF his Last
Week he will not again speak to his dis
ciples in the hearing of the world.
One of the most trying days of the life
of Jesus was drawing to its close. He
had been the whole day in the temple
court and under trial. He had answered
the delegation from the Sanhedrim. de-
handing by what authority he assumed
control OF the temple. He had endured
the sharp catechising of conspirators,
who pretended to be believers and ad-
herents. He hao withstood verbal
assault of deputation of Sadducees,
endeavoring to fix on him charge OF
heresy. His opponents in each case had
not only been discounted; they had
been compelled to behold that they had
htlu OSSb5iOh5 ~ o0PON> $3.50
Gospel, which in its universally and
sweet reasonsbleness appealed to Man.
Late in the afternoon Jesus had left
the temple, never to enter it again. AS
he was passing out some Of his disciples
las Matthew tells us) called his atten-
ton to the temple. to it's apparent solid
ity and surprising splendor. The tenn.
pie which had been built by Herod was
indeed INTELLECTUALLY magnificent. In
its foundation were beveled stones
sixty feet long, fifteen feet high and Of
like breadth. Alternate slabs of red
and white marble in the walls, double
cloisters, monolithic columns, captured
Jewish admiration. The temple had
also been made depository OF royal
crowns, renowned shields, beieweled
goblets. which the donors, royal and
military. had committed to it for trans
mission to the future generations. The
Emperor Augustus was represented by
a votivs offering; and Herod the Great
had adorned the arch over the door with
a cluster of grapes, the size of mans
body, and made OF solid gold.
When the marveling disciples, with
Jewish pride. showed these things to
their Master, their admiration was sud-
denly turned to establishment when they
heard his response: As for these things
which ye behold. the days toiH come in
achich there shall not be left here one
stone upon another, that shall not be
throicn dolUn.
Jesus with his Twelve Matthew jour
neyed out of Jerusalem, across the brook
Hebron, up the slope Of Olivet, on the
way to Bethany. When the brow of
the hill was reached. and the city was in
full view, the disciples.-whom Mark
names as Peter and James and John
and Andrew,-improved the pause to
privately ask: Master. achen shall these
things bes and l0hdt shall be the sign
lchen these things are about to come to
pdssg
With his beloved Jerusalem cleaning
below him in the sunset rays. Jesus in
response to this query discourses to his