LOOKING UNTO JESUS OR CHRIST IN TYPE AND ANTITYPE. BY ...

Externally, this building, the temple built by Herod, was
at once the admiration and envy of the world. "Its appearance,"
says Josephus, "had everything that could strike the
mind and astonish the sight; for it was on every side covered
with solid plates of gold, so that when the sun rose
upon it, it reflected such a dazzling effulgence that the
eye of the beholder was obliged to turn away from it; being
no more able to sustain its radiance than the splendor of
the sun." "It appeared at a distance like a huge mountain
covered with snow; for where it was not decorated with
plates of gold, it was extremely white and glistening." p.
83, Para. 1, [LOOKING].
Thus we are brought to the time of our Saviour. That covenant
which had its ordinances of divine service in connection
with "a worldly sanctuary," was drawing to a close.
The great Sacrifice, to which the offerings of the sanctuary
pointed, was about to be offered. The Lord was engaged
in his solemn mission of love to man. p. 83, Para. 2,
[LOOKING].
Often would he have gathered them, to enlighten their
blindness, heal their backslidings, and save from destruction.
But they would not. Their incorrigible resistance at
length wrung from him the mournful lamentation, "Behold,
your house is left unto you desolate." Matt. 23:38. Yes,
their beautiful house, the Spirit and presence of God
driven therefrom, had become only a tomb of darkness and
death. And as Christ departed with sad and lingering footsteps
from the temple, the fearful doom which he saw awaiting
that people obliged him to declare, not in anger, but
in sorrow, that the temple should be thrown down, so that
not one stone should be left upon another. p. 83, Para. 3,
[LOOKING].
This temple, as already noticed, had but just been completed
when Christ commenced his earthly ministry in A.D.
27. His ministry continued three years and a half, to the
Passover in the spring of A.D. 31. Just before his death he
pronounced the foregoing mournful sentence against them.
How little they thought, as they took possession of their
new and beautiful house, that its probation, and their own,
was so short. They were never better satisfied with their
spiritual standing than at that very moment. Never before
were they riding so high on the wave of spiritual pride.
And never were they so near destruction. What a striking
spectacle of spiritual deception! They might have accepted