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The Life and Times of Jesus the Messiah Vol 1 - Predestination

The Life and Times of Jesus the Messiah Vol 1 - Predestination

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ack upon <strong>the</strong> sea clefl for <strong>the</strong>m, <strong>and</strong> wnich had<br />

buried <strong>the</strong>ir oppressors in <strong>the</strong>ir might <strong>and</strong> pride.<br />

Again, for weary years had <strong>the</strong>ir captives hung<br />

Zion's halrps by <strong>the</strong> rivers <strong>of</strong> that city <strong>and</strong> empire<br />

whose colossal gr<strong>and</strong>eur, wherever <strong>the</strong>y turned,<br />

must have carried to <strong>the</strong> scattered strangers <strong>the</strong><br />

desolate feeling <strong>of</strong> utter hopelessness. And yet that<br />

empire had crumbled into dust, while Israel had<br />

again taken ro6t arid sprung up. And now liiitle<br />

teore than a century <strong>and</strong> a half Tiad passed, since a<br />

danger greater even thalh any <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong>se had<br />

threatened <strong>the</strong> faith <strong>and</strong> <strong>the</strong> very existence <strong>of</strong><br />

Israel. In his daring madness, <strong>the</strong> Syrian Idng,<br />

Aritioclius IV. '(Epipharies) "had foiThSdden <strong>the</strong>ir<br />

reli^on, sought to destroy <strong>the</strong>ir sacred books, witTi<br />

unsparing ferbdity forced on <strong>the</strong>in conformity to<br />

hea<strong>the</strong>n rites,'desecrate tlie Temple by'dedicating<br />

it to Zeus'Olympios, <strong>and</strong> eVen reared a lefel<strong>the</strong>n<br />

altar up6n that <strong>of</strong> buriit-<strong>of</strong>iering.^ Worst <strong>of</strong> all, his<br />

wicked sdhenles haA bedri siided t)y t^o apostate<br />

fegh-PriestS, Vho haA'dtitviM ekch'd<strong>the</strong>r in<br />

litiying <strong>and</strong> tJhen prostituting

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