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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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een related in ano<strong>the</strong>r connection. Suffice it that,<br />

after <strong>the</strong> accession <strong>of</strong> Herod, <strong>the</strong> Sanhedrin<br />

became a shadow <strong>of</strong> itself. It was packed with<br />

Sadducees <strong>and</strong> Priests <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> King's nomination,<br />

<strong>and</strong> with Doctors <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> canon-law, whose only<br />

aim was to pursue in peace <strong>the</strong>ir subtleties; who<br />

had not, <strong>and</strong>, from <strong>the</strong>ir contempt <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> people,<br />

could not have, any real sympathy with national<br />

aspirations ; <strong>and</strong> whose ideal heavenly Kingdom<br />

was a miraculous, heaven-instituted, absolute rule<br />

<strong>of</strong> Rabbis. Accordingly, <strong>the</strong> national movement, as<br />

it afterwards developed, received nei<strong>the</strong>r <strong>the</strong><br />

sympathy nor support <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> leading Rabbis.<br />

Perhaps <strong>the</strong> most gross manifestation <strong>of</strong> this was<br />

exhibited, shortly before <strong>the</strong> taking <strong>of</strong> Jerusalem,<br />

by R. Jochanan ben Saccai, <strong>the</strong> most renowned<br />

among its teachers. Almost unmoved he had<br />

witnessed <strong>the</strong> portent <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> opening <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong><br />

Temple-doors by an unseen H<strong>and</strong>, I which, by an<br />

interpretation <strong>of</strong> 2fech. xi. 1, was popularly<br />

regarded as<br />

froina39 6 betokening its speedy destruction.**^

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