The Great Controversy - Righteousness is Love

16Great had lavished upon it both Roman wealth and Jewish treasure, andeven the emperor of the world had enriched it with his gifts. Massive blocksof white marble, of almost fabulous size, forwarded from Rome for thispurpose, formed a part of its structure; and to these the disciples had calledthe attention of their Master, saying: "See what manner of stones and whatbuildings are here!" Mark 13:1.To these words, Jesus made the solemn and startling reply: "Verily I sayunto you, There shall not be left here one stone upon another, that shall notbe thrown down." Matthew 24:2.With the overthrow of Jerusalem the disciples associated the events ofChrist's personal coming in temporal glory to take the throne of universalempire, to punish the impenitent Jews, and to break from off the nation theRoman yoke. The Lord had told them that He would come the second time.Hence at the mention of judgments upon Jerusalem, their minds reverted tothat coming; and as they were gathered about the Saviour upon the Mountof Olives, they asked: "When shall these things be? and what shall be thesign of Thy coming, and of the end of the world?" Verse 3.The future was mercifully veiled from the disciples. Had they at that timefully comprehend the two awful facts– the Redeemer's sufferings and death,and the destruction of their city and temple–they would have beenoverwhelmed with horror. Christ presented before them an outline of theprominent events to take place before the close of time. His words were notthen fully understood; but their meaning was to be unfolded as His peopleshould need the instruction therein given. The prophecy which He utteredwas twofold in its meaning; while foreshadowing the destruction ofJerusalem, it prefigured also the terrors of the last great day.Jesus declared to the listening disciples the judgments that were to fall uponapostate Israel, and especially the retributive vengeance that would comeupon them for their rejection and crucifixion of the Messiah. Unmistakablesigns would precede the awful climax. The dreaded hour would comesuddenly and swiftly. And the Saviour warned His followers: "When yetherefore shall see the abomination of desolation, spoken of by Daniel theprophet, stand in the holy place, (whoso readeth, let him understand:) thenlet them which be in Judea flee into the mountains." Matthew 24:15, 16;Luke 21:20, 21. When the idolatrous standards of the Romans should be setup in the holy ground, which extended some furlongs outside the city walls,then the followers of Christ were to find safety in flight. When the warningsign should be seen, those who would escape must make no delay.