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History of the Sabbath and First Day of the Week - John N. Andrews

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are with child, <strong>and</strong> to <strong>the</strong>m that give suck in those<br />

days! But pray ye that your flight be not in <strong>the</strong><br />

winter, nei<strong>the</strong>r on <strong>the</strong> <strong>Sabbath</strong> day; for <strong>the</strong>n shall<br />

be great tribulation, such as was not since <strong>the</strong><br />

beginning <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> world to this time, no, nor ever<br />

shall be." (Matt. 24:15-21)<br />

In this language our Lord brings to view <strong>the</strong><br />

dreadful calamities <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> Jewish people, <strong>and</strong> <strong>the</strong><br />

destruction <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong>ir city <strong>and</strong> temple as predicted by<br />

<strong>the</strong> Daniel <strong>the</strong> prophet; (Dan. 9:26, 27) <strong>and</strong> his<br />

watchful care over his people as <strong>the</strong>ir Lord leads<br />

him to point out <strong>the</strong>ir means <strong>of</strong> escape.<br />

1. He gives <strong>the</strong>m a token by which <strong>the</strong>y should<br />

know when this terrible overthrow was<br />

immediately impending. It was "<strong>the</strong> abomination <strong>of</strong><br />

desolation" st<strong>and</strong>ing "in <strong>the</strong> holy place;" or, as<br />

expressed by Luke, <strong>the</strong> token was "Jerusalem<br />

compassed with armies." (Luke 21:20) The<br />

fulfillment <strong>of</strong> this sign is recorded by <strong>the</strong> historian<br />

Josephus. After stating that Cestius, <strong>the</strong> Roman<br />

comm<strong>and</strong>er, at <strong>the</strong> commencement <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> contest<br />

between <strong>the</strong> Jews <strong>and</strong> <strong>the</strong> Romans, encompassed<br />

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