For nearly forty years after the doom of Jerusalem had been pronounced by Christ Himself, the Lord delayed His judgments upon the city and the nation. Wonderful was the long-suffering of God toward the rejectors of His gospel and the murderers of His Son. GC 27
What was happening in this time, just before Titus and his armies destroyed Jerusalem in AD 70?
Rejected/slew all the prophets.
All calls to repent – ignored.
All the prophecies incorrectly interpreted.
The true Christ rejected for a false.
Living and building in the city. Have not fled to the country.
Sudden destruction coming.
The armies of Rome are marshalling their forces.
House left desolate.
The new covenant people increasing around the world.
Continue meaningless ordinances and worship, which God cannot look at.
The leadership, the services, the denomination passed by.
Persecuting faithful believers.
Corrupt system.
The signs of the times not understood/noticed.
Final appeals despised.
Smug.
Criminal indifference.
Marrying and giving in marriage.
Feasting – eating and drinking.
Real estate – did not want to leave. Adding property to property.
Internal dissensions.
Yet in their blind and blasphemous presumption the instigators of this hellish work publicly declared that they had no fear that Jerusalem would be destroyed, for it was God's own city. GC 29
Every ray of light rejected, every warning despised or unheeded, every passion indulged, every transgression of the law of God, is a seed sown which yields its unfailing harvest.
The Spirit of God, persistently resisted, is at last withdrawn from the sinner, and then there is left no power to control the evil passions of the soul, and no protection from the malice and enmity of Satan. GC 36
The world is no more ready to credit the message for this time than were the Jews to receive the Saviour's warning concerning Jerusalem. Come when it may, the day of God will come unawares to the ungodly. When life is going on in its unvarying round; when men are absorbed in pleasure, in business, in traffic, in money-making; when religious leaders are magnifying the world's progress and enlightenment, and the people are lulled in a false security--then, as the midnight thief steals within the unguarded dwelling, so shall sudden destruction come upon the careless and ungodly, "and they shall not escape." 1 Thessalonians 5:3. GC 38
The fear of God no longer disturbed them. Satan was at the head of the nation, and the highest civil and religious authorities were under his sway. GC 28
Sound familiar?
