prophets and kings-第119章
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of the saints of the Most High； whose kingdom is an everlasting kingdom。〃 Daniel 7：27。
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Chapter 58
The Coming of a Deliverer
Through the long centuries of 〃trouble and darkness〃 and 〃dimness of anguish〃 （Isaiah 8：22） marking the history of mankind from the day our first parents lost their Eden home； to the time the Son of God appeared as the Saviour of sinners； the hope of the fallen race was centered in the coming of a Deliverer to free men and women from the bondage of sin and the grave。
The first intimation of such a hope was given to Adam and Eve in the sentence pronounced upon the serpent in Eden when the Lord declared to Satan in their hearing； 〃I will put enmity between thee and the woman； and between thy seed and her seed； it shall bruise thy head； and thou shalt bruise his heel。〃 Genesis 3：15。
As the guilty pair listened to these words； they were inspired with hope； for in the prophecy concerning the breaking of Satan's power they discerned a promise of
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deliverance from the ruin wrought through transgression。 Though they must suffer from the power of their adversary because they had fallen under his seductive influence and had chosen to disobey the plain command of Jehovah； yet they need not yield to utter despair。 The Son of God was offering to atone with His own lifeblood for their transgression。 To them was to be granted a period of probation； during which； through faith in the power of Christ to save； they might become once more the children of God。
Satan； by means of his success in turning man aside from the path of obedience； became 〃the god of this world。〃 2 Corinthians 4：4。 The dominion that once was Adam's passed to the usurper。 But the Son of God proposed to come to this earth to pay the penalty of sin； and thus not only redeem man； but recover the dominion forfeited。 It is of this restoration that Micah prophesied when he said； 〃O Tower of the flock； the stronghold of the daughter of Zion； unto Thee shall it come； even the first dominion。〃 Micah 4：8。 The apostle Paul has referred to it as 〃the redemption of the purchased possession。〃 Ephesians 1：14。 And the psalmist had in mind the same final restoration of man's original inheritance when he declared； 〃The righteous shall inherit the land； and dwell therein forever。〃 Psalm 37：29。
This hope of redemption through the advent of the Son of God as Saviour and King； has never become extinct in the hearts of men。 From the beginning there have been some whose faith has reached out beyond the shadows of the present to the realities of the future。 Adam； Seth； Enoch； Methuselah； Noah； Shem； Abraham； Isaac； and Jacob
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through these and other worthies the Lord has preserved the precious revealings of His will。 And it was thus that to the children of Israel； the chosen people through whom was to be given to the world the promised Messiah； God imparted a knowledge of the requirements of His law； and of the salvation to be accomplished through the atoning sacrifice of His beloved Son。
The hope of Israel was embodied in the promise made at the time of the call of Abraham； and afterward repeated again and again to his posterity； 〃In thee shall all families of the earth be blessed。〃 Genesis 12：3。 As the purpose of God for the redemption of the race was unfolded to Abraham； the Sun of Righteousness shone upon his heart； and his darkness was scattered。 And when； at last； the Saviour Himself walked and talked among the sons of men； He bore witness to the Jews of the patriarch's bright hope of deliverance through the coming of a Redeemer。 〃Your father Abraham rejoiced to see My day；〃 Christ declared； 〃and he saw it； and was glad。〃 John 8：56。
This same blessed hope was foreshadowed in the benediction pronounced by the dying patriarch Jacob upon his son Judah：
〃Judah； thou art he whom thy brethren shall praise： Thy hand shall be in the neck of thine enemies； Thy father's children shall bow down before thee。 。 。 。 The scepter shall not depart from Judah； Nor a lawgiver from between his feet； Until Shiloh come； And unto Him shall the gathering of the people be。〃 Genesis 49：8…10。
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Again； on the borders of the Promised Land； the coming of the world's Redeemer was foretold in the prophecy uttered by Balaam：
〃I shall see Him； but not now： I shall behold Him； but not nigh： There shall come a Star out of Jacob； and a Scepter shall rise out of Israel； And shall smite the corners of Moab； and destroy all the children of Sheth。〃 Numbers 24：17。
Through Moses； God's purpose to send His Son as the Redeemer of the fallen race； was kept before Israel。 On one occasion； shortly before his death； Moses declared； 〃The Lord thy God will raise up unto thee a Prophet from the midst of thee； of thy brethren； like unto me； unto Him ye shall hearken。〃 Plainly had Moses been instructed for Israel concerning the work of the Messiah to come。 〃I will raise them up a Prophet from among their brethren； like unto thee；〃 was the word of Jehovah to His servant； 〃and will put My words in His mouth； and He shall speak unto them all that I shall command Him。〃 Deuteronomy 18：15； 18。
In patriarchal times the sacrificial offerings connected with divine worship constituted a perpetual reminder of the coming of a Saviour； and thus it was with the entire ritual of the sanctuary services throughout Israel's history。 In the ministration of the tabernacle； and of the temple that afterward took its place； the people were taught each day； by means of types and shadows； the great truths relative to the advent of Christ as Redeemer； Priest； and King； and
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once each year their minds were carried forward to the closing events of the great controversy between Christ and Satan； the final purification of the universe from sin and sinners。 The sacrifices and offerings of the Mosaic ritual were ever pointing toward a better service； even a heavenly。 The earthly sanctuary was 〃a figure for the time then present；〃 in which were offered both gifts and sacrifices； its two holy places were 〃patterns of things in the heavens；〃 for Christ； our great High Priest； is today 〃a minister of the sanctuary； and of the true tabernacle； which the Lord pitched； and not man。〃 Hebrews 9：9； 23； 8：2。
From the day the Lord declared to the serpent in Eden； 〃I will put enmity between thee and the woman； and between thy seed and her seed〃 （Genesis 3：15）； Satan has known that he can never hold absolute sway over the inhabitants of this world。 When Adam and his sons began to offer the ceremonial sacrifices ordained by God as a type of the coming Redeemer； Satan discerned in these a symbol of communion between earth and heaven。 During the long centuries that have followed； it has been his constant effort to intercept this communion。 Untiringly has he sought to misrepresent God and to misinterpret the rites pointing to the Saviour； and with a great majority of the members of the human family he has been successful。
While God has desired to teach men that from His own love comes the Gift which reconciles them to Himself； the archenemy of mankind has endeavored to represent God as one who delights in their destruction。 Thus the sacrifices and the ordinances designed of Heaven to reveal divine
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love have been perverted to serve as means whereby sinners have vainly hoped to propitiate； with gifts and good works； the wrath of an offended God。 At the same time； Satan has sought to arouse and strengthen the evil passions of men in order that through repeated transgression multitudes might be led on and on； far from God； and hopelessly bound with the fetters of sin。
When God's written word was given through the Hebrew prophets； Satan studied with diligence the messages concerning the Messiah。 Carefully he traced the words that outl
