prophets and kings-第122章
按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
〃Behold； the Lord God will come with strong hand； And His arm shall rule for Him： Behold； His reward is with Him； And His work before Him。 He shall feed His flock like a shepherd： He shall gather the lambs with His arm； And carry them in His bosom； And shall gently lead those that are with young。〃 Isaiah 40：9…11。
〃And in that day shall the deaf hear the words of the Book； And the eyes of the blind shall see out of obscurity； and out of darkness。 The meek also shall increase their joy in the Lord； And the poor among men shall rejoice in the Holy One of Israel。〃
〃They also that erred in spirit shall come to understanding； And they that murmured shall learn doctrine。〃 Isaiah 29：18； 19； 24。
Thus； through patriarchs and prophets； as well as through types and symbols； God spoke to the world concerning the coming of a Deliverer from sin。 A long line of inspired prophecy pointed to the advent of 〃the Desire of all nations。〃 Haggai 2：7。 Even the very place of His birth and the time of His appearance were minutely specified。
The Son of David must be born in David's city。 Out of Bethlehem； said the prophet； 〃shall He come forth 。。。 that is to be ruler in Israel； whose goings forth have been from of old； from the days of eternity。〃 Micah 5：2； margin。
〃And thou Bethlehem； land of Judah； Art in no wise least among the princes of Judah： For out of thee shall come forth a Governor； Which shall be Shepherd of My people Israel。〃 Matthew 2：6； R。V。
698
The time of the first advent and of some of the chief events clustering about the Saviour's lifework was made known by the angel Gabriel to Daniel。 〃Seventy weeks；〃 said the angel； 〃are determined upon thy people and upon thy holy city； to finish the transgression； and to make an end of sins； and to make reconciliation for iniquity； and to bring in everlasting righteousness； and to seal up the vision and prophecy； and to anoint the most holy。〃 Daniel 9：24。 A day in prophecy stands for a year。 See Numbers 14：34； Ezekiel 4：6。 The seventy weeks； or four hundred and ninety days； represent four hundred and ninety years。 A starting point for this period is given： 〃Know therefore and understand； that from the going forth of the commandment to restore and to build Jerusalem unto the Messiah the Prince shall be seven weeks； and threescore and two weeks〃 （Daniel 9：25）； sixty…nine weeks； or four hundred and eighty…three years。 The commandment to restore and build
699
Jerusalem； as completed by the decree of Artaxerxes Longimanus； went into effect in the autumn of 457 B。C。 See Ezra 6：14； 7：1； 9。 From this time four hundred and eighty…three years extend to the autumn of A。D。 27。 According to the prophecy； this period was to reach to the Messiah； the Anointed One。 In A。D。 27； Jesus at His baptism received the anointing of the Holy Spirit and soon afterward began His ministry。 Then the message was proclaimed； 〃The time is fulfilled。〃 Mark 1：15。
Then； said the angel； 〃He shall confirm the covenant with many for one week ＇seven years＇。〃 For seven years after the Saviour entered on His ministry； the gospel was to be preached especially to the Jews； for three and a half years by Christ Himself； and afterward by the apostles。 〃In the midst of the week He shall cause the sacrifice and the oblation to cease。〃 Daniel 9：27。 In the spring of A。D。 31； Christ； the true Sacrifice； was offered on Calvary。 Then the veil of the temple was rent in twain； showing that the sacredness and significance of the sacrificial service had departed。 The time had come for the earthly sacrifice and oblation to cease。
The one weekseven yearsended in A。D。 34。 Then by the stoning of Stephen the Jews finally sealed their rejection of the gospel； the disciples who were scattered abroad by persecution 〃went everywhere preaching the word〃 （Acts 8：4）； and shortly after； Saul the persecutor was converted and became Paul the apostle to the Gentiles。
The many prophecies concerning the Saviour's advent led the Hebrews to live in an attitude of constant expectancy。
700
Many died in the faith； not having received the promises。 But having seen them afar off； they believed and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth。 From the days of Enoch the promises repeated through patriarchs and prophets had kept alive the hope of His appearing。
Not at first had God revealed the exact time of the first advent； and even when the prophecy of Daniel made this known； not all rightly interpreted the message。
Century after century passed away； finally the voices of the prophets ceased。 The hand of the oppressor was heavy upon Israel。 As the Jews departed from God； faith grew dim； and hope well…nigh ceased to illuminate the future。 The words of the prophets were uncomprehended by many； and those whose faith should have continued strong were ready to exclaim； 〃The days are prolonged； and every vision faileth。〃 Ezekiel 12：22。 But in heaven's council the hour for the coming of Christ had been determined； and 〃when the fullness of the time was come； God sent forth His Son； 。 。 。 to redeem them that were under the law； that we might receive the adoption of sons。〃 Galatians 4：4； 5。
Lessons must be given to humanity in the language of humanity。 The Messenger of the covenant must speak。 His voice must be heard in His own temple。 He； the author of truth； must separate truth from the chaff of man's utterance； which had made it of no effect。 The principles of God's government and the plan of redemption must be clearly defined。 The lessons of the Old Testament must be fully set before men。
701
When the Saviour finally appeared 〃in the likeness of men〃 （Philippians 2：7）； and began His ministry of grace； Satan could but bruise the heel； while by every act of humiliation or suffering Christ was bruising the head of His adversary。 The anguish that sin has brought was poured into the bosom of the Sinless； yet while Christ endured the contradiction of sinners against Himself； He was paying the debt for sinful man and breaking the bondage in which humanity had been held。 Every pang of anguish； every insult； was working out the deliverance of the race。
Could Satan have induced Christ to yield to a single temptation； could he have led Him by one act or even thought to stain His perfect purity； the prince of darkness would have triumphed over man's Surety and would have gained the whole human family to himself。 But while Satan could distress； he could not contaminate。 He could cause agony； but not defilement。 He made the life of Christ one long scene of conflict and trial； yet with every attack he was losing his hold upon humanity。
In the wilderness of temptation； in the Garden of Gethsemane； and on the cross； our Saviour measured weapons with the prince of darkness。 His wounds became the trophies of His victory in behalf of the race。 When Christ hung in agony upon the cross； while evil spirits rejoiced and evil men reviled； then indeed His heel was bruised by Satan。 But that very act was crushing the serpent's head。 Through death He destroyed 〃him that had the power of death； that is； the devil。〃 Hebrews 2：14。 This act decided the destiny of the rebel chief； and made forever sure the plan of
702
salvation。 In death He gained the victory over its power； in rising again； He opened the gates of the grave to all His followers。 In that last great contest we see fulfilled the prophecy； 〃It shall bruise thy head； and thou shall bruise his heel。〃 Genesis 3：15。
〃Beloved； now are we the sons of God； and it doth not yet appear what we shall be： but we know that； when He shall appear； we shall be like Him； for we shall see Him as He is。〃 1 John 3：2。 Our Redeemer has opened the way； so that the most sinful； the most needy； the most oppressed and despised； may find access to the Father。
〃O Lord； Thou art my G
