The European Union in Prophecy The EU in Prophecy I | Page 277

The European Union in Prophecy
of salvation made to the sinful pair in Eden was ratified. The kingdom of grace, which
had before existed by the promise of God, was then established.
Thus the death of Christ--the very event which the disciples had looked upon as
the final destruction of their hope --was that which made it forever sure. While it had
brought them a cruel disappointment, it was the climax of proof that their belief had
been correct. The event that had filled them with mourning and despair was that
which opened the door of hope to every child of Adam, and in which centered the future
life and eternal happiness of all God's faithful ones in all the ages. Purposes of infinite
mercy were reaching their fulfillment, even though the disappointment of the
disciples. While their hearts had been won by the divine grace and power of His
teaching, who "spake as never man spake," yet intermingled with the pure gold of
their love for Jesus, was the base alloy of worldly pride and selfish ambitions. Even
in the Passover chamber, at that solemn hour when their Master was already entering
the shadow of Gethsemane, there was "a strife among them, which of them should be
accounted the greatest." Luke 22:24.
Their vision was filled with the throne, the crown, and the glory, while just
before them lay the shame and agony of the garden, the judgment hall, the cross of
Calvary. It was their pride of heart, their thirst for worldly glory, that had led them
to cling so tenaciously to the false teaching of their time, and to pass unheeded the
Saviour's words showing the true nature of His kingdom, and pointing forward to His
agony and death. And these error resulted in the trial--sharp but needful--which was
permitted for their correction. Though the disciples had mistaken the meaning of their
message, and had failed to realize their expectations, yet they had preached the
warning given them of God, and the Lord would reward their faith and honour their
obedience. To them was to be entrusted the work of heralding to all nations the
glorious gospel of their risen Lord. It was to prepare them for this work that the
experience which seemed to them so bitter had been permitted.
After His resurrection Jesus appeared to His disciples on the way to Emmaus,
and, "beginning at Moses and all the prophets, He expounded unto them in all the
Scriptures the things concerning Himself." Luke 24:27. The hearts of the disciples
were stirred. Faith was kindled. They were "begotten again into a lively hope" even
before Jesus revealed Himself to them. It was His purpose to enlighten their
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