mercy seat , and the tables of the testimony were not to be found therein . No voice sounded from heaven to make known to the inquiring priest the will of Jehovah .
For centuries the Jews had vainly endeavored to show wherein the promise of God given by Haggai had been fulfilled ; yet pride and unbelief blinded their minds to the true meaning of the prophet ' s words . The second temple was not honored with the cloud of Jehovah ' s glory , but with the living presence of One in whom dwelt the fullness of the Godhead bodily--who was God Himself manifest in the flesh . The " Desire of all nations " had indeed come to His temple when the Man of Nazareth taught and healed in the sacred courts . In the presence of Christ , and in this only , did the second temple exceed the first in glory . But Israel had put from her the proffered Gift of heaven . With the humble Teacher who had that day passed out from its golden gate , the glory had forever departed from the temple . Already were the Saviour ' s words fulfilled : " Your house is left unto you desolate ." Matthew 23:38 .
The disciples had been filled with awe and wonder at Christ ' s prediction of the overthrow of the temple , and they desired to understand more fully the meaning of His words . Wealth , labor , and architectural skill had for more than forty years been freely expended to enhance its splendors . Herod the Great had lavished upon it both Roman wealth and Jewish treasure , and even the emperor of the world had enriched it with his gifts . Massive blocks of white marble , of almost fabulous size , forwarded from Rome for this purpose , formed a part of its structure ; and to these the disciples had called the attention of their Master , saying : " See what manner of stones and what buildings are here !" Mark 13:1 . To these words , Jesus made the solemn and startling reply : " Verily I say unto you , There shall not be left here one stone upon another , that shall not be thrown down ." Matthew 24:2 .
With the overthrow of Jerusalem the disciples associated the events of Christ ' s personal coming in temporal glory to take the throne of universal empire , to punish the impenitent Jews , and to break from off the nation the Roman yoke . The Lord had told them that He would come the second time . Hence at the mention of judgments upon Jerusalem , their minds reverted to that coming ; and as they were gathered about the Saviour upon the Mount of Olives , they asked : " When shall these things be ? and what shall be the sign of Thy coming , and of the end of the world ?" Verse 3 .
The future was mercifully veiled from the disciples . Had they at that time fully comprehend the two awful facts-- the Redeemer ' s sufferings and death , and the destruction of their city and temple--they would have been overwhelmed with horror . Christ presented before them an outline of the prominent events to take place before the close of time . His words were
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