The Great Controversy The Great Controversy | Page 18

Chap. 1 - The Destruction of
Jerusalem
“If thou hadst known, even thou, at least in this thy day, the things
which belong unto thy peace! but now they are hid from thine eyes.
For the days shall come upon thee, that thine enemies shall cast a trench
about thee, and compass thee round, and keep thee in on every side,
and shall lay thee even with the ground, and thy children within thee;
and they shall not leave in thee one stone upon another; because thou
knewest not the time of thy visitation.” Luke 19:42-44.
From the crest of Olivet, Jesus looked upon Jerusalem. Fair and
peaceful was the scene spread out before Him. It was the season of
the Passover, and from all lands the children of Jacob had gathered
there to celebrate the great national festival. In the midst of gardens
and vineyards, and green slopes studded with pilgrims’ tents, rose the
terraced hills, the stately palaces, and massive bulwarks of Israel’s
capital. The daughter of Zion seemed in her pride to say, I sit a queen
and shall see no sorrow; as lovely then, and deeming herself as secure in
Heaven’s favor, as when, ages before, the royal minstrel sang: “Beautiful
for situation, the joy of the whole earth, is Mount Zion, ... the city of the
great King.” Psalm 48:2. In full view were the magnificent buildings of
the temple. The rays of the setting sun lighted up the snowy whiteness of
its marble walls and gleamed from golden gate and tower and pinnacle.
“The perfection of

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