The Great Controversy The Great Controversy | Page 25

left among you that saw this house in her first glory? and how do ye see
it now? is it not in your eyes in comparison of it as nothing?” Haggai
2:3; Ezra 3:12. Then was given the promise that the glory of this latter
house should be greater than that of the former.
But the second temple had not equaled the first in magnificence; nor
was it hallowed by those visible tokens of the divine presence which
pertained to the first temple. There was no manifestation of supernatural
power to mark its dedication. No cloud of glory was seen to fill the
newly erected sanctuary. No fire from heaven descended to consume
the sacrifice upon its altar. The Shekinah no longer abode between the
cherubim in the most holy place; the ark, the 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

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