The Great Controversy The Great Controversy | Page 27

suddenly and swiftly. And the Saviour warned His followers: “When ye
therefore shall see the abomination of desolation, spoken of by Daniel
the prophet, stand in the holy place, (whoso readeth, let him understand:)
then let them which be in Judea flee into the mountains.” Matthew 24:15,
16; Luke 21:20, 21. When the idolatrous standards of the Romans should
be set up in the holy ground, which extended some furlongs outside the
city walls, then the followers of Christ were to find safety in flight. When
the warning sign should be seen, those who would escape must make
no delay. Throughout the land of Judea, as well as in Jerusalem itself,
the signal for flight must be immediately obeyed. He who chanced to
be upon the housetop must not go down into his house, even to save
his most valued treasures. Those who were working in the fields or
vineyards must not take time to return for the outer garment laid aside
while they should be toiling in the heat of the day. They must not hesitate
a moment, lest they be involved in the general destruction.
In the reign of Herod, Jerusalem had not only been greatly beautified,
but by the erection of towers, wal ls, and fortresses, adding to the natural
strength of its situation, it had been rendered apparently impregnable.
He who would at this time have foretold publicly its destruction, would,
like Noah in his day, have been called a crazed alarmist. But Christ had
said: “Heaven and earth shall pass away, but My words shall not pass
away.” Matthew 24:35. Because of her sins, wrath had been denounced
against Jerusalem, and her stubborn unbelief rendered her doom certain.
The Lord had declared by the prophet Micah: “Hear this, I pray you,
ye heads of the house of Jacob, and princes of the house of Israel, that
abhor judgment, and pervert all equity. They build up Zion with blood,
and Jerusalem with iniquity. The heads thereof judge for reward, and the
priests thereof teach for hire, and the prophets thereof divine for money:
yet will they lean upon the Lord, and say, Is not the Lord among us?
none evil can come upon us.” Micah 3:9-11.

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