The Great Controversy The Great Controversy | Page 30

was at the head of the nation, and the highest civil and religious
authorities were under his sway.
The leaders of the opposing factions at times united to plunder and
torture their wretched victims, and again they fell upon each other’s
forces and slaughtered without mercy. Even the sanctity of the temple
could not restrain their horrible ferocity. The worshipers were stricken
down before the altar, and the sanctuary was polluted with the bodies of
the slain. Yet in their blind and blasphemous presumption the instigators
of this hellish work publicly declare d that they had no fear that Jerusalem
would be destroyed, for it was God’s own city. To establish their power
more firmly, they bribed false prophets to proclaim, even while Roman
legions were besieging the temple, that the people were to wait for
deliverance from God. To the last, multitudes held fast to the belief that
the Most High would interpose for the defeat of their adversaries. But
Israel had spurned the divine protection, and now she had no defense.
Unhappy Jerusalem! rent by internal dissensions, the blood of her
children slain by one another’s hands crimsoning her streets, while alien
armies beat down her fortifications and slew her men of war!
All the predictions given by Christ concerning the destruction of
Jerusalem were fulfilled to the letter. The Jews experienced the truth of
His words of warning: “With what measure ye mete, it shall be measured
to you again.” Matthew 7:2.
Signs and wonders appeared, foreboding disaster and doom. In the
midst of the night an unnatural light shone over the temple and the
altar. Upon the clouds at sunset were pictured chariots and men of war
gathering for battle. The priests ministering by night in the sanctuary
were terrified by mysterious sounds; the earth trembled, and a multitude
of voices were heard crying: “Let us depart hence.” The great eastern
gate, which was so heavy that it could hardly be shut by a score of men,
and which was secured by

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