The Great Controversy The Great Controversy | Page 31

immense bars of iron fastened deep in the pavement of solid stone,
opened at midnight, without visible agency.—Milman, The History of
the Jews, book 13.
For seven years a man continued to go up and down the streets of
Jerusalem, declaring the woes that were to come upon the city. By
day and by night he chanted the wild dirge: “A voice from the east!
a voice from the west! a voice from the four winds! a voice against
Jerusalem and against the temple! a voice against the bridegrooms and
the brides! a voice against the whole people!”—Ibid. This strange being
was imprisoned and scourged, but no complaint escaped his lips. To
insult and abuse he answered only: “Woe, woe to Jerusalem!” “woe,
woe to the inhabitants thereof!” His warning cry ceased not until he was
slain in the siege he had foretold.
Not one Christian perished in the destruction of Jerusalem. Christ
had given His disciples warning, and all who believed His words
watched for the promised sign. “When ye shall see Jerusalem compassed
with armies,” said Jesus, “then know that the desolation thereof is
nigh. Then let them which are in Judea flee to the mountains; and
let them which are in the midst of it depart out.” Luke 21:20,
21. After the Romans under Cestius had surrounded the city, they
unexpectedly abandoned the siege when everything seemed favorable for
an immediate attack. The besieged, despairing of successful resistance,
were on the point of surrender, when the Roman general withdrew his
forces without the least apparent reason. But God’s merciful providence
was directing events for the good of His own people. The promised
sign had been given to the waiting Christians, and now an opportunity
was offered for all who would, to obey the Saviour’s warning. Events
were so overruled that neither Jews nor Romans should hinder the flight
of the Christians. Upon the retreat of Cestius, the Jews, sallying from
Jerusalem, pursued after his retiring army; and while both forces were
thus fully engaged, the Christians had an opportunity to leave the city.
At this time the country also

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