THE

INTRODUCTION

'HE prophecies constitute that portion of the Holy Scriptures which predict future events. In the Old Testament the prophets have written the history of the universal kingdoms and of the people of God; in like manner Christ and his apostles have testified in the New Testament of many events which were in the future.

Most of these prophecies are fulfilled, and those which remain to be fulfilled belong to the time of the end, and to the glorious revelation and kingdom of Christ. The sure word of prophecy shines before us as a light in a dark place, until the great day of the Lord, and Christ, the heavenly Day Star, arises before the longing gaze of God's dear children. In order to understand the time in which we are living, and learn to await the glorious return of our Saviour, it is necessary that we understand and believe this part of the word of God.

The word of prophecy was wonderfully fulfilled before the eyes of the apostles in the person and work of Christ. Thus it was verified to them while they worked with Christ on the earth. Peter relates how the prophecy was most gloriously confirmed, when he and James and John in the holy mount were eye-witnesses of the glory of Christ, and heard the voice of God from the excellent glory: "This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.

When God in his word thus speaks to us, we ought not to give heed to those who say that it is not necessary but rather dangerous to study the prophecies. This is not the voice of the Good Shepherd, for he declares by his prophet

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12 Peter 1: 17.

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that we do well when we give heed to the sure word of prophecy as unto a light that shineth in a dark place. The Lord has also pronounced a blessing on all who read and keep the word of the prophecy: "Blessed is he that readeth, and they that hear the words of this prophecy, and keep those things which are written therein: for the time is at hand." The word of God is a sure guide to the kingdom of heaven.

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Let it be the foundation of your faith and hope. Depend on it more than on all the testimonies of men; for the word of the Lord is an everlasting rock. Heaven and earth shall pass away, but the word of God,

never.

In the days of the apostles there were prophets. There was an abundance of spiritual gifts in the early Christian churches. But the information and warnings which were given for the benefit of the church through these prophetic gifts, are not recorded in the Scriptures except some of the prophecies of Jesus and of the apostles.

Jesus foretold many things of himself, and they were all minutely fulfilled. Concerning these predictions, he said to his disciples: "Now I tell you before it come, that, when it is come to pass, ye may believe that I am he." He did not only foretell his death and resurrection, but also the manner in which it would happen, and the particular circumstances that one of the twelve (Judas) should betray him; that the rest would all be offended at him and flee; that Peter, who was more forward than the rest, would deny him thrice; that he should be betrayed to the chief priests and delivered to the Gentiles; that they should mock and scourge and crucify him; but that he should rise the third day, and show himself to his disciples in Galilee.

22 Peter 1:19.

Acts 11:27, 28; 21:9, 10, 11; 2:17. 1 Cor. 12:7-11, 28; 14: 1

3 Rev. 1:3

6 John 13:19.

Of a few poor fishermen he foretold that they should become fishers of men; that the power of the Holy Ghost should come upon them; that they should be his witnesses, performing miracles, and preaching the gospel unto the uttermost parts of the earth.

Jesus told the apostles that they should suffer persecution, and by what kind of death Peter should honor God. He foretold the rejection of the Jews and the calling of the Gentiles; that the number of the disciples from a small beginning should wonderfully increase, like a small grain of mustard-seed, which in the oriental countries becomes a great tree, and like a little leaven which leaveneth the whole measure of meal; that his church should be built on a rock; that the gates of hell should not prevail against it, but it should stand forever.

Most of these events did not seem very likely ever to happen. No human intellect could predict them; no human power could bring them about. He who so minutely and definitely could foretell these and many other events, must have had perfect knowledge of the human heart and of the future; and we shall see that many of the predictions of our Saviour are still being fulfilled before our eyes.

None of the prophecies of Jesus are more remarkable than those of which we read in Matthew 24. In this chapter he speaks of the destruction of Jerusalem, and the several important events which should take place thereafter; of the signs of the end of the world; and of his own glorious return. We will now consider these prophecies, and notice how they have been fulfilled. Thus our faith in Christ may be strengthened, and we may learn to look for his glorious appearing.

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CHAPTER I.

THE QUESTION OF THE DISCIPLES.

HEN Jesus on a certain occasion had reproved the Pharisees for their hypocrisy and great wickedness, his loving heart was drawn out toward Jerusalem, the place that for centuries had been the chief center of the true worship of God. He thought of the people to whom the Lord had committed his truth, and to whom he had sent his only begotten Son. He looked into the future, and when he saw the terrible calamities which hung over the Jews like a sharp sword on a brittle thread, his tender heart was moved deeply with compassion.

Surrounded by the joyful multitude of disciples, Jesus passed along the road on the Mount of Olives on his way from Bethany to Jerusalem. He rode on the colt of an ass, just as the prophet had foretold.' The people expected that Jesus would now restore the kingdom to Israel, and reign as a mighty king in Jerusalem. This caused great joy among them, and they said: "Blessed be the king that cometh in the name of the Lord: peace in heaven and glory in the highest.""

Jesus Weeps over Jerusalem.

Jesus was not carried away with the enthusiasm of the moment. When he drew near to the city, he was deeply moved, and tears of compassion rolled down his cheeks. He lamented its sad fate and said:

1 Zech. 9:9.

2 Luke 19:38.

"If thou hadst known even thou, at least in this thy day, the things which belong to 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."3

"O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, thou that killest the prophets, and stonest them which are sent unto thee, how often. would I have gathered thy children together, even as a hen gathereth her chickens under her wings, and ye would not! Behold, your house is left unto you desolate."

The Disciples of Jesus Show Him the Buildings of the Temple.

The disciples wondered at the conduct of Jesus, and his words made them very sad. It seemed impossible that Jerusalem, and the gloricus temple which was the joy and pride of every Jew, should be overthrown. When they looked upon the great buildings and the large and splendid stones, it seemed unreasonable that the words of Jesus ever could be fulfilled. Hence they used the first opportunity that offered itself to call the attention of Jesus to the glorious buildings of the temple.

"And Jesus went out and departed from the temple; and his disciples came unto him for to show him the buildings of the temple. Mark has the following: "Master see what manner of stones and what buildings are here," And Luke says that "some spake of the temple how it was adorned with goodly stones and gifts.""

Gifts from kings and Roman emperors as well as from Jews had been sent to the temple. It had been built very magnificently and covered with plates of gold of great weight. In the distance it looked like a mountain covered The pillars were thirty-seven feet high, made.

with snow.

8 Luke 19:42-44.

6 Mark 13: I.

4 Matt. 23:37, 38.

7 Luke 21:5.

5 Matt. 24: I'.