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."(39)

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 immense bars of iron fastened deep in the pavement of solid
stone, opened at midnight, without visible agency.(40)

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!" 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."(41) 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
withd