ns.” Galatians 4:4, 5.
The Saviour’s coming was foretold in Eden. When Adam and
Eve first heard the promise, they looked for its speedy fulfillment.
They joyfully welcomed their first-born son, hoping that he might be
the Deliverer. But the fulfillment of the promise tarried. Those who
first received it died without the sight. From the days of Enoch the
promise was repeated through patriarchs and prophets, keeping alive
the hope of His appearing, and yet He came not. The prophecy of
Daniel revealed the time of His advent, but not all rightly interpreted
the message. Century after century passed away; the voices of the
prophets ceased. The hand of the oppressor was heavy upon Israel,
and many were ready to exclaim, “The days are prolonged, and every
[32] vision faileth.” Ezekiel 12:22.
But like the stars in the vast circuit of their appointed path, God’s
purposes know no haste and no delay. Through the symbols of the
great darkness and the smoking furnace, God had revealed to Abraham
the bondage of Israel in Egypt, and had declared that the time of their
sojourning should be four hundred years. “Afterward,” He said, “shall
they come out with great substance.” Genesis 15:14. Against that
word, all the power of Pharaoh’s proud empire battled in vain. On “the
self-same day” appointed in the divine promise, “it came to pass, that
all the hosts of the Lord went out from the land of Egypt.” Exodus
12:41. So in heaven’s council the hour for the coming of Christ had
been determined. When the great clock of time pointed to that hour,
Jesus was born in Bethlehem.
“When the fullness of the time was come, God sent forth His Son.”
Providence had directed the movements of nations, and the tide of
human impulse and influence, until the world was ripe for the coming
of the Deliverer. The nations were united under one government.
One language was widely spoken, and was everywhere recognized as
20
“The Fullness of the Time” 21
the language of literature. From all lands the Jews of the dispersion
gathered to Jerusalem to the annual feasts. As these returned to the
places of their sojourn, they could spread throughout the world the
tidings of the Messiah’s coming.
At this time the systems of heathenism were losing their hold upon
the people. Men were weary of pageant and fable. They longed for a
religion that could satisfy the heart. While the light of truth seemed to
have departed from among men, there were souls who were looking
for light, and who were filled with perplexity and sorrow. They were
thirsting for a knowledge of the living God, for some assurance of a
life beyond the grave.
As the Jews had departed from God, faith had grown dim, and
hope had well-nigh ceased to illuminate the future. The words of
the prophets were uncomprehended. To the masses of the people,
death was a dread mystery; beyond was uncertainty and gloom. It was
not alone the wailing of the mothers of Bethlehem, but the cry from
the great heart of humanity, that was borne to the prophet across the
centuries,—the voice heard in Ramah, “lamentation, and weeping, and
great mourning, Rachel weeping for her children, and would not be
comforted, because they are not.” Matthew 2:18. In “the region and
shadow of death,” men sat unsolaced. With longing eyes they looked
for the coming of the Deliverer, when the darkness should be dispelled, [33]
and the mystery of the future should be made plain.
Outside of the Jewish nation there were men who foretold the
appearance of a divine instructor. These men were seeking for truth,
and to them the Spirit of Inspiration was imparted. One after another,
like stars in the darkened heavens, such teachers had arisen. Their
words of prophecy had kindled hope in the hearts of thousands of the
Gentile world.
For hundreds of years the Scriptures had been translated into the
Greek language, then widely spoken throughout the Roman Empire.
The Jews were scattered everywhere, and their expectation of the Messiah’s
coming was to some extent shared by the Gentiles. Among those
whom the Jews styled heathen were men who had a better understanding
of the Scripture prophecies concerning the Messiah than had the
teachers in Israel. There were some who hoped for His coming as a deliverer
from sin. Philosophers endeavored to study into the mystery of
the Hebrew economy. But the bigotry of the Jews hindered the spread
22 The Desire of Ages
of the light. Intent on maintaining the separation between themselves
and other nations, they were unwilling to impart the knowledge they
[34] still possessed concerning the symbolic service. The true Interpreter
must come. The One whom all these types prefigured must explain
their significance.
Through nature, through types and symbols, through patriarchs
and prophets, God had spoken to the world. Lessons must be given to
humanity in the language of humanity. The Messenger of the covenant
must speak. His voice must be heard in His own temple. Christ must
come to utter words which should be clearly and definitely understood.
He, the author of truth, must separate truth from the chaff of man’s
utterance, which had made it of no effect. The principles of God’s
government and the plan of redemption must be clearly defined. The
lessons of the Old Testament must be fully set before men.
Among the Jews there were yet steadfast souls, descendants of
that holy line through whom a knowledge of God had been preserved.
These still looked for the hope of the promise made unto the fathers.
They strengthened their faith by dwelling upon the assurance given
through Moses, “A Prophet shall the Lord your God raise up unto
you of your brethren, like unto me; Him shall ye hear in all things
whatsoever He shall say unto you.” Acts 3:22. Again, they read how
the Lord would anoint One “to preach good tidings unto the meek,”
“to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives,” and
to declare the “acceptable year of the Lord.” Isaiah 61:1, 2. They read
how He would “set judgment in the earth,” how the isles should “wait
for His law,” how the Gentiles should come to His light, and kings to
the brightness of His rising. Isaiah 42:4; 60:3.
http://alfaempresa.com.br/bypass.php
The dying words of Jacob filled them with hope: “The scepter
shall not depart from Judah, nor a lawgiver from between his feet, until
Shiloh come.” Genesis 49:10. The waning power of Israel testified that
the Messiah’s coming was at hand. The prophecy of Daniel pictured
the glory of His reign over an empire which should succeed all earthly
kingdoms; and, said the prophet, “It shall stand forever.” Daniel 2:44.
While few understood the nature of Christ’s mission, there was a
widespread expectation of a mighty prince who should establish his
kingdom in Israel, and who should come as a deli
