patriarchs and prophets-第123章
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the angelic host break forth in the glad song of praise to God and peace on
earth。 He beheld in the heavens the star guiding the Wise Men of the East to
Jesus； and a great light flooded his mind as he called those prophetic
words； 〃There shall come a Star out of Jacob； and a Scepter shall rise out
of Israel。〃 Numbers 24：17。 He beheld Christ's humble life in Nazareth； His
ministry of love and sympathy and healing； His rejection by a proud；
unbelieving nation。 Amazed he listened to their boastful exaltation of the
law of God； while they despised and rejected Him by whom the law was given。
He saw Jesus upon Olivet as with weeping He bade farewell to the city of His
love。 As Moses beheld the final rejection of that people so highly blessed
of Heaventhat people for whom he had toiled and prayed and sacrificed； for
whom he had been willing that his own name should be blotted from the book
of life； as he listened to those fearful words； 〃Behold your house is left
unto you desolate〃 （Matthew 23：38）； his heart was wrung with anguish； and
bitter tears fell from his eyes； in sympathy with the sorrow of the Son of
God。
He followed the Saviour to Gethsemane； and beheld the agony in the garden；
the betrayal； the mockery and scourging the crucifixion。 Moses saw that as
he had lifted up the serpent in the wilderness； so the Son of God must be
lifted up； that whosoever would believe on Him 〃should not perish； but have
eternal
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life。〃 John 3：15。 Grief； indignation； and horror filled the heart of Moses
as he viewed the hypocrisy and satanic hatred manifested by the Jewish
nation against their Redeemer； the mighty Angel who had gone before their
fathers。 He heard Christ's agonizing cry； 〃My God； My God； why hast Thou
forsaken Me？〃 Mark 15：34。 He saw Him lying in Joseph's new tomb。 The
darkness of hopeless despair seemed to enshroud the world。 But he looked
again； and beheld Him coming forth a conqueror； and ascending to heaven
escorted by adoring angels and leading a multitude of captives。 He saw the
shining gates open to receive Him； and the host of heaven with songs of
triumph welcoming their Commander。 And it was there revealed to him that he
himself would be one who should attend the Saviour； and open to Him the
everlasting gates。 As he looked upon the scene； his countenance shone with a
holy radiance。 How small appeared the trials and sacrifices of his life when
compared with those of the Son of God！ how light in contrast with the 〃far
more exceeding and eternal weight of glory〃！ 2 Corinthians 4：17。 He rejoiced
that he had been permitted； even in a small measure； to be a partaker in the
sufferings of Christ。
Moses beheld the disciples of Jesus as they went forth to carry His gospel
to the world。 He saw that though the people of Israel 〃according to the
flesh〃 had failed of the high destiny to which God had called them； in their
unbelief had failed to become the light of the world； though they had
despised God's mercy and forfeited their blessings as His chosen peopleyet
God had not cast off the seed of Abraham； the glorious purposes which He had
undertaken to accomplish through Israel were to be fulfilled。 All who
through Christ should become the children of faith were to be counted as
Abraham's seed； they were inheritors of the covenant promises； like Abraham；
they were called to guard and to make known to the world the law of God and
the gospel of His Son。 Moses saw the light of the gospel shining out through
the disciples of Jesus to them 〃which sat in darkness〃 （Matthew 4：16）； and
thousands from the lands of the Gentiles flocking to the brightness of its
rising。 And beholding； he rejoiced in the increase and prosperity of Israel。
And now another scene passed before him。 He had been shown the work of Satan
in leading the Jews to reject Christ； while they professed to honor His
Father's law。 He now saw the
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Christian world under a similar deception in professing to accept Christ
while they rejected God's law。 He had heard from the priests and elders the
frenzied cry； 〃Away with Him！〃 〃Crucify Him； crucify Him！〃 and now he heard
from professedly Christian teachers the cry； 〃Away with the law！〃 He saw the
Sabbath trodden under foot； and a spurious institution established in its
place。 Again Moses was filled with astonishment and horror。 How could those
who believed in Christ reject the law spoken by His own voice upon the
sacred mount？ How could any that feared God set aside the law which is the
foundation of His government in heaven and earth？ With joy Moses saw the law
of God still honored and exalted by a faithful few。 He saw the last great
struggle of earthly powers to destroy those who keep God's law。 He looked
forward to the time when God shall arise to punish the inhabitants of the
earth for their iniquity； and those who have feared His name shall be
covered and hid in the day of His anger。 He heard God's covenant of peace
with those who have kept His law； as He utters His voice from His holy
habitation and the heavens and the earth do shake。 He saw the second coming
of Christ in glory； the righteous dead raised to immortal life； and the
living saints translated without seeing death； and together ascending with
songs of gladness to the City of God。
Still another scene opens to his viewthe earth freed from the curse；
lovelier than the fair Land of Promise so lately spread out before him。
There is no sin； and death cannot enter。 There the nations of the saved find
their eternal home。 With joy unutterable Moses looks upon the scenethe
fulfillment of a more glorious deliverance than his brightest hopes have
ever pictured。 Their earthly wanderings forever past； the Israel of God have
at last entered the goodly land。
Again the vision faded； and his eyes rested upon the land of Canaan as it
spread out in the distance。 Then； like a tired warrior； he lay down to rest。
〃So Moses the servant of the Lord died there in the land of Moab； according
to the word of the Lord。 And He buried him in a valley in the land of Moab；
over against Beth…peor： but no man knoweth of his sepulcher。〃 Many who had
been unwilling to heed the counsels of Moses while he was with them would
have been in danger of committing idolatry
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over his dead body had they known the place of his burial。 For this reason
it was concealed from men。 But angels of God buried the body of His faithful
servant and watched over the lonely grave。
〃There arose not a prophet since in Israel like unto Moses； whom Jehovah
knew face to face； in all the signs and the wonders which Jehovah sent him
to do 。 。 。 and in all that mighty hand； and in all the great terror which
Moses showed in the sight of all Israel。〃
Had not the life of Moses been marred with that one sin； in failing to give
God the glory of bringing water from the rock at Kadesh； he would have
entered the Promised Land； and would have been translated to heaven without
seeing death。 But he was not long to remain in the tomb。 Christ Himself；
with the angels who had buried Moses； came down from heaven to call forth
the sleeping saint。 Satan had exulted at his success in causing Moses to sin
against God； and thus come under the dominion of death。 The great adversary
declared that the divine sentence〃Dust thou art； and unto dust shalt thou
return〃 （Genesis 3：19）gave him possession of the dead。 The power of the
grave had never been broken； and all who were in the tomb he claimed as his
captives； never to be released from his dark prison house。
For the first time Christ was about to give life to the dead。 As the Prince
of life and the shining ones approached the grave； Satan was alarmed for his
supremacy。 With his evil angels he stood to dispute an invasion of the
territory that he claimed as his own。 He boasted that the servant of God had
become his prisoner。 He declared that even Moses was not able to keep the
law of God； that he had taken to himself the glory due to Jehovahthe very
sin which had caused Satan's banishment from heavenand by transgression
had come under the dominion of Satan。 The archtraitor reiterated the
origina
