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road by persecution 〃went everywhere preaching the word〃 （Acts 8：4）； and shortly after； Saul the persecutor was converted； and became Paul； the apostle to the Gentiles。
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The time of Christ's coming； His anointing by the Holy Spirit； His death； and the giving of the gospel to the Gentiles； were definitely pointed out。 It was the privilege of the Jewish people to understand these prophecies； and to recognize their fulfillment in the mission of Jesus。 Christ urged upon His disciples the importance of prophetic study。 Referring to the prophecy given to Daniel in regard to their time； He said； 〃Whoso readeth； let him understand。〃 Matt。 24：15。 After His resurrection He explained to the disciples in 〃all the prophets〃 〃the things concerning Himself。〃 Luke 24：27。 The Saviour had spoken through all the prophets。 〃The Spirit of Christ which was in them〃 〃testified beforehand the sufferings of Christ； and the glory that should follow。〃 1 Peter 1：11。
It was Gabriel； the angel next in rank to the Son of God； who came with the divine message to Daniel。 It was Gabriel； 〃His angel；〃 whom Christ sent to open the future to the beloved John； and a blessing is pronounced on those who read and hear the words of the prophecy； and keep the things written therein。 Rev。 1：3。
〃The Lord God will do nothing； but He revealeth His secret unto His servants and prophets。〃 While 〃the secret things belong unto the Lord our God；〃 〃those things which are revealed belong unto us and to our children forever。〃 Amos 3：7； Deut。 29：29。 God has given these things to us； and His blessing will attend the reverent； prayerful study of the prophetic scriptures。
As the message of Christ's first advent announced the kingdom of His grace； so the message of His second advent announces the kingdom of His glory。 And the second message； like the first； is based on the prophecies。 The words of the angel to Daniel relating to the last days were to be understood in the time of the end。 At that time； 〃many shall run to and fro； and knowledge shall be increased。〃 〃The wicked shall do wickedly： and none of the wicked shall understand； but the wise shall understand。〃 Dan。 12：4； 10。 The Saviour Himself has given signs of His coming； and He says； 〃When ye see these things come to pass； know ye that the kingdom of God is nigh at hand。〃 〃And take heed to yourselves； lest at any time your hearts be overcharged with surfeiting； and drunkenness； and cares of this life； and so that day come upon you unawares。〃 〃Watch ye therefore； and pray always； that ye may be accounted worthy to escape all these things that shall come to pass； and to stand before the Son of man。〃 Luke 21：31； 34； 36。
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We have reached the period foretold in these scriptures。 The time of the end is come； the visions of the prophets are unsealed； and their solemn warnings point us to our Lord's coming in glory as near at hand。
The Jews misinterpreted and misapplied the word of God； and they knew not the time of their visitation。 The years of the ministry of Christ and His apostles；the precious last years of grace to the chosen people；they spent in plotting the destruction of the Lord's messengers。 Earthly ambitions absorbed them； and the offer of the spiritual kingdom came to them in vain。 So today the kingdom of this world absorbs men's thoughts； and they take no note of the rapidly fulfilling prophecies and the tokens of the swift…coming kingdom of God。
〃But ye； brethren； are not in darkness； that that day should overtake you as a thief。 Ye are all the children of light； and the children of the day： we are not of the night； nor of darkness。〃 While we are not to know the hour of our Lord's return； we may know when it is near。 〃Therefore let us not sleep； as do others； but let us watch and be sober。〃 1 Thess。 5：4…6。
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Chapter 24
〃Is Not This the Carpenter's Son？〃
Across the bright days of Christ's ministry in Galilee； one shadow lay。 The people of Nazareth rejected Him。 〃Is not this the carpenter's son？〃 they said。
During His childhood and youth； Jesus had worshiped among His brethren in the synagogue at Nazareth。 Since the opening of His ministry He had been absent from them； but they had not been ignorant of what had befallen Him。 As He again appeared among them； their interest and expectation were excited to the highest pitch。 Here were the familiar forms and faces of those whom He had known from infancy。 Here were His mother； His brothers and sisters； and all eyes were turned upon Him as He entered the synagogue upon the Sabbath day； and took His place among the worshipers。
In the regular service for the day； the elder read from the prophets； and exhorted the people still to hope for the Coming One； who would bring in a glorious reign； and banish all oppression。 He sought to encourage his hearers by rehearsing the evidence that the Messiah's coming was near。 He described the glory of His advent； keeping prominent the thought that He would appear at the head of armies to deliver Israel。
When a rabbi was present at the synagogue； he was expected to deliver the sermon； and any Israelite might give the reading from the prophets。 Upon this Sabbath Jesus was requested to take part in the service。 He 〃stood up to read。 And there was delivered unto Him a roll of the prophet Isaiah。〃 Luke 4：16； 17； R。 V。； margin。 The scripture which He read was one that was understood as referring to the Messiah：
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〃The Spirit of the Lord is upon Me； Because He hath anointed Me to preach the gospel to the poor； He hath sent Me to heal the brokenhearted； To preach deliverance to the captives； And recovering of sight to the blind； To set at liberty them that are bruised； To preach the acceptable year of the Lord。〃
〃And He closed the roll； and gave it back to the attendant： 。 。 。 and the eyes of all in the synagogue were fastened on Him。 。 。 。 And all bare Him witness； and wondered at the words of grace which proceeded out of His mouth。〃 Luke 4：20…22； R。 V。； margin。
Jesus stood before the people as a living expositor of the prophecies concerning Himself。 Explaining the words He had read； He spoke of the Messiah as a reliever of the oppressed； a liberator of captives； a healer of the afflicted； restoring sight to the blind； and revealing to the world the light of truth。 His impressive manner and the wonderful import of His words thrilled the hearers with a power they had never felt before。 The tide of divine influence broke every barrier down； like Moses； they beheld the Invisible。 As their hearts were moved upon by the Holy Spirit； they responded with fervent amens and praises to the Lord。
But when Jesus announced； 〃This day is this scripture fulfilled in your ears；〃 they were suddenly recalled to think of themselves； and of the claims of Him who had been addressing them。 They； Israelites； children of Abraham； had been represented as in bondage。 They had been addressed as prisoners to be delivered from the power of evil； as in darkness； and needing the light of truth。 Their pride was offended； and their fears were roused。 The words of Jesus indicated that His work for them was to be altogether different from what they desired。 Their deeds might be investigated too closely。 Notwithstanding their exactness in outward ceremonies； they shrank from inspection by those clear； searching eyes。
Who is this Jesus？ they questioned。 He who had claimed for Himself the glory of the Messiah was the son of a carpenter； and had worked at His trade with His father Joseph。 They had seen Him toiling up and down the hills； they were acquainted with His brothers and sisters； and knew His life and labors。 They had seen Him develop from childhood to youth； and from youth to manhood。 Although His life had been spotless； they would not believe that He was the Promised One。
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What a contrast between His teaching in regard to the new kingdom and that which they had heard from their elder！ Jesus had said nothing of delivering them from the Romans。 They had heard of His miracles； and had hoped that His power would be exercised for their advantage； but they had seen no indication of such purpose。
As they opened the door to doubt； their hearts became so much the harder for having been momentarily softened。 Satan was determined that blind eyes should not that day be opened； nor souls bound in slavery be set at liberty。 With intense energy he worked to fasten them in unbelief。 They made no account of the sign already given； when they had been stirred by the conviction that it was their Redeemer who addressed them。
But Jesus now gave them an evidence of His divinity by revealing their secret thoughts。 〃He said unto them； Doubtless ye will say unto Me this parable； Physician； heal thyself： whatsoever we have heard done at Capernaum； do also here in Thine own country。 And He said； Verily I say unto you； No prophet is acceptable in his own country。 But of a truth I say unto you； There were many widows in Israel in the days of Elijah； when the