Israel had been a favored people; God had made their temple His habitation; it was "beautiful for situation, the joy of the whole earth." Ps. 48:2. The record of more than a thousand years of Christ's guardian care and tender love, such as a father bears his only child, was there. In that temple the prophets had uttered their solemn warnings. There had the burning censers waved, while incense, mingled with the prayers of the worshipers, had ascended to God. There the blood of beasts had flowed, typical of the blood of Christ. There Jehovah had manifested His glory above the mercy seat. There the priests had officiated, and the pomp of symbol and ceremony had gone on for ages. But all this must have an end.

Israel havde været et udvalgt folk. Gud havde gjort deres tempel til sin bolig: "Smukt løfter sig hans hellige bjerg, al jordens fryd." Sl. 48,2. Det rummede beretningen om Kristi beskyttende omsorg og ømme kærlighed som en faders for sit eneste barn gennem mere end tusinde år. I dette tempel havde profeterne forkyndt deres højtidelige advarsler. Der var de brændene røgelsekar blevet svunget, medens røgelsen sammen med de tilbedendes bønner var steget op til Gud. Der var dyrenes blod blevet udgydt som symbol på Kristi blod. Der havde Jehova åbenbaret sin herlighed over nådestolen. Der havde præsterne forrettet gudstjenesten, og symbolernes og ceremoniernes pragtudfoldelse havde varet ved gennem tiderne. Men nu skulle alt dette få sin afslutning.