Gods Sabbath

492

E NTERING INTO G OD ’ S S ABBATH R EST

growth of the satanic and human disposition to occupy God’s place and rule over others. Calvary testifies to the enormity of this evil by showing to what lengths it will lead God’s children if they ever let it take hold of them.

Joining Forces Against the Common Threat

The Jews were successful in acquiring Roman power to con demn and crucify the Saviour, but in view of the deep hostility between the two races, how were they able to achieve this? One would expect the Romans to have nothing to do with the Jews’ private vendetta against Christ, tending instead to protect and honor Him because of His steadfast refusal to side with the Jews in their scheme to destroy their overlords. But there was a good reason for the Roman decision to share with the Jews in con demning Christ. While in many places these two nations could find no common ground, they were united in one basic area. They both shared the same determination that human beings should replace the Almighty as rulers on this earth. Both kingdoms were manifes tations of the mystery of iniquity. Satan does not particularly care what people believe and do, provided they are thereby building the mystery of iniquity. Thus he did not work to unite the Jews and Romans on doctrine, but in the common purpose of warring against God’s system of government. The mystery of God, which Christ had come to establish, found no common ground with either Jew or Roman, nor would it compromise with or accommodate them in any way. Christ’s message required as the prerequisite for receiving Him, a com plete rejection of the procedures they had so long cherished. He warned in unequivocal terms that new wine could not be placed in old bottles; that there could be no marriage between the two systems. These were conditions and changes neither Jew nor Roman was willing to accept. At first the Romans left the Jews to fight it out with Christ, but when it proved too much for them, the Romans were prepared to add their power to the struggle. The Jews would have gladly received Christ as their king if He had been prepared to replace the Roman Empire with anoth