2. THE GREATEST TRIBULATION.
It is contended that the greatest tribulation that ever befell the Jews was in the siege and destruction of Jerusalem by the Romans. Against this we interpose two objections:— (1.) It is by no means clear that the overthrow of Jerusalem by the Romans was the greatest tribulation the Jews ever suffered. All the scenes of horror described by historians, as occurring at that time, are by the inspired records ascribed also to the conquest of the Babylonians. See the Lamentations of Jeremiah, especially chap. 4:10,—"The hands of the pitiful women have sodden their own children; they were their meat in the destruction of the daughter of my people." Also, Daniel 9:11-13: "The curse is poured upon us, and the oath that is written in the law of Moses the servant of God, because we have sinned against him. And he hath confirmed his words, which he spake against us, and against our judges that judged us, by bringing upon us a great evil; for under the whole heaven hath not been done as hath been done upon Jerusalem. As it is written in the law of Moses, all this evil is come upon us." (2.) It is quite certain that the tribulation here spoken of was not upon the Jews, but upon the disciples of Christ. It was for "the elects' sake" that those days should be shortened; and this does not refer to the enemies of Christ. In Daniel 12:1, it is said that there shall be a "time of trouble, such as was not since there was a nation." Now there cannot be two times of trouble, each the greatest, and each greater than ever shall be. But there can be the greatest tribulation which shall ever come upon the followers of Christ, and it be distinct from the greatest time of trouble which ever comes upon the nations or the rejectors of Christ. In that time of trouble spoken of by Daniel, the saints, instead of coming under it, are "delivered, every one whose name is found written in the book."