Then Shall the Sanctuary Be Cleansed - Donald K. Short
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<strong>the</strong> Great. Likewise Israel quickly forgot <strong>the</strong>ir<br />
deliverance from Egypt. But <strong>the</strong>ir failures have<br />
been "written for our admonition, upon whom <strong>the</strong><br />
ends of <strong>the</strong> world are come" (1 Corinthians 10:11).<br />
The very fact that <strong>the</strong> church is far into <strong>the</strong><br />
second century since <strong>the</strong> Great Disappointment<br />
should bring us to a solemn review of our history.<br />
How does all this extended time relate to <strong>the</strong> Day<br />
of Atonement? What can make us understand <strong>the</strong><br />
problem and <strong>the</strong> delay of <strong>the</strong> second advent? Some<br />
suggest persecution will do <strong>the</strong> required work. But<br />
this is to ignore that persecution does not precede<br />
but ra<strong>the</strong>r follows godly living (2 Timothy 3:12).<br />
But more than this, <strong>the</strong> Lord cannot stoop to this<br />
level to arouse <strong>the</strong> last generation. How could <strong>the</strong><br />
Heavenly Bridegroom at <strong>the</strong> very end of <strong>the</strong><br />
courtship presume to force His Bride to take His<br />
hand? No amount of persecution could create<br />
genuine love in <strong>the</strong> heart of <strong>the</strong> Bride. As <strong>the</strong> Bride<br />
was Laodicea, she did not appreciate that she was<br />
"wretched," and in contrast to Adam when he<br />
sinned, she did not know she was "naked." As she<br />
was removed by many ages from her first parent,<br />
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