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# The Book of Joel and The Laodicean Seventh-day Adventist Church - Number Three

Knjiga proroka Joela i laodicejska Crkva adventista sedmoga dana – broj tri

A Vineyard of Red Wine

Vinograd crvenoga vina

Author

Jeff Pippenger

Published

December 3, 2025

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We ended the previous article with the question, “With these concepts in place the question may be asked how is it that at 9/11 the book of Joel became the message Peter identified at Pentecost?”

Prethodni smo članak završili pitanjem: „Kad su ovi pojmovi postavljeni, može se postaviti pitanje kako je to da je na 11. rujna knjiga Joela postala poruka koju je Petar prepoznao na Pedesetnicu?”

Peter was identifying that Joel was being fulfilled on the day of Pentecost, which is a point in time marking the end of the Pentecostal season. In the Pentecostal season there was a manifestation of the Holy Spirit at the beginning, and then a greater manifestation of the Holy Spirit at the end. By faith understanding that both the Bible and Spirit of Prophecy apply Joel to the time of the latter rain we may know that the book of Joel became present truth at 9/11; and that every element of the book will speak directly of the prophetic history beginning at 9/11 on through to and including the seven last plagues, which Joel identifies as the “day of the Lord.”

Petar je ukazivao na to da se Joel ispunjavao na dan Pedesetnice, što je vremenska točka koja označava kraj pentekostnog razdoblja. U pentekostnom razdoblju očitovala se manifestacija Duha Svetoga na početku, a zatim veća manifestacija Duha Svetoga na kraju. Po vjeri, razumijevajući da i Biblija i Duh proroštva primjenjuju Joela na vrijeme kasne kiše, možemo znati da je knjiga proroka Joela postala sadašnja istina 11. rujna; te da će svaki element te knjige govoriti izravno o proročkoj povijesti koja započinje 11. rujna i proteže se sve do sedam posljednjih zala i uključujući ih, što Joel označuje kao „dan Gospodnji“.

As typified by 1888, on 9/11 the presentation of the Laodicean message became present testing truth. Isaiah typifies that same message in chapter fifty-eight with the trumpet voice showing God’s people their transgressions. The “day” when Isaiah begins sounding his voice like a trumpet is the same day he sings the song of the vineyard.

Kao što je predočeno tipom 1888., 11. rujna izlaganje laodicejske poruke postalo je sadašnja istina kušnje. Izaija istu tu poruku predočuje u pedeset osmom poglavlju glasom trube koji Božjem narodu pokazuje njihove prijestupe. „Dan“ kada Izaija počinje podizati svoj glas kao trubu isti je dan kada pjeva pjesmu o vinogradu.

> In that day sing ye unto her, A vineyard of red wine. I the Lord do keep it; I will water it every moment: lest any hurt it, I will keep it night and day. Fury is not in me: who would set the briers and thorns against me in battle? I would go through them, I would burn them together. Or let him take hold of my strength, that he may make peace with me; and he shall make peace with me. He shall cause them that come of Jacob to take root: Israel shall blossom and bud, and fill the face of the world with fruit. Isaiah 27:2–6.

> U onaj dan pjevajte joj: Vinograd vina crvenoga. Ja ga, Gospod, čuvam; natapat ću ga svakoga časa; da ga tko ne ošteti, čuvat ću ga noću i danju. Gnjeva nema u meni: tko bi mi u boju suprotstavio drač i trnje? Prošao bih kroz njih, spalio bih ih zajedno. Ili neka se uhvati za moju snagu, da sklopi mir sa mnom; i sklopit će mir sa mnom. On će učiniti da oni od Jakova puste korijen; Izrael će procvasti i pupati, i napunit će lice svijeta plodom. Izaija 27:2–6.

Modern spiritual “Israel shall blossom and bud, and fill the face of the world with fruit” during the period of the latter rain, for the early rain cause the budding and blossoming of a plant, and the latter rain produces the fruit. When the buildings of New York came down on 9/11 the mighty angel of Revelation eighteen descended and the latter rain began to sprinkle. At that time God’s watchmen were to blow the trumpet to the Laodicean church. Isaiah’s message identifying the sins of God’s people is also the song of the vineyard of red wine. The first chapter of Joel is that very message.

Duhovni suvremeni „Izrael će cvasti i pupati te lice svijeta ispuniti plodom” tijekom razdoblja kasne kiše, jer rana kiša uzrokuje pupanje i cvjetanje biljke, a kasna kiša donosi plod. Kada su se zgrade New Yorka srušile 11. rujna, sišao je moćni anđeo iz osamnaestog poglavlja Otkrivenja i kasna je kiša počela rositi. U to su vrijeme Božji stražari trebali zatrubiti trubom laodicejskoj crkvi. Izaijina poruka, koja prepoznaje grijehe Božjeg naroda, ujedno je i pjesma o vinogradu crvenoga vina. Prvo poglavlje Joela upravo je ta poruka.

> The word of the Lord that came to Joel the son of Pethuel.

> Riječ Gospodnja koja dođe Joelu, sinu Petuelovu.

> Hear this, ye old men, and give ear, all ye inhabitants of the land. Hath this been in your days, or even in the days of your fathers? Tell ye your children of it, and let your children tell their children, and their children another generation.

> Čujte ovo, starci, i poslušajte, svi stanovnici zemlje. Je li se ovo dogodilo u vaše dane, ili čak u dane vaših otaca? Pripovjedite o tome svojoj djeci, i neka vaša djeca pripovjede svojoj djeci, a njihova djeca drugomu naraštaju.

> That which the palmerworm hath left hath the locust eaten; and that which the locust hath left hath the cankerworm eaten; and that which the cankerworm hath left hath the caterpiller eaten.

> Što je ostavio skakavac palmerworm, to je pojeo skakavac; i što je ostavio skakavac, to je pojeo skakavac cankerworm; i što je ostavio skakavac cankerworm, to je pojeo skakavac caterpiller.

> Awake, ye drunkards, and weep; and howl, all ye drinkers of wine, because of the new wine; for it is cut off from your mouth.

> Probudite se, pijanci, i plačite; i jaučite, svi vi koji pijete vino, zbog mladoga vina; jer vam je otrgnuto od usta.

> For a nation is come up upon my land, strong, and without number, whose teeth are the teeth of a lion, and he hath the cheek teeth of a great lion. He hath laid my vine waste, and barked my fig tree: he hath made it clean bare, and cast it away; the branches thereof are made white. Lament like a virgin girded with sackcloth for the husband of her youth. The meat offering and the drink offering is cut off from the house of the Lord; the priests, the Lord’s ministers, mourn. The field is wasted, the land mourneth; for the corn is wasted: the new wine is dried up, the oil languisheth.

> Jer narod je došao na moju zemlju, silan i bez broja; zubi su mu zubi lavlji, i ima očnjake velikoga lava. Opustošio je moju lozu i ogulio moju smokvu; sasvim ju je ogolio i odbacio, grane su joj pobijeljele. Tuguj kao djevica opasana kostrijeti za mužem svoje mladosti. Prinos od žita i ljevanica ukinuti su iz doma Gospodnjega; svećenici, službenici Gospodnji, tuguju. Polje je opustošeno, zemlja tuguje; jer je žito uništeno, novo se vino osušilo, ulje malakše.

> Be ye ashamed, O ye husbandmen; howl, O ye vinedressers, for the wheat and for the barley; because the harvest of the field is perished. The vine is dried up, and the fig tree languisheth; the pomegranate tree, the palm tree also, and the apple tree, even all the trees of the field, are withered: because joy is withered away from the sons of men.

> Postidite se, o ratari; naričite, o vinogradari, zbog pšenice i zbog ječma, jer je propala žetva polja. Vinova loza se osušila, i smokva klone; šipak, i palma također, i jabuka, doista sva stabla poljska, usahnula su; jer je iščeznula radost od sinova čovječjih.

> Gird yourselves, and lament, ye priests: howl, ye ministers of the altar: come, lie all night in sackcloth, ye ministers of my God: for the meat offering and the drink offering is withholden from the house of your God. Sanctify ye a fast, call a solemn assembly, gather the elders and all the inhabitants of the land into the house of the Lord your God, and cry unto the Lord, Alas for the day! for the day of the Lord is at hand, and as a destruction from the Almighty shall it come. Is not the meat cut off before our eyes, yea, joy and gladness from the house of our God? The seed is rotten under their clods, the garners are laid desolate, the barns are broken down; for the corn is withered. How do the beasts groan! the herds of cattle are perplexed, because they have no pasture; yea, the flocks of sheep are made desolate.

> Opašite se i naričite, svećenici; jaučite, službenici žrtvenika; dođite, provedite noć u kostrijeti, službenici Boga mojega; jer je od Doma Boga vašega uskraćena prinosnica i ljevanica. Proglasite post, sazovite svečani zbor, skupite starješine i sve stanovnike zemlje u Dom Gospodina, Boga svojega, i vapijte Gospodinu: Jao zbog toga dana! Jer je blizu Dan Gospodinov, i doći će kao propast od Svemogućega. Nije li nam hrana istrgnuta pred očima, i radost i veselje iz Doma Boga našega? Sjeme je sagnjilo pod svojim grudama, žitnice su opustošene, spremišta su porušena, jer je žito usahnulo. Kako stenje stoka! Krda goveda smetena su, jer nemaju paše; i stada ovaca opustošena su.

> O Lord, to thee will I cry: for the fire hath devoured the pastures of the wilderness, and the flame hath burned all the trees of the field. The beasts of the field cry also unto thee: for the rivers of waters are dried up, and the fire hath devoured the pastures of the wilderness. Joel 1:1–20.

> Gospode, k tebi ću vapiti: jer oganj je proždrio pašnjake pustinje, i plamen je spalio sva stabla u polju. I zvijeri poljske vape k tebi: jer su presušili potoci vodeni, i oganj je proždrio pašnjake pustinje. Joel 1,1–20.

The first chapter of Joel is addressing the destruction of God’s vineyard. Isaiah establishes “that day” as the day when the latter rain begins, for the plants on that day begin to blossom and bud. The fact that Isaiah informs us that God’s people will “take root,” “blossom and bud” and fill the earth with “fruit” is illustrating a progressive history of three steps. A plant takes “root” in the ground. To “take root” therefore means to stand upon the ground, which is the ground floor or the foundation. Those who “come out of Jacob” “take root” and then they are called “Israel.” Those who come out of the Laodicean experience are then called Philadelphians, though to retain that experience requires victory in a testing process that ends at the Sunday law.

Prvo poglavlje Joela govori o razorenju Božjega vinograda. Izaija utvrđuje „onaj dan” kao dan kada počinje kasna kiša, jer biljke toga dana počinju cvasti i pupati. Činjenica da nas Izaija obavještava da će Božji narod „pustiti korijen”, „cvasti i pupati” te ispuniti zemlju „plodom” prikazuje postupnu povijest u tri koraka. Biljka pušta „korijen” u zemlji. „Pustiti korijen” stoga znači stajati na tlu, koje je prizemlje ili temelj. Oni koji „izađu iz Jakova” „puštaju korijen”, a zatim se nazivaju „Izrael”. Oni koji izađu iz laodicejskog iskustva tada se nazivaju filadelfijcima, premda zadržavanje toga iskustva zahtijeva pobjedu u procesu kušnje koji završava nedjeljnim zakonom.

The prophetic relationship of Jacob, (the supplanter) and Israel, (the overcomer) is identifying that at 9/11 those who “take root” by returning to the foundations, there and then enter into a covenant relationship. Prophetically a change of name is a symbol of a covenant, as represented by Abram to Abraham, Sarai to Sarah, Jacob to Israel and others. In the verse those who returned to the old foundational truths at 9/11 entered into a covenant relationship as the rain began to produce blossoms and buds. At the Sunday law the whole world will be filled with “fruit” as the rain is then poured out without measure.

Proročki odnos Jakova, (varalice) i Izraela, (pobjednika) pokazuje da se u 9/11 oni koji „puste korijenje“ vraćanjem temeljima, tada i ondje upuštaju u saveznički odnos. Proročki, promjena imena simbol je saveza, kao što je prikazano u prijelazu od Abrama k Abrahamu, od Saraje k Sari, od Jakova k Izraelu i drugdje. U retku, oni koji su se u 9/11 vratili starim temeljnim istinama stupili su u saveznički odnos dok je kiša počela stvarati cvjetove i pupove. U vrijeme zakona o nedjelji sav će svijet biti ispunjen „plodom“, jer će tada kiša biti izlivena bez mjere.

Isaiah must agree with Isaiah, and of course all the other prophets, but Isaiah is to lift up his voice like a trumpet and show Laodicean Seventh-day Adventists their sins in the context of the song of the vineyard. That song was sung by Jesus in the parable of the vineyard. The vineyard caused him to weep as He for the last time before the cross looked out over Jerusalem; knowing ancient Israel had reached the end of their probationary period and were being passed by as God’s covenant people. Simultaneously Christ was entering into a covenant with a people who would bring forth the appropriate fruits from God’s vineyard. Whether the vineyard story of Joshua at the beginning or of Jesus at the end those who became the new covenant people typified the one hundred and forty-four thousand.

Izaija se mora slagati s Izaijom, i naravno sa svim ostalim prorocima, ali Izaija treba podići svoj glas kao trubu i pokazati laodicejskim adventistima sedmoga dana njihove grijehe u kontekstu pjesme o vinogradu. Tu je pjesmu Isus izgovorio u prispodobi o vinogradu. Vinograd Ga je naveo na plač dok je, posljednji put prije križa, gledao nad Jeruzalemom; znajući da je drevni Izrael stigao do kraja vremena svoje kušnje i da biva mimoilažen kao Božji zavjetni narod. Istodobno je Krist sklapao savez s narodom koji će donositi prikladne plodove iz Božjega vinograda. Bilo da je riječ o izvještaju o vinogradu kod Jošue na početku ili kod Isusa na svršetku, oni koji su postali novi zavjetni narod predočavali su sto četrdeset i četiri tisuće.

Christ spoke of Isaiah’s vineyard prophecy, as does Sister White.

Krist je govorio o Izaijinu proročanstvu o vinogradu, kao i sestra White.

> “The parable of the vineyard applies not alone to the Jewish nation. It has a lesson for us. The church in this generation has been endowed by God with great privileges and blessings, and He expects corresponding returns.” Christ Object Lessons, 296.

> „Prispodoba o vinogradu ne odnosi se samo na židovski narod. Ona ima pouku i za nas. Crkva u ovom naraštaju od Boga je obdarena velikim prednostima i blagoslovima, i On očekuje odgovarajuće plodove.“ Christ Object Lessons, 296.

It is instructive to read the passage which leads to the last statement from the Spirit of Prophecy.

Poučno je pročitati odlomak koji vodi do posljednje izjave iz Duha proroštva.

> “Chapter 23—The Lord’s Vineyard

> „23. poglavlje — Gospodnji vinograd“

> “The Jewish Nation

> „Židovski narod“

> “The parable of the two sons was followed by the parable of the vineyard. In the one, Christ had set before the Jewish teachers the importance of obedience. In the other, He pointed to the rich blessings bestowed upon Israel, and in these showed God’s claim to their obedience. He set before them the glory of God’s purpose, which through obedience they might have fulfilled. Withdrawing the veil from the future, He showed how, by failure to fulfill His purpose, the whole nation was forfeiting His blessing, and bringing ruin upon itself.

> „Prispodobu o dva sina slijedila je prispodoba o vinogradu. U prvoj je Krist pred židovske učitelje stavio važnost poslušnosti. U drugoj je ukazao na bogate blagoslove podarene Izraelu te je u njima pokazao Božje pravo na njihovu poslušnost. Predočio im je slavu Božje namjere, koju su poslušnošću mogli ispuniti. Podigavši veo s budućnosti, pokazao je kako, neispunjenjem Njegove namjere, sav narod gubi Njegov blagoslov i navlači propast na sebe.“

> “‘There was a certain householder,’ Christ said, ‘which planted a vineyard, and hedged it round about, and digged a winepress in it, and built a tower, and let it out to husbandmen, and went into a far country.’

> “‘Bijaše neki domaćin’, reče Krist, ‘koji zasadi vinograd, ogradi ga unaokolo, iskopa u njemu tijesak i sagradi kulu, te ga iznajmi vinogradarima i otputova u daleku zemlju.’”

> “A description of this vineyard is given by the prophet Isaiah: ‘Now will I sing to my wellbeloved a song of my beloved touching His vineyard. My wellbeloved hath a vineyard in a very fruitful hill; and He fenced it, and gathered out the stones thereof, and planted it with the choicest vine, and built a tower in the midst of it, and also made a winepress therein; and He looked that it should bring forth grapes.’ Isaiah 5:1, 2.

> „Opis ovoga vinograda daje prorok Izaija: ‘Sada ću zapjevati svojemu ljubljenomu pjesmu svojega ljubljenoga o Njegovu vinogradu. Moj ljubljeni ima vinograd na vrlo rodnu brežuljku; i ogradio ga je, i iz njega odstranio kamenje, i zasadio ga plemenitom lozom, i sagradio kulu usred njega, i također načinio u njemu tijesak za vino; i očekivao je da će roditi grožđem.’ Izaija 5,1.2.

> “The husbandman chooses a piece of land from the wilderness; he fences, clears, and tills it, and plants it with choice vines, expecting a rich harvest. This plot of ground, in its superiority to the uncultivated waste, he expects to do him honor by showing the results of his care and toil in its cultivation. So God had chosen a people from the world to be trained and educated by Christ. The prophet says, ‘The vineyard of the Lord of hosts is the house of Israel, and the men of Judah His pleasant plant.’ Isaiah 5:7. Upon this people God had bestowed great privileges, blessing them richly from His abundant goodness. He looked for them to honor Him by yielding fruit. They were to reveal the principles of His kingdom. In the midst of a fallen, wicked world they were to represent the character of God.

> „Ratar bira komad zemlje iz pustinje; ograđuje ga, krči i obrađuje te ga sadi odabranom lozom, očekujući bogatu žetvu. Od te čestice zemlje, u njezinoj nadmoći nad neobrađenom pustoši, očekuje da mu ukaže čast pokazujući rezultate njegove skrbi i truda uloženih u njezino obrađivanje. Tako je Bog izabrao narod iz svijeta da bude poučen i odgojen po Kristu. Prorok kaže: ‘Vinograd Jahve nad Vojskama dom je Izraelov, i ljudi Judini nasad su njegov mili.’ Izaija 5,7. Tom je narodu Bog podario velike prednosti, bogato ga blagoslovivši iz obilja svoje dobrote. Očekivao je da će mu oni iskazati čast donoseći rod. Trebali su objaviti načela njegova kraljevstva. Usred paloga, opakoga svijeta trebali su predstavljati Božji karakter.“

> “As the Lord’s vineyard they were to produce fruit altogether different from that of the heathen nations. These idolatrous peoples had given themselves up to work wickedness. Violence and crime, greed, oppression, and the most corrupt practices, were indulged without restraint. Iniquity, degradation, and misery were the fruits of the corrupt tree. In marked contrast was to be the fruit borne on the vine of God’s planting.

> Kao vinograd Gospodnji, trebali su donositi rod posve drukčiji od onoga poganskih naroda. Ti su se idolopoklonički narodi predali činjenju zla. Nasilju i zločinu, pohlepi, tlačenju i najpokvarenijim postupcima odavali su se bez ikakva obuzdavanja. Bezakonje, izopačenost i bijeda bili su plodovi pokvarenoga stabla. U izrazitoj suprotnosti trebao je biti rod koji se donosio na trsu Božje sadnje.

> “It was the privilege of the Jewish nation to represent the character of God as it had been revealed to Moses. In answer to the prayer of Moses, ‘Show me Thy glory,’ the Lord promised, ‘I will make all My goodness pass before thee.’ Exodus 33:18, 19. ‘And the Lord passed by before him, and proclaimed, The Lord, the Lord God, merciful and gracious, longsuffering, and abundant in goodness and truth, keeping mercy for thousands, forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin.’ Exodus 34:6, 7. This was the fruit that God desired from His people. In the purity of their characters, in the holiness of their lives, in their mercy and loving-kindness and compassion, they were to show that ‘the law of the Lord is perfect, converting the soul.’ Psalm 19:7.

> „Prednost je židovskog naroda bila da predstavlja Božji karakter onako kako je bio otkriven Mojsiju. Kao odgovor na Mojsijevu molitvu: ‘Pokaži mi svoju slavu’, Gospodin je obećao: ‘Učinit ću da sva moja dobrota prođe ispred tebe.’ Izlazak 33,18.19. ‘I Gospodin prođe ispred njega i objavi: Gospodin, Gospodin, Bog milosrdan i milostiv, spor na gnjev, i obilan dobrotom i istinom, iskazujući milost tisućama, opraštajući bezakonje, prijestup i grijeh.’ Izlazak 34,6.7. To je bio rod koji je Bog želio od svojega naroda. U čistoći njihova karaktera, u svetosti njihova života, u njihovu milosrđu i ljubaznosti i suosjećanju, trebali su pokazati da je ‘Zakon Gospodnji savršen, dušu obraća.’ Psalam 19,7.“

> “Through the Jewish nation it was God’s purpose to impart rich blessings to all peoples. Through Israel the way was to be prepared for the diffusion of His light to the whole world. The nations of the world, through following corrupt practices, had lost the knowledge of God. Yet in His mercy God did not blot them out of existence. He purposed to give them opportunity for becoming acquainted with Him through His church. He designed that the principles revealed through His people should be the means of restoring the moral image of God in man.

> „Preko židovskog naroda bila je Božja namjera podariti obilne blagoslove svim narodima. Preko Izraela trebao se pripraviti put za širenje Njegove svjetlosti na sav svijet. Narodi svijeta, slijedeći pokvarene običaje, izgubili su spoznaju o Bogu. Ipak, u svojoj milosti Bog ih nije zbrisao s lica zemlje. Namjeravao im je pružiti priliku da Ga upoznaju preko svoje crkve. Odredio je da načela objavljena preko Njegova naroda budu sredstvo za obnovu Božje moralne slike u čovjeku.״

> “It was for the accomplishment of this purpose that God called Abraham out from his idolatrous kindred and bade him dwell in the land of Canaan. ‘I will make of thee a great nation,’ He said, ‘and I will bless thee, and make thy name great; and thou shalt be a blessing.’ Genesis 12:2.

> „Radi ostvarenja te svrhe Bog je pozvao Abrahama da izađe iz svoje idolopokloničke rodbine i zapovjedio mu da prebiva u kanaanskoj zemlji. ‘Od tebe ću učiniti velik narod’, rekao je, ‘i blagoslovit ću te, i uzveličat ću ime tvoje; i ti ćeš biti blagoslov.’ Postanak 12,2.

> “The descendants of Abraham, Jacob and his posterity, were brought down to Egypt that in the midst of that great and wicked nation they might reveal the principles of God’s kingdom. The integrity of Joseph and his wonderful work in preserving the lives of the whole Egyptian people were a representation of the life of Christ. Moses and many others were witnesses for God.

> „Abrahamovi potomci, Jakov i njegovo potomstvo, bili su odvedeni u Egipat kako bi usred toga velikog i opakog naroda mogli otkriti načela Božjega kraljevstva. Josipova čestitost i njegovo čudesno djelo u očuvanju života svega egipatskog naroda bili su prikaz Kristova života. Mojsije i mnogi drugi bili su svjedoci za Boga.

> “In bringing forth Israel from Egypt, the Lord again manifested His power and His mercy. His wonderful works in their deliverance from bondage and His dealings with them in their travels through the wilderness were not for their benefit alone. These were to be as an object lesson to the surrounding nations. The Lord revealed Himself as a God above all human authority and greatness. The signs and wonders He wrought in behalf of His people showed His power over nature and over the greatest of those who worshiped nature. God went through the proud land of Egypt as He will go through the earth in the last days. With fire and tempest, earthquake and death, the great I AM redeemed His people. He took them out of the land of bondage. He led them through the ‘great and terrible wilderness, wherein were fiery serpents, and scorpions, and drought.’ Deuteronomy 8:15. He brought them forth water out of ‘the rock of flint,’ and fed them with ‘the corn of heaven.’ Psalm 78:24. ‘For,’ said Moses, ‘the Lord’s portion is His people; Jacob is the lot of His inheritance. He found him in a desert land, and in the waste howling wilderness; He led him about, He instructed him, He kept him as the apple of His eye. As an eagle stirreth up her nest, fluttereth over her young, spreadeth abroad her wings, taketh them, beareth them on her wings: so the Lord alone did lead him, and there was no strange God with him.’ Deuteronomy 32:9–12. Thus He brought them unto Himself, that they might dwell as under the shadow of the Most High.

> „Izvodeći Izraela iz Egipta, Gospodin je ponovno očitovao svoju moć i svoje milosrđe. Njegova čudesna djela u njihovu izbavljenju iz ropstva i njegovo postupanje s njima na njihovu putovanju kroz pustinju nisu bila samo na njihovu korist. Ona su trebala biti zorna pouka okolnim narodima. Gospodin se objavio kao Bog iznad svake ljudske vlasti i veličine. Znakovi i čudesa koja je učinio za svoj narod pokazali su njegovu vlast nad prirodom i nad najvećima među onima koji su obožavali prirodu. Bog je prošao kroz oholu zemlju egipatsku kao što će proći kroz zemlju u posljednje dane. Ognjem i olujom, potresom i smrću, veliki JA JESAM otkupio je svoj narod. Izveo ih je iz zemlje ropstva. Vodio ih je kroz ‘veliku i strašnu pustinju, u kojoj bijahu zmije vatrene i štipavci i suša.’ Ponovljeni zakon 8:15. Izveo im je vodu iz ‘stijene kremenite’ i hranio ih ‘žitom nebeskim’. Psalam 78:24. ‘Jer’, reče Mojsije, ‘Gospodnji je dio njegov narod; Jakov je baštinski dio njegov. Nađe ga u zemlji pustoj, i u pustoši urlajuće pustinje; okruži ga, pouči ga, čuva ga kao zjenicu oka svoga. Kao što orao podiže svoje gnijezdo, leprša nad svojim mladima, širi svoja krila, uzima ih, nosi ih na svojim krilima: tako ga je Gospodin sam vodio, i s njim ne bijaše tuđega boga.’ Ponovljeni zakon 32:9–12. Tako ih je priveo k sebi da prebivaju kao pod sjenom Svevišnjega.“

> “Christ was the leader of the children of Israel in their wilderness wanderings. Enshrouded in the pillar of cloud by day and the pillar of fire by night, He led and guided them. He preserved them from the perils of the wilderness, He brought them into the land of promise, and in the sight of all the nations that acknowledged not God He established Israel as His own chosen possession, the Lord’s vineyard.

> Krist je bio vođa sinova Izraelovih u njihovim lutanjima pustinjom. Obavijen stupom od oblaka danju i stupom od ognja noću, vodio ih je i upravljao njima. Sačuvao ih je od pogibli pustinje, uveo ih je u zemlju obećanja, i pred očima svih naroda koji nisu priznavali Boga utvrdio je Izraela kao svoju vlastitu izabranu baštinu, vinograd Gospodnji.

> “To this people were committed the oracles of God. They were hedged about by the precepts of His law, the everlasting principles of truth, justice, and purity. Obedience to these principles was to be their protection, for it would save them from destroying themselves by sinful practices. And as the tower in the vineyard, God placed in the midst of the land His holy temple.

> „Ovom su narodu bile povjerene objave Božje. Bio je ograđen propisima Njegova Zakona, vječnim načelima istine, pravde i čistoće. Poslušnost tim načelima trebala je biti njegova zaštita, jer bi ga sačuvala od samouništenja grešnim postupcima. I kao kula u vinogradu, Bog je usred zemlje postavio svoj sveti hram.

> “Christ was their instructor. As He had been with them in the wilderness, so He was still to be their teacher and guide. In the tabernacle and the temple His glory dwelt in the holy shekinah above the mercy seat. In their behalf He constantly manifested the riches of His love and patience.

> „Krist je bio njihov učitelj. Kao što je bio s njima u pustinji, tako je i dalje trebao biti njihov učitelj i vođa. U Svetištu i Hramu njegova je slava prebivala u svetoj Šekini nad Pomirilištem. Za njihovu je dobrobit neprestano očitovao bogatstvo svoje ljubavi i strpljivosti.

> “God desired to make of His people Israel a praise and a glory. Every spiritual advantage was given them. God withheld from them nothing favorable to the formation of character that would make them representatives of Himself.

> „Bog je želio učiniti od svoga naroda Izraela hvalu i slavu. Dana im je svaka duhovna prednost. Bog im nije uskratio ništa što bi pogodovalo oblikovanju karaktera koji bi ih učinio Njegovim predstavnicima.“

> “Their obedience to the law of God would make them marvels of prosperity before the nations of the world. He who could give them wisdom and skill in all cunning work would continue to be their teacher, and would ennoble and elevate them through obedience to His laws. If obedient, they would be preserved from the diseases that afflicted other nations, and would be blessed with vigor of intellect. The glory of God, His majesty and power, were to be revealed in all their prosperity. They were to be a kingdom of priests and princes. God furnished them with every facility for becoming the greatest nation on the earth.

> Njihova poslušnost Božjem zakonu učinila bi ih čudom blagostanja pred narodima svijeta. Onaj koji im je mogao dati mudrost i vještinu u svakom umjetničkom poslu nastavio bi biti njihov učitelj te bi ih oplemenio i uzvisio poslušnošću Njegovim zakonima. Kad bi bili poslušni, bili bi sačuvani od bolesti koje su pogađale druge narode i bili bi blagoslovljeni snagom uma. Slava Božja, Njegovo veličanstvo i sila, trebali su se otkriti u svem njihovu blagostanju. Oni su trebali biti kraljevstvo svećenika i knezova. Bog ih je opskrbio svakom mogućnošću da postanu najveći narod na zemlji.

> “In the most definite manner Christ through Moses had set before them God’s purpose, and had made plain the terms of their prosperity. ‘Thou art an holy people unto the Lord thy God,’ He said; ‘the Lord thy God hath chosen thee to be a special people unto Himself, above all people that are upon the face of the earth…. Know therefore that the Lord thy God, He is God, the faithful God, which keepeth covenant and mercy with them that love Him and keep His commandments to a thousand generations…. Thou shalt therefore keep the commandments, and the statutes, and the judgments, which I command thee this day, to do them. Wherefore it shall come to pass, if ye hearken to these judgments, and keep, and do them, that the Lord thy God shall keep unto thee the covenant and the mercy which He sware unto thy fathers; and He will love thee, and bless thee, and multiply thee: He will also bless the fruit of thy womb, and the fruit of thy land, thy corn, and thy wine, and thine oil, the increase of thy kine, and the flocks of thy sheep, in the land which He sware unto thy fathers to give thee. Thou shalt be blessed above all people…. And the Lord will take away from thee all sickness, and will put none of the evil diseases of Egypt, which thou knowest, upon thee.’ Deuteronomy 7:6, 9, 11–15.

> „Na posve nedvojben način Krist im je po Mojsiju iznio Božju namjeru i jasno obznanio uvjete njihova blagostanja. ‘Ti si svet narod Gospodu, Bogu svojemu’, rekao je; ‘tebe je Gospod, Bog tvoj, izabrao da budeš Njegov osobit narod mimo sve narode koji su na licu zemlje…. Znaj dakle da je Gospod, Bog tvoj, Bog, vjerni Bog, koji drži savez i milosrđe s onima koji Ga ljube i drže Njegove zapovijedi do tisuću naraštaja…. Stoga drži zapovijedi, uredbe i zakone koje ti danas zapovijedam da ih vršiš. I dogodit će se, budeš li slušao ove zakone, držao ih i vršio, da će Gospod, Bog tvoj, držati prema tebi savez i milosrđe za koje se zakleo tvojim ocima; i ljubit će te, blagoslivljati te i umnožit će te; blagoslovit će i plod utrobe tvoje i plod zemlje tvoje, žito tvoje, vino tvoje i ulje tvoje, prirast goveda tvojih i stada ovaca tvojih, u zemlji za koju se zakleo tvojim ocima da će ti je dati. Bit ćeš blagoslovljen više od svih naroda…. I Gospod će ukloniti od tebe svaku bolest i neće pustiti na tebe nijednu od zlih egipatskih bolesti koje poznaješ.’ Ponovljeni zakon 7,6, 9, 11–15.“

> “If they would keep His commandments, God promised to give them the finest of the wheat, and bring them honey out of the rock. With long life would He satisfy them, and show them His salvation.

> „Kad bi držali Njegove zapovijedi, Bog im je obećao dati ponajbolju pšenicu i izvesti im med iz stijene. Dugim bi ih životom nasitio i pokazao im svoje spasenje.“

> “Through disobedience to God, Adam and Eve had lost Eden, and because of sin the whole earth was cursed. But if God’s people followed His instruction, their land would be restored to fertility and beauty. God Himself gave them directions in regard to the culture of the soil, and they were to co-operate with Him in its restoration. Thus the whole land, under God’s control, would become an object lesson of spiritual truth. As in obedience to His natural laws the earth should produce its treasures, so in obedience to His moral law the hearts of the people were to reflect the attributes of His character. Even the heathen would recognize the superiority of those who served and worshiped the living God.

> „Neposlušnošću Bogu Adam i Eva izgubili su Eden, a zbog grijeha cijela je zemlja bila prokleta. Ali ako bi Božji narod slijedio Njegove upute, njihova bi zemlja bila vraćena plodnosti i ljepoti. Sam im je Bog dao upute u pogledu obrađivanja tla, i oni su trebali surađivati s Njime u njegovoj obnovi. Tako bi cijela zemlja, pod Božjom upravom, postala zorna pouka o duhovnoj istini. Kao što bi zemlja, u poslušnosti Njegovim prirodnim zakonima, donosila svoja bogatstva, tako su i srca naroda, u poslušnosti Njegovu moralnom zakonu, trebala odražavati obilježja Njegova karaktera. Čak bi i neznabošci prepoznali nadmoć onih koji služe i štuju živoga Boga.“

> “‘Behold,’ said Moses, ‘I have taught you statutes and judgments, even as the Lord my God commanded me, that ye should do so in the land whither ye go to possess it. Keep therefore and do them; for this is your wisdom and your understanding in the sight of the nations, which shall hear all these statutes, and say, Surely this great nation is a wise and understanding people. For what nation is there so great, who hath God so nigh unto them, as the Lord our God is in all things that we call upon Him for? And what nation is there so great, that hath statutes and judgments so righteous as all this law, which I set before you this day?’ Deuteronomy 4:5–8.

> „Evo,“ reče Mojsije, „naučio sam vas uredbama i zakonima, kako mi je zapovjedio Gospodin, moj Bog, da tako činite u zemlji u koju idete da je zaposjednete. Držite ih dakle i vršite ih; jer to je vaša mudrost i vaš razum pred očima narodâ, koji će čuti sve ove uredbe pa reći: Zaista je ovaj veliki narod mudar i razuman puk. Jer koji je to narod tako velik da su mu bogovi tako blizu kao što je Gospodin, naš Bog, nama, u svemu za što Ga prizivamo? I koji je to narod tako velik da ima uredbe i zakone tako pravedne kao sav ovaj Zakon koji danas stavljam pred vas?“ Ponovljeni zakon 4:5–8.

> “The children of Israel were to occupy all the territory which God appointed them. Those nations that rejected the worship and service of the true God were to be dispossessed. But it was God’s purpose that by the revelation of His character through Israel men should be drawn unto Him. To all the world the gospel invitation was to be given. Through the teaching of the sacrificial service Christ was to be uplifted before the nations, and all who would look unto Him should live. All who, like Rahab the Canaanite, and Ruth the Moabitess, turned from idolatry to the worship of the true God, were to unite themselves with His chosen people. As the numbers of Israel increased they were to enlarge their borders, until their kingdom should embrace the world.

> „Djeca Izraelova trebala su zaposjesti sav teritorij koji im je Bog odredio. Oni narodi koji su odbacili štovanje i službu pravomu Bogu trebali su biti lišeni svoje baštine. Ali Božja je namjera bila da se objavom Njegova karaktera preko Izraela ljudi privuku k Njemu. Cijelomu svijetu trebao je biti upućen poziv evanđelja. Kroz pouku o žrtvenoj službi Krist je trebao biti uzdignut pred narodima, i svi koji bi pogledali na Njega trebali su živjeti. Svi koji bi se, poput Rahabe, Kanaanke, i Rute, Moapke, odvratili od idolopoklonstva k štovanju pravoga Boga, trebali su se pridružiti Njegovu izabranom narodu. Kako se broj Izraelaca povećavao, trebali su proširivati svoje granice, dok njihovo kraljevstvo ne bi obuhvatilo svijet.“

> “God desired to bring all peoples under His merciful rule. He desired that the earth should be filled with joy and peace. He created man for happiness, and He longs to fill human hearts with the peace of heaven. He desires that the families below shall be a symbol of the great family above.

> „Bog je želio dovesti sve narode pod svoju milostivu vladavinu. Želio je da zemlja bude ispunjena radošću i mirom. Stvorio je čovjeka za sreću i čezne ispuniti ljudska srca mirom neba. Želi da obitelji na zemlji budu simbol velike obitelji na nebu.“

> “But Israel did not fulfill God’s purpose. The Lord declared, ‘I had planted thee a noble vine, wholly a right seed: how then art thou turned into the degenerate plant of a strange vine unto Me?’ Jeremiah 2:21. ‘Israel is an empty vine, he bringeth forth fruit unto himself.’ Hosea 10:1. ‘And now, O inhabitants of Jerusalem, and men of Judah, judge, I pray you, betwixt Me and My vineyard. What could have been done more to My vineyard, that I have not done in it? Wherefore when I looked that it should bring forth grapes, brought it forth wild grapes? And now go to; I will tell you what I will do to My vineyard: I will take away the hedge thereof, and it shall be eaten up; and break down the wall thereof, and it shall be trodden down: and I will lay it waste; it shall not be pruned nor digged; but there shall come up briers and thorns: I will also command the clouds that they rain no rain upon it. For … He looked for judgment, but behold oppression; for righteousness, but behold a cry.’ Isaiah 5:3–7.

> „Ali Izrael nije ispunio Božju namjeru. Gospodin je objavio: ‘A ja te zasadih kao plemenitu lozu, sasvim pravo sjeme; kako si se onda izrodila u izopačeni trs tuđe loze preda Mnom?’ Jeremija 2,21. ‘Izrael je prazna loza, rod donosi samome sebi.’ Hošea 10,1. ‘A sada, stanovnici jeruzalemski i ljudi Judini, prosudite, molim vas, između Mene i vinograda Mojega. Što se još moglo učiniti vinogradu Mojemu, a da mu nisam učinio? Zašto, kad očekivah da rodi grožđem, rodi divljim grožđem? A sada, hajde da vam kažem što ću učiniti vinogradu svojemu: uklonit ću ogradu njegovu, i bit će obršten; srušit ću zid njegov, i bit će pogažen. Opustošit ću ga; neće se orezivati niti okopavati, nego će u njemu izrasti trnje i drač; i oblacima ću zapovjediti da ne dažde na nj. Jer … očekivao je pravdu, a gle, nepravda; pravednost, a gle, vapaj.’ Izaija 5,3–7.”

> “The Lord had through Moses set before His people the result of unfaithfulness. By refusing to keep His covenant, they would cut themselves off from the life of God, and His blessing could not come upon them. ‘Beware,’ said Moses, ‘that thou forget not the Lord thy God, in not keeping His commandments, and His judgments, and His statutes, which I command thee this day: lest when thou hast eaten and art full, and hast built goodly houses, and dwelt therein; and when thy herds and thy flocks multiply, and thy silver and thy gold is multiplied, and all that thou hast is multiplied; then thine heart be lifted up, and thou forget the Lord thy God…. And thou say in thine heart, My power and the might of mine hand hath gotten me this wealth…. And it shall be, if thou do at all forget the Lord thy God, and walk after other gods, and serve them, and worship them, I testify against you this day that ye shall surely perish. As the nations which the Lord destroyeth before your face, so shall ye perish; because ye would not be obedient unto the voice of the Lord your God.’ Deuteronomy 8:11–14, 17, 19, 20.

> „Gospodin je preko Mojsija stavio pred svoj narod posljedicu nevjernosti. Odbijajući držati Njegov Savez, odcijepili bi se od Božjega života i Njegov blagoslov ne bi mogao doći na njih. ‘Čuvaj se’, reče Mojsije, ‘da ne zaboraviš Gospodina, Boga svojega, ne držeći Njegovih zapovijedi, i Njegovih uredaba, i Njegovih zakona, koje ti danas zapovijedam: da, kad budeš jeo i nasitio se, i sagradio lijepe kuće te se nastanio u njima; i kad se namnože tvoja goveda i tvoja sitna stoka, i namnoži se tvoje srebro i tvoje zlato, i namnoži se sve što imaš; da se tada tvoje srce ne uzoholi i da ne zaboraviš Gospodina, Boga svojega…. I da ne rekneš u svome srcu: Moja sila i snaga moje ruke pribavila mi je ovo bogatstvo…. I bit će, ako doista zaboraviš Gospodina, Boga svojega, te pođeš za drugim bogovima, i njima služiš, i njima se klanjaš, svjedočim vam danas da ćete zasigurno propasti. Kao narodi koje Gospodin zatire pred vašim licem, tako ćete propasti, zato što niste htjeli poslušati glas Gospodina, Boga svojega.’ Ponovljeni zakon 8,11–14.17.19.20.”

> “The warning was not heeded by the Jewish people. They forgot God, and lost sight of their high privilege as His representatives. The blessings they had received brought no blessing to the world. All their advantages were appropriated for their own glorification. They robbed God of the service He required of them, and they robbed their fellow men of religious guidance and a holy example. Like the inhabitants of the antediluvian world, they followed out every imagination of their evil hearts. Thus they made sacred things appear a farce, saying, ‘The temple of the Lord, the temple of the Lord, are these’ (Jeremiah 7:4), while at the same time they were misrepresenting God’s character, dishonoring His name, and polluting His sanctuary.

> „Židovski narod nije poslušao upozorenje. Zaboravili su Boga i izgubili iz vida svoju uzvišenu prednost kao Njegovi predstavnici. Blagoslovi koje su primili nisu donijeli blagoslov svijetu. Sve svoje prednosti prisvojili su za vlastito uzdizanje. Okrali su Boga za službu koju je od njih zahtijevao, a svoje su bližnje zakinuli za vjersko vodstvo i sveti primjer. Poput stanovnika pretpotopnoga svijeta, slijedili su svaku zamisao svojih zlih srca. Tako su učinili da svete stvari izgledaju kao lakrdija, govoreći: ‘Hram Jahvin, hram Jahvin, ovo je’ (Jeremija 7,4), dok su u isto vrijeme pogrešno prikazivali Božji karakter, sramotili Njegovo ime i oskvrnjivali Njegovo svetište.“

> “The husbandmen who had been placed in charge of the Lord’s vineyard were untrue to their trust. The priests and teachers were not faithful instructors of the people. They did not keep before them the goodness and mercy of God and His claim to their love and service. These husbandmen sought their own glory. They desired to appropriate the fruits of the vineyard. It was their study to attract attention and homage to themselves.

> „Vinogradari kojima je bilo povjereno Gospodnje vinogradarstvo iznevjerili su svoje povjerenje. Svećenici i učitelji nisu bili vjerni poučavatelji naroda. Nisu pred njima držali Božju dobrotu i milosrđe ni Njegovo pravo na njihovu ljubav i službu. Ti su vinogradari tražili vlastitu slavu. Željeli su prisvojiti plodove vinograda. Njihova je težnja bila privući pozornost i počast sebi.“

> “The guilt of these leaders in Israel was not like the guilt of the ordinary sinner. These men stood under the most solemn obligation to God. They had pledged themselves to teach a ‘Thus saith the Lord’ and to bring strict obedience into their practical life. Instead of doing this they were perverting the Scriptures. They laid heavy burdens upon men, enforcing ceremonies that reached to every step in life. The people lived in continual unrest, for they could not fulfill the requirements laid down by the rabbis. As they saw the impossibility of keeping man-made commandments, they became careless in regard to the commandments of God.

> „Krivnja tih vođa u Izraelu nije bila poput krivnje običnoga grešnika. Ti su ljudi stajali pod najsvečanijom obvezom prema Bogu. Obvezali su se poučavati: ‘Ovako govori Gospodin’ i unositi strogu poslušnost u svoj praktični život. Umjesto da to čine, izopačavali su Pisma. Na ljude su stavljali teška bremena, namećući obrede koji su sezali do svakoga koraka u životu. Narod je živio u neprestanom nemiru, jer nije mogao ispuniti zahtjeve što su ih postavili rabini. Kad su uvidjeli nemogućnost držanja zapovijedi koje su ljudi načinili, postali su nemarni prema Božjim zapovijedima.

> “The Lord had instructed His people that He was the owner of the vineyard, and that all their possessions were given them in trust to be used for Him. But the priests and teachers did not perform the work of their sacred office as if they were handling the property of God. They were systematically robbing Him of the means and facilities entrusted to them for the advancement of His work. Their covetousness and greed caused them to be despised even by the heathen. Thus the Gentile world was given occasion to misinterpret the character of God and the laws of His kingdom.

> „Gospodin je poučio svoj narod da je On vlasnik vinograda i da su im svi njihovi posjedi povjereni na uporabu za Njega. No svećenici i učitelji nisu obavljali djelo svoje svete službe kao da rukuju Božjim vlasništvom. Sustavno su Ga zakidali za sredstva i mogućnosti koje su im bile povjerene za unapređenje Njegova djela. Njihova lakomost i pohlepa učinile su da ih preziru čak i neznabošci. Tako je neznabožački svijet dobio povoda da pogrešno protumači Božji karakter i zakone Njegova kraljevstva.“

> “With a father’s heart, God bore with His people. He pleaded with them by mercies given and mercies withdrawn. Patiently He set their sins before them, and in forbearance waited for their acknowledgment. Prophets and messengers were sent to urge God’s claim upon the husbandmen; but instead of being welcomed, they were treated as enemies. The husbandmen persecuted and killed them. God sent still other messengers, but they received the same treatment as the first, only that the husbandmen showed still more determined hatred.

> „Očinskim srcem Bog je podnosio svoj narod. Preklinjao ih je milostima danima i milostima uskraćenima. Strpljivo je iznosio pred njih njihove grijehe i u dugotrpljivosti čekao njihovo priznanje. Proroci i glasnici bili su poslani da zastupaju Božji zahtjev prema vinogradarima; ali umjesto da budu primljeni, s njima se postupalo kao s neprijateljima. Vinogradari su ih progonili i ubijali. Bog je slao još druge glasnike, ali i oni su bili primljeni na isti način kao i prvi, samo što su vinogradari pokazivali još odlučniju mržnju.

> “As a last resource, God sent His Son, saying, ‘They will reverence My Son.’ But their resistance had made them vindictive, and they said among themselves, ‘This is the heir; come, let us kill Him, and let us seize on His inheritance.’ We shall then be left to enjoy the vineyard, and to do as we please with the fruit.

> „Kao posljednje sredstvo, Bog je poslao svojega Sina govoreći: ‘Poštovat će mojega Sina.’ Ali njihov ih je otpor učinio osvetoljubivima te su među sobom rekli: ‘Ovo je baštinik; dođite, ubijmo ga i prisvojimo njegovu baštinu.’ Tada će nama ostati da uživamo u vinogradu i da s plodom činimo što nam je volja.

> “The Jewish rulers did not love God; therefore they cut themselves away from Him, and rejected all His overtures for a just settlement. Christ, the Beloved of God, came to assert the claims of the Owner of the vineyard; but the husbandmen treated Him with marked contempt, saying, We will not have this man to rule over us. They envied Christ’s beauty of character. His manner of teaching was far superior to theirs, and they dreaded His success. He remonstrated with them, unveiling their hypocrisy, and showing them the sure results of their course of action. This stirred them to madness. They smarted under the rebukes they could not silence. They hated the high standard of righteousness which Christ continually presented. They saw that His teaching was placing them where their selfishness would be uncloaked, and they determined to kill Him. They hated His example of truthfulness and piety and the elevated spirituality revealed in all He did. His whole life was a reproof to their selfishness, and when the final test came, the test which meant obedience unto eternal life or disobedience unto eternal death, they rejected the Holy One of Israel. When they were asked to choose between Christ and Barabbas, they cried out, ‘Release unto us Barabbas!’ Luke 23:18. And when Pilate asked, ‘What shall I do then with Jesus?’ they cried fiercely, ‘Let Him be crucified.’ Matthew 27:22. ‘Shall I crucify your King?’ Pilate asked, and from the priests and rulers came the answer, ‘We have no king but Caesar.’ John 19:15. When Pilate washed his hands, saying, ‘I am innocent of the blood of this just person,’ the priests joined with the ignorant mob in declaring passionately, ‘His blood be on us, and on our children.’ Matthew 27:24, 25.

> „Židovski poglavari nisu ljubili Boga; stoga su se odvojili od Njega i odbacili sve Njegove ponude za pravednu nagodbu. Krist, Ljubljeni Božji, došao je zahtijevati prava Vlasnika vinograda; ali vinogradari su prema Njemu postupali s očitim prezirom, govoreći: Nećemo da ovaj vlada nad nama. Zavidjeli su Kristu na ljepoti Njegova karaktera. Njegov način poučavanja bio je daleko nadmoćniji njihovu, i bojali su se Njegova uspjeha. Prekoravao ih je, razotkrivajući njihovo licemjerje i pokazujući im sigurne posljedice njihova djelovanja. To ih je dovodilo do ludila. Trpjeli su ukore koje nisu mogli ušutkati. Mrzili su visoko mjerilo pravednosti koje je Krist neprestano iznosio. Vidjeli su da ih Njegov nauk dovodi onamo gdje će njihova sebičnost biti razotkrivena, i odlučili su Ga ubiti. Mrzili su Njegov primjer istinoljubivosti i pobožnosti te uzvišenu duhovnost koja se otkrivala u svemu što je činio. Cijeli Njegov život bio je ukor njihovoj sebičnosti, a kada je došla završna kušnja, kušnja koja je značila poslušnost za život vječni ili neposlušnost za vječnu smrt, odbacili su Sveca Izraelova. Kad se od njih tražilo da biraju između Krista i Barabe, povikali su: ‘Pusti nam Barabu!’ Luka 23,18. A kad je Pilat upitao: ‘Što ću onda s Isusom?’ oni su žestoko povikali: ‘Neka se razapne!’ Matej 27,22. ‘Zar da razapnem vašega Kralja?’ upitao je Pilat, a od svećenika i poglavara došao je odgovor: ‘Nemamo kralja osim cara.’ Ivan 19,15. Kad je Pilat oprao ruke, govoreći: ‘Nevin sam od krvi ovoga pravednika’, svećenici su se pridružili neukom mnoštvu i strastveno izjavili: ‘Krv njegova na nas i na djecu našu.’ Matej 27,24.25.”

> “Thus the Jewish leaders made their choice. Their decision was registered in the book which John saw in the hand of Him that sat upon the throne, the book which no man could open. In all its vindictiveness this decision will appear before them in the day when this book is unsealed by the Lion of the tribe of Judah.

> „Tako su židovski vođe učinili svoj izbor. Njihova je odluka zabilježena u knjizi koju je Ivan vidio u ruci Onoga koji sjedi na prijestolju, u knjizi koju nitko nije mogao otvoriti. U svoj svojoj osvetoljubivosti ta će se odluka pojaviti pred njima u dan kad Lav iz Judina plemena otvori pečate te knjige.״

> “The Jewish people cherished the idea that they were the favorites of heaven, and that they were always to be exalted as the church of God. They were the children of Abraham, they declared, and so firm did the foundation of their prosperity seem to them that they defied earth and heaven to dispossess them of their rights. But by lives of unfaithfulness they were preparing for the condemnation of heaven and for separation from God.

> „Židovski je narod njegovao misao da su miljenici neba i da uvijek trebaju biti uzdignuti kao Božja crkva. Tvrdili su da su Abrahamova djeca, a temelj njihova napretka činio im se tako čvrstim da su prkosili i zemlji i nebu da ih liše njihovih prava. Ali životom nevjernosti pripravljali su se za osudu neba i za odvojenje od Boga.

> “In the parable of the vineyard, after Christ had portrayed before the priests their crowning act of wickedness, He put to them the question, ‘When the Lord therefore of the vineyard cometh, what will he do unto those husbandmen?’ The priests had been following the narrative with deep interest, and without considering the relation of the subject to themselves they joined with the people in answering, ‘He will miserably destroy those wicked men, and will let out His vineyard unto other husbandmen, which shall render Him the fruits in their seasons.’

> „U prispodobi o vinogradu, nakon što je Krist pred svećenicima prikazao njihov vrhunac bezbožnosti, postavio im je pitanje: ‘Kada, dakle, dođe gospodar vinograda, što će učiniti tim vinogradarima?’ Svećenici su pripovijest pratili s dubokim zanimanjem i, ne razmišljajući o tome kako se predmet odnosi na njih same, pridružili su se narodu u odgovoru: ‘Zlo će pogubiti te zle ljude, a svoj će vinograd dati drugim vinogradarima, koji će mu davati plodove u njihovo vrijeme.’”

> “Unwittingly they had pronounced their own doom. Jesus looked upon them, and under His searching gaze they knew that He read the secrets of their hearts. His divinity flashed out before them with unmistakable power. They saw in the husbandmen a picture of themselves, and they involuntarily exclaimed, ‘God forbid!’

> „Nesvjesno su izrekli vlastitu osudu. Isus ih je pogledao, i pod Njegovim prodornim pogledom znali su da čita tajne njihovih srca. Njegovo božanstvo zasjalo je pred njima nepogrešivom silom. U vinogradarima su vidjeli sliku samih sebe te su nehotice uzviknuli: ‘Bože sačuvaj!’“

> “Solemnly and regretfully Christ asked, ‘Did ye never read in the scriptures, The stone which the builders rejected, the same is become the head of the corner; this is the Lord’s doing, and it is marvelous in our eyes? Therefore say I unto you, The kingdom of God shall be taken from you, and given to a nation bringing forth the fruits thereof. And whosoever shall fall on this stone shall be broken; but on whomsoever it shall fall, it will grind him to powder.’

> „Svečano i sa žaljenjem Krist je upitao: ‘Zar nikada niste čitali u Pismima: Kamen koji odbaciše graditelji, taj postade kamen zaglavni; to je djelo Gospodnje i čudesno je u našim očima? Zato vam kažem: Kraljevstvo Božje oduzet će se od vas i dat će se narodu koji donosi njegove plodove. I tko god padne na taj kamen, razbit će se; a na koga god on padne, satrt će ga u prah.’”

> “Christ would have averted the doom of the Jewish nation if the people had received Him. But envy and jealousy made them implacable. They determined that they would not receive Jesus of Nazareth as the Messiah. They rejected the Light of the world, and thenceforth their lives were surrounded with darkness as the darkness of midnight. The doom foretold came upon the Jewish nation. Their own fierce passions, uncontrolled, wrought their ruin. In their blind rage they destroyed one another. Their rebellious, stubborn pride brought upon them the wrath of their Roman conquerors. Jerusalem was destroyed, the temple laid in ruins, and its site plowed like a field. The children of Judah perished by the most horrible forms of death. Millions were sold, to serve as bondmen in heathen lands.

> „Krist bi odvratio propast židovskoga naroda da Ga je narod primio. Ali zavist i ljubomora učinile su ih neumoljivima. Odlučili su da Isusa iz Nazareta neće primiti kao Mesiju. Odbacili su Svjetlo svijeta, i otada su njihovi životi bili obavijeni tamom poput ponoćne tame. Prorečena propast snašla je židovski narod. Njihove vlastite žestoke strasti, neobuzdane, prouzročile su njihovu propast. U svojem slijepom bijesu uništavali su jedni druge. Njihova buntovna, tvrdokorna oholost navukla je na njih gnjev njihovih rimskih osvajača. Jeruzalem je bio razoren, hram pretvoren u ruševine, a njegovo mjesto preorano kao njiva. Sinovi Judini poginuli su na najstrašnije načine. Milijuni su bili prodani da služe kao robovi u poganskim zemljama.״

> “As a people the Jews had failed of fulfilling God’s purpose, and the vineyard was taken from them. The privileges they had abused, the work they had slighted, was entrusted to others.

> „Kao narod, Židovi nisu uspjeli ispuniti Božju namjeru, te im je vinograd bio oduzet. Povlastice koje su zloupotrijebili i djelo koje su zanemarili, bilo je povjereno drugima.“

> “The parable of the vineyard applies not alone to the Jewish nation. It has a lesson for us. The church in this generation has been endowed by God with great privileges and blessings, and He expects corresponding returns.” Christ’s Object Lessons. 284–296.

> „Prispodoba o vinogradu ne odnosi se samo na židovski narod. Ona nosi pouku za nas. Crkva u ovom naraštaju obdarena je od Boga velikim prednostima i blagoslovima, i On očekuje odgovarajuće plodove.” Christ’s Object Lessons, 284–296.

The book of Joel identifies the history of the latter rain at the end of the world. The latter rain is God’s final warning message of the third angel of Revelation fourteen. Although the latter rain represents the message of the third angel, it also represents the communication process between Divinity and humanity as symbolized by Zechariah’s golden oil, the early and latter rains, the fire from the altar and other representations. The latter rain is not only a message, and the communication process between God and man, but it is also the only sanctified “methodology” of Bible study sustained in God’s Word. That methodology is Isaiah’s “line upon line” found in chapter twenty-eight.

Knjiga proroka Joela prepoznaje povijest kasne kiše na svršetku svijeta. Kasna kiša jest Božja posljednja opomenjska poruka trećega anđela iz Otkrivenja četrnaest. Premda kasna kiša predstavlja poruku trećega anđela, ona također predstavlja proces priopćavanja između Božanstva i čovječanstva, kako je simboliziran Zaharijinim zlatnim uljem, ranom i kasnom kišom, vatrom s oltara i drugim prikazima. Kasna kiša nije samo poruka i proces priopćavanja između Boga i čovjeka, nego je ona i jedina posvećena „metodologija” proučavanja Biblije koja se održava u Božjoj Riječi. Ta metodologija jest Izaijino „redak po redak”, koje se nalazi u dvadeset osmom poglavlju.

At the beginning of ancient and also modern Israel, God, “the husbandman” brought Israel “from the wilderness.” Whether the captivity of four hundred and thirty years captivity in Egypt or the captivity of the Dark Ages from 538 unto 1798, Israel was taken out of “the wilderness,” for a “wilderness” is a symbol of slavery and captivity. Whether ancient literal Israel or modern spiritual Israel God delivered them out of a wilderness captivity and “established” them “as His own chosen possession, the Lord’s vineyard” called to be priests and princes who “were committed” with the privilege of representing “the oracles of God.” The “oracles” for ancient Israel being the Law and to modern Israel being both the Law and the prophecies.

Na početku drevnoga, a isto tako i suvremenoga Izraela, Bog, „vinogradar“, izvede Izrael „iz pustinje“. Bilo da je riječ o ropstvu od četiri stotine i trideset godina u Egiptu ili o ropstvu mračnoga doba od 538. do 1798., Izrael bijaše izveden iz „pustinje“, jer je „pustinja“ simbol ropstva i sužanjstva. Bilo drevni doslovni Izrael ili suvremeni duhovni Izrael, Bog ih je izbavio iz pustinjskoga sužanjstva i „utvrdio“ ih „kao Svoj izabrani posjed, Gospodnji vinograd“, pozvane da budu svećenici i knezovi kojima je „povjerena“ prednost da predstavljaju „Božje objave“. „Objave“ su za drevni Izrael bile Zakon, a za suvremeni Izrael i Zakon i proročanstva.

> “God has called His church in this day, as He called ancient Israel, to stand as a light in the earth. By the mighty cleaver of truth, the messages of the first, second, and third angels, He has separated them from the churches and from the world to bring them into a sacred nearness to Himself. He has made them the depositaries of His law and has committed to them the great truths of prophecy for this time. Like the holy oracles committed to ancient Israel, these are a sacred trust to be communicated to the world. The three angels of Revelation 14 represent the people who accept the light of God’s messages and go forth as His agents to sound the warning throughout the length and breadth of the earth.” Testimonies, volume 5, 455.

> „Bog je pozvao svoju crkvu u ovom vremenu, kao što je pozvao drevni Izrael, da stoji kao svjetlo na zemlji. Moćnim sjekačem istine, porukama prvoga, drugoga i trećega anđela, odvojio ih je od crkava i od svijeta kako bi ih doveo u svetu blizinu sa samim sobom. Učinio ih je čuvarima svoga zakona i povjerio im velike istine proročanstva za ovo vrijeme. Kao i sveti proročki navodi povjereni drevnom Izraelu, i ovo je sveta povjerba koju treba prenijeti svijetu. Tri anđela iz Otkrivenja 14 predstavljaju narod koji prihvaća svjetlo Božjih poruka i izlazi kao Njegovi poslanici da pronese upozorenje po svoj dužini i širini zemlje.“ Testimonies, svezak 5, 455.

Modern Israel was ordained to proclaim the loud cry of the third angel under the power of the latter rain, while manifesting the character of Christ in their personal experience under the power of the Holy Spirit. The loud cry of the third angel is fulfilled during the outpouring of the latter rain, during a time when a false peace and safety latter rain message is being promoted by a class of men who are drunken with the wine of Babylon. These are Isaiah’s drunkards of Ephraim and Joel’s drinkers of wine who have the new wine cut off from their mouths. Those receiving the true latter rain message are represented by Daniel, Mishael, Hananiah and Azariah who rejected the Babylonian food for heavenly fare. These are the one hundred and forty-four thousand who sing the song of Moses and the Lamb, but also of the vineyard, for the vineyard parable was fulfilled in the history of Moses in the beginning of ancient Israel’s covenant relationship, and it was fulfilled again at the end of ancient Israel’s covenant relationship in the history of the Lamb.

Suvremeni je Izrael bio određen naviještati glasni poklik trećega anđela pod silom pozne kiše, dok u svojem osobnom iskustvu očituje Kristov karakter pod silom Duha Svetoga. Glasni poklik trećega anđela ispunjava se tijekom izlijevanja pozne kiše, u vrijeme kada se promiče lažna poruka pozne kiše o miru i sigurnosti od strane jedne skupine ljudi opijenih vinom Babilona. To su Izaijini pijanci Efrajimovi i Joelovi vinopije kojima je novo vino odsječeno od usta. Oni koji primaju istinsku poruku pozne kiše prikazani su Danielom, Mišaelom, Hananijom i Azarijom, koji su odbacili babilonsku hranu radi nebeske hrane. To su sto četrdeset i četiri tisuće koji pjevaju pjesmu Mojsijevu i Janjetovu, ali i pjesmu o vinogradu, jer je prispodoba o vinogradu ispunjena u povijesti Mojsija na početku savezničkog odnosa drevnoga Izraela, a ponovno je ispunjena na kraju savezničkog odnosa drevnoga Izraela u povijesti Janjeta.

The song of the vineyard concludes with a former covenant people being passed by when a new covenant people are being married to the Lord. The Lord passed by those who died in the forty-year wilderness wandering and entered into covenant with Joshua at the very same time he was divorcing those who would die. The Lord was divorcing ancient Israel at the very same time He was marrying the Christian church. The alpha or beginning history is represented by Moses and the omega is represented by the Lamb. The history they both represent is the history of the vineyard parable, thus Isaiah’s song of the vineyard is John the Revelator’s song of Moses and the Lamb.

Pjesma o vinogradu završava time što je nekadašnji saveznički narod zaobiđen dok se novi saveznički narod zaručuje s Gospodinom. Gospodin je zaobišao one koji su umrli tijekom četrdesetogodišnjega lutanja pustinjom i stupio u savez s Jošuom upravo u isto vrijeme kada je otpuštao one koji će umrijeti. Gospodin je razrješivao brak sa starim Izraelom upravo u isto vrijeme kada je stupao u brak s kršćanskom crkvom. Alfu, odnosno povijest početka, predstavlja Mojsije, a omegu predstavlja Jaganjac. Povijest koju obojica predstavljaju povijest je prispodobe o vinogradu; stoga je Izaijina pjesma o vinogradu Ivanova, Objaviteljeva, pjesma Mojsija i Jaganjca.

We will continue these thoughts in the next article.

Nastavit ćemo ova razmatranja u sljedećem članku.

> “These are not the words of Sister White, but the words of the Lord, and His messenger has given them to me to give to you. God calls upon you to no longer work at cross purposes with Him. Much instruction was given in regard to men claiming to be Christian when they are revealing the attributes of Satan, counteracting in spirit, word, and action the advancement of truth, and are surely following the path where Satan is leading them. In their hardness of heart they have grasped authority which in no way belongs to them, and which they should not exercise. Saith the great Teacher, ‘I will overturn, overturn, overturn.’ Men say in Battle Creek, ‘The temple of the Lord, the temple of the Lord are we’ but they are using common fire. Their hearts are not softened and subdued by the grace of God.” Manuscript Releases, volume 13, 222.

> „Ovo nisu riječi sestre White, nego riječi Gospodnje, i Njegov ih je glasnik dao meni da ih dam vama. Bog vas poziva da više ne djelujete Njemu nasuprot. Mnogo je pouke dano u pogledu ljudi koji tvrde da su kršćani, a otkrivaju Sotonine osobine, te duhom, riječju i djelom ometaju napredak istine, i zasigurno slijede put kojim ih Sotona vodi. U tvrdoći svojega srca prigrabili su vlast koja im ni na koji način ne pripada i koju ne bi smjeli vršiti. Govori veliki Učitelj: ‘Prevrnut ću, prevrnut ću, prevrnut ću.’ Ljudi u Battle Creeku govore: ‘Hram Gospodnji, hram Gospodnji smo mi’, ali se služe običnim ognjem. Njihova srca nisu omekšana ni pokorena Božjom milošću.” Manuscript Releases, svezak 13, 222.

> “The patience of God has an object, but you are defeating it. He is allowing a state of things to come that you would fain see counteracted by and by, but it will be too late. God commanded Elijah to anoint the cruel and deceitful Hazael king over Syria, that he might be a scourge to idolatrous Israel. Who knows whether God will not give you up to the deceptions you love? Who knows but that the preachers who are faithful, firm, and true may be the last who shall offer the gospel of peace to our unthankful churches? It may be that the destroyers are already training under the hand of Satan and only wait the departure of a few more standard-bearers to take their places, and with the voice of the false prophet cry, ‘Peace, peace,’ when the Lord hath not spoken peace. I seldom weep, but now I find my eyes blinded with tears; they are falling upon my paper as I write. It may be that erelong all prophesyings among us will be at an end, and the voice which has stirred the people may no longer disturb their carnal slumbers.

> „Božje strpljenje ima svoju svrhu, ali vi je osujećujete. On dopušta da nastane stanje stvari za koje biste željeli da se kasnije suzbije, ali tada će biti prekasno. Bog je zapovjedio Iliji da pomaže okrutnoga i prijevarnoga Hazaela za kralja nad Sirijom, da bude bič idolopokloničkom Izraelu. Tko zna ne će li vas Bog prepustiti zabludama koje ljubite? Tko zna ne će li propovjednici koji su vjerni, postojani i istiniti biti posljednji koji će ponuditi evanđelje mira našim nezahvalnim crkvama? Možda se već pod Sotonskom rukom obučavaju oni koji će razarati i samo čekaju odlazak još nekolicine stjegonoša da zauzmu njihova mjesta te glasom lažnoga proroka viču: ‘Mir, mir’, kad Gospodin nije govorio mir. Rijetko plačem, ali sada nalazim da su mi oči zaslijepljene suzama; one padaju na moj papir dok pišem. Možda će uskoro među nama svakomu prorokovanju doći kraj, i glas koji je pokretao narod možda više neće uznemiravati njihov tjelesni san.“

> “When God shall work His strange work on the earth, when holy hands bear the ark no longer, woe will be upon the people. Oh, that thou hadst known, even thou, in this thy day, the things that belong unto thy peace! Oh, that our people may, as did Nineveh, repent with all their might and believe with all their heart, that God may turn away His fierce anger from them.” Testimonies, volume 5, 77.

> „Kad Bog bude činio svoje neobično djelo na zemlji, kad svete ruke više ne budu nosile Kovčeg, jao će biti narodu. O, da si znao, baš ti, u ovaj svoj dan, što pripada tvojemu miru! O, kad bi se naš narod, kao što učini Niniva, pokajao svom svojom snagom i povjerovao svim svojim srcem, da Bog odvrati od njih svoju žestoku srdžbu.“ Testimonies, svezak 5, 77.

> “If you indulge stubbornness of heart, and through pride and self-righteousness do not confess your faults, you will be left subject to Satan’s temptations. If when the Lord reveals your errors you do not repent or make confession, his providence will bring you over the ground again and again. You will be left to make mistakes of a similar character, you will continue to lack wisdom, and will call sin righteousness, and righteousness sin. The multitude of deceptions that will prevail in these last days will encircle you, and you will change leaders, and not know that you have done so.” Review and Herald, December 16, 1890.

> „Ako ustrajete u tvrdokornosti srca te zbog oholosti i samopravednosti ne priznajete svoje pogreške, ostat ćete podložni Sotoninim kušnjama. Ako se, kada vam Gospod otkrije vaše zablude, ne pokajete niti ih ne ispovjedite, njegova će vas providnost iznova i iznova voditi preko istoga tla. Bit ćete prepušteni tome da činite pogreške slične naravi, i dalje će vam nedostajati mudrosti te ćete grijeh nazivati pravednošću, a pravednost grijehom. Mnoštvo prijevara koje će prevladavati u ovim posljednjim danima opkolit će vas, i promijenit ćete vođe, a da nećete ni znati da ste to učinili.” Review and Herald, 16. prosinca 1890.

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