Article

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

Joels Bog og den laodikeiske syvendedags adventistkirke – nummer tre

A Vineyard of Red Wine

En vingård med rød vin

Author

Jeff Pippenger

Published

December 3, 2025

Formats

PDF
Word
Song MP3

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?”

Vi afsluttede den foregående artikel med spørgsmålet: »Når disse begreber er på plads, kan spørgsmålet stilles: Hvordan kunne det være, at Joels Bog ved 9/11 blev det budskab, som Peter identificerede ved pinsen?«

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.”

Peter påpegede, at Joel blev opfyldt på pinsedagen, hvilket er et tidspunkt, der markerer afslutningen på pinsetiden. I pinsetiden var der en manifestation af Helligånden i begyndelsen og derefter en større manifestation af Helligånden ved afslutningen. Ved i tro at forstå, at både Bibelen og Profetiens Ånd anvender Joel på den sildige regns tid, kan vi vide, at Joels bog blev nærværende sandhed den 11. september; og at hvert element i bogen vil tale direkte om den profetiske historie, der begynder den 11. september og fortsætter helt frem til og med de syv sidste plager, som Joel betegner som “Herrens dag.”

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.

Som forudskygget i 1888 blev fremstillingen af det laodikeiske budskab på 9/11 den nærværende prøvende sandhed. Esajas fremstiller det samme budskab i kapitel otteoghalvtreds med basunrøsten, der viser Guds folk deres overtrædelser. Den „dag“, hvor Esajas begynder at lade sin røst lyde som en basun, er den samme dag, han synger vingårdens sang.

> 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.

> På den dag skal I synge om hende: En vingård med rød vin. Jeg, Herren, vogter den; hvert øjeblik vander jeg den; for at ingen skal skade den, vogter jeg den nat og dag. Vrede er ikke i mig; hvem vil sætte tjørn og torne op imod mig i kamp? Jeg ville gå lige igennem dem, jeg ville brænde dem op alle sammen. Eller lad ham gribe fat i min styrke, så han kan slutte fred med mig; ja, han skal slutte fred med mig. Dem, der kommer af Jakob, skal han lade slå rod; Israel skal blomstre og skyde knop og fylde verdens flade med frugt. Esajas 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.

Det moderne åndelige „Israel skal blomstre og skyde knop og fylde verdens ansigt med frugt“ i tiden for den sildige regn, for den tidlige regn forårsager en plantes knopskydning og blomstring, og den sildige regn frembringer frugten. Da bygningerne i New York styrtede sammen den 11. september, steg den mægtige engel i Åbenbaringen atten ned, og den sildige regn begyndte at falde som et let dryp. På den tid skulle Guds vægtere støde i basun for den laodikeiske menighed. Esajas’ budskab, som identificerer Guds folks synder, er også sangen om vingården med den røde vin. Joels første kapitel er netop dette budskab.

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

> Herrens ord, som kom til Joel, Pethuels søn.

> 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.

> Hør dette, I gamle mænd, og lyt, alle I landets indbyggere. Er dette sket i eders dage eller i eders fædres dage? Fortæl det til eders børn, og lad eders børn fortælle det til deres børn, og deres børn til en anden slægt.

> 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.

> Det, som græshoppen har levnet, har den vingede græshoppe fortæret; og det, som den vingede græshoppe har levnet, har krebseormen fortæret; og det, som krebseormen har levnet, har larven fortæret.

> 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.

> Vågn op, I drukkenbolte, og græd; og hyl, alle I vindrikkere, over den nye vin; thi den er afskåret fra jeres mund.

> 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.

> For et folk er draget op over mit land, stærkt og uden tal; dets tænder er som løvens tænder, og det har kindtænder som en stor løve. Det har lagt min vinstok øde og afbarket mit figentræ; det har gjort det helt nøgent og kastet det bort; dets grene er blevet hvide. Klag som en jomfru, der er omgjordet med sækkelærred, over sin ungdoms ægtemand. Afgrødeofferet og drikofferet er afskåret fra Herrens hus; præsterne, Herrens tjenere, sørger. Marken er ødelagt, landet sørger; for kornet er ødelagt, den nye vin er tørret bort, olien vansmægter.

> 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.

> Skam jer, I agerdyrkere; hyl, I vingårdsmænd, over hveden og over byggen, fordi markens høst er gået til grunde. Vinstokken er tørret ind, og figentræet vansmægter; granatæbletræet, også palmetræet og æbletræet, ja alle markens træer, er visnet bort; thi glæden er visnet bort fra menneskenes børn.

> 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.

> Omgjord jer og sørg, I præster; hyl, I alterets tjenere; kom, tilbring natten i sæk og aske, I min Guds tjenere; thi afgrødeofferet og drikofferet er tilbageholdt fra eders Guds hus. Helliger en faste, udråb en højtidelig forsamling, saml de ældste og alle landets indbyggere i Herren eders Guds hus, og råb til Herren: Ak for dagen! thi Herrens dag er nær, og som en ødelæggelse fra den Almægtige skal den komme. Er ikke føden bortskåret for vore øjne, ja, fryd og glæde fra vor Guds hus? Sæden er rådnet under sine jordknolde, forrådskamrene ligger øde, laderne er nedbrudte; thi kornet er visnet. Hvorledes sukker dyrene! Kvæghjordene er forvirrede, fordi de ikke har græsgang; ja, fåreflokkene er gjort øde.

> 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.

> Herre, til dig vil jeg råbe; thi ilden har fortæret ørkenens græsgange, og flammen har opbrændt alle markens træer. Også markens dyr råber til dig; thi vandløbene er tørret ud, og ilden har fortæret ørkenens græsgange. 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.

Joels første kapitel omhandler ødelæggelsen af Guds vingård. Esajas fastslår, at „hin dag“ er den dag, hvor den sildige regn begynder, for planterne begynder på den dag at blomstre og skyde knop. Det forhold, at Esajas oplyser os om, at Guds folk skal „slå rod“, „blomstre og skyde knop“ og fylde jorden med „frugt“, fremstiller en fremadskridende historie i tre trin. En plante slår „rod“ i jorden. At „slå rod“ betyder derfor at stå på jorden, som er stueetagen eller grundvolden. De, som „udgår af Jakob“, „slår rod“, og derefter kaldes de „Israel“. De, som kommer ud af den laodikeiske erfaring, kaldes derefter filadelfiere, skønt det at bevare den erfaring kræver sejr i en prøveproces, som ender ved søndagsloven.

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.

Det profetiske forhold mellem Jakob, (bedrageren) og Israel, (sejrsherren), identificerer, at ved 9/11 træder de, som „slår rod“, ved at vende tilbage til grundvoldene, dér og da ind i et pagtsforhold. Profetisk er et navneskifte et symbol på en pagt, som fremstillet ved Abram til Abraham, Saraj til Sara, Jakob til Israel og andre. I verset trådte de, som ved 9/11 vendte tilbage til de gamle grundlæggende sandheder, ind i et pagtsforhold, idet regnen begyndte at frembringe blomster og knopper. Ved søndagsloven vil hele verden blive fyldt med „frugt“, idet regnen da udgydes uden mål.

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.

Esajas må stemme overens med Esajas, og naturligvis med alle de øvrige profeter, men Esajas skal opløfte sin røst som en basun og vise de laodikæiske syvendedagsadventister deres synder i sammenhæng med vingårdens sang. Den sang blev sunget af Jesus i lignelsen om vingården. Vingården fik ham til at græde, da Han for sidste gang før korset skuede ud over Jerusalem, vel vidende at det gamle Israel havde nået afslutningen på deres prøvetid og blev forbigået som Guds pagtfolk. Samtidig indgik Kristus en pagt med et folk, som ville frembringe de rette frugter fra Guds vingård. Hvad enten det er fortællingen om vingården hos Josva i begyndelsen eller hos Jesus til sidst, var de, som blev det nye pagtfolk, et forbillede på de hundrede og fireogfyrre tusind.

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

Kristus talte om Esajas’ profeti om vingården, således som også Søster White gør.

> “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.

> „Lignelsen om vingården gælder ikke alene den jødiske nation. Den har en lære for os. Menigheden i denne generation er af Gud blevet betroet store privilegier og velsignelser, og Han forventer tilsvarende afkast.“ Christ’s Object Lessons, 296.

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

Det er lærerigt at læse det afsnit, som leder frem til den sidste udtalelse fra Profetiens Ånd.

> “Chapter 23—The Lord’s Vineyard

> „Kapitel 23—Herrens vingård“

> “The Jewish Nation

> “Den jødiske nation”

> “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.

> Lignelsen om de to sønner blev efterfulgt af lignelsen om vingården. I den ene havde Kristus stillet lydighedens betydning frem for de jødiske lærere. I den anden pegede Han på de rige velsignelser, der var blevet skænket Israel, og viste deri Guds krav på deres lydighed. Han fremstillede for dem herligheden i Guds hensigt, som de ved lydighed kunne have opfyldt. Idet Han løftede sløret for fremtiden, viste Han, hvordan hele nationen ved ikke at opfylde Hans hensigt gik glip af Hans velsignelse og bragte ødelæggelse over sig selv.

> “‘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.’

> “‘Der var en husbond,’ sagde Kristus, ‘som plantede en vingård og satte hegn om den og gravede en vinperse i den og byggede et tårn og forpagtede den bort til vingårdsmænd og drog til et land langt borte.’”

> “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.

> „En beskrivelse af denne vingård gives af profeten Esajas: ‘Nu vil jeg synge for min elskede en sang om min elskedes vingård. Min elskede havde en vingård på en meget frugtbar høj; og han indhegnede den og ryddede stenene bort derfra og beplantede den med de ædleste vinstokke og byggede et tårn midt i den og huggede også en perse deri; og han ventede, at den skulle bære druer.’ Esajas 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.

> Landmanden vælger et stykke jord fra ødemarken; han indhegner, rydder og bearbejder det og tilplanter det med udsøgte vinstokke i forventning om en rig høst. Af dette jordstykke, i dets overlegenhed over for den udyrkede ødemark, forventer han, at det skal bringe ham ære ved at vise resultaterne af hans omsorg og møje ved dets dyrkning. Således havde Gud udvalgt et folk fra verden til at blive oplært og undervist af Kristus. Profeten siger: »Hærskarers Herres vingård er Israels hus, og Judas mænd er Hans liflige plantning.« Esajas 5:7. Over dette folk havde Gud skænket store privilegier og rigt velsignet dem af sin overstrømmende godhed. Han så hen til, at de skulle ære Ham ved at bære frugt. De skulle åbenbare principperne for Hans rige. Midt i en falden, ond verden skulle de repræsentere Guds 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.

> Som Herrens vingård skulle de frembringe frugt, helt forskellig fra hedningefolkenes. Disse afgudsdyrkende folk havde hengivet sig til at øve ondskab. Vold og forbrydelse, griskhed, undertrykkelse og de mest fordærvede handlinger blev hengivet sig til uden nogen tøjle. Uretfærdighed, fornedrelse og elendighed var den fordærvede trees frugter. I skarp modsætning hertil skulle den frugt være, som blev båret på den vinstok, Gud havde plantet.

> “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.

> „Det var den jødiske nations privilegium at repræsentere Guds karakter, således som den var blevet åbenbaret for Moses. Som svar på Moses’ bøn: ‘Lad mig se din herlighed,’ lovede Herren: ‘Jeg vil lade al min godhed gå forbi dig.’ 2 Mosebog 33:18, 19. ‘Og Herren gik forbi foran ham og råbte: Herren, Herren Gud, barmhjertig og nådig, sen til vrede og rig på miskundhed og sandhed, som bevarer miskundhed mod tusinder, tilgiver skyld og overtrædelse og synd.’ 2 Mosebog 34:6, 7. Dette var den frugt, som Gud ønskede af sit folk. I deres karakters renhed, i deres livs hellighed, i deres barmhjertighed og kærlige godhed og medfølelse skulle de vise, at ‘Herrens lov er fuldkommen, den kvæger sjælen.’ Salme 19:8.“

> “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.

> “Gennem den jødiske nation var det Guds hensigt at meddele alle folkeslag rige velsignelser. Gennem Israel skulle vejen beredes for udbredelsen af Hans lys til hele verden. Verdens nationer havde ved at følge fordærvede skikke mistet kundskaben om Gud. Dog udslettede Gud dem i Sin barmhjertighed ikke fra tilværelsen. Han havde til hensigt at give dem anledning til at lære Ham at kende gennem Sin menighed. Han bestemte, at de principper, som var blevet åbenbaret gennem Hans folk, skulle være midlet til at genoprette Guds moralske billede i mennesket.”

> “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.

> „Det var for fuldbyrdelsen af denne hensigt, at Gud kaldte Abraham bort fra hans afgudsdyrkende slægtninge og bød ham at bo i Kana’ans land. ‚Jeg vil gøre dig til et stort folk,‘ sagde Han, ‚og jeg vil velsigne dig og gøre dit navn stort; og du skal blive til velsignelse.‘ 1 Mosebog 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.

> Abrahams efterkommere, Jakob og hans afkom, blev ført ned til Egypten, for at de midt iblandt dette store og ugudelige folk kunne åbenbare principperne for Guds rige. Josefs retsindighed og hans vidunderlige gerning med at bevare hele det egyptiske folks liv var en fremstilling af Kristi liv. Moses og mange andre var vidner for Gud.

> “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.

> „Da Herren førte Israel ud af Egypten, åbenbarede Han på ny sin magt og sin miskundhed. Hans underfulde gerninger i deres udfrielse fra trældommen og Hans handlemåde med dem på deres vandring gennem ørkenen var ikke alene til gavn for dem selv. Disse skulle tjene som anskuelsesundervisning for de omkringliggende folkeslag. Herren åbenbarede sig som en Gud, der står over al menneskelig myndighed og storhed. De tegn og undere, Han gjorde til gavn for sit folk, viste Hans magt over naturen og over de største blandt dem, som tilbad naturen. Gud gik gennem det stolte land Egypten, således som Han vil gå gennem jorden i de sidste dage. Med ild og storm, jordskælv og død genløste den store JEG ER sit folk. Han førte dem ud af trældommens land. Han ledte dem gennem den ‘store og frygtelige ørken, hvor der var giftige slanger og skorpioner og tørke.’ 5 Mosebog 8:15. Han lod vand strømme frem til dem af ‘flinteklippen’ og mættede dem med ‘himmelens korn.’ Salme 78:24. ‘Thi,’ sagde Moses, ‘Herrens del er Hans folk; Jakob er loddet af Hans arv. Han fandt ham i et ørkenland og i den øde, hylende ørken; Han ledte ham omkring, Han underviste ham, Han bevarede ham som sin øjesten. Som en ørn opvækker sit bo, svæver over sine unger, udbreder sine vinger, tager dem, bærer dem på sine vinger: således ledte Herren ham alene, og ingen fremmed gud var med ham.’ 5 Mosebog 32:9–12. Således førte Han dem til sig, for at de kunne bo under den Højestes skygge.“

> “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.

> Kristus var Israels børns fører under deres ørkenvandring. Indhyllet i skystøtten om dagen og ildsøjlen om natten ledte og vejledte Han dem. Han bevarede dem fra ørkenens farer, Han førte dem ind i forjættelsens land, og for øjnene af alle de folkeslag, som ikke anerkendte Gud, grundfæstede Han Israel som Sin egen udvalgte ejendom, Herrens vingård.

> “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.

> „Til dette folk blev Guds ord betroet. De var omgærdet af Hans lovs forskrifter, de evige principper om sandhed, retfærdighed og renhed. Lydighed mod disse principper skulle være deres beskyttelse, for den ville frelse dem fra at ødelægge sig selv ved syndige handlinger. Og ligesom tårnet i vingården satte Gud sit hellige tempel midt i landet.“

> “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.

> Kristus var deres lærer. Som Han havde været hos dem i ørkenen, således skulle Han stadig være deres lærer og vejleder. I tabernaklet og templet boede Hans herlighed i den hellige shekina over nådestolen. For deres skyld åbenbarede Han uophørligt rigdommen af sin kærlighed og tålmodighed.

> “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.

> Gud ønskede at gøre sit folk Israel til en pris og en herlighed. Enhver åndelig fordel blev givet dem. Gud undlod ikke at give dem noget, der kunne fremme den karakterdannelse, som ville gøre dem til repræsentanter for Ham.

> “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.

> Deres lydighed mod Guds lov ville gøre dem til undere af fremgang for verdens nationer. Han, som kunne give dem visdom og dygtighed i al slags kunstfærdigt arbejde, ville fortsat være deres lærer og ville adle og ophøje dem gennem lydighed mod Hans love. Hvis de var lydige, ville de blive bevaret fra de sygdomme, som hjemsøgte andre nationer, og ville blive velsignet med åndskraft. Guds herlighed, Hans majestæt og magt, skulle åbenbares i al deres fremgang. De skulle være et kongerige af præster og fyrster. Gud udrustede dem med enhver mulighed for at blive den største nation på jorden.

> “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.

> „På den mest utvetydige måde havde Kristus gennem Moses stillet Guds hensigt frem for dem og gjort betingelserne for deres fremgang klare. ‘Du er et helligt folk for Herren din Gud,’ sagde Han; ‘Herren din Gud har udvalgt dig til at være et ejendomsfolk for sig selv frem for alle folkene på jordens overflade…. Derfor skal du vide, at Herren din Gud, Han er Gud, den trofaste Gud, som holder pagt og miskundhed mod dem, der elsker Ham og holder Hans bud, i tusind slægtled…. Derfor skal du holde de bud og de forskrifter og de lovbud, som jeg i dag påbyder dig, så du gør efter dem. Og det skal ske, dersom I lytter til disse lovbud og holder dem og gør efter dem, at Herren din Gud vil holde den pagt og den miskundhed mod dig, som Han tilsvor dine fædre; og Han vil elske dig og velsigne dig og gøre dig talrig; Han vil også velsigne dit moderlivs frugt og dit lands frugt, dit korn og din vin og din olie, forøgelsen af dit hornkvæg og dit småkvægs yngel, i det land, som Han tilsvor dine fædre at give dig. Du skal være velsignet frem for alle folk…. Og Herren vil tage al sygdom bort fra dig og ikke lægge nogen af Egyptens onde sygdomme, som du kender, på dig.’ 5 Mosebog 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.

> Hvis de ville holde hans bud, lovede Gud at give dem det fineste af hveden og lade dem få honning af klippen. Med et langt liv ville han mætte dem og lade dem se sin frelse.

> “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.

> „Ved ulydighed mod Gud havde Adam og Eva mistet Eden, og på grund af synden blev hele jorden forbandet. Men hvis Guds folk fulgte Hans anvisning, ville deres land blive genoprettet til frugtbarhed og skønhed. Gud selv gav dem forskrifter med hensyn til jordens dyrkning, og de skulle samarbejde med Ham om dens genoprettelse. Således ville hele landet, under Guds herredømme, blive en anskuelsesundervisning i åndelig sandhed. Ligesom jorden i lydighed mod Hans naturlove skulle frembringe sine skatte, således skulle folkets hjerter i lydighed mod Hans morallov genspejle egenskaberne i Hans karakter. Selv hedningerne ville erkende overlegenheden hos dem, der tjente og tilbad den levende Gud.״

> “‘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.

> “‘Se,’ sagde Moses, ‘jeg har lært jer vedtægter og domme, således som Herren min Gud har befalet mig, for at I skal handle derefter i det land, som I drager ind i for at tage det i besiddelse. Hold derfor dem og gør efter dem; thi dette er jeres visdom og jeres forstand i folkenes øjne, som skal høre alle disse vedtægter og sige: Sandelig, dette store folk er et vist og forstandigt folk. For hvilket folk er så stort, at det har Gud så nær hos sig, som Herren vor Gud er i alle de ting, vi påkalder Ham om? Og hvilket folk er så stort, at det har vedtægter og domme så retfærdige som hele denne lov, som jeg i dag forelægger jer?’ 5 Mosebog 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.

> „Israels børn skulle tage hele det område i besiddelse, som Gud havde anvist dem. De folkeslag, der forkastede tilbedelsen og tjenesten for den sande Gud, skulle drives bort. Men det var Guds hensigt, at mennesker ved åbenbaringen af Hans karakter gennem Israel skulle drages til Ham. Til hele verden skulle evangeliets indbydelse gives. Gennem undervisningen om offertjenesten skulle Kristus ophøjes for nationerne, og alle, som ville se hen til Ham, skulle leve. Alle, der ligesom Rahab, kana’anæeren, og Ruth, moabitten, vendte sig fra afgudsdyrkelse til tilbedelsen af den sande Gud, skulle slutte sig til Hans udvalgte folk. Efterhånden som Israels tal voksede, skulle de udvide deres grænser, indtil deres rige kom til at omfatte verden.״

> “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.

> Gud ønskede at føre alle folk ind under sit barmhjertige herredømme. Han ønskede, at jorden skulle fyldes med glæde og fred. Han skabte mennesket til lykke, og han længes efter at fylde menneskehjerterne med himlens fred. Han ønsker, at familierne hernede skal være et symbol på den store familie deroppe.

> “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.

> “Men Israel opfyldte ikke Guds hensigt. Herren erklærede: ‘Jeg havde plantet dig som en ædel vinstok, helt igennem af ægte sæd; hvordan er du da blevet forvandlet til den for Mig forvildede plante af en fremmed vinstok?’ Jeremias 2:21. ‘Israel er en tom vinstok, han bærer frugt for sig selv.’ Hoseas 10:1. ‘Og nu, I Jerusalems indbyggere og Judas mænd, døm, beder jeg jer, mellem Mig og Min vingård. Hvad kunne der være gjort mere ved Min vingård, som jeg ikke har gjort ved den? Hvorfor bar den vilde druer, da jeg ventede, at den skulle bære vindruer? Og nu velan, jeg vil kundgøre jer, hvad jeg vil gøre ved Min vingård: Jeg vil tage dens hegn bort, så den bliver afgnavet; og nedbryde dens mur, så den bliver nedtrådt; og jeg vil lægge den øde; den skal ikke beskæres eller hakkes, men tjørn og torne skal skyde op i den; jeg vil også befale skyerne, at de ikke lader regn falde på den. For … Han ventede ret, men se, blodig uret; retfærdighed, men se, nødskrig.’ Esajas 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.

> „Herren havde ved Moses stillet følgerne af utroskab frem for sit folk. Ved at nægte at holde hans pagt ville de afskære sig selv fra Guds liv, og hans velsignelse kunne ikke komme over dem. ‘Tag dig i agt,’ sagde Moses, ‘at du ikke glemmer Herren din Gud, så du undlader at holde hans bud og hans lovbud og hans forskrifter, som jeg i dag påbyder dig; for at ikke, når du har spist og er blevet mæt, og har bygget smukke huse og bor i dem, og når dit hornkvæg og dit småkvæg formerer sig, og dit sølv og dit guld bliver mangfoldiggjort, og alt, hvad du ejer, bliver mangfoldiggjort, da dit hjerte skal ophøje sig, og du glemmer Herren din Gud…. Og du siger i dit hjerte: Min kraft og min hånds styrke har skaffet mig denne rigdom…. Og det skal ske, dersom du helt glemmer Herren din Gud og følger andre guder og dyrker dem og tilbeder dem, så vidner jeg imod jer i dag, at I visselig skal gå til grunde. Som de folk, Herren udrydder for jeres åsyn, således skal I gå til grunde, fordi I ikke ville adlyde Herren jeres Guds røst.’ 5 Mosebog 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.

> Advarslen blev ikke agtet af det jødiske folk. De glemte Gud og mistede deres høje privilegium som Hans repræsentanter af syne. De velsignelser, de havde modtaget, bragte ingen velsignelse til verden. Alle deres fortrin tilegnede de sig til deres egen forherligelse. De berøvede Gud den tjeneste, Han krævede af dem, og de berøvede deres medmennesker religiøs vejledning og et helligt eksempel. Ligesom indbyggerne i den antediluvianske verden fulgte de enhver deres onde hjertes indskydelse. Således fik de hellige ting til at fremstå som en farce, idet de sagde: ‘Herrens tempel, Herrens tempel, Herrens tempel er dette’ (Jeremias 7,4), mens de samtidig forvanskede Guds karakter, vanærede Hans navn og besmittede Hans helligdom.

> “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.

> ”Vinbønderne, som var blevet sat til at have tilsyn med Herrens vingård, var utro imod det hverv, der var betroet dem. Præsterne og lærerne var ikke trofaste vejledere for folket. De holdt ikke Guds godhed og barmhjertighed frem for dem og heller ikke hans krav på deres kærlighed og tjeneste. Disse vinbønder søgte deres egen ære. De ønskede at tilegne sig vingårdens frugter. Det var deres stræben at drage opmærksomhed og hyldest til sig selv.״

> “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.

> Skylden hos disse ledere i Israel var ikke som den almindelige synders skyld. Disse mænd stod under den mest højtidelige forpligtelse over for Gud. De havde forpligtet sig til at lære et »Så siger Herren« og til at føre streng lydighed ind i deres praktiske liv. I stedet for at gøre dette forvanskede de Skrifterne. De lagde tunge byrder på menneskene og håndhævede ceremonier, som rakte ind i hvert skridt i livet. Folket levede i stadig uro, for de kunne ikke opfylde de krav, som rabbinerne havde fastsat. Da de så umuligheden af at holde menneskeskabte bud, blev de ligegyldige med hensyn til Guds bud.

> “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.

> Herren havde undervist sit folk om, at Han var vingårdens ejer, og at alle deres ejendele var betroet dem til forvaltning, så de kunne bruges for Ham. Men præsterne og lærerne udførte ikke deres hellige embeds gerning, som om de forvaltede Guds ejendom. De berøvede Ham systematisk de midler og muligheder, der var betroet dem til fremme af Hans værk. Deres begærlighed og griskhed gjorde, at de blev foragtet endog af hedningerne. Således fik hedningeverdenen anledning til at mistolke Guds karakter og Hans riges love.

> “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.

> Med en faders hjerte bar Gud over med sit folk. Han bønfaldt dem ved nådegaver, som blev givet, og nådegaver, som blev taget bort. Tålmodigt holdt Han deres synder frem for dem og ventede i langmodighed på deres erkendelse. Profeter og sendebud blev udsendt for at gøre Guds krav gældende over for vingårdsdyrkerne; men i stedet for at blive budt velkommen blev de behandlet som fjender. Vingårdsdyrkerne forfulgte og dræbte dem. Gud sendte endnu andre sendebud, men de blev modtaget på samme måde som de første, blot således at vingårdsdyrkerne viste et endnu mere beslutsomt had.

> “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.

> „Som sidste udvej sendte Gud sin Søn og sagde: ‘De vil have ærbødighed for min Søn.’ Men deres modstand havde gjort dem hævngerrige, og de sagde indbyrdes: ‘Dette er arvingen; kom, lad os slå Ham ihjel, og lad os tage Hans arv i besiddelse.’ Så vil vi blive ladt tilbage til at nyde vingården og gøre med frugten, som det behager os.“

> “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.

> De jødiske ledere elskede ikke Gud; derfor afskar de sig selv fra Ham og forkastede alle Hans henvendelser om et retfærdigt forlig. Kristus, Guds Elskede, kom for at gøre vingårdens ejers krav gældende; men vingårdsmændene behandlede Ham med åbenlys foragt og sagde: Vi vil ikke have, at denne mand skal herske over os. De misundte Kristus Hans skønhed i karakteren. Hans måde at undervise på var langt deres overlegen, og de frygtede Hans fremgang. Han foreholdt dem deres forhold, afdækkede deres hykleri og viste dem de visse følger af deres handlemåde. Dette drev dem til vanvid. De sved under de irettesættelser, som de ikke kunne bringe til tavshed. De hadede den høje retfærdighedsstandard, som Kristus bestandig fremholdt. De så, at Hans lære stillede dem dér, hvor deres selviskhed ville blive blotlagt, og de besluttede at slå Ham ihjel. De hadede Hans eksempel på sanddruhed og gudsfrygt og den ophøjede åndelighed, som blev åbenbaret i alt, hvad Han gjorde. Hele Hans liv var en bebrejdelse mod deres selviskhed, og da den endelige prøve kom, den prøve som betød lydighed til evigt liv eller ulydighed til evig død, forkastede de Israels Hellige. Da de blev bedt om at vælge mellem Kristus og Barabbas, råbte de: »Løslad os Barabbas!« Luk. 23,18. Og da Pilatus spurgte: »Hvad skal jeg da gøre med Jesus?« råbte de rasende: »Lad Ham blive korsfæstet.« Matt. 27,22. »Skal jeg korsfæste jeres konge?« spurgte Pilatus, og fra præsterne og lederne kom svaret: »Vi har ingen anden konge end kejseren.« Joh. 19,15. Da Pilatus vaskede sine hænder og sagde: »Jeg er uskyldig i denne retfærdiges blod,« sluttede præsterne sig til den uvidende hob og erklærede lidenskabeligt: »Hans blod komme over os og over vore børn.« Matt. 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.

> „Således traf de jødiske ledere deres valg. Deres beslutning blev optegnet i den bog, som Johannes så i hånden på Ham, der sad på tronen, den bog, som ingen kunne åbne. I al sin hævngerrighed vil denne beslutning træde frem for dem på den dag, da denne bog åbnes af Løven af Judas stamme.״

> “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.

> Det jødiske folk nærede den forestilling, at de var himlens yndlinge, og at de altid skulle ophøjes som Guds menighed. De var Abrahams børn, erklærede de, og så fast syntes grundlaget for deres fremgang dem, at de trodsede jord og himmel til at berøve dem deres rettigheder. Men ved et liv i utroskab beredte de sig til himlens fordømmelse og til adskillelse fra Gud.

> “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.’

> "I lignelsen om vingården, efter at Kristus havde fremstillet for præsterne deres kulminerende ugudelige handling, stillede Han dem spørgsmålet: 'Når da vingårdens herre kommer, hvad vil han så gøre ved disse vinbønder?' Præsterne havde fulgt beretningen med dyb interesse, og uden at overveje emnets forhold til dem selv stemte de sammen med folket i svaret: 'Han vil på ynkelig vis ødelægge disse onde mænd og bortforpagte sin vingård til andre vinbønder, som vil give Ham frugterne i deres tider.'"

> “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!’

> „Uforvarende havde de udtalt deres egen dom. Jesus så på dem, og under Hans ransagende blik vidste de, at Han læste deres hjertes hemmeligheder. Hans guddom lyste frem for dem med umiskendelig kraft. De så i vingårdsmændene et billede af sig selv, og uvilkårligt udbrød de: ‘Gud forbyde det!’“

> “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.’

> Højtideligt og bedrøvet spurgte Kristus: »Har I aldrig læst i Skrifterne: Den sten, som bygningsmændene forkastede, den er blevet hovedhjørnesten; dette er Herrens gerning, og det er underfuldt i vore øjne? Derfor siger jeg eder: Guds rige skal tages fra eder og gives til et folk, som bærer dets frugter. Og den, som falder på denne sten, skal sønderbrydes; men den, som den falder på, ham skal den knuse til støv.«

> “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.

> „Kristus ville have afvendt den jødiske nations undergang, hvis folket havde taget imod Ham. Men misundelse og skinsyge gjorde dem uforsonlige. De besluttede, at de ikke ville tage imod Jesus fra Nazaret som Messias. De forkastede verdens Lys, og fra da af var deres liv omgivet af mørke som midnatens mørke. Den forudsagte undergang kom over den jødiske nation. Deres egne voldsomme lidenskaber, uden tøjle, voldte deres ruin. I deres blinde raseri ødelagde de hinanden. Deres oprørske, hårdnakkede hovmod bragte deres romerske erobreres vrede over dem. Jerusalem blev ødelagt, templet lagt i ruiner, og dets sted pløjet som en mark. Judas børn omkom under de mest frygtelige former for død. Millioner blev solgt for at tjene som trælle i hedenske lande.

> “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.

> „Som folk havde jøderne svigtet i at opfylde Guds hensigt, og vingården blev taget fra dem. De privilegier, de havde misbrugt, det værk, de havde ringeagtet, blev betroet til andre.״

> “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.

> „Lignelsen om vingården gælder ikke kun den jødiske nation. Den indeholder en lærdom for os. Menigheden i denne generation er af Gud blevet begavet med store privilegier og velsignelser, og Han forventer et tilsvarende udbytte.“ Christ’s Object Lessons, s. 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.

Joels bog identificerer den sildige regns historie ved verdens ende. Det sildige regn er Guds sidste advarselsbudskab fra den tredje engel i Johannes’ Åbenbaring fjorten. Skønt det sildige regn repræsenterer den tredje engels budskab, repræsenterer det også kommunikationsprocessen mellem Guddommen og menneskeheden, således som den symboliseres ved Zakarias’ gyldne olie, det tidlige og det sildige regn, ilden fra alteret og andre fremstillinger. Det sildige regn er ikke blot et budskab og kommunikationsprocessen mellem Gud og mennesket, men det er også den eneste helligede „metodologi“ for bibelstudium, som opretholdes i Guds Ord. Denne metodologi er Esajas’ „linje på linje“, som findes i kapitel otteogtyve.

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.

Ved begyndelsen af det gamle såvel som det moderne Israel førte Gud, „vingårdsmændet“, Israel „ud af ørkenen“. Hvad enten det var fangenskabet på fire hundrede og tredive år i Egypten eller Mørketidernes fangenskab fra 538 til 1798, blev Israel ført ud af „ørkenen“, for en „ørken“ er et symbol på slaveri og fangenskab. Hvad enten det gjaldt det gamle bogstavelige Israel eller det moderne åndelige Israel, udfriede Gud dem af et ørkenfangenskab og „grundfæstede“ dem „som sin egen udvalgte ejendom, Herrens vingård“, kaldet til at være præster og fyrster, som „blev betroet“ det privilegium at repræsentere „Guds ord“. „Guds ord“ var for det gamle Israel Loven og for det moderne Israel både Loven og profetierne.

> “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.

> „Gud har kaldet sin menighed i denne tid, ligesom han kaldte det gamle Israel, til at stå som et lys på jorden. Ved sandhedens mægtige kløv har han ved den første, den anden og den tredje engels budskaber skilt dem fra kirkerne og fra verden for at bringe dem ind i en hellig nærhed til sig selv. Han har gjort dem til betroede forvaltere af sin lov og har overdraget dem profetiens store sandheder for denne tid. Ligesom de hellige gudsord, der blev betroet det gamle Israel, er disse en hellig tillidssag, som skal meddeles til verden. De tre engle i Åbenbaringen 14 repræsenterer det folk, som tager imod lyset fra Guds budskaber og går frem som hans sendebud for at lade advarslen lyde over hele jordens længde og bredde.“ Testimonies, bind 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.

Det moderne Israel blev forordnet til at forkynde den tredje engels høje råb under den sene regns kraft, samtidig med at de i deres personlige erfaring åbenbarede Kristi karakter under Helligåndens kraft. Den tredje engels høje råb opfyldes under udgydelsen af den sene regn, i en tid, hvor et falskt budskab om fred og tryghed som den sene regn fremmes af en klasse af mænd, der er berusede af Babylons vin. Disse er Esajas’ Efraims drukkenbolte og Joels vindrikkere, som den nye vin er afskåret fra deres mund. De, som modtager det sande budskab om den sene regn, fremstilles ved Daniel, Mishael, Hananja og Azarja, som forkastede den babyloniske føde til fordel for himmelsk kost. Disse er de et hundrede og fireogfyrre tusinde, som synger Moses’ og Lammets sang, men også vingårdens sang, for lignelsen om vingården blev opfyldt i Moses’ historie ved begyndelsen af det gamle Israels pagtforhold, og den blev opfyldt igen ved afslutningen af det gamle Israels pagtforhold i Lammets historie.

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.

Vingårdens sang afsluttes med, at et tidligere pagtsfolk bliver gået forbi, når et nyt pagtsfolk bliver viet til Herren. Herren gik forbi dem, som døde under den fyrreårige ørkenvandring, og indgik pagt med Josva netop på samme tid, som han skilte sig fra dem, der skulle dø. Herren skilte sig fra det gamle Israel netop på samme tid, som Han ægtede den kristne kirke. Alfaen eller begyndelseshistorien er repræsenteret ved Moses, og omegaen er repræsenteret ved Lammet. Den historie, som de begge repræsenterer, er vingårdslignelsens historie; således er Esajas’ sang om vingården Johannes Åbenbarerens sang om Moses og Lammet.

We will continue these thoughts in the next article.

Vi vil fortsætte disse tanker i den næste artikel.

> “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.

> "Dette er ikke Søster Whites ord, men Herrens ord, og hans sendebud har givet dem til mig for, at jeg skal give dem til jer. Gud kalder jer til ikke længere at arbejde imod ham. Der blev givet megen undervisning med hensyn til mænd, som gør krav på at være kristne, mens de åbenbarer Satans egenskaber og i ånd, ord og handling modarbejder sandhedens fremgang og visselig følger den vej, hvor Satan leder dem. I deres hjertes hårdhed har de taget en myndighed til sig, som på ingen måde tilhører dem, og som de ikke bør udøve. Den store Lærer siger: 'Jeg vil omstyrte, omstyrte, omstyrte.' Mænd siger i Battle Creek: 'Herrens tempel, Herrens tempel er vi,' men de bruger almindelig ild. Deres hjerter er ikke blødgjort og underlagt ved Guds nåde." Manuscript Releases, bind 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.

> „Guds tålmodighed har et formål, men I modarbejder det. Han tillader, at en tilstand udvikler sig, som I gerne sidenhen ville ønske blev modvirket, men da vil det være for sent. Gud befalede Elias at salve den grusomme og svigefulde Hazael til konge over Syrien, for at han kunne være en svøbe for det afgudsdyrkende Israel. Hvem ved, om Gud ikke vil overgive jer til de vildfarelser, I elsker? Hvem ved, om ikke de prædikanter, der er trofaste, faste og sande, kan være de sidste, som vil frembære fredens evangelium for vore utaknemmelige menigheder? Det kan være, at ødelæggerne allerede oplæres under Satans hånd og kun venter på, at endnu nogle få fanebærere skal gå bort, for at indtage deres pladser og med den falske profets røst råbe: ‘Fred, fred,’ når Herren ikke har talt fred. Jeg græder sjældent, men nu mærker jeg, at mine øjne sløres af tårer; de falder på mit papir, mens jeg skriver. Det kan være, at al profeti iblandt os snart vil være til ende, og at den røst, som har vakt folket, ikke længere vil forstyrre deres kødelige slummer.“

> “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.

> "Når Gud skal udføre sit sælsomme værk på jorden, når hellige hænder ikke længere bærer arken, da skal ve være over folket. Å, om du dog havde kendt, ja, du, på denne din dag, de ting, som hører til din fred! Å, måtte vort folk, ligesom Nineve gjorde, omvende sig af al deres magt og tro af hele deres hjerte, så Gud må vende sin brændende vrede bort fra dem." Testimonies, bind 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.

> „Hvis du hengiver dig til hjertets stædighed og på grund af stolthed og egenretfærdighed ikke bekender dine fejl, vil du blive overladt til Satans fristelser. Hvis du, når Herren åbenbarer dine fejl, ikke angrer eller aflægger bekendelse, vil hans forsyn føre dig over den samme grund igen og igen. Du vil blive overladt til at begå fejl af lignende karakter, du vil fortsat mangle visdom og vil kalde synd retfærdighed og retfærdighed synd. De mange bedrag, som vil få overtaget i disse sidste dage, vil omslutte dig, og du vil skifte fører og ikke vide, at du har gjort det.“ Review and Herald, 16. december 1890.

Back to Articles