"Ye would not." Jerusalem had been the city of Jehovah's love from the time of King David. He found it necessary to send His prophets to the city in times of unfaithfulness to Him and His Word, but alas, they scourged some, stoned some and killed others. Finally God sent His Son. He labored in the city ministering grace and truth; He performed many wonderful miracles; He sought to win the people to Himself, but, alas, they said "This is the Heir, come and let us kill Him that the inheritance may be ours." The response of the Lord Jesus to their rejection of Him is revealed in His words in Matthew 23:37: "O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, thou that killest the prophets and stonest them which are sent unto thee, how often would I have gathered thy children together, even as a hen gathereth her chickens under her wings, and ye would not!" In Luke 19:41, it is revealed that because of this, "He beheld the city, and wept over it." What compassion was seen in Him! What sorrow when that compassion was despised and rejected! But such is His compassion and sorrow today over any and all who though hearing His call fail to respond to His love. Is it still said of you, "Ye would not"?

"Your house is left unto you desolate." These words of Christ, uttered with tears in His eyes, spell out the inevitable result of rejecting Him (Matt. 23:38). In Luke 19:43,44, He said, "The days shall come upon thee, that thine enemies shall cast a trench about thee, and compass thee round and keep thee in on every side, and shall lay thee even with the ground, and thy children within thee; and they shall not leave in thee one stone upon another; because thou knewest not the time of thy visitation." History records the literal fulfillment of the Lord's words concerning Jerusalem. Scripture records the awful end of those who go out into eternity having spurned the Saviour's love and grace. Jesus said, "If ye believe not that I Am He, ye shall die in your sins" (John 8:24), and "There shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth" (Luke 13:28). Will this be your desolation"?

"Ye shall say, blessed!" (Matt. 23:39). The future for Jerusalem is bright. After the dark days of the tribulation, when the city will be ravished by the nations called up by Jehovah to battle, the Lord Himself will go forth and fight against her enemies (Zech. 14:2,3). The remnant of Israel, preserved through the tribulation will see His wounds, repent and be converted. Jerusalem—the city of Peace—will shout, "Blessed is He that cometh in the name of the Lord!" The Lord Jesus will take His rightful place as "King over all the earth: in that day there shall be one Lord and His Name One" (Zech. 14:9). "And in that day living waters shall go out from Jerusalem . . . And men shall dwell in it, and there shall be no more utter destruction; but Jerusalem shall be safely inhabited" (Zech. 14:8,11).

Then shall it be as told by Zephaniah the prophet in Zephaniah 3:14,15: "Sing O daughter of Zion; Shout, O Israel; be glad and rejoice with all the heart, O daughter of Jerusalem. The Lord hath taken away thy judgments, He hath cast out thine enemy: the King of Israel, even the Lord, is in the midst of thee: thou shalt not see evil any more."