Page 121 - Satan in the Sanctuary

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pasian, the emperor, and lucrative property back in the
holy land. He then (about A.D. 75) set down the public
relations material we have been quoting, calling the work
The Wars of the Jews.
Back in Jerusalem there was desolation, but faithful
Jews still resided there and in the surrounding country-
side. There were basic changes in Judaism then that pre-
vail to our present time and will prevail until the Tribula-
tion Temple is in use. The rabbi replaced the priest, the
local synagogue replaced the Temple; and particularly,
sacrifice was discontinued because of the lack of a fitting
setting.
For two generations peace prevailed.
Then came Hadrian, one of the most brilliant of the
Roman emperors. Like King David, he was a most ac-
complished artist, a good singer and dancer, and a player
of the harp. He wrote well, prose and poetry, and is gener-
ally conceded to have been a competent, tactful admin-
istrator of the enormous Roman Empire.
But he had quirks.
Hadrian was a passionate Panhellenist who resented the
Jews and their detested offspring, Christianity.
He calculated that the infestation of monotheism ema-
nated from Jerusalem, and he determined, like so many
before him, to obliterate the name of that city from hu-
man memory.
His was not the method of military might. He was more
thorough.
He changed the name of the holy city to Aeolia Capi-
tolina and set out to make it a showplace of Roman cul-
ture and religion.
And he sent his builders to construct the Temple of
Jupiter on God's holy mountain.