Course 1, Chapter 50: Preparation for the Messiah — History of the Machabees. (A. C. 170.)

1. What is the history of the Machabees?

The history of the Machabees is the history of the Jews during the latter period which preceded the Messiah. As the family of the Machabees acted the most conspicuous part during that period, it gave its name to the history of the whole people.

2. What does this history teach us?

This history teaches us that God did not, for a moment, cease to prepare the Gentiles and the Jews for the coming of the Redeemer. The dispersion of the Jews and meirlong sojourn atNinive and Babylon, with their voyages in the East and West after the conquests of Alexander, had every where spread UM

130 CATECHISM OF PERSEVERANCE.

knowledge of their religion, the fundamental article of which was the expectation of the Messiah. In order to maintain and strengthen this knowledge, Providence permitted, during the three last centuries which preceded the coming of the Messiah, that the Gentiles should have continued intercourse with the Jews, and that they should be witnesses of prodigies well calculated to make them know the true God.

3. Can you cite one of these prodigies?

Seleucus, king of Syria, wished to carry away the treasures of the temple of Jerusalem. He sent Heliodorus, superintendent of his treasure, to seize upon them. When Heliodorus entered the temple^two angels, in the guise of horsemen, overthrew his guards and compelled them to fly.

4. What happened to Heliodorus?

Heliodorus was stricken to the ground, and scourged with rods, and his life was spared through the prayers of the high priest Onias.

5. What was the effect of this miracle?

It made the God of Israel more than ever known and respected. Heliodorus, humbled and reformed, returned from Jerusalem, publishing every where the power of the true God.

6. How did God prepare the Jews themselves for the near approach of the Messiah?

God prepared the Jews themselves for the near approach of the Messiah, by sending them constant trials; for trials and sufferings serve to purify, humble and sanctify us, — and then obtain for us the grace to know and love the truth.

7. What were these trials?

These trials were the continual wars waged against them by the kings of Syria, and by the Romans. The Jews, however, were more faithful than ever to God. There were even many martyrs among them. under Antiochus, who endeavored to destroy religion entirely in Judea.

8. Who were the principal martyrs?

The principal were Eleazar, and the seven broth ers, Machabees, with their mother.

9. What did the blood of the martyrs effect?

The blood of the martyrs caused the Jews to avoid the company of infidels, to love their own religion, and cherish their faith, which every day be came more lively. If the Pharisees had not deceive 1 them, by teaching them to look for a Messiah who would be a great conqueror, they would have recognized and received the true Messiah, and not drawn upon themselves the terrible chastisements with which they have been visited for more than eighteen hundred years.