Page:The Last Judgement and Second Coming of the Lord Illustrated.djvu/87

 the spiritual history, which we are endeavouring to illustrate. The passages quoted above plainly speak of the Lord's combat against the spiritual enemies of Himself and His people, and also of His triumphs in the battle. The same facts are referred to in Joel, under images of a somewhat similar character: thus, "Put ye in the sickle, for the harvest is ripe: come, get you down; for the press is full, the fats overflow; for their wickedness is great. Multitudes, multitudes in the valley of decision; for the day of the Lord is near in the valley of decision." Some of the teachings of this prophet are expressly spoken of by Peter, as referring: to events which distinguished the Lord's advent. The reality of His spiritual combats, triumphs, and consequent judgment, is pointed at by several circumstances recorded of Him during His personal presence in the world. It is written, "The Spirit driveth Him into the wilderness, and He was there in the wilderness forty days tempted of Satan; and was with the wild beasts: and the angels ministered unto Him. Here, by "the Spirit," "Satan," and "the wild beasts," are clearly denoted evil spirits of various sorts; and this temptation is said to have taken place in the wilderness, because by such a tract of solitude and savageness is represented the desolation and misery to which humanity was reduced. That it was a transaction having special reference to the spiritual world is evident, not only from the circumstance of "the Spirit," and "Satan," being named, but also from the concluding statement, which informs us that "the angels ministered unto Him." Again we read, "the devil taketh Him up into the holy city, and setteth Him on a pinnacle of the temple, and saith unto Him, If Thou be the Son of God, cast Thyself down: for it is written, He shall give His angels