No Stone Left on Another
Stones and Buildings
The prophecies of Jsus regarding the abomination of desolation begin with the focus on the stones and buildings of the Temple.
Matt. 24:1 And Jsus went out from the Temple, and was going on his way; and his disciples came to him to show him the buildings of the Temple.
Mark 13:1 And as he went forth out of the Temple, one of his disciples saith unto him, Teacher, behold, what manner of stones and what manner of buildings!
Luke 21:5 And as some spake of the Temple, how it was adorned with goodly stones and decorations, he said,
Destruction of Temple
The specific topic of the prophecy is the destruction of the Temple.
Matt. 24:2 But he answered and said unto them, See ye not all these things? verily I say unto you, There shall not be left here one stone upon another, that shall not be thrown down.
Mark 13:2 And Jsus said unto him, Seest thou these great buildings? there shall not be left here one stone upon another, which shall not be thrown down.
Luke 21:6 As for these things which ye behold, the days will come, in which there shall not be left here one stone upon another, that shall not be thrown down.
FULFILLED: August 70 AD
In August 70 AD, the Romans burnt the Temple and all the buildings around it so that no stone of the Temple was left upon another.
“Now, as soon as the army had no more people to slay or to plunder, because there remained none to be objects of their fury (for they would not have spared any, had there remained any other such work to be done) Caesar gave orders that they should now demolish the entire city and Temple, but should leave as many of the towers standing as were of the greatest eminency; that is, Phasaelus, and Hippicus, and Mariamne, and so much of the wall as enclosed the city on the west side. This wall was spared, in order to afford a camp for such as were to lie in garrison; as were the towers also spared, in order to demonstrate to posterity what kind of city it was, and how well fortified, which the Roman valor had subdued; but for all the rest of the wall, it was so thoroughly laid even with the ground by those that dug it up to the foundation, that there was left nothing to make those that came thither believe it had ever been inhabited. This was the end which Jerusalem came to by the madness of those that were for innovations; a city otherwise of great magnificence, and of mighty fame among all mankind.”
——Josephus, The Jewish War, Book 7, Chapter 1, Section 1, Written c. 75 AD.
“And I cannot but wish that we had all died before we had seen that holy city demolished by the hands of our enemies, or the foundations of our holy Temple dug up after so profane a manner.”
——Josephus, The Jewish War, Book 7, Chapter 8, Section 7, Written c. 75 AD.
“And now the Romans, judging that it was in vain to spare what was round about the holy house, burnt all those places, as also the remains of the cloisters, and the gates, two excepted; the one on the east side, and the other on the south; both which, however, they burnt afterward. They also burnt down the treasury chambers, in which was an immense quantity of money, and an immense number of garments, and other precious goods, there reposited; and to speak all in a few words, there it was that the entire riches of the Jews were heaped up together, while the rich people had there built themselves chambers [to contain such furniture].”
——Josephus, The Jewish War, Book 6, Chapter 5, Section 2, Written c. 75 AD.
“And now the Romans, upon the flight of the rebels into the city, and upon the burning of the holy house itself, and of all the buildings round about it, brought their ensigns to the Temple, and set them over against its eastern gate; and there did they offer sacrifices to them, and there did they make Titus imperator, with the greatest acclamations of joy.”
——Josephus, The Jewish War, Book 6, Chapter 6, Section 1, Written c. 75 AD.
The Romans burnt the Temple in August 70 AD on the same day of the year as when the Babylonians had burnt the Temple in 586 BC, on the 10th day of the 5th month (August).
“So Titus retired into the tower of Antonia, and resolved to storm the Temple the next day, early in the morning, with his whole army, and to encamp round about the holy house; but, as for that house, Gd had for certain long ago doomed it to the fire; and now that fatal day was come, according to the revolution of ages; it was the 10th day of the month Lous [Ab; 5th month], upon which it was formerly burnt by the king of Babylon.”
——Josephus, The Jewish War, Book 6, Chapter 4, Section 5, Written c. 75 AD.
“However, one cannot but wonder at the accuracy of this period thereto relating; for the same month and day were now observed, as I said before, wherein the holy house was burnt formerly by the Babylonians.”
——Josephus, The Jewish War, Book 6, Chapter 4, Section 5, Written c. 75 AD.
When Destroyed?
The first question the disciples ask Jsus is when the Temple will be destroyed.
Matt. 24:3a And as he sat on the mount of Olives, the disciples came unto him privately, saying, Tell us, when shall these things be?
Mark 13:3-4a And as he sat on the mount of Olives over against the Temple, Peter and James and John and Andrew asked him privately, Tell us, when shall these things be?
Luke 21:7a And they asked him, saying, Teacher, when therefore shall these things be?
The meaning of “these things” refers back to “no stone left upon another,” which refers to the destruction of the Temple.
These things = No stone left upon another = Destruction of the Temple
What Sign?
The second question the disciples ask Jsus is what the sign will be when the Temple is about to be destroyed.
These things = No stone left upon another = Destruction of the Temple = Your coming = The end of the age
Mark 13:4b And what shall be the sign when these things are all about to be accomplished?
Luke 21:7b And what shall be the sign when these things are about to come to pass?
Matt. 24:3b And what shall be the sign of thy coming, and of the end of the age?
False christs
Jsus answers these two questions by describing the specific events that will lead up to the destruction of the Temple.
Jsus says that many false christs will come saying that they are the Savior.
Matt. 24:4-5 And Jsus answered and said unto them, Take heed that no man lead you astray. For many shall come in my name, saying, I am the Chrst; and shall lead many astray.
Mark 13:5-6 And Jsus began to say unto them, Take heed that no man lead you astray. Many shall come in my name, saying, I am he; and shall lead many astray.
Luke 21:8 And he said, Take heed that ye be not led astray: for many shall come in my name, saying, I am he; and, The time is at hand: go ye not after them.
FULFILLED: within 30-70 AD
Acts 8:9-11 But there was a certain man, Simon by name, who beforetime in the city used sorcery, and amazed the people of Samaria, giving out that himself was some great one: to whom they all gave heed, from the least to the greatest, saying, This man is that power of Gd which is called Great. And they gave heed to him, because that of long time he had amazed them with his sorceries.
“After Chrst’s ascension into heaven the devils put forward certain men who said that they themselves were gods; and they were not only not persecuted by you, but even deemed worthy of honours. There was a Samaritan, Simon, a native of the village called Gitto, who in the reign of Claudius Cæsar [41-54 AD], and in your royal city of Rome, did mighty acts of magic, by virtue of the art of the devils operating in him. He was considered a god, and as a god was honoured by you with a statue, which statue was erected on the river Tiber, between the two bridges, and bore this inscription, in the language of Rome: — Simoni Deo Sancto, To Simon the holy god. And almost all the Samaritans, and a few even of other nations, worship him, and acknowledge him as the first god.”
——Justin Martyr, First Apology, Chapter 26, Written 156 AD.
“He [Simon] represented himself, in a word, as being the loftiest of all powers, that is, the Being who is the Father Over All, and he allowed himself to be called by whatsoever title men were pleased to address him.”
——Irenaeus, Against Heresies, Book 1, Chapter 23, Written 180 AD.
“For since the angels ruled the world ill because each one of them coveted the principal power for himself, he [Simon] had come to amend matters, and had descended, transfigured and assimilated to powers and principalities and angels, so that he might appear among men to be a man, while yet he was not a man; and that thus he was thought to have suffered in Judæa, when he had not suffered.”
——Irenaeus, Against Heresies, Book 1, Chapter 23, Written 180 AD.
“To those I betake myself who have chosen to make the gospel the starting-point of their heresies. Of these the first of all is Simon Magus, who in the Acts of the Apostles earned a condign and just sentence from the Apostle Peter. He had the hardihood to call himself the Supreme Virtue, that is, the Supreme Gd; and moreover, that the universe had been originated by his angels; that he had descended in quest of an erring dæmon, which was Wisdom; that, in a phantasmal semblance of Gd, he had not suffered among the Jews, but was as if he had suffered.”
——Pseudo-Tertullian, Against All Heresies, Chapter 1, Written c. 300-350 AD.
“The successor of this man [Simon] was Menander, also a Samaritan by birth, and he too was a perfect adept in the practice of magic. He affirms that the primary Power continues unknown to all, but that he himself is the person who has been sent forth from the presence of the invisible beings as a saviour, for the deliverance of men. The world was made by angels, whom, like Simon, he maintains to have been produced by Ennœa. He gives, too, as he affirms, by means of that magic which he teaches, knowledge to this effect, that one may overcome those very angels that made the world; for his disciples obtain the resurrection by being baptized into him, and can die no more, but remain in the possession of immortal youth.”
——Irenaeus, Against Heresies, Book 1, Chapter 23, Written 180 AD.
“Menander, who succeeded Simon Magus, showed himself in his conduct another instrument of diabolical power, not inferior to the former. He also was a Samaritan and carried his sorceries to no less an extent than his teacher had done, and at the same time reveled in still more marvelous tales than he. For he said that he was himself the Savior, who had been sent down from invisible aeons for the salvation of men.”
——Eusebius, Church History, Book 3, Chapter 26, Written 312-324 AD.
“After him [Simon] Menander, his disciple [likewise a magician], saying the same as Simon. Whatever Simon had affirmed himself to be, this did Menander equally affirm himself to be, asserting that none could possibly have salvation without being baptized in his name.”
——Pseudo-Tertullian, Against All Heresies, Chapter 1, Written c. 300-350 AD.
Wars and Rumors of Wars
Jsus says that there will be wars and rumors of wars.
Matt. 24:6-7a And ye shall hear of wars and rumors of wars; see that ye be not troubled: for these things must needs come to pass; but the end is not yet. For nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom;
Mark 13:7-8a And when ye shall hear of wars and rumors of wars, be not troubled: these things must needs come to pass; but the end is not yet. For nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom;
Luke 21:9 And when ye shall hear of wars and tumults, be not terrified: for these things must needs come to pass first; but the end is not immediately. Then said he unto them, Nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom;
FULFILLED: within 30-70 AD
“Titus went from Gischala to Cesarea; Vespasian from Cesarea to Jamnia and Azotus, and took them both; and when he had put garrisons into them he came back with a great number of the people, who were come over to him, upon his giving them his right hand for their preservation. There were besides disorders and civil wars in every city; and all those that were at quiet from the Romans turned their hands one against another. There was also a bitter contest between those that were fond of war, and those that were desirous of peace.”
——Josephus, The Jewish War, Book 4, Chapter 3, Section 2, Written c. 75 AD.
“I begin my work with the second consulship of Servius Galba [69 AD], when Titus Vinius was his colleague.”
——Tacitus, Histories, Book 1, Chapter 1, Written c. 105 AD.
“The history on which I am entering is that of a period rich in disasters, terrible with battles, torn by civil struggles, horrible even in peace. Four emperors fell by the sword; there were three civil wars, more foreign wars, and often both at the same time. There was success in the East, misfortune in the West. Illyricum was disturbed, the Gallic provinces wavering, Britain subdued and immediately let go. The Sarmatae and Suebi rose against us; the Dacians won fame by defeats inflicted and suffered; even the Parthians were almost roused to arms through the trickery of a pretended Nero. Moreover, Italy was distressed by disasters unknown before or returning after the lapse of ages. Cities on the rich fertile shores of Campania were swallowed up or overwhelmed; Rome was devastated by conflagrations, in which her most ancient shrines were consumed and the very Capitol fired by citizens’ hands.”
——Tacitus, Histories, Book 1, Chapter 2, Written c. 105 AD.
“At the close of the year, rumour brought the disturbing news that the Parthians had again broken out and were pillaging Armenia after expelling Radamistus; who, often master of the kingdom, then a fugitive, had now once more abandoned the struggle.”
——Tacitus, Annals, Book 13, Chapter 6, Written c. 115 AD.
“In the midst of these popular discussions, Nero gave orders that both the recruits levied in the adjacent provinces to keep the eastern legions at strength were to be moved up, and the legions themselves stationed closer to Armenia; while the two veteran kings, Agrippa and Antiochus, prepared their forces, so as to take the initiative by crossing the Parthian frontier.”
——Tacitus, Annals, Book 13, Chapter 7, Written c. 115 AD.
Earthquakes and Famines
Jsus says that there will be earthquakes and famines.
Matt. 24:7b and there shall be famines and earthquakes in divers places. But all these things are the beginning of travail.
Mark 13:8b there shall be earthquakes in divers places; there shall be famines: these things are the beginning of travail.
Luke 21:11 and there shall be great earthquakes, and in divers places famines and pestilences; and there shall be terrors and great signs from heaven.
FULFILLED: within 30-70 AD
“For there broke out a prodigious storm in the night, with the utmost violence, and very strong winds, with the largest showers of rain, with continual lightnings, terrible thunderings, and amazing concussions and bellowings of the earth, that was in an earthquake. These things were a manifest indication that some destruction was coming upon men, when the system of the world was put into this disorder; and anyone would guess that these wonders foreshowed some grand calamities that were coming. Now the opinion of the Idumeans and of the citizens was one and the same. The Idumeans thought that Gd was angry at their taking arms, and that they would not escape punishment for their making war upon their metropolis. Ananus [died 68 AD] and his party thought that they had conquered without fighting, and that Gd acted as a general for them.”
——Josephus, The Jewish War, Book 4, Chapter 4, Sections 5-6, Written c. 75 AD.
“Many prophetic signs occurred during the year. Ominous birds took their seat on the Capitol; houses were overturned by repeated shocks of earthquake, and, as the panic spread, the weak were trampled underfoot in the trepidation of the crowd. A shortage of corn, again, and the famine which resulted, were construed as a supernatural warning. Nor were the complaints always whispered. Claudius [41-54 AD], sitting in judgement, was surrounded by a wildly clamorous mob, and, driven into the farthest corner of the Forum, was there subjected to violent pressure, until, with the help of a body of troops, he forced a way through the hostile throng. It was established that the capital had provisions for 15 days, no more.”
——Tacitus, Annals, Book 12, Chapter 43, Written c. 115 AD.
Acts 11:27 Now in these days there came down prophets from Jerusalem unto Antioch. And there stood up one of them named Agabus, and signified by the Spirit that there should be a great famine over all the world: which came to pass in the days of Claudius [41-54 AD].
Persecution of Christians
Jsus says that Christians will be persecuted.
Matt. 24:9-13 Then shall they deliver you up unto tribulation, and shall kill you: and ye shall be hated of all the nations for my name’s sake. And then shall many stumble, and shall deliver up one another, and shall hate one another. And many false prophets shall arise, and shall lead many astray. And because iniquity shall be multiplied, the love of the many shall wax cold. But he that endureth to the end, the same shall be saved.
Mark 13:9 But take ye heed to yourselves: for they shall deliver you up to councils; and in synagogues shall ye be beaten; and before governors and kings shall ye stand for my sake, for a testimony unto them.
Mark 13:11-13 And when they lead you to judgment, and deliver you up, be not anxious beforehand what ye shall speak: but whatsoever shall be given you in that hour, that speak ye; for it is not ye that speak, but the Holy Spirit. And brother shall deliver up brother to death, and the father his child; and children shall rise up against parents, and cause them to be put to death. And ye shall be hated of all men for my name’s sake: but he that endureth to the end, the same shall be saved.
Luke 21:12-19 But before all these things, they shall lay their hands on you, and shall persecute you, delivering you up to the synagogues and prisons, bringing you before kings and governors for my name’s sake. It shall turn out unto you for a testimony. Settle it therefore in your hearts, not to meditate beforehand how to answer: for I will give you a mouth and wisdom, which all your adversaries shall not be able to withstand or to gainsay. But ye shall be delivered up even by parents, and brethren, and kinsfolk, and friends; and some of you shall they cause to be put to death. And ye shall be hated of all men for my name’s sake. And not a hair of your head shall perish. In your patience ye shall win your souls.
FULFILLED: within 30-70 AD
Acts 5:17-18 But the high priest rose up, and all they that were with him (which is the sect of the Sadducees), and they were filled with jealousy, and laid hands on the apostles, and put them in public prison.
Acts 5:27-28 And when they had brought them, they set them before the council. And the high priest asked them, saying, We strictly charged you not to teach in this name: and behold, ye have filled Jerusalem with your teaching, and intend to bring this man’s blood upon us.
Acts 5:40-41 And to him they agreed: and when they had called the apostles unto them, they beat them and charged them not to speak in the name of Jsus, and let them go. They therefore departed from the presence of the council, rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer dishonor for the Name.
Acts 7:59 – 8:1 And they stoned Stephen, calling upon the Lord, and saying, Lrd Jsus, receive my spirit. And he kneeled down, and cried with a loud voice, Lord, lay not this sin to their charge. And when he had said this, he fell asleep. And Saul was consenting unto his death. And there arose on that day a great persecution against the church which was in Jerusalem; and they were all scattered abroad throughout the regions of Judaea and Samaria, except the apostles.
Acts 12:1-3 Now about that time Herod the king put forth his hands to afflict certain of the church. And he killed James the brother of John with the sword. And when he saw that it pleased the Jews, he proceeded to seize Peter also. And those were the days of unleavened bread.
Acts 18:12 But when Gallio was proconsul of Achaia, the Jews with one accord rose up against Paul and brought him before the judgment-seat.
1Th. 2:14-15 For ye, brethren, became imitators of the churches of Gd which are in Judaea in Chrst Jsus: for ye also suffered the same things of your own countrymen, even as they did of the Jews; who both killed the Lrd Jsus and the prophets, and drove us out, and please not Gd, and are contrary to all men.
“Therefore, to scotch the rumour, Nero [54-68 AD] substituted as culprits, and punished with the utmost refinements of cruelty, a class of men, loathed for their vices, whom the crowd styled Christians. Chrstus, the founder of the name, had undergone the death penalty in the reign of Tiberius, by sentence of the procurator Pontius Pilatus, and the pernicious superstition was checked for a moment, only to break out once more, not merely in Judaea, the home of the disease, but in the capital itself, where all things horrible or shameful in the world collect and find a vogue. First, then, the confessed members of the sect were arrested; next, on their disclosures, vast numbers were convicted, not so much on the count of arson as for hatred of the human race. And derision accompanied their end: they were covered with wild beasts’ skins and torn to death by dogs; or they were fastened on crosses, and, when daylight failed were burned to serve as lamps by night.”
——Tacitus, Annals, Book 15, Chapter 44, Written c. 115 AD.
Gospel Preached to All Nations
Jsus says the gospel will be preached to all nations before the destruction of Jerusalem.
Mat 24:14 And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in the whole world for a testimony unto all the nations; and then shall the end come.
The end = The end of the age = These things = No stone left upon another = Destruction of the Temple
Mark 13:10 And the gospel must first be preached unto all the nations.
The meaning of “the end” is the same meaning as the parallel passages below that equate “these things” (no stone left upon another) with the end of the age.
These things = No stone left upon another = Destruction of the Temple = Your coming = The end of the age
Luke 21:7b And what shall be the sign when these things are about to come to pass?
Matt. 24:3b And what shall be the sign of thy coming, and of the end of the age?
FULFILLED: within 30-70 AD
Peter Preaching to Every Nation Under Heaven
Peter preached the gospel to Jews and proselytes from all over the whole world on the day of Pentecost c. 30 AD.
Acts 2:5 Now there were dwelling at Jerusalem Jews, devout men, from every nation under heaven. And when this sound was heard, the multitude came together, and were confounded, because that every man heard them speaking in his own language. And they were all amazed and marvelled, saying, Behold, are not all these that speak Galilaeans? And how hear we, every man in our own language wherein we were born? Parthians and Medes and Elamites, and the dwellers in Mesopotamia, in Judaea and Cappadocia, in Pontus and Asia, in Phrygia and Pamphylia, in Egypt and the parts of Libya about Cyrene, and sojourners from Rome, both Jews and proselytes, Cretans and Arabians, we hear them speaking in our tongues the mighty works of Gd.
Acts 2:41 Then they that received his word were baptized: and there were added unto them in that day about 3,000 souls.
Paul
Paul wrote that the Christian faith had been proclaimed throughout the whole world.
Rom. 1:8 First, I thank my Gd through Jsus Chrst for you all, that your faith is proclaimed throughout the whole world.
Col. 1:23 if so be that ye continue in the faith, grounded and stedfast, and not moved away from the hope of the gospel which ye heard, which was preached in all creation under heaven; whereof I Paul was made a minister.
Rom. 16:25-26 Now to him that is able to establish you according to my gospel and the preaching of Jsus Chrst, according to the revelation of the mystery which hath been kept in silence through times eternal, but now is manifested, and by the scriptures of the prophets, according to the commandment of the eternal Gd, is made known unto all the nations unto obedience of faith.
Col. 1:5-6 because of the hope which is laid up for you in the heavens, whereof ye heard before in the word of the truth of the gospel, which is come unto you; even as it is also in all the world bearing fruit and increasing, as it doth in you also, since the day ye heard and knew the grace of Gd in truth.
Rom. 10:17-18 So belief cometh of hearing, and hearing by the word of Chrst. But I say, Did they not hear? Yea, verily, Their sound went out into all the earth, And their words unto the ends of the world.
1Tim. 3:16 And without controversy great is the mystery of godliness; He who was manifested in the flesh, Justified in the spirit, Seen of angels, Preached among the nations, Believed on in the world, Received up in glory.
Acts 19:9b-10 And he [Paul] set apart the disciples, reasoning daily in the school of Tyrannus. And this continued for the space of 2 years; so that all they that dwelt in Asia heard the word of the Lrd, both Jews and Greeks.
“For the Jews after the ascension of our Savior, in addition to their crime against him, had been devising as many plots as they could against his apostles. First Stephen was stoned to death by them, and after him James, the son of Zebedee and the brother of John, was beheaded, and finally James, the first that had obtained the episcopal seat in Jerusalem after the ascension of our Savior, died in the manner already described. But the rest of the apostles, who had been incessantly plotted against with a view to their destruction, and had been driven out of the land of Judea, went to all nations to preach the Gospel, relying upon the power of Chrst, who had said to them, ‘Go ye and make disciples of all the nations in my name.'”
——Eusebius, Church History, Book 3, Chapter 5, Written 312-324 AD.
Roman Armies Surrounding Jerusalem
Jsus says the pagan Roman armies are the abomination that will make Jerusalem desolate. Therefore, an abomination of desolation is a pagan people that makes Jerusalem desolate.
In Matthew and Mark, Jsus uses the symbolic language of “abomination of desolation.”
In Luke, Jsus uses the literal language of “armies” and “enemies” that will make Jerusalem desolate and leave “not one stone left upon another.”
Matt. 24:15 Therefore, when ye see the abomination of desolation, which was spoken of through Daniel the prophet, standing in the holy place (let him that readeth understand),
Mark 13:14a But when ye see the abomination of desolation standing where he ought not (let him that readeth understand),
Luke 21:20 But when ye see Jerusalem compassed with armies, then know that her desolation is at hand.
Luke 19:41-44 And when he drew nigh, he saw the city [Jerusalem] and wept over it, saying, If thou hadst known in this day, even thou, the things which belong unto peace! but now they are hid from thine eyes. For the days shall come upon thee, when thine enemies shall cast up a bank about thee, and compass thee round, and keep thee in on every side, and shall dash thee to 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.
Jsus says the abomination of desolation (the Roman armies) that will destroy Jerusalem is the same abomination of desolation that Daniel the prophet spoke about.
Matt. 24:15 Therefore, when ye see the abomination of desolation, which was spoken of through Daniel the prophet, standing in the holy place (let him that readeth understand),
The book of Daniel mentions three different abominations of desolations:
1) Pagan Greeks during the Greek Seleucid Empire (Dan. 8:11-14; 11:31);
2) Pagan Roman armies shortly after the Anointed Ruler makes a covenant, is killed, and puts an end to sin (Dan. 9:26-27);
3) Muslim Arabs during the early Muslim conquests (Dan. 12:11).
When Jsus mentioned the abomination of desolation in Matthew, the abomination of desolation regarding the pagan Greeks had already occurred, and the one regarding the Muslim Arabs was hundreds of years in the future.
Therefore, the abomination of desolation that Jsus mentions in Matthew is the abomination of desolation regarding the pagan Roman armies because it is the one that occurs shortly after Jsus the Anointed Ruler is killed and puts an end to sin.
The abomination of desolation regarding the pagan Roman armies is the abomination of desolation spoken of by Gabriel when he told Daniel that the:
1) People of the coming ruler will desolate Jerusalem and the Temple,
2) One who makes desolate will come on the wing of abominations.
Dan. 9:26 And after the 62 weeks shall the Anointed One be cut off, but not for himself. And the city and the sanctuary shall be destroyed with the Ruler who is coming, and its end with a flood. And until the end of the determined war shall be desolations.
Dan. 9:27 And he shall confirm a covenant with many for 1 week and half a week. And he shall cause the sacrifice and the oblation to cease, and upon the wing of the abomination of desolation. And until the determined end pours out on the desolate.
FULFILLED: 66 AD
“But now Cestius [Roman Army Commander], observing that the disturbances that were begun among the Jews afforded him a proper opportunity to attack them, took his whole army along with him, and put the Jews to flight, and pursued them to Jerusalem. He then pitched his camp upon the elevation called Scopus, which was distance 7 furlongs from the city; yet did he not assault them in 3 days’ time, out of expectation that those within might perhaps yield a little; and in the meantime he sent out a great many of his soldiers into neighboring villages, to seize upon their corn; and on the 4th day, which was the 30th of the month Hyperbereteus [Tisri], when he put his army in array, he brought it into the city [Jerusalem].”
——Josephus, The Jewish War, Book 2, Chapter 19, Section 4, Written c. 75 AD.
“But when Cestius was come into the city [Jerusalem], he set the part called Bezetha, which is also called Cenopolis, on fire; as he did also to the timber market; after which he came into the upper city, and pitched his camp over against the royal palace; and had he but at this very time attempted to get within the walls by force, he had won the city presently, and the war had been put an end to at once.”
——Josephus, The Jewish War, Book 2, Chapter 19, Section 4, Written c. 75 AD.
“Thus the Romans made their attack against the wall for 5 days, but to no purpose. But on the next day, Cestius took a great many of his choicest men, and with them the archers, and attempted to break into the Temple at the northern quarter of it; but the Jews beat them off from the cloisters, and repulsed them several times when they were gotten near to the wall, till at length the multitude of the darts cut them off, and made them retire.”
——Josephus, The Jewish War, Book 2, Chapter 19, Section 5, Written c. 75 AD.
“It then happened that Cestius was not conscious either how the besieged despaired of success, nor how courageous the people were for him; and so he recalled his soldiers from the place, and by despairing of any expectation of taking it, without having received any disgrace, he retired from the city, without any reason in the world. That when the robbers perceived this unexpected retreat of his, they resumed their courage, and ran after the hinder parts of his army, and destroyed a considerable number of both their horsemen and footmen.”
——Josephus, The Jewish War, Book 2, Chapter 19, Section 7, Written c. 75 AD.
“How at last the abomination of desolation, proclaimed by the prophets, stood in the very Temple of Gd, so celebrated of old, the Temple which was now awaiting its total and final destruction by fire — all these things any one that wishes may find accurately described in the history written by Josephus.”
——Eusebius, Church History, Book 3, Chapter 5, Written 312-324 AD.
“And now the Romans, upon the flight of the rebels into the city, and upon the burning of the holy house itself, and of all the buildings round about it, brought their ensigns to the Temple, and set them over against its eastern gate; and there did they offer sacrifices to them, and there did they make Titus imperator, with the greatest acclamations of joy.”
——Josephus, The Jewish War, Book 6, Chapter 6, Section 1, Written c. 75 AD.
Christians Fleeing Judea
Jsus says that the Christians should flee from Judea when they see the Roman armies surrounding Jerusalem.
Matt. 24:16-20 then let them that are in Judea flee unto the mountains: let him that is on the housetop not go down to take out the things that are in his house: and let him that is in the field not return back to take his cloak. But woe unto them that are with child and to them that give suck in those days! And pray ye that your flight be not in the winter, neither on a sabbath:
Mark 13:14b-18 then let them that are in Judea flee unto the mountains: and let him that is on the housetop not go down, nor enter in, to take anything out of his house: and let him that is in the field not return back to take his cloak. But woe unto them that are with child and to them that give suck in those days! And pray ye that it be not in the winter.
Luke 21:21-23a Then let them that are in Judea flee unto the mountains; and let them that are in the midst of her depart out; and let not them that are in the country enter therein. For these are days of vengeance, that all things which are written may be fulfilled. Woe unto them that are with child and to them that give suck in those days!
FULFILLED: 66-68 AD
“After this calamity had befallen Cestius [in 66 AD], many of the most eminent of the Jews swam away from the city, as from a ship when it was going to sink.”
——Josephus, The Jewish War, Book 2, Chapter 20, Section 1, Written c. 75 AD.
“But the people of the church in Jerusalem had been commanded by a revelation, vouchsafed to approved men there before the war, to leave the city and to dwell in a certain town of Perea called Pella. And when those that believed in Chrst had come thither from Jerusalem, then, as if the royal city of the Jews and the whole land of Judea were entirely destitute of holy men, the judgment of Gd at length overtook those who had committed such outrages against Chrst and his apostles, and totally destroyed that generation of impious men.”
——Eusebius, Church History, Book 3, Chapter 5, Written 312-324 AD.
“This sect of Nazarenes is to be found in Beroea near Coelesyria, in the Decapolis near Pella, and in Bashanitis at the place called Cocabe—Khokhabe in Hebrew. For that was its place of origin, since all the disciples had settled in Pella after their removal from Jerusalem—Chrst having told them to abandon Jerusalem and withdraw from it because of the siege it was about to undergo. And they settled in Peraea for this reason and, as I said, lived their lives there. It was from this that the Nazarenes sect had its origin.”
——Epiphanius, Panarion, Book 1, Chapter 29, Section 7, Written 375 AD.
“For since practically all who had come to faith in Chrst had settled in Perea then, in Pella, a town in the ‘Decapolis’ the Gospel mentions, which is near Batanaea and Basanitis, as they had moved there then and were living there, this provided an opportunity for Ebion. And as far as I know, he first lived in a village called Cocabe in the district of Qarnaim — also called Ashtaroth — in Basanitis. There he began his evil teaching — the place, if you please, where the Nazarenes I have spoken of came from.”
——Epiphanius, Panarion, Book 1, Chapter 30, Section 2, Written 375 AD.
Greatest Tribulation Ever for the Jews
Jsus says that starting near the time the Roman armies surround Jerusalem will be the greatest tribulation ever for the Jews.
Matt. 24:21 for at that time shall be great tribulation, such as hath not been from the beginning of the world until now, no, nor ever shall be.
At that time = Those days = Time of Roman armies surrounding Jerusalem
Mark 13:19 For those days shall be tribulation, such as there hath not been the like from the beginning of the creation which Gd created until now, and never shall be.
Luke 21:23b For there shall be great distress upon the land, and wrath unto this people.
Jsus equates “flesh” with “this people” (the Jews).
Matt. 24:22 And except those days had been shortened, no flesh would have been saved: but for the elect’s sake those days shall be shortened.
Mark 13:20 And except the Lrd had shortened the days, no flesh would have been saved; but for the elect’s sake, whom he chose, he shortened the days.
Luke 21:23b For there shall be great distress upon the land, and wrath unto this people.
No flesh of “this people” (the Jews) would have been saved if the days had not been shortened.
FULFILLED: 68-70 AD
The suffering and death of the Jews from 68-70 AD was the greatest tribulation ever for the Jews.
“But if any one makes an unjust accusation against us, when we speak so passionately about the tyrants, or the robbers, or solely bewail the misfortunes of our country, let him indulge my affections herein, though it be contrary to the rules for writing history; because it had so come to pass, that our city Jerusalem had arrived at a higher degree of felicity than any other city under the Roman government, and yet at last fell into the sorest of calamities again. Accordingly it appears to me, that the misfortunes of all men, from the beginning of the world, if they be compared to these of the Jews, are not so considerable as they were; while the authors of them were not foreigners either. This makes it impossible for me to contain my lamentations. But, if anyone be inflexible in his censures of me, let him attribute the facts themselves to the historical part, and the lamentations to the writer himself only.”
——Josephus, The Jewish War, Preface, Chapter 4, Written c. 75 AD.
“It is therefore impossible to go distinctly over every instance of these men’s iniquity. I shall therefore speak my mind here at once briefly: That neither did any other city ever suffer such miseries, nor did any age ever breed a generation more fruitful in wickedness than this was, from the beginning of the world.”
——Josephus, The Jewish War, Book 6, Chapter 9, Section 4, Written c. 75 AD.
“Accordingly the multitude of those that therein perished exceeded all the destructions that either men or Gd ever brought upon the world; for, to speak only of what was publicly known, the Romans slew some of them, some they carried captives, and others they made search for underground, and when they found where they were, they broke up the ground, and they slew all they met with.”
——Josephus, The Jewish War, Book 6, Chapter 9, Section 4, Written c. 75 AD.
“Now the number of those that were carried captive during this whole war was collected to be 97,000; as was the number of those that perished during the whole siege 1,100,000, the greater part of whom were indeed of the same nation [with the citizens of Jerusalem], but not belonging to the city itself; for they were come up from all the country to the feast of unleavened bread, and were on a sudden shut up by an army, which, at the very first, occasioned so great a traitness among them that there came a pestilential destruction upon them, and soon afterward such a famine, as destroyed them more suddenly.”
——Josephus, The Jewish War, Book 6, Chapter 9, Section 3, Written c. 75 AD.
“But the number of calamities which everywhere fell upon the nation at that time; the extreme misfortunes to which the inhabitants of Judea were especially subjected, the thousands of men, as well as women and children, that perished by the sword, by famine, and by other forms of death innumerable — all these things, as well as the many great sieges which were carried on against the cities of Judea, and the excessive sufferings endured by those that fled to Jerusalem itself, as to a city of perfect safety, and finally the general course of the whole war, as well as its particular occurrences in detail, and how at last the abomination of desolation, proclaimed by the prophets, stood in the very Temple of Gd, so celebrated of old, the Temple which was now awaiting its total and final destruction by fire, — all these things any one that wishes may find accurately described in the history written by Josephus.”
——Eusebius, Church History, Book 3, Chapter 5, Written 312-324 AD.
In 67 AD, Vespasian and Titus began conquering Galilee.
After conquering Galilee, Vespasian entered Judea in 68 AD to make war against the Jews of Judea.
“Now Vespasian returned to Ptolemais [modern-day Acre, Israel] on the 4th day of the month Panemus [Tamuz], and from thence he came to Cesarea, which lay by the seaside. This was a very great city of Judea, and for the greatest part inhabited by Greeks.”
——Josephus, The Jewish War, Book 3, Chapter 9, Section 1, Written c. 75 AD.
“Along all the roads also vast numbers of dead bodies lay in heaps, and even many of those that were so zealous in deserting, at length chose rather to perish within the city; for the hopes of burial made death in their own city appear of the two less terrible to them.”
——Josephus, The Jewish War, Book 4, Chapter 6, Section 3, Written c. 75 AD.
“But in the meantime Vespasian removed from Cesarea, on the 5th day of the month Daesius [Sivan], and marched against those places of Judea which were not yet overthrown.”
——Josephus, The Jewish War, Book 4, Chapter 9, Section 9, Written c. 75 AD.
“So upon this confirmation of Vespasian’s entire government, which was not settled, and upon the unexpected deliverance of the public affairs of the Romans from ruin, Vespasian turned his thoughts to what remained unsubdued in Judea.”
——Josephus, The Jewish War, Book 4, Chapter 11, Section 5, Written c. 75 AD.
In 68 AD, the high priest Ananus stirred up the people of Jerusalem to revolt against the Zealots, which led to a great slaughter of the Jews on both sides.
“Upon this, Ananus got the populace together on the sudden, who were more numerous indeed than the zealots, but inferior to them in arms, because they had not been regularly put into array for fighting: but the alacrity that everybody showed, supplied all their defects on both sides, the citizens taking up so great a passion as was stronger than arms, and deriving a degree of courage from the Temple more forcible than any multitude whatsoever; and indeed these citizens thought it was not possible for them to dwell in the city, unless they could cut off the robbers that were in it. The zealots also thought that unless they prevailed, there would be no punishment so bad, but it would be inflicted on them. So their conflicts were conducted by their passions; and at the first they only cast stones at each other in the city, and before the Temple, and threw their javelins at a distance; but when either of them were too hard for the other, they made use of their swords; and great slaughter was made on both sides, and a greater number were wounded.”
——Josephus, The Jewish War, Book 4, Chapter 3, Section 12, Written c. 75 AD.
In 68 AD, the Idumeans entered Jerusalem and slaughtered thousands of Jews.
“Now there was at present neither any place for flight nor any hope for preservation; but as they were driven one upon another in heaps, so were they slain. Thus the greater part were driven together by force, as there was now no place of retirement, and the murderers [the Idumeans] were upon them; and, having no other way, threw themselves down headlong into the city; whereby, in my opinion, they underwent a more miserable destruction than that which they avoided, because that was a voluntary one. And now the outer temple was all of it overflowed with blood; and that day, at is came on, saw 8,500 dead bodies there. But the rage of the Idumeans was not satiated by these slaughters; but they now betook themselves to the city, and plundered every house, and they slew everyone they met; and for the other multitude, they esteemed it needless to go on with killing them, but they sought for the high priests, and the generality went with the greatest zeal against them; and as soon as they caught them they slew them, and then standing upon their dead bodies, in way of jest, upbraided Ananus with his kindness to the people, and Jesus with his speech made to them from the wall.”
——Josephus, The Jewish War, Book 4, Chapter 5, Section 2, Written c. 75 AD.
The wars from 68-70 AD led to the suffering and death of massive numbers of Jews.
“Now this destruction that fell upon the Jews, as it was not inferior to any of the rest in itself, so did it still appear greater than it really was; and this, because not only the whole of the country through which they had fled was filled with slaughter, and Jordan could not be passed over, by reason of the dead bodies that were in it, but because the lake Asphaltitis was also full of dead bodies, that were carried down into it by the river.”
——Josephus, The Jewish War, Book 4, Chapter 7, Section 6, Written c. 75 AD.
“So all hope of escaping was now cut off from the Jews, together with their liberty of going out of the city. Then did the famine widen its progress, and devoured the people by whole houses and families; the upper rooms were full of women and children that were dying by famine; and the lanes of the city were full of the dead bodies of the aged; the children also and the young men wandered about the marketplaces like shadows, all swelled with the famine, and fell down dead wheresoever their misery seized them. As for burying them, those that were sick themselves were not able to do it; and those that were hearty and well were deterred from doing it by the great multitude of those dead bodies, and by the uncertainty there was how soon they should die themselves, for many died as they were burying others, and many went to their coffins before that fatal hour was come! Nor was there any lamentation made under these calamities, nor were heard any mournful complaints; but the famine confounded all natural passions; for those who were just going to die, looked upon those that were gone to their rest before them with dry eyes and open mouths. A deep silence also, a kind of deadly night, had seized upon the city; while yet the robbers were still more terrible than these miseries were themselves; for they brake open those houses which were no other than graves of dead bodies, and plundered them of what they had; and carrying off the coverings of their bodies, went out laughing, and they tried the points of their swords on their dead bodies; and, in order to prove what mettle they were made of, they thrust some of those through that still lay alive upon the ground.”
——Josephus, The Jewish War, Book 5, Chapter 12, Section 3, Written c. 75 AD.
False christs and False Prophets
Jsus says that at the time of the great tribulation of the Jews, false christs and false prophets will arise.
Matt. 24:23-26 At that time if any man shall say unto you, Lo, here is the Chrst, or, Here; believe it not. For there shall arise false christs, and false prophets, and shall show great signs and wonders; so as to lead astray, if possible, even the elect. Behold, I have told you beforehand. If therefore they shall say unto you, Behold, he is in the wilderness; go not forth: Behold, he is in the inner chambers; believe it not.
Mark 13:21-23 And at that time if any man shall say unto you, Lo, here is the Chrst; or, Lo, there; believe it not: for there shall arise false christs and false prophets, and shall show signs and wonders, that they may lead astray, if possible, the elect. But take ye heed: behold, I have told you all things beforehand.
Luke 17:23 And they shall say to you, Lo, there! Lo, here! go not away, nor follow after them.
FULFILLED: 68-70 AD
At the time of the great tribulation of the Jews from 68-70 AD, false christs and false prophets arose.
“But before Caesar had determined anything about these people, or given the commanders any orders relating to them, the soldiers were in such a rage, that they set the cloister on fire; by which means it came to pass that some of these were destroyed by throwing themselves down headlong, and some were burnt in the cloisters themselves. Nor did any one of them escape with his life. A false prophet was the occasion of these people’s destruction, who had made a public proclamation in the city that very day, that Gd commanded them to get up upon the Temple, and that there they should receive miraculous signs of their deliverance. Now, there was then a great number of false prophets put in secretly by the tyrants to impose upon the people, who denounced this to them, that they should wait for deliverance from Gd: and this was in order to keep them from deserting, and that they might be buoyed up above fear and care by such hopes. Now, a man that is in adversity does easily comply with such promises; for when such a seducer makes him believe that he shall be delivered from those miseries which oppress him, then it is that the patient is full of hopes of such deliverance. Thus the miserable people were persuaded by these deceivers, and such as belied Gd himself; while they did not attend, nor give credit, to the signs that were so evident and did so plainly foretell their future desolation; but, like men infatuated, without either eyes to see, or minds to consider, did not regard the denunciations that Gd made to them.”
——Josephus, The Jewish War, Book 6, Chapter 5, Sections 2-3, Written c. 75 AD.
“But now, what did most elevate them in undertaking this war, was an ambiguous oracle that was also found in their sacred writings, how, ‘about that time, one from their country should become governor of the habitable earth.’ The Jews took this prediction to belong to themselves in particular and many of the wise men were thereby deceived in their determination.”
——Josephus, The Jewish War, Book 6, Chapter 5, Sections 4, Written c. 75 AD.
“There was also another body of wicked men gotten together, not so impure in their actions, but more wicked in their intentions, who laid waste the happy state of the city no less than did these murderers. These were such men as deceived and deluded the people under pretense of divine inspiration, but were for procuring innovations and changes of the government, and these prevailed with the multitude to act like madmen, and went before them into the wilderness, as pretending that Gd would there show them the signals of liberty; but Felix [52-60 AD] thought this procedure was to be the beginning of a revolt; so he sent some horsemen and footmen, both armed, who destroyed a great number of them. But there was an Egyptian false prophet that did the Jews more mischief than the former; for he was a cheat, and pretended to be a prophet also, and got together 30,000 men that were deluded by him. These he led round about from the wilderness to the mount which was called the Mount of Olives, and was ready to break into Jerusalem by force from that place; and if he could but once conquer the Roman garrison and the people, he intended to domineer over them by the assistance of those guards of his that were to break into the city with him, but Felix prevented his attempt, and met him with his Roman soldiers, while all the people assisted him in his attack upon them.”
——Josephus, The Jewish War, Book 2, Chapter 13, Sections 4-5, Written c. 75 AD.
War From the East to the West
Jsus says that he will come with weapons of war from the east to the west to destroy Jerusalem and the Temple.
Lightning = Weapon of War
Matt. 24:27 For as the lightning cometh forth from the east, and is seen even unto the west; so shall be the coming of the Son of man.
Luke 17:24-25 for as the lightning, when it lighteneth out of the one part under the heaven, shineth unto the other part under heaven; so shall the Son of man be in his day. But first must he suffer many things and be rejected of this generation.
The meaning of “the coming of the Son of man” is the same meaning as the parallel passages below that equate “these things” (no stone left upon another) with “your coming.”
These things = No stone left upon another = Destruction of the Temple = Your coming = The end of the age
Luke 21:6-7 As for these things which ye behold, the days will come, in which there shall not be left here one stone upon another, that shall not be thrown down. And they asked him, saying, Teacher, when therefore shall these things be? And what shall be the sign when these things are about to come to pass?
Matt. 24:2-3 But he answered and said unto them, See ye not all these things? verily I say unto you, There shall not be left here one stone upon another, that shall not be thrown down. And as he sat on the mount of Olives, the disciples came unto him privately, saying, Tell us, when shall these things be? and what shall be the sign of thy coming, and of the end of the age?
FULFILLED: April-September 70 AD
Roman military standards were pagan religious symbols carried by units of the Roman army.
The largest unit of the Roman army was the Roman legion with over 5,000 soldiers, and each Roman legion carried a single “aquila,” which was a military standard of an eagle perched on a lightning bolt.
“The standard of the Roman legions was an eagle fixed on the head of a spear. It was silver, small in size, with expanded wings, and clutching a golden thunderbolt in its claws.”
——Alexander Thomson, Suetonius: The Lives of the Twelve Caesars, Julius Caesar, Chapter 62, Footnote 1, Written 1889.
“The eagle standard was comprised of a golden or gilded metal eagle, clutching thunderbolts in its talons, perched atop a long metal pole with a butt-spike for planting in the ground.”
——Justin S. Hayes, Jupiter’s Legacy: The Symbol of the Eagle and Thunderbolt in Antiquity and Their Appropriation by Revolutionary America and Nazi Germany, Page 12, Written 2014.
“But the eagles of Pompey’s [died 48 BC] legions shook their wings and let fall the thunderbolts which they held in their talons, in some cases of gold.”
——Cassius Dio, Historia Romana, Book 43, Chapter 35, Written c. 220 AD.
“The primary military use of the eagle was as a standard, and while there is mention of its use as a blazon (Wittkower 310), the evidence is paltry, whereas the standards are the famed manifestation of the glory and might of the Roman legion.”
——Justin S. Hayes, Jupiter’s Legacy: The Symbol of the Eagle and Thunderbolt in Antiquity and Their Appropriation by Revolutionary America and Nazi Germany, Page 12, Written 2014.
“Indeed the eagle became the veritable heart and soul of the legions, a symbol so representative of Roman power and majesty that it became known throughout the ancient world (Wittkower 310). Specifically, due to its place at the head of each legion, it became the emblem of the Roman legions, which enforced Roman rule in the provinces, giving the eagle its connotation of dominion.”
——Justin S. Hayes, Jupiter’s Legacy: The Symbol of the Eagle and Thunderbolt in Antiquity and Their Appropriation by Revolutionary America and Nazi Germany, Page 12, Written 2014.
The Roman aquila standard had religious significance to the Romans because of the connection of the eagle and lightning to the Roman pagan god Jupiter.
“The feathers of the eagle, if mixed with those of other birds, will consume them. It is said that this is the only bird that has never been killed by lightning; hence it is, that usage has pronounced it to be the armor-bearer of Jupiter.”
——Pliny the Elder, Natural History, Book 10, Chapter 4, Written 77 AD.
“Something was found which Jupiter would rather be than that which he was. However, he deems it worthy to be transformed into no bird, unless it be one that could carry his own lightning bolts. And without delay, having struck with fabricated wings of bronze, he seizes the Iliad.”
——Ovid, Metamorphoses, Book 10, Line 155, Written 8 AD.
“Like what sort of bird, the minister of lightning, to whom the king of the gods entrusted his kingdom among the wandering birds, having tested him, Jupiter made faithful in the form of golden Ganymede.”
——Horace, Odes, Book 4, Poem 4, Written 23-13 BC.
The coins below are examples of Roman coins that show the connection between lightning bolts and:
1) Jupiter,
2) An eagle,
3) An aquila, the military standard of the Roman legion.
| Coin Reference | Year Minted | Image |
|---|---|---|
| RRC 238/1, S 451 | 136 BC | Jupiter throwing lightning bolt |
| RRC 409/1, S 809 | 67 BC | Eagle perched on lightning bolt |
| RPC 1 4181, W 38 | 60-61 AD | Eagle perched on lightning bolt |
| RIC I (2nd) Nero 52 | 64-65 AD | Jupiter holding lightning bolt |
| 1968.57.139, W 56 | 68-69 AD | Eagle perched on lightning bolt |
| RIC I (2nd) Galba 329 | 68-69 AD | Aquila perched on lightning bolt |
Jsus came forth against Jerusalem and desolated the city with the Roman legions which came forth from the east to the west carrying the Roman aquila military standard of the eagle holding a lightning bolt.
The following four Roman legions marched against Jerusalem:
1) 10th legion coming forth from the east, from Jericho and the Mount of Olives;
2) 12th and 15th legions coming forth from the north, from Scopus;
3) 5th legion coming forth from the west, from Emmaus.
“Of these legions he ordered the 5th to meet him, by going through Emmaus, and the 10th to go up by Jericho; he also moved himself, together with the rest [the 12th and 15th]; besides whom marched those auxiliaries that came from the kings, being now more in number than before, together with a considerable number that came to his assistance from Syria. Those also that had been selected out of these four legions, and sent with Mucianus to Italy had their places filled up out of these soldiers that came out of Egypt with Titus.”
——Josephus, The Jewish War, Book 5, Chapter 1, Section 6, Written c. 75 AD.
“But now, as soon as that legion that had been at Emmaus [the 5th legion] was joined to Caesar at night, he removed thence, when it was day, and came to a place called Scopus; from whence the city began already to be seen, and a plain view might be taken of the great temple. Accordingly, this place, on the north quarter of the city and adjoining thereto, was a plain, and very properly named Scopus [the prospect]; and was no more than 7 furlongs distant from it. And here it was that Titus ordered a camp to be fortified for two legions [the 12th and 15th] that were to be together; but ordered another camp to be fortified, at 3 furlongs further distance behind them, for the 5th legion; for he thought that, by marching in the night, they might be tired, and might deserve to be covered from the enemy, and with less fear might fortify themselves; and, as these were now beginning to build, the 10th legion, who came through Jericho, was already come to the place, where a certain part of armed men had formerly lain, to guard that pass into the city, and had been taken before by Vespasian. These troops had orders to encamp at the distance of 6 furlongs from Jerusalem, at the mount called the mount of Olives, which lies over against the city on the east side, and is parted from it by a deep valley, interposed between them, which is named Cedron.”
——Josephus, The Jewish War, Book 5, Chapter 2, Section 3, Written c. 75 AD.
The Roman name for the 12th Legion was the “12th Lightning Legion” (Legio XII Fulminata).
“[T]here existed since the time of Augustus (Cassius Dio, 55, 23) a legio fulminata [‘Roman legion bearing thunder‘] or fulminea [‘belonging to lightning‘], probably called thus from the representation of lightning on their armour.”
——Michael Ott, Catholic Encyclopedia, Thundering Legion, Written 1913.
The 12th Lightning Legion was also the singular legion that had previously besieged Jerusalem in 66 AD, which was the abomination of desolation and the signal for the Christians to flee the city.
“For Titus, when he had gotten together part of his forces about him, and had ordered the rest to meet him at Jerusalem, marched out of Cesarea. He had with him those three legions [5th, 10th, and 15th] that had accompanied his father when he laid Judea waste, together with that 12th legion which had been formerly beaten with Cestius; which legion, as it was otherwise remarkable for its valor, so did it march on now with greater alacrity to avenge themselves on the Jews, as remembering what they had formerly suffered from them.”
——Josephus, The Jewish War, Book 5, Chapter 1, Section 6, Written c. 75 AD.
The Roman legions began the siege of Jerusalem in late April 70 AD.
“And thus did the Romans get possession of this first wall, on the 15th day of the siege, which was the 7th day of the month [c. 7 May] Artemisius [Iyar; 2nd month], when they demolished a great part of it, as well as they did of the northern parts of the city, which had been demolished also by Cestius formerly.”
——Josephus, The Jewish War, Book 5, Chapter 7, Section 2, Written c. 75 AD.
From about 64-70 AD, a man named Jesus who lived in Jerusalem was continually crying out that a voice from the east and a voice from the west were against Jerusalem and the Temple.
“But, what is still more terrible there was one Jesus, the son of Ananus, a plebeian and a husbandman, who, 4 years before the war began, and at a time when the city was in very great peace and prosperity, came to that feast whereon it is our custom for everyone to make tabernacles to Gd in the temple, began on a sudden cry aloud, ‘A voice from the east, a voice from the west, a voice from the four winds, a voice against Jerusalem and the holy house, a voice against the bridegrooms and the brides, and a voice against this whole people!’ This was his cry, as he went about by day and by night, in all the lanes of the city. However, certain of the most eminent among the populace had great indignation at this dire cry of his, and took up the man, and gave him a great number of severe stripes; yet did not he either say anything for himself, or anything peculiar to those that chastised him, but still he went on with the same words which he cried before. Hereupon our rulers supposing, as the case proved to be, that this was a sort of divine fury in the man, brought him to the Roman procurator; where he was whipped till his bones were laid bare; yet did he not make any supplication for himself, nor shed any tears, but turning his voice to the most lamentable tone possible, at every stroke of the whip his answer was, ‘Woe, woe to Jerusalem!’ And when Albinus (for he was then our procurator) asked him who he was, and whence he came, and why he uttered such words; he made no manner of reply to what he said, but still did not leave off his lament, till Albinus took him to be a madman, and dismissed him. Now, during all the time that passed before the war began, this man did not go near any of the citizens, nor was seen by them while he said so; but he every day uttered these lamentable words, as if it were his premeditated vow, ‘Woe, woe, to Jerusalem!’ Nor did he give ill words to any of those that beat him every day, nor good words to those that gave him food; but this was his reply to all men, and indeed no other than a melancholy omen of what was to come. This cry of his was the loudest at the festivals; and saying this for 7 years and 5 months, without growing hoarse, or being tired therewith, until the very time that he saw his omen in earnest fulfilled in our siege, when it ceased; for as he was going round upon the wall, he cried out with his utmost force, “Woe, woe, to the city again, and to the people, and to the holy house!” And just as he added at the last,—“Woe, woe, to myself also!” there came a stone out of one of the engines, and smote him, and killed him immediately; and as he was uttering the very same omen, he gave up the ghost.”
——Josephus, The Jewish War, Book 6, Chapter 5, Section 3, Written c. 75 AD.
Destruction of Jerusalem Coming Unexpectedly
Jsus says that the Jews will not expect the destruction of Jerusalem and the Temple.
Matt. 24:37-39 And as were the days of Noah, so shall be the coming of the Son of man. For as in those days which were before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noah entered into the ark, and they knew not until the flood came, and took them all away; so shall be the coming of the Son of man.
Coming of the Son of man = The end of the age = These things = No stone left upon another = Destruction of the Temple
Took them all away = Destroyed them all
Luke 17:26-30 And as it came to pass in the days of Noah, even so shall it be also in the days of the Son of man. They ate, they drank, they married, they were given in marriage, until the day that Noah entered into the ark, and the flood came, and destroyed them all. Likewise even as it came to pass in the days of Lot; they ate, they drank, they bought, they sold, they planted, they builded; but in the day that Lot went out from Sodom it rained fire and brimstone from heaven, and destroyed them all: after the same manner shall it be in the day that the Son of man is revealed.
FULFILLED: April-September 70 AD
Even though the Roman legions were besieging Jerusalem, the Jews did not expect Jerusalem and the Temple to be destroyed.
After the destruction of Jerusalem and the Temple, while at Masada around 73 AD, Eleazar ben Yair said the Jews had not expected Jerusalem to be conquered by the Romans.
“I mean this, upon the supposition that the Romans once reduce us under their power while we are alive. We were the very first that revolted from them, and we are the last that fight against them; and I cannot but esteem it as a favor that Gd hath granted us, that it is still in our power to die bravely, and in a state of freedom, which hath not been the case of others, who were conquered unexpectedly.”
——Josephus, The Jewish War, Book 7, Chapter 8, Section 6, Written c. 75 AD.
Even though there were prophetic signs indicating the fall of Jerusalem, the Jews maintained belief that they would be delivered and that Jerusalem would not be conquered.
“Prophetic signs had indeed occurred, but to avert them either by sacrifices or by vows is held unlawful by a people which, though prone to superstition, is opposed to all propitiatory rites. Contending armies were seen meeting in the skies, arms flashed, and suddenly the Temple was illumined with fire from the clouds. Suddenly the doors of the shrine opened, and a superhuman voice cried: ‘The gods are departing.’ At the same moment the mighty stir of their going was heard. Few interpreted these omens as fearful; the majority firmly believed that their ancient priestly writings contained the prophecy that this was the very time when the East should grow strong and that men starting from Judea should possess the world.”
——Tacitus, Histories, Book 5, Chapter 13, Written c. 105 AD.
“Now, there was then a great number of false prophets put in secretly by the tyrants to impose upon the people, who denounced this to them, that they should wait for deliverance from Gd: and this was in order to keep them from deserting, and that they might be buoyed up above fear and care by such hopes. Now, a man that is in adversity does easily comply with such promises; for when such a seducer makes him believe that he shall be delivered from those miseries which oppress him, then it is that the patient is full of hopes of such deliverance. Thus the miserable people were persuaded by these deceivers, and such as belied Gd himself; while they did not attend, nor give credit, to the signs that were so evident and did so plainly foretell their future desolation; but, like men infatuated, without either eyes to see, or minds to consider, did not regard the denunciations that Gd made to them.”
——Josephus, The Jewish War, Book 6, Chapter 5, Sections 2-3, Written c. 75 AD.
While fighting the Romans in 70 AD, the Jews did not become discouraged but maintained courage even though the Romans were making progress in conquering the city.
“Then night came upon both sides, and put an end to this struggle for the present; however, that night the wall was so shaken by the battering-rams in that place where John had used his stratagem before, and had undermined their banks, that the ground then gave way, and the wall fell down suddenly. When this accident had unexpectedly happened, the minds of both parties were variously affected: for though one would expect that the Jews would be discouraged, because this fall of their wall was unexpected by them, and they had made no provision in that case, yet did they pull up their courage, because the tower of Antonia itself was still standing.”
——Josephus, The Jewish War, Book 6, Chapter 1, Sections 3-4, Written c. 75 AD.
Even though Titus offered the Jews immunity if they surrendered, the Jews still continued to fight.
“In time, however, the Romans scaled the outside wall, and then, pitching their camp between this and the second circuit, proceeded to assault the latter. But here they found the conditions of fighting different; for now that all the besieged had retired behind the second wall, its defense proved an easier matter because its circuit was shorter. Titus therefore once more made a proclamation offering them immunity. But even then they held out, and those of them that were taken captive or deserted kept secretly destroying the Romans’ water supply and slaying any troops that they could isolate and cut off from the rest.”
——Cassius Dio, Historia Romana, Book 65, Chapter 5, Written c. 220 AD.
Jews Killed and Taken Captive by the Romans
Jsus says that, at the time of the destruction of Jerusalem and the Temple, some Jews will be killed or taken captive while others will be spared
Luke 17:31-36 In that day, he that shall be on the housetop, and his goods in the house, let him not go down to take them away: and let him that is in the field likewise not return back. Remember Lot’s wife. Whosoever shall seek to gain his life shall lose it: but whosoever shall lose his life shall preserve it. I say unto you, In that night there shall be two men on one bed; the one shall be taken, and the other shall be left. There shall be two women grinding together; the one shall be taken, and the other shall be left.
Matt. 24:40-41 At that time two men shall be in the field; one is taken, and one is left: two women shall be grinding at the mill; one is taken, and one is left.
In that day = The day of the destruction of Jerusalem and the Temple
Taken = Killed or taken captive
Jsus says the people who will kill or take the Jews captive are the Romans.
Luke 17:37 And they answering say unto him, Where, Lrd? And he said unto them, Where the body is, there will the eagles also be gathered together.
Matt. 24:28 Wheresoever the corpse is, there will the eagles be gathered together.
The body/corpse = The Jewish people in Jerusalem
Psa. 79:1-3 O Gd, the nations are come into thine inheritance; Thy holy temple have they defiled; They have laid Jerusalem in heaps. The dead bodies of thy servants have they given to be food unto the birds of the heavens, The flesh of thy saints unto the beasts of the earth. Their blood have they shed like water round about Jerusalem; And there was none to bury them.
Jer. 7:33-34 And the dead bodies of this people [the Jews] shall be food for the birds of the heavens, and for the beasts of the earth; and none shall frighten them away. Then will I cause to cease from the cities of Judah, and from the streets of Jerusalem, the voice of mirth and the voice of gladness, the voice of the bridegroom and the voice of the bride; for the land shall become a waste.
Jer. 34:19-20 the princes of Judah, and the princes of Jerusalem, the eunuchs, and the priests, and all the people of the land, that passed between the parts of the calf; I will even give them into the hand of their enemies, and into the hand of them that seek their life; and their dead bodies shall be for food unto the birds of the heavens, and to the beasts of the earth.
The eagles = The Roman legions who carry the aquila military standard of the eagle holding a lightning bolt
Therefore, the Jewish people in Jerusalem are taken captive and trodden down by the Gentile, eagle-carrying Roman armies.
Luke 21:24 And they shall fall by the edge of the sword, and shall be led captive into all the nations; and Jerusalem shall be trodden down of the Gentiles, until the times of the Gentiles be fulfilled.
FULFILLED: April-September 70 AD
The Roman legions, each represented by the Roman aquila military standard of the eagle holding a lightning bolt, gathered together around the Jewish people inside Jerusalem, and the Roman legions either killed or took captive the Jewish people.
“Then came the standards encompassing the eagle, which is at the head of every Roman legion, the king, and the strongest of all birds, which seems to them a signal of dominion, and an omen that they shall conquer all against whom they march.”
——Josephus, The Jewish War, Book 3, Chapter 6, Section 2, Written c. 75 AD.
“Nor was there any place in the city [Jerusalem] that had no dead bodies in it, but what was entirely covered with those that were killed either by the famine or the rebellion; and all was full of the dead bodies of such as had perished, either by that sedition or by that famine.”
——Josephus, The Jewish War, Book 6, Chapter 7, Section 2, Written c. 75 AD.
“Yet was the misery itself more terrible than this disorder; for one would have thought that the hill itself, on which the Temple stood, was seething hot, as full of fire on every part of it, that the blood was larger in quantity than the fire, and those that were slain more in number than those that slew them; for the ground did nowhere appear visible, for the dead bodies that lay on it; but the soldiers went over heaps of these bodies, as they ran upon such as fled from them.”
——Josephus, The Jewish War, Book 6, Chapter 5, Section 1, Written c. 75 AD.
“Now the number of those that were carried captive during this whole war was collected to be 97,000; as was the number of those that perished during the whole siege 1,100,000, the greater part of whom were indeed of the same nation [as the citizens of Jerusalem], but not belonging to the city itself; for they were come up from all the country to the feast of unleavened bread, and were on a sudden shut up by an army, which, at the very first, occasioned so great a traitness among them that there came a pestilential destruction upon them, and soon afterward such a famine, as destroyed them more suddenly.”
——Josephus, The Jewish War, Book 6, Chapter 9, Section 3, Written c. 75 AD.
“Accordingly the multitude of those that therein perished exceeded all the destructions that either men or Gd ever brought upon the world; for, to speak only of what was publicly known, the Romans slew some of them, some they carried captives, and others they made search for underground, and when they found where they were, they broke up the ground and slew all they met with.”
——Josephus, The Jewish War, Book 6, Chapter 9, Section 4, Written c. 75 AD.
Fall of Jewish State Leaders
Jsus says that immediately after the tribulation of those days the Jewish State will fall.
Sun, Moon, Stars = Political and Religious Leadership of the State
Matt. 24:29 But immediately after the tribulation of those days the sun shall be darkened, and the moon shall not give her light, and the stars shall fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens shall be shaken:
Mark 13:24-25 But in those days, after that tribulation, the sun shall be darkened, and the moon shall not give her light, and the stars shall be falling from heaven, and the powers that are in the heavens shall be shaken.
Luke 21:25-26 And there shall be signs in sun and moon and stars; and upon the earth distress of nations, in perplexity for the roaring of the sea and the billows; men fainting for fear, and for expectation of the things which are coming on the world: for the powers of the heavens shall be shaken.
FULFILLED: September 70 AD
In 70 AD, two generals held political power in Israel, and the high priests held religious power:
1) Simon bar Giora, main political leader (the sun);
2) John of Gischala, secondary political leader (the moon);
3) High priests, religious leaders (the stars).
Simon and John (The Sun and the Moon)
“The population [of Jerusalem] at this time had been increased by streams of rabble that flowed in from the other captured cities, for the most desperate rebels had taken refuge here, and consequently sedition was the more rife. There were three generals, three armies: the outermost and largest circuit of the walls was held by Simon, the middle of the city by John, and the Temple was guarded by Eleazar. John and Simon were strong in numbers and equipment, Eleazar had the advantage of position: between these three there was constant fighting, treachery, and arson, and a great store of grain was consumed. Then John got possession of the Temple by sending a party, under pretense of offering sacrifice, to slay Eleazar and his troops. So the citizens were divided into two factions until, at the approach of the Romans, foreign war produced concord.”
——Tacitus, Histories, Book 5, Chapter 12, Written c. 105 AD.
“Now the warlike men that were in the city, and the multitude of the rebels that were with Simon, were 10,000, besides the Idumeans. Those 10,000 had 50 commanders, over whom this Simon was supreme. The Idumeans that paid him homage were 5,000, and had 8 commanders, among whom those of greatest fame were Jacob the son of Sosas, and Simon, the son of Cathlas. John, who had seized upon the temple, had 6,000 armed men, under 20 commanders; the zealots also that had come to him, and left off their opposition, were 2,400, and had the same commander that they had formerly, Eleazar, together with Simon the son of Arinus. Now, while these factions fought one against another, the people were their prey, on both sides, as we have said already; and that part of the people who would not join with them in their wicked practices, were plundered by both factions. Simon held the upper city, and the great wall as far as Cedron, and as much of the old wall as bent from Siloam to the east, and which went down to the palace of Monobazus, who was king of the Adiabeni, beyond Euphrates; he also held that fountain, and the Acra, which was no other than the lower city, he also held all that reached to the palace of queen Helena, the mother of Monobazus: but John held the Temple, and the parts thereto adjoining, for a great way, as also Ophla, and the valley called ‘the Valley of Cedron’; and when the parts that were interposed between their possessions were burnt by them, they left a space wherein they might fight with each other; for this internal discord did not cease even when the Romans were encamped near their very walls. But although they had grown wiser at the first onset the Romans made upon them, this lasted but a while; for they returned to their former madness, and they separated one from another; and fought it out, and did everything that the besiegers could desire them to do.”
——Josephus, The Jewish War, Book 5, Chapter 6, Section 1, Written c. 75 AD.
“So those of different factions cried out one to another, that they acted entirely as in concert with their enemies; whereas they ought, however, notwithstanding Gd did not grant them a lasting concord, in their present circumstances, to lay aside their enmities one against another, and to unite together against the Romans. Accordingly, Simon gave those that came from the temple leave, by proclamation, to go upon the wall; John also himself, though he could not believe Simon was in earnest, gave them the same leave. So on both sides they laid aside their hatred and their peculiar quarrels, and formed themselves into one body; they then ran round the walls, and having a vast number of torches with them, they threw them at the machines, and shot darts perpetually upon those that impelled those engines which battered the wall.”
——Josephus, The Jewish War, Book 5, Chapter 6, Section 4, Written c. 75 AD.
“He [Titus] then presently began his attacks, upon which the Jews divided themselves into several bodies, and courageously defended that wall; while John and his faction did it from the tower of Antonia, and from the northern cloister of the temple, and fought the Romans before the monument of king Alexander; and Simon’s army also took for their share the spot of ground that was near John’s monument, and fortified it as far as to that gate where water was brought in to the tower Hippicus.”
——Josephus, The Jewish War, Book 5, Chapter 7, Section 3, Written c. 75 AD.
“However, John and Simon, with their factions, did more carefully watch these men’s going out than they did the coming in of the Romans; and, if any one did but afford the least shadow of suspicion of such an intention, his throat was cut immediately.”
——Josephus, The Jewish War, Book 5, Chapter 10, Section 1, Written c. 75 AD.
“He who was utterly despoiled of what he had by Simon, was sent back again to John, as of those who had been already plundered by John, Simon got what remained, insomuch that they drank the blood of the populace to one another, and divided the dead bodies of the poor creatures between them; so that although, on account of their ambition after dominion, they contended with each other, yet did they very well agree in their wicked practices; for he that did not communicate what he had got by the miseries of others to the other tyrant, seemed to be too little guilty, and in one respect only.”
——Josephus, The Jewish War, Book 5, Chapter 10, Section 4, Written c. 75 AD.
“So Titus commanded that the hands of many of those that were caught should be cut off, that they might not be thought deserters, and might be credited on account of the calamity they were under, and sent them in to John and Simon, with this exhortation, that they would now at length leave off [their madness], and not force him to destroy the city.”
——Josephus, The Jewish War, Book 5, Chapter 11, Section 2, Written c. 75 AD.
“Then did the rebels of both bodies of the Jewish army, both that of John and that of Simon, drive them away; and indeed were no way wanting as to the highest degree of force and alacrity; for they esteemed themselves entirely ruined if once the Romans got into the Temple, as did the Romans look upon the same thing as the beginning of their entire conquest. So a terrible battle was fought at the entrance of the Temple, while the Romans were forcing their way, in order to get possession of that Temple, and the Jews were driving them back to the tower of Antonia.”
——Josephus, The Jewish War, Book 6, Chapter 1, Section 7, Written c. 75 AD.
The Jewish State Leaders Simon and John were captured, and the Jewish State fell on the 8th day of the 6th month (c. 2 Sep) in 70 AD.
“As for John, he wanted food, together with his brethren, in these caverns, and begged that the Romans would now give him their right hand for his security, which he had often proudly rejected before; but for Simon, he struggled hard with the distress he was in, till he was forced to surrender himself, as we shall relate hereafter; so he was reserved for the triumph, and to be then slain: as was John condemned to perpetual imprisonment; and now the Romans set fire to the extreme parts of the city, and burnt them down, and entirely demolished its walls. And thus was Jerusalem taken, in the 2nd year of the reign of Vespasian [70 AD], on the 8th day of the month Gorpieus [Elul; 6th month]. It had been taken five times before, though this was the second time of its desolation.”
——Josephus, The Jewish War, Book 6, Chapter 9:4 – 10:1, Written c. 75 AD.
“So Titus took the journey he intended into Egypt, and passed over the desert very suddenly, and came to Alexandria, and took up a resolution to go to Rome by sea. And as he was accompanied by two legions, he sent each of them again to the places whence they had before come: the 5th he sent to Mysia; and the 15th to Pannonia: as for the leaders of the captives, Simon and John, with the other 700 men, whom he had selected out of the rest as being eminently tall and handsome of body, he gave order that they should be soon carried to Italy, as resolving to produce them in his triumph.”
——Josephus, The Jewish War, Book 7, Chapter 5, Section 3, Written c. 75 AD.
“And now Simon, thinking he might be able to astonish and delude the Romans, put on a white frock, and buttoned upon him a purple cloak, and appeared out of the ground in the place the Temple had formerly been. At the first, indeed, those that saw him were greatly astonished, and stood still where they were; but afterward they came near to him, and asked him who he was. Now Simon would not tell them, but bade them call for their captain; and when they ran to call him, Terentius Rufus, who was left to command the army there, came to Simon, and learned of him the whole truth, and kept him in bonds, and let Caesar know that he was taken. Thus did Gd bring this man to be punished for what bitter and savage tyranny he had exercised against his countrymen, by those who were his worst enemies.”
——Josephus, The Jewish War, Book 7, Chapter 2, Section 1, Written c. 75 AD.
“Then they met death willingly, some throwing themselves on the swords of the Romans, some slaying one another, others taking their own lives, and still others leaping into the flames. And it seemed to everybody, and especially to them, that so far from being destruction, it was victory and salvation and happiness to them that they perished along with the Temple. Yet even under these conditions many captives were taken, among them [Simon] Bargiora, their leader; and he was the only one to be executed in connexion with the triumphal celebration. Thus was Jerusalem destroyed on the very day of Saturn, the day which even now the Jews reverence most.”
——Cassius Dio, Historia Romana, Book 65, Chapters 6-7, Written c. 220 AD.
“Now the last part of this pompous show was at the temple of Jupiter Capitolinus, whither when they were come, they stood still; for it was the Romans’ ancient custom to stay, till somebody brought the news that the general of the enemy was slain. This general was Simon, the son of Gioras, who had then been led in this triumph among the captives; a rope had also been put upon his head, and he had been drawn into a proper place in the forum, and had withal been tormented by those that drew him along, and the law of the Romans required that malefactors condemned to die should be slain there. Accordingly, when it was related that there was an end of him, and all the people had sent up a shout for joy.”
——Josephus, The Jewish War, Book 7, Chapter 5, Section 6, Written c. 75 AD.
High Priests (The Stars)
The high priests held religious power in Israel, and in 70 AD, the high priests of Israel were taken captive or killed.
“Joseph also, the son of Gorion, and Ananus the high priest, were chosen as governors of all affairs within the city, and with a particular charge to repair the walls of the city.”
——Josephus, The Jewish War, Book 2, Chapter 20, Section 3, Written c. 75 AD.
“I should not mistake if I said that the death of Ananus was the beginning of the destruction of the city, and that from this very day may be dated the overthrow of her wall, and the ruin of her affairs, whereon they saw their high priest, and the procurer of their preservation, slain in the midst of their city.”
——Josephus, The Jewish War, Book 4, Chapter 5, Section 2, Written c. 75 AD.
“Some also there were who, watching for a proper opportunity when they might quietly get away, fled to the Romans, of whom were the high priests Joseph and Jesus, and of the sons of high priests three, whose father was Ishmael, who was beheaded in Cyrena, and four sons of Matthias, as also one son of the other Matthias, who ran away after his father’s death, and whose father was slain by Simon, the son of Gioras, with three of his sons, as I have already related; many also of the other nobility went over to the Romans, together with the high priests.”
——Josephus, The Jewish War, Book 6, Chapter 2, Section 2, Written c. 75 AD.
“The Idumeans also strove with these men who should be guilty of the greatest madness! for they [all], vile wretches as they were, cut the throats of the high priests, that so no part of a religious regard to Gd might be preserved; they thence proceeded to destroy utterly the least remains of a political government, and introduced the most complete scene of iniquity in all instances that were practicable; under which scene that sort of people that were called Zealots grew up, and who indeed corresponded to the name.”
——Josephus, The Jewish War, Book 7, Chapter 8, Section 1, Written c. 75 AD.
Destruction of Jerusalem
Jsus says that at the time of the fall of the Jewish State, he will come with an army to destroy Jerusalem.
Coming on Clouds = Coming With an Army To Destroy
Matt. 24:30 and at that time shall appear the sign of the Son of man in heaven: and then shall all the tribes of the land mourn, and they shall see the Son of man coming on the clouds of heaven with power and great glory.
Mark 13:26 And at that time they shall see the Son of man coming in clouds with great power and glory.
Luke 21:27-28 And at that time shall they see the Son of man coming in a cloud with power and great glory. But when these things begin to come to pass, look up, and lift up your heads; because your redemption draws nigh.
Matt. 26:63-64 But Jsus held his peace. And the high priest said unto him, I adjure thee by the living Gd, that thou tell us whether thou art the Chrst, the Son of Gd. Jsus saith unto him, Thou hast said: nevertheless I say unto you, Henceforth ye shall see the Son of man sitting at the right hand of Power, and coming on the clouds of heaven.
Mark 14:61-62 But he held his peace, and answered nothing. Again the high priest asked him, and saith unto him, Art thou the Chrst, the Son of the Blessed? And Jsus said, I am: and ye shall see the Son of man sitting at the right hand of Power, and coming with the clouds of heaven.
FULFILLED: September 70 AD
In September 70 AD, Jsus came with the army of the Romans (came with the clouds of heaven) and destroyed Jerusalem.
“And now the Romans set fire to the extreme parts of the city, and burnt them down, and entirely demolished its walls. And thus was Jerusalem taken, in the 2nd year of the reign of Vespasian [70 AD], on the 8th day of the month Gorpieus [Elul]. It had been taken five times before, though this was the second time of its desolation.”
——Josephus, The Jewish War, Book 6, Chapter 9:4 – 10:1, Written c. 75 AD.
“Then they met death willingly, some throwing themselves on the swords of the Romans, some slaying one another, others taking their own lives, and still others leaping into the flames. And it seemed to everybody, and especially to them, that so far from being destruction, it was victory and salvation and happiness to them that they perished along with the Temple. Yet even under these conditions many captives were taken, among them [Simon] Bargiora, their leader; and he was the only one to be executed in connexion with the triumphal celebration. Thus was Jerusalem destroyed on the very day of Saturn, the day which even now the Jews reverence most.”
——Cassius Dio, Historia Romana, Book 65, Chapters 6-7, Written c. 220 AD.
“And now the Romans, although they were greatly distressed in getting together their materials, raised their banks in 21 days, after they had cut down all the trees that were in the country that adjoined to the city, and that for 90 furlongs round about, as I have already related. And, truly, the very view itself of the country was a melancholy thing; for those places which were before adorned with trees and pleasant gardens were now become a desolate country every way, and its trees were all cut down: nor could any foreigner that had formerly seen Judea and the most beautiful suburbs of the city, and now saw it as a desert, but lament and mourn sadly at so great a change; for the war had laid all signs of beauty quite waste; nor, if anyone that had known the place before, had come on a sudden to it now, would he have known it again; but though he were at the city itself, yet would he have inquired for it notwithstanding.”
——Josephus, The Jewish War, Book 6, Chapter 1, Section 1, Written c. 75 AD.
Titus, the Roman general who destroyed Jerusalem, said that he himself did not destroy Jerusalem, but it was Gd who had manifested his wrath and destroyed Jerusalem.
“After Titus had taken Jerusalem, and when the country all round was filled with corpses, the neighboring races offered him a crown; but he disclaimed any such honor to himself, saying that it was not himself that had accomplished this exploit, but that he had merely lent his arms to Gd, who had so manifested his wrath.”
——Flavius Philostratus, Life of Apollonius, Book 6, Chapter 29, Written c. 225 AD.
Luke 21:23b For there shall be great distress upon the land, and wrath unto this people.
Prophetic signs occurred before the destruction of Jerusalem.
“Prophetic signs had indeed occurred, but to avert them either by sacrifices or by vows is held unlawful by a people which, though prone to superstition, is opposed to all propitiatory rites. Contending armies were seen meeting in the skies, arms flashed, and suddenly the Temple was illumined with fire from the clouds. Suddenly the doors of the shrine opened, and a superhuman voice cried: ‘The gods are departing.’ At the same moment the mighty stir of their going was heard. Few interpreted these omens as fearful; the majority firmly believed that their ancient priestly writings contained the prophecy that this was the very time when the East should grow strong and that men starting from Judea should possess the world.”
——Tacitus, Histories, Book 5, Chapter 13, Written c. 105 AD.
“Thus there was a star resembling a sword, which stood over the city, and a comet, that continued a whole year. Thus also, before the Jews’ rebellion, and before those commotions which preceded the war, when the people were come in great crowds to the feast of unleavened bread, on the 8th day of the month Xanthicus [Nisan], and at the 9th hour of the night, so great a light shone round the altar and the holy house, that it appeared to be bright day time; which light lasted for half an hour. This light seemed to be a good sign to the unskillful, but was so interpreted by the sacred scribes, as to portend those events that followed immediately upon it. At the same festival also, a heifer, as she was led by the high priest to be sacrificed, brought forth a lamb in the midst of the Temple. Moreover, the eastern gate of the inner [court of the] Temple, which was of brass, and vastly heavy, and had been with difficulty shut by 20 men, and rested upon a basis armed with iron, and had bolts fastened very deep into the firm floor, which was there made of one entire stone, was seen to be opened of its own accord about the 6th hour of the night. Now, those that kept watch in the Temple came hereupon running to the captain of the Temple, and told him of it: who then came up thither, and not without great difficulty, was able to shut the gate again. This also appeared to the vulgar to be a very happy prodigy, as if Gd did thereby open them the gate of happiness. But the men of learning understood it, that the security of their holy house was dissolved of its own accord, and that the gate was opened for the advantage of their enemies. So these publicly declared, that this signal foreshowed the desolation that was coming upon them. Besides these, a few days after that feast, on the 21st day of the month Artemisius [Jyar], a certain prodigious and incredible phenomenon appeared; I suppose the account of it would seem to be a fable, were it not related by those that saw it, and were not the events that followed it of so considerable a nature as to deserve such signals; for, before sunsetting, chariots and troops of soldiers in their armor were seen running about among the clouds, and surrounding of cities. Moreover at that feast which we call Pentecost, as the priests were going by night into the inner [court of the] Temple, as their custom was, to perform their sacred ministrations, they said that, in the first place, they felt a quaking, and heard a great noise, and after that they heard a sound as of a great multitude, saying, ‘We are moving from here.’“
——Josephus, The Jewish War, Book 6, Chapter 5, Section 3, Written c. 75 AD.
“And the doors of the Sanctuary parted of their own accord as an omen that they would soon be parted by foes.”
——Talmud, Yoma, Chapter 39b, Written c. 500 AD.
Preaching After the Destruction of Jerusalem
Jsus says that at the time of destruction of Jerusalem he will send forth his messengers to gather together his elect from the whole world.
Matt. 24:31 And he shall send forth his messengers with a great sound of a trumpet, and they shall gather together his elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other.
Mark 13:27 And at that time shall he send forth the messengers, and shall gather together his elect from the four winds, from the uttermost part of the earth to the uttermost part of heaven.
FULFILLED: September 70 AD and after
Christians were sent forth by the Holy Spirit to go out into the whole world to preach the gospel and make disciples.
“But Vespasian did not rule the whole world, but only that part of it which was subject to the Romans. With better right could it be applied to Chrst; to whom it was said by the Father, ‘Ask of me, and I will give you the heathen for your inheritance, and the ends of the earth for your possession.’ At that very time [in 70 AD], indeed, the voice of his holy apostles ‘went throughout all the earth, and their words to the end of the world.’“
——Eusebius, Church History, Book 3, Chapter 8, Written 312-324 AD.
“Among those that were celebrated at that time was Quadratus, who, report says, was renowned along with the daughters of Philip for his prophetical gifts. And there were many others besides these who were known in those days, and who occupied the first place among the successors of the apostles. And they also, being illustrious disciples of such great men, built up the foundations of the churches which had been laid by the apostles in every place, and preached the Gospel more and more widely and scattered the saving seeds of the kingdom of heaven far and near throughout the whole world. For indeed most of the disciples of that time, animated by the divine word with a more ardent love for philosophy, had already fulfilled the command of the Savior, and had distributed their goods to the needy. Then starting out upon long journeys they performed the office of evangelists, being filled with the desire to preach Chrst to those who had not yet heard the word of faith, and to deliver to them the divine Gospels. And when they had only laid the foundations of the faith in foreign places, they appointed others as pastors, and entrusted them with the nurture of those that had recently been brought in, while they themselves went on again to other countries and nations, with the grace and the cooperation of Gd. For a great many wonderful works were done through them by the power of the divine Spirit, so that at the first hearing whole multitudes of men eagerly embraced the religion of the Creator of the universe. But since it is impossible for us to enumerate the names of all who became shepherds or evangelists in the churches throughout the world in the age immediately succeeding the apostles, we have recorded, as was fitting, the names of those only who have transmitted the apostolic doctrine to us in writings still extant.”
——Eusebius, Church History, Book 3, Chapter 37, Written 312-324 AD.
Advance Warning of the Destruction of Jerusalem
Jsus told his disciples that when they see all his predictions being fulfilled before the destruction of the Jerusalem, they will know that the kingdom of Gd is near.
When you see these things = When you see all the things mentioned from the start of this prophecy
He is near = The kingdom of Gd is near = His coming = The end of the age = No stone left upon another = Destruction of the Temple
Matt. 24:32-33 Now from the fig tree learn her parable: when her branch is now become tender, and putteth forth its leaves, ye know that the summer is nigh; even so ye also, when ye see all these things, know ye that he is near, even at the doors.
Mark 13:28-29 Now from the fig tree learn her parable: when her branch is now become tender, and putteth forth its leaves, ye know that the summer is nigh; even so ye also, when ye see these things coming to pass, know ye that he is nigh, even at the doors.
Luke 21:29-31 And he spake to them a parable: Behold the fig tree, and all the trees: when they now shoot forth, ye see it and know of your own selves that the summer is now nigh. Even so ye also, when ye see these things coming to pass, know ye that the kingdom of Gd is nigh.
Fulfillment Before That Generation Passed Away
A “generation” (Greek: genea) is a group of people born and living during the same time period.
In the Bible, a generation is about 40 years.
Num. 32:13 And the Lrd’s anger was kindled against Israel, and he made them wander to and fro in the wilderness 40 years, until all the generation [genea], that had done evil in the sight of the Lrd, was consumed.
Deut. 2:14 And the days in which we came from Kadesh-barnea, until we were come over the brook Zered, were 38 years; until all the generation [genea] of the men of war were consumed from the midst of the camp, as the Lrd sware unto them.
Psa. 95:10 Forty years long was I grieved with that generation [genea], and said, It is a people that do err in their heart, And they have not known my ways.
Job 42:16 And after this Job lived 140 years, and saw his sons, and his sons’ sons, even four generations [genea].
Jsus says that all his predictions about the coming of the Son of man will be fulfilled before the generation of Jews living at his time had passed away.
This means Jsus prophesied that all of his predictions would come to pass within about 40 years.
Matt. 24:34-35 Verily I say unto you, This generation [genea] shall not pass away, till all these things be accomplished. Heaven and earth shall pass away, but my words shall not pass away.
Mark 13:30-31 Verily I say unto you, This generation [genea] shall not pass away, until all these things be accomplished. Heaven and earth shall pass away: but my words shall not pass away.
Luke 21:32 Verily I say unto you, This generation [genea] shall not pass away, till all things be accomplished.
Matt. 23:34-36 Therefore, behold, I send unto you prophets, and wise men, and scribes: some of them shall ye kill and crucify; and some of them shall ye scourge in your synagogues, and persecute from city to city: that upon you may come all the righteous blood shed on the earth, from the blood of Abel the righteous unto the blood of Zachariah son of Barachiah, whom ye slew between the sanctuary and the altar. Verily I say unto you, All these things shall come upon this generation [genea].
Luke 11:49-51 Therefore also said the wisdom of Gd, I will send unto them prophets and apostles; and some of them they shall kill and persecute; that the blood of all the prophets, which was shed from the foundation of the world, may be required of this generation [genea]; from the blood of Abel unto the blood of Zachariah, who perished between the altar and the sanctuary: yea, I say unto you, it shall be required of this generation [genea].
Matt. 16:28 Verily I say unto you, There are some of them that stand here, who shall in no wise taste of death, till they see the Son of man coming in his kingdom.
Mark 9:1 And he said unto them, Verily I say unto you, There are some here of them that stand by, who shall in no wise taste of death, till they see the kingdom of Gd come with power.
Luke 9:27 But I tell you of a truth, There are some of them that stand here, who shall in no wise taste of death, till they see the kingdom of Gd.
Jsus says this coming of the Kingdom of Gd will be a spiritual kingdom and not a physical kingdom.
Luke 17:20-21 And being asked by the Pharisees when the kingdom of Gd cometh, he answered them and said, The kingdom of Gd cometh not with observation: neither shall they say, Lo, here! or, There! for lo, the kingdom of Gd is within you.
John 4:21-23 Jsus saith unto her, Woman, believe me, the hour cometh, when neither in this mountain, nor in Jerusalem, shall ye worship the Father. Ye worship that which ye know not: we worship that which we know; for salvation is from the Jews. But the hour cometh, and now is, when the true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and truth: for such doth the Father seek to be his worshippers.
FULFILLED: 30-70 AD
All the things Jsus predicted happened before that generation passed away, over the span of about 40 years from 30-70 AD:
1) False christs (30-70 AD);
2) Wars and rumors of wars (30-70 AD);
3) Earthquakes and famines (30-70 AD);
4) Gospel preached to all nations (30-70 AD);
5) Roman armies surrounding Jerusalem (66 AD);
6) Christians fleeing Judea (66-68 AD);
7) Greatest tribulation ever for the Jews (68-70 AD);
8) False christs and false prophets (68-70 AD);
9) War from the east to the west (April-September 70 AD);
10) Destruction of Jerusalem coming unexpectedly (April-September 70 AD);
11) Jews killed and taken captive by the Romans (April-September 70 AD);
12) Fall of Jewish State Leaders (September 70 AD);
13) Destruction of Jerusalem (September 70 AD);
14) Preaching after the destruction of the Jerusalem (September 70 AD and after).
Knowledge of That Day
Jsus says that no one knew the day or hour of the destruction of Jerusalem.
That day = The day of the destruction of Jerusalem
Matt. 24:36 But of that day and hour knoweth no one, not even the angels of heaven, neither the Son, but the Father only.
Mark 13:32 But of that day or that hour knoweth no one, not even the angels in heaven, neither the Son, but the Father.
Exhortation to Be Ready for the Destruction of Jerusalem
Jsus tells his disciples they should watch and be ready to escape all the things described concerning the destruction of Jerusalem.
The day the Lrd comes = That day = The day of the destruction of Jerusalem
Matt. 24:42-44 Watch therefore: for ye know not on what day your Lrd cometh. But know this, that if the master of the house had known in what watch the thief was coming, he would have watched, and would not have suffered his house to be broken through. Therefore be ye also ready; for in an hour that ye think not the Son of man cometh.
Mark 13:33-37 Take ye heed, watch and pray: for ye know not when the time is. It is as when a man, sojourning in another country, having left his house, and given authority to his servants, to each one his work, commanded also the porter to watch. Watch therefore: for ye know not when the lord of the house cometh, whether at even, or at midnight, or at cockcrowing, or in the morning; lest coming suddenly he find you sleeping. And what I say unto you I say unto all, Watch.
Luke 21:34-36 But take heed to yourselves, lest haply your hearts be overcharged with surfeiting, and drunkenness, and cares of this life, and that day come on you suddenly as a snare: for so shall it come upon all them that dwell on the face of all the land. But watch ye at every season, making supplication, that ye may prevail to escape all these things that shall come to pass, and to stand before the Son of man.