The Fall of Jerusalem

One of the most tragic chapters in the history of Judaea was the conquest and destruction of Jerusalem by the Roman armies in AD 70, as predicted by Jesus in His eschatological sermon (see Matthew 24; Luke 21).

In addition to Jesus’ warnings, several strange events occurred as supernatural forewarnings of the impending calamities that would overthrow the city. The Jewish historian Flavius Josephus mentions “a star resembling a sword... and a comet, that continued a whole year.” Then he says that “at the ninth hour of the night, so great a light shone round the altar and the holy house, that it appeared to be bright day time”;10 and “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 extremely heavy and securely locked eastern door of the temple opened by itself. Finally, he says, “Chariots and troops of soldiers in their armor were seen running about among the clouds.” Four years before the war began, when the city was still enjoying peace and prosperity, a man called Jesus, the son of Ananus, began “to 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!’” He continued to do so until a stone killed him during the siege of the city. Jesus had warned His disciples that when they would “see Jerusalem surrounded by armies,” they should know that its desolation would be near, and they should flee from Judaea to the mountains (Luke 21:20, 21).

Another historian, Eusebius, explains that “Before the war began, members of the Jerusalem church were ordered by an oracle given by revelation to those worthy of it to leave the city and settle in a city of Perea called Pella.” On September 7, AD 70, Jerusalem was completely overtaken by the Romans.

But all who followed Christ’s warnings and left the city were saved! Just as Christ described signs of the fall of Jerusalem, He also outlined events that would indicate the nearness of His second coming and the end of the world.

In His own words, “When these things begin to happen, look up and lift up your heads, because your redemption draws near” (Luke 21:28)!