Scripture, Prophecy, and the Fall of Jerusalem

The Bible Holds Up Again

Imagine you had the ability to foretell future events. The mysteries of time-to-be are fully unveiled to you, because the future is as known as the past. What would be the true test of your ability? Obviously, the proving would be if those future events came to pass in the same manner and detail you foretold it.

Two thousand years ago there was such a person. When the disciples of Christ marveled with patriotic pride at the majesty of their temple, Jesus prophesied that an utter and dramatic destruction awaited it in the future. Jesus then gave six predictions regarding the desolation of Jerusalem and Israel’s scattering among the nations. Forty years later, the destruction of both the Jewish temple and their nationality came to pass when future Roman emperors, Vespasian and Titus, led the Roman invasion into Judea. While many try to foretell future events, Jesus gives striking detail in His prophecy that defy mere generalities. So we return to our test: Did the details surrounding the fall of Jerusalem occur as Jesus predicted?

Flavius Josephus,¹ a first century Jewish historian, gives a vivid account of the events preceding and surrounding the Romans’ siege of the City of David. From his record in The Wars of the Jews we can compare it with Jesus’ prophecy as recorded in Luke 21:20:

“And when ye shall see Jerusalem compassed with armies, then know that the desolation thereof is nigh.”

This came to pass when Titus commanded the Roman army to lay siege to Jerusalem. Furthermore, Titus did not first station his entire army about the city, hoping that milder measures would bring about a peaceable surrender. Thus, a vast number were left near the Mount of Olives and the surrounding countryside for miles, until the final thrust against the city.

“But woe unto them that are with child, and to them that give suck, in those days! for there shall be great distress in the land, and wrath upon this people” (Luke 21:23).

Even before the shadow of the Roman army fell on Jerusalem’s walls, the people entrapped in the city had already suffered a “siege” from within by Jewish zealot leaders bloodthirsty for power. Famine, thirst, and violence consumed a large percentage of the populace long before a Roman battering-ram ever hit the city gates.

“And they shall fall by the edge of the sword, and shall be led away captive into all nations: and Jerusalem shall be trodden down of the Gentiles, until the times of the Gentiles be fulfilled” (Luke 21:24).

We have already seen how many perished by the sword of their own fellow Jews. Thousands more would be massacred by the Romans, a number Josephus places at about 11,000,000 (a possible exaggeration). Jesus also predicted the Jews would be led captive among all the nations. As history has sadly proven, A.D. 70 proved the beginning of a vast time span for the Jews being a people without a country, a homeland, or flag. Whether it was the Crusades, the Ottoman Empire, other nations that occupied Palestine, or the Temple Mount in Jerusalem which had only known the tramp of Gentile feet for 1900 years, but was restored to the Jews in 1967. Jesus said:

“As for these things which ye behold, the days will come, in the which there shall not be left one stone upon another, that shall not be thrown down” (Luke 21:6).

Perhaps Jesus’ most famous—and certainly the lone prophecy cited by all three synoptic gospels—was that the destruction of the temple would be so devastating not one stone would be left on another. This is especially remarkable since the temple was destroyed against Titus’ wishes. According to Josephus, Titus was very eager to spare the Jews alive, offering them multiple opportunities to surrender peaceably.

But zealot leaders, such as John of Gischala, scorned each offer until mercy ran out. Even still, Titus gave repeated commands to preserve the temple. But when the army finally scaled the walls of the city, the Roman soldiers, normally worshipful of their general, were so enraged at the obstinacy of the Jews that they set fire to the temple in a crazed fury. When the news reached Titus, he commanded that the flames be quenched, an order part of the army endeavored to obey. But in the end, their vengeance on the Jews won out and the temple was entirely demolished.

Biblical prophesies have been pressed and pressed again over the last 2,000 years. Yet, each time they always hold up. Because God cannot lie, we can fully believe every word and know all He has said He will indeed do. Jesus said:

“Heaven and earth shall pass away: but my words shall not pass away” (Luke 21:33).