The City Has Fallen
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As Jesus was leaving the temple in Jerusalem, His disciples came to Him wanting to show Him all of the buildings of the temple. The disciples seemed excited and proud of these buildings and how amazing they were. These buildings of the temple were probably something to behold. Yet Jesus’ response was probably not exactly what they had been looking for. Jesus told them that there would not be one stone left upon another that would not be thrown down. Matthew 24:1-2 says, “Jesus left the temple and was going away, when his disciples came to point out to him the buildings of the temple. But he answered them, “You see all these, do you not? Truly, I say to you, there will not be left here one stone upon another that will not be thrown down.”
The Jews viewed the temple as an amazing structure that would stand forever. Jerusalem was a strong city that the Jews probably thought would never fall. Afterall, it was part of the promised land. Yet the Jews were quite mistaken in these beliefs.
A different time, Jesus told of the fall of Jerusalem. In Luke 21:20 Jesus said, “But when you see Jerusalem surrounded by armies, then know that its desolation has come near.” Jesus continues to tell them that when they see the armies, they are to flee the city quickly and not look back.
About 40 years after Jesus made these statements Jerusalem fell. Rome, under the command of Titus attacked Jerusalem. The siege began April 14, AD 70. This was three days before Passover began and the siege lasted for over four months. The siege ended on August 30, AD 70 with the burning and destruction of the temple.
Josephus, a historian that lived to see the destruction of Jerusalem said that about 1.1 million people were killed during the fall of Jerusalem. The vast majority of these were Jews, many of which were only visiting due to the soon upcoming Passover. During the attack, the Temple was burned and destroyed, and Rome took the table of showbread and the lampstand and paraded them through the streets.
Josephus also records that the Christians escaped the city before the attack. As Titus was preparing to attack the city, for some unknow reason he pulled back and hesitated for a short time. This hesitation allowed the Christians who trusted Christ’s prophecy a chance to escape the city unharmed before the attack began.
Bible prophecy is an amazing thing. Jesus knew without a doubt about the fall of Jerusalem and gave those details to His disciples. The foretelling of the future is something that has long been claimed and tried by many, but only ever accurately achieved by the power of God through His prophets.
So we read all of these prophecies and are amazed at their detail and accuracy. Each and every prophecy of the Bible comes true. Each and every detail is correct. Then we read about coming judgement. The day in which we will all stand before Him and be Judged. 2 Corinthians 5:10 says, “For * we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each one may receive what is due for what he has done in the body, whether good or evil.” Do we believe this prophecy? Will it come true just as the rest? Are we living like we believe it?
