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I know you’ve discovered that because of the Hebrew way of telling stories and describing events a good Bible study will encompass many different passages to get the whole tapestry of the story. We did this last week when we looked at Mark and Luke as well to see what the disciples told Jesus about the Temple.

This week we’ll take a side trip to Luke to understand the difference among the signs Jesus was talking about. History tells us that Jerusalem fell in 70 AD, and that it was General Titus who destroyed the Temple and Jerusalem. But the disciples didn’t know that, so their first question was, “When will this happen?” As noted last week, Jesus did not answer their questions in order, but He definitely gave clear clues as to which question He was answering.

In Luke, Jesus plainly answers their first question by telling them the sign to look for right before the destruction of Jerusalem was the city being surrounded by armies. Jesus told the Jewish believers that “desolation was at hand.” At hand is the Hebrew idiom meaning near, which could mean close proximity or close in timing. The armies surround Jerusalem meant both.

In 66 A.D., a Jewish revolt broke out against Rome. The Jews call it The Great Revolt, and only now recognize it as a great mistake. The Zealots believed that almost anything was justified to attain religious as well as political freedom from Rome. Caligula, one of the most profane Caesars of Rome, declared himself god and ordered his image be raised in every temple of the empire. Of course the Jews refused to defile the Temple, and only Caligula’s demise saved the Jews from complete massacre. Over the next few decades the Jews suffered humiliation, indignities, and financial stresses from the Romans.

In the year 66, Florus, the last Roman procurator, stole vast quantities of silver from the Temple. The outraged Jewish masses rioted and wiped out the small Roman garrison stationed in Jerusalem. Cestius Gallus, the Roman ruler in neighboring Syria, sent in a larger force of soldiers. But the Jewish insurgents routed them as well. [Source: https://www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org/jsource/Judaism/revolt.html]

Sadly, those radicalized Jews who thought they could beat back Rome, fled their defeat in Galilee to Jerusalem where they killed every Jewish leader who did not believe as they did. Not one of them was killed by a Roman. This hatred for anything moderate led to the burning of a huge stockpile of dry food that would have fed all of Jerusalem for years. Because of the armies surrounding the city, because of the crucifixion of anyone trying to escape the city, and because of the “causeless hatred (sinat khinam) among the Jews,” about one million Jews died in the Great Revolt… but, not one Christian Jew perished.

Cestius Gallus was not actually “routed” from their siege. Cestius Gallus realized only after the soldiers had settled in that he had not brought enough provisions, nor were his supply lines secure enough to maintain a continued siege. He lifted the siege after only a very short while to go back to Caesarea. All the Christian Jews had gathered together to discuss the sign Jesus had told His disciples that would happen before the destruction of Jerusalem – the city surrounded by armies. It was a miracle that Cestius Gallus lifted the siege, and every Christian Jew fled the city across the Jordan River. They set up a new community in the town of Pella. They were joined by Christian Jews from all over Judea, Galilee, and the Golan where they waited for the prophecy to be fulfilled.

Two years later the Roman general Vespasian and Titus began the Roman siege against Jerusalem, which ended in 70 A.D. with the Temple burned and no stone left upon another. Everyone left alive was enslaved and sent to the far corners of the earth. In the centuries since, Jerusalem has most definitely been trodden down by the Gentiles. In fact, Jerusalem will never be free of Gentile nations until the Messiah returns.

Consider the illustration of the Christians fleeing Jerusalem to safety in Pella. It seems that the only supernatural thing about it is the prophecy coming true. But think about that Roman general who set up to siege, but then left almost as soon as the tent stakes had been driven into the hard, dry ground around the city. How could supply lines not be secure within the confines of the Roman Empire? Perhaps the Jews could send out forays, but by this time all the radicals had fled inside the city walls.

This reminds me of the siege on Samaria by Benhadad of Syria (2 Kings 7) four lepers, almost starved to death, decided to go to the Syrian camp and beg for food. They found the camp empty. God caused the soldiers to hear the sound of many horses and a great army. They got up and fled leaving everything behind. Samaria was saved from starvation.

The Christian Jews were saved from genocide and massacre because they listened and took to heart what Jesus said, and they watched for the sign.

The same will be for all Christians at the end of the Church age. God will snatch us away. Jesus said, watch and be ready. Because you kept the Word of My patience, I also will keep you out of the hour of trial which is going to come on all the habitable world in order to try those dwelling on the earth. (Revelation 3:10, LITV)

"'Christ in You...'" from Dale Krebbs

God Inhabits The Ordinary