Warned

Luke 21:20-22 (ESV) “But when you see Jerusalem surrounded by armies, then know that its desolation has come near. Then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains, and let those who are inside the city depart, and let not those who are out in the country enter it, for these are days of vengeance, to fulfill all that is written.”

If you ever go to Jerusalem, you will undoubtedly get to visit the Mount of Olives. There are many spots on its west face that give incomparable views of the city of Jerusalem, especially the Temple Mount – the large built up flat area that used to house the Jewish Temple but now is home to two mosques. During the last week before his crucifixion, Jesus had a memorable conversation with his disciples looking over this same view. They were captivated by the beauty of the temple, but Jesus warned them, “The days will come when there will not be left here one stone upon another that will not be thrown down.” (Luke 21:6)

This prompted the disciples to ask, “When will these things be?” (Luke 21:7) Matthew’s account adds another question: “What will be the sign of your coming and of the end of the age?” (Matthew 24:3) The disciples must have thought they were asking the same question. However, Jesus gave answers for two distinct events: His return is still yet to happen, but the destruction of the Jerusalem temple took place less than forty years after his words.

With amazing prophetic detail, Jesus described the advance of the Roman army against the rebellious Jews in 67 AD. This lead to a three year siege with a horrible amount of starvation and loss of life. Read Josephus’ Jewish Wars for a graphic, firsthand account. On June 30, 70, the Romans finally destroyed the city and ultimately the Temple, fulfilling Jesus' words. No temple has been built there since.

One of the earliest church historians, Eusebius of Caesarea, records that the early Christians who were living in Jerusalem remembered Jesus’ words when the Roman army advanced. They escaped across the Jordan River to a city called Pella, where they established one of the earliest known dedicated church buildings. (Historia Ecclesiastica, 3.5.3) Jesus warned his followers in Luke 21:20-22, written above, to flee Jerusalem when they saw it surrounded by armies. Jesus’ words of warning were recorded in three of the four Gospels, and his message was no doubt passed on orally, as well. So, when the Jewish Christians living in Jerusalem in 67 saw the Roman army come, they left. Unlike the Jewish Zealots and other residents of Jerusalem who were caught in the disaster, the Christian Jews survived because they took Jesus’ warning seriously. They stayed alert. When the time came, they took action, and they were saved.

If Jesus’ words were fulfilled so exactly in answer to the first question, we would be wise to follow the example of the early Christian and be ready for what he describes has yet to happen. “Therefore you also must be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect.” (Luke 21:44) Are you ready?