Destruction of Jerusalem

Reprinting of the 1814, 6th American edition

There could never be a more dramatic event than the destruction of Jerusalem in 70 A. D., along with its magnificent temple.

The historian Josephus describes Herod's Temple in Jerusalem, writing that much of the outside was covered with "plates of gold of great weight." When the sun rose it would reflect back "a very fiery splendor, and made those who forced themselves to look upon it to turn their eyes away, just as they would have done at the sun's own rays." At a distance it appeared like "a mountain covered with snow; for, as to those parts of it that were not gilt (with gold), they were exceeding white."

But Jesus was not impressed with either the beauty or the magnitude of the temple. It was, as some of His disciples "spoke of the temple, how it was adorned with beautiful stones and donations, He said, 'These things which you-see the days will come in which not one stone shall be left upon another that shall not be thrown down'" (Luke 21:5, 6). After predicting the destruction of Jerusalem and her temple, along with His coming judgment, Jesus then told His disciples: "Assuredly, I say to you, this generation will by no means pass away till all these things take place" (Matthew 24:34).

Many Christians of the modern era have imagined that Jesus was speaking of events 2000 years or more in the future. Some non-Christians have concluded that Jesus was simply mistaken in His predications. But forgotten history leads men to false assumptions and foolish speculations. It took 83 years to complete Herod's Temple, but only four years later, and less than 40 years after Jesus predicted its downfall, in A. D. 70 it would be utterly destroyed by the Romans.

While the final return of Christ for His triumphant Church, and the execution of His final judgment on the disobedient, remains ahead of us, much of what has been sensationalized as yet to come turns out to be history. The Destruction of Jerusalem, by Peter Holford, offers the reader an opportunity to return to the old path, and provides a new hope and confidence about the future and the integrity of our faith.