70 AD: When Jewish People Were Captured

70 AD: When Jewish People Spread Around the World 

Today, we're talking about about 70 AD: When Jewish People Were Captured. In Jesus' Parable of the Fig Tree, we learnt that Jesus the Son of God foretold about the captivity of the Jewish people. This is why we know that we can believe everything that He says.

Read on to learn more how Jesus' sad prophecy came to pass.

Jerusalem in Israel

Let's review the story about the 70 AD destruction of Jerusalem

Jerusalem was a bustling, important city in 70 AD. Jerusalem was very important because it was the capital of Israel, and very special to some Israelites  called the Jews. Jerusalem was especially important to them because of its beautiful temple where they worshiped God.

Review of Jesus' prophecies about the destruction of Jerusalem

Now, around the time Jesus lived in the earth, he told his followers something that sounded a bit scary. He said that one day, Jerusalem would be surrounded by armies, and many people would be taken away to different lands. He also said that the city itself would be occupied by foreigners for a long time.

This is what Jesus prophesied to His disciples in the Parable of the Fig Tree:

“And they will fall by the edge of the sword, and be led away captive into all nations. And Jerusalem will be trampled by Gentiles until the times of the Gentiles are fulfilled."  Luke 21:24.

Palace of Justice, Jerusalem

The Romans Came And Fought Against Jerusalem

Years later, just as Jesus had said, a powerful army from a place called Rome came to Jerusalem. They did so because the Jews had revolted against the Roman government.

The Roman attack was a very sad time for the Jews because it ended in destruction of the city and its beautiful temple. A famous Jewish historian named Josephus wrote about what happened because he saw it happen.

Josephus wrote that the Roman soldiers fought very hard to get into Jerusalem. There was a lot of fighting, and sadly, many people were hurt. Eventually, the Romans captured the city in the year 70 AD.

Even more sadly, the beautiful temple that the Jewish people loved so much was burned down. Imagine your most special building being destroyed – it was that heartbreaking for them.

Jerusalem, Israel

The Jews were scattered to many nations just as Jesus prophesied

The Romans won the fight and took many Jewish people as prisoners – almost as many people as live in a big city today! Josephus said that about 97,000 Jews were taken into captivity by the Romans.

  
These prisoners had some really sad things happen to them. First, strong people who could work were made slaves. That meant they had to work very hard for the Romans in Rome and other faraway places without getting paid.

Some prisoners were given away like presents to people in different areas. These people would make the prisoners fight each other or wild animals in front of a crowd, and they would get hurt very badly.

The tall and good-looking young men were kept to walk in a big parade in Rome to show everyone that the Romans had won. Even young children were sold to become slaves too.

The Jews were scattered, like seeds blown by the wind, to many different countries far away. This scattering of the Jewish people is called the "Diaspora," which is a Greek word that means "to scatter." It was a very difficult time for the Jews because they had to leave their homeland and try to build new lives in strange places.

Even though they were far from Jerusalem, the Jewish people didn't forget their history, their traditions, and their faith. They carried their stories and their beliefs with them wherever they went. They continued to practice their religion and remember their connection to Jerusalem, even though the city was in ruins.

Model of ancient Jerusalem

Look at how Jesus' prophecy was fulfilled!

So, we see that Jesus' prophecy was fulfilled just as He said.  We know that we can trust His Word as truth, 

Go to this page to learn how to receive Eternal Life that Jesus promised to those who believe.

Even today, the story of what happened in Jerusalem long ago is still remembered. It is a very important part of history for many people around the world. It reminds us of how events in the past can shape the lives of people for a very long time.

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Josephus

Siege of Jerusalem

The Big Fall: When Jerusalem's Walls Came Tumbling Down!

Hey kids! Today we continue with Jesus' parable about the destruction of 70AD Jerusalem. In 70AD Jerusalem was  a really, really old and important city that had been the capital of Israel for over 1000 years.

Long, long ago, even before your grandparents' grandparents were born, this city had tall, strong walls and a beautiful, shiny temple. It was very special to a group of Israelites called called the Jews.

Model Of 66AD Jerusalem - 

Berthold Werner, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

Jesus foretold that enemies would knock down the walls of Jerusalem and its temple

Now, a long time before this big fall, there was a very wise teacher named Jesus. He was the Son of God. He loved the people of Jerusalem very much, but he also knew something sad was going to happen. 

Jesus told them, almost like a secret whisper about the future, that a time would come when their enemies would surround their city and make it impossible to leave. He even said something amazing – that the enemies would knock down all the walls and even the beautiful temple, stone by stone!

Think of a tall tower of LEGO bricks. Jesus said that one day, armies would come and take apart every single brick until there was nothing left standing. That sounds pretty unbelievable, right?

Model of The 66 AD Temple - 

By Ariely - Own work, CC BY 3.0, 

Jesus' prophecy came to pass a few years later

Well, guess what? A few years later, a powerful army called the Roman army came to Jerusalem. We've talked before about how they built a big ramp, called an embankment, all around the city to trap everyone inside. But that wasn't the end of the story!

The Roman soldiers were very angry after a long fight. When they finally got inside the city, they began to tear down the strong city walls. Imagine giant machines and lots of strong people pulling and pushing on the huge stones. Slowly, bit by bit, the walls started to crumble.

But the most amazing and saddest part was what happened to the beautiful temple. This temple was so special and important to the Jewish people. It was the special place where they worshiped God But in the chaos of the fighting, the temple caught fire. The fire was so hot and fierce that it damaged the stone walls of the temple.

The Romans completely destroyed the temple in Jerusalem

And just like Jesus had said, the Roman soldiers didn't just damage it a little bit. They kept tearing down the stones, one by one. It's hard to imagine, but the historical writings from that time, especially from a writer named Josephus in his book called "War of the Jews," tell us that the Romans completely destroyed the temple. There were so many stones that it looked like the whole place had been leveled to the ground!

Josephus was actually there during this time, and he saw all these things happen. He wrote down everything he could remember, and his writings help us understand just how much of Jerusalem was destroyed. He tells us about the strong walls being pulled down and the magnificent temple being turned into ruins.

Stones from the western wall of the  Temple. 

They were thrown onto the street by Roman soldiers during the city's destruction. 

Wilson44691, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

The destruction of the beautiful city and its temple was a very sad time

It was a very sad time for the people of Jerusalem. Their beautiful city and their special temple were gone, just like Jesus had prophesied. It shows us that He is God and knows everything in the future.

So, remember the story of the big fall of Jerusalem. Remember the strong walls and the beautiful temple. And remember the words of Jesus, who knew what was going to happen long before it did. 

Fallen Stones Of Jerusalem's Temple Mount

Jesus also warned about other things that all humans need to know about

Jesus also warned us about other things like a place called hell. He died on the cross to save us from going to that place. To escape from hell, we must believe He is God and the only one who can save us from our sins.

We must also confess or own up to being sinners, or people who disobey God from the time we were born. Then we must ask Him to pardon our sins, to wash them away and to write our names in the Book of Life.

The MOST important thing for every believer in Jesus to do is to obey His Word and to live righteously. That means to stop sinning and to do what is right and pleasing to God. We learn these things from the bible.

Go here to learn more about being saved from your sins. 

Jesus Prophesied That Armies Would Surround Jerusalem Before Its 70 AD Destruction

Jesus prophesied that Jerusalem would be surrounded by armies

Today we're showing another historical event that was a fulfillment of Jesus' prophecy that Jerusalem would be surrounded by armies before its 70 AD destruction.

Jerusalem's trench: Jesus' prophecy fulfilled.

Jerusalem, Israel

Jerusalem was an amazing city with a beautiful temple

Jerusalem was like a beautiful castle, with a super special building called the Temple. It was beautiful and made of big, pretty stones. Some people thought it was the most amazing place ever! 

One day, Jesus' disciples showed Him the beautiful stones. Instead of being awed, Jesus said something really surprising. He said that one day, all those pretty stones would be knocked down like building blocks falling apart!

He also said that Jerusalem would be destroyed and that armies would surround it before that happened!

Jerusalem, Israel

The Roman army surrounded Jerusalem in AD70

About thirty seven years after Jesus' prophecy, something terrible happened. The Jews, who were ruled at the time by the Roman Empire, revolted against them. The Roman king sent his  powerful army to take back the territory.

The Romans had a lot of soldiers and weapons and they surrounded the city. Just like Jesus said, Jerusalem was "surrounded by armies."

A Jew named Josephus wrote about the war

A Jewish man named Josephus, who lived during that time, wrote  about what happened. Josephus was one of the generals who led the Jews in the war.

He said the Romans built walls and towers all around Jerusalem, so nobody could go in or out. They put a big fence around the whole city.

The people inside Jerusalem were very scared. They didn't have enough food, and they were fighting each other too. It was a very sad time. The Romans kept attacking, and they were very strong.

                                 Western Wall of the Temple Mount, Jerusalem

The Romans finally broke through the city walls

Then, after a long time, the Romans finally broke through the walls. They went into the city and, just like Jesus said, they knocked down the Temple. All those beautiful stones fell to the ground. Not one stone was left on top of another! It was like a giant puzzle being smashed.

Josephus told us that there was a big fire, and many, many people were hurt or died. Those who lived were carried away as captives to other nations. It was a really sad time for Jerusalem.

Jesus had already warned His disciples about everything that would happen

Do you remember that Jesus had said that not one stone of the temple would be left on another and that Jerusalem would be surrounded by armies?  We can truly see that Jesus’ words came to pass. 

Jesus' prophecies about the destruction of Jerusalem reminds us that He is God and knows everything. He always tells the truth. Therefore we can believe everything that the Lord said and trust Him to save us from hell and from the lake of fire.

We begin by confessing our sins to God. After that we must repent. To repent means to turn away from sinning and obeying the Word of God. God is always pleased with those who obey His Word and do what is right and pleasing to Him.

       An Israeli stamp from 1968, quoting Psalm 122:6; Pray for the peace of Jerusalem!...

Armies will surround Jerusalem scriptures

Luk 21:5

Then, as some spoke of the temple, how it was adorned with beautiful stones and donations, He said,

Luk 21:6

“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.” 

Luk 21:20

But when you see Jerusalem surrounded by armies, then know that its desolation is near.

References

Josephus

The Wars Of The Jews By Flavius Josephus