Jesus' Warning To Flee Jerusalem When Armies Surround It

Jesus shocked everyone by telling them a day would come when they would have to flee Jerusalem.

Little Leah loved to visit the big, beautiful temple in Jerusalem with her family. The stones were beautiful and shiny, and the buildings reached high into the sky! One sunny day, as Jesus was leaving the temple with his friends, one of them pointed and said, "Teacher, look! Aren't these stones amazing? Look at these buildings, they are so strong!"

Jesus looked at the temple with kind eyes, but he shook his head a little. "Yes, they are beautiful now," he said gently. "But a time is coming when not a single one of these stones will be left on top of another. They will all be knocked down."

Leah and Jesus' friends were very surprised. "When will that happen?" asked Peter, his brow furrowed with concern. "And how will we know when it's time?"

Read more about Jesus' prophecies about the destruction of Jerusalem

Jerusalem, Israel

Jesus told His followers about the things that would happen at the time of Jerusalem's destruction

Jesus sat down with them on the Mount of Olives, where they could see the whole city. He told them that many things would happen before that time. There would be whispers of trouble, like a faraway storm. But then, he said something that sounded a little strange.

The Lord also warned that the "abomination of desolation" would stand in the holy place

"When you see something called the 'abomination of desolation' standing where it shouldn't be," Jesus explained, his voice serious but calm, "that will be the sign. Remember what the wise man Daniel wrote about long ago. When you see this, everyone in Judea must run to the mountains as fast as they can!"

He told them it would be so important to leave quickly that if someone was on the roof, they shouldn't even go inside to grab their favorite toy. If someone was working in the fields, they shouldn't turn back to get their coat.

Leah imagined people rushing away, just like when a big rainstorm suddenly starts. Jesus looked sad as he thought about people who were expecting babies or had tiny little ones. It would be a very hard time for them to run.

"Pray," Jesus told them, "that this doesn't happen in the cold of winter, when it's hard to travel." He explained that this time of trouble would be more difficult than any time the world had ever seen before.

Wailing Wall. Jerusalem in Israel

One day many years later, Roman armies surrounded Jerusalem

Years went by. Leah grew older, and the followers of Jesus remembered His words. They told their children and their friends about the warning. They  also watched all the time for any strange signs in Jerusalem.

Then, one day, they saw something that made their hearts beat fast. Armies, with their clanging swords and marching feet, surrounded the city of Jerusalem. It was a sight that felt wrong and scary, just like Jesus had described.

The believers remembered Jesus' warning about the "abomination of desolation." They knew this was the sign! Quickly, they started to leave Jerusalem. Some climbed down from their rooftops, others left their fields, just as Jesus had told them. They didn't stop to gather their belongings but hurried towards the safety of the mountains.

The believers in Jesus were safe during the Roman invasion

Because they listened to Jesus' words and acted quickly, they were safe when the great trouble came to Jerusalem. The beautiful temple, just as Jesus had said, was eventually destroyed. But those who believed in Jesus and heeded his warning were protected.

It was a powerful reminder that even when things look strong and safe, it's important to listen to wise words and be ready to act when the time comes.

We Can Trust Jesus' Words About Future Events

Over the past weeks we learnt about the ways in which Jesus truthfully foretold the events about the destruction of Jerusalem. He also warns that there is punishment for sinners in hell when they die and that He came to save us from that destruction.

Jesus spoke many time about a time coming when the world will end. He said that people will be separated into two groups - sinners and the righteous. He will judge the sinners for their sins and sentence them to a lake of fire forever.

All who believe Jesus can escape by choosing His gift of salvation. Believe on the Lord Jesus and you will be saved from hell and the lake of fire. He will wash your sins away and never remember them again.

He'll also write your name in the Book of Life and give you eternal life. All the people who believe in the Lord Jesus live righteously because His Spirit dwells in our spirits. 

Read more about how to receive eternal life. 

Flags of Israel

Jesus Warns His Followers To Flee Jerusalem During The Future Invasion By Armes - Mark 13  

Mar 13:1

Then as He went out of the temple, one of His disciples said to Him, “Teacher, see what manner of stones and what buildings are here!”

Mark 13: 2

And Jesus answered and said to him, “Do you see these great buildings? Not one stone shall be left upon another, that shall not be thrown down.”

Mark 13: 3

Now as He sat on the Mount of Olives opposite the temple, Peter, James, John, and Andrew asked Him privately,

Mark 13: 4

“Tell us, when will these things be? And what will be the sign when all these things will be fulfilled?”

Mark 13:14

“So when you see the ‘abomination of desolation,’[fn] spoken of by Daniel the prophet,[fn] standing where it ought not” (let the reader understand), “then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains.

Mark 13:15

“Let him who is on the housetop not go down into the house, nor enter to take anything out of his house.

Mar 13:16

“And let him who is in the field not go back to get his clothes.

Mark 13: 17

“But woe to those who are pregnant and to those who are nursing babies in those days!

Mark 13:18

“And pray that your flight may not be in winter.

Mark 13:19

“For in those days there will be tribulation, such as has not been since the beginning of the creation which God created until this time, nor ever shall be.

Simple References:

• The Disciples Admire the Temple - Mark 13:1.
• Jesus Predicts the Temple's Destruction - Mark 13:2.
• The Disciples Ask About the Timing and Signs - Mark 13:3-4.
• Jesus Warns His Followers To Flee Jerusalem During The Future Invasion By Armies - Mark 13.
• The Sign of the 'Abomination of Desolation' - Mark 13:14.
• The Urgency to Flee - Mark 13:15-18.
• A Time of Great Trouble - Mark 13:19.

Jesus' Warning To Flee Jerusalem When Armies Surround It by mossmercedes1

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.

Read More

Fig Tree Parable Foretells The AD 70 Destruction of Jerusalem

Jerusalem's Trench: Jesus' Prophecy Fulfilled.

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

70 AD: When Jewish People Were Captured 

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.

Learn More

Josephus

Siege of Jerusalem