The Destruction of Jerusalem: An Absolute and Irresistible Proof of the Divine Origin of Christianity

“For then there will be great tribulation, such as has not been since the beginning of the world until this time, no, nor ever shall be” (Matthew 24:21). Thus did Jesus describe the events of 70 A.D., including the destruction of Jerusalem 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. In response to His disciples who noted 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 foretelling the destruction of Jerusalem and her temple, along with His coming judgment, Jesus then told His “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, being merely a man, was simply mistaken in His predictions. But forgotten history leads men to false assumptions and foolish speculations. It took 83 years to complete Herod’s Temple, but only four years after its completion, and less than 40 years after Jesus predicted its downfall, in 70 A.D. it would be utterly laid waste by the Romans.

While the final return of Christ for His triumphant Church, the execution of His final judgment on the disobedient, and the end of history remain ahead of us, much of what has been sensationalized as yet to come was in fact fulfilled almost two millennia ago just as Christ Himself said it would be. The Destruction of Jerusalem, by George 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.