Reading the Bible in Historical Sequence Part 12Sample

AD 70 The Romans destroy Jerusalem. c.AD 78 Jude, Jesus’ brother, warns against false teachers increasingly confusing the Church. John writes to those Christians suffering persecution, which has provoked more false teaching.

Note: The fall of Jerusalem was foretold by Jesus and reported in Luke 21:5–28. A study of the texts shows there are two events, both involving the destruction of Jerusalem, with the second event involving cosmic signs. Jesus’ said, “When you see armies camped around Jerusalem ... destruction is near ... then flee to the mountains” (Luke 21:20). The believers obeyed these words when they saw the Roman legions beginning to lay siege to Jerusalem just before AD 70. Thus, very few believers were amongst the million or more men, women and children slaughtered by those Roman legions under Titus Vespasian. This Roman force completely destroyed the Temple, separating each stone block from others (foretold in Luke 19:42–44) in their search for the gold, which had melted in the fire. The signs listed in Luke 21:25–27 haven’t happened yet, so the second event has not yet occurred. This second event is also described in Matthew 24:15, Mark 13:14 and Daniel 9:26–27. This occurs when “the time of the Gentiles comes to an end” (Luke 21:24), that is after the Church age. Revelation 15 describes a scene in heaven just after this second event.