THE FALL OF JERUSALEM AND THE TEMPLE, Chapter 11 of Who Crucified Christ

O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, which killest the prophets, and stonest them that are sent unto thee; how often would I have gathered thy children together, as a hen doth gather her brood under her wings, and ye would not! (Luke 13:34)

The Jewish conspirators were not satisfied with just the death of Jesus; they persecuted His followers and even imprisoned and killed them. For years God’s patience had been constrained until He used the Romans in 70 AD to bring retaliation against the Jews.

Jerusalem had become a den of thieves, full of corruption and murder. Wickedness and dishonesty increased among Jewish citizens and leaders alike until conditions reversed and Romans became the aggressor. Not only had the Spirit of the Lord left them, but also common sense, kindness and fairness. The Romans, who themselves were known for their crimes and viciousness, now had rivals among the Jews, and they could no longer tolerate such uprising troublemakers. It would now become one evil force against another. The claims of treason and sedition that the Jews had hurled at Christ were now the very crimes of which they were accused.

The Romans knew that such a rebellious people must be controlled. Thus the Roman soldiers (under the leadership of [Titus) surrounded the city and everything was ready for their attack. Suddenly the general withdrew his forces for no known reason. However, this action was a sign–the fulfillment of a prophecy by Jesus:

And when ye shall see Jerusalem compassed with armies, then know that the desolation thereof is nigh. Then let them which are in Judea flee to the mountains; and let them which are in the midst of it depart out; and let not them that are in the countries enter thereinto. (Luke 21:20-21)