Participants:
Series Code: TIJ
Program Code: TIJ007116S
|
00:26 Jerusalem is totally unique, there is no other place like it
00:31 in all the world. 00:32 It's one of the oldest cities in the world and is full of 00:36 tradition, religion, and history. 00:39 The world's greatest concentration of religious sites 00:42 is found right here in the heart of Jerusalem. 00:46 Surrounded by walls, this history packed square kilometer 00:51 is home to holy sites for Jews, Christians, and Muslims 00:57 it's the most sacred city in the world and is truly 01:01 breathtaking. 01:02 The western wall in the heart of the Jewish quarter is the 01:06 holiest site in Judaism, the Via Delarosa that marks Jesus' 01:12 pathway to the cross in the church of the Holy Sepulcher. 01:15 is the traditional site where Jesus died, was buried, 01:20 and resurrected, it's the holiest site in Christianity. 01:24 Then the dome of the rock in the Alexa Mosque is said to be 01:29 where Mohammad rose into the heavens and make Jerusalem 01:33 the third holiest place for Muslims. 01:36 All this and much much more is packed into just 01:41 one square kilometer and this most precious, most sacred, 01:46 and most disputed square kilometer in the world 01:49 is surrounded and protected by walls. 01:52 The walls remind us that the city of Jerusalem has been 01:59 surrounded by walls for its defense since ancient times 02:02 but the walls haven't always been able to protect the city. 02:06 During its long history, Jerusalem has been attacked 02:11 52 times... 02:20 The first time Jerusalem was destroyed was by a 02:23 Great Warrior King Nebuchadnezzar 02:25 and his Babylonian army in 586 BC just over 2,600 years ago 02:32 The Babylonians besieged and destroyed the city, 02:36 plundered the temple and carried off many of its 02:39 sacred golden vessels. 02:41 The second and last time Jerusalem was destroyed 02:44 was in 70 AD when the Roman General Titus besieged and 02:49 attacked the city with four legions. 02:51 The Romans totally destroyed the city and the Jewish Temple. 02:55 It was one of the most brutal and catastrophic and devastating 03:00 attacks in history, over a million people perished. 03:04 Rome's destruction of Jerusalem and its temple is one of the 03:09 darkest chapters in history. Not only is it a testament 03:13 of the cruelty and efficiency of the Roman military machine, 03:17 but also a story of lost opportunities and forgotten 03:21 warnings. 03:22 You see, the Bible clearly predicted the catastrophic 03:27 leveling of the city. In fact just before his death 03:31 Jesus made seven specific and chilling predictions 03:34 about the destructions about the destruction of both 03:37 Jerusalem and its temple. 03:39 And those predictions carry a carry a special and relevant 03:42 message for us today. 03:45 Join me here in Jerusalem as we relive the city's 03:49 destruction and investigate the sobering message it carries 03:54 for us today. 04:09 The spectacular Gold Cap Dome of The rock dominates the skyline 04:14 of Old Jerusalem today, it sits proudly on what Muslims call 04:18 Haram al-Charif, "The Nobel Sanctuary", or what Jews call 04:23 Temple Mount, they believe that this was the location of the 04:28 Sacred Jewish Temple. 04:30 It was here on this hilltop that Solomon built 04:33 the first temple in the middle of the 10th century BC. 04:37 And for almost 400 years it was the central Jewish place of 04:42 worship, then in 586 BC, the Babylonians destroyed Jerusalem 04:49 and the temple and took the Jews captive to Babylon. 04:52 About a half a century later Cyrus the Great, 04:56 king of the Medes and Persians defeated the Babylonian army 05:00 and agreed that the Jews could return to Jerusalem and rebuild 05:05 their temple. At the urging of the Jewish prophets Haggai 05:09 and Zachariah, Zerubbabel began construction of the 05:14 second temple in 521 BC and completed it in 515 BC. 05:20 Then it was subsequently enlarged by the Hasmonean Dynasty 05:24 and then was completely renovated and enlarged further 05:29 by Herod the Great beginning in 20 BC. 05:32 Herod the Great was the greatest builder of the 05:36 ancient world and possibly of all time. 05:39 He built new cities, palaces, fortresses, monuments, 05:44 harbors and aqueducts. 05:45 But the Jewish Temple was the pinnacle of his 05:49 building endeavors. No expense was spared, it was one of the 05:53 greatest buildings found anywhere in the Roman Empire. 05:57 In fact Josephus an ancient Jewish historian who saw 06:02 the building said that it was covered on all sides 06:05 with massive plates of gold. 06:07 The temple was one of the architectural wonders 06:12 of the ancient world and truly was a marvel to behold. 06:15 It was the center of Israel's national and religious life. 06:19 The Jewish people believed that their magnificent temple 06:23 was permanent and would last until the end of time. 06:27 Not only because of its excellent construction 06:30 but also because it was the very Sanctuary of God 06:33 and represented His presence among them and so were virtually 06:38 indestructible. 06:40 Jesus was familiar with the temple and visited there often 06:44 in fact His life from the beginning to end was associated with 06:48 the temple. As an infant His parents took Him to the temple 06:53 to dedicate Him and present Him to the Lord. 06:56 Twelve years later when Mary and Joseph were visiting 07:00 Jerusalem to celebrate Passover, they found Him 07:04 in the temple sitting with the teachers, listening to them 07:07 and asking them questions. 07:09 During His ministry Jesus was frequently in the temple courts 07:14 and in the temple, He healed sick people there 07:17 and spent a lot of time teaching in the temple. 07:20 Jesus reverenced and respected the temple and protected its 07:25 sanctity, He drove out the merchants and money changers 07:28 who had turned it into a market place, 07:31 but Jesus knew that the temple's days were numbered. 07:36 With prophetic insight He looked into the future 07:40 and saw that Jerusalem and its magnificent temple 07:43 were soon to be destroyed and He wanted His disciples 07:47 and followers to be prepared so soon after His last visit 07:52 to the temple, He shares with His followers what was going to 07:55 happen in the future and specifically, what was 07:58 going to happen to the temple. 07:59 In fact, Jesus gave seven chilling predictions 08:03 about the future of Jerusalem and the temple. 08:07 It all started a few days earlier when He arrived 08:10 in Jerusalem when Jesus came over the crest of the 08:14 Mt. of Olives and looked over the city, He wept over it. 08:18 He looked into the future and down through the pages 08:21 of history and saw the horror and destruction that was 08:25 going to before the city, its temple, and its inhabitants 08:29 in less than 40 years' time. 08:32 Jesus' heart was weighed down with the fate of His 08:35 beloved people, He was concerned about the utter devastation 08:40 of the city He loved and the the people he called His own. 08:43 It broke His heart and He cried out... 09:17 So, there we have the first of Jesus' predictions 09:21 regarding Jerusalem. 09:23 Enemies will 1. Build an embankment A wall) around you, 09:29 2. Surround the city and hem you in. Lay siege to the city. 09:33 3. Destroy the city- not one stone will be left on another 09:39 the city will be leveled. 09:41 Now that's a devastating list of predictions about any city 09:46 but it was unbelievable that it could possibly happen 09:50 to Jerusalem, yet there was even worse to come. 09:54 When Jesus was leaving the temple for the last time, 09:57 the disciples proudly pointed out the magnificent stones 10:02 and buildings and exclaimed... 10:10 Well, Jesus' response could not have been more shocking. 10:15 No doubt that the disciples hearts skipped a beat 10:29 and their breath was taken away by these words of Jesus. 10:33 But there's His next prediction. 10:36 Prediction number 4. 10:37 The temple will be destroyed, Not one stone will be left 10:43 standing on another. 10:44 These predictions are going from bad to worse 10:48 and yet there is still more to come 10:51 Jesus wasn't finished yet. 10:53 He went on to say... 11:09 So, here's the next load of predictions. 11:12 Number 5. The inhabitants of Jerusalem will be killed. 11:16 Number 6. The Jews will be scattered among the nations. 11:20 And finally number 7. Gentiles will inhabit Jerusalem. 11:26 It certainly was a chilling list of predictions, 11:29 they were just too terrible to contemplate 11:32 could they ever really happen? 11:34 Well, here's the record of history. 11:38 Here's what happened. 11:39 The Romans had been occupying Judea since 63 BC 11:45 tensions between the Romans and the Jews 11:48 had been growing and came to a head when Emperor Nero 11:52 appointed Governor Florus planned at the Jewish temple 11:55 treasury is 66 AD. 11:58 After Florus plundered the temple, Jewish forces 12:02 defeated the Roman Garrison Station in Jerusalem 12:06 and then defeated a larger force sent in from Syria. 12:10 Well, this infuriated the Romans and Nero asked his 12:15 decorated General Vespasian and his son Titus 12:19 to subdue the Jews and bring law and order to the country. 12:24 Under the leadership of Vespasian and with an 80,000 12:28 strong army, the Romans quickly conquered Galilee 12:31 and then set their sights on the stronghold Jerusalem. 12:35 By 70 AD Vespasian had returned to Rome to become emperor 12:41 leaving his son Titus to lead the army against Jerusalem. 12:45 With four legions under his command Titus quickly 12:49 took control, he posted his 10th legion right here 12:54 on the Mt. of Olives directly east of and overlooking 12:57 The Temple Mount. 12:59 The 12th and 15th legions were stationed on Mt. Scopus 13:03 further to the east and commanding all ways to Jerusalem 13:08 from east to north, the 5th legion was held in reserve. 13:12 Now Titus was a master military technician and had developed 13:17 good methods of breaking into walled cities 13:20 and conquering his enemies, so, rather than launching 13:24 a full frontal attack straight off, he decided to 13:27 first, implement a vigorous siege against Jerusalem 13:31 and its citizens. 13:33 First, they built a seven-meter siege wall or embankment 13:39 right around the city. It prevented anyone from 13:42 entering or leaving, no food and water supplies were allowed 13:47 into the city, Jerusalem was sealed off 13:50 there was no escape. 13:52 Then Titus ensured that the city was completely 13:56 surrounded and encircled by his soldiers and auxiliaries. 14:00 With his four legions strategically placed 14:03 all roads and thoroughfares into Jerusalem were secured 14:07 and blocked by well-guarded checkpoints, 14:10 Jerusalem's inhabitants were hemmed in on every side 14:14 Soon the city was gripped in an ever-tightening death siege 14:19 but there was worse to come. 14:21 With the city secured and completely sealed off 14:24 the deadly heavy artillery and weaponry was assembled 14:28 the plan was to strike terror into the defenders 14:34 into bullying, intimidate, batter, and starve 14:38 the inhabitants into submission and surrender. 14:41 The siege along with the display of brute force 14:45 had the desired effect on Jerusalem's inhabitants 14:48 locked up inside the city walls. 14:50 Mayhem and chaos broke loose as starvation threatened 14:55 the trapped in inhabitants 14:57 Soon the situation inside the city became desperate 15:01 hunger became so intense that the citizens became 15:06 insane with starvation resorting to murdering one another 15:11 over food, the scene was one of utter destruction. 15:15 Thousands died of starvation an accompanying illness 15:19 it was one of the starkest examples of human suffering 15:24 during war-time in history. 15:26 With the defenders and inhabitants of Jerusalem 15:29 weakened and starving Titus unleashed his vast and deadly 15:34 array of weaponry and fire- power on the city. 15:38 The huge wooden catapults bombarded the city with rocks 15:42 smashing everything they hit and causing panic among 15:46 the people. The sieged towers were rolled up to the 15:50 city walls, they filled with soldiers and the towers were 15:53 tall enough to allow archers directly into the city itself. 15:58 They also had different levels with platforms that 16:02 allowed soldiers to climb onto the walls and access to the city. 16:06 Along with siege towers, the Romans dragged their 16:10 battering rams into place, they were used to pound and 16:14 destroy the city walls and gates causing them to crumble 16:18 and collapse. When the walls were breached, it opened the way 16:23 for the soldiers to advance first using their ladders 16:27 then on foot, they clamored through the openings 16:30 and poured into the city. 16:32 Soon mounted troops and their accompanied foot soldiers 16:36 stormed through the streets and their alleyways 16:38 they attacked and pillaged and killed without mercy 16:43 no one was spared, men, women, and children 16:47 were put to the sword, those trying to flee were brutally 16:52 cut down, it was absolute carnage. 16:56 The historian Josephus who was an eyewitness to the event 17:00 claimed that over a million people were killed in the attack, 17:05 no buildings were spared either. 17:07 When Titus gave the soldiers their final instructions 17:11 he specified that the temple was not to be harmed. 17:15 He gave strict instructions that it was not to be burnt 17:19 or destroyed. The building was just too valuable 17:23 to be carelessly torched in a skirmish, 17:25 besides, he had his eye on the temple treasure. 17:29 He'd heard all about the gold in and on the building 17:33 and the valuable temple furnishings and he wanted them. 17:37 But many Jews and Zealots had taken refuge in the temple 17:41 and as the soldiers tried to enter they were ambushed 17:46 and one of them seriously wounded. 17:48 The soldiers retaliated and soon fierce hand to hand 17:52 combat had broken out on the temple's steps. 17:55 In the chaos of the assault, a soldier who has single-lighted 18:00 torch into the temple and immediately the 18:03 cedar-lined beams around the Holy Place went up in flames. 18:08 Infuriated with the resistance and guerilla warfare of the 18:12 Jewish Zealots, the Roman soldiers began to hold more 18:16 firebrands into the temple. 18:18 They also attacked and slaughtered as many Zealots, 18:22 Jews, and priests as they could when they tried to escape 18:25 the burning temple. Horrified Titus rushed forward 18:29 to try to contain the situation but it was too late. 18:34 He manages to salvage the golden menorah and some of the other 18:38 of the temple furniture and treasure to take back to Rome. 18:42 But nothing could be done to save the temple, 18:45 it went up in flames. 18:47 The intense flames of the temple fire melted the gold and silver 18:52 and it ran down between the rocks and into the cracks 18:56 and crevices of the stones. 18:58 Titus wanted that gold and silver and so he ordered 19:02 his soldiers to totally dismantle what was left 19:05 of the temple stone by stone to extract the gold and silver 19:10 and so quite literally not one stone was left standing 19:15 upon another. The temple itself was totally destroyed 19:20 along with the rest of the city. 19:22 When you visit Temple Mount today there' Herodian Street 19:27 with shops alongside of it dating from 70 AD 19:31 that's been unearthed by archeologists along the 19:35 southern end of the western wall. 19:36 The street itself is buckled from the weight of the piles 19:40 of huge stones which still lie where they fell 19:44 when the Roman soldiers threw them down from Temple Mount 19:48 in 70 AD. 19:49 The fall of Jerusalem in 70 AD was a defining moment for 19:55 the Jewish nation, over one million Jews were killed 19:58 and nearly 100,000 were taken captive and sold into slavery. 20:03 Jerusalem and its temple were burned to the ground 20:07 and raised to their foundations. 20:09 With no capital city, no national leadership 20:14 and no religious center, huge numbers of Jews left Judea 20:18 to make a home elsewhere, this diaspora or dispersion 20:24 out of their ancestral homeland saw Jews scattered to the 20:28 four corners of the world, they were stateless 20:31 and forced to live in other countries. 20:34 And this was exacerbated even further following the defeat 20:38 of the Jewish Zealot Bakfaba's rebellion by Emperor Haydn 20:43 65 years later in 135 AD when Jews were forbidden to even enter 20:50 Jerusalem and so as a result Jerusalem was occupied 20:55 by non-Jews, Gentiles, for centuries. 20:59 Now, as we've relived the horrifying historical events 21:04 associated with the fall of Jerusalem in 70 AD 21:08 we notice that they perfectly match the chilling predictions 21:13 that Jesus made. 21:15 Jesus' seven predictions came true even to the smallest detail. 21:21 Now there was one group of Jews who escaped the terror 21:25 informer of the Roman Siege, you see Jesus gave both 21:29 predictions and warnings, He said... 21:47 Now this refers to the Roman standards burying the insignia 21:53 of both the empire and the Imperial Cult 21:56 a false system of religion being planted in the area 22:00 the Jews considered to be Holy Ground. 22:02 This referred in particular to the sacred temple 22:06 but also covered Jerusalem and extended several meters 22:10 beyond the city walls. 22:12 Jesus warned His followers that when they saw this happen 22:16 they were to prepare to leave the city because of its destruction 22:20 will be imminent and the Jewish Christians took Jesus' words 22:25 very seriously. 22:27 As the storm clouds gathered and when the Roman armies 22:31 besieged Jerusalem in 67 AD before Titus arrived 22:36 the followers of Jesus were ready, Jesus' warning indicated 22:40 that when the time came to leave they should do so 22:44 without delay and that's exactly what they did. 22:47 During a temporary respite when the Romans unexpectedly 22:52 raged their siege of Jerusalem all the Christians fled 22:56 and it is said that none of them lost their lives. 23:00 They listened to Jesus, they took His word seriously 23:04 and they survived. 23:06 Now there is a powerful message there for us today 23:10 living in the 21st century because just as surely 23:15 and as accurately as Jesus predicted the fall of Jerusalem 23:20 He also foretold His second coming and what will take place 23:24 just before He returns so that His followers can prepare 23:29 and be ready. 23:30 Do you remember the disciples question when Jesus told them 23:35 that the Jerusalem temple would be destroyed? 23:37 The very thought of the destruction of Jerusalem 23:41 and the temple was so shocking and distressing to the disciples 23:45 that they automatically assumed that these events 23:48 must be connected to the end of the world. 23:51 And so as soon as they could they asked Jesus 23:55 for clarification. 24:03 Just as Jesus provided seven predictions about the 24:07 fall of Jerusalem, so He also provided seven predictions 24:12 about His coming and the end of the world. 24:15 The first is a microcosm of the second. 24:18 The destruction of Jerusalem doubled as a description 24:24 of the state of the world immediately prior 24:27 to Jesus' second coming. 24:29 Jesus gave seven signs about the world we live in today, 24:33 they're outlined in Matthew chapter 24, Mark chapter 14, 24:39 and Luke chapter 21, here they are. 24:42 1. False Christs and false prophets, 24:46 Jesus said that there would be deception and confusion 24:50 in the religious world. 24:52 2. Wars and rumors of wars. 24:55 Jesus said that there would be an increase in military 25:00 activity and tensions and conflict between nations. 25:03 3. Earthquakes, famines, and pestilences. 25:08 Jesus said there would be an increase in the frequency 25:12 and intensity of naturally disasters and pestilences. 25:16 which is another word for pandemics, plagues, and disease. 25:20 4. Persecution. Jesus said His followers would be victimized, 25:27 discriminated against and mistreated. 25:30 5. Apostasy. Jesus said many would defect and turn away 25:36 from following Him and abandon their faith. 25:39 6. World Evangelism. Jesus said the Good News, the Gospel 25:45 will go to all the world. 25:47 And finally number 7. 25:49 The Abomination of Desolation. 25:52 Jesus said a Roman-based power will become prominent and 25:57 promote false religion and in particular a false gospel. 26:03 So, there they are, seven signs, seven things that are going to 26:08 happen that will tell us that Jesus is coming soon. 26:13 When we look at the world we live in today 26:15 one thing is clear, the signs that Jesus has laid out for us 26:20 signaling the nearness of His coming are being fulfilled 26:24 before our eyes. 26:25 We live in exciting times, the spiraling chaos we see around us 26:31 points forward to the most glorious event the world has 26:35 ever seen, Jesus is coming soon. 26:39 The question is, are we ready to meet Him. 26:44 If you would like to know more about the second coming of Jesus 26:48 and how you can make sure you are ready to meet Him, 26:51 then, I'd like to recommend the free gift we have 26:55 for all our Incredible Journey viewers today. 26:58 It's the booklet Signs of His Return, 27:02 this booklet is our gift to you and is absolutely free 27:07 I guarantee there are no costs or obligations whatsoever. 27:11 So, make the most of this wonderful opportunity 27:14 to receive your free gift today. 27:18 Phone or text 0436.333.555 in Australia or 020.422.2042 27:28 in New Zealand, or 770.800.0266 in the United States, 27:35 or visit our website tij.tv, or simply scan the QR Code 27:41 on your screen and we'll send you today's free offer 27:44 totally free of charge and with no obligation. 27:48 You can also write to us at the addresses on your screen 27:51 or email us at info@tij.tv. Don't delay call or text us now. 27:59 Dear Heavenly Father, We thank you for providing us 28:03 with information and evidence that Jesus is coming soon. 28:07 We want to take this information seriously and ensure that 28:11 we are ready to meet Jesus when He comes. 28:14 Please bless us and our families and grant us all a place 28:19 in your kingdom, we pray in Jesus' name. 28:23 Amen! |
Revised 2025-04-09