By David Abraham

“When ye therefore shall see the abomination of desolation spoken of by Daniel the prophet, stand in the holy place. Then let them which be in Judea flee into the mountains. Let him which is on the housetop not come down to take anything out of his house.” Matt 24:15-17

“Signs and wonders appeared, foreboding danger and doom. In the midst of the night an unnatural light shone over the temple and the altar. Upon the clouds at sunset were pictured chariots and men of war gathering for battle. The priest ministering by night in the sanctuary was terrified by mysterious sounds, the earth trembled and a multitude of voices were heard crying. ‘Let us depart hence’ the great eastern gate, which was heavy that it could hardly be shut by a score of men, and which was secured by immense bars of iron fastened deep in the pavement of  solid stone opened at midnight without visible agency—Milman.” The History of the Jews, book 13.

Terrible were the calamites that fell upon Jerusalem when the siege was resumed by Titus. The most inhuman tortures were inflicted by those in power. Thousands of Jews perished from the famine and pestilence.

Not one Christian perished in the destruction of Jerusalem. Christ had given his disciples warning, and all who believed his words watched for the promised sign.

“When ye shall see Jerusalem compassed with armies,” said Jesus, “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.” Luke 21:20, 21

At the time of the siege, the Jews were assembled at Jerusalem to keep the feast of tabernacles and thus the Christians throughout the land were able to make their escape unmolested without delay they fled to a place of safety the city of Pella in the land of Perea, beyond Jordan.

The savior’s prophecy concerning the visitation of judgment upon Jerusalem is to have another fulfillment of which the terrible desolation was but a faint shadow. In the fate of the chosen city we may behold the doom of a world that has rejected God’s mercy and trampled upon his law.

Dark are the records of human misery that earth has witnessed during its long centuries of crime. The restraining spirit of God shall be withdrawn from the wicked, no longer to hold in check the outburst of human passion and satanic wrath! The world will then behold, as never before, the results of Satan’s rule.

“When life is going on in its unvarying round. When men are absorbed in pleasure in business in traffic, in money making; when religious leaders are magnifying the world’s progress and enlightenment, and the people are lulled in a false security then as the midnight thief steals within the unguarded dwelling , so shall sudden destruction come upon the careless and ungodly,” and they shall not escape.” 1 Thessalonians 5:3.