however, through the Golden Window of the Holies an angry Roman
legionary threw a firebrand, causing the Sanctuary to blaze up. Titus
desperately tried to put out the fire, but the surrounding soldiers ignored his
efforts (and even orders) and threw more firebrands over his shoulder. The
Temple burned to its bare stones. It was August 10, the same day the
Babylonians had destroyed the first Temple in 586 BC.
Titus now had no mercy for anything or anyone in Jerusalem. He ordered
the Temple stones and the entire city raised: “there shall not be left here
one stone upon another.” All that now remains are the stones of the western
retaining wall, known today as the Wailing Wall. Wanton killing and
looting prevailed. No Jew was permitted anymore to live in Jerusalem – it
would be the home of Caesar’s Tenth Legion. The survivors, numbering 97
000, were either taken to the arenas or enslaved to work at the service of
Rome. Simon bar Giora and John of Gischala were taken to Rome and
paraded through the streets in victory procession, together with the symbol
of Judaism – the seven stick menorah – and other Temple treasures.
The scepter had now passed from Judea. 71 AD was the first year of a new
world: one without Jerusalem, without the Temple, without the sacrifices.
There would be no more kings, no more prophets, and no restoration. The
Church was unaffected by the Jewish Revolt, and it now stood vindicated
and reassured against those who had formerly mocked Christ and His
prophesies. But it was still only a small, rag-tag band of believers, scattered
across the triumphant Empire of steel, an Empire that still held them to be
illegal.
Themes for study:
The success of the initial stages of the Zealot revolt;
The campaign and siege of Judea/Jerusalem by Vespasian/Titus;
The destruction of the second Temple;
The fulfillment of Christ’s prophesy.
Further reading:
Warren H. Carroll, The Founding of Christendom (A History of
Christendom), Vol. 1, Christendom Press, 1985, pp. 425-429;
Anne W. Carroll, Christ the King: Lord of History, Second Edition,
Trinity Communications, 1986, pp. 86-87;
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