We read:
5-6 One day people were standing around talking about the Temple, remarking how beautiful it was, the splendor of its stonework and memorial gifts. Jesus said, “All this you’re admiring so much—the time is coming when every stone in that building will end up in a heap of rubble.”
20-24 “When you see soldiers camped all around Jerusalem, then you’ll know that she is about to be devastated. If you’re living in Judea at the time, run for the hills. If you’re in the city, get out quickly. If you’re out in the fields, don’t go home to get your coat. This is the Day of Reckoning—everything written about it will come to a head. Pregnant and nursing mothers will have it especially hard. Incredible misery! Torrential rage! People dropping like flies; people dragged off to prisons; Jerusalem under the boot of barbarians until the nations finish what was given them to do.
Using Perplexity:
Question: in 70 AD , the Romans destroyed Jerusalem. Were Christians saved by paying attention to the words of Jesus?
Answer:
## Were Christians Saved by Paying Attention to the Words of Jesus During the Destruction of Jerusalem in 70 AD?
Historical evidence strongly suggests that many Christians in Jerusalem survived the Roman destruction in 70 AD by heeding Jesus’ warnings to flee the city when they saw danger approaching.
**Jesus’ Prophecy and Instructions**
- The Gospels record that Jesus predicted the destruction of Jerusalem and the Temple, warning his followers: "When you see Jerusalem surrounded by armies... then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains" (Luke 21:20-21, see also Matthew 24:15-20)[3][4].
- Jesus specifically instructed not to delay or return for possessions, emphasizing urgency in escape[3].
**Historical Accounts of Christian Flight**
- Early Christian historians, notably Eusebius of Caesarea (4th century), wrote that the Christian community in Jerusalem received a divine warning—interpreted as fulfillment of Jesus’ prophecy—and fled to the city of Pella, located across the Jordan River, before the Roman siege began[2][4].
- Epiphanius, another early church writer, also confirmed that Christians left Jerusalem for Pella, and archaeological finds in Pella may support the presence of early Christians there[4].
- The Christians’ departure reportedly occurred before the Romans encircled Jerusalem, sparing them from the siege’s horrors, which included mass death, enslavement, and destruction[1][2].
**Why Pella Was Chosen**
- Pella was outside the main conflict zone, across the Jordan, and had a Hellenistic culture less involved in the Jewish revolt, making it a safer refuge for Christians who were not active participants in the rebellion[2].
**Conclusion**
- According to both biblical records and early church historians, Christians in Jerusalem survived the 70 AD destruction largely because they paid attention to Jesus’ warnings and fled the city when the signs he described appeared[2][3][4].
- This event is often cited as a fulfillment of Jesus’ prophecy and as a pivotal moment in the early separation between Christianity and Judaism[1][5].
[1] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Siege_of_Jerusalem_(70_CE)
[2] https://biblereflection.org/pella/
[3] https://enduringword.com/bible-commentary/matthew-24/
[4] https://refugeinjordan.com/did-first-century-christians-flee-to-pella-pt-1/
[5] https://christianleaders.org/mod/page/view.php?id=33121
[6] https://answeringisraelonly.wordpress.com/2019/01/03/the-saints-went-back-to-jerusalem-from-pella-after-ad-70/
[7] https://www.biblestudytools.com/matthew/24-16.html
[8] https://www.gracegreeley.org/teaching/the-destruction-of-jerusalem-part-3/
[9] https://bredenhof.ca/2024/03/05/decisive-moments-the-fall-of-jerusalem/
[10] https://www.thetorah.com/article/did-early-christians-mourn-the-destruction-of-the-temple
[11] https://christianhistoryinstitute.org/magazine/article/not-one-stone-left-upon-another
[12] https://biblehub.com/matthew/24-16.htm
[13] https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew+24&version=NIV
[14] https://www.britannica.com/event/Siege-of-Jerusalem-70
[15] https://christiancourier.com/articles/the-siege-of-jerusalem
[16] https://www.blueletterbible.org/Comm/ice_thomas/Mat24-25/Mat24-25_Part14.cfm
[17] https://www.bibleref.com/Matthew/24/Matthew-24-16.html
[18] https://www.koinesune.com/stories/church-history-the-destruction-of-jerusalem
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