Yeshua's Prophecy on the Destruction of the Holy Temple

Yeshua prophesized about the destruction of the temple of God within about 40 years in Matthew 24:1-3 and 34:

In verse 2, all these things Yeshua refers to are the buildings of the temple, which shall be thrown down (ruined) completely. In verse 3, his disciples asked him three independent questions: (1) When will [all] these things be [ruined]? This question is related to the buildings of the temple, which Yeshua prophesized to be ruined completely; (2) what will be the sign of Yeshua's return; and (3) what will be the sign of the end of the age?

Yeshua did not answer these three questions sequentially. He answered and said to them: "Take heed that no one deceives you. For many will come in my name, saying, 'I am the Messiah,' and will deceive many." (Matthew 24:4-5).

In these verses, Yeshua told his disciples that before all these things (the buildings of the temple) were ruined, many false messiahs would come in his name and deceive many. Yeshua warned his disciples not to be deceived by the false messiahs. Here he answered the first question of his disciples.

In verses 6-14, Yeshua said:

In these verses, Yeshua answered the third question of his disciples: What will be the signs before the end of the age?

In verses 15-20, Yeshua said:

In these verses, Yeshua answered the first question of his disciples again. Yeshua prophesized the destruction of Jerusalem and the temple of God. The Romans (the Gentiles) standing in the holy place was an abomination to God because no foreigner who is uncircumcised in flesh and heart is allowed to enter the holy temple of God (Ezekiel 44:6-9). Yeshua foretold that the Jews could escape from the tribulation by fleeing to the mountains when they saw the Romans stand in the holy place.

In verses 21-22, Yeshua stated:

In these verses, Yeshua answered the third question of his disciples: What will be the signs before the end of the age?

In verses 23-28, Yeshua told his disciples:

Here, Yeshua provided a general guidance to identify false messiahs and false prophets in any time. Since false messiahs and false prophets had appeared before the temple was destroyed (Matthew 24:4-5) and continued to appear till the end times, this general guidance is necessary for his true believers not to be deceived. The general guidance is that Yeshua will come down from heaven as the lightning coming from the east and flashing to the west. The resurrected Yeshua should never appear in the desert nor in the inner rooms (secret chambers). If anyone tells you that he has seen the resurrected Yeshua in the desert or in the inner rooms, what he has seen is not Yeshua but a false messiah. Even if the false messiah and his prophets could perform great signs and wonders, do not believe them because they do these to deceive you, even the elect.

In verses 29-31, Yeshua said:

In these verses, Yeshua answered the third question of his disciples: What will the signs of his coming in the end times be? He also foretold his disciples that he would return with power and great glory and would first gather his true believers before he would pour out the wrath of God upon the ungodly.

In verses 32-34, Yeshua said:

In these verses, Yeshua answered the first question of his disciples again: When will all these things become (ruined)?

The Greek word "Γίνομαι" (transliteration: ginomai) in verse 34 has the following meanings: come into being; come to pass; happen; become (signifying a change of condition, state or place). In most English translations, "ginomai" is translated as "happen" or "take place." Then verse 34 reads: "Assuredly, I say to you, this generation will by no means pass away till all these things take place." If all these things would refer to the end-time events, this prophecy of Yeshua would not be fulfilled because the end did not come one generation after his prophecy. If "ginomai" is translated as "become," verse 34 reads: "Assuredly, I say to you, this generation will by no means pass away till all these things become [ruined]." This verse naturally answered the first question of his disciples: When will [all] these things be [ruined]?

In these verses, Yeshua actually prophesized the time for destruction of the temple of God. He foretold that the temple would be destroyed in the summertime (verse 32) and within a generation (verse 34) from his prophecy. In Chapter 1 of the Gospel of Matthew, the author counted 14 generations from captivity of Jeconiah (Jehoiachin) into Babylon to the birth of Yeshua. It is known that Jehoiachin was taken into Babylon in the spring of 597 BC (see Chapter 11). In Chapter 34, we will prove that Yeshua was born in the spring of 5 BC. Therefore, the average number of years per generation is calculated to be (597-5)/14 = 42.3. Yeshua prophesized this in the spring of 30 AD and the temple was destroyed in the summer of 70 AD. Therefore, the temple of God was destroyed about 40.5 years (slightly less than a generation) after the time of his prophecy. This prophecy of Yeshua was fulfilled perfectly.

A similar prophecy on the destruction of Jerusalem can be found in Matthew 12:41: "The men of Nineveh will rise up in the judgment with this generation and condemn it, because they repented at the preaching of Jonah; and indeed [one] greater than Jonah is here."

There is an implied prophecy in his statement. Before this statement, Yeshua prophesized that he would resurrect after he would be buried for 3 days and 3 nights just as happened to Jonah. In Matthew 12:41, Yeshua foretold God's judgment and condemnation on this generation because they did not repent at the warning of Yeshua. Jonah the prophet prophesized the destruction of Nineveh within 40 days. The men of Nineveh repented at the warning of Jonah. Yeshua who is greater than Jonah prophesized the destruction of Jerusalem within one generation. God gave a 40-day warning to the men of Nineveh through His prophet Jonah. In contrast, God gave a 40-year warning to the men of Jerusalem through His only begotten Son. Unfortunately, the Jews did not repent, and God's wrath poured out on His people, as also prophesized by Daniel (Daniel 9:26-27). The Romans destroyed Jerusalem ruthlessly in 70 AD and killed over 1 million Jews, 40 years after Yeshua's warning.