Why is there a need for AD70 (destruction of Jerusalem and Temple).?

Q: Why is there a need for AD70 (destruction of Jerusalem and Temple).?

Answer:

The destruction of Jerusalem and its Temple represents the destruction of the Old Covenant Age, the Mosaic Age, the old practices of temple sacrifices under Judaism, the priesthood organization and hierarchy, and the complete removal of Jerusalem as the centre of worship of God.

The event really DID happened as the evidence of it is too too much overwhelming. Many lives were lost. Properties destroyed. The survivors were raped and taken to captivity. Children were eaten as food. The loots of the destruction were hauled to Rome as objects of victory. The event is too tragic that even in Jewish synagogues and communities today, they do lament this with great sadness.


The question is WHY was there a need for such tragedy.?
Couldn't God could have averted it? Isn't God all loving and forgiving to allow the witness of such a massacre? Why must the Jews suffer so much? and a thousand Whys..

Here is an attempt to answer this question in a simple way (the full answer will be revealed when we are in God's eternity).

1. God has been warning of such judgement for hundreds of years.

From Mat 21 onward up to Mat 24, you can see that Jesus was laying the framework by actual warnings, parables, and Woes directed to the Pharisees, scribes, Jews about the coming judgement of God upon them. In fact, such warnings were not limited to Mat 21, but all throughout the Old Testament and especially the writings of the prophets, God was already aghast with the idolatry of Israel (Jews) as a nation. And the judgement was a SURE SIGN that it will come.


2. Israel has been rejecting the prophets and His Son.

So when God sent Jesus (like in the parable of the wicked tenants - where the vine dresser sent the son), and kept on rejecting the Son, the judgement had to come. The rejection of the Son is the rejection of God the Father.
Israel rejected God, and replaced it with an adulterated system that does not represent God.

Remember in the book of Zechariah, where he prophesied that the Jews will break their covenant with God for 30 pieces of silver (Zech 11:12,13).
This was fulfilled when Jesus was sold for 30 pieces of silver (Mat 26:15).

The covenant between God and Israel to bring salvation to them was broken for 30 pieces of silver.


3. God will separate 2 groups of people by His grace

At the Cross where Jesus was crucified, there was a mixed audience around there. Some were eye-witnesses to the death of Jesus, some were supporters of His death, some were curious by-standers, some were there to ensure Jesus dies, some still has that hope that He will come down from the Cross and be that Messiah for them. All kinds of people were there. Jews, Romans, Gentiles, religious and non-religious peoples.
When Jesus cried out to God, "Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they were doing..", He was praying for all the peoples there. Yes, you may say it was the Jews who killed Jesus, but it was the Romans who carried out the killing.

In Romans 9:21-24, Paul deal with these groups of people: the Jew and Gentile issue, and wrote about righteousness by faith is for both Jews and Gentiles.

Rom 9:21  Or has not the potter the right to make out of one part of his earth a vessel for honour, and out of another a vessel for shame (dishonour)? 

Rom 9:22  What if God, desiring to let his wrath and his power be seen, for a long time put up with the vessels of wrath which were ready for destruction: 

Rom 9:23  And to make clear the wealth of his glory to vessels of mercy, which he had before made ready for glory, 

Rom 9:24  Even us, who were marked out by him, not only from the Jews, but from the Gentiles? 

v22 - v24 is written in metaphors. Paul is seeing an End Time event that God is preparing for judgement and destruction, and salvation.
God is the potter. God has the rightful power to make what He wants. He has made some vessels for honour and some vessels for dishonour. He has made some vessels of wrath for judgement (and destruction) and some vessels of mercy for glory.


The unbelieving Jews will be vessels of wrath for judgement.
The believing Jews and Gentiles will be vessels of mercy for glory.

Look at v25-v26

Rom 9:25  As He also says in Hosea, "I will call those NOT My people, My people; and those not beloved, Beloved." 

Rom 9:26  And it shall be, in the place where it was said to them. "You are not My people; there they shall be called sons of the living God." 


Remember these words: wrath and judgement. Lets look at another verse 1The 5:9 where Paul wrote to the church of the Thessalonians (people of Thessaloniki, Greece).

1Th 5:9  For God has not appointed us to wrath, but to obtain salvation by our Lord Jesus Christ, 

The church is NOT under the wrath of God. We are NOT the objects of God's anger. We are NOT the vessels of wrath in Rom 9:22.

For the Jews there will be some who believe Jesus and will escape the great tribulation. They are called the remnant in Rom 9:27. They will be saved, while a vast majority will perish in the destruction.


Another passage that talked about God leaving out a remnant of His people for salvation. Rom 11:1-6

Rom 11:1  I say then, Did not God put away His people? Let it not be said! For I also am an Israelite, of the seed of Abraham, of the tribe of Benjamin. 

Rom 11:2  God did not thrust out His people whom He foreknew. Or do you not know what the Scripture said in Elijah, how he pleaded with God against Israel, saying, 

Rom 11:3  "Lord, they killed Your prophets and dug down Your altars, and I am left alone, and they seek my life." 

Rom 11:4  But what does the Divine answer say to him? "I have reserved to Myself seven thousand men who have not bowed the knee to Baal." 

Rom 11:5  EVEN SO then, also in this present time a REMNANT according to the election of grace has come into being. 

Rom 11:6  But if by grace, then it is no more of works; otherwise grace is no more grace. But if it is of works, then it is no more of grace; otherwise work is no more work. 

Q: How did God chose out a remnant from all of Israel? 
A: He used the GRACE factor.

Grace means not by works (v6). Judaism is by works. Jesus brings Grace.
This remnant received Grace, independent of works.
This remnant are the Gentiles, the believing Jews and not the Old Covenant Jews.
This remnant are the vessels of honour in Rom 9:21.
This remnant will miss the judgement and destruction that is coming on Jerusalem and the Temple.
This remnant will receive salvation from God.

So during the times of Jesus on earth, there are 2 groups of people. Some will believe and some disbelieve.
God is making a separation of these 2 groups of people.


Back to the question:

Q: Why is there a need for AD70 (destruction of Jerusalem and Temple)?
A:
1. God has been warning of such judgement for hundreds of years.
2. Israel has been rejecting the prophets and God's Son.
3. God will separate 2 groups of people by His Grace.