Fulfillment Of Jesus' Prophecy About Famines And Pestilences 

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Dive into history to learn the horrific fulfillment of Jesus' prophecy about famines and pestilences preceding the AD70 destruction of the Temple in Jerusalem

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Scriptures: Fulfillment Of Jesus' Prophecy About Famines And Pestilences 

Luke 21

5 And as some spake of the temple, how it was adorned with goodly stones and gifts, he said,

6 As for these things which ye behold, the days will come, in the which there shall not be left one stone upon another, that shall not be thrown down.

7 And they asked him, saying, Master, but when shall these things be? and what sign will there be when these things shall come to pass?

8 And he said, Take heed that ye be not deceived: for many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ; and the time draweth near: go ye not therefore after them.

9 But when ye shall hear of wars and commotions, be not terrified: for these things must first come to pass; but the end is not by and by.

10 Then said he unto them, Nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom:

11 And great earthquakes shall be in divers places, and famines, and pestilences; and fearful sights and great signs shall there be from heaven.

Mar 13:1
And as he went out of the temple, one of his disciples saith unto him, Master, see what manner of stones and what buildings are here!


Mar 13:2
And Jesus answering said unto him, Seest thou these great buildings? there shall not be left one stone upon another, that shall not be thrown down.


Mar 13:3

And as he sat upon the mount of Olives over against the temple, Peter and James and John and Andrew asked him privately,


Mar 13:4
Tell us, when shall these things be? and what shall be the sign when all these things shall be fulfilled?


Mar 13:5
And Jesus answering them began to say, Take heed lest any man deceive you:



Mar 13:6
For many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ; and shall deceive many.



Mar 13:7
And when ye shall hear of wars and rumours of wars, be ye not troubled: for such things must needs be; but the end shall not be yet.



Mar 13:8
For nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom: and there shall be earthquakes in divers places, and there shall be famines and troubles: these are the beginnings of sorrows.

Luk 21:5
And as some spake of the temple, how it was adorned with goodly stones and gifts, he said,


Luk 21:6
As for these things which ye behold, the days will come, in the which there shall not be left one stone upon another, that shall not be thrown down.


Luk 21:7
And they asked him, saying, Master, but when shall these things be? and what sign will there be when these things shall come to pass?


Luk 21:8
And he said, Take heed that ye be not deceived: for many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ; and the time draweth near: go ye not therefore after them.


Luk 21:9
But when ye shall hear of wars and commotions, be not terrified: for these things must first come to pass; but the end is not by and by.


Luk 21:10
Then said he unto them, Nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom:


Luk 21:11
And great earthquakes shall be in divers places, and famines, and pestilences; and fearful sights and great signs shall there be from heaven.

Flavius Josephus' Account Of The Famine And Pestilences

Based on the accounts of the Jewish historian Flavius Josephus in his work The Jewish War (specifically Books V and VI), the Jewish Revolt (AD 66–70) was accompanied by catastrophic famine and pestilence, particularly during the final siege of Jerusalem by Titus in AD 70. The conditions described are among the most severe in ancient history. [1, 2]

Here is a summary of the events based on Josephus:

Famine in Jerusalem (AD 70)

• Destruction of Food Supplies: Famine was exacerbated by the actions of the Jewish factional leaders within the city (such as John of Giscala and Simon bar Giora), who burned large, storehouses of corn and provisions, which might have lasted for years, to compel the inhabitants to fight the Romans.
• Extreme Scarcity: As the siege tightened, food became unavailable. Josephus describes people searching for anything to eat, including old hay, leather belts, shoes, and even dung.
• Desperation and Cruelty: The famine destroyed all human empathy. "No respect was paid even to the dying," and houses were ransacked by starving gangs (the "seditious") for the smallest amounts of food.
• The Case of Mary: Josephus recounts the shocking story of a wealthy woman named Mary, who, driven by extreme hunger and desperation, killed and ate her infant son.
• Death Toll: Tens of thousands died from hunger. The bodies of the dead were so numerous that they could not be buried and were thrown over the walls. [1, 2, 3, 4]

Pestilence and Disease

• The "Pestilential Stench": The massive number of unburied carcasses (both from famine and battle) stacked in the streets and in the city valleys produced a terrible smell and, according to Josephus, led to pestilence.
• Disease in the City: The overcrowding within the city walls, combined with the lack of food, sanitation, and the accumulation of bodies, caused diseases to spread rapidly, described as a "pestilence" or "plague".
• Impact on Combatants: The disease and extreme exhaustion hindered the ability of the Jewish fighters to make sorties against the Roman forces. [1, 2, 3, 4, 5]

External Factors (Outside Jerusalem)

• Desolation of the Countryside: Before the final siege, the countryside around Jerusalem was destroyed by Roman punitive forces (including those under Vespasian in 67-68 AD). Gardens and trees were cut down, making the landscape a desert and preventing food supplies from reaching the city.

Josephus concluded that no other city ever endured such miseries, nor did any age produce a generation more fruitful in wickedness than this. He saw the famine and pestilence as a divine punishment for the internal strife (sedition) of the Jewish people. [1, 2]

His words again echoed Jesus' prophecy that

there shall be great distress in the land, and wrath upon this people.- Luke 21: 23.

For more detailed, firsthand accounts, you can explore Of the War, Book VI or Flavius Josephus, Wars of the Jews 6.1-6.92. [1, 2]

Conclusion

Jesus' warning about famines and pestilence came to pass in horrifying detail, just as He said. You can believe the Word of God and ask Him to give you eternal life.

Learn how you can live forever and be saved from eternal damnation.