American Minute with Bill FedererJerusalem Temple Destroyed – Tisha B’Av |
Solomon’s Temple in Jerusalem was destroyed by the Babylonians in 587 BC on the date in the Jewish calendar 9th of Av, or Tisha B’Av.The Second Temple was destroyed by the Romans in 70 AD on the same date, Tisha B’Av.
Rome’s destruction of the Temple began in 66 AD, when Roman Emperor Nero appointed General Vespasian to put down a revolt in Judea. Almost immediately, Rome experienced chaos. Nero committed suicide in 68 AD. His successor, Galba, was assassinated within 8 months. His successor, Otho, committed suicide within 2 months. His successor, Vitellius, was executed within 8 months. Vespasian was made the next Emperor, and his son, Titus, continued the conquest of Judea. Titus surrounded Jerusalem and starved inhabitants for months.
By the end of July, 70 AD, the Roman Army broke through the walls.
Historian Josephus recorded that over a million Jews were killed in the siege.
In 79 AD, Emperor Vespasian caught a slight illness which developed into severe diarrhea. As he died, his last words were: “Oh dear! I think I’m becoming a god!”
Titus became the next Emperor and two months later Mount Vesuvius erupted destroying the Bay of Naples, including the cities of Pompeii and Herculaneum. Thousands of Roman citizens were buried alive under feet volcanic ash. In the spring of 80 AD, Rome caught on fire and burned out of control for three days and nights. This was followed by the worst outbreak of the plague Rome had ever endured. Titus then decided to dedicate the Colosseum with inaugural games to commemorate his victories during the Jewish wars. For 100 days, thousands were killed in executions and gladiatorial fights. Shortly after the games ended, Titus developed a fever and died after just two turbulent years in office. In 135 AD, on the date Tisha B’Av, Roman Emperor Hadrian had another 500,000 Jews massacred at Betar during Bar Kokhba’s revolt.
There he erected a statue of himself and a statue of Jupiter
Jews were banned from entering Jerusalem on pain of death.
Jews were later allowed to enter Jerusalem once a year to pray at the Western Wall on Tisha B’Av. The Land of Israel was subsequently invaded or occupied by: 135 AD Roman Empire
The Library of Congress has a scrapbook with an account by Rev. N.W. Miner of Springfield, who officiated Lincoln’s burial, in which are recalled President Lincoln’s last words while at Ford’s Theater with his wife: “Mrs. Lincoln informed me that…the very last moments of his conscious life were spent in conversation with her about his future plans… He said he wanted to visit the Holy Land and see those places hallowed by the footprints of the Saviour. He was saying there was no city he so much desired to see as Jerusalem.” Prayers and Presidents-Inspiring Faith from Leaders of the Past In 1917, Britain issued the Balfour Declaration establishing the Jewish homeland. On May 14, 1948, the State of Israel came into being again. After the 1967 War, Jerusalem was once again under Jewish control. Jerusalem was reaffirmed as Israel’s capital with “The Basic Law: Jerusalem, the Capital of Israel,” passed in 1980. Get the DVD – Political Islam’s War on the West As the Roman Empire experienced disasters when it forced Jews from the land, a series of coincidences have been compiled and circulated of events relating the United States and Israel:
The next day, ‘The Perfect Storm’ hit New England causing damages over $100 million, including 30 foot waves demolishing the home of President George H.W. Bush at Kennebunkport, Maine.
The same day, Hurricane Andrew smashed into Florida causing $30 billion in damages, destroying over 180,000 homes.
Within 24 hours a 6.9 Earthquake devastated Southern California.
President Clinton met with Yasser Arafat and Benjamin Netanyahu at the White House, followed by Arafat telling the United Nations there would soon be a Palestinian State. On October 15, 1998, Yassar Arafat and Benjamin Netanyahu met in Maryland to discuss Israel giving up 13 percent of the West Bank and Gaza in exchange for ‘peace.’
On December 12, 1998, President Clinton arrived in the Palestinian area to discuss Israel giving up ‘land for peace.’ The same day, President Clinton was impeached. On May 3, 1999, Yasser Arafat had scheduled a press conference to announce a Palestinian state with Jerusalem as the capital.
On June 8, 2001, President George W. Bush sent Secretary Tenet to Jerusalem with a proposal to exchange land for a ‘Roadmap to Peace.’ The same day, tropical Storm Allison hit Texas causing $7 billion in damage and closing George Bush Airport for two days.
The very next day, a tropical depression in the Atlantic turned into Hurricane Katrina and headed straight for New Orleans, forcing tens of thousands to evacuate.
Nearly 2,000 people died. It was one of the deadliest hurricanes in U.S. history.
In a Day of Prayer and Remembrance, SEPTEMBER 8, 2005, President Bush stated:
Though not a call to repentance as past Presidents had proclaimed, President Bush did end his Day of Prayer and Remembrance with:
I call upon all Americans to pray to Almighty God and to perform acts of service… Across our Nation, many selfless deeds reflect the promise of the Scripture: ‘For I was hungry and you gave Me food; I was thirsty and you gave Me drink; I was a stranger and you took Me in.'” For God’s Glory Alone Ministries thanks Bill Federer and www.AmericanMinute.com
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