Plucking the Eagle's Wings

Cursed in the Midst of Prosperity

prophets were prophesying about a future generation, not theirs. The vines were fruitful, the cattle and sheep grazed in green fields, and gold and silver coins filled investors' pockets. Years later, news that the Babylonian army was coming didn't frighten the overconfident Hebrews. They assumed that God would protect them as He did when He destroyed 185,000 Assyrian soldiers in just one night. Surely they thought that God would protect Israel again, but not so on this occasion. When King Nebuchadnezzar concluded his assault in 606 B.C., Jerusalem and the Temple lay in rubble. The prophecy given by Christ 636 years later regarding Jerusalem's destruction by the Romans was received in a similar way. Few Jews believed that God would allow His holy city to be devastated again. The Jews revolted against Rome in an attempt to defeat its legions and liberate the Promised Land. They were certain about Roman defeat and ignored warning signs of imminent destruction. The False Prophets Came and Prophesied False prophets led the Jews in an attempt to overpower the Romans., A false prophet named Theudas arose. He influenced many to follow him into the wilderness by promising that he would divide the Jordan River to make a way of escape. A Roman procurator pursued the group and killed Theudas, along with many of his followers. In the year 55 B.C., another impostor, an Egyptian named Felix, convinced about thirty thousand Jews that they would see the walls of Jerusalem fall and the Roman garrison captured. However, it was they who were attacked by the Roman governor, and four hundred of them were slain. The rest were scattered. The year 50 B.C. brought another false promise of deliverance. Another leader told the people that they should follow him into the wilderness and he would save them. He and his followers soon met their deaths at the hands of Roman soldiers. Until the final moments of Jerusalem's destruction, false prophets proclaimed victory for the Jews. Some did not believe that God would allow His city to be destroyed. Just prior to the burning of the Temple, another impostor stepped out and proclaimed that, if the people would follow him, they would see signs, wonders, and deliverance. About six thousand Jews, mostly women and children, followed him into the Temple. While waiting for deliverance, it was set on fire and not one person escaped (Source: Josephus Antiquities

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