Replies

And the abomination of desolation being put into the Temple,(Mat.24:15) when did that happen in the siege of 70AD, especially since the Zelots controlled the city-or was that also 'hyperbolic' language as well?

The "abomination of desolation" is interpreted for us in places like Luke 21:

20 " Therefore when you see Jerusalem surrounded by armies, then know that its desolation is near. 21 Then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains, let those who are in the midst of her depart, and let not those who are in the country enter her. 22 For these are the days of vengeance, that all things which are written may be fulfilled

Now compare it to Matthew 24:

15 " Therefore when you see the 'abomination of desolation,' spoken of by Daniel the prophet, standing in the holy place" (whoever reads, let him understand), 16 then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains. 17 Let him who is on the housetop not go down to take anything out of his house. 18 And let him who is in the field not go back to get his clothes.

The things which follows the phrase "Therefore when you see" are related. Luke explains to his primarily gentile readers the meaning of the phrase used in Matthew.

The "abomination of desolation" involved the destruction of the temple of God. The desecration, the "abomination", was about as complete as it could get. However, it is true that the Roman defiled the temple by setting up ensigns in the temple before they burned it to the ground.

In AD 325, the church historian Eusebius documents it this way:

"But the number of calamities which every where fell upon the nation at that time; the extreme misfortunes to which the inhabitants of Judea were especially subjected, the thousands of men, as well as women and children, that perished by the sword, by famine, and by other forms of death innumerable,--all these things, as well as the many great sieges which were carried on against the cities of Judea, and the excessive. sufferings endured by those that fled to Jerusalem itself, as to a city of perfect safety, and finally the general course of the whole war, as well as its particular occurrences in detail, and how at last the abomination of desolation, proclaimed by the prophets, stood in the very temple of God, so celebrated of old, the temple which was now awaiting its total and final destruction by fire,-- all these things any one that wishes may find accurately described in the history written by Josephus." (Book III, Ch. 5)

The "abomination of desolation" is interpreted for us in places like Luke 21: 20 " Therefore when you see Jerusalem surrounded by armies, then know that its desolation is near. 21 Then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains, let those who are in the midst of her depart, and let not those who are in the country enter her. 22 For these are the days of vengeance, that all things which are written may be fulfilled

The abomination of desolation is described in Daniel, which Christ refers to, (9:27,12:11) and has to happen before the destruction of the city since when the Jews saw it occurring they were to flee.

And idol is set up in the Temple that desecrates it (Dan.12:11) and causes all sacrifices to cease.

It had nothing to do with the surrounding of the city, as described in Luke, which do refer to the events of 70AD