The fact that the Second Temple would be destroyed was undeniably known to the ancient rabbis. And the belief that the Messiah was to come to that temple was also held by most of them. In the Babylonia Talmud (tractate Nazir 32b) we read an interesting discussion about the Second Temple and its destruction. Rabbi Joseph says:Had I lived then, I would have spoken to them of what is written about the temple of the Lord, the temple of the Lord, the Temple of the Lord (sic) and that which points to the destruction. Granted that they (the rabbis of...