It was Jim Braddock.

“John, I got in touch with my friend, Wes, the fellow from Hilltop, and we’re to have dinner with him this evening. How are things with you?”

John paused before answering. How could he not tell Jim about his “answered prayer” and about the confidence he now felt, even in the face of perplexity? How often the clergy fear to talk with each other about their faith and the experiences that come from God. Many times in the past he had shared some personal encounter with Christ with another minister, only to be met with embarrassed silence suggesting inability to believe in supernatural experiences. It was ironic but true: the people in his churches were often much more open to the witness of the personal power of God than were many of his colleagues. He really had no way as yet of knowing how Jim Braddock might react in this particular area.

“In many Orthodox and Conservative congregations, this is the only time of year on which the Torah scrolls are taken out of the ark and read at night. In the morning, the last parashah of Deuteronomy and the first parashah of Genesis are read in the synagogue. On each occasion, when the ark is opened, all the worshippers leave their seats to dance and sing with all the Torah scrolls in a joyous celebration that often lasts for several hours and more.”- Wikipedia

Eight days later, Cestius and his army entered Jerusalem. Five days after that, the army broke through the temple wall with a Roman tortoise, then unexpectedly retreated to Scopus, and according to Josephus, it was “without any reason in the world”. The violent entry of the idolatrous Roman army into the temple may be what is regarded as the “abomination of desolation”. With the battle won and the objective achieved, it seems puzzling that Cestius Gallus and his army would retreat. This action emboldened the Zealots who interpreted this retreat as a sign from God that they could take on the might of the Roman Empire.

By the following day (Heshvan 6), Cestius had retreated to Gabao. Another 2 days later, Cestius retreated to Bethoron where the rear-guard of 400 were wiped out by the Jews. Cestius escaped only by sacrificing most of his army. Upon his return to Syria, he died prior to the spring of 67 AD. His death not long after a disastrous defeat is no surprise. If he didn't commit suicide, he may have been assassinated for his perceived incompetence.

The question remains as to why he retreated when the victory appeared to have been won. Some speculate that upon breaking through the temple wall, he was overcome by the fear of God. Whatever the cause, the timing was according to God's plan. From the date of Cestius retreat on 5 Heshvan 66 until 4 Sivan 70 is a period of 1,260 days. 4 Sivan 70 is the date on which Titus, the son of the then Emperor Vespasian and general of the forces besieging Jerusalem, finished a wall of pointed stakes around the city making escape impossible.

This was foretold in Luke 19:43,44 “For a time is coming upon you when your enemies will throw up a bank [with pointed stakes] about you and surround you and shut you in on every side. And they will dash you down to the ground, you [Jerusalem] and your children within you; and they will not leave in you one stone upon another, [all] because you did not come progressively to recognise and know and understand [from observation and experience] the time of your visitation [that is, when God was visiting you, the time in which God showed Himself gracious toward you and offered you salvation through Christ].- (Amplified Bible)

Matthew 24:15-26 (ESV) "So when you see the abomination of desolation spoken of by the prophet Daniel, standing in the holy place (let the reader understand), then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains."

Mark 13:14 (ESV) "But when you see the abomination of desolation standing where it ought not to be (let the reader understand), then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains." This verse in the Olivet Discourse also occurs in the Gospel of Luke.

Luke 21.20-21 (ESV) "But when you see Jerusalem surrounded by armies, then know that its desolation has come near. Then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains…"

Notice that Luke uses the phrase 'Jerusalem surrounded by Armies' in place of 'the Abomination of Desolation [standing where it ought not to be]' in Matthew and Mark. Thus, the Abomination of Desolation is used as a synonymous title for the Roman armies surrounding Jerusalem.

Upon the defeat of Cestius, the Emperor Nero appointed Titus Flavius Vespasianus (later to become Emperor Vespasian in 69 AD) to take care of the Judean uprising. “Vespasian, along with legions X Fretensis and V Macedonica, landed at Ptolemais in April 67. There he was joined by his son Titus, who arrived from Alexandria at the head of Legio XV Apollinaris, as well as by the armies of various local allies including that of king Agrippa II. Fielding more than 60,000 soldiers, Vespasian began operations by subjugating Galilee.

While the war in Judea was being won, great events were occurring in Rome. In the middle of 68 AD, the emperor Nero's increasingly erratic behaviour finally lost him all support for his position. The Roman Senate, the praetorian guard and several prominent army commanders conspired for his removal. When the senate declared Nero an enemy of the people, he fled Rome and committed suicide on 9 June. The newly installed emperor Galba was murdered after just a few months by a rival, triggering a civil war that came to be known as the Year of the Four Emperors. In 69 AD, though previously uninvolved, the popular Vespasian was also hailed emperor by the legions under his command. He decided, upon gaining further widespread support, to return to Rome to claim the throne from the usurper Vitellius, leaving his son Titus to finish the war in Judea.”- Wikipedia

In 63 AD, Nero appointed Vespasian governor of the Africa Province which covered most of the southern Mediterranean coastline from modern day Tunisia to Libya. Instead of corruptly lining his pockets like many governors of the day, he spent his time making valuable friends. It was this ability to garner support that led him to become Emperor in 69 AD. The armies of Judea and Egypt declared him Emperor in June and July of 69 AD, even though the Roman Senate didn't confirm him until after the murder of Vitellius in December.

Vespasian spent two years in Africa before being recalled to Rome as part of Nero's retinue, but lost Imperial favour after paying insufficient attention (some sources suggest he fell asleep) during one of the Emperor's recitals on the lyre, and found himself in the political wilderness. His appointment in 66 AD to suppress the Great Jewish Revolt in Judea was both a recognition of his military and diplomatic ability, as well as a form of punishment. The Jews were considered troublesome as the majority of them refused to become Romanised.

It is probable that Vespasian entered into arrangements with many of his contacts in Africa, as well as the generals and the upper ranks of the legions that came under his control. We know that he made agreements with “many”. These agreements are referred to in the Bible as covenants. We don't know the details, but the Bible in Daniel 9:27 identifies the term as 7 years.

The covenant with the generals would then have been made prior to the arrival of the legions in Ptolemais (modern-day Acre) in April of 67 AD. The time-frame of the Bible suggests February of that year, which would be prior to their voyages from their home ports. At the same time, he could have sent word to his friends in Africa, establishing the covenant there as well.

Dan. 9:27b “...and in the midst of the week he shall cause the sacrifice and the oblation to cease;” Upon the destruction of the Temple in August of 70 AD, this part of the prophecy was fulfilled. This date was in the middle of the seven year covenant period.

Daniel 12:10-12 “Many shall be purified, and be made white, and be refined; but the wicked shall do wickedly: and none of the wicked shall understand; but the wise shall understand. And from the time that the continual [sacrifice] is taken away, and the abomination that maketh desolate set up, [there shall be] a thousand, two hundred, and ninety days. Blessed is he that waiteth, and cometh to the thousand three hundred and thirty-five days! So, what are there periods speaking about?

Although these days are identified with the destruction of Rome, there is nothing to say that the starting point is identical to the 1,260 days of Revelation (although the correlation is close). The starting point of Daniel's 1,290 and 1,335 days have a starting point which is the establishment of the seven year covenant. The end of these periods are the destruction of the Temple, followed by the destruction of Jerusalem - Daniel 9:25-27. The destruction of the temple was on Av 10 (August 5) in the year 70 AD. The city burned for a month after that and when the destruction was complete, many captives were carried away. This would for the extra 45 days subsequent to the destruction of the Temple. Counting back 3 ½ years takes us to the starting point which would be in the Hebrew month of Shevat, which is January of 67AD.

The Emperor Nero was despised within the Roman empire due to his excesses. There were many plots against him. His cruelty towards the Christians is legendary and he was considered by those of his era to be the Beast spoken of in Revelation. The Hebrew gematria ( numerical value of the name) for Nero Caesar is 666. His nick-name during his reign was coincidentally, “The Beast”.

Upon his suicide in June of 68 AD, the Empire became mired in a period of civil war. It appeared that it would not survive the constant instability. Within a year of Nero's death, there were four Emperors, the last being Vespasian who restored order, eventually gaining the full support of the Roman Senate. The near-destruction of the Roman system is considered by many to be the head wound described in Rev. 13:3 “I saw that one of the heads of the beast seemed wounded beyond recovery--but the fatal wound was healed! The whole world marvelled at this miracle and gave allegiance to the beast.”

For the conjecture above to be credible, the Book of Revelation would have had to have been written in the mid 60s rather than in 95 AD as traditionally believed. Upon examination of the available arguments, it appears that the earlier date is highly likely. It does open the door to some rather irrational speculation. Although clothed in the language of reasonableness, much of the Preterist (those who believe that most of Revelation has already happened) rhetoric is focussed on the argument that Jesus has returned bodily in 70 AD. What is also a concern is the argument that God allowed the Old Covenant and the New Covenant to co-exist for nearly 40 years.

The answer is NO, NO, a thousand times NO. The idea comes from two portions of Scripture. The first is Matthew 16:28 "There be some standing here which shall not taste of death, till they see the Son of man coming in His kingdom". This verse would appear to indicate in no uncertain terms that Jesus would return in the lifetime of those in attendance.