Which biblical prophecies were fulfilled in AD 70?

WHAT DOES THE BIBLE SAY?

Several events happened in AD 70 that matched some of the descriptions of the end times: Jerusalem was sieged, the temple was desecrated and destroyed, and Jews who survived the revolt were sold into slavery. The Bible warned of some of these events, some in the Old Testament and some in the New. Daniel 9:26, for example, predicted the destruction of the temple, which was fulfilled when the Romans destroyed Jerusalem in AD 70, but the final "week" prophesied in Daniel 9 is still a future event. Jesus also foretold the temple's destruction (Matthew 24:2; Luke 21:6), and some signs, like wars and persecution, occurred before AD 70, but His second coming and final judgment did not happen then. There are varying beliefs in terms of the end times. Those who hold to preterism argue that Revelation 6—18 symbolically describes the Roman siege, but futurists note that key events, such as global catastrophes and the Antichrist's rule, remain unfulfilled. Biblical prophecy is often symbolic and open to interpretation, making it difficult to fit all end-times prophecies into AD 70. While the destruction of the temple and Jewish genocide were fulfilled, much of what the Bible predicts about the end times is still awaiting fulfillment.

FROM THE OLD TESTAMENT

• The prophecy in Daniel 9:24–27 speaks of the Messiah being "cut off" (fulfilled in Jesus' crucifixion) and the destruction of the temple (fulfilled in AD 70). However, the final "week" (the last seven years) is often interpreted as a future period of tribulation before Christ’s second coming, meaning it wasn’t fully fulfilled in AD 70.

FROM THE NEW TESTAMENT

• In AD 70, roughly forty years after the death and resurrection of Jesus, the Romans destroyed the Jewish temple in Jerusalem. Jesus had predicted the destruction of the temple in Luke 21:6 and Matthew 24:2. At the same time, the prophecies in these passages do not just talk about the destruction of the temple; some of the other prophecies in these passages have not yet been fulfilled. Theologians who hold to partial or full preterism would say that most, if not all, biblical prophecies were fulfilled during the first century. Dispensationalism holds that only the destruction of the temple, and possibly the genocide, were fulfilled in AD 70, while the remainder of the prophecies await fulfillment.
• Jesus predicted the destruction of the temple (Matthew 24:2), which happened in AD 70. Some signs, like wars, famines, and persecution (Matthew 24:6–9), occurred leading up to AD 70. However, the second coming of Christ (Matthew 24:30–31) and the final judgment (Matthew 25) did not happen in AD 70, pointing to an as-yet future fulfillment.
• Other biblical prophecies may have also been fulfilled in AD 70, such as Luke 23:27–31, which seems to fit the Roman genocide of the Jewish people.
• Some preterists argue that parts of Revelation 6—18 symbolically describe Rome’s attack on Jerusalem. However, many of the judgments (worldwide disasters, cosmic disturbances, Antichrist’s global rule) did not occur in AD 70. Futurists argue that Revelation 6—18 describes a future tribulation period, not just the fall of Jerusalem.

IMPLICATIONS FOR TODAY

When studying prophecy, it is important to remember that prophetic events are not described in the Bible with the clarity that historical present or past events are reported. Much is open to interpretation. Particularly when highly symbolic meanings are attached to prophetic biblical passages, many periods and events in history can be made to fit. Prophecies dealing with the end times, the study of which is called eschatology, are open to interpretation.

However, when some make the argument that most or all of the prophecies about the end times were fulfilled in AD 70, they cannot include those made in Revelation as Revelation had most likely not even been written at that time. To fit all end-times prophecy into the events in and around AD 70 takes some interpretive creativity, applying differing interpretive approaches even within the same passage. It seems more reasonable to conclude that prophesies about the destruction of the temple and a genocide of Jews were fulfilled in AD 70 and other prophesies regarding the end times are yet to be seen.

UNDERSTAND

• While some biblical prophecies were fulfilled in AD 70, they were not completely fulfilled.
• Some biblical prophecies, such as the destruction of the temple and the Roman genocide, were fulfilled in AD 70.
• Key end-times events, including Christ’s second coming and final judgment did not happen in AD 70 and await future fulfillment.

REFLECT

• How do you respond to the fact that not all biblical prophecies were fulfilled in AD 70?
• What steps can you take to better prepare for the events that remain unfulfilled, such as Christ’s second coming?
• How does the ongoing fulfillment of biblical prophecy shape your understanding of God’s plan for the future?

ENGAGE

• How can we interpret the symbolic elements of prophecy in Revelation to determine if they are pointing to past, present, or future events?
• What practical lessons can we learn from the prophecies fulfilled in AD 70 and what is left to be fulfilled?
• What can we unite on even if we disagree on how much biblical prophecy was fulfilled in AD 70?