[303 words]
In Mark 13:1-2 we read, “As He was going out of the temple, one of His disciples said to Him, “Teacher, behold what wonderful stones and what wonderful buildings!” And Jesus said to him, “Do you see these great buildings? Not one stone will be left upon another which will not be torn down.” A very bold and specific prediction, yet it didn’t seem very likely. Even if the temple was destroyed, who would go to all that effort? Some of the stones weighted over 400 tons. However, it turn out Jesus was exactly right.
Four decades after Jesus death, Roman soldiers under General Titus laid siege to Jerusalem. Even though the General had given orders to not destroy the temple, during the battle a fire was started that engulfed the structure. The fire caused the gold and silver that was in the temple to melt and flow between the cracks in the stone. When the soldiers, in their greed to obtain these precious metals, took long bars and pried apart the massive stones. Thus, quite literally, not one stone was left standing upon another.
This incident is a great example of the difference between Biblical prophecy and the so called “future prophecy” of the world. Bible prophecies are specific concrete statements. Others are nothing but vague guesswork and fuzzy images. The accurate completion of Bible prophet’s predictions is one of the most valuable proofs that the Bible is from God. As 2 Peter 1:19 tells us, “So we have the prophetic word made more sure, to which you do well to pay attention as to a lamp shining in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star arises in your hearts.” Jesus foreknowledge can make us all the more sure he was the son of God!
Barry Haynes
Hope church of Christ
Hope, AR