Fulfilled Prophecies

Historical Writers
poster Historical Writers


By Dan Maines

Historical Writers

Many Christians believe we have no evidence of Christ returning in 70AD, however some reliable historians have recorded Jesus returning in the clouds.

Josephus (A.D. 75) - Jewish Historian

"Besides these [signs], a few days after that feast, on the one- and-twentieth day of the month Artemisius, [Jyar,] a certain prodigious and incredible phenomenon appeared; I suppose the account of it would seem to be a fable, were it not related by those that saw it, and were not the events that followed it of so considerable a nature as to deserve such signals; for, before sun-setting, chariots and troops of soldiers in their armour were seen running about among the clouds, and surrounding of cities. Moreover, at that feast which we call Pentecost, as the priests were going by night into the inner [court of the] temple, as their custom was, to perform their sacred ministrations, they said that, in the first place, they felt a quaking, and heard a great noise, and after that they heard a sound as of a great multitude, saying, "Let us remove hence" (Antiquities of the Jews book 17-20 - The life of Flavius Josephus)

Josephus is one of the most well known Jewish historians of that time. His works are often quoted in Christian churches and much of his works have been relied upon and validated by Christians, historians, and preachers. He was a Jewish priest and general during the siege of 70AD and was defeated and surrendered to the Romans. He later became a historian and recorded the events witnessed during the war.

Tacitus (A.D. 115) - Roman Historian

"13. Prodigies had occurred, but their expiation by the offering of victims or solemn vows is held to be unlawful by a nation which is the slave of superstition and the enemy of true beliefs. In the sky appeared a vision of armies in conflict, of glittering armour. A sudden lightning flash from the clouds lit up the Temple. The doors of the holy place abruptly opened, a superhuman voice was heard to declare that the gods were leaving it, and in the same instant came the rushing tumult of their departure. Few people placed a sinister interpretation upon this. The majority were convinced that the ancient scriptures of their priests alluded to the present as the very time when the Orient would triumph and from Judaea would go forth men destined to rule the world." (Histories, Book 5, v. 13).

Tacitus was a Roman senator, historian, and was considered one of the greatest Roman historians of his time and described this event. He despised Christianity and was known in his own days to be careful, skeptical, and factual in his works. One of his duties was to supervise foreign religious cults in Rome. His works are used to validate the crucifixion of Christ to historians.

Pseudo-Hegesippus

After many days a certain figure appeared of tremendous size, which many saw, just as the books of the Jews have disclosed, and before the setting of the sun there were suddenly seen in the clouds chariots and armed battle arrays, by which the cities of all Judaea and its territories were invaded. (Pseudo-Hegesippus, Chapter 44.)

Eusebius of Caesarea (A.D. 325) - Early church father

"For before the setting of the sun chariots and armed troops were seen throughout the whole region in mid-air, wheeling through the clouds and encircling the cities" ( Eusebius' Ecclesiastical History, Book 3, Ch. 8.)

Sepher Yosippon

A Mediaeval History of Ancient Israel translated from the Hebrew by Steven B. Bowman - Chapter 87 "Burning of the Temple"

"Moreover, in those days were seen chariots of fire and horsemen, a great force flying across the sky near to the ground coming against Jerusalem and all the land of Judah, all of them horses of fire and riders of fire."


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