For seven years a man continued to go up and down the streets of Jerusalem , declaring the woes that were to come upon the city . By day and by night he chanted the wild dirge : " A voice from the east ! a voice from the west ! a voice from the four winds ! a voice against Jerusalem and against the temple ! a voice against the bridegrooms and the brides ! a voice against the whole people !" -- Ibid . This strange being was imprisoned and scourged , but no complaint escaped his lips . To insult and abuse he answered only : " Woe , woe to Jerusalem !" " woe , woe to the inhabitants thereof !" His warning cry ceased not until he was slain in the siege he had foretold .
Not one Christian perished in the destruction of Jerusalem . Christ had given His disciples warning , and all who believed His words watched for the promised sign . " When ye shall see Jerusalem compassed with armies ," said Jesus , " then know that the desolation thereof is nigh . Then let them which are in Judea flee to the mountains ; and let them which are in the midst of it depart out ." Luke 21:20 , 21 . After the Romans under Cestius had surrounded the city , they unexpectedly abandoned the siege when everything seemed favorable for an immediate attack . The besieged , despairing of successful resistance , were on the point of surrender , when the Roman general withdrew his forces without the least apparent reason . But God ' s merciful providence was directing events for the good of His own people .
The promised sign had been given to the waiting Christians , and now an opportunity was offered for all who would , to obey the Saviour ' s warning . Events were so overruled that neither Jews nor Romans should hinder the flight of the Christians . Upon the retreat of Cestius , the Jews , sallying from Jerusalem , pursued after his retiring army ; and while both forces were thus fully engaged , the Christians had an opportunity to leave the city . At this time the country also had been cleared of enemies who might have endeavored to intercept them . At the time of the siege , the Jews were assembled at Jerusalem to keep the Feast of Tabernacles , and thus the Christians throughout the land were able to make their escape unmolested . Without delay they fled to a place of safety--the city of Pella , in the land of Perea , beyond Jordan .
The Jewish forces , pursuing after Cestius and his army , fell upon their rear with such fierceness as to threaten them with total destruction . It was with great difficulty that the Romans succeeded in making their retreat . The Jews escaped almost without loss , and with their spoils returned in triumph to Jerusalem . Yet this apparent success brought them only evil . It inspired them with that spirit of stubborn resistance to the Romans which speedily brought unutterable woe upon the doomed city .
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