Chariots in the Clouds
DURING THE "SECOND PASSOVER" OF A.D. 66

AS RECORDED BY JOSEPHUS, TACITUS, AND OTHERS

Jesus - “there will be terrors and great signs from heaven” (Luke 21:11)

Jewish Wars 6-5-3 | Matthew 24:30 | Second Coming of Christ | Josephus on the Star | Response to the Preterist Position | Evaluating Historical Claims | Answering "Evaluating Historical Claims" | Great Controversy Notes | The Return of Jesus to Jerusalem | Coming in the Clouds of Heaven

Matthew 26:64. Jesus told him, "You said it. I am telling you then, that henceforth you shall see the Son of Man sitting from the right of the Power and coming over the clouds of heaven." (Aramaic Bible)

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" (Jewish Wars, VI-V-3).

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).

Richard Carew (1769)
"By such tokens, sometimes wonderfull, sometimes ridiculous, doth God at his pleasure, foreshewe future accidents: as in the Planets, before the battell at Thrasimenus, betweene Hannibal and the Romanes, by the fighting together of the Sunne and Moone. In birds, what time Brute brought forth the remnant of his army at Philippi, against Caesar and Anthony, by the furious bickering betweene two Eagles. In men, against the destruction of Hierusalem, by the encountring of Chariots and armies in the ayre. And before Alexanders battel with Darius; first, by a casual skirmish of the camp-straglers, vnder two Captaines, borrowing the names of those Princes; and then by Alexanders voluntary setting those Captaines to a single combat. Yea (to bring these examples neerer home) the like hath hapned both before and sithence, amongst boyes in other places. " (The Survey of Cornwall, p. 100)

Eusebius of Caesarea (A.D. 325)
"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).

Mark Hopkins  (1844)
"Still further, Jesus Himself prophesied. "Before the time of Christ and during His life, no false Christ arose; there was no war, and no prospect of one; and the Temple, and Jerusalem, were standing in all their strength. But He foretold that false Christs should arise, and should deceive many; that there should be earthquakes and famines, and fearful sights in heaven, and wars and rumors of wars, and great tribulation, such as was not since the beginning of the world, nor ever should be; and that Jerusalem should be compassed with armies; and that a trench should be cast round about it; and that one stone of the temple should not be left upon another; and that the Jews should be carried captive among all nations." Josephus verifies all these predictions to the letter. He was an eyewitness and a Jew, and nothing can be more striking than the comparison of his history with the prophecy. He tells of "fearful sights and great signs from heaven"; that "before sunsetting, chariots, and troops of soldiers in their armor, were seen running about among the clouds." "At the feast of Pentecost, as the priests were going by night into the inner court of the Temple, they felt a quaking, and heard a great noise, and, after that, they heard the sound as of a multitude, saying, 'Let us depart hence.'"'

 Tacitus, a Roman historian, also says, "There were many prodigies presignifying their ruin which was not averted by all the sacrifices and vows of that people. Armies were seen fighting in the air with brandished weapons. A fire fell upon the Temple from the clouds. The doors of the Temple were suddenly opened. At the same time there was a loud voice saying that the gods were removing, which was accompanied with a sound as of a multitude going out. All which things were supposed, by some to portend great calamities."1

 Josephus further says that "no other city ever suffered such miseries; nor was there ever a generation more fruitful in wickedness from the beginning of the world. ... In reality it was God who condemned the whole nation and turned every course that was taken for their preservation to their destruction. . . . The multitudes of those who perished exceeded all the destructions that man or God ever brought upon the world."

 Famine did its slow but dreadful work so that women were known to eat their own children, just as Moses said they would do, fifteen hundred years before. The prophecy of Christ that not one stone of the Temple should be left upon another, was literally fulfilled. The Jews were carried into captivity among all nations, and their condition from that time till now has been an impressive proof of the truth of prophecy. (Hopkins' Evidences, pp. 322-324.)

Rev. William Patton (1877)
"He tells of strange sights of chariots and armies in the heavens: "A few days after the feast, on the twenty-first of the month Artemisius, a certain prodigious and incredible phenomenon appeared; . . . for, before sun-setting, chariots and troops of soldiers in their armour were seen running about among the clouds, and surrounding cities." He tells us also of an unusual voice heard in the temple: "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!' "  (The Judgment of Jerusalem - Chapter V)

Johann Philip Schabalie (1635)
"Soon after the feast of the passover, in various parts of the country, before the setting sun, chariots and armed men were seen in the air, passing round about Jerusalem, which was very alarming to behold.  At the subsequent feast of Pentecost, while the priests were going, by night, into the inner temple to perform their customary ministrations, they first felt, as they said, a shaking, accompanied by an indistinct murmuring, and afterwards voices of a multitude, saying, in a distinct and earnest manner, "Let us go hence." (The Wandering Soul, p. 412-413)

David Chilton (1987)
"What “clear warnings” had God given them? Apart from the apostolic preaching, which was all they really needed (cf. Luke 16:27-31), God had sent miraculous signs and wonders to testify of the coming judgment; Jesus had warned that, preceding the Fall of Jerusalem, “there will be terrors and great signs from heaven” (Luke 21:11). This was especially true during the festival seasons of the year 66. Josephus continues in his report: “While the people were assembling for the Feast of Unleavened Bread, on the eighth of the month of Nisan, at the ninth hour of the night [3:00 A. M.] so bright a light shone round the altar and Temple that it looked like broad daylight; and this lasted for half an hour. The inexperienced regarded it as a good omen, but it was immediately interpreted by the sacred scribes in conformity with subsequent events.”

Bill Crouse (1999)
 "The FTs main objection is that the events described in the prophecy just could not have been fulfilled during the destruction of Jerusalem, and therefore refer to a far greater tribulation, one like the world has not yet seen.  PTs counter by noting that historians like Josephus and others give descriptions of that day that are astoundingly similar to the prophecy.  For example, Josephus describes strange signs that occurred in the heavens; he mentions a slaughter in the sea of Galilee that turned the lake to the color of blood, that the destruction was the worse since creation, that chariots and troops appeared in the clouds, etc.  Regretfully, we have no space for these many quotes but we would like to give one representative example from the pagan historian Tacitus: 

"In the sky appeared a vision of armies in conflict, of glittering armour.  A sudden lightning flash from the cloud 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.  The Histories,  p.279. (Penguin edition) " (The Preterist View)

G.J. Goldberg (1999)
"Specifically, Josephus states in his opening sentence that people did not believe "manifest portents" and disregarded "the plain warnings of God." He then lists a series of increasingly strange manifestations: the sword-shaped star standing over the Temple, the light around the altar, the cow that gave birth to a lamb in the Temple, the enormous bronze gate of the eastern Temple court that opened by itself, chariots in the sky, the voice of an army in the Temple's inner court. These, Josephus states repeatedly, had their interpreters as being either good or bad omens. His description of the star must therefore be no more metaphorical than the other manifestations in the series, for saying that a heavenly event astrologically ruled over a place is already an interpretation of the event; and the omens are linked to the Temple by their manifest location, so Josephus does mean the star also was linked to the Temple by its manifest location. " (Josephus on the Star)

James Patrick Holding
"Of this we are told, "Not even radical fundamentalists believe that these events actually happened, even though the works of Josephus contain some of the same miraculous claims that are in the Old Testament." Gee, really? So where do I, and R. C. Sproul, fit on that range of radicals? Both RC and I (and others) have no problem believing that these events actually happened. We see them as fulfillemts of the Olivet Discourse prophecies against Jerusalem. Beyond that, how many people has X actually asked about this? As a "radical fundamentalist" himself many years ago, maybe he had these little problems, but mature believers don't: "Fundamentalists, of course, believe that if Josephus recorded stories of miraculous deeds that have their parallels in the Bible, then they should be believed insofar as they agree with the biblical accounts, but if Josephus wrote about miraculous deeds that don't have parallels in the Bible, like those mentioned earlier, then they may be rejected." Maybe some "fundamentalists" do believe this, but I don't know of any personally. So far Skeptic X's hand is the only one in the air." (Answering "Evaluating Historical Claims")

David Lim
"Josephus claimed in "Wars of the Jews," 6:5.3 that the people of Jerusalem had seen soldiers and chariots in the clouds surrounding the city.

Josephus, being a classical historian, need not subscribe to the school of naturalists.

Historians should record details as told and express opinion later, rather than blotting out improbable material from the very beginning. Conclusion should not be made from just the most probable scenario while ignoring all other possibilities.

It is for researchers to discover whether hallucinating drugs were used to induce that experience; or some told a lie; or words got changed in transmission; or it really happened that way. This is the spirit of -"keeping an open mind".

Early Christians are accused to have tempered with the record of Jesus in the writing of Josephus, without any factual evidence from his text.
Josephus can record hearsay evidence no matter how ridiculous they appeared to be. It does not naturally mean somebody has tempered with his text. " (Answering Opposing Views)

Ernest L. Martin (1992)
"Christ Jesus told the apostles that when they (or any of the saints) would see Jerusalem surrounded by armies then let the people of God flee from Jerusalem and Judea. ‘When you shall see Jerusalem compassed with armies, then know that the desolation thereof is nigh’ (Luke 21:20).

The meaning of this verse has puzzled many people. How can it be that when Jerusalem is completely surrounded (encircled on all sides) with armies, then the people of God are told to flee the whole area of Judea (of which Jerusalem is a part)? If this is the strategy, then it seems that Christ is saying to surrender to the armies. But this I. not what Christ meant in his warning.

In actual fact, this prophecy of Christ Jesus was fulfilled to the letter in the period just before the war that destroyed Jerusalem from A.D.67 to 70. We have the eyewitness account of Josephus himself (he was the Jewish historian who accompanied the Roman armies to Jerusalem and saw or reported all that occurred in Judaea within that 3 and a half year event that occurred in the heavens that could not be identified as having its origin on earth. This was clearly a ‘sign" from heaven and I have not the slightest hesitation in stating that it was an exact fulfillment of what Christ Jesus said would occur that is recorded in Luke 21:20. Note what Josephus said happened just before the war with Romans commenced.

On the twenty-first of the month Artemisium [the last day of the 2nd Passover season In A.D.661, there appeared a miraculous phenomenon, passing belief. Indeed, what I am about to relate would, I imagine, have been deemed a fable, were it not for the narratives of eyewitnesses and for the subsequent calamities which deserved to be so signalized. For before sunset throughout all parts of the county [everywhere throughout Judea] chariots were seen in the air and armed battalions hurtling through the clouds and encompassing the cities" (War,VI.5.3 or Loeb VI.298, emphasis mine).

This is the very thing that Christ Jesus said to watch for. And then (about two weeks later) Josephus tells us:

Moreover, at the feast which is called Pentecost, the priests on entering the inner court of the temple by night, as their custom was in the discharge of their ministrations, reported that they were conscious, first of a commotion and a din, and after that of a voice as of a host, We are departing hence’ (War, VI.209,300).

With these two signs what did the Christians in Jerusalem and Judea do? Eusebius tells us that this is the time they began to leave the region because of the command of Christ and went to a city called Pella on the east side of the Jordan River (Ecclesiastical History, III.5). They and the apostles obtained safety from the holocaust that soon enflamed Jerusalem and Judaea.

These chariots and armed forces seen in the skies all over Judaea and encompassing the cities of the Jews was similar to times recorded in the early history of Israel. Angelic powers (in this case, good angels) accompanied the armies of Israel when it was the normal period (in ancient Times) for hostilities to occur. The Bible says: ‘And it came to pass, after the year had expired., at the time angels go forth to battle, that David sent Joab, and his servants with him, and all Israel; and they destroyed the children of Ammon" (II Samuel 11:1). The King James translators (and most modern ones) read the Hebrew as "kings," not "angels." But there is no reason whatever for reading the text as ‘kings.’ The verse was intended to show that angelic powers were there to aid Israel in their battles when they went to war.

A further reference (which even corroborates angelic connections with wars or the preparations for wars on earth) is 11 Samuel 5:23,24 God said to David that when he heard "the sound of a going [forth] in the tops of the mulberry trees, then you (David] shall bestir yourself [to war],’ This swishing sound in the top. of the trees of a turbulent waving action of the wind was recognized by David as caused by the Lord and his angelic hosts going to battle with David (see also Genesis 32:1.3 and II Kings 6:17 about angels accompanying God). But in A.D.66, instead of helping Israel win the war with the Romans that the people of Judaea were about to start, the angelic hosts were seen in the clouds in chariots and as armed soldiers encompassing the cities of Judaea and enclosing them on all sides for capitulation. This is precisely what Christ Jesus said to watch for in his Olivet prophecy." (Are UFOs Real?)

H.L. Nigro
"The sign of the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven with power and great glory — The evidence of this is largely speculative. The only practical evidence comes from Josephus, who reports that, during the destruction of Jerusalem, there was a quaking on the earth, a great noise, and a bright light shining around the altar and the temple. Furthermore, he saw a vision of chariots and solders running around among the clouds and surrounding cities, much like the vision seen by Ezekiel in Ezek. 1:22-28. " (Response to the Preterist Position)

George Pytlik (1998)
"One extreme, known as "radical preterism," sees the entire sermon as a reference to the destruction of Jerusalem in AD70. Preterists point to such things as documented reports by Josephus, Tacitus and others in AD70 describing false prophets and false Messiahs leading many people astray, chariots in the clouds, voices from heaven, and signs in the sky. While such supernatural events may well have taken place, they do not prove that radical preterism is the answer. This view is fraught with difficulties since those holding it must believe that the rapture and final battle of Armageddon have already taken place. That leaves no room for a return of Christ in glory that the entire world will see, as he promised. It seems highly unlikely that the entire Christian church missed the much anticipated final return of Christ just 40 years after it was forged with such passion and persecution. Other difficulties include the lack of physical events such as the earthquake that would split the Mount of Olives in two."  (Deliver Us From Evil)

Farrell Till (1995) - Skeptic
"All of this testimony about miracles, a three-hour period of darkness at noon, an earthquake that resurrected "many saints," the resurrection of Jesus, the teleportation of Jesus from one location to another, the ability to pass through solid doors, etc., etc., etc.--all of this is so extraordinary that no rational person can believe it without better evidence than the kind I have discussed above. During the Roman siege of Jerusalem, Josephus reported that a heifer being led to the altar in the temple gave birth to a lamb; he reported that a bright light shined about the altar in the middle of the night and gave the appearance of daylight; he reported that the people in Jerusalem saw armored soldiers and chariots in the clouds surrounding the city (Wars of the Jews, Book 6, Chapter 5, Section3). I doubt if you believe any of this, and you reject it for the same reason I do. It is too fantastic to believe without better proof than the "personal testimony" of a man who lived in highly superstitious times." (Evaluating Historical Claims)

"7. Josephus's claim that the people of Jerusalem saw soldiers and chariots in the clouds surrounding the city one afternoon at sunset (Ibid.). Of this last event, Josephus remarked that one would think that it was merely a legend had there not been so many people who had seen it. So these are just a few supernatural events that are recorded in literature of ancient times. Will you please designate for us, the events in this list that you consider historical facts, and if you reject any of them, please explain why? I think your answer will probably demonstrate that this anti-supernatural bias that biblicists like to talk about in their discussions with skeptics is just a convenient straw man that they set up to draw attention away from their inability to prove supernatural claims recorded in the Bible."

Keith Mathison (2003)
"Stevens also attempts to prove that Acts 1:11 was fulfilled in the first century by pointing to a passage in Josephus that says the Jews saw chariots and troops of soldiers in the clouds in A.D. 66. He says that if this phenomenon was the fulfillment of Revelation 1:7, then it was also the fulfillment of Acts 1:11. A few observations are in order. First, the writings of Josephus are not inspired Scripture. We cannot automatically assume that his account of such a vision is true. Second, Stevens himself says that the coming of Christ would only be "seen" by those whose spiritual eyes were opened.   If those Stevens refers to as "sleepers" (those who were not true Christians) did not see Jesus, how could unbelieving Jews "see" him? Third, even if we assume that Josephus’ account is accurate, it does not say that the Jews saw Jesus. The account says that they saw chariots and troops. What Josephus describes is much more similar in nature to that which Elisha’s servant saw (2 Kings 6:17). Josephus does not describe anyone seeing a visible and bodily return of Jesus into the air or anywhere else." (Acts 1:9-11 and the Hyper-Preterist Debate Page).

Rabbi Yitzchak Ginsburgh
In the Torah, only one holiday falls in the month of Iyar: the festival of the Second Passover (Pesach Sheini) on the fourteenth day of the month. Normally, the Torah tells us to celebrate Passover on the fourteenth day of Nisan, the month before Iyar. But a person ritually impure or too far away from the Temple on the fourteenth of Nisan--and therefore unable to celebrate Passover by bringing a sacrifice to the Temple on that day--has another chance, the Second Passover." (Its Never Too Late)

Glossary of Kaballah and Chassidut
Pesach Sheini ("Second Passover"): "The festival of the Second Passover (Pesach Sheini) on the fourteenth day of the month. Normally, the Torah tells us to celebrate Passover on the fourteenth day of Nisan, the month before Iyar. But a person ritually impure or too far away from the Temple on the fourteenth of Nisan--and therefore unable to celebrate Passover by bringing a sacrifice to the Temple on that "

Rabbi Menachem M. Schneerson
The Second Passover: "Second Chance" - "The fourteenth day of the month of Iyar is Pesach Sheini, the "Second Passover." When the Holy Temple stood in Jerusalem, this day served as a "second chance" for those who were unable to bring the Passover offering on the eve of the "first" Passover one month earlier, the 14th of Nissan" (Chabad.org )

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Date: 20 Mar 2006
Time: 01:57:00

Comments:

Blessings,
look carefully at 1 john 2 - 28, notice in the ancient manuscripts, and in Ivan panin's numeric NT, and in the scholarly 1901 American Standard Version, we see that it says:
1Jo 2:28 And now, my little children, abide in him; that, if he shall be manifested, we may have boldness, and not be ashamed before him at his coming.

The correct translation is IF he shall be manifested, where the KJV and others translate it WHEN.
But look at the word "manifest" it is Phanaroo, wich means to manifest fourth, another word used in the Greek NT for this is Eclesea, to shine fourth from, and so it says ABIDE IN HIM, that IF he is manifested (in us) we we shall have boldness at his coming. this verse speaks of two comings obviously, otherwise it would be redundant. think about it.
But christ is not going to manifest in everyone who calls themself a christian, and therefore only relativly few people will not be ashamed at his coming, those who have Loved his appearing! (in them, and in others)
2Ti 4:8 henceforth there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give to me at that day; and not to me only, but also to all them that have loved his appearing.
this Word here appearing is Epiphaneia!
The Word of God speaks for itself.
Christ in us, the hope of Glory.
See if you can apply this understanding, and realize that Christ's Parouia (phisical coming) will not come until the harvest is mature, that is, christ is perfecly manifest in a firstfruits manchild that guides the rest of the remnant through the tribulation wilderness.
for more information, go to www.americaslastdays.com

Bless you, in the Name of Jesus Christ our Lord.

Date: 30 Jun 2006
Time: 20:11:01

Comments:

If you would like to know what Ezekiel describes in his vision do a web search on "Solving the Riddle of Ezekiel's Wheels" and you will find my article posted on the UFO RESOURCE CENTER web site. I am the author of the article and am a Hebrew Old Testament scholar. It was the constant opinion of qntiquity that Ezekiel saw "the CHARIOTS

Date: 24 Sep 2006
Time: 14:44:05

Comments:

Relying on what is termed, "historical" documents in order to develop and ancient chronology is fraught with danger. No ancient source can be attributed with any reliability. The 4th century is no better -- Eusebius and the other Constantinian commentors were corrupted by their need to justify conquests. They and their ilk reconstructed ancient history and destroyed all previous records; the ancient sources are gone forever. That opinion, of course, presupposes that Eusebius was an historical personage, to begin with. No "history" can be used to justify faith -- faith rests on that which is unseen and unknown. Attempts to "confirm" one's faith through the so-called "witness" of history betrays a fear that what one believes may not be true.

Date: 13 Apr 2007
Time: 06:13:34

Comments:

To RELY on historical documents, would be dangerous, however to use historical documents to verify the historicity of the biblical record is far less dangerous. Our faith is and can be verified by what we see and know of history. Jesus boosted the faith of His followers by appearing to them, showing them that it is true that He is resurrected. Archeological finds repeatedly support the historicity of the biblical account, historical documents, also do the same. It would clearly be wrong to base our faith on what was recorded by 2nd-hand witnesses, however to use their testimony as supporting evidence for 1st-hand witnesses is an acceptable practice.

May the Lord bless you and keep you...

Date: 07 Jun 2007
Time: 07:20:10

Comments:

There is a danger here for the kid of sensory overload that is currently happening in contemporary society via our electronic media. To wit: We have too may sources speaking to the same subject to make any sense of them without time to dissect and evaluate each bit of information. What this does is to first leave the greater mass of humanity disinterested in the subject and second, make those who yell the loudest the ones that get heard.

If in fact the second coming has already come and gone, we here today are living in the post-rapture world. Once you get to that point, you have to begin looking at what is said about that time to see if our current situation is anywhere close to a fit. But before we can even begin this part of the journey, we are fallen upon by those who are certainly put out, if not actionably offended by the mere mention of such a scenario.

The majority of Christians will react to this just as they did to the notion that Christ and Mary Magdalene were married or at the very least, had some kind of personal relationship. This is the single failing of faith… it renders us away from being acute observers who then have no interest in discovery.

So, try as you might to present this theory to the world, it will do nothing more than become part of a inhomogeneous riot of information overlapping speculation, intertwined with various theory and of course, the mix from the extremists fringes. The average Joe… mankind, will be simply unable and then finally unwilling to recognize the simplicity of it all because it has been (purposely?) clouded over by the inane.