"Behold, your house is left unto you desolate."

With regard to the destruction of the Jerusalem Temple in 70 AD, there are within the writings of the Jewish Talmud, indications which point to some unusual occurances which took place during the forty years preceeding that event (i.e. beginning about 30 AD: the time period during which Jesus died).

Four things of note are listed in the Talmud:

Talmud, Yoma 39b

...Our Rabbis taught: During the last forty years before the destruction of the Temple the lot ['For the Lord'] did not come up in the right hand; nor did the crimson-coloured strap become white; nor did the westernmost light shine; and the doors of the Hekal would open by themselves, until R. Johanan b. Zakkai rebuked them, saying: Hekal, Hekal, why wilt thou be the alarmer thyself?

I know about thee that thou wilt be destroyed, for Zechariah ben Ido has already prophesied concerning thee: Open thy doors, O Lebanon, that the fire may devour thy cedars...

...the lot 'For the Lord'...

This is a reference to the Day of Atonement, which occurs every year during the Fall season. In Temple times, on the Day of Atonement, two male lambs (of goats) were brought to the Temple, to be offered up as a sacrifice for the sins of the nation, in accordance with Lev. 16:7-10. Two lots were drawn: a white one, "For the Lord"; and a black one for the Scapegoat. The lamb for the Lord would be slain and its blood applied to the Mercy Seat in the Holy of Holies. Afterwards, the High Priest would lay both hands on the head of the scapegoat, confess all the sins of Israel upon it, and it would be led away into the wilderness, bearing the sins of the nation. In selecting the lambs, the High Priest would put his hands in the container having the lots. If the lot, "For the Lord", came out in the right hand of the Priest, the people felt that they had the approval of the Lord for that year. If the lot for the scapegoat came out in the right hand, it was considered a bad omen. Prior to the forty years before the destruction of the Temple, the drawing of lots was mixed between the two goats. However, according to the Talmud, from about 30 AD until the destruction of the Temple, the black lot, for the scapegoat, was drawn out, in the right hand of the High Priest, for forty consecutive years. Its been computed that the odds against that happening are more than one in 5.5 billion.

...the crimson-coloured strap...

Once the goat was selected for sacrifice, a scarlet colored ribbon was attached to the head of the other (the scapegoat). A part of that ribbon was also tied to one of the Temple doors, before the goat was led into the wilderness.The people waited anxiously to see if everything went as desired. It was said that when the duties concerning the scapegoat were carried out, the scarlet ribbon tied to the Temple door would miraculously turn white in fulfillment of Isa. 1:18, signaling that the atonement for the people, for that year, had been accepted. Again, prior to forty years before the Temple was destroyed, this didn't fail. Afterwards, however, it was said to change colors in some years, and remain the scarlet color in others.

...the westernmost light...

This pertained to the Lampstand in the "Holy Place" of the Temple. Before the start of the forty year period, the lights of the lampstand would burn continuously. Afterwards, the priest could not maintain the western most flame (nearest the Holy of Holies), no matter how meticulous they were in tending to it. The center flame represented the presence of God with the people.

...doors of the Hekal would open...

Finally, during the forty years before the destruction of the Temple, it was reported that the massive doors of the Hekel (Sanctuary of the Temple), which took many men to open and close, would mysteriously open by themselves. This, as with the other occurances, was seen as an evil omen; that the Spirit of the Lord had, or was about to depart from the Temple.

The very fact that these things were written about in the Talmud, by non-believing Jews, is a testimony that mysterious events began to take place in Temple activities about the same time as the death and resurrection of Jesus occurred; and continued until the temple was destroyed as prophesied by Jesus (Matt. 24:1-2).

As far as Israel's future is concerned: God will allow them to rebuild the Temple and resume the sacrifice of animals again. The sacrifices however, will not be accepted by Him, because complete atonement has already been perfected through the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus. For God to accept such sacrifices now, would refute the full and everelasting atonement established through the death of Jesus. There is no going back to the covenant which existed before His death, although Israel will attempt to do that very thing!

The likely scenario is: When the sacrifices resume, the effect will be essentially the same as in the forty years before the destruction of the Temple. That, or a similiar sequence of events, will probably continue through for the first three of the Days of Atonement which will occur during the seven years of tribulation. The Talmud itself, declares that there will be seven years of tribulation before Messiah comes.

Our Rabbis taught: in the seven year cycle at the end of which the son of David will come - in the first year, this verse will be fulfilled: And I will cause it to rain upon one city and cause it not to rain upon another city; in the second, the arrows of hunger will be sent forth; in the third, a great famine, in the course of which men, women, and children, pious men and saints will die, and the Torah will be forgotten by its students; in the fourth, partial plenty; in the fifth, great plenty, when men will eat, drink and rejoice, and the Torah will return to its disciples; in the sixth, [Heavenly] sounds; in the seventh, wars; and at the conclusion of the septennate the son of David will come. (Talmud, Sanhedrin 97a)

A possible scenario for this could be: Counting of time, which would initially begin on the day following a future Day of Atonement (i.e., Tishri 11). Then, about six months into the fourth year (Nissan 10), God would use the Antichrist to put a permanent end to the sacrifices. He may well point out, that God in Heaven has rejected the sacrifices of Israel: an odd thing that such a person should deliver this truth to Israel. His intentions however, are anything but that of being the holy messenger of God. After putting an end to the sacrificial system, originally institued under the leadership of Moses, he will set up a new system: which will be centered around an image of himself (i.e., the "image of the beast"). This would be followed by three and a half years of great tribulation (Jacob's trouble). At the end of that period (on the Day of Atonement, which ends the seven years); the people, in the face of annihilation by the Antichrist {Zech. 13:8-9}, will finally realize that the atonement which Israel had longed sought after, had been truly made for them through the death of Jesus. God has declared that He will not return to them until they acknowledge their offense (rejecting the atonement made for them through Jesus), and seek Him early {Hosea 5:15}. When they do so, their Messiah (Jesus, or Yeshua in Hebrew), will be revealed from Heaven, destroy the Antichrist, and "...all Israel shall be saved." {Rom. 11:25-26}.

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