Some scholars, such as John A. T. Robinson, James Crossley, Jonathan Bernier or Michael Patrick Barber argue that the historical Jesus probably predicted the destruction of the temple. Some of their arguments for this include:

• 1. There is evidence that some figures, such as Jesus ben Ananias, also predicted the destruction of the temple, according to Josephus in his Jewish War VI, 300–309. Likewise, there is a text among the DSS known as 4Q179 which appears to include another prediction of a future destruction of Jerusalem and its temple.

• 2. It is possible that the historical Jesus’ prediction of the destruction of the temple may have been inspired by the prophesy in Daniel 9:26: “…the life of an anointed one will be taken away and nothing will be left, and the people of a prince who is to come will destroy the city and the sanctuary.” ».

• 3. Jesus’ recommendations to flee to the mountains of Judea were not followed, as the Christians of Jerusalem fled to Pella (Transjordan). This suggests that the prophecy was not a vaticinium ex eventum description of events happening in 70 AD.