No.
The only history that can prove anything Biblically, is "
Biblical History." That is to say, the history of the world
as it is written in the Bible alone. Biblical history cannot be proven truth by the writings of the historian Josephus declaring what he believes took place in AD 70. Are we to suppose that God would leave the interpretation of His Holy Word concerning the mountains of flight to Josephus, an unbeliever? We are not to suppose that at all. Holy men of God who declared truth spoke as they were moved by the Holy Ghost (2nd Peter 1:21), Josephus did not. He was not divinely inspired to write anything, and secular writing (no matter how accurate we may think they are) cannot be looked upon as "proof" of prophecy fulfillment. The Holy Spirit, through God's word, proves prophecy.
For example, in Matthew 24, note the context isn't of God telling the Jews to flee to the mountains because the Romans were coming to persecute them. Rather it is that God's servants would be delivered up to be afflicted, and they shall be killed, and shall be hated of "all nations" for Christ's name's sake, and that many shall be offended because of Christ, and shall betray one another, and they shall hate one another. This has nothing to do with the Roman Invasion of Israel. It's a context of enduring in the face of tribulation for the believer, not of fleeing to the physical mountains when the Romans show up. It's a context that many false prophets would arise and would deceive many, and because iniquity shall abound the love of many shall wax cold. What has this to do with Titus and the Roman sacking of Jerusalem? It is a context of he that shall endure this to the end, shall be saved. It's not about the Romans.
Did God tell Paul to flee to the mountains because the wicked were coming to beat him severely? Did God tell John to flee to the mountains because the wicked were coming to throw him into the prison on the Isle of Patmos? Did God tell Stephen to flee to the mountains because the people were coming to stone him to death? The only place God tells the church to flee from (collectively) is an abomination. And to flee as a bird that flees to the mountains for safety from the snare of the wicked. God is equating the children of God who dwell in this sinful house at this time of trial and tribulation, to (as birds) flee to their spiritual place of safety. "Consider wisely." It is the character of the saints who have their God as their hope, to fly to God's spiritual mountain for security in the time of great tribulation. By equating the bird fleeing to the mountain with those souls who trust in God
and not physical mountains, temples, church building, the illustration God is painting is clear. It is the only place where we can trust that our souls will be secure from the wicked. Read it again.
Psalms 11:1-2
- "In the LORD put I my trust: how say ye to my soul, Flee as a bird to your mountain?
- For, lo, the wicked bend their bow, they make ready their arrow upon the string, that they may privily shoot at the upright in heart."
Psalms 72:3
- "The mountains shall bring peace to the people, and the little hills, by righteousness."
Psalms 124:7-8
- "Our soul is escaped as a bird out of the snare of the fowlers: the snare is broken, and we are escaped.
- Our help is in the name of the LORD, who made heaven and earth."
Proverbs 6:5
- "Deliver thyself as a roe from the hand of the hunter, and as a bird from the hand of the fowler."
Psalms 55:6-9
- "And I said, Oh that I had wings like a dove! for then would I fly away, and be at rest.
- Lo, then would I wander far off, and remain in the wilderness. Selah.
- I would hasten my escape from the windy storm and tempest.
- Destroy, O Lord, and divide their tongues: for I have seen violence and strife in the city."
As far as physical punishment, mental tribulation, and death, He told the disciples (and us) to expect it and endure it. God never taught that when we experience persecution, sufferings, or trial because of Christ, we should go hide in the physical mountains. That's not what being a Christian is about, anymore than being a Christian is about not being able to be "physically" hurt by scorpions and serpents. These are
all spiritual metaphors for
how we shall endure in time of great tribulation. And it's not by fleeing to physical mountains.
2nd Timothy 3:11-14
- "Persecutions, afflictions, which came unto me at Antioch, at Iconium, at Lystra; what persecutions I endured: but out of them all the Lord delivered me.
- Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution.
- But evil men and seducers shall wax worse and worse, deceiving, and being deceived.
- But continue thou in the things which thou hast learned and hast been assured of, knowing of whom thou hast learned them;"
In short, history doesn't prove anything about AD 70 and the Jews fleeing to the mountains. It's convenient in lieu of Scripture, but it doesn't prove anything Biblically, neither can it.
Moreover, how is what happened in AD 70 called an abomination in the Holy place of God, when the Jewish Temple was not the Holy Temple of God at that time that it could something in it to qualify as an abomination in "The Holy Place." It was neither Holy, nor the place of God in AD 70. When Christ said, "Behold, your house is left unto you desolate," that meant that it's already Desolate and no longer the Holy house of God, no longer the Holy Temple, no longer the beloved city. It could not possibly qualify for being a Holy place where abominations stood where it shouldn't or "ought not" stand.