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• In May, A.D. 66, the Roman Procurator Florus demanded 17 talents from the Jewish Temple treasury. This was the event which triggered insult for the Jews to begin their revolt. The Roman garrison in Jerusalem was overrun by rebels (Zealots), who took control of the city. The rebels cause cessation of all sacrifices to the Roman Emperor, thus challenging Rome head-on. But this was merely the beginning of the end for the Jews.
• Florus, the Roman Governor, could not control the situation, so the (Roman) Syrian Governor, Cestius Gallus, is called in to subdue the rebellion. He attacks Jerusalem, gets up to the walls of the city, then unexpectedly withdraws, suffering heavy losses in retreat.
• This was what Matthew 24 means by saying, when you see the abomination of desolation, when Jerusalem is circled by armies, that was the time to flee. There was now a window of opportunity for the faithful Jews and Christians to retreat.