By this time, the Jews had
been without a homeland for nearly a thousand
years.
Yet they continued to exist
as a people, scattered though they were, not being
assimilated into the surrounding nations.
They had followed false
Messiahs on at least two occasions, during the
revolts against Rome.
They are without king or
prince, sacrifice or sacred stone, ephod or idols,
since about 70 AD, and with no sign they would return to
their land.