I think that passage goes back to AD 67 when Rome surrounded Jerusalem. This was the last time there was a temple. Rome had surrounded the city about 3.5 years before they final broke through and destroyed the temple. The city itself was completely burned to the ground and every stone of every building in the city, including the foundation, was removed. According to Josephus, had you lived in Jerusalem before then came back after, you wouldn't even know you were there. The entire place looked like a desolate wilderness. All trees were cut down, all gardens destroyed. The only thing left was the Roman fortress, Antonia and three towers as evidence of Rome's victory.
The destruction and desolation of Jerusalem in AD 70 totally fulfilled this passage:
[SUP]21 [/SUP]For then there will be great tribulation, such as has not been since the beginning of the world until this time, no, nor ever shall be.
Never before or after was a country so completely destroyed. Israel ceased from being a nation and one could not tell it ever existed. 1.1 million Jews were killed, the rest were taken captive and forced to destroy their own city. After this, they were taken to Rome in chains and forced to march behind Titus' column.
The Christian church, which was located south of the Temple complex on Mount Zion, miraculously escaped during a brief withdraw when Nero died. They fled over the mountains to the east then north up the Jordan River Valley and many settled in Pella. From there they settled into the various nations.