Rabbi Kahane once wrote, (but I don't recall the source) that the reason R. Yochanan ben Zakai (spelled by Soncino as Johanan b. Zakkai) favored peace with the Romans is because he saw a sign from heaven that the Romans were going to win. Namely, he saw the doors of the Temple open up in a certain way and additional signs
which he tied together with the Prophecy of Zechariah 11:1, which he understood to be a "churban" prophecy.
The following is the soncino translation to tractate Yoma 39b for more background.
Our Rabbis taught: During the last forty years before the destruction of the
Temple the lot [‘For the Lord’] did not come up in the right hand; nor did the crimson-coloured strap
become white; nor did the westernmost light shine; and the doors of the Hekal would open by
themselves, until R. Johanan b. Zakkai rebuked them, saying: Hekal, Hekal, why wilt thou be the
alarmer thyself?5 I know about thee that thou wilt be destroyed, for Zechariah ben Ido has already
prophesied concerning thee:6 Open thy doors, O Lebanon, that the fire may devour thy cedars.7
R. Isaac b. Tablai said: Why is its8 name called Lebanon? Because it makes white the sins of
Israel. R. Zutra b. Tobiah said: Why is it called ‘Forest’, as it is written: The house of the forest of
Lebanon?9 To tell you that just as a forest produces sprouts, so does the Temple. For R. Hosea
said:10 When Solomon built the Sanctuary, he planted therein all sorts of precious golden trees,
which brought forth fruit in their season. When the wind blew against them, their fruits would fall
down, as it is said: May his fruit rustle like Lebanon.11 They were a source of income for the
priesthood. But as soon as the idolaters entered the Hekal, they dried up, as it is said: And the flower
of Lebanon languisheth.12 And the Holy One, blessed be He, will restore it to us, as it is said: It shall
blossom abundantly, and rejoice, even with joy and singing, the glory of Lebanon shall be given to
it.13
Footnotes
(5) Predict thy own destruction.
(6) I.e., concerning this significant omen of the destruction of the Temple.
(7) Zech. XI, 1. Ido was his grandfather, but it occurs occasionally that a man is called ‘the son after a distinguished
ancestor.
(8} The Sanctuary. A play on iubck, connected with ick.
(9) I Kings X, 21.
(10) V. supra 21b.
(11) Ps. LXXII, 16.
(12) Nahum I, 4.
(13) Isa. XXXV, 2.
This is not a complete answer to your question Tag-MehirTzedek, but at least it answers one aspect of the question.