Of all the mysteries in scripture few have attracted the interest
of Bible scholars more than the
prophecy known as
the 70 Weeks of Daniel.
These prophecies were revered and studied even back in Daniel's own
lifetime in the 6th century B.C. Daniel served in the imperial courts of
first the Babylonian and then the Medo-Persian world empires.
We have all heard of the wise men from the east
who came in search of the Christ child.
It is highly likely that the Magi, a number of rulers and wise men
from the east with access to information from the Persian courts
knew of Daniel's prophecy. From the portion of scripture we see below
the wise men had all the information they needed.
Their calculations would have been
based on the 70 weeks prophecy given in
Daniel 9:20-27.
They knew the very month in which Messiah was to appear.
The knew that the promised Messiah of Israel would make His appearance
under the springtime equinoctial Nisan moon of a certain future year.
This would have been the year we know on our Gregorian calendar as
32 A.D. The wise men would have known that the Messiah of Israel would make His appearance in the
spring season of that particular upcoming year.
So backtracking about 30-35 years they had a rough idea as to when the
Christ child would be born. They had done their homework.
They had done the best that they could with the information they had.
Then they took to wondering, and praying, and watching.
Would that Christians today could be as diligent in the Holy Scriptures as these wise men were!
The seventy weeks prophecy is sitting there ready to provide us valuable information as we approach the thresholds of this age.
But are we looking into these matters? Are we interested?
Or do we just want to find "success" and "prosperity" in a material world and pursue my "best life now"?
As the time of the incarnation approached the wise men began to
wonder. Was something of great significance happening or about to happen over in Israel.
The birth of this promised King of the Jews was now due.
They studied the scrolls of the Hebrew prophets looking for additional clues.
They listened for information coming out of Israel.
And they looked to the heavens for a sign.
God honored their faith and their diligence in the scriptures.
He also honored their
calculations in this pivotal prophecy which laid out the details regarding the first
69 weeks of the 70 weeks of Daniel.
The God of Israel showed that His grace extended out as a 'Light to the nations'.
He honored the longing of these wise men from outside Israel
and fulfilled their desire to see in person the promised Messiah of Israel.
So as the time of Christ's birth drew near the wise men were given that sign.
Way back in the time of the wilderness
wanderings of the children of Israel,
the prophet, (and shyster), Balaam had provided a valuable clue.
Under the influence of the Holy Spirit, (and not his own carnal nature),
Balaam had prophesied concerning the coming of the Messiah of Israel.
And in this prophecy he had spoken of
a star.
NUMBERS 24
17. I shall see him, but not now:
I shall behold him, but not nigh:
there shall come a Star out of Jacob,
and a Sceptre shall rise out of Israel,
and shall smite the corners of Moab,
and destroy all the children of Sheth.
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So as the time of the incarnation approached the wise men were out there watching.
And when the star of wonder appeared in the heavens they saw it.
Following the star they were led to Jerusalem and
thence onwards to where they found the Christ Child.
Here was a case in which study in the scriptures gave specific information.
God then went on to give the faithful seekers a sign. The wise men responded with specific action.
This in turn led on to a grand adventure, and to events of great, even Biblical, significance.
And when they came into the land of Israel the wise men found the One whom they were seeking.
THE 70 WEEKS OF DANIEL AND THE TIMES GOD HAS DETERMINED
FOR DEALINGS RELATED TO HIS HOLY CITY AND HIS HOLY PEOPLE.
The implications of this study of the 70 Weeks of Daniel
is enormous. It is by far the most important end time prophecy in all
of scripture bar none.
We may well be the generation that sees
the
the awesome dramas that will come at
the consummation of the age. The 70 Weeks prophecy helps us to connect the dots
to give us an accurate
timeline
for those critical events.
Because when that blockbuster future
covenant of Dan. 9:27 is signed everything will change overnight.
When that epic day arrives and the flags we now live under come
down God will be returning to His earthly arena in earnest.
He will be resuming His determined dealings with both
1. His
Holy people, and
2. His
Holy City Jerusalem.
Let us begin by looking at our scripture passage from Daniel chapter 9.
DANIEL 9 (King James Version)
9:20 And whiles I was speaking, and praying, and confessing my sin and the sin
of my people Israel, and presenting my supplication before the LORD (*Heb.
YHVH) my God for the holy mountain of my God;
9:21 Yea, while I was speaking in prayer, even the man Gabriel,
whom I had seen in the vision at the beginning, being caused to fly swiftly,
touched me about the time of the evening oblation.
9:22
And he informed me, and talked with me, and said, O Daniel,
I am now come forth to give thee skill and understanding.
9:23
At the beginning of thy supplications the commandment came forth,
and I am come to shew thee;
for thou art greatly beloved: therefore
understand the matter, and consider the vision.
9:24
Seventy weeks are determined upon
and upon
,
1. to finish the transgression, and
2. to make an end of sins, and
3. to make reconciliation for iniquity, and
4. to bring in everlasting righteousness, and
5. to seal up the vision and prophecy, and
6. to anoint the most Holy.
9:25
Know therefore and understand, that
from the going forth of the commandment
to restore and to build Jerusalem
unto the Messiah the Prince shall be seven
weeks, and threescore and two weeks: the street shall be built again,
and the wall, even in troubled times.
9:26
And after threescore and two weeks shall Messiah be cut off, but not for
himself: and the people of
the prince that shall come
shall destroy the city and the sanctuary; and the end thereof shall
be with a flood, and
unto the end of the war desolations are determined.
9:27
And he shall
CONFIRM the
covenant with many for one week: and in the
midst of the week he shall cause the
sacrifice and the oblation to cease,
and for the overspreading of abominations he shall make it desolate,
even until the consummation, and that determined shall be poured upon
the desolate.
(* Bible translators choose not to bring God's
name out of the Hebrew scriptures.)
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DANIEL 9 (New American Standard Bible)
9:25 "So you are to know and discern {that} from the issuing of a decree
to restore and rebuild Jerusalem
until Messiah the Prince
{there will be} seven weeks and sixty-two weeks;
it will be built again, with plaza and moat, even in times of distress.
9:26 "Then after the sixty-two weeks the Messiah will be cut off
and have nothing,
and the people of the prince who is to come
will destroy the city and the sanctuary. And its end {will come} with a flood;
even to the end there will be war; desolations are determined.
9:27 "And he will make a firm covenant with the many for one week,
but in the middle of the week he will put a stop to sacrifice and
grain offering; and on the wing of abominations {will come} one who makes
desolate, even until a complete destruction, one that is
decreed, is poured out on the one who makes desolate."
THE SEVENTY WEEKS PROPHECY.
69 WEEKS, (SEVENS) TO THE FIRST COMING OF MESSIAH.
FOLLOWED BY A LARGE GAP, - - - - - - - - - - - -
THEN A FINAL 70TH WEEK, (OF SEVEN YEARS).
THIS LEADS UP TO THE SECOND COMING OF MESSIAH.
THESE TWO TIME SEGMENTS TERMINATE WITH THE TWO COMINGS OF MESSIAH.
Daniel's Prophecy of the 70 Weeks is an important key.
It helps us to understand the twofold coming of Messiah.
The first 69 weeks terminated with the
First Coming of Messiah.
And the 70th week will terminate with the
Second Coming
of Messiah.
This will come at the climax of this age.
The player below contains a short ten minute
YOUTube video.
It includes the calculation of the first 69 Weeks of the Seventy Weeks Prophecy.
Should you have trouble streaming the video click
HERE.
The prophecy of the Seventy Weeks of Daniel is not really
all that complicated.
The time line has two parts. The first segment is a period
of 7 plus 62 weeks or 69 "weeks" (or in the Hebrew, "sevens"), of years.
Since this is a prophecy from the throne of God the time is dispensed to us in terms of
of a perfect solar system and the holy/biblical years are made up of precisely
360.0000000 days.
This is also where we get the 360 degrees in a circle with 12 segments each made up of 30 degrees.
In holy time we also see that each 360 day year is made up of 12 months of 30 days.
This is the holy, Biblical, prophetic year as issued from the throne of God
in the mathematical perfection of time.
This is an exceedingly important issue for the correct interpretation of the 70 weeks prophecy.
It was not until the coming of the evangelicals
that this fact was re-discovered. The Hebrew saints of old as well as the wise men of Persia
probably knew about these things. In many ways, especially in the realm of Bible prophecy
the Church has not been fully reformed. It is certainly not reformed to Biblical standards.
It seems that in many ways the Church is still emerging from the Dark Ages.
So the first segment of the 70 weeks are 69 weeks (or heptads).
These are 69 "sevens" of biblical years.
That 69 week timespan = 69 X 7 = 483 biblical years.
483 biblical years = 483 x 360 =
173,880 days.
This is the all important timespan.
Our task now is to insert this time segment between two auspicious dates in holy history.
This work was formally presented for the first time by Scotland Yard inspector
Sir Robert Anderson back in the late 19th century.
As we shall discuss in
article 3, the 173,880 days began with the
Edict of Artaxerxes given to Nehemiah very early in the month of Nisan in 445 B.C..
This was the edict that actually allowed the restoration of Jerusalem, its walls and
its gates of politics and commerce to allow it to function as a self-sustaining city-state.
This is a very important matter and as we shall discuss, the earlier decrees under Cyrus and
under Ezra do not meet the criteria to initiate the 70 weeks prophecy.
So the 69 weeks were a period of 69 x 7 = 483 biblical years.
483 x 360 = 173,880 days.
These 173,880 days ran from very early in the month of Nisan in 445 B.C. to terminate
476 solar years and 25 days later on a very significant and auspicious day.
The 69 weeks ended on Palm Sunday, the day which saw the first coming of Christ as "Messiah the Prince"
enter into His Holy city.
PALM SUNDAY IS A UNIQUE DAY MARKING THE POLITICAL EMERGENCE OF MESSIAH.
IT WAS THE
ONLY DAY IN WHICH JESUS PRESENTED HIMSELF IN A
POLITICAL WAY AS "MESSIAH THE PRINCE". ONLY THIS DAY, PALM SUNDAY,
OF
32 A.D. MEETS THE CRITERION FOR THE TERMINUS OF THE 69 WEEKS.
Let us pause to take in the politics here.
Because the scriptural record will show that
Palm Sunday was the
only day in which Jesus made
any political
statement or performed any political act whatsoever.
Let us make no mistake here. On that particular day, (and only only on that day),
Jesus presented Himself before His covenant people as their Messiah.
But on this occasion He did not establish His Kingdom,
the
Millennial Kingdom of Messiah.
That would come 2,000 odd years later.
Palm Sunday would showcase Messiah's coming in His
priestly role.
Remember Messiah will rule and minister in the
Order of Melchizedek (
Psalm 110:4)
Melchizedek was
Priest of God Most High and
King of Salem,
(or King of Salem/Shalom).
So Messiah rules and ministers in the two authorities we see in the Order of Melchizedek.
He has a
priestly role as our Sacrifice Lamb and also our High Priest.
He also has a future political or
kingdom role role related to Jerusalem.
Then there is His international global rule as Judge of the nations and future King of Kings.
This latter office is the direct cause of the rebellious raging of nations.
This balking by sinful men against the Throne of David and the coming rule of Messiah is the
quintessential basis for all
Anti-Semitism.
So two millennia ago holy history was made and Palm Sunday saw the terminus of the 69 weeks.
"Messiah the prince" came in His priestly role.
He came unto His own as the Suffering Servant.
The prophet Isaiah wrote about this. (
Isa.53) So did the psalmist King David. (
Ps.22)
As the Suffering Servant He came into Jerusalem, riding a donkey.
It was
Palm Sunday, Nisan 10, April 9th of
32 A.D.. The Pharisees should have known about this date.
They did not do their homework, it seems.
But then again, perhaps they did do the math and then didn't want to face the
conclusion from their own calculations. Perhaps Nicodemus did.
Image by Hallmark Cards.
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What a spooky experience it must have been for the people who knew.
The 69 weeks/173,880 days had just run their course.
And there was their Messiah coming through the eastern Gate.
He was riding on a donkey precisely as the prophets had declared.
And He was right on time!
How about us today?
Will we do better than the Pharisees do you think?
Let us do our homework, seek God's face, and pray that we do.
A final "week" of seven biblical years remains.
Rick Warren says that the end-time is
'none of our business'.
On pages 285-286 of his book, The Purpose Driven Life,
Rick Warren claims that Jesus told His disciples,
"The details of my return are none of your business."
Of course strictly speaking the minute
details of the return of Messiah
are not for us to know and this includes the precise day of His return.
But the impact of Warren's words and his intent and meaning in saying
"The details of my return are none of your business." will go far beyond that.
The words, "none of your business" will in the minds of many of his readers
be applied to the main bulk of Bible prophecy.
Many Church leaders, especially those who are into
Dominion Theology have a very earthy agenda.
Many would very much like to shut down all Christian conversation on the subject of end-time Bible prophecy.
Let us pause and reflect on this for a moment.
Is Bible Prophecy really 'none of our business'?
Perhaps one quarter of the Bible is a revelation by God of what He intends to do
as holy history comes to its appointed climax.
And the Holy Spirit was responsible for our Bible.
Was the Holy Spirit
wrong in putting prophecy in the Holy Scriptures for us?
Here is another issue.
Is Bible prophecy just frightening information that disturbs the masses
and makes the kings and rulers of the status quo in this world angry?
Or was Bible prophecy a devotional matter
given to God's covenant people for us to prepare our hearts in God?
Certainly Bible prophecy involves our spiritual preparation in God.
The fullness of the Holy Spirit is a provision in God.
The Comforter and Strengthener of our soul is our Paraclete.
He is alongside us. He ministers to us in our trials from His eternal resources beyond ourselves.
Most Christian believers know
the parable of the ten virgins.
Five wise virgins had that extra oil over and above the oil that was in their lamps.
The wise took it upon themselves to prepare themselves.
They had the extra oil for their lamps against the coming night.
They had considered this an important matter of preparation and had seen to it ahead of time.
Finally that awesome night arrived.
It was the night when they would be going out to meet the incoming Bridegroom.
The five wise virgins had prepared themselves. And they were ready.
For the five foolish virgins it was a different story.
They didn't bother.
The consequences of their indolence was awful beyond telling.
These foolish ones who were not prepared were locked out of the
Marriage Supper
The woman of wisdom is crying in the streets.
(See
this passage in Proverbs chapter 1.)
Sadly, very few are stopping to listen.
Shall
we do our homework and look into Bible prophecy?
Shall
we pay attention to what God is showing us?
THE 70 WEEKS PROPHECY.
THE TIMELINE BRIDGES TWO AUSPICIOUS EVENTS SEPARATED BY 476+ YEARS.
THE TIMELINE FITS WITHIN CONFIDENCE LIMITS OF 1 in 10 to the fifth power or 99.999%
As we shall show, the
time-line of the 69 weeks is amazingly accurate.
We are looking here at virtually a perfect fit!
This is not new information.
It was discovered and laid out neatly, (with a tiny error margin of 1-3 days over 476 years),
during the late 19th century by an evangelical Scotland Yard inspector.
Our next article in this series tells the story of
Sir Robert Anderson.
For the mathematical and astronomical details see
this article further along in our study.
As we trace out the first 69 of the 70 weeks through time
we see that the time-span began very early in the month of Nisan
in the 20th year of Artaxerxes Longimanus. (Nehemiah 2) This was the spring of 445 B.C..
See
this YouTube video.
We know that it was soon after the new moon of Nisan because 173,880 days is 5,888 moons plus 8 days.
Going back 8 days from Nisan 10, (Palm Sunday) we get Nisan 2 of 445 B.C.. (Sir Robert Anderson said it was Nisan 1
of 445 B.C. but this difference is of little consequence).
173,880 days later the 69 weeks terminated.
The time span abuts perfectly with Palm Sunday, the very first official and public appearance
Jesus Christ/Yeshua Hamashiach as Messiah. This was the fulfillment of the prophecy
in
Daniel 9:25 which speaks of "Messiah the Prince".
This was a pivotal day in holy history.
It was the first day, (and the only day), in which Jesus ever presented himself in a political way.
On that day, (and on that day only), He was showcased before Jerusalem and the Holy People
as "Messiah the Prince". He rode into Jerusalem on a donkey on the 10th day of Nisan,
thus fulfilling the prophecy for the terminus of the 69 weeks.
It was 5,888 moons and 8 days or 173,880 days after the Edict of Artaxerxes given to Nehemiah.
The time-line fits perfectly between these two auspicious dates in holy history.
The error margin here is minute. It is a mere 1-2 days over 173,880 days.
This is superb accuracy. It is not new data. The work was first done by Scotland Yard Inspector
Sir Robert Anderson. He wrote the book, "The Coming Prince" back in the late 19th Century.
Our
next article homes in on
Sir Robert Anderson. And
this article gives the details for the calculation of the 69 weeks.
Jesus Christ/Yeshua Hamashiach, our "Messiah, the Prince" entered through
the eastern gate on that epic day. It was just four days before His crucifixion.
The Hebrew calendar/lunar date was 10th day of the Nisan moon, 32 A.D.
This was Palm Sunday and it was
four days before the sacrifice lambs were slain on
Passover. (Nisan 14).
Palm Sunday was surely the terminus for the 69 weeks. The baptism of Jesus 3.5 years before this
does
NOT meet the criterion for "Messiah the Prince".
But the spirit behind
partial preterism is trying very hard to convince carnal Christians that it does.
Partial preterism says that the first half of the 70th Week was fulfilled by Jesus, (of all people),
and that Jesus is the "prince" of
Dan 9:26. Does this twist and ravage the scripture here?
It most certainly does!
But it is linked to the up and coming
Dominion Theology. Dominionism powers the triumphalist eschatology of
the Harlot.
Quite clearly dominionist partial preterists desperately want us all to believe
that there will be no first half of the 70th week up ahead for them to have
to explain. They don't want to have to answer questions about those first 3.5 years.
The harlot global power as we see her in Revelation 17 is a great embarrassment to the emergent church.
So if those bothersome 3.5 years can be "spirited away" into "past history" then
they consider that it will be good for them.
But the saints must not believe them. They must do their
own homework on the 70 weeks
of Daniel. They must see that a full seven years is up ahead for God's
covenant dealings with His people. The saints must not accept
Dominionist Partial Preterism.
If they buy into this false eschatology they will surely be hoodwinked.
They will be blinded to the future harlot rule that John saw. (
Rev.17 &
18)
These people will be deceived and blinded to reality by a religious smokescreen
deliberately drawn over the first half of the future
70th Week of Daniel.
Quite clearly one "week" or one "seven" of years remains to be fulfilled.
A true and correct reading of
Daniel 9:27 lays out the future timespan of seven Biblical years.
God has determined this time for dealings with His covenant people and with the Gentiles concerning
1. His Holy City, Jerusalem, and
2. His Holy People
Quite clearly the
70th week of Daniel, all seven years of it, is up there in our future.
This will be the end time drama. Seven biblical years are still to come.
This future period of one "seven" is a time span of seven biblical, (360 day), years.
7 x 360 = 2520 days. These are divided into equal portions of 1260 days each.
The Abomination of Desolation marks the transition.
The latter half of the 70th Week sees the trampling of Jerusalem, the reign of the Antichrist,
and the Great Tribulation. The persecution of the saints will terminate at the end of the second 1260 day period on day 1260.
This is 30 days before the last day of this age.
This last day of this age will be the ultimate, final, wrap-up Day of Reckoning or
Day of Atonement This final awesome day will come on day 1290. (
Dan.12:11)
It will fulfill the 6th of the
7 Feasts of Israel.
It appears that when God is pleading with the nations
that are gathered at Armageddon a 30 day grace period will be extended.
God will be showing His mercy to rebellious wayward mankind.
30 days takes us from day 1260 and beyond the 70th Week to day 1290.
(See the article on the
Fall Feasts of Israel.)
Thirty days beyond the 70th Week of Daniel
on day 1290, the epic final cataclysmic
Day of Atonement, or Day of Reckoning will have finally arrived.
This will be wayward mankind's last chance to repent.
The final wrap up day will have come, not only for the year,
but also for the Jubilee cycle, and for this age.
The final climactic Day of Atonement will come on day 1290.
It looks very much like this final day of this age
will come on the Hebrew fast day of Yom Kippur.
This will be the final
Day of Reckoning,
or Judgment Day.
This will then usher in the
Day of the Lord.
The heavens will open and the world will see the
Second Coming
of Christ as Messiah.
The next time we see Messiah He will not be coming as the
Suffering Servant.
He will be coming as the "Conquering King".
He will be coming in vengeance against His enemies.
He will come to
destroy the wicked.
He will also deliver His Elect.
He will save His people at Jerusalem from the surrounding armies of the heathen
at the Battle of Armageddon. And He will also be coming as "the Breaker"
to rescue His exiled people out
at the ends of the earth at the magnificent
Bozrah Deliverance.
WE MUST ACCEPT THE REALITY AND
PURPOSE OF THE FUTURE 70TH WEEK. THIS IS
CRITICALLY IMPORTANT INFORMATION FOR THE SAINTS
CONCERNING A PROPER CHRONOLOGY OF THE APOCALYPSE.
It is very important for Christian believers to understand that
all of the 70th Week of Daniel is yet future.
It will be the final seven years of this age.
Sir Robert Anderson did the landmark work back in the late 19th century.
And any diligent Christian can confirm the accuracy of his
scholarship and his calculations.
Dear saints, this prophecy of the 70 weeks may seem arcane. But it is not.
The information Gabriel brought to Daniel was under attack when it was being delivered.
And it is under intense attack right now by dark religious spirits.
So it is critically important that we get this right.
We
must see that there is a future seven years to run.
This will now be explained.
Many are the enemies of this truth of a future 70th Week.
Some of them, sad to say, are post-tribbers.
Preterists deny the reality of any future drama whatsoever.
And
Dominionists use
Partial Preterism
to seek to undermine this biblical truth of a future 70th week.
These people are very active and have a lot of spiritual energy.
Quite clearly they are deceived. They are also intimidated and loathe to accept
the first half of the future 70th Week as the harlot regime.
So they seek to press their point of view every chance they get.
But all their timelines for the 70 weeks are either nonexistent or very very shabby.
Their work on the timeline of the 70 weeks
is so bad they do not even present it in any precise sort of a way.
Dear saints.
None of the 70th week of Daniel is in the past.
All seven years of it is future, even though the Great Tribulation (
Rev.13:5)
and the flight of the Woman of Revelation 12
and the trampling of Jerusalem is just the latter 3.5 years of the 7 years.
The first half of the 70th week is most assuredly
not past history.
It is up ahead. The harlot will ride during the first half of the
final seven years of this age.
Details from Daniel
and details from Revelation and other scriptures
provide pieces of the puzzle. They all fit together.
This then gives us a clear picture of the events of the end-time.
This truth of the
future 70th week of Daniel is a valuable key to the end time.
This is an extremely important piece of information
for Christians to have nailed down.
They should become fully persuaded in their minds about the
two portions of the future 70th Week.
They are seen in
Daniel 9:27, the verse of considerable contention.
Seven biblical years of 360 days are yet to run.
If we do our homework here and handle the Holy Scriptures
faithfully it should be no problem
for us to arrive at this important truth.
Unfortunately a host of deceived men, (and the dark angels who pull their
strings), are trying to convince us otherwise.
Chief among these are
Preterists and
Partial Preterists.
Some of these are into that dangerously politicized Utopian
form of sword swinging Crusading Christianity known as
Dominion Theology.
And what is their agenda?
Unfortunately it is a very carnal one.
They believe that
we in the Church are supposed to
take over the world. According to these people
WE, (and not Messiah),
are supposed to get up and bring in the
Kingdom Now.
Dominionist churchmen are already beginning to bully all of us in Christendom
into trying to do just that. They want us to follow them
on their "last crusade".
The advice that
Pilgrim Christians would offer in this regard
is quite simple.
Don't go with them!
DANIEL'S PROPHECY OF THE SEVENTY WEEKS AND
THE ATTEMPTS TO UNDERSTAND IT IN TIMES PAST.
The prophecy of the 70 Weeks of Daniel has been a puzzle
throughout church history.
Through the centuries many have tried to solve it, and failed.
Even Sir Isaac Newton, the noted scientist and physicist of the
late 1600's had speculated on the subject and done some calculations.
Unfortunately he was into alchemy and the occult.
Perhaps because of this God would not let him see the truth.
As do many others even to this day, Sir Isaac Newton considered that the
beginning of the seventy weeks was marked by the first edict
of Artaxerxes in 457 B.C.. This was the
proclamation that permitted Ezra
to return to Jerusalem both as a leader of a revival and
as an administrator.
This is also a favorite starting time for historicists including
partial preterists.
But as we shall discover in our
third article,
this edict fails to
connect. And this is because it fails to
meet the biblical criteria for the initiation of the 70 Weeks of Daniel
we see laid out in
Daniel 9:25.
This relates to the
walls and gates of Jerusalem.
How does the 70 Week Prophecy begin?
The
edict of Artaxerxes to Nehemiah on the
new moon of Nisan in the springtime of 445 B.C. faithfully fulfills
all the biblical criteria to start off the 70 Weeks of Daniel.
Daniel 9:25-26
lays out the
timeline for the first 69 'weeks' or 'sevens'.
The Hebrew calendar dates for the events marking out the beginning
and the termination point for the 69 weeks are clearly recorded
in the Holy Scriptures.
Using the solar passage of years along with the lunar cycles from
astronomical data the timeline can be measured out with great precision.
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Palm Sunday by Chinese artist Yu Jiade
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The results are truly amazing.
The 69 weeks happen to terminate on Nisan 10 of the crucifixion year.
This was the very day in which Jesus rode into Jerusalem as Messiah.
It was
Palm Sunday, the 10th day of the Nisan moon in
32 A.D..
The Pharisees were the religious establishment of their day.
But apparently they had not sat down and done their homework.
Of course it is entirely possible that they had.
And had then decided to cover up their conclusion.
The information was sitting there in the scrolls of Daniel.
The scriptures were awaiting a faithful student.
Someone needed to do the sums and circle a date on a calendar.
So why didn't they do it?
The Pharisees had the scriptures.
They knew them very well.
And they were very intelligent people.
What happened? Didn't they care?
They should have known this date or at least the month or the season.
Because their Messiah has arrived.
He was right there at the eastern gate!
He was fulfilling Bible prophecy right on the set time.
He was entering Jerusalem precisely on the day appointed!
THE FIRST 69 WEEKS OF THE 70 WEEKS AND THE AMAZINGLY ACCURATE
TIMESPAN IT LAYS OUT BETWEEN NEHEMIAH, (THE EDICT OF ARTAXERXES),
AND THE FIRST COMING OF MESSIAH ON PALM SUNDAY OF PASSION WEEK.
The holy sages of ancient Israel and also the true saints today recognize that
the this prophecy of the Seventy Weeks of Daniel is a valuable key.
It unlocks the prophecies which have been fulfilled in the past. It also
maps out the sequence of end-time events.
The first 69 of the 70 weeks of Daniel have already been fulfilled.
It ran from the
Edict of Nehemiah up to the
first coming of Christ as Messiah on
Palm Sunday in the year of His passion.
As we shall discover in this study, the first
69 weeks
of the 70 weeks began and ended on Biblically and historically
well authenticated and accurately
dated auspicious events in time to run out a timespan
of 7 plus 62 = 69 weeks (or sevens) = 69 x 7 = 483 biblical years.
Our calculations of the 69 weeks (or 173,880 days)
will be very important.
This is covered in detail in
section 8.
We shall accurately connect the two auspicious events in past holy history,
namely the Nisan moon in which the
Edict of Artaxerxes was given to to Nehemiah in the 20th year of Artaxerxes
in 445 B.C. (
Neh.2) and the Nisan moon of Passover, Palm Sunday
of 32 A.D..
The discovery of this remarkably accurate timeline
connecting the edict of Artaxerxes to Nehemiah in 445 B.C,
and the entry of Jesus as "Messiah the Prince" on Nisan 10, Palm Sunday,
of 32 A.D.
was first published in the 1870's by Scotland Yard Inspector
Sir Robert Anderson. He was a devoted Christian believer and
a very fine Biblical scholar. He put forth
his work on the first 69 weeks of the 70 weeks of Daniel
in his celebrated book
'The Coming Prince'.
The exceedingly accurate calculations we shall see in this study
and especially in
article 8 is mind boggling.
The error margin we are looking at here
amounts to a mere 1-2 days over 476 years!
No one advancing other timelines even dares to mention the
months of the year involved in any timeline they put forth.
Because their timelines are so far off the mark
they have trouble connecting years let alone a 48 hour period.
The error margin here is very very small.
It can be accounted for by
new moon sighting variances. What we are looking at here
is an accuracy of 99.999 percent!
Brothers and sisters, this is pretty impressive.
When we sit down for ourselves and do the calculations
from the calendar (solar cycles), and the astronomical data
for the lunar cycles and we see the 69 weeks laid out so beautifully
it is truly amazing. We soon begin to realize just
what an awesome God we serve.
Daniel's prophecy clearly indicates that one 'week', (seven years),
of the seventy weeks prophecy still remains to unfold.
The reality of this future 70th week or a
future seven year period
of God's determined dealings with His covenant people
is exceedingly important.
A highly significant seven year
passage of holy history lies up ahead in our future.
On some epic future day
this final seven year
period will be ushered in.
This seven year period of the 70th week
will open up with the signing of the
Daniel 9:27
seven year peace treaty involving sovereign
control of the Holy Land being given to a global peacemaker
for a period of seven years.
After this the 70th week is destined to come to a climactic end at
Judgment Day and the Second Coming of Christ.
He will be calling the shots here.
And
He will bring this present age
to its appointed climax.
Because
He, our Lord Jesus Christ, is coming back again
to reign on this earth as
our coming Messiah.
GOD'S PLAN AND PURPOSE FOR HIS PEOPLE IS REVEALED IN HOLY SCRIPTURE
Why is this seemingly arcane prophecy of the 70 weeks of Daniel
so important to us?
Is it just an
academic or theological matter?
Well if it is just an arcane academic and theological matter then it certainly won't be
when the CNN and FOX news cameras are showing
the epic
seven year peace deal being signed
which will involve Israel and the G-7 nations
of the West.
The reason this prophecy of the 70 weeks
is so important is that it
contains vital information regarding the timing and the time course
of the end-time drama.
The angel Gabriel laid out for the prophet Daniel, (and is laying out for us),
a timeline for
the first and second comings of Christ as Messiah.
The Pharisees back 2,000 years ago, (and most state and merchant
churchmen today),
are just not interested in these matters.
How about you and I? Are we interested?
This information will be very
important for millions of saints around the world as the time
comes for them to take their places in the
final acts and scenes of history. Jesus has won the victory at the cross.
All that remains is for His New Covenant to be
witnessed in a corporate and
decisive way by His saints.
God is bringing us into His grand adventure, the Divine Romance,
and on a passage into His glory.
This is what the
70th week of Daniel is all about.
Can we believe this?
Daniel's prophecy of the Seventy Weeks ties in with the Book of Revelation.
The word Apocalypse means 'unveiling'.
Revelation is not a chamber of horrors. It will be for the wicked.
Revelation is an unveiling of Jesus Christ.
John, the Apostle of Love, saw the history of God's saints
at the climax of the Times of the Gentiles.
This information is obviously destined for some group of people
at the time of the end. Some group of saints
will apparently need this information.
Who are they?
Daniel was told that the prophecy he was given was to be
'unsealed' at the time of the end.
Could it be that
we are those people?
Are we the ones for whom the book of Daniel is to be unsealed
As we enter into these coming times will it be
made plain for us to understand? (
Dan.12:9)
Unfortunately many Christians seem to think that
Bible prophecy is too difficult for them
to understand? Is this true?
Not at all! The God of Israel is the Sovereign Ruler of the cosmos.
He has an agenda and the conclusion to history has already been predetermined.
It has already been written down in the Bible.
God has a plan. And His plan is sure.
Even the raging of nations against His coming rule is limited.
Everything is under His control.
There will be a 'final witness',
a climactic and conclusive testimony of the saints.
This is what the Coming Great Tribulation is all about.
Even
Moses spoke about this climax to holy history.
Then Jesus/Yeshua will return. He intends to judge the wicked,
redeem and deliver His people,
and then restore this creation to the order and beauty it once knew.
He wants His covenant people to join in with Him
in this great adventure. He means to give His saints all the
necessary information. He will also empower them for witness
as they walk along with Him.
God's Word goes out into the cosmos as Light dispelling the darkness.
(
John 1:1-5)
God intends to share His divine purposes
even as He shares His divine Presence with us.
He will open up His Word privately with each one of
His true and trusted followers just as He did with Peter,
James, John and Andrew in the
Olivet Discourse. (
Mat.24)
They had questions. Jesus had answers.
That is just the sort of God we have.
The fact that the messages of Daniel
and Revelation are not yet fully understood
should not be a source of concern for us.
Obviously we are on the learning curve here.
And it would seem that the Word of God,
in these critical areas at least,
comes to us in a devotional code.
Only those who have entrusted their very lives to Christ
will interpret the prophecies of Daniel and Revelation correctly.
This is the way it has to be.
Only those who can be trusted will get the information.
We are in a spiritual war.
It is an
information war.
And many lives are at stake.
So, with all that being said, here is a word of exhortation.
If you are a true seeker of Jesus Christ and if you follow along with
these lessons step by step, checking with the scriptures
in faithful Berean fashion, tracing
the solar and lunar cycles astronomically, using your calculator
for precise 8 figure mathematical accuracy, and listening to the
guidance of the Holy Spirit then the message of the 69 weeks and
the 70 weeks will emerge quite clearly.
And just what is the message of the 70 Week prophecy?
Well as we shall discover, the main message is that 69 weeks, (or sevens),
have already run their course.
A future 70th week is yet to open up.
This information the angel Gabriel brought from the throne of God
to the prophet Daniel is critically important.
The final seven years of this age will be
seven years of God's determined
dealings with His covenant Judeo-Christian people.
At the end of this seven year period
He will personally return to this earth to wrap up this age.
Has there been some good work
done on the Seventy Weeks of Daniel?
Is there a scripturally faithful and mathematically
and astronomically accurate work to be found which might help us
to get started in our studies of Daniel's
prophecy of the Seventy Weeks?
Indeed there is.
Please come along with us now as we go on into the next lesson.
We shall be joining noted Scotland Yard inspector
Sir Robert Anderson, a detective and special investigator
from the 19th century.
He will be assisting us with a few valuable clues.
With this information we shall be able to go on in
our investigation of the 70 Weeks of Daniel.
