What
is Daniel’s 70 weeks? Power-Point Web Presentation
2500 years ago in the land of Babylon a Hebrew prophet named Daniel
wrote about future events involving the whole world and all mankind. The
angel Gabriel revealed to Daniel how his nation Israel, his people the
Jews, and his holy city Jerusalem would play a central role in God’s
plan for all mankind.
They would serve the role of God’s prophetic clock. The clock of God’s
plan for mankind and the world.
By being aware of this clock we are able to see God’s plan unfold before
our eyes.
The Text………..
King James
Translation
Dan 9:24 Seventy
weeks are determined upon thy people and upon thy holy city, to
finish the transgression, and to make an end of sins, and to
make reconciliation for iniquity, and to bring in everlasting
righteousness, and to seal up the vision and prophecy, and to
anoint the most Holy.
Dan 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 troublous times.
Dan 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.
Dan 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.
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New-King James Translation
"Seventy weeks are determined For your people and for
your holy city, To finish the transgression, To make an
end of sins, To make reconciliation for iniquity, To
bring in everlasting righteousness, To seal up vision
and prophecy, And to anoint the Most Holy.
|
"Know therefore and understand, That from the going
forth of the command To restore and build Jerusalem
Until Messiah the Prince, There shall be seven weeks and
sixty-two weeks; The street shall be built again, and
the wall, Even in troublesome times.
|
"And after the sixty-two weeks Messiah shall be cut off,
but not for Himself; And the people of the prince who is
to come Shall destroy the city and the sanctuary. The
end of it shall be with a flood, And till the end of the
war desolations are determined. |
Then he shall confirm a
covenant with many for one week; But in the middle of
the week He shall bring an end to sacrifice and
offering. And on the wing of abominations shall be one
who makes desolate, Even until the consummation, which
is determined, Is poured out on the desolate." |
|
Background
To understand Daniel’s 70 Weeks, we need to understand God’s
unique relationship with the people and land of Israel.
The relationship is 4000 years old and dates back to the time of
Abraham about 2100 BC. Abraham lived in the city of Ur located in
present day Iraq. In Ur Abraham and his family set out for Canaan,
present day Israel. On the way, In the city of Haran, God appeared to
Abraham and told him,
“Goto a
land I will show you,….and “I will make you into a great nation and I
will bless you;
I will make your name great, and you will be a blessing. I will bless
those who bless you,
and whoever curses you I will curse; and all peoples on earth will be
blessed through you”.
Genesis 12:1-3
When Abraham arrived in the land at Mt. Moriah, present day Jerusalem.
God promised Abraham, “To your offspring I will give this land”
Genesis 12:7.
In Canaan, some time after the birth his son Isaac, in a
test of faith, God instructed Abraham to take his son Isaac to the top
of Mt. Moriah and offer him as a sacrifice. At the top of Moriah as
Abraham was about offer Isaac as a sacrifice, the Angel of the Lord
intervenes and prevents the sacrifice from taking place. God again
declares to Abraham.
“I will surely bless you and make your descendants as numerous as the
stars in the sky…..and through your offspring all nations on earth will
be blessed, because your have obeyed me” Genesis 22:17,18
God established a covenant relationship with Abraham and his
descendants. This “Abrahamic Covenant” would later, be passed to Isaac
and his son, Jacob, Abraham’s grandson. Before Abraham died about 20
miles to the south of Jerusalem in the city of Hebron Abraham purchased
a burial site, the cave of Machpellah, from the Hittites. To this very
day lies the bodies of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob along with their wives,
Sarah, Rebecca and Leah in the cave of Machpellah. Apart from
Jerusalem, this site known as the “Tomb of the Patriarch’s” is the most
hotly contested site between Jews and Palestinians.
Before being buried in the cave of Machpelah, Jacob would
move his family to Egypt to escape the famine of the land of Canaan.
Joseph, Jacob’s 2nd youngest son, became the most powerful man in Egypt
next to pharaoh. Jealous of Jacob’s love for his son Joseph’s brothers
sold him as a slave to Ishmaelite traders who took him to Egypt and sold
him. In Egypt Joseph rose from slave to prime minister by the time he
was 30 years old. He would later welcome his brothers and family into
the land of his captivity. The descendents of Joseph and his 11
brothers’ would be known as the “tribes of Israel”. Jacob’s descendents
would grow from the 70 who moved to Egypt to over 1 million in the next
400 years. After Jacob died his body was taken to Hebron and buried with
Isaac and Abraham.
But after 400 years In Egypt his descendents were no longer welcomed.
Pharaoh, the king of Egypt, viewed the tribes of Israel as a hostile
threat to Egyptian survival. Egypt began a systematic plan to destroy
the tribes of Israel. By killing the male children, they would
assimilate Israel into Egypt But Jacob’s descendents cried out to the
God of Abraham. And Moses, a Hebrew of the tribe of Levi, raised in the
house of Pharaoh was called by God to lead his people out of Egypt into
the land promised to Abraham 600 years earlier.
At the hand of Moses God sent plagues on Egypt to free
Israel from their reluctant masters. Finally after the 10th plague, the
death of the “first born” in Egypt . Death “Passed over” those who put
the blood of a lamb on their door posts whether Egyptian or Israelite.
Egypt’s Pharaoh agreed to release the tribes of Jacob. And into the
wildness of Sinai Moses would lead the descendents of Jacob back to the
land of promise where Jacob was buried.
On the exodus journey, Israel after witnessing the plagues
on Egypt, the miraculous parting of the Red Sea, and supernatural
intervention by God rebelled. Moses was on Mt. Sinai, receiving the 10
commandments, the law of God. After Moses delayed returning from the top
of the mountain, Aaron his brother made an idol, a golden calf to lead
Israel back to Egypt. This rejection of God’s authority, angered God to
the point of judgment. Speaking to Moses, God said,
"Now therefore let me alone, that my
wrath may wax hot against them, and that I may consume them: and I will
make thee a great nation." Exodus 32:9
Only after Moses interceded did God relent. But Israel’s rebellion
would not end at Sinai. The Lord confirmed his covenant relationship
with Israel the descendents of Abraham. His covenant with Israel came
with promises of blessings for obedience and curses for disobedience
(Deut.27-28).
If Israel obeyed they would be blessed above all nations on
the earth. But if Israel disobeyed they would be scattered amongst the
nations.
64“Then
the LORD will scatter you among all peoples, from one end of the earth
to the other, and there you shall serve other gods, which neither you
nor your fathers have known—wood and stone. 65And among those nations
you shall find no rest, nor shall the sole of your foot have a resting
place; but there the LORD will give you a trembling heart, failing eyes,
and anguish of soul. Deut 28:64,65
With one voice Israel agreed to the covenant with God on the
border of Canaan. But Moses was not to lead Israel into the land.
After Moses died, Joshua led Israel into the promised land
as described in the book of Joshua about 1400 BC. Prophets and judges
led the tribes of Israel for the next 400 years. But Israel wanted a
king like the other nations. God listened to their demands and Israel
was established as a nation under King Saul by the prophet Samuel in
1050 BC. Saul’s disobedience caused him to be replaced by one of his
commanders, David in 1025 BC.
David was from the tribe of Judah. David wanted to build a
temple for the God of Abraham. God rejected David’s offer, but God
would send Nathan the prophet to David and establish the Davidic
Covenant. Through David God would establish a eternal kingdom, throne
and king. Through David family line the promised Messiah would come
into the world. The Messiah would be a “Son of David”.
12“When
your days are fulfilled and you rest with your fathers, I will set up
your seed after you, who will come from your body, and I will establish
his kingdom. 13He shall build a house for My name, and I will establish
the throne of his kingdom forever. 2 Samuel 7:12,13
David’s son Solomon would build a temple on the very spot
his forefather Abraham was given the land by God.
On the
top of Mt. Moriah where Abraham’s faith was tested, Solomon would
construct the Temple of God. This is the only place where God would
permit a temple to be built. After its completion God accepted the
Temple built by Solomon and but warned if Israel disobeyed the Temple
would be brought to ruins.
After Solomon’s death the kingdom of Israel was divided into
two kingdoms. The northern kingdom Israel made up of 10 tribes and the
Southern kingdom Judah composed the tribes Judah and Benjamin.
The sins of Israel and Judah were the same the same, the people rejected
the God of Abraham and turned to idolatry. They began to worship the
god’s of the neighboring nations. They followed Baal and Ashtorah of the
Canaanites, Molech of the Ammonites, Chemosh of the Moabites and Tammuz
of the Phoenicians.
Prophets were sent to warn both , the northern kingdom and
Judah the southern kingdom of the coming judgment. Elijah, Isaiah,
Jeremiah, Hosea and Ezekiel were sent to them among others. These
messengers were rejected, mocked, and killed. Isaiah was sawed in two
during the rein of Manasseh. Israel was judged first , in 722 BC the
Assyrian kingdom defeated Israel and carried the Israelites into
captivity. Judah was sparred an Assyrian victory during Hezekiah
reign. In 690 BC the armies of Sennecherib king of Assyria surrounded
Jerusalem. After Hezekiah secured the water supply by completing an
underground water tunnel. Jerusalem was a place of refuge for those
seeking escape from Assyrian armies. Isaiah prayed for the city and
according to the book of Isaiah 185,000 Assyrian solders were killed in
one night by the Angel of the Lord. Jerusalem was sparred an Assyrian
victory. Assyrian writers confirm the retreat from Jerusalem by the
Assyrian forces. But 90 years later Judah was no better then Israel in
their apostasy.
God, proving His case, for judgment takes Ezekiel into
Solomon’s Temple, showing him the idolatry of the priests and leaders of
Judah. Idols at the gate of the altar, idols portrayed on the walls
and the seventy leaders of Israel worshipping them. The women cried
for the god Tammuz, and many worshipped the sun. The Lord asked Ezekiel,
Ezk.
8:17 "Is it a light thing to the house of Judah that they commit the
abominations which they commit here?"
The punishment was destruction of the Temple and captivity in Babylon.
This fulfilled the curses of the covenant promised in Sinai.
(Deuteronomy 28 (to be scattered in the earth).
The Captivity
Judah was judged and
the promises fulfilled. The city of Jerusalem, was conquered by the
armies of Babylon in 605 BC. Captives were taken to Babylon to secure
peace. A young man of the nobility named Daniel was included in the
captivity. Eight years later Judah rebelled against Babylonian control
in 597 BC. Babylon again conquered the city taking more hostages and
installing a new king. Finally, after a third revolt in 586 BC, Babylon
destroyed the city of Jerusalem, the walls and the majestic
Temple
built by Solomon. Most were killed, some taken captive and the poorest
of the people were left to take care of the land. Jeremiah wrote in the
book of Lamentations about the pain of the event.
Jerusalem was left a barren unprotected city with no temple. In 586 BC
Daniel was a captive in Babylon for 19 years. He rose to high
government positions under King Nebuchadnezzar. After Nebuchadnezzar’s
death, his successors forgot about Daniel. Then in the year 539 BC, 67
years after Daniel was taken captive, the Persian /Median Empire under
Darius the Mede and Cyrus the Persian conquered the kingdom of Babylon
and Daniel was again given a position of prominence in the Persian
Empire. The people of Judah had now been captive almost 70 years.
Daniel knew the time of captivity was limited as foretold by Jeremiah.
(Jeremiah 25:11-12)
In
the first year of his reign I Daniel understood by books the number of
the years whereof the word of the LORD came to Jeremiah the prophet,
that he would accomplish seventy years in the desolation's of
Jerusalem.
Daniel 9:2
Intercession of Daniel
Daniel was 82 to
90 years old at this point. He was taken captive as a young man and he
remained under the Babylonian and Persian kingdoms for almost 70 years.
Time was at hand for the return of his people. Daniel took the role of
intercessor for Israel and the Temple.
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 my God
for the holy mountain of my God; Daniel 9:20
Answering Daniel's prayer, the Lord commanded the angel Gabriel to show
Daniel his plan for the world and the role Israel would play. Israel
and Jerusalem would serve the role as “God’s Prophetic Clock”.
Dan
9:21 Yea, whiles 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.
Dan 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.
Dan 9:23 At the beginning of thy supplications the commandment came
forth, and I am come to show thee; for thou art greatly beloved:
therefore understand the matter, and consider the vision. Daniel
9:21-23
The Future Foretold
"Seventy weeks are determined For your people and for your holy city, To
finish the transgression, To make an end of sins, To make reconciliation
for iniquity, To bring in everlasting righteousness, To seal up vision
and prophecy, And to anoint the Most Holy. Daniel 9:24
First we are given the time period involved “Seventy weeks” or 70
periods of 7 equaling 490 ( 70 x 7). The word for week in Hebrew means
seven " shebha"
and
could be used for days or years. The same root is used in Leviticus 25:8
regarding the year of Jubilee. The celebration of Jubilee takes place in
50th year after 7 periods of 7 years or 49 years. The 490 represents
years and not days. The 490 years are “Determined for thy people”,
Israel and “Thy holy city”, Jerusalem. This sets the parameters. The
time period is 490 years and the years revolve around Daniel’s people
Israel/Jews and his Holy city Jerusalem. Within these parameters seven
events will take place:
-
1.
“To finish the transgression”
-
2.
“To make an end of sins”
-
3.
“To make reconciliation for iniquity”
-
4.
“To bring in everlasting righteousness”
-
5.
“To seal up the vision”
-
6.
“And prophesy”
-
7.
“To anoint the most Holy”
Transgression and sin are just as real today as they were in
Daniel’s day and righteousness is a long way off. War, murder, robbery
and wickedness are a staple of everyday life. Yet we read within these
490 years there will be “An end to sin”, and the beginning of
“Everlasting righteousness”. More than 490 years have passed since
Daniel penned these words 2500 years ago. So is this a false prophecy?
What are the time qualifiers of Daniel's 70 weeks.
"Know
therefore and understand, That from the going forth of the
command To restore and build Jerusalem Until Messiah the Prince,
There shall be seven weeks and sixty-two weeks; The street shall
be built again, and the wall, Even in troublesome times.
Daniel 9:25 |
The
angel Gabriel admonishes the reader to “Know therefore and understand”,
that there is a starting point and several reference or focus points
within the 490 year period or clock. When does the clock start?
Daniel's original prayer was for the restoration of Jerusalem. The
angel Gabriel came to answer his prayer regarding his people and
Jerusalem. We read," from the going forth of the commandment to restore
and build Jerusalem". Daniel’s prayer took place in the first year of
Darius son of Xerxes, about 539-538 BC. Jerusalem is in ruins, without
walls and a Temple, a shadow of it’s former glory. The clock begins
with the command regarding Jerusalem’s reconstruction. The command
actually comes 93 years later. In the book of Nehemiah we have a record
of the command. Nehemiah was the cup bearer to the Persian king,
Artaxerxes. Nehemiah shared Daniel’s concern regarding the state of
Jerusalem 94 years after Daniel’s prayer. His prayer was for the
restoration of his people’s city. The king, seeing Nehemiah’s sadness,
asked him why he looked sad? Nehemiah told him, and Artaxerxes granted
the request and gave Nehemiah (Nehemiah 2:8) orders to rebuild the city
gates and walls. The order was given in March 444 BC. God’s clock began
to tick with the command. Daniel Timeline 1.
With
the starting point established at the “Going forth of the command” our
next touch point is, “Unto Messiah the Prince” with a defined time
period between the two points, “Seven weeks, and threescore and two
weeks:” totaling 483 years. The 483 year period is segmented into 2
periods. The first being 7 weeks or 49 years and the second being 62
weeks or 434 years totaling 483 years. The first 49 year period is
described in the book of Nehemiah. This portion of the prophesy “The
street shall be built again, and the walls” was accomplished under the
constant threat of war from the new occupants of Jerusalem’s
countryside, it was as Daniel foretold “even in troublous times”.
Daniel Timeline 2.
The
second period to "Messiah the Prince" is another 434 years after the
work by Nehemiah and his successors was completed. Who is this prince
Messiah or anointed prince? Could it be any king or anointed ruler in
Judah? No, first, this Messiah must fit into the time line. This means
the Messiah would have to exist and be cut off at the end of 69 weeks or
483 years from the commandment given in 444 BC. Daniel Timeline 3.
"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 troublous
times". If we start at March 444 BC and subtract 483 years of time we
arrive at 39 AD. However, there is a problem that must first be
addressed. The length of a year in the time of Daniel is not same as
our day. As the earth rotates around the Sun and the moon revolves
around the Earth, the Hebrews used the moon to calculate the number of
days in a year. This is known as a Lunar calendar. We currently use
the Gregorian calendar which is determined on a solar basis.
-
The length of a year in terms of days in biblical accounting is
different then the present Gregorian system used today. The biblical
system was lunar while the Gregorian is Solar. Hence a month was 29
days and 30 days every other month with some adjustments every so
often. We can observe from Genesis 7-8 that the flood continued for
5 months or 150 days, a month was 30 days. A day was 24 hours in
Daniel’s day and in our day. By using days, instead of years, we
can reconcile the two methods.
-
1.
We know there are 360 days to a biblical year.
-
360 x 483=173,880 days
-
2.
There are 365.242 days to a year in our calendar.
-
3.
If we divide our days 365.242 days into 173,880 days we have 476
years and 24 days .
-
4.
Subtract 476 years from 444 BC we arrive at 33 AD and add 24 days
(year 0 being 1)
Thecommand
was given in the month Nissan. Nissan corresponds with March/April in
our calendar. Therefore, 69 weeks ends on 24th day of Nissan or about
March 29th 33 AD.
Once
these years are reconciled to our calendar, we find "Messiah the
Prince" was cut off or killed in 33 AD. Who died or was cut off in 33
AD and claimed to be Messiah? Examining the biblical prophecies about
Messiah we can only draw one conclusion. The “Messiah the Prince" cut
off was none other then Jesus of Nazareth who claimed to be Messiah or
Christ (Greek word for Messiah). Is the Messiah being cut off or killed
supported by other scriptures?
The
Suffering Messiah
Dan
9:26 " And after threescore and two weeks shall Messiah be cut off, but
not for himself:"
The
idea of " Messiah be cut off" not for himself means he was cut off for
others. In Zechariah 12:10, written about 520 BC, we read about one who
rescues Israel and Judah from the armies of the world. We read, “They
shall look upon me whom they pierced. They will all begin to weep and
cry as if they are weeping for their first born son. This one pierced
talks in the first person and would indicate from Zechariah 12:2 this
one pierced is none other then the Lord Himself.
Zec
12:10 And I will pour upon the house of David, and upon the inhabitants
of Jerusalem, the spirit of grace and of supplications: and they shall
look upon me whom they have pierced, and they shall mourn for him, as
one mourneth for his only son, and shall be in bitterness for him, as
one that is in bitterness for his firstborn.
In the
book of Isaiah, chapters 52:13-53:12, written about 700 BC, 700 years
before a man named Jesus would be born, we are presented with a picture
of the death of a person who will be exalted, extolled and be highly
esteemed after initially being beaten, rejected and killed by men while
dying for their sins.
Isa
52:14-15 As many were astonied at thee; his visage was so marred more
than any man, and his form more than the sons of men:So shall he
sprinkle many nations; the kings shall shut their mouths at him: for
that which had not been told them shall they see; and that which they
had not heard shall they consider.
Isa 53:5 -6 But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised
for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with
his stripes we are healed. All we like sheep have gone astray; we have
turned every one to his own way; and the LORD hath laid on him the
iniquity of us all.
Isa 53:8 He was taken from prison and from judgment: and who shall
declare his generation? for he was cut off out of the land of the
living: for the transgression of my people was he stricken.
Earlier in Isaiah we see a different picture of the Messiah. He is
presented as a ruler of the earth bringing justice and judgment. In the
Jewish Bible or Old Testament we are presented with two pictures of the
Messiah. One is a suffering servant who dies and the other is a
conquering king.
For
unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government
shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful,
Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.Isa
9:7 Of the increase of his government and peace there shall be no end,
upon the throne of David, and upon his kingdom, to order it, and to
establish it with judgment and with justice from henceforth even for
ever. The zeal of the LORD of hosts will perform this.
Ishaih 9:6-7
Are we
reading about two Messiahs or one Messiah? We are reading about one
Messiah who would play two roles. His first role would be of an
intercessory servant who would intercede on the behalf of mankind and be
killed or “Cut Off” in the process. The Messiah of Daniel 9:25-26 is
the Suffering Servant who was killed in 33 AD. Jesus of Nazareth was
“Messiah the Prince” “Cut off” and died as a substitute for the sins of
all mankind.
The Roman Empire
26 "And after the sixty-two weeks Messiah shall be cut off, but not for
Himself; And the people of the prince who is to come Shall destroy the
city and the sanctuary. The end of it shall be with a flood, And till
the end of the war desolations are determined. Daniel 9:26
From Daniel’s perspective, we are viewing the (future) destruction of
Jerusalem after the restoration mentioned in Daniel’s pray and
accomplished by Nehemiah. This destruction will occur by "The people of
a prince who shall come". Daniel, at this point, is praying for the
restoration of Jerusalem. The city was destroyed by the Babylonians when
he, Daniel, was in Babylon 586 BC. The angel Gabriel is informing
Daniel that the city of Jerusalem will be destroyed again after it is
rebuilt by the commandment given by Artaxerxes in Daniel 9:24. In the
year 70 AD, roman general Titus, son of the Emperor Vespasian, laid
siege to Jerusalem. Today in the city of Rome, the Arch of Titus stands
as a nearly 2000 year old monument to the victory of the Roman armies.
Engraved on the arch are the treasures taken from Jerusalem including a
sculpture of the gold Menorah taken from the Temple.
Following, "cutting off of Messiah the Prince" which occurred in
33 AD, we read, “The people” of a future prince would destroy the city
and Temple. History verifies what happened next. The Jewish Temple was
literally taken apart stone by stone as the Roman army searched for
melted gold from the burned temple. The Jewish people were dispersed
throughout the world by the Romans who wanted to stop any future
rebellions. This event is recorded by the Jewish historian "Josephus"
who witnessed the event. Deuteronomy 28 was fulfilled as the children
of Israel were scattered throughout the Earth.
The Roman scattering occurred 600 years after Daniel. Rome became
Byzantium and Byzantium control over Jerusalem fell to invading Muslim
armies in 638 AD. For the next 1300 years, Muslims controlled Jerusalem
and the lands of Israel.
ISRAEL SCATTERED AND GATHERED
And the
LORD shall scatter thee among all people, from the one end of the earth
even unto the other; and there thou shalt serve other gods, which
neither thou nor thy fathers have known, even wood and stone. And among
these nations shalt thou find no ease, neither shall the sole of thy
foot have rest: but the LORD shall give thee there a trembling heart,
and failing of eyes, and sorrow of mind: Deuteronomy 28:64-65
The
number of years have been determined at 490 with 483 years being
fulfilled at the death of Messiah. Seven years have yet to be fulfilled
to accomplish the seven events of Daniel 9:24.
The same covenant with promises of dispersion has a counterpart which
affirms a day of gathering.
If
any of thine be driven out unto the outmost parts of heaven, from thence
will the LORD thy God gather thee, and from thence will he fetch thee:
And the LORD thy God will bring thee into the land which thy fathers
possessed, and thou shalt possess it; and he will do thee good, and
multiply thee above thy fathers.
Deuteronomy 30:4-5
Is God
true to his promise? The Jewish nation of Israel came into existence in
May 1948 after the near genocide of the Jewish people by Nazi Germany.
The Jewish nation was formed from the remnants of the Roman dispersion
1900 years earlier. In fact the gathering of the Jewish people is one
of the most prophesied events in the scriptures.
Thus saith the LORD, which giveth the sun for a light by day, and the
ordinances of the moon and of the stars for a light by night, which
divideth the sea when the waves thereof roar; The LORD of hosts is his
name: If those ordinances depart from before me, saith the LORD, then
the seed of Israel also shall cease from being a nation before me for
ever. Jeremiah 31:35-36
Daniel’s 70th Week
Only 69 weeks of years have passed on the Jewish People up to this
point. From the time the "Commandment was given" to restore and build
Jerusalem unto " Messiah the Prince" was 483 years. However, the number
of years determined on Daniel's people were 490 years. Seven years are
left to be fulfilled of the 490. Did the seven years follow the death
of Messiah?
In Dan. 9:26 the, "Cutting off of Messiah" occurred in 33 AD,
to be followed by "The people of a prince who shall come" who would
destroy the city and temple. “The people”, who came were the Romans
under Titus in 70 AD, but also mentioned is “A prince who shall come”.
The people and prince are connected but separate. The people who destroy
Jerusalem and the Temple would be descendants of the future prince. The
prince therefore would be of Roman or European origin. At the end of
the 69th week which ended with the death of Messiah the prince there was
a period of 37 years before the rest of the 26th verse was fulfilled.
We can see that the 70th week would not immediately follow the 69th
week. There is a gap between the 69th and 70th week.
The
Future Roman Prince
27 Then he shall
confirm a covenant with many for one week; But in the middle of the week
He shall bring an end to sacrifice and offering. And on the wing of
abominations shall be one who makes desolate, Even until the
consummation, which is determined, Is poured out on the desolate."
Daniel 9:27
Daniel Timeline 4.
The temple and city of Jerusalem were destroyed following the death of
Messiah the Prince, thirty seven years later.
This
sequence is important for four reasons;
-
1. The 70th week is part of the 490 years but would not
immediately follow 69 weeks.
-
2. The remaining 7 years will focus on Israel and the future
Jewish Temple.
-
3. The future "Prince who shall come" is linked to the Jewish
people and Temple sacrifice.
-
4. Titus and the Romans destroyed the Temple in 70 AD and there is
no temple today.
-
So
a future Jewish Temple must be built.
This prince is Roman because Gabriel identifies him as a future prince
of the people that would destroy the city of Jerusalem and the Temple.
The "Prince who shall come" was in the future tense. What function will
this prince serve? We find the answer in the 70th week (Dan 9:27) The
Temple and city were destroyed in 70 AD. The city has been restored but
the temple to this very day remains destroyed.
Today the third most holy site to Islam, The Dome of the Rock,
occupies the spot where Temple stood. The last remaining vestige of the
Temple is the Wailing Wall. In Dan. 9:27 we are told that someone (he
), the "Prince who shall come" will make a covenant agreement to start
up the sacrificial system of worship which has been stopped since the
Temple was destroyed by the Roman armies.
"He
shall confirm the covenant with many for one week:"
God
only allowed one location for the Temple to be built. In the city of
Jerusalem on the top of Mt. Moriah. Where the Dome of the Rock now
stands. Mohammed claimed to ascend into Heaven and meet Jesus, Moses,
Abraham and God from this same location. The Muslim population is 1.3
Billion, over 20% of the Earth population. The Jewish population is 20
million world wide with only 5 million living in Israel. The Muslim
world claims rights over east Jerusalem which includes the Temple Mount.
The
Arab-Israeli War of 1967 gave Israel control of the Temple Mount.
Israel to this present time has allowed Muslim stewardship over this
sacred location to preserve world peace. But pressure is growing inside
Israel to assert its territorial rights over Jerusalem as the “Eternal
Capital” of the Jewish People. This puts Israel at odds with the rest
of the world. Today Israel has one ally who guarantees their security,
the United States. Pressure is growing for Israel to make peace and
give back the Temple Mount and make Jerusalem an international city.
Suggestions for peace Israel has rejected. The world views peace
between Israel and its Muslim neighbors as key to world peace. This
creates serious problems for Israel. The prophets of Israel foretell
great struggles over Jerusalem involving the nations of the world. Over
3 billion of the Earth population has a spiritual connection with
Jerusalem. The Catholics are 1 billion, 1 billion Protestants, 1.3
billion Muslims and 20 million Jews.
“And in that day will I make Jerusalem a burdensome stone for all
people: all that burden themselves with it shall be cut in pieces,
though all the people of the earth be gathered together against it”
Zechariah 12:3.
The
restored nation of Israel gathered from the nations of the world was an
event Ezekiel wrote about over 2500 years ago. Ezekiel 36 and 37
details events of a scattered and hopeless people being collected into a
mighty army for God’s purpose.
‘Thus
says the Lord GOD: “Surely I will take the children of Israel from among
the nations, wherever they have gone, and will gather them from every
side and bring them into their own land; Ezekiel 37:21
What follows in chapters 38 and 39 of Ezekiel is a future
war in Israel distant future from Ezekiel’s time perspective. Nations
involved in this future attack on Israel involve Iran, Libya, Ethiopia
and Russia. Even more amazing we read of Israel’s victory and God’s
hand in the war. Chapters 40 to 43 of Ezekiel give us details of a
newly rebuilt temple with the exact measurements and specifications for
Temple worship.
Only with the guarantee of the nations and the defeat of Islamic power
will Israel be allowed to build the Jewish Temple. Mt. Moriah, the
Temple Mount , is the most valued 30 acres of land in the world today.
For this reason will the “Prince {who shall come}” bring a temporary
peace to the world by making an agreement with the nation of Israel.
The agreement will be a seven year agreement and will be with many
indicating more then just Israel, “He shall confirm the covenant with
many for one week”. The “Prince who shall come” will break this same
agreement he made with Israel and stop the Temple worship and
sacrifice. The covenant break will come at the 3 1/2 year mark of the 7
year agreement.
"And
in the midst of the week he shall cause the sacrifice and the oblation
to cease",
What
follows will be a period of time in the History of man that will be
unparalleled for its horror and destruction and will end with the
Kingdom of Messiah. Jesus warns of this time in
Matthew 24:15,16,21 When ye therefore shall see the abomination of
desolation, spoken of by Daniel the prophet, stand in the holy place,
(whoso readeth, let him understand:) 16Then let them which be in Judaea
flee into the mountains:
For
then shall be great tribulation, such as was not since the beginning of
the world to this time, no, nor ever shall be. Daniel Timeline 5.
Who
is this Roman Prince?
The kingdom of this coming prince is described for us in Daniel. 7. His
kingdom will be unlike any that existed before. The kingdom will be
religious, military and will effect the whole earth. Ten countries or
kings which lead these countries will compose this empire. This kingdom
will be European, as spoken by Gabriel earlier, "The people of a prince
who shall come", the people who came were the Romans, the possessions of
Jerusalem were marched off to Rome and put on display as was the custom
of the vanquishing Roman armies. The future leader will look back to
glories of the Roman empire. European history shows the rulers of
Europe have always tried lay claim the title to Emperor of Rome.
Charlemagne, Napoleon, Czar (Caesar) Peter of Russia, Kaiser (Caesar)
Wilhelm of Germany and even Hitler claimed title to the Roman Empire.
This kingdom will succeed where others have failed. .
Today a unified Europe is a fact of history. Although the confederacy
is loose, its hold on member states is becoming tighter as time moves
on. There is a European congress, bureaucracy and control structure
being exercised on member states. The Euro currency will take effect
January 1st, 2002 the French Franc, the German Mark and other
currencies will begin to fade into history. Europe is in the process of
creating its own military apart from NATO. Missing is a strong leader to
take charge and unify the nations with a common theme. Details of this
future European leader are in the book of Daniel. His kingdom will come
from a 10 nation alignment and be diverse from any other kingdom before
its existence.
7:23
Thus he said, The fourth beast shall be the fourth kingdom upon earth,
which shall be diverse from all kingdoms, and shall devour the whole
earth, and shall tread it down, and break it in pieces.
Dan 7:24 And
the ten horns out of this kingdom are ten kings that shall arise: and
another shall rise after them; and he shall be diverse from the first,
and he shall subdue three kings.Daniel 7:23-24
His
kingdom will be brutal, dictatorial and religious. He will persecute
any rival religions including those who follow after the true God, the
God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. This period of great persecution will
last for 3 1/2 years and will take place after the Temple worship and
sacrifice are stopped. This would complete the 7 years of the 70th Week.
Daniel
7:25 And he shall speak great words against the most High, and shall
wear out the saints of the most High, and think to change times and
laws: and they shall be given into his hand until a time and times and
the dividing of time. Daniel 7:26 But the judgment shall sit, and they
shall take away his dominion, to consume and to destroy it unto the end.Daniel 7:25-26
His end will come with the appearing of Messiah who will put an end to
the revived Roman kingdom and establish His own kingdom which shall
never end. But till that time approaches the persecutions afflicted on
those who follow God will be greater then any ever committed on this
earth. Imagine Adolph Hitler winning W.W.II and having a 3 1/2 year
reign of terror on the earth. This will be the case with the Roman
prince. But his end will not be the result of any human intervention.
Before Jesus was crucified looking at Jerusalem from a distance he said
to his disciples about Jerusalem fate, “Behold, your house is left unto
you desolate. For I say unto you, Ye shall not see me henceforth, till
ye shall say, Blessed is he that cometh in the name of the Lord.” Mathew
23:38-39 Jesus foretold a day when Israel would accept him as the
Messiah, though He was rejected now. This is the dual picture of
the suffering Messiah and conquering King. Jesus is rejected as
suffering Messiah and accepted by a future helpless Israel as their only
Messiah. Preceding this would be time of great persecution for the
Jewish people.
Dan
7:13 I saw in the night visions, and, behold, one like the Son of man
came with the clouds of heaven, and came to the Ancient of days, and
they brought him near before him.
Dan 7:14 And there was given him dominion, and glory, and a kingdom,
that all people, nations, and languages, should serve him: his dominion
is an everlasting dominion, which shall not pass away, and his kingdom
that which shall not be destroyed.
Dan 7:21 I beheld, and the same horn made war with the saints, and
prevailed against them;
Dan 7:22 Until the Ancient of days came, and judgment was given to the
saints of the most High; and the time came that the saints possessed the
kingdom. Daniel 7:13-14,21-22
In
Daniel chapter 2 King Nebuchadnezzar has a dream Daniel is the only man
in Babylon who knows the dream and its meaning. God revealed the dream
and meaning to him. The king saw a huge statue in the image of a man.
The images head was made of gold, his arms and chest made of silver,
his belly and thighs are brass, his legs are iron and his feet are of
Iron and clay. As the image is standing a rock with no human
involvement, cut from a mountain, crashes into the image at it base, the
10 toes made of Iron and clay. The image crumbles and is blown away with
the wind. The rock becomes a great mountain that fills the whole earth.
The Lord tells Daniel the mountain represents the Kingdom of God that
will be established forever. The stone represents the Messiah who will
defeat the armies of mankind that oppose the rule of God on Earth.
Dan
2:44 And in the days of these kings shall the God of heaven set up a
kingdom, which shall never be destroyed: and the kingdom shall not be
left to other people, but it shall break in pieces and consume all these
kingdoms, and it shall stand for ever. Daniel 2:44
Messiah the Prince Returns
The Messiah cut off in 33 AD. Is the one who will return as conquering
King to vanquish the armies of the earth and their future, “Prince who
shall come” at the conclusion of the 70th week. The 490 years of
determined time upon the Jewish People and Jerusalem will conclude with
Jesus the Messiah who was spurned at His first coming. The scriptures
tell us someone of great importance would suffer at the hands of man but
would be given the point of preeminence in the Earth. Daniel Timeline
6.
14 Just as many were
astonished at you, So His visage was marred more than any man, And His
form more than the sons of men;
15 So shall He sprinkle many nations. Kings shall shut their mouths at
Him; For what had not been told them they shall see, And what they had
not heard they shall consider. Isaiah 52:14-15
This person is none other then Jesus of Nazareth, "Messiah the Prince"
cut off not for himself but for others. The others being all mankind so
sins might be forgiven. His death was fulfillment of what the prophets
foretold would happen. Even his rejection was foretold over 700 years
before it happened.
Isa
53:3 He is despised and rejected of men; a man of sorrows, and
acquainted with grief: and we hid as it were our faces from him; he was
despised, and we esteemed him not. Isaiah 53:3
God
proves his word by revealing events before they occur.
Jerusalem Surrounded
The scene before Messiah returns is revealed in detail in
Zechariah chapter 12. Jerusalem will be a cause of great concern and
fear for the whole Earth. The Jews and Jerusalem will be a cause of
frustration to the political power structures of the world.
Behold,
I will make Jerusalem a cup of trembling unto all the people round
about, when they shall be in the siege both against Judah and against
Jerusalem. ..12:3 And in that day will I make Jerusalem a burdensome
stone for all people: all that burden themselves with it shall be cut in
pieces, though all the people of the earth be gathered together against
it. Zechariah 12:2
"Messiah the Prince" returns to save his people who years earlier had
rejected Him. Israel’s Savior has marks identifying his earlier
appearance. The Messiah cut off , is the "Me whom they have pierced",
the Messiah cutoff and killed in 33 AD has returned to the ones who
pierced him. They will mourn for this one pierced as someone would mourn
over the death of son. The will realize the one that they have rejected
all along was their only hope.
And I
will pour upon the house of David, and upon the inhabitants of
Jerusalem, the spirit of grace and of supplications: and they shall look
upon me whom they have pierced, and they shall mourn for him, as one
mourneth for his only son, and shall be in bitterness for him, as one
that is in bitterness for his firstborn. Zechariah 12:10
Jesus
speaks of this event in Matthew 24:30-31,
“And
then shall appear the sign of the Son of man in heaven: and then shall
all the tribes of the earth mourn, and they shall see the Son of man
coming in the clouds of heaven with power and great glory. 31And he
shall send his angels with a great sound of a trumpet, and they shall
gather together his elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to
the other.”
The
Kingdom of the Messiah
When Messiah reigns the 490 years of Daniels’ 70 weeks will be
complete, seven events of Daniel 9:24 will be accomplished.
-
1.
Finish transgression
-
2.
Make an end of sins
-
3.
Reconciliation for iniquity
-
4.
Bring in everlasting righteousness
-
5.
To seal up the vision
-
6.
And prophesy
-
7.
To anoint the most Holy
The
Earth will be at peace the nature of man and animals will change with
the kingdom of Messiah.
Isa
11:6 The wolf also shall dwell with the lamb, and the leopard shall lie
down with the kid; and the calf and the young lion and the fatling
together; and a little child shall lead them. Isa 11:7 And the cow and
the bear shall feed; their young ones shall lie down together: and the
lion shall eat straw like the ox. Isa 11:8 And the sucking child shall
play on the hole of the asp, and the weaned child shall put his hand on
the cockatrice' den. Isa 11:9 They shall not hurt nor destroy in all my
holy mountain: for the earth shall be full of the knowledge of the LORD,
as the waters cover the sea.
WHY
WAIT ?
On the
cross next to Jesus on both sides two thieves were crucified. One spit
on Jesus and asked to see a miracle the other said Lord remember me when
you come into your kingdom. Jesus replied, “Verily I say unto thee, To
day shalt thou be with me in paradise”. Today you can have the same
promise of salvation. Jesus the Messiah promised the thief, “Today thou
shalt be with me in paradise” by believing and putting your trust in his
work on the cross. Jesus told Nicodemous about the way of salvation
in the gospel of John.
John
3:15-17, 15That whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but
have eternal life. 16For God so loved the world, that he gave his only
begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but
have everlasting life. 17For God sent not his Son into the world to
condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.
Today
the choice is yours to make.
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