Post by Jennibella on Jun 5, 2007 15:58:03 GMT -5
God revealed to Daniel a calendar which foretold the time frame of Jewish prophetic history to the end of this age (Dan. 9:24-27). This most remarkable prophecy has been called “nothing less than a mathematical demonstration” of the divine inspiration of the Bible. 1
Seventy “sevens” (weeks) of time would elapse from day one until the establishment of the Kingdom of the Messiah. Sixty-nine of these “sevens” would elapse from day one until Jesus’ public ministry as the Messiah; He would then be crucified. History would continue, but the calendar will not resume its final “seven” until the end time of this age arrives. The resumption of the calendar will be signaled by a Covenant between the Jews and the Antichrist.
Day one of the calendar is given. It began with the decree of the Persian king, Artaxerxes, to return some of the captive Jews to rebuild Jerusalem in 444 B.C. (Dan. 9.25; Neh. 2 1-8). The next event on the calendar came-- not days, or weeks, or months-- but years later. Sixty-nine “sevens” (69 X 7) or 483 years later came the fulfillment of Jesus as the Messiah at His inaugural reception in Jerusalem on Palm Sunday (Luke 19:35-44). This was followed by His crucifixion.
The “sevens,” then, are “sevens” of years. Nearly all Bible scholars recognize this fact. 2 The seventy-sevens are seventy-sevens of years, or 490 years. The first 483 years were fulfilled as literal years. So must the remaining seven years be fulfilled as literal years.
These remaining seven years were suspended when the Jews rejected Christ. The silent intermission between the close of the 483 years and the start of the final seven years constitutes the familiar ”gap" of Biblical prophecy; a gap or temporary suspension in prophetic continuity and ultimate fulfillment. Both the suspension of the calendar after the crucifixion of Christ, and the silence of the "gap” in Daniel 9 are explained by the fact that God’s pro- gram shifted for an indefinite duration from the Jews to the newly created church (Rom. 11:11-2 7), and, to Daniel and the other Old Testament prophets, the church was an unrevealed “mystery” (Eph. 3:3-6). 3
The remaining time of seven years will begin with the Covenant between the Antichrist and Israel. This final prophetic time installment will be marked midway by the Abomination of Desolation. It will then run its final three and one half year course, ending with the impending destruction of the Antichrist in the Day of the Lord. Thus the 490-year Jewish prophetic calendar, called “the indispensable chronological key to all New Testament prophecy,” finds its complete fulfillment with the conclusion of a seven-year end time. 4
The Prophecy of the 70 Weeks is indeed the most remarkable prophecy in the Bible!
It is important to remember that Jesus could not have been born in “0” BC/AD because there is no such date. The Roman calendar system (Gregorian) that we use jumps from 1 BC to 1 AD, with no “0” in between. Also, the Daniel 9 prophecy is intended to predict the day on which Jesus would be officially presented as Israel’s Messiah (“until Messiah the Prince,” Daniel 9:25), not necessarily the day on which He would be born.
Here is one way to calculate the date of the arrival of the Messiah Jesus, using all of the Biblical, historical,
and astronomical data available to us.
Formula Factors:
What is the length of the year used in prophetic calculations? Answer: 360-day years.
1. 30 day months were used to record the length of the Flood (Gen. 7:11; 7:24; 8:3-4)
2. 30 day months are used for the 70th Week of Daniel (Dan. 9:27= time, times, 1/2 time, or 3 1/2 years according to Dan. 7:25 & 12:7 & Rev. 12:14, which in turn = 1260 days in Rev. 12:6. In Rev. 11:3 the 1260 days is shown to be 42 months in verse 2 and in Rev. 13:5)
Therefore, you can formulate it this way:
69 “weeks (sevens)” of years = 69 X 7 = 483 Years.
360 Jewish Prophetic Days (30-day, or Lunar, months) are to _?_ Years as 365 Modern Calendar days are to 483 Years. (algebraic equation)
Thus, 360 = _?_ (cross multiply) = 173,880 = 476.38 Years
365 483 365
Nehemiah 2:1-8 established the starting date of the calculations. The latest archaeological and near east calendar system data sets that date at Nesan 1, or March 5th, 444 B.C. Deducting the 476.38 years from that date, keeping in mind that there is no “0” year, and figuring in a 365.24219879 Leap-Year number to be precise, you arrive at March 30th, 33 A.D. This would bring you to Luke 19:35-44 where in the crucifixion week Jesus fulfills the Zechariah 9:9 prophecy presenting Himself officially to Israel as their Messiah. He is accepted by the faithful as the “King” in Luke 19:38, but rejected by official Israel in verse 39. As a result, in verse 44 He rebukes them “because you did not recognize THE TIME (69th Week) of your visitation.” Jesus then goes on to fulfill the rest of Daniel 9:26, and is “cut off” for our Salvation. Praise His Name !!!
Reference Sources:
1. J. Alva McClain, Daniel’s Prophecy Of The 70 Weeks, p.9.
2. James M. Boice, Daniel: An Expositional Commentary, p.108.
3. Lehman Strauss, The Prophecies of Daniel, p.275.
4. McClain, Daniel’s Prophecy, p.10.
5. A “must-read” book, besides McClains, is the scholarly work by Harold Hoehner, entitled Chronological Aspects of the Life of Christ, with it’s up-to-date astronomical calculations of early dates.
More Facts on the Prophecy of the 70 Weeks
The Time of the Arrival of Messiah
Why were many first century Jews expecting Him?
At the time of the birth of Jesus there was a general expectancy abounding in Israel that the time was nigh at hand for the arrival of the long promised Messiah. For example, Luke records that Simeon and others were looking for the consolation and redemption of Israel at the time of Christ’ birth. (Luke 2:25, 38) The court of King Herod was aware of the imminent arrival of the Messiah. (Matthew 2:1-8) John the Baptist was expecting Christ to come. (Matthew 11:3) Many Jews were anticipating deliverance by the Messiah-King. (John 6:14-15) Many were looking for Christ to arise at any time from the household of David, and in the City of David (Bethlehem), because of the prophecies. (John 7:40-43) The Samaritan woman was looking for Him. (John 4:25)
Why were so many Jews living at the time of that first Christmas expecting the imminent arrival of the Messiah? Many prophecies fueled this expectancy. But surely Daniel’s Prophecy Of The 70 Weeks, with its precise mathematical calculation of the time of the Messiah, was the most important.
What About The 70th “Week” ?
The 70th Week of Daniel’s prophecy is the final “week”—that is, it is a final 7-year period prescribed by God for the Jews to bring them to recognition of Jesus Christ as their Messiah and Savior.
During that 70th Week the tribulation period will occur. This 7-year tribulation period will be divided into two halves of 1260 days each (based on the Jewish prophetic year of 30-day months). The first half is what Jesus referred to as the period of “birth pangs.” It will begin with a false peace covenant, instituted by the Antichrist, which will allow the Jews to restart their ancient sacrificial system in a rebuilt temple in Jerusalem. World war will break out, followed by famine, pestilence, and death on a scale never before seen on earth. The Antichrist will rise to power.
The last half of this time was called by Jesus “the great tribulation.” The Antichrist initiates this final 1260-day period by setting himself in the Jewish temple and declaring that he is God. He then begins a global persecution and genocide of Jews and Christians (people who come to Christ after the rapture).
Finally, the 70th Week is terminated when Christ returns, the Antichrist is destroyed, and the Jews recognize Jesus as their Messiah.
Prophecy Update
Seventy “sevens” (weeks) of time would elapse from day one until the establishment of the Kingdom of the Messiah. Sixty-nine of these “sevens” would elapse from day one until Jesus’ public ministry as the Messiah; He would then be crucified. History would continue, but the calendar will not resume its final “seven” until the end time of this age arrives. The resumption of the calendar will be signaled by a Covenant between the Jews and the Antichrist.
Day one of the calendar is given. It began with the decree of the Persian king, Artaxerxes, to return some of the captive Jews to rebuild Jerusalem in 444 B.C. (Dan. 9.25; Neh. 2 1-8). The next event on the calendar came-- not days, or weeks, or months-- but years later. Sixty-nine “sevens” (69 X 7) or 483 years later came the fulfillment of Jesus as the Messiah at His inaugural reception in Jerusalem on Palm Sunday (Luke 19:35-44). This was followed by His crucifixion.
The “sevens,” then, are “sevens” of years. Nearly all Bible scholars recognize this fact. 2 The seventy-sevens are seventy-sevens of years, or 490 years. The first 483 years were fulfilled as literal years. So must the remaining seven years be fulfilled as literal years.
These remaining seven years were suspended when the Jews rejected Christ. The silent intermission between the close of the 483 years and the start of the final seven years constitutes the familiar ”gap" of Biblical prophecy; a gap or temporary suspension in prophetic continuity and ultimate fulfillment. Both the suspension of the calendar after the crucifixion of Christ, and the silence of the "gap” in Daniel 9 are explained by the fact that God’s pro- gram shifted for an indefinite duration from the Jews to the newly created church (Rom. 11:11-2 7), and, to Daniel and the other Old Testament prophets, the church was an unrevealed “mystery” (Eph. 3:3-6). 3
The remaining time of seven years will begin with the Covenant between the Antichrist and Israel. This final prophetic time installment will be marked midway by the Abomination of Desolation. It will then run its final three and one half year course, ending with the impending destruction of the Antichrist in the Day of the Lord. Thus the 490-year Jewish prophetic calendar, called “the indispensable chronological key to all New Testament prophecy,” finds its complete fulfillment with the conclusion of a seven-year end time. 4
The Prophecy of the 70 Weeks is indeed the most remarkable prophecy in the Bible!
It is important to remember that Jesus could not have been born in “0” BC/AD because there is no such date. The Roman calendar system (Gregorian) that we use jumps from 1 BC to 1 AD, with no “0” in between. Also, the Daniel 9 prophecy is intended to predict the day on which Jesus would be officially presented as Israel’s Messiah (“until Messiah the Prince,” Daniel 9:25), not necessarily the day on which He would be born.
Here is one way to calculate the date of the arrival of the Messiah Jesus, using all of the Biblical, historical,
and astronomical data available to us.
Formula Factors:
What is the length of the year used in prophetic calculations? Answer: 360-day years.
1. 30 day months were used to record the length of the Flood (Gen. 7:11; 7:24; 8:3-4)
2. 30 day months are used for the 70th Week of Daniel (Dan. 9:27= time, times, 1/2 time, or 3 1/2 years according to Dan. 7:25 & 12:7 & Rev. 12:14, which in turn = 1260 days in Rev. 12:6. In Rev. 11:3 the 1260 days is shown to be 42 months in verse 2 and in Rev. 13:5)
Therefore, you can formulate it this way:
69 “weeks (sevens)” of years = 69 X 7 = 483 Years.
360 Jewish Prophetic Days (30-day, or Lunar, months) are to _?_ Years as 365 Modern Calendar days are to 483 Years. (algebraic equation)
Thus, 360 = _?_ (cross multiply) = 173,880 = 476.38 Years
365 483 365
Nehemiah 2:1-8 established the starting date of the calculations. The latest archaeological and near east calendar system data sets that date at Nesan 1, or March 5th, 444 B.C. Deducting the 476.38 years from that date, keeping in mind that there is no “0” year, and figuring in a 365.24219879 Leap-Year number to be precise, you arrive at March 30th, 33 A.D. This would bring you to Luke 19:35-44 where in the crucifixion week Jesus fulfills the Zechariah 9:9 prophecy presenting Himself officially to Israel as their Messiah. He is accepted by the faithful as the “King” in Luke 19:38, but rejected by official Israel in verse 39. As a result, in verse 44 He rebukes them “because you did not recognize THE TIME (69th Week) of your visitation.” Jesus then goes on to fulfill the rest of Daniel 9:26, and is “cut off” for our Salvation. Praise His Name !!!
Reference Sources:
1. J. Alva McClain, Daniel’s Prophecy Of The 70 Weeks, p.9.
2. James M. Boice, Daniel: An Expositional Commentary, p.108.
3. Lehman Strauss, The Prophecies of Daniel, p.275.
4. McClain, Daniel’s Prophecy, p.10.
5. A “must-read” book, besides McClains, is the scholarly work by Harold Hoehner, entitled Chronological Aspects of the Life of Christ, with it’s up-to-date astronomical calculations of early dates.
More Facts on the Prophecy of the 70 Weeks
The Time of the Arrival of Messiah
Why were many first century Jews expecting Him?
At the time of the birth of Jesus there was a general expectancy abounding in Israel that the time was nigh at hand for the arrival of the long promised Messiah. For example, Luke records that Simeon and others were looking for the consolation and redemption of Israel at the time of Christ’ birth. (Luke 2:25, 38) The court of King Herod was aware of the imminent arrival of the Messiah. (Matthew 2:1-8) John the Baptist was expecting Christ to come. (Matthew 11:3) Many Jews were anticipating deliverance by the Messiah-King. (John 6:14-15) Many were looking for Christ to arise at any time from the household of David, and in the City of David (Bethlehem), because of the prophecies. (John 7:40-43) The Samaritan woman was looking for Him. (John 4:25)
Why were so many Jews living at the time of that first Christmas expecting the imminent arrival of the Messiah? Many prophecies fueled this expectancy. But surely Daniel’s Prophecy Of The 70 Weeks, with its precise mathematical calculation of the time of the Messiah, was the most important.
What About The 70th “Week” ?
The 70th Week of Daniel’s prophecy is the final “week”—that is, it is a final 7-year period prescribed by God for the Jews to bring them to recognition of Jesus Christ as their Messiah and Savior.
During that 70th Week the tribulation period will occur. This 7-year tribulation period will be divided into two halves of 1260 days each (based on the Jewish prophetic year of 30-day months). The first half is what Jesus referred to as the period of “birth pangs.” It will begin with a false peace covenant, instituted by the Antichrist, which will allow the Jews to restart their ancient sacrificial system in a rebuilt temple in Jerusalem. World war will break out, followed by famine, pestilence, and death on a scale never before seen on earth. The Antichrist will rise to power.
The last half of this time was called by Jesus “the great tribulation.” The Antichrist initiates this final 1260-day period by setting himself in the Jewish temple and declaring that he is God. He then begins a global persecution and genocide of Jews and Christians (people who come to Christ after the rapture).
Finally, the 70th Week is terminated when Christ returns, the Antichrist is destroyed, and the Jews recognize Jesus as their Messiah.
Prophecy Update