Daniel 9:24-27
There are but three possible dates for the
commencement of the seventy-week calendar. First, Zerubbabel led a group
of Hebrews out of captivity in 536 B.C. This seems to be an unlikely
beginning point, however, because 486 years from 536 B.C. would end at 50
B.C., which was eighty years prior to Jesus’ death. Second, Nehemiah led a
band back to Canaan in 444 B.C. Is this the commencement point for
computing the prophecy? Probably not, for 486 years after 444 B.C. ends at
A.D. 42 — a dozen years after the death of Christ. However, in 457 B.C.,
Ezra took a company from Babylon back to Jerusalem. Does this date work
mathematically? Indeed. If one starts at 457 B.C., and goes forward for
486 ˝ years, the resulting date is A.D. 30 — the very year of Christ’s
crucifixion! This is the common view (Scott, p. 364).
The strongest objection to this argument is the claim
that Ezra issued no charge to rebuild the city of Jerusalem, and so the starting
point of the prophecy could not date from the time of his return. Noted scholar
Gleason Archer has responded to this allegation by affirming that Ezra’s
commission:
“. . . apparently included authority to restore and
build the city of Jerusalem (as we may deduce from Ezra 7:6,7, and also 9:9,
which states, ‘God . . . hath extended lovingkindness unto us in the sight of
the kings of Persia, to give us a reviving, to set up the house of God, and to
repair the ruins thereof, and to give us a wall in Judea and in Jerusalem,’
ASV). Even though Ezra did not actually succeed in accomplishing the
rebuilding of the walls till Nehemiah arrived thirteen years later, it is
logical to understand 457 B.C. as the terminus a quo for the decree
predicted in Daniel 9:25” (p. 387, emp. in orig.).
In “the midst” of the seventieth week, i.e., after the
fulfillment of the 486˝ years, the Anointed One was to be “cut off.” This is a
reference to the death of Jesus. Isaiah similarly foretold that Christ would be
“cut off out of the land of the living” (Isaiah 53:8).
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.
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.
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.
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.
7 weeks = 49
years.
7 weeks then 62 weeks then 1 week = 49 years + 434 years + 7 years (490
years).
-
First 7 weeks (49 years) = 457 to
408 B.C.
Restoration and rebuilding of Jerusalem under Ezra and Nehemiah. From
the beginning to the settling in Jerusalem.
-
62 Weeks (434 years) = 408 B.C. to 27 A.D.
From the settling in
Jerusalem to the baptism of
Jesus. He was born around 4 B.C. and was “about” 30 years old when
baptized, hereby publicly identified as the Messiah. The 30th year was
the age at which men of
Israel were permitted to become active in temple or tabernacle
service.
-
Last Week, 1st part (3 ˝ years)
After his baptism Jesus demonstrated the new in-breaking kingdom of
God, preaching and manifesting the gospel of the kingdom saying the
time is fulfilled, culminating in his death and resurrection.
-
Middle of the Week (between the last 7 years)
Christ’s death ended the Old Covenant obligation, though continued to
be practised, it no longer had value and acceptability, been
superseded by the once-for-all sacrifice of Christ. It sealed the
fulfillment of all six promises of verse 24.
-
Last Week, 2nd part (3 ˝ years)
The first half being fulfilled, there remains another half to be
fulfilled before Jesus’ followers would be free to take the Gospel
outside the Jewish realm. Acts
11:19
Now they which were scattered abroad upon the persecution that arose
about Stephen travelled as far as Phenice, and Cyprus, and Antioch,
preaching the word to none but unto the Jews only. Paul says:
Acts
22:20
And when the blood of thy martyr Stephen was shed, I also was standing
by, and consenting unto his death, and kept the raiment of them that
slew him. Romans 15:16
That I should be the minister of Jesus Christ to the Gentiles,
ministering the gospel of God, that the offering up of the Gentiles
might be acceptable, being sanctified by the Holy Ghost. The Gospel
was freed to go to the gentiles at the calling of Paul. This
Generation ended the Jewish age. Hebrew 9: The Holy Ghost this
signifying, that the way into the holiest of all was not yet made
manifest, while as the first tabernacle
was yet standing:
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