"He brought me to the banqueting house, and his banner over me was love." --- (SofS 2:4) Travis Case, Pastor/Teacher Northgate Baptist Church F.E.A.S.T Ministries Introduction:
Introduction :A. Gabriel gave Daniel not only the Starting Point of this prophecy, but also the Ending Point. 1. "from the going forth of the Commandment To Restore and to Build Jerusalem." 2. "unto the Messiah The Prince shall be Seven weeks, and Threescore And Two weeks" B. There were Four Decrees given concerning the Restoration of Jerusalem and the Rebuilding of The Temple --- All Four decrees were issued After The Babylonian Captivity. I. The First Decree --- King Cyrus --- 536 BC Ezra 1:1-4, "Now in the first year of Cyrus king of Persia, that the word of the LORD by the mouth of Jeremiah might be fulfilled, the LORD stirred up the spirit of Cyrus king of Persia, that he made a proclamation throughout all his kingdom, and put it also in writing, saying, 2 Thus saith Cyrus king of Persia, The LORD God of heaven hath given me all the kingdoms of the earth; and he hath charged me to build him an house at Jerusalem, which is in Judah. 3 Who is there among you of all his people? his God be with him, and let him go up to Jerusalem, which is in Judah, and build the house of the LORD God of Israel, (he is the God,) which is in Jerusalem. 4 And whosoever remaineth in any place where he sojourneth, let the men of his place help him with silver, and with gold, and with goods, and with beasts, beside the freewill offering for the house of God that is in Jerusalem." 2 Chronicles 36:22-23, "Now in the first year of Cyrus king of Persia, that the word of the LORD spoken by the mouth of Jeremiah might be accomplished, the LORD stirred up the spirit of Cyrus king of Persia, that he made a proclamation throughout all his kingdom, and put it also in writing, saying, 23 Thus saith Cyrus king of Persia, All the kingdoms of the earth hath the LORD God of heaven given me; and he hath charged me to build him an house in Jerusalem, which is in Judah. Who is there among you of all his people? The LORD his God be with him, and let him go up." A. Daniel, no doubt, had read: Jeremiah 25:11-14, "And this whole land shall be a desolation, and an astonishment; and these nations shall serve the king of Babylon seventy years. 12 And it shall come to pass, when seventy years are accomplished, that I will punish the king of Babylon, and that nation, saith the LORD, for their iniquity, and the land of the Chaldeans, and will make it perpetual desolations. 13 And I will bring upon that land all my words which I have pronounced against it, even all that is written in this book, which Jeremiah hath prophesied against all the nations. 14 For many nations and great kings shall serve themselves of them also: and I will recompense them according to their deeds, and according to the works of their own hands." B. Daniel, might have read to the king. Isaiah 44:28, "That saith of Cyrus, He is my shepherd, and shall perform all my pleasure: even saying to Jerusalem, Thou shalt be built; and to the temple, Thy foundation shall be laid." --- 45:13, "I have raised him up in righteousness, and I will direct all his ways: he shall build my city, and he shall let go my captives, not for price nor reward, saith the LORD of hosts." C. Under this First Decree: 1. Approximately 50,000 Israelites returned to Jerusalem. Ezra 2:64-65, "The whole congregation together was forty and two thousand three hundred and threescore, 65 Beside their servants and their maids, of whom there were seven thousand three hundred thirty and seven: and there were among them two hundred singing men and singing women." 2. They set up an Altar and renewed their Offerings, Feasts, and Sacrifices. 3. They Began to rebuild their temple but the Work Dragged because of Many Adversaries. II. The Second Decree --- King Darius --- 519 BC A. After the Jews Appealed To King Darius, he ordered a Search of the kings treasure house in Babylon. 1. The search revealed that a Decree had been Given By King Cyrus. 2. The decree by King Darius was therefore, a Renewing of that which was issued by King Cyrus. B. Ezra 5:1-6:12, "Then the prophets, Haggai the prophet, and Zechariah the son of Iddo, prophesied unto the Jews that were in Judah and Jerusalem in the name of the God of Israel, even unto them. 2 Then rose up Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel, and Jeshua the son of Jozadak, and began to build the house of God which is at Jerusalem: and with them were the prophets of God helping them. 3 At the same time came to them Tatnai, governor on this side the river, and Shetharboznai, and their companions, and said thus unto them, Who hath commanded you to build this house, and to make up this wall? 4 Then said we unto them after this manner, What are the names of the men that make this building? 5 But the eye of their God was upon the elders of the Jews, that they could not cause them to cease, till the matter came to Darius: and then they returned answer by letter concerning this matter. 6 The copy of the letter that Tatnai, governor on this side the river, and Shetharboznai, and his companions the Apharsachites, which were on this side the river, sent unto Darius the king: 7 They sent a letter unto him, wherein was written thus; Unto Darius the king, all peace. 8 Be it known unto the king, that we went into the province of Judea, to the house of the great God, which is builded with great stones, and timber is laid in the walls, and this work goeth fast on, and prospereth in their hands. 9 Then asked we those elders, and said unto them thus, Who commanded you to build this house, and to make up these walls? 10 We asked their names also, to certify thee, that we might write the names of the men that were the chief of them. 11 And thus they returned us answer, saying, We are the servants of the God of heaven and earth, and build the house that was builded these many years ago, which a great king of Israel builded and set up. 12 But after that our fathers had provoked the God of heaven unto wrath, he gave them into the hand of Nebuchadnezzar the king of Babylon, the Chaldean, who destroyed this house, and carried the people away into Babylon. 13 But in the first year of Cyrus the king of Babylon the same king Cyrus made a decree to build this house of God. 14 And the vessels also of gold and silver of the house of God, which Nebuchadnezzar took out of the temple that was in Jerusalem, and brought them into the temple of Babylon, those did Cyrus the king take out of the temple of Babylon, and they were delivered unto one, whose name was Sheshbazzar, whom he had made governor; 15 And said unto him, Take these vessels, go, carry them into the temple that is in Jerusalem, and let the house of God be builded in his place. 16 Then came the same Sheshbazzar, and laid the foundation of the house of God which is in Jerusalem: and since that time even until now hath it been in building, and yet it is not finished. 17 Now therefore, if it seem good to the king, let there be search made in the king’s treasure house, which is there at Babylon, whether it be so, that a decree was made of Cyrus the king to build this house of God at Jerusalem, and let the king send his pleasure to us concerning this matter. 6:1, "Then Darius the king made a decree, and search was made in the house of the rolls, where the treasures were laid up in Babylon. 2 And there was found at Achmetha, in the palace that is in the province of the Medes, a roll, and therein was a record thus written: 3 In the first year of Cyrus the king the same Cyrus the king made a decree concerning the house of God at Jerusalem, Let the house be builded, the place where they offered sacrifices, and let the foundations thereof be strongly laid; the height thereof threescore cubits, and the breadth thereof threescore cubits; 4 With three rows of great stones, and a row of new timber: and let the expenses be given out of the king’s house: 5 And also let the golden and silver vessels of the house of God, which Nebuchadnezzar took forth out of the temple which is at Jerusalem, and brought unto Babylon, be restored, and brought again unto the temple which is at Jerusalem, every one to his place, and place them in the house of God. 6 Now therefore, Tatnai, governor beyond the river, Shetharboznai, and your companions the Apharsachites, which are beyond the river, be ye far from thence: 7 Let the work of this house of God alone; let the governor of the Jews and the elders of the Jews build this house of God in his place. 8 Moreover I make a decree what ye shall do to the elders of these Jews for the building of this house of God: that of the king’s goods, even of the tribute beyond the river, forthwith expenses be given unto these men, that they be not hindered. 9 And that which they have need of, both young bullocks, and rams, and lambs, for the burnt offerings of the God of heaven, wheat, salt, wine, and oil, according to the appointment of the priests which are at Jerusalem, let it be given them day by day without fail: 10 That they may offer sacrifices of sweet savours unto the God of heaven, and pray for the life of the king, and of his sons. 11 Also I have made a decree, that whosoever shall alter this word, let timber be pulled down from his house, and being set up, let him be hanged thereon; and let his house be made a dunghill for this. 12 And the God that hath caused his name to dwell there destroy all kings and people, that shall put to their hand to alter and to destroy this house of God which is at Jerusalem. I Darius have made a decree; let it be done with speed." III. The Third Decree --- King Artaxerxes of Persia --- 458 BC A. Ezra was given a Letter by King Artaxerxes granting him Permission to: 1. Go to Jerusalem and take Priests and Levites with him. 2. Authority to collect Gold and Silver, purchase Bullocks, Rams, and Lambs for offerings in the temple. 3. Should it become necessary, to Draw On The King's Treasury for "whatsoever more shall be needful" for the house of God. B. Ezra 7:11-22, "Now this is the copy of the letter that the king Artaxerxes gave unto Ezra the priest, the scribe, even a scribe of the words of the commandments of the LORD, and of his statutes to Israel. 12 Artaxerxes, king of kings, unto Ezra the priest, a scribe of the law of the God of heaven, perfect peace, and at such a time. 13 I make a decree, that all they of the people of Israel, and of his priests and Levites, in my realm, which are minded of their own freewill to go up to Jerusalem, go with thee. 14 Forasmuch as thou art sent of the king, and of his seven counsellors, to enquire concerning Judah and Jerusalem, according to the law of thy God which is in thine hand; 15 And to carry the silver and gold, which the king and his counsellors have freely offered unto the God of Israel, whose habitation is in Jerusalem, 16 And all the silver and gold that thou canst find in all the province of Babylon, with the freewill offering of the people, and of the priests, offering willingly for the house of their God which is in Jerusalem: 17 That thou mayest buy speedily with this money bullocks, rams, lambs, with their meat offerings and their drink offerings, and offer them upon the altar of the house of your God which is in Jerusalem. 18 And whatsoever shall seem good to thee, and to thy brethren, to do with the rest of the silver and the gold, that do after the will of your God. 19 The vessels also that are given thee for the service of the house of thy God, those deliver thou before the God of Jerusalem. 20 And whatsoever more shall be needful for the house of thy God, which thou shalt have occasion to bestow, bestow it out of the king’s treasure house. 21 And I, even I Artaxerxes the king, do make a decree to all the treasurers which are beyond the river, that whatsoever Ezra the priest, the scribe of the law of the God of heaven, shall require of you, it be done speedily, 22 Unto an hundred talents of silver, and to an hundred measures of wheat, and to an hundred baths of wine, and to an hundred baths of oil, and salt without prescribing how much." IV. The Fourth Decree -- King Artaxerxes Longimanus -- Nisan 1 (March 14), 445 BC.A. Nehemiah appeared before the king with a Sad Heart. Nehemiah 2:1-3, "And it came to pass in the month Nisan, in the twentieth year of Artaxerxes the king, that wine was before him: and I took up the wine, and gave it unto the king. Now I had not been beforetime sad in his presence. 2 Wherefore the king said unto me, Why is thy countenance sad, seeing thou art not sick? this is nothing else but sorrow of heart. Then I was very sore afraid, 3 And said unto the king, Let the king live for ever: why should not my countenance be sad, when the city, the place of my fathers’ sepulchres, lieth waste, and the gates thereof are consumed with fire?" This was the 20th year of the reign of Artaxerxes himself. It was the 115th year of the Persian empire. It was the 4th year of the 83rd Olympiad. B. Nehemiah repaired the walls in 52 Days but it took more Years to complete the rebuilding and restoration of Jerusalem. C. To Nehemiah, this mission was a Religious one --- to his enemies, Sanballat and Tobiah, it was Political --- an act of Rebellion ..... Nehemiah 2:4-20, " Then the king said unto me, For what dost thou make request? So I prayed to the God of heaven. 5 And I said unto the king, If it please the king, and if thy servant have found favour in thy sight, that thou wouldest send me unto Judah, unto the city of my fathers’ sepulchres, that I may build it. 6 And the king said unto me, (the queen also sitting by him,) For how long shall thy journey be? and when wilt thou return? So it pleased the king to send me; and I set him a time. 7 Moreover I said unto the king, If it please the king, let letters be given me to the governors beyond the river, that they may convey me over till I come into Judah; 8 And a letter unto Asaph the keeper of the king’s forest, that he may give me timber to make beams for the gates of the palace which appertained to the house, and for the wall of the city, and for the house that I shall enter into. And the king granted me, according to the good hand of my God upon me. 9 Then I came to the governors beyond the river, and gave them the king’s letters. Now the king had sent captains of the army and horsemen with me. 10 When Sanballat the Horonite, and Tobiah the servant, the Ammonite, heard of it, it grieved them exceedingly that there was come a man to seek the welfare of the children of Israel. 11 So I came to Jerusalem, and was there three days. 12 And I arose in the night, I and some few men with me; neither told I any man what my God had put in my heart to do at Jerusalem: neither was there any beast with me, save the beast that I rode upon. 13 And I went out by night by the gate of the valley, even before the dragon well, and to the dung port, and viewed the walls of Jerusalem, which were broken down, and the gates thereof were consumed with fire. 14 Then I went on to the gate of the fountain, and to the king’s pool: but there was no place for the beast that was under me to pass. 15 Then went I up in the night by the brook, and viewed the wall, and turned back, and entered by the gate of the valley, and so returned. 16 And the rulers knew not whither I went, or what I did; neither had I as yet told it to the Jews, nor to the priests, nor to the nobles, nor to the rulers, nor to the rest that did the work. 17 Then said I unto them, Ye see the distress that we are in, how Jerusalem lieth waste, and the gates thereof are burned with fire: come, and let us build up the wall of Jerusalem, that we be no more a reproach. 18 Then I told them of the hand of my God which was good upon me; as also the king’s words that he had spoken unto me. And they said, Let us rise up and build. So they strengthened their hands for this good work. 19 But when Sanballat the Horonite, and Tobiah the servant, the Ammonite, and Geshem the Arabian, heard it, they laughed us to scorn, and despised us, and said, What is this thing that ye do? will ye rebel against the king? 20 Then answered I them, and said unto them, The God of heaven, he will prosper us; therefore we his servants will arise and build: but ye have no portion, nor right, nor memorial, in Jerusalem." V. Here Is How The Four Decrees Would Fit Into The Prophecy of 483 Years (7 Weeks and 62 Weeks) --- A Day Representing A Year. First --- From the time that King Cyrus issued his decree in 536 BC, time would have Run Out In 53 BC --- 49 years Before the birth of Christ. Second --- From the time that King Darius issued his decree in 519 BC, time would have Run Out in 36 BC --- 32 years Before the birth of Christ. Third --- From the time that King Artaxerxes issued his decree in 458 BC, time would have Run Over to the last of year 25 AD --- 29 years After the birth of Christ. Fourth --- From the time that King Artaxerxes issued his decree in 445 BC, time would have Run Over to 38 BC --- After the Crucifixion of Christ. VI. At What Particular Period or Event In The Life of Jesus Does This Prophecy Refer? 1. His Birth? a. It was the same angel, Gabriel, that gave the prophecy to Daniel and then announced to Mary that she would be the mother of "Messiah The Prince". b. Luke 1:30-33, "And the angel said unto her, Fear not, Mary: for thou hast found favour with God. 31 And, behold, thou shalt conceive in thy womb, and bring forth a son, and shalt call his name JESUS. 32 He shall be great, and shall be called the Son of the Highest: and the Lord God shall give unto him the throne of his father David: 33 And he shall reign over the house of Jacob for ever; and of his kingdom there shall be no end." 2. His Baptism? a Jesus Began His Ministry at the age of 29 when He was baptized in Jordan by John. Luke 3:23, "And Jesus himself began to be about thirty years of age, being (as was supposed) the son of Joseph, which was the son of Heli." b. Matthew 3:13-17, "Then cometh Jesus from Galilee to Jordan unto John, to be baptized of him. 14 But John forbad him, saying, I have need to be baptized of thee, and comest thou to me? 15 And Jesus answering said unto him, Suffer it to be so now: for thus it becometh us to fulfil all righteousness. Then he suffered him. 16 And Jesus, when he was baptized, went up straightway out of the water: and, lo, the heavens were opened unto him, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove, and lighting upon him: 17 And lo a voice from heaven, saying, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased." c. John 1:29-31, "The next day John seeth Jesus coming unto him, and saith, Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world." --- V. 31, "... I knew him not: but that he should be made manifest to Israel, therefore am I come baptizing with water." --- V. 36, "And looking upon Jesus as he walked, he saith, Behold the Lamb of God!" --- V. 40-41, "One of the two which heard John speak, and followed him, was Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother. 41 He first findeth his own brother Simon, and saith unto him, We have found the Messias, which is, being interpreted, the Christ." d. "Messiah" means "Anointed One" --- Jesus was anointed by the Holy Spirit. 3. His Triumphal Entry? a. Jesus knew that His Crucifixion Was Near --- He was soon to be "Cut Off". b. His Messiahship must be Publicly Declared and publicly recognized before He was nailed to the cross. c. Zechariah 9:9, "Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion; shout, O daughter of Jerusalem: behold, thy King cometh unto thee: he is just, and having salvation; lowly, and riding upon an ass, and upon a colt the foal of an ass." d. Luke 19:37-40, "And when he was come nigh, even now at the descent of the mount of Olives, the whole multitude of the disciples began to rejoice and praise God with a loud voice for all the mighty works that they had seen; 38 Saying, Blessed be the King that cometh in the name of the Lord: peace in heaven, and glory in the highest. 39 And some of the Pharisees from among the multitude said unto him, Master, rebuke thy disciples. 40 And he answered and said unto them, I tell you that, if these should hold their peace, the stones would immediately cry out." 4. His Crucifixion? This has to do with the Messiah being "Cut off, but not for Himself". Isaiah 53:4-6, "Surely he hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows: yet we did esteem him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted. 5 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. 6 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." VII. There Were Seven Promises To Be Fulfilled --- (Dan. 9:24) A. "Seventy weeks are determined upon thy people and upon the holy city," In God's Prophecies, Weeks are generally understood as Weeks of Years . 1. Ezekiel 4:5-6, "For I have laid upon thee the years of their iniquity, according to the number of the days, three hundred and ninety days: so shalt thou bear the iniquity of the house of Israel. 6 And when thou hast accomplished them, lie again on thy right side, and thou shalt bear the iniquity of the house of Judah forty days: I have appointed thee each day for a year." 2. Leviticus 25:8, "And thou shalt number seven sabbaths of years unto thee, seven times seven years; and the space of the seven sabbaths of years shall be unto thee forty and nine years." 3. 7 weeks + 62 weeks + 1 week = 70 weeks or 490 Years. B. "... to finish the transgression," 1. At Calvary, Jesus finished transgression by becoming sin for us. 2 Corinthians 5:21, "For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him." John 19:30, "When Jesus therefore had received the vinegar, he said, It is finished: and he bowed his head, and gave up the ghost." 2. Hebrews 2:14-15, "Forasmuch then as the children are partakers of flesh and blood, he also himself likewise took part of the same; that through death he might destroy him that had the power of death, that is, the devil; 15 And deliver them who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage." 3. Hebrews 9:12-15, "Neither by the blood of goats and calves, but by his own blood he entered in once into the holy place, having obtained eternal redemption for us." --- V. 15, "And for this cause he is the mediator of the new testament, that by means of death, for the redemption of the transgressions that were under the first testament, they which are called might receive the promise of eternal inheritance." C. "... to make an end of sins," The old system of sacrifices could never make an end of sins, but Christ ..... Matthew 1:21, "And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name JESUS: for he shall save his people from their sins." Hebrews 9:26, "For then must he often have suffered since the foundation of the world: but now once in the end of the world hath he appeared to put away sin by the sacrifice of himself." Hebrews 10:4-11, "For it is not possible that the blood of bulls and of goats should take away sins. 5 Wherefore when he cometh into the world, he saith, Sacrifice and offering thou wouldest not, but a body hast thou prepared me: 6 In burnt offerings and sacrifices for sin thou hast had no pleasure. 7 Then said I, Lo, I come (in the volume of the book it is written of me,) to do thy will, O God. 8 Above when he said, Sacrifice and offering and burnt offerings and offering for sin thou wouldest not, neither hadst pleasure therein; which are offered by the law; 9 Then said he, Lo, I come to do thy will, O God. He taketh away the first, that he may establish the second. 10 By the which will we are sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all. 11 And every priest standeth daily ministering and offering oftentimes the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins:" 1 John 3:5, "And ye know that he was manifested to take away our sins; and in him is no sin." D. "... to make reconciliation for iniquity," "Reconciliation" means to "Make Atonement". Hebrews 2:17, "Wherefore in all things it behoved him to be made like unto his brethren, that he might be a merciful and faithful high priest in things pertaining to God, to make reconciliation for the sins of the people." Colossians 1:20-22, "And, having made peace through the blood of his cross, by him to reconcile all things unto himself; by him, I say, whether they be things in earth, or things in heaven. 21 And you, that were sometime alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works, yet now hath he reconciled 22 In the body of his flesh through death, to present you holy and unblameable and unreproveable in his sight:" Ephesians 2:16, "And that he might reconcile both unto God in one body by the cross, having slain the enmity thereby:" 2 Corinthians 5:19, "To wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation." Have you embraces All that the Cross means in your life? E. "... to bring in everlasting righteousness," 1. Did Christ at His coming to earth Provide Righteousness through His redemptive work? Isaiah 53:11, "He shall see of the travail of his soul, and shall be satisfied: by his knowledge shall my righteous servant justify many; for he shall bear their iniquities." Romans 5:17-21, "For if by one man’s offence death reigned by one; much more they which receive abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness shall reign in life by one, Jesus Christ.) 18 Therefore as by the offence of one judgment came upon all men to condemnation; even so by the righteousness of one the free gift came upon all men unto justification of life. 19 For as by one man’s disobedience many were made sinners, so by the obedience of one shall many be made righteous. 20 Moreover the law entered, that the offence might abound. But where sin abounded, grace did much more abound: 21 That as sin hath reigned unto death, even so might grace reign through righteousness unto eternal life by Jesus Christ our Lord." Matthew 3:15, "And Jesus answering said unto him, Suffer it to be so now: for thus it becometh us to fulfil all righteousness. Then he suffered him." 1 Corinthians 1:30, "But of him are ye in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption:" 1 Peter 2:24, "Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed." Romans 3:21-26, "But now the righteousness of God without the law is manifested, being witnessed by the law and the prophets; 22 Even the righteousness of God which is by faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that believe: for there is no difference: 23 For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God; 24 Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus: 25 Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God; 26 To declare, I say, at this time his righteousness: that he might be just, and the justifier of him which believeth in Jesus." 2 Corinthians 5:21, "For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him." 2. Is not this righteousness that Christ brought in Everlasting? F. "... to seal up the vision and prophecy," 1. To "Seal Up" is derived from the ancient custom of attaching a seal to a document to show that it was Genuine. (1 Kings 21:8, Jer. 32:10-11, John 6:27, 1 Cor. 9:2) 2. Christ "Sealed" Old Testament prophecy by fulfilling what was written of Him. Acts 3:18, "But those things, which God before had shewed by the mouth of all his prophets, that Christ should suffer, he hath so fulfilled." John 5:39, "Search the scriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternal life: and they are they which testify of me." G. "... to anoint the most Holy." 1. This is, No Doubt, a reference to Jesus Christ. 2. Gabriel announced to Mary. Luke 1:35, "... that holy thing which shall be born of thee shall be called the Son of God." 3. Peter referred to Him as "the Holy One". Acts 3:14, "But ye denied the Holy One ..." --- 4:27, "For of a truth against thy holy child Jesus, whom thou hast anointed," 4. John referred to him as "the Holy One" (1 John 2:20) 5. Even demons recognized Him as "The Holy One of God" (Mark 1:24) 6. David spoke of Christ when he said," Acts 2:27, "... neither wilt thou suffer thine Holy One to see corruption" 7. John The Baptist said: John 1:29-31, "The next day John seeth Jesus coming unto him, and saith, Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world." --- V. 31, "... I knew him not: but that he should be made manifest to Israel, therefore am I come baptizing with water." --- V. 36, "And looking upon Jesus as he walked, he saith, Behold the Lamb of God!" --- V. 40-41, "One of the two which heard John speak, and followed him, was Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother. 41 He first findeth his own brother Simon, and saith unto him, We have found the Messias, which is, being interpreted, the Christ." Luke 3:21-22, "... Jesus ... being baptized, and praying, the heaven was opened, 22 And the Holy Ghost descended in a bodily shape like a dove upon him, and a voice came from heaven, which said, Thou art my beloved Son; in thee I am well pleased." 8. Jesus, obviously, referring to Daniel's prophecy said: Mark 1:15, "And saying, The time is fulfilled, ..." Luke 4:18-22, "The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he hath anointed me ..." VIII. In His Prophetical Chronology, Does God Use 30 Days To The Month, 360 Days To The Year --- Same As Our Business Year --- or The Lunar Year? A. At that time in history most calendars used the Lunar Year and calculated a year as 360 Days (Hebrew, Mayan, Egyptian, Babylonian, and many others). 1. Most years had 12 Months (or "moons"), but some years had 13 Months. 2. They used a 19-Year Cycle, in which Seven Years Had An Extra Month --- in the 19-year cycle there were 235 lunar months. 3. In the 19-year cycle, in which an extra month was added, they established a definite sequence --- the extra month was added in the years 3, 6, 8, 11, 14, 17 19. 4. However, the Greeks and the Jews inserted Three Interclary Months Every 8 Years. 5. This effectively made the Solar Year and the Lunar Year the same length, when viewed over a long period of time. B. Therefore, you Cannot Assume, "the Jewish year had only 360 days" for interpreting Daniel's 70 Weeks prophecy. 1. The old year ended and a new one began at a new moon, not after so many days had elapsed as in our calendars. 2. There does Not Seem To Be Any Solid Basis for views years in terms of 360 days. C. Several Scriptures are used to indicate that God might have used the 360 days lunar calendar as His Prophetical Calendar. 1. The Flood Story (Gen. 7:11 - 8:4) is used as proof of a 360 day year. The Genesis account of the flood in the days of Noah illustrated this 360-day year by recording the 150-day interval till the waters abated from the earth. The 150 days began on the seventeenth day of the second month, and ended on the seventeenth day of the seventh month (Genesis 7:11,24 and 8:3-4). In Other words, the five months consisted of thirty days each; therefore, twelve months would equal 360 days (12 x 30 = 360 days) 2. The book of Esther (1: 4) indicates the same 360-day length of year by recording the six-month-long feast of Xerxes as continuing exactly 180 days. D. Sir Robert Anderson, a converted English lawyer, was the first to come up with the following figures, using the 360 day calendar, he published them in his book, "The Coming Prince" in 1894 in London by Hodder & Stroughton.. If his theory is True and Accurate:
69 weeks of 7 days each = 483 days or 483 years. 483 years of 360 days each = 173,880 days Accordingly, "from the going forth of the commandment to restore and to build Jerusalem unto the Messiah the Prince shall be ..." --- 173,880 days.
Add for leap years = 116 days
March 14th, 445 BC to April 6, 32 AD = 173,880 days IX. There Are Three Parts To The Seventy-Weeks: A. Seven (7) Weeks --- (49 Years) --- 1. The 7 weeks (49 years) that precede the 62 weeks (434 years) is undoubtedly the time period it took for Ezra, Nehemiah, and others to Rebuild The City. 2. According to Barnes and other Bible commentators, the historian Prideaux declared that Nehemiah's Last Action in rebuilding the city occurred in the 15th year of the Persian ruler Darius Nothus (423BC - 404 BC). 3. His 15th year was the 49th Year From The 458 BC Decree. 4. Josephus seems to support this idea in his remarks about the death of Nehemiah. B. Three Score & Two (62) Weeks --- (434 Years) --- 1. After the first 69 weeks (7 + 62) Messiah is "Cut Off" out of the land of the living. Isaiah 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." 2. Adding 483 Years to the 458 BC date brings us to the beginning of Jesus ministry in AD 26 and allows for Him being "Cut Off" in AD 30. a. Daniel does Not tell us How Long After The 69th Week, nor does he indicate that the 70th Week would begin as soon as the 69th Week ended. b. Between the 69th and the 70th Week --- you have the Church Age. C. One (1) Week --- (7 Years) --- 1. God's Last Week of dealing with the Jews. 2. X. Sumation of Daniel's Seventy Week Prophecy, From Beginning To End: A. First --- Is There A Gap (Church Age) Between The 69th and The 70th Week? 1. Daniel does Not tell us How Long After The 69th Week, nor does he indicate that the 70th Week would begin as soon as the 69th Week ended. 2. Rather, the 70 Weeks are God's Time Line for dealing with Daniel's people the Jews --- it has nothing to do with the Church Age. Daniel 9:24, "Seventy weeks are determined upon thy people and upon thy holy city," 3. When Christ came, His ministry was directed in a special way to Daniel's People, Israel. John 1:31, "And I knew him not: but that he should be made manifest to Israel," Matthew 15:24, "But he answered and said, I am not sent but unto the lost sheep of the house of Israel." Matthew 10:5-6, "These twelve Jesus sent forth, and commanded them, saying, Go not into the way of the Gentiles, and into any city of the Samaritans enter ye not: 6 But go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel." 4. Did Jesus made a Distinction between the "Times of The Jews" and the "Times of The Gentiles"? a. The Olivet Discourse recorded in Matthew 24, Mark 13, and Luke 21 is the Key to the Interpretation of Daniel 9:26-27. b. Daniel 9:26 clearly tells us that After The 69th Week, "... shall Messiah (Jesus Christ) be cut off, ..." --- He was in Nisan 14, 30 AD. c. Daniel 9:26 also tells us that the Temple shall be Destroyed, "... and the people of the prince that shall come shall destroy the city and the sanctuary;" --- It was in 70 AD. Speaking on this same subject, Jesus said: Luke 21:5-6, "And as some spake of the temple, how it was adorned with goodly stones and gifts, he said, 6 As for these things which ye behold, the days will come, in the which there shall not be left one stone upon another, that shall not be thrown down." d. Jesus also said what would happen After the destruction of the Temple: Luke 21:24, "And they shall fall by the edge of the sword, and shall be led away captive into all nations: and Jerusalem shall be trodden down of the Gentiles, until the times of the Gentiles be fulfilled." Matthew 24:15-31, "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:) 16 Then let them which be in Judaea flee into the mountains: 17 Let him which is on the housetop not come down to take any thing out of his house: 18 Neither let him which is in the field return back to take his clothes. 19 And woe unto them that are with child, and to them that give suck in those days! 20 But pray ye that your flight be not in the winter, neither on the sabbath day: 21 For then shall be great tribulation, such as was not since the beginning of the world to this time, no, nor ever shall be. 22 And except those days should be shortened, there should no flesh be saved: but for the elect’s sake those days shall be shortened. 23 Then if any man shall say unto you, Lo, here is Christ, or there; believe it not. 24 For there shall arise false Christs, and false prophets, and shall shew great signs and wonders; insomuch that, if it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect. 25 Behold, I have told you before. 26 Wherefore if they shall say unto you, Behold, he is in the desert; go not forth: behold, he is in the secret chambers; believe it not. 27 For as the lightning cometh out of the east, and shineth even unto the west; so shall also the coming of the Son of man be. 28 For wheresoever the carcase is, there will the eagles be gathered together. 29 Immediately after the tribulation of those days shall the sun be darkened, and the moon shall not give her light, and the stars shall fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens shall be shaken: 30 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. 31 And 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." e. This times of the Gentiles is Still Going On Today --- We have Yet to experience God's 70th Week of Dealing With Daniel's People, Israel, and the Holy City. B. Second --- What Is The Time Line of The Life, Ministry & Death of Jesus Christ? 1. Jesus Began His ministry in the 15th year of the reign of Tiberius Caesar. Luke 3:1-3, "Now in the fifteenth year of the reign of Tiberius Caesar, Pontius Pilate being governor of Judaea, and Herod being tetrarch of Galilee, ..... 2 ... the word of God came unto John the son of Zacharias in the wilderness. ..... 21, ... Jesus also being baptized, and praying, the heaven was opened, 22 And the Holy Ghost descended in a bodily shape like a dove upon him, and a voice came from heaven, which said, Thou art my beloved Son; in thee I am well pleased. 23 And Jesus himself began to be about thirty years of age, ..." Tiberius reigned from 14 AD - 37 AD. The 15th year of the reign of Tiberius was therefore in 29 AD. 2. Now For A Sumation of The Prophecy:
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