Dear friends:

Regarding Isaac Newton's calculations of Daniel's 69 (62 + 7) weeks, I have been asked what about the 70th week, which we usually think of as the Tribulation.

I have ordered the book, Newton's Riddle from Sid Roth, which may provide the answer, but I do not have the book yet.

In the meantime, I think I found Newton's answer on page 136 of his Commentary on Daniel, but his answer seems strange according to our traditional thinking.

Daniel 9:27 says: "...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."

I assume that week is the 70th week.  We usually think of the "he" there as the antichrist but Newton sees it as the Messiah.

Newton says the week (seven years) is the seven years after the crucifixion until Cornelius and the Gentiles come into the kingdom.

Oddly, he says the 3 1/2 years after "the midst (middle) of the week" is the 3 1/2-year war when the Romans destroyed Jerusalem in AD 67-70.

Dare I call Newton a moron?  I don't think so.  Even I do not have that much chutzpah!  His understanding of the 70th week doesn't make much sense to me and goes against all previous understanding, but who am I to argue with the world's greatest genius who spent 73 years studying the book Daniel? :)

There is one thing that might trump Newton's 73 years of study, and that is Holy Spirit revelation.  Right now I am not prepared to make that claim.

Jim