Hi Jim and Doves.

On 29^th July you posted "Re: Where's the 70th week?"

“I read Chance's post wondering "what happened to the 70th week" in the possible scenarios painted by Mark Biltz and Joshua Elsom, whose writings, by the way, have greatly interested and intrigued me.  Chance raises a great question.

The same question has been puzzling me.   We can account for the 69 weeks right up to the Second Coming, but then we have one more week left over!  WHERE IS IT!!! I WANT TO KNOW!!!
This caused me to go back and re-study Daniel 9:24-27.   Obviously, only the 7 and the 62 weeks are needed to calculate the timing of Christ's coming.  That may be true for both the first and second coming.
Verse 24 refers to the finished work of Christ, and maybe verse 27 also.  I have always resisted the idea that verse 27 refers to Jesus and not the anti-christ but I am revisiting the idea as I try to understand where the 70th week fits in.
At the end of His 3 1/2-year ministry ("in the middle of the 70th week"?, Jesus (1) "confirmed" the new covenant and (2) did away with sacrifices.  Some believe that took care of the first half of the 70th week, and the second half was the first 3 1/2 years of the church age, but that last part does not make much sense to me right now, but I will  remain open.
I do not know the answer but am seeking.”

I don’t know whether or not you read my 5 Doves post on 10^th July  - “Daniel’s Prophecy of 70 Weeks and the Covenant” or not.   If you haven’t, then I suggest you should.   Mostly I wrote this to identify the New Covenant of Jeremiah 31:31-34 as the Covenant which the Messiah confirmed in Daniel 9:27.    http://www.fivedoves.com/letters/july2008/ear710.htm   It also explains that the 70^th week was completed immediately after the 69^th, just as Daniel intended.   To suggest that there is a 2,000 year gap between the 69^th and 70^th week is not scriptural – nor is it even sensible!    When Daniel said 490 years to accomplish the salvation of the Jews and to deal with the state of the Holy Sanctuary, that is what he meant – 490 years period!

I also think that in the 2^nd para above – you meant to say “We can account for the 69 weeks.right up to the First coming.”

First of all I want to say that the dates used by Sir Robert Anderson on which everyone seems to base their Dispensationalist interpretation of Daniel’s Weeks are the wrong ones.   He started in 445 and ended in 32 A.D.   The dates should have been  457 B.C. + 490  years =  Jesus death in 30 A.D. plus another three years for the Gospel to be preached exclusively to the Jews, prior to Steven’s death.

I think the two most important things to remember regarding Daniel 9:24-27 is the context –

The prophecy concerned the coming of the “Messiah the Prince” to deal with the  Sins of Daniel’s people Judah;  and the state of the Sanctuary in Jerusalem.  These two topics are the basis of Daniel’s prayer (chapter 9) and also the framework for the Prophecy, which deals with both matters.

The Sins of Daniel’s People

 

“UNTIL Messiah the Prince,  there shall be seven weeks and sixty two weeks.”  (v.25)

“And  AFTER the 62 Weeks Messiah shall be cut off...” – (v.26) therefore the Messiah must have come after the end of the 69^th Week and at the beginning of the 70^th Week.  His ministry was endorsed by John the Baptist – “Behold the Lamb of God”, by the Holy Spirit descending as the Dove, by the voice of the Father “This is my beloved Son in whom I am well pleased” and by Jesus own claim to be the “anointed Messiah” in the Synagogue in Nazareth.   This was when Messiah the Prince appeared on the scene at the beginning of his ministry.   We know from the chronology in John’s Gospel that Jesus’ ministry was at least three years in length, culminating with Jesus death, resurrection and ascension into the Holy Place in Heaven.    That takes us at least towards the middle of the 70^th week.

However, the matter regarding the sins of the people of Judah does not end there – the Gospel had to be preached to them!   This happened miraculously in the first instance on the day of Pentecost as recorded in Acts 2:5-11  “And there were dwelling in Jerusalem Jews, devout men, from every nation under heaven. And when this sound occurred, the multitude came together, and were confused, because everyone heard them speak in his own language.  Then they were all amazed and marveled, saying to one another, “Look, are not all these who speak Galileans?  And how is it that we hear, each in our own language in which we were born?  Parthians and Medes and Elamites, those dwelling in Mesopotamia, Judea and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia, Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the parts of Libya adjoining Cyrene, visitors from Rome, both Jews and proselytes, Cretans and Arabs – we hear them speaking in our own tongues the wonderful works of God.”  NJKV

I think we sometimes underestimate the international nature of the day of Pentecost.   People from one end of the Roman Empire to the other end heard the gospel on that day.   This spreading of the Gospel was freely accomplished without persecution for several years until the stoning of Stephen – unfortunately we do not know that date, but it was probably beyond the end of the 7 years of the 70^th week.  At first the Gospel was preached exclusively and intentionally for the Jews by Jesus in the first 3+ years and then by the disciples and others to fulfil the prophecy during the remainder of the “covenant period of the 70^th Week”.  However, the Gospel is still being preached to the Jews, and in that regard the prophecy is open-ended.    It is not the end of the 70^th  week’s time frame that is important, but what was accomplished within the 70^th week!   I believe Jesus completely fulfilled the 6 necessary requirements (Dan. 9:24) for dealing with the sins of Daniel’s people – the Jews - during the 70^th week.  I detail those fulfilments in my 5 Doves post mentioned above.   Hebrews 10:12-27.  v.18 “Now where there is remission of these, there is no longer an offering for sin.”   This work was completed within the 70^th week – Jesus said so on the cross – “It is finished”.   It was only sometime after the 70^th week had been concluded for the Jews, that the Gospel was opened up to the Gentiles.

 

The State of the Sanctuary in Jerusalem.

As far as Jerusalem and the Sanctuary are concerned – it appears the City missed the “visitation” of the Messiah during the 70^th week.   Jesus implied that if the disciples hadn’t announced his visitation during the Passion week at the end of his ministry, then the very stones would have cried out to announce it!   Apparently it was necessary for “his visitation” to be announced to Jerusalem!   At the beginning of his ministry Jesus came to “My Father’s house” to cleanse and purify it by his presence, but Jesus ended up “mourning over Jerusalem” as stated in Luke 19:41-48 where Jesus prophesied of its eventual destruction.  His last statement was that the Temple had become “a den of thieves” (Luke 19:46) and that “their house” would become desolate (Luke 13:35).  The desolation began with the ripped veil/curtain into the Holy of Holies at the time of the Crucifixion.    However, the Temple remained useful for a few years after the day of Pentecost, as the gathering place for the new Jewish Christians/Priests (cf. Acts 5:42 and 6:7)  until they removed to Antioch and other places of safety.

Daniel knew from what Gabriel told him that there would be a rebuilt Temple for the Messiah to come to, (as prophesied later by Malachi 3:1) but that afterwards at the end of the prophecy, it would be destroyed by the people of a different prince (one who was not anointed!) – just as it was in 70 A.D!    

The 70^th week for Jerusalem seems to have been divided into two parts -  The first part – began with Jesus’ presence in the first 3 + years till his ascension and until Pentecost when He and his disciples all preached the Gospel of the Kingdom and his visitation was announced at the beginning and again at the end.   The second part – began with the revolt of the Jews against Rome which began in 66 A.D. until Passover 70 A.D. when over a million Jews perished, Jerusalem was destroyed and the Temple burned to the ground and levelled.     Jesus told his disciples that that generation would live to see it all happen.

The wider framework for the New Covenant’s historical fulfilment is first given as 70 weeks (of years) 490 years from the command to restore Jerusalem until the completion of the Prophecy.   Within this 490 years period from beginning to end, the 6 matters required in Daniel 9:24 to deal with the Salvation of the Jews would be accomplished.    However, it is not until the last 70^th week that the Covenant would be confirmed, and in the middle of the week, the ritual sacrifice and offering would be caused to end.  Abominations would remain on the Temple mount until the “consummation” when what God has “determined” will be poured out and revealed.

 

Conclusion

I believe there is a general misunderstanding among Christians, about the future Messianic Millennial Kingdom which will be revealed on earth.   This misunderstanding implies that somehow the Christian faith must be fitted into a Judaist culture within a new Temple that is to be built in Jerusalem!  

This is completely wrong thinking!   Paul complained about the Judaisers, in Galatians 2 – 6, and other passages; apparently those of like mind are still active today – seeking to drag Christianity back under the law.    The correct understanding is that the Jews must accept the completed work of Salvation by their Messiah before they will even see him! 

Matt 23:38-39  “See! Your house is left to you desolate;  for I say to you, you shall see Me no more till you say, Blessed is He who comes in the name of the LORD!”  (quoting Psalm 118:26)  This was the end of the Lord’s ministry to the Jews.  This same Psalm in v.22 refers to the “stone which the builders rejected has become the chief cornerstone”.   Perhaps the Jews made the connection!  Some of the Priests certainly made the connection, perhaps as a result of the Temple Veil being torn, and became Christians too.  (Acts 5:42)   Their Salvation can only be appropriated within the framework of Jesus’ finished work i.e. they must repent and be saved by the blood of Christ;  they must be born again, and become new creatures in Christ Jesus.   What possible reason would ever make God change his mind and allow the Temple Mount to become “un-desolate” by the building of a 3^rd Temple!!! 

Furthermore, any future Millenial Temple as described by Ezekiel will have to be fashioned within the framework of the Christian era for God’s Kingdom.  WHY?   Because – and I quote - The New Bible Commentary – Ezekiel – page 663-664  by G.R. Beasley-Murray

1)      The Atonement of our Lord has nullified all sacrifices for ever (Heb. 10:18)

2)      The heirs of the Kingdom are no longer the Jewish nation but the Church, the new Israel, in which the old Israel may find its true place (Matt. 21:43, 1 Peter 2:9-10.)

3)      John in the Revelation adapts the chapters from Ezekiel 40 – 46 to describe the Church in the kingdom of God. (Rev. 21:9 – 22:5) and removes from them all traces of Judaism!

 

I hope some of this helps to explain where the 70^th week went to in history.  

 

 

Jesus’ 2^nd Coming in the light of this prophecy

 

Since you inadvertently mentioned the 2^nd Coming, I will comment about the timing suggested by Sir Isaac Newton who believed this prophecy could be applied to both the first and second visible comings of our Lord.

 

In the first coming, the Messiah came after 7 + 62 weeks to fulfil the 70^th Week of Daniel’s prophecy.

 

Regarding the Second Coming, apparently Newton believed that the first period of 7 weeks (49 years) could also be applied from “a command to restore Jerusalem” -  until Jesus’ 2^nd Coming!  i.e.

“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.....”

 

We understand that there was no command (as such) issued in 1967, but that Jerusalem was “inadvertently” “restored” as the undivided Capital of Israel  (miraculously??? by accident???) on the 7^th June 1967, during the 6 day War.   This occurred even though there was no intention to do so on the part of the Commanders of the Israeli Army.  (Wikipedia)

 

If this further 1967 restoration of Jerusalem is also being referred to in the Prophecy of 70 Weeks, as anticipated by Newton,  then 7^th June 1967 plus 49 years brings the calendar to “Jerusalem Day” Sunday 5^th June 2016. (28^th Iyar 5776) the 43^rd day of the Omer count, leaving a further 7 days until Shavuot  – Pentecost, on 12^th June 2016.   

 

However, if one uses the “prophetic calendar of 360 days”, then it would be 49 x 360 = 17640 days from 7^th June 1967, which brings  us to Wednesday 23 September 2015 which is Yom Kippur – Jewish Day of Atonement  (10^th Tishrei 5776).  This would be 256 days (or 8 months 13 days) earlier than the date mentioned above.    Quite an appropriate day for the Messiah’s visible 2^nd Coming in relation to the Jews I would think!  

Would the Day of Atonement be a good day for Zechariah 12:9-11 ff to be fulfilled?

“It shall be in that day that I will seek to destroy all the nations that come against Jerusalem.  And I will pour on the house of David and on the inhabitants of Jerusalem the Spirit of grace and supplication; then they will look on Me whom they pierced.  Yes, they will mourn for Him as one mourns for his only son, and grieve for Him as one grieves for a first-born. In that day there shall be a great mourning in Jerusalem, like the mourning at Hadad Rimmon in the plain of Megiddo.”

 This is a reference to 2 Kings 23:29 – Re the death of King Josiah (at the hand of Pharaoh Necho of Egypt) in Megiddo.  

There is more interesting information about this particular date because it is sandwiched between a partial Solar Eclipse and a total lunar eclipse.–

• On 13^th September 2015, 10 days prior to the Day of Atonement there is a Partial Solar Eclipse on the New Moon, visible in South Africa, S. India and Antartica on 29^th Elul 5775, the Eve of Rosh Hashana, Jewish New Year.   No relevance to Israel as far as visibility is concerned.

• Day of Atonement - September 23^rd 2015 is also the Autumnal Equinox in the Northern hemisphere at 08:20 U.T. when there will be equal amounts of day and night.  This marks the end of summer and is also the first day of fall.

• 5 days after the Equinox/Day of Atonement on 28^th September there is a total lunar eclipse on the full moon 15^th Tishrei 5776 Sukkot 1, Feast of Tabernacles.   This lunar eclipse is seen in e. Pacific, Americas, Europe, Africa and W. Asia.  This would be seen in Israel.

 

Whether Sir Isaac Newton was inspired by the Holy Spirit to consider and record his thoughts on the matter I do not know, but I find the “end-dates” of the 7 weeks/49 years rather interesting.

 

In Christ.  EAR