Daniel 9 discusses 3 sets of multiple "SHAVUIM" or "Sevens".  They are:

• Dan 9:25   7 "Sevens" from going forth of order to rebuild Jerusalem to an Annointed One.
• Dan 9:26  62 "Sevens" from that until an Annointed One being "cut off"
• Dan 9:27    1 "Seven" invovling confirming an existing covenant.

Yesterday at http://www.fivedoves.com/letters/oct2010/jovial1015-1.htm I mentioned part of what Newton said on this, but wanted to report the rest to balance it out.  The first thing you have to understand about Newton's theories on Daniel 9 is that he never meant to publish a book on it.  He had some extensive private notes on the matter, and after he died, other decided to publish his notes as a book.  But Newton showed no signs of having assembled it into a book.

 

His notes have conflicting theories about Daniel 9.  It would appear that he wrote multiple notes about multiple theories, not sure which one was correct.  Most people would not publish a book containing conflicting theories.  You pick one or the other or you'd explain why you can see where more than one theory could be fullfilled.  But since his notes were just for him, and not for public consumption, he didn't always differentiate that issue, but just wrote down what he saw as possible explanations for Daniel.

 

He presents an explanation for how he sees the first and second set of "Sevens", and then presents TWO explanations for how he sees the final SEVEN of Dan 9:27.  Here's the two explanations:

 

• Theory #1 on entire 7 years:  "Yet shall he confirm the covenant with many for one week He kept it, notwithstanding his death, till the rejection of the Jews, and calling of Cornelius and the Gentiles in the seventh year after his passion. "  (Isaac Newton, chapter 10 of Observations on Daniel and the Apocalypse of St. John)

• Theory #2 on last half of seven years:  "And in half a week he shall cause the sacrifice and oblation to cease; that is, by the war of the Romans upon the Jews: which war, after some commotions, began in the 13th year of Nero, A.D. 67, in the spring, when Vespasian with an army invaded them; and ended in the second year of Vespasian, A.D. 70, in autumn, Sept. 7, when Titus took the city, having burnt the Temple 27 days before: so that it lasted three years and an half. " (ibid)

Newton cites in this same chapter how he sees the historic fullfilled of the first set of 49 years, but goes on to present yet another theory that perhaps THOSE 49 years have a potential future fullment.  Some people in our modern times have used Newton's theory , or I should say MIS-USED, because they take his theory and re-invent it so that it is not the same as he presented it.  They present a theory of the first set of 49 years overlapping with the third set of 7 years, which is not how Newton presented the idea.  Also, Newton predicted that in the future, a country OTHER than Israel would issue an order to rebuild Jerusalem, and that could start a 49 year period after which the Messiah would return.

Newton did not see the final set of 7 years mentioned in Daniel 9:27 as playing into this equation at all.    If anything, he may have seen a 49 year period of tribulations.

Newton's theories have several flaws.  One is that he inconsistently gives the first set of SEVENs a future fullfillment, but not the other two.  Another is that he disowns his theory almost as quickly as he issues it out.  This is wny numerous people who have referenced Newton's theory have never QUOTED Newton on it, because when you read the entire thing in context, he sounds very unsure of himself even as he presents the theory.

Numerous people have referenced (but never QUOTED Newton) to suggest our Messiah will return to earth in 2015 or 2016.  This is based on adding 49 years to 1967.  Of course those who add 49 years to 1967 and get 2015 demonstrate they can't count as well as Newton, who invented calculus, because 1967 + 49 = 2016, not 2015.  And then almost invariable these same people will place the SEVEN years of Daniel 9:27 as coinciding with the last 7 years of the 49 year period of Dan 9:25.  That's just plain weird.

So next time you hear someone reference Newton and claim that his theories predict the Messiah coning to earth in 2016 (or worse yet 2015), ask them to quote Newton, show the math, and show how history in 1967 fulfills the starting point of Dan 9:25.  As far as I know, there was no order given to rebuild Jerusalem in 1967.  Yes, the Old City was recaptured from the PLO.  But when it was "rebuilt" in Ezra/Nehemiah, non-existing walls were built back up, which did not happen in 1967 or any time thereafter.

Now here's what Newton actually said:

"This part of the prophecy being therefore not yet fulfilled, I shall not attempt a particular interpretation of it, but content myself with observing, that as the seventy and the sixty two weeks were Jewish weeks, ending with sabbatical years; so the seven weeks are the compass of the Jubilee, and begin and end with actions proper for a Jubilee, and of the highest nature for which a Jubilee can be kept: and that since the commandment to return and to build Jerusalem, precedes the Messiah the Prince 49 years; it may perhaps come forth not from the Jews themselves, but from some other kingdom friendly to them, and precede their return from captivity, and give occasion to it; and lastly, that this rebuilding of Jerusalem and the waste places of Judah is predicted in Micah 7:11. Amos 9:11, 14. Ezekiel 36:33, 35, 36, 38. Isaiah 54:3, 11, 12. 55:12. 61:4. 65:18, 21, 22. and Tobit 14:5. and that the return from captivity and coming of the Messiah and his kingdom are described in Daniel 7 Revelation 19 Acts 1 Matthew 24 Joel 3 Ezekiel 36, 37. Isaiah 60, 62. 63, 65. and 66:and many other places of scripture. The manner I know not. Let time be the Interpreter." (ibid)

Shalom, Joe