Chance, Re the 70th week of Daniel's prophecy

… thank you for explaining why you believe that Stephen's death ended the 70th Week of Daniel. I understand that you believe that Jesus' ministry was the first 3.5 years of the 70th Week and that Jesus fulfilled all of the prophecies given in Daniel for the 70th Week. So in order to end the 70th Week you need 3.5 more years. You believe that Stephen's martyrdom finished those 3.5 years.

Yes Chance, I do believe that Daniel’s 70^th week ended at the time of Stephen’s martyrdom, but I didn’t need 3.5 more years! The time between AD 30 when Jesus died, and AD 34 when Stephen died (although it is not named as being the second half of Daniel’s 70^th week), this period is clearly marked in scripture by the subsequently recorded events about the Gospel being preached to the Jews in Jerusalem. (Cf. Dan. 9:24a re Daniel’s Prophecy of 70 weeks being for your people and your holy city.) The 3.5 years (thereabouts) is the period when the ‘complete Gospel’ [1] was preached by the Apostles and disciples solely to the Jews in Jerusalem on the Day of Pentecost (via the Holy Spirit) and afterward until about AD 34 (Acts 2:5–12).

Jesus had already confirmed the NEW COVENANT for the ‘salvation of the Jews’ at the Feast of Passover—via His completion of the six requirements listed in Daniel 9:24b; (cf. 26a and 27a)—

… Jesus, knowing that all things were now accomplished, that the scripture might be fulfilled… He said, It is finished! And bowing His head, He gave up His spirit. (Matt. 19:28, 30)

Thus, it only remained for the second part of Jeremiah’s prophecy to be fulfilled, i.e., regarding the LAW OF GOD being placed in their hearts and minds! And so, fifty days later, early on the morning of the Feast of Pentecost, while thousands of Jews from all around the Roman Empire were in Jerusalem celebrating the giving of the old Mosaic COVENANT OF LAW—the second part of God’s amazing promise was fulfilled. The coming of God’s Holy Spirit forecast by the prophet Joel (Joel 2:28–32) was recognised by Peter, when phenomena of wind and fire (demonstrating the power of God) fell upon the disciples of Jesus, and they were empowered to preach the Gospel to the Jews who heard it in their own languages. (Acts 2:17–21)

‘Therefore let all the house of Israel know assuredly that God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord and Christ.’ Now when they heard this, they were cut to the hearts, and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, ‘Men and brethren, what shall we do? Then Peter said to them, repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. For the promise is to you and to your children, and to all who are afar off, as many as the Lord our God will call.’ (Acts 2:36–39)

The two-part promise (initially made via Jeremiah) to the Jews and their children was:

I will forgive their iniquity, and their sin I will remember no more. (Jeremiah 31: 34b),

I will put my law in their minds, and write it on their hearts; and I will be their God, and they shall be My people. (Jere. 31:33b)

The fulfilment of these two promises would be a continuing experience for all those Jews dwelling in Jerusalem, who came to faith in Jesus Christ by the preaching of the disciples—through the power of the Holy Spirit—during the next 3.5 years. (Acts 2:1–4; 4:13, 20, 31; and 5:11–12).

On that Day of Pentecost 3,000 Jews were saved, and the numbers were added to daily (Acts 2:1–43, 47). In Acts 4:4, another 5,000 were saved. See Acts 5:12–16, 25–28, 42 regarding the disciples use of the Temple Precincts (Solomon’s Porch) for their continued preaching of the Gospel aimed at the Jews. At that time the number of Jews being ‘saved’ was multiplying so fast the Apostles had to appoint seven Godly men as helpers, of whom Stephen was one. (Acts 6:1–7)

During this period, the Gospel was also preached to the Rulers of the People and Elders of Israel (first by Peter and John, cf. Acts 4:5–20);[2] then to the Synagogue of the Freedmen (Acts 6:9–12);[3] finally, the Sanhedrin/Council was given a last ‘great opportunity’ (via Stephen’s testimony) to accept Jesus as their Messiah (Acts 6:15–8:4). The Jewish leadership rejected both ‘IT’ and ‘HIM’ after resisting the Holy Spirit. They vehemently rejected Stephen’s testimony and killed Him!

When they heard these things they were cut to the heart, and they gnashed at him with their teeth… Then they cried out with a loud voice, stopped their ears, and ran at him with one accord; and they cast him out of the city and stoned him. (Acts 7:54, 57–58a)

This was all accomplished—after the Day of Pentecost—and during the ensuing 3.5 years, until (1), (2), (3) below, occurred simultaneously.

Chance: I have used (1) the rejection of Jesus as Messiah by the Jewish Sanhedrin together with their blatant opposition to the Gospel; and (2) Stephen’s death as marking the end of the ‘Jerusalem’ period for preaching the Gospel (as well as ending Daniel’s 70^th week), because it also marked (3) the beginning of the tribulation that Jesus had warned His disciples about in Matt. 24:9-14; Luke 21:12–19. Thus, the Apostles’ and Disciples’ commitment to preaching the Gospel to the Jews in Jerusalem ended—not just when Stephen died—but when a ‘great persecution arose against the Church which was at Jerusalem.’ When Saul made havoc of the Church and dragged the followers of the Way (disciples of Jesus) off to prison. Those who escaped were scattered from the city; they went everywhere preaching the word. (Acts 8:1–4)

Perhaps I didn’t make the scriptural reasons for using Stephens’ death as a marker to end the special covenant period/70^th week (AD 27–34) for the Jews and Jerusalem quite so clear in my book, https://www.fivedoves.com/letters/apr2023/ear42-4.htm. The Curse and the Covenant, see Pages 107–108.

However these three events are important enough reasons to use AD 34 as ending (the second half) of Daniel’s prophecy of 70 Weeks, via the ‘specific Gospel outreach to the Jews in Jerusalem’ after God had fulfilled all His promises in the prophecies of Jeremiah 31:33–34 and Daniel 9:24–27. FYI Chance, I hope this explanation has made it quite clear why the events surrounding Stephen’s death confirm the scripturally recorded end of Daniel’s 70^th Week in Jerusalem!

[1] By ‘complete Gospel’ I mean: Jesus’ death as atonement for sin; His resurrection from the dead; His ascension into the heavenly ‘Holy of Holies’ to act as our great High Priest; and the Holy Spirit implanting the law of God in Jewish believer’s hearts on Pentecost.

[2] The rulers of the people, and Elders of Israel comprised: The Priests, the captain of the temple, Sadducees, rulers, elders, scribes, Annas (High Priest), Caiaphas, John, Alexander and the family of the High Priest. (Acts 4:1–6)

[3] The Synagogue of Freedmen comprised: Greek speaking Jewish Cyrenians, and Alexandrians from North Africa; men from Cilicia (South East Asia Minor, where Paul and Luke came from, cf. Acts 15:23), and from Asia (Modern Turkey).