Q19 When did this period of 70 prophetic weeks, or 490 literal years begin?
Know therefore and understand, that from the going forth of the commandment to restore and to build Jerusalem unto the Messiah the Prince shall be seven weeks, and threescore [60] and two weeks: Daniel9:25
NOTE: 7 weeks + 62 weeks = 70 weeks. The prophecy begins at a very specific time. ‘And they builded, and finished it, according to the commandment of the God of Israel, and according to the commandment of Cyrus, and Darius, and Artaxerxes king of Persia.’ Ezra 6:14. The last of these commandments was in 457 BC.
Q20 How is this time prophecy connected to the final victory over evil?
Seventy weeks are determined upon thy people and upon thy holy city, to finish the transgression, and to make an end of sins, and to make reconciliation for iniquity, and to bring in everlasting righteousness, and to seal up the vision and prophecy, and to anoint the most Holy. Daniel 9:24
NOTE: This is a prophecy of the coming of Jesus Christ who by His death was to begin the process of overcoming all evil. The long prophecy has a period of 70 prophetic weeks (490 literal years) measured out of it at the beginning. This was a time of further opportunity for the Jewish people to be re-established and to prepare for the coming of their long awaited Messiah.
The prophecy begins in 457 BC with the decree to rebuild Jerusalem. From then till the coming of Messiah was 69 weeks of years. The last or 70th week was the most important. It began with the anointing of Jesus as the Messiah. This happened at His baptism, when the dove descended on Him and the voice was heard from heaven proclaiming, ‘This is my beloved son’. John the Baptist had already proclaimed, ‘Behold the Lamb of God which taketh away the sins of the world.’ The year was AD 27. Victory over evil was guaranteed by His death.
Directly after this, Jesus began His ministry, with the pronouncement - ‘The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand: repent ye, and believe the gospel.’ Mark 1:15 Jesus was saying that 69 of the 70 weeks had been completed, and the last and crucial week of time for the Jewish people was beginning. He confirmed the prophecy of the 2300 years by His own words.
Q21 What did Gabriel say would happen in the middle of the week?
And in the midst of the week He shall cause the sacrifice and the oblation to cease. Daniel 9:27.
NOTE: Daniel 9:26 speaks Messiah being cut off. To be ‘cut off’ in the Bible means to be killed. In AD 31 Jesus, the anointed one, was crucified. The Lamb of God had come to make the one and only sacrifice for sin that is needed. The Jewish people as a nation rejected the Messiah. At His trial—’ The governor said, Why, what evil hath he done? But they cried out the more, saying, Let him be crucified. When Pilate saw that he could prevail nothing, but that rather a tumult was made, he took water, and washed his hands before the multitude, saying, I am innocent of the blood of this just person: see ye to it. Then answered all the people, and said, His blood be on us, and on our children.’ Matthew 27:23-25. They had rejected the Messiah.
A further three and a half years was given to the Jewish nation to see what they would do with Jesus. Many thousands did accept Him as their Messiah and Saviour, but these were individuals, not the nation as a whole or its leadership.
Q22 What event marked the end of the 70 week prophecy in AD34?
Deacon Stephen of the new Christian church had been arrested and brought for trial before the Jewish leaders. The trial was framed, false witnesses had been called and the charge was blasphemy. Here is part of his defence. |
