Sunday, December 20, 2015

Daniel's 70-Week Vision Series #11 - Part 87 of Riddles, Enigmas & Esoteric Imagery of Revelation


When we were last together we began to dissect the instructions that the angel Gabriel gave to Daniel in 9:25...thou shalt know and understand that from the going forth of the command for the answer and for the building of Jerusalem until Christ the prince there shall be seven weeks, and sixty-two weeks.  I asked, "What actual dates comprise this period of time?"

The dates I use in my blog are obtained from "The Wonders of Bible Chronology" by Philip Mauro, published in 1922.  This reference book is a summarized version of "The Romance of Bible Chronology" by Dr. Martin Anstey of London, published in 1913. This is a two-volume extensive chronology based entirely upon statements from scripture alone.  Modern dates for Bible events are derived from many outside sources.

In blogs #9-10, we explained how Christ the Prince fulfilled the 62 weeks portion of Daniel 9:25. God's command for the building of Jerusalem to Christ the Prince was 459 B.C. to 26 A.D. (His anointing).  This time period would fulfill seven weeks and sixty-two weeks of the edict (judgment).

In 457 B.C., two years after Daniel received the vision, they were released from captivity...but in the first year of Cyrus the king of Babylon, the same king Cyrus made a decree to build this house of God...Ezra 5:13.  In 456 B.C. the building of the second temple began in Jerusalem.

While still in captivity in Babylon, Daniel and his people experienced the demise of King Nebuchadnezzar, ruler of the Babylonian Empire, and the eventual rise of the renown Persian Empire with King Cyrus at the helm. The first year of King Cyrus' reign concluded the seventy years of captivity for the Jewish people.

King Cyrus providentially found and read a book of prophecies left behind by the prophet Isaiah.  In this book, he found one prophecy written 150 years before Solomon's temple was destroyed by King Nebuchadnezzar, taking the people of Israel captive to Babylon.  Isaiah revealed in his book how this prophecy was spoken to him in a secret vision.  What did the prophecy say?

My will is that Cyrus, whom I have appointed to be king over many and great nations, will send back My people to their own land and build My temple...Isaiah the Prophet.  King Cyrus was astounded by the divine directive in this ancient prophecy naming him, a pagan ruler, to release the Jewish captives to go home and rebuild their temple at Jerusalem.  Propelled by the accuracy of this ancient prophecy, he immediately began a plan of repatriation of the Jews to their homeland.

King Cyrus sent a proclamation throughout his kingdom to all of Asia --  Thus saith Cyrus the King:  Since God Almighty hath appointed me to be king of the habitable earth, I believe that He is that God which the nation of the Israelites worship; for indeed He foretold my name by the prophets, and I should build Him a house at Jerusalem, in the country of Judea.

During the first decree of Daniel's vision - seven weeks - Solomon's temple at Jerusalem was rebuilt...from the going forth of the command for the answer and for the building of Jerusalem...shall be seven weeks...Dan. 9:25.

Altogether, from the time of the command to rebuild Jerusalem, it took 70 years to rebuild the city of Jerusalem, including the 7 years to rebuild the temple - same amount of time they were held captive in Babylon. Because of their repentance, humbling themselves before God, God was merciful and restored their lost 70 years. 

The first decree of seven weeks was now fulfilled, restoring the seven-times blood sacrifice offered by the Priest in the Holy of Holies.  Seven weeks is a religious decree of specific significance to the Israelites regarding sin, resulting in immeasurable forgiveness. 

By 26 A.D. - the anointing of Christ the Prince - Jesus was baptized for ministry and 483 years had passed since King Cyrus's command to rebuild Jerusalem.  By 30 A.D., the death of Jesus Christ fulfilled the sixty-two week edict - resulting in immeasurable vengeance. Does God's immeasurable vengeance on Israel take place during the one week edict - 70th week of Daniel's vision?  Stay tuned...

God's sheep question the doctrines of men...sheeple follow without question~~~




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