When we were last together in this series, 483 years had passed since King Cyrus had released the Israelites to rebuild Jerusalem and Solomon's temple. After Jesus was anointed for ministry in 26 A.D. He reprimanded the religious leaders for making His Father's house a house of merchandise. They wanted a sign from Him.
He told the religious leaders...destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up. The religious leaders countered...it has taken 46 years to build this temple, and you will raise it up in three days?...John 2:19-20. Why would they say the temple took 46 years to build - meaning the last 46 years - when history records how the temple took 7 years to rebuild - completed about 435 B.C.?
In order to correctly define the events of Daniel's 70th week the following historical documentation is pertinent.
Herod the Great, the Roman who ruled over Israel when Jesus was born, didn't like the rebuilt temple of long ago because Solomon's original dimensions were not followed - it was too small and not tall enough. In order to ingratiate himself with the Jewish people, who despised him, in 20 B.C. Herod launched a grandiose reconstruction project to enlarge the temple and improve its appearance - eventually rebuilding the streets and the wall. It is this remodeled temple the religious leaders are referring to when they mocked Jesus.
Herod died in 4 B.C. the year after Jesus was born without finishing his reconstruction project - the streets and the wall still needed reconstruction...Dan. 9:25. As we continue our research we will find that the streets and the wall will be reconstructed during Daniel's 70th week - but I am ahead of myself.
Forty-six years after 20 B.C., the beginning of Herod's reconstruction project, brings us to 26 A.D. when Jesus was telling the religious leaders how His temple would be destroyed in three days. They did not understand that He was referring to His own body as the temple of God whom they would destroy by crucifixion, and God would raise up three days later.
After Jesus Christ was rejected by Israel and crucified in 30 A.D., God in His infinite mercy allowed the Jewish people 40 more years to change their mind about Jesus as their Messiah, and repent, before retribution was exacted upon their nation. Their temple rituals and animal sacrifices continued after Jesus Christ became the supreme sacrifice for their sins, just as they had for centuries - nothing changed in their hearts and minds.
God could not force these religious leaders to accept His Son as their Messiah - the final blood sacrifice for their sins - but He will mandate the cessation of the animal sacrifice which became a stench in His nostrils. He will stop the animal sacrifice for sins in the 70th week of Daniel's vision.
Long ago in 1533 B.C., the Israelites were miraculously delivered out of the idolatrous nation of Egypt. After experiencing many miraculous interventions by God, many still rebelled against Moses and God by returning to idol worship. For punishment they wandered aimlessly in the wilderness for 40 years, until the idolaters died, and the remaining people were humbled enough to surrender their allegiance to God alone.
Centuries later, after the resurrection of Jesus Christ, God allowed Israel 40 years to repent. In this era, He was giving them ample opportunity to hear the witnessing of His apostles, who confirmed the gospel of salvation with signs and wonders, proving that Jesus Christ was their Messiah. Why 40 years in both of these historical events?
The number 40 symbolizes a probationary period of testing during the Wilderness experience. Another probationary period of 40 years was provided for Israel after the death of Jesus - a final opportunity to seek salvation, separation, and consecration to Him through Jesus Christ before the Wrath of the Lamb descends upon Jerusalem during Daniel's 70th week edict - fulfilled in 70 A.D.
Part of Daniel 9:25 has been fulfilled...and 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. The last portion of this prophecy will begin to be fulfilled during the 40 year probationary period of time...and then the time shall return and the street shall be built, and the wall, and the times shall be exhausted.
What does "time" shall return and "times" exhausted mean? Stay tuned...
God's sheep question the doctrines of men...sheeple follow without question~~~
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