Sunday, April 10, 2016

Daniel's 70-Week Vision Series #26 - Part 102 of Riddles, Enigmas & Esoteric Imagery of Revelation


When we were last together I asked, "Why did Commander Titus understand his divine appointment from God, while God's chosen people had no clue why this was happening to them?"

God's chosen people were filled with religious pride and arrogance, which is idolatry.  They refused to believe the ancient prophets, like Daniel, or even Flavius Josephus, that the destruction of Jerusalem and the temple had been foretold long ago - as well as recently in the visions of John (55-60 A.D.)  Commander Titus had Josephus who revealed God's desires.

As he perused the city of Jerusalem, Titus was aware that many people were still confined inside the rooms of the temple, so he called out to them.  Some of those fearing for their lives ran out of the temple begging for mercy.  With indifference in his voice, Titus dismissively said to these hapless individuals, "The time for pardon is over," ordering his men to put them to death.

Titus knew there were still many people hiding and he wanted to bring an end to this horrific war.  Now was his time to fulfill the 4th objective in Daniel 9:27...and at the end of the time an end shall be put to the desolation.  Remember, end of the time means end of the destruction of Jerusalem and Israel as a nation.  It does not mean 'end of the ages or end of the world.'

Then Titus saw the temple set ablaze by the stubborn citizens still sequestered in the holy temple.  Josephus records how this defiant act by the religious leaders of Jerusalem invoked one last passionate lamentation from Commander Titus who never wanted to see the destruction of the holy temple or Jerusalem.

Titus cried aloud to them, "After every victory, I persuaded you to peace, as though I had been myself conquered.  When I came near your temple, I again departed from the laws of war and exhorted you to spare your own sanctuary, and to preserve your holy house to yourselves.  I allowed you a quiet exit out of it with security for your protection:  nay, if you had a mind, I gave you leave to fight in another place.  Yet, you have still despised every one of my proposals, and set fire to your holy house with your own hands.  However, I will not imitate your madness.  If you throw down your arms and deliver up your bodies to me, I will grant you, your lives." But they refused.

We have now reached the conclusion of events predicted in the 70th week of Daniel's vision which began in 63 A.D.  Daniel was shown in 9:25...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 shall be seven weeks, and sixty-two weeks:  and then the time shall return and the street shall be built, and the wall.  All of this portion of the prophecy has been fulfilled.

The last verse of this prophecy says...and the times shall be exhausted.  This portion is now being fulfilled by Commander Titus - one week - the 70th week of Daniel's prophecy. The times - 70 weeks - have reached fulfillment.

Jesus prophesied about this war when He asked His apostles...do you see these great buildings?  Not one stone shall be left upon another, that shall not be thrown down...Mark 13:2.  It is obvious He was talking about buildings on the surface of the earth, not anything built underground.  This was accomplished when the soldiers hacked away at the giant boulders, looking for the precious temple metals - gold/silver - that had melted in the great fire.

Nobody was left except the Roman army and those to whom Titus gave refuge.  Titus surveyed the demolished city, fondly remembering its exceptional architecture, the enormity and symmetry of the beautiful natural stones held securely by joints of precision - strong and thought to be impenetrable by invaders.  He had always been awed by the palatial grandeur of the temple.  Shaking his head and with amazement in his voice, Titus attested to his men:

"We certainly had God for our assistant in this war, and it was no other than God that ejected the Jews out of these fortifications; for what could the hands of men, or any machines do towards overthrowing these strong towers?"

Once the perpetual sacrifice was removed, there would be a thousand two hundred and ninety days until the end of the war...Daniel 12:11.  Verse 12 says...blessed is he that waits, and comes to the thousand three hundred and thirty-five days.  What does this mean?

It took 45 days for Titus and the Roman army to sort things out after the war concluded.  He had many captives and all their possessions, so it took a few days to give these people back their lives, to begin again, like he had promised when they took his offer of refuge.

The birth of the nation of Israel began with their deliverance from the pagan nation of Egypt in 1533 B.C.  Due to idolatry, they experienced a forty-year probation period called The Wilderness, before they were humbled enough to enter into the land God promised to give them for their own nation.

In 70 A.D., after another forty-year probation period was completed, God ejected them from that same land for rejecting His Son, as their Messiah. The nation of Israel ceased to exist - no longer a blip on the radar.

Something for us to ponder.  Is it a coincidence or providence that Daniel's vision reached the final completion of all 70 weeks during the numerical year of 70 A.D?  Could it possibly be a sign to future generations, that Daniel's 70-week vision has been fulfilled, especially since the number 7 means completion - perfection?  You be the judge.

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


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