During the 70th week of Daniel's vision - Dan. 9:27 - four objectives must be accomplished which I enumerated in Blog #18. Blog #18-19 detail via historical documentation how Commander Titus fulfilled the first objective completely...one week shall establish the covenant with many.
After the covenant offered to many by Commander Titus was soundly rejected, what did he do next? Commander Titus had sent Josephus to plead with the citizens of Israel hiding behind the great wall to stop their rebellion and live, but they rejected his entreaty. Yet, after his passionate appeal a few citizens realized their folly and fled to the Roman's to accept their promised refuge.
When the leaders of the sedition, along with the prophets, priests and religious leaders saw this, they insisted that Josephus was lying, and told the fearful people that the Roman's actually killed all the deserters - if they stay behind the walls - God will save them. This lie prevented hundreds of thousands from fleeing to safety. History records that after the war, the Roman's restored all possessions to those who had taken refuge, allowing them to begin again - just as Titus promised.
Commander Titus had no choice left - let the war advance to its conclusion! Remember - in Blog #15 we explained how the Roman siege actually began in 66 A.D. when General Vespasian set up his fortifications outside Jerusalem fulfilling the second objective in Dan. 9:26...and they shall be cut off with a flood. Jerusalem had been isolated from the outside world since this date. In Blog #17 we describe how eventually their supplies were gone - no animals left for the daily sacrifice, nor enough priests alive to offer it.
By the time Commander Titus showed up in 68 A.D. these people were starving and desperate, yet resolute against the covenant offered by Titus. They hung tenaciously to the promises of the false prophets that God would deliver them from the hands of the pagans - after all - they were God's chosen people.
A wealthy woman named Mary, fled from the small town of Perea to Jerusalem for protection. Like thousands of other people, she believed that Jerusalem was invincible because God protects His people. Though the famine became intense and hunger intolerable, for months Mary valiantly tried to nurture her infant on a shriveled breast, devoid of any sign of milk. Finally exasperated by hopelessness, she suddenly ripped him away from her breast moaning in despair, "O thou miserable infant! For who shall I preserve thee in this war, this famine, and sedition?"
In her anguish, alone without any answers and driven by her own basal needs, Mary killed, roasted, and ate her own son. Jesus referred to these days when He warned...woe unto those who give suck in those days...Matt. 24:19. Jesus was describing one of the perils of the "great tribulation."
Horror gripped the hearts of the bedraggled survivors, as they realized the 'monster' within them could not be contained. Realism finally set in - they were submerged in an inescapable crucible of death. We can see with this egregious act by Mary, survival became the prevailing focus of the starving people behind the walls of Jerusalem, as the war raged on.
Terrible methods of torment were devised to discover hidden morsels of food. To force a confession from a food hoarder, the stronger people would band together and hold down a weaker person, then drive sharp stakes up his fundaments (rectum) until he surrendered his food stash. Woeful creatures roamed the streets of Jerusalem scavenging for any hint of food, obliged to eat sordid things that even animals wouldn't touch.
My Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse Series reveals how Jesus warned about this day...So I looked and behold, a black horse, and he who sat on it had a pair of scales in his hand...and I heard a voice in the midst of the four living creatures saying, "A quart of wheat for a denarius, and three quarts of barley for a denarius...Rev. 6:5-6. When our allegiance is surrendered to anyone or anything other than Jesus Christ, we will be found wanting - scales will no longer balance.
Israel had rejected Jesus Christ as their Messiah and they were now experiencing the Wrath of the Lamb...Rev. 6:16.
The average pay for working one day in this ancient society was a denarius. The black horse prophecy reveals that during this horrible judgment, Israel would be held captive where desperation ruled. How does their desperation fulfill...a quart of wheat for a denarius, and three quarts of barley for a denarius? Stay tuned...
God's sheep question men's doctrines...sheeple follow without question~~~
When we were last together in our study of Daniel's 70-week vision, we began to dissect Daniel 9:27 - and one week shall establish the covenant with many: and in the midst of the week my sacrifice and drink-offering shall be taken away: and on the temple shall be the abomination of desolations; and at the end of the time an end shall be put to the desolation...Septuagint translation.
In blog #18 of this series I listed the four objectives that were accomplished in the 70th week of the vision according to the historian Josephus. Also I explained who fulfilled the first objective, although we will have more information about Commander Titus as we continue our study. The second objective to be fulfilled in Daniel 9:27 is: in the midst of the week my sacrifice and drink-offering shall be taken away.
After Commander Titus was unsuccessful with the covenant he offered to the religious leaders, before the war became irreversible Titus personally talked with one of the leaders of the insurrection, John Matthias. Titus offered his covenant to him, confirming that he had no desire to defile or pollute their sanctuary because he respected their religious practices, and did not want to harm them.
Commander Titus confirmed his covenant with John Matthias that no Roman would go near, nor offer any affront to their temple, but would endeavor to preserve their holy house. John Matthias and his party would not accept the covenant offered by Titus. Blinded by religious pride, seduced by false prophecies, these Jews chose to embrace the promises of the false prophets, who assured them they would be supernaturally delivered by God -- not by a covenant with Rome.
Yet Commander Titus tried one more desperate action. Because of their new kinship, Titus sent Flavius Josephus, a Jewish Priest, to the Jewish leaders to beseech them to surrender. But the religious leaders in Jerusalem saw him, though a countryman, as a turncoat, so they would not entertain his pleas to stop the rebellion. Nonetheless, desperation provoked Josephus to continue his entreaty.
Outside the walls of Jerusalem, through tears of anguish, Josephus cried, "And who is there that does not know what the writings of the ancient prophets contain in them, and particularly that oracle which is now going to be fulfilled upon this miserable city? The ancient prophets foretold that this city should be then taken, when somebody shall begin the slaughter of his countrymen! It is God, therefore, it is God himself who is bringing on the fire to purge this city and temple by means of the Roman's, and is going to pluck up this city which is full of your pollutions."
Josephus had the correct interpretation of prophecy, because it was being fulfilled as he spoke. Prophecy is understand in its fulfillment. The false prophets, priests, and scribes inside the walls, stubbornly clung to their misinterpretations of prophecy . Not being persuaded by the truth spoken by the ancient prophets whom Josephus referenced, and despite that fact that the people of Jerusalem were already starving as the punishment of God apprehended them, they continued to resist common sense.
Commandeer Titus was left with no choice but to proceed with the battle. He was sent to do a job, so he summoned 6,000 of his select horsemen to finish the war started by his father - General Vespasian. Titus and his men came close to the city to observe the strength of the fortifications that had been place by his father over two years ago. This would help him plan his strategy to end the war in victory for Rome.
It was too late to stop the war, but God in one final act of mercy caused Commander Titus and his men to do a strange thing. After they had surrounded the city for a brief period of time, suddenly, and with no apparent reason, Titus and his troops withdrew to their camp at the Mount of Olives, six furlongs (3/4 mile) from Jerusalem.
This act of Titus gave a little extra time for those who had fallen victim to the lies of the false prophets, to rethink their decision and possibly flee for their lives. Jesus said...let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains; let those who are in the midst of her depart, and let not those who are in the country enter her...Luke 21:21.
What did Commander Titus do next? Stay tuned...
God's sheep question the doctrines of men...sheeple follow without question~~~
The modern end time doctrine of mainline denominations, established by Cyrus Scofield in his study Bible published in 1909, insists that Daniel's 70-week vision has not been completely fulfilled. But historical documentation refutes Mr. Scofield's assumption. Most readers of my blog have never read the historical facts that I have delineated. Once someone has read the facts they can reject them and continue to embrace Mr. Scofield's false doctrine, but at least the facts have been presented.
And one week shall establish the covenant with many: and in the midst of the week my sacrifice and drink-offering shall be taken away: and on the temple shall be the abomination of desolations; and at the end of the time an end shall be put to the desolation...Dan. 9:27 Septuagint translation.
The Septuagint Bible is the Greek translation of the Old Testament. Septuagint means 70. Because of its accuracy, this is the translation used primarily by early historians like Eusebius Pamphilus, Bishop of Cesarea, and Flavius Josephus, a Priest of Jerusalem. It was first translated and published in Alexandria, Egypt in 285-247 B.C., by 70 Jewish scholars according to Josephus. Along with the Hebrew and Aramaic it was also accepted and read by Jesus, the apostles and early Christians.
Before we dissect Daniel 9:27, I want to draw your attention to a very clear verse in this translation, that is ambiguous in the modern English translations. The last portion of Daniel 9:27 says...and at the end of the time an end shall be put to the desolation. This clearly explains that at the end of the time an end shall be put to the desolation. At the end of the Roman army attack on Jerusalem - abomination of desolation - an end shall be put to the desolation. As we will see in our study, historical documentation confirms this truth.
There are four objectives in Daniel 9:27 that were accomplished during the 70th week of Daniel's vision described as one week. These four objectives were completely fulfilled in 63-70 A.D.
1. One week shall establish the covenant with many.
2. In the midst of the week my sacrifice and drink-offering shall be taken away.
3. On the temple shall be the abomination of desolations.
4. At the end of the time, an end shall be put to the desolation.
In blog #17 we found out that historical documentation reveals Commander Titus as the prince that is coming...Dan. 9:26. As a Prince of Rome, He is the one who established a covenant with the citizens of Jerusalem. What was the covenant offered by him?
The covenant offered by Commander Titus was his solemn promise to preserve them, their city, and their temple. Have you ever heard about this covenant made by Titus? If I hadn't studied historical documentation recorded by the historian Josephus, I wouldn't have known either. Commander Titus did say that his covenant came with one condition. What was his one condition? He asked the citizens of Israel to stop their insurrection against Rome.
During the 70th week of Daniel's vision, God in His infinite mercy was offering Israel protection and preservation via her enemy - Rome. The covenant offered to the Jewish people by Commander Titus is the fulfillment of the first objective in Daniel 9:27 - one week shall establish the covenant with many.
The religious leaders of Israel had already refused the new covenant of salvation offered by Jesus Christ, signed by His blood. But God, who is long-suffering, provided an opportunity to at least save their physical lives, by using Israel's nemesis to offer a covenant that would preserve them, their city, and their temple. But, they flatly refused the covenant offered by Commander Titus.
Without the eyewitness account of the historian Josephus, we would not have been privy to this very serious covenant offered by Commander Titus who did not want to destroy the revered temple or the city of Jerusalem, proving the fulfillment of the 70th week of Daniel's vision. But there is more - so much more. Stay tuned...
God's sheep question the doctrines of men...sheeple follow without question~~~
The last time were together in this series I asked, "How do we know that Titus is the fulfillment of the predictions in the 70th week of Daniel's vision?" In order to answer this question, we must turn to historical documentation NOT the Scofield Reference Bible that presented false conclusions regarding Daniel's vision, establishing the false end-time doctrine embraced by mainline denominations today.
Commander Titus perfectly fulfilled the 70th week of Daniel's vision described in Daniel 9:27...and one week shall establish the covenant with many: and in the midst of the week my sacrifice and drink-offering shall be taken away: and on the temple shall be the abomination of desolations; and at the end of the time an end shall be put to the desolation...Septuagint translation.
General Vespasian, father of Titus, had been sent to Jerusalem by Emperor Nero to quell the sedition of the Jews. When he first arrived with his army, he stayed on the outside of the city to set up fortifications that would protect him and his men from assaults, once the inevitable war heats up.
In order to establish his authority and power, General Vespasian killed over a thousand young men of the sedition when he first arrived, plundered their belongs, and took captive their families. This was a forewarning to the seditionists of more to come if they continued their insurrection against Rome.
Before General Vespasian returned to Cesarea, he left many of his armed forces around the city to prevent the citizens of Jerusalem from escaping, then went home. Months later, when he was preparing his army for his final march on Jerusalem, Emperor Nero suddenly and unexpectedly died on June 9, 68 A.D.
Vespasian's son Titus was in Greece when Nero died, but was already on the road toward home in Cesarea when he got the message. Titus told Josephus the historian, that he had been directed to go home by divine inspiration. General Vespasian immediately returned to Rome to become Emperor, so he sent his son, Commander Titus, to finish the war against Israel at Jerusalem.
By the time Commander Titus arrived in Jerusalem, the seditionists had rebelled against the Roman army left as guards by General Vespasian months earlier. Since the Jewish people had been held captive behind their wall for so long, they had not been able to refresh their supplies - animals or produce - from the farmers. Because of this hardship, they had eaten their previously stored supplies. Now there were no animals left for the daily sacrifice, nor enough priests to offer it.
This war began at the Feast of the Passover, after multitudes of Jews - two to three million - had arrived in the city from all parts of Judea to celebrate this great festival. This number included the people who had fled to Jerusalem for protection after Vespasian's armies had plundered their towns and villages in other parts of Israel.
The Roman's had no personal interest in the religious temple rituals or celebration of the feasts of the Jewish people, but Commander Titus Vespasian was an exception. Josephus the historian, also a close friend of Titus, records how Titus had great respect for the sacred feast celebrations, and that he revered their temple and other holy sites.
How did Titus acquire his reverence for the religious system of the Jewish people? Was it after he received divine prophetic messages from Flavius Josephus? Flavius Josephus fought against Rome, was captured, and thrown in a dungeon at the palace. God gave him several prophetic messages, but one was fulfilled quickly. Josephus told Titus how his dad would suddenly be promoted to Emperor, which happened. Because of this, Titus released Josephus from prison and gave him a home, considering him a respected friend from that day forward. This is how we will get an intimate look at the heart of Commander Titus - the prince that is coming...Dan. 9:26.
We do know that Titus received divine guidance to take his father's place to finish the war at Jerusalem. God knew that Titus would never destroy the city he revered, unless forced into it. Because of his unusual respect for the Jewish people, their temple, and their holy celebrations, Commander Titus personally offered a covenant to Israel...one week shall establish the covenant with many.
What was the covenant offered by Titus during the one week - 70th week - of Daniel's vision? Stay tuned...
God's sheep question the doctrines of men...sheeple follow without question~~~
There is so much historical documentation for us to research for Daniel's 70-Week vision, making this series very long, but hopefully it is answering questions you have pondered for years. When we were last together I had just begun to reveal the multiple warning signs God had provided Israel before His judgment fell on them for rejecting Jesus Christ as their Messiah.
As we explained in the last blog many of these supernatural signs occurred during the Feast of Unleavened Bread. The eastern gate of the inner court was made of brass and iron. It was so heavy it required 20 men to open and shut it. At the 6th hour, on the day of the feast, this gate opened of its own accord. What makes this supernatural event so significant?
When Jesus was dying on the cross, darkness covered the land at the 6th hour, lasting until the 9th hour of His death...Matt. 27:45. This darkness symbolized error, revealing that a specific miscalculation had been perpetrated by the religious leaders of Israel, when they rejected Jesus as their Messiah - resulting in His death.
Because the horrible suffering - beating/torture - of Jesus precipitated His 6th-hour darkness, then death, the priests of the temple were given a 6th-hour sign to let them know that the same darkness of suffering and 9th hour death will enter their inner court, resulting in their own horrific death during the "great tribulation" that Jesus Christ warned them was coming during the 70th week of Daniel's vision.
Another phenomenon occurred during the Feast of Unleavened Bread. About the time of dusk, a menacing sign was seen in the sky. Eyewitnesses to this heavenly event reported seeing apparitions - ghostly figures - in the form of chariots and armed troops high in the sky, interacting with each other in the midst of the fluffy clouds over Jerusalem, and surrounding cities...II Kings 6:17.
These savvy temple priests must have known that this supernatural revelation in the sky was a portent of war. Collectively, all of the omens and supernatural signs were a forewarning to the priests that they were no longer secure in their temple. The citizens must have been frightened, because they received no answers to their questions about these ominous signs from the silent religious hierarchy. There is no evidence the priests warned the populous, nor did they explain these omens.
Did Jesus warn Israel about the events of the 70th week of Daniel's vision? Luke, who was a physician and disciple of the Lord, recorded in his gospel what sign they should watch for that would prompt them to flee Jerusalem before the "great tribulation" descends upon them.
Luke recorded...when you see Jerusalem surrounded by armies, then know that its desolation is near...then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains, let those who are in the midst of her depart, and let not those who are in the country enter her...for these are the days of vengeance, that all things which are written may be fulfilled...Luke 21:20-22.
Luke describes the coming war as the days of vengeance, which means there will be retribution against Israel for rejecting her Messiah. Jerusalem surrounded by armies will fulfill the first objective in Daniel 9:26 - He shall destroy the city and the sanctuary with the prince that is coming.
God will destroy Jerusalem and the temple with the prince that is coming - Commander Titus Vespasian - a prince of Rome.
The second objective in Daniel 9:26 - and they shall be cut off with a flood - describes how Commander Titus and his army of 6,000 men will surround Jerusalem and cut them off from the outside world - no escape from the Wrath of the Lamb...Rev. 6:16
The third objective in Daniel 9:26 - he shall appoint the city to desolation - was accomplished by Commander Titus. As the war was ebbing, Commander Titus ordered what was left of the city to be destroyed by his army.
How do we know that Titus is the fulfillment of the predictions in the 70th week of Daniel's vision? We have the personal testimony of Titus himself as he fulfills all of Daniel 9:27. Stay tuned...
God's sheep question the doctrines of men...sheeple follow without question~~~
When we were last together I introduced you to Jesus, son of Ananus, an emissary from God who walked the streets of Jerusalem beginning in 63 A.D., speaking one message...a voice from the east, a voice from the west, a voice from the four winds, a voice against Jerusalem and the holy house, a voice against the bridegrooms and the brides, and a voice against the whole people.
Jesus, son of Ananus, spoke this prophetic warning for 7.5 years to the end of the war of 70 A.D. What caused God to send this humble prophet and what happened to Jesus, son of Ananus?
When Herod suddenly died in 4 B.C. he had not completed his reconstruction plan to rebuild Jerusalem - wall and streets were not rebuilt. Beginning in 64 A.D. this last portion of his grandiose project was finalized, fulfilling Daniel 9:25...and the street shall be built and the wall.
By 66 A.D. Roman General Vespasian arrived in Jerusalem to set up his fortifications outside the city. This was the beginning preparations for fulfilling Daniel's 70th week of his vision. What happened to Jesus?
At the end of the war of 70 A.D. on the day of his last woe, Jesus provided a twist to his usual lamentation. He deliberately climbed up on the wall where he became a perfect target for the Roman army, and declared loudly, "Woe, woe unto Jerusalem and woe, woe unto myself!" Suddenly, a flying rock propelled from a Roman assault engine, struck him with a mortal wound. Jesus, son of Ananus, was obedient to the call of God unto death - mission accomplished.
In his lamentation Jesus said...a voice from the four winds. What did he mean? In Blog 5 - Part 73 of Riddles, Enigmas & Esoteric Imagery of Revelation - I explain in detail. In Rev. 4: 8, the 4 winds are the 4 living creatures - Seraphim - around the throne of God who cry...holy, holy, holy Lord God Almighty, who was and is and is to come! God's voice...
Besides the lamentation by Jesus, son of Ananus, did God provide other signs and wonders to warn the people of their impending doom? Let's take a look at what historians have provided for us.
A year before this horrific war began, a comet was seen and a star - appearing over the city shaped in the form of a sword. A sword symbolizes war. For one year everyone in Jerusalem could see this sword in the sky, day and night, a continual reminder that death and destruction would be coming to their city. They did not know the exact time, but this supernatural sign promised that war would definitely arrive soon.
Another sign provided by God occurred during the Feast of Unleavened Bread. At this time, a priest was leading a heifer to be slaughtered for the sacrifice, when suddenly in the midst of the temple, the heifer gave birth to a lamb. The priest must have been overwhelmed with mystification as he witnessed this shocking phenomenon - maybe even scared. Why is this phenomenon an important sign?
The priests of Israel continued to offer animal sacrifices for the sins of the people, mocking the blood sacrifice of God's Son on the cruel Roman cross. By allowing the heifer to give birth to a lamb, God vividly expressed His disdain for their continual animal blood sacrifices - the Lamb of God provided a permanent blood sacrifice for the sins of all mankind - the only sacrifice now accepted by God.
Is it possible that this priest had a flashback to the time he heard John the Baptist call Jesus Christ...the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world? I wonder if he remembered hearing Jesus say in the market place...I am the bread of life...signaling that the purpose for the Passover - Feast of the Unleavened Bread has already been fulfilled? History does not answer my questions, but it is clear that God was visually conveying a clear message of warning to the people.
There are many more exciting supernatural signs warning Israel of their coming destruction - what have historians recorded? Stay tuned...
God's sheep question the doctrines of men...sheeple follow without question~~~
So far in this series we have defined 69 weeks - times - of Daniel's vision of 70 weeks, revealing when they were fulfilled. Last blog we listed 3 objectives that must be fulfilled in Daniel 9:26...And after the sixty-two weeks the Anointed One shall be destroyed, and there is no judgment in Him: and He shall destroy the city and the sanctuary with the prince that is coming: they shall be cut off with a flood, and to the end of the war which is rapidly completed he shall appoint the city to desolation.
Before this portion of Daniel's vision can be fulfilled - one week (70th) - the last half of Daniel 9:25 must be fulfilled...and then the time shall return and the street shall be built, and the wall, and the times shall be exhausted.
After the 7 weeks (times) and 62 weeks (times) edicts have been fulfilled by 30 A.D., the time - week - will return and the street shall be built and the wall. Time will return means the final week of Daniel's 70 week vision will be ready to be fulfilled. What date does historical documentation reveal for the time to return?
The time would return near the end of 63 A.D. Before any Roman armies arrive, we find the city of Jerusalem peaceful and prospering. Yet, in the midst of their tranquility, a puzzling situation develops in the streets of Jerusalem. An ordinary farmer, called a husbandman in those days, appeared on the streets of Jerusalem upending their peace. God sent this unobtrusive humble man to be His voice of warning, so that the citizens of Jerusalem could prepare for His soon coming judgment on them for rejecting His Son, as their Messiah. Who was this voice of warning from God?
What I do know, you have not heard about this prophetic voice, because the modern end-time doctrine embraced by all Christian denominations, leave out portions of history that might contradict their narrative.
Maybe you don't know that Jesus was a commonly used name in this generation, as was James and John. This ordinary farmer was named Jesus, who was the son of Ananus. He was a plebian, a member of the lower class, distinguished from a patrician of the Roman upper class. Yet, God called him to be His emissary, by walking through the streets of Jerusalem crying aloud His urgent warning. What was the warning?
Jesus went through the streets of Jerusalem saying, "A voice from the east, a voice from the west, a voice from the four winds, a voice against Jerusalem and the holy house, a voice against the bridegrooms and the brides, and a voice against the whole people." This message clearly delineates an indictment against the people of Jerusalem, launching the beginning of the fulfillment of the 70th week of Daniel's vision.
Historians record that Jesus, son of Ananus, walked through the streets of Jerusalem moaning this dirge for seven years and five months. This scripture that he spoke over and over for this long period of time was a prophetic warning that God was against this people. How do I know that Jesus was speaking scripture?
Many centuries before this time, this same prophetic warning was spoken through the prophet Jeremiah, when he tried to persuade the people of Israel to repent for disobeying the Sabbath Rest. He warned if they did not repent they would be punished...Jer. 25:6-11. They did not heed the warning, they did not repent, so were taken captive into Babylon for 70 years.
While chanting his prophetic dirge throughout the streets of Jerusalem, day in and day out, Jesus, son of Ananus, was hit and kicked daily by enraged citizens and religious leaders. Surely the religious leaders knew that Jesus was quoting the prophet Jeremiah, but now this scripture was indicting them - and they were angry. Rather than repent, they vehemently rejected Jesus and his warning, stirring up the people against him.
One day the monotonous dirge enraged them so much, they violently whipped him until his bones were laid bare - yet he shed no tears. In fact, he seemed unaware of his surroundings, as if in a trance. Even a Roman procurator proclaimed that Jesus, son of Ananus, was a madman. Yet, he was unmoved by the daily assaults he endured as a voice of warning for God.
What happened to Jesus, son of Ananus? Stay tuned...
God's sheep question the doctrines of men...sheeple follow without question~~~
