“Any attempt to understand end time prophesy without examining closely the Scriptures, is like taking a piano apart in order to find a song.”
In previous posts, I stated that my foundation for all end time events begins with Nebuchadnezzar’s image of a man in Dan.2. It covers some 2600 years from head to toes; and specific dates from empire to empire. Now concerning this post,
457 B.C. was when Artaxerxes first decreed to the Jews while in captivity, will show that 26 A.D. is correct when we say Jesus was “cut off” as Daniel 9:26 had prophesied. Also the following dates: Other key dates are,
Oct. 4 B.C. the year Jesus was born;
Oct. 26 B.C. exactly 30 years after Jesus birth when he was baptized by John, and the Holy Spirit, and
April 5th 30 A.D. when the Lord was crucified. From birth to death, 33 ½ years.
“Messiah cut off.” Not that the Jews could ever cut God off, but the LORD gave the Jews his bill of divorce (He cut Jews off). Then, it was prophesied in Dan.9:26,
1. The Romans army led by Titus would come and destroy Jerusalem, and,
2. The Temple would be destroyed, both events occured in 70 A.D. Then the prophesy goes on to say,
3. And until the end (Christ’s return) of the war (against Christ & the Jews) desolations (meaning to be cut off by the sword) are determined.”
Daniel wrote, Dan.9:25, from, “The going forth of the commandment to restore and to build Jerusalem unto the Messiah the Prince shall be seven weeks (49 Years) and threescore and two weeks (434 Years = 483 years): the street shall be built again, and the wall even in troublous times.”
Four words in the above verse must be examined so we understood the text correctly. They are, restore; build; street, and wall.
The 1st word Restore: This Hebrew word has been totally miss-represented. It’s true meaning in Hebrew speaks of the Jews, returning to; sent back to; as to be sent back to a former residence, to the place of their original habitation, meaning Jerusalem. Also, to return from captivity.
The second word is “build.” It means to construct, repair, restore, raise up and establish.
Then, from the time of the decree in 457 B.C. to the end of 483 years, Messiah the Prince would be revealed. This happened at the river Jordon when the Christ was made known to the religious elite of Israel, to Satan, too the future disciples, the Jewish people, and to John the Baptist himself.
So what Artaxerxes degreed in 457 B.C. was, “the Jews could return to their homeland in Israel."
Question: According to this prophesy, what were the returning Jews expected to do? To repair and restore, -----
3ed word: “The street (meaning the open square)” and,
4th word: “the wall.” In Hebrew “wall” has several meanings: (1) It speaks of a ditch or moat, (2) and also the wall surrounded Jerusalem. Obviously, after 70 years in captivity, both the moat and the walls were in dire need of repair.
After this decree by King Artaxerxes of Persia in 457 B.C., when we go forward in time exactly 483 years (69 weeks of Years) we arrive in the year 26 A.D. at the river Jordon, when a thirty-year-old Jesus, (Luke 3:23) was baptism by John and anointed by the Holy Spirit as High Priest after the order of Melchizedek.
Now, “Seventy weeks,” meaning a full 490 years, had been determined by God upon the Jews and the land, Dan.9:24. How the 490 is broken down is important; 49 years – 434 years and 7 years, total, 490 years?
If we examine King Artaxerxes decree of 457 B.C. closely, we can determine the reason for these 3 important periods.
From the year the decree was put forth, 457 B.C., less 49 years, takes us to the close of the Old Testament about 408 B.C. No prophets had been sent by God until John the Baptist some 400 years later in 4 B.C. Why 408 B.C.
Zechariah was priest in the Temple, when the angel Gabriel was sent to him. He told him that his wife Elisabeth would bear a child. Zechariah was an old man, and did not understand. He was then struck, unable to speak, until (future) this thing (promise) came to pass. My thinking is, this occurred according to Artaxerxes decree 457 B.C. less 49 years (1 week) bringing us to 408 B.C. If John was conceived in 5 B.C., and born in 4 B.C. six months before Jesus, it must have been 3 years that he remained a mute.
After the first 49 years ended, there remained 434 years. From 408 B.C., less 434 Years (62 weeks) we arrive in the year 26 A.D: the year Jesus at the age of 30 was anointed High Priest by the Holy Spirit.
The year 26 A.D. would conclude the 483 years, leaving 7 years to confirm Jesus new covenant with the people.
These 7 years were divided into two equal periods of 3 ½ years. Jesus earthly ministry began in Oct or 26 A.D. and after his confrontation with the devil had ended, if we go forward to the day of his crucifixion, April 5, 30 A.D., 3 ½ years would have ended at the cross, leaving 3 ½ years remaining to confirm the new covenant. See Jer.31:31.
The final 3 ½ years will begin when the tribulation begins soon after the church is caught away. I feel this is when the 144,000 are marked, and the two witnesses begin their conformation of Jesus new covenant for 1260 days, or 3 ½ Years. This will conclude the full 490 years, right in the middle of the tribulation. After the two witnesses are martyred (another word for witness), then 3 days later raised from the dead, and taken into heaven. After this follows the last 3 ½ years of Jesus wrath and vengeance upon the Jews and his enemies will begin.
I believe many who study end time prophesy get confused when they attempt to mix Dan.9:25 with Dan.9:26. These are all different events, taking place at different periods of time.
Seekfirstwisdom. LaSpino3