MESSIAH THE PRINCE – The Everlasting Gospel

Complied by Solomon Tweneboah

“Know therefore and understand, that from the going forth of the commandment to restore and to build Jerusalem unto the Messiah the Prince shall be seven weeks, and threescore and two weeks: the street shall be built again, and the wall, even in troublous times. And after threescore and two weeks shall Messiah be cut off, but not for himself: and the people of the prince that shall come shall destroy the city and the sanctuary; and the end thereof shall be with a flood, and unto the end of the war desolations are determined.” (Daniel 9:25,26).

The incarnation of Jesus Christ – The Messiah, the humanity of the Son of God, is everything to humankind. It is the golden chain that binds the souls of men to Christ, and through Christ to God. This wondrous but factual revelation is to be the subject of our study. In several ways and scenarios, God revealed His plan concerning the incarnation of Christ to man, to give man hope despite the ruins brought about as a result of sin. Right after the fall of man in the Garden of Eden, God revealed His plan that the woman shall bring forth a Seed and that Seed shall crush the head of the devil. “And I will put enmity Between you and the woman, and between your seed and her Seed; He shall bruise your head, and you shall bruise His heel” (Genesis 3:15). God repeated this promise to all the people who chose to walk with Him; to Enoch, Noah, Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Moses, David, Isaiah, Daniel, etc.

The information God gave to Daniel was so plain that Israel should not have missed the point about Christ, the time of His coming and His work when He came and lived among them. “In place of having so many sermons, there should be a more close searching of the Word of God, opening the Scriptures text by text, and searching for the strong evidences that sustain the fundamental doctrines that have brought us where we now are, upon the platform of eternal truth” (Evangelism, p.363.3). The first coming of Jesus escaped many because they did not search the Scriptures test by text, and because they did not take a closer look at the Word of God. Many prophecies in Scripture like the one in the book of Daniel, as well as the feasts that God instructed Israel to observe, should have given Israel enough evidence to accept Jesus as the Christ, but they did not. We, Christians of today, are very much privileged than old Israel, because we have ample information from Christ Jesus Himself as well as His Representative, The Holy Spirit, written by the apostles for our admonition. We must be very diligent in searching the Scripture text by text, for “how shall we escape if we neglect so great a salvation” (Hebrew 2:3).

In the prophecy given to prophet Daniel in Daniel chapters 7, 8 and 9, God gave a blessed hope and a clear direction to His church. Indeed, if we study these prophecies closely there is no way we will doubt the authenticity of the Word of God. In the vision of Daniel 8, Daniel saw a ram which had two horns, and the two horns were high; but one was higher than the other, and the higher one came up last. 

The ram was pushing westward, northward, and southward, so that no animal could withstand him; nor was there any that could deliver from his hand, but he did according to his will and became great. Then suddenly a male goat came from the west, across the surface of the whole earth, without touching the ground; and the goat had a notable horn between his eyes.

Then he came to the ram that had two horns, and ran at him with furious power. The goat confronted and attacked the ram; and broke his two horns. There was no power in the ram to withstand him, and the male goat grew very great; but when he became strong, the large horn was broken, and in place of it four notable ones came up toward the four winds of heaven. And out of one of them came a little horn which grew exceedingly great toward the south, toward the east, and toward the Glorious Land. And it grew up to the host of heaven; and it cast down some of the host and some of the stars to the ground, and trampled them. The little horn even exalted himself as high as the Prince of the host; and by him the daily sacrifices were taken away, and the place of His sanctuary was cast down. Because of transgression, an army was given over to the horn to oppose the daily sacrifices; and he cast truth down to the ground. He did all this and prospered.

Then I heard a holy one speaking; and another holy one said to that certain one who was speaking, "How long will the vision be, concerning the daily sacrifices and the transgression of desolation, the giving of both the sanctuary and the host to be trampled under foot? And he said to me, "For two thousand three hundred days; then the sanctuary shall be cleansed" (Daniel 8:1-14).

“And it came to pass, when I, even I Daniel, had seen the vision, and sought for the meaning, then, behold, there stood before me as the appearance of a man. And I heard a man's voice between the banks of Ulai, which called, and said, Gabriel, make this man to understand the vision. So he came near where I stood: and when he came, I was afraid, and fell upon my face: but he said unto me, Understand, O son of man: for at the time of the end shall be the vision. Now as he was speaking with me, I was in a deep sleep on my face toward the ground: but he touched me, and set me upright. And he said, "Look, I am making known to you what shall happen in the latter time of the indignation; for at the appointed time the end shall be. The ram which you saw, having the two horns-they are the kings of Media and Persia” (Daniel 8:15-22). 

Gabriel explained that the ram which had two horns are the kings of Media (Medes) and Persians. Media (Medes) and Persians joined forces to conquer the kingdom of Babylon. After the conquest, Mede kings such as Darius (Dan. 9:1) ruled the Medo-Persian kingdom, but after a while, Persian kings such as Cyrus (Dan.10:1) who were stronger than Medes, ruled the kingdom. The two horns of the ram were high; but one was higher than the other, and the higher one came up last.

Gabriel explained “And the male goat is the kingdom of Greece. The large horn that is between its eyes is the first king. As for the broken horn and the four that stood up in its place, four kingdoms shall arise out of that nation, but not with its power.” The Medo-Persian kingdom was conquered by the kingdom of Greece with Alexander the Great being the commander (the large horn between its eyes). At the peak 

of his reign, Alexander the Great, died unexpectedly in 323BC, and since he had no child to succeed him, his four generals – Ptolemy, Cassander, Seleucus, and Lysimachus (Antigones), divided the kingdom among themselves and ruled, exactly as it was explained to Daniel.

Gabriel did not mention the name of this kingdom which ruled after Greece but He gave all its characteristics. And, world history records that the kingdom which conquered Greece and ruled all the world was the Roman Empire. The Roman army defeated the Greeks around 168BC and ruled the world for a very long time; first as Imperial (Pagan) Rome and then as Papal Rome. Imperial Rome is described in Daniel 7:7 as the dreadful and terrible, exceedingly strong fourth beast, while Papal Rome is described, in verse 8, as the little horn which had eyes like the eyes of a man, and a mouth speaking pompous words.

Christianity has an important history that every well-meaning Christian must be familiar with. At the time Christ was born, the Romans were the rulers of the world. From about 168BC until 476AD, Imperial Rome dominated the ancient world. All the emperors at the time of Christ, like Herod, Pilate, Caesar, etc. were Roman emperors. At the time of Christ, the Roman Empire had nothing to do with Jewish traditions and religious beliefs. The Romans paid allegiance to their own gods both in public places and in private homes. The gods and goddesses in Roman culture included Jupiter, Juno, Minerva, Juno, Mars, Vulcan, Bellona, Juventas; and also, Venus, Neptune, Poseidon, Pluto, Diana, Ares – which the Romans adopted from Greek culture. Just as the Greeks influenced Roman culture, the Romans also influenced the cultural development of later societies, and that many of the planets in our solar system were named after Roman deities.

When Jesus was arrested and brought to Pilate for trial, Pilate made this statement in John 18:35; “Am I a Jew? Your own nation and the chief priests have delivered You to me. What have You done?” The point here is, the Jews were being ruled by the Romans and they had no political power to condemn Jesus to death. They only masterminded His execution and reported it to the Roman emperor to grant them their wish. John 19:6 says, "Therefore, when the chief priests and officers saw Him, they cried out, saying, “Crucify Him, crucify Him!” Pilate said to them, “You take Him and crucify Him, for I find no fault in Him." Pilate just granted the wish of the Jewish nation. It was the same Jewish leaders who transferred the hatred they had for Jesus to his disciples, persecuted and killed them; the Romans granted them their wish.

This hatred was seen in the life of Saul (unconverted Paul), an ardent Jew, who vehemently opposed Christianity. He, Saul, when he had obtained permit from the chief priests to persecute Christians (Acts 8:1-3; 9:1,2), masterminded the killing of Stephen in 34AD. Subsequently, on his way to Damascus with the same evil intent, he encountered Jesus on his way. In Acts 25:13-22, when Apostle Paul was arrested and imprisoned by Emperor Felix, the conversation that ensued between Governor Festus and King Agrippa showed clearly that those rulers never believed Christ nor supported Christianity. When Agrippa heard Paul speak, Agrippa said to Paul, “You almost persuade me to become a Christian” (Acts 26:28). Christianity was not the religion of Rome even during the apostolic times.

Persecution of Christians continued from the time of Stephen until all the disciples of Jesus (except John) died as martyrs. Several thousands, including Apostle Paul, were persecuted and killed for their faith in Jesus. In April 70AD, due to the rise of rebellion in Jerusalem by the Jews against the Romans, the Romans, led by General Titus, besieged, attacked and utterly destroyed Jerusalem. This halted the Jewish persecution against Christians. However, the Romans who controlled many of the early centers of Christianity continued persecuting Christians.

From 284AD, when Diocletian become Emperor of Rome, Maximian served as Co-Emperor while Galerius and Constantius served as junior Co-Emperors. During this period series of edicts (laws) were issued to rescind Christians' legal rights. They demanded that Christians comply with traditional religious practices of the Romans. Some edicts demanded universal sacrifice – ordering all inhabitants to sacrifice to the gods of Rome. On 23rd February 303AD, Emperor Diocletian, on the proposal of Galerius, issued a persecutory edict which prescribed destruction of Christian churches and burning of the Holy Scriptures, confiscation of church properties, as well as banning Christians from undertaking legal action, as well as loss of all privileges for Christians who refused to recant their faith in Jesus.

Historic records indicate that from the era of Emperor Nero to Diocletian, the persecution of Christians was very horrible. Christians were hunted and persecuted throughout the Empire and the persecution was so relentless and unforgiving, encompassing every conceivable form of torture, from death at the stakes to being used as food for hungry wild beasts in Colosseum and Circus Maximus; and this horrible treatment of Christians served as entertainment for Roman multitudes. Writing about the impact of Christian martyrdom in the Roman Empire in 197AD, Tertullian wrote: “the blood of martyrs is the seed of Christians”. And so it was, for every martyr burned at the stakes, a score of new converts sprang up almost overnight. The persecution varied in intensity across the Roman empire – weakest in Britain and Gaul (present-day France, Luxembourg, Belgium, most of Switzerland, and parts of Northern Italy, the Netherlands, and Germany, particularly the west bank of the Rhine), and strongest in the Eastern provinces.

In 305AD, Diocletian resigned as emperor and was replaced by Galerius, who continued persecuting Christians until 311AD, when he issued the Edict of Serdica granting forgiveness to Christians, freedom of worship and the status of religio licita (religious freedom). However, Constantine the Great and Licinius' Edict of Milan (313AD) traditionally marked the end of the early Christian persecution by Imperial Rome (https://en.wikipedia.org/ wiki/Religio_licita). Some schools of thought say that this declaration by Constantine and Licinius came into effect to unite the Roman Empire which was on the verge of disintegrating. When the Imperial Roman Empire began collapsing, Emperor Constantine devised a plan to unite the people through the power of religion. All along he had marveled at the strong bond of unity that existed among Christians even amid persecution and wished the same kind of unity would exist in the empire. So, his plan was to make Christianity an integral part of the empire. Therefore, Constantine himself became a Christian due to a vision he claimed he had, and therefore, banished all forms of inhumane treatments meted out to Christians as a result of their faith.

After issuing the Edict of Milan freeing Christians and becoming a Christian himself, Constantine pursued further actions to pave the way for Christianity to be embraced across the Empire. Actions were taken to find an official definition of Christian orthodoxy (beliefs). This official definition of Christian doctrines, beliefs and practices changed the Christian religion for good, and the Christian church departed from the clear teachings of Scripture which they had followed since the time of Christ. False teachings and beliefs practiced by pagans were introduced into the Christian church during those early centuries, and later dogmas were also added during the "Dark Ages" of the Christian era.

On March 7, 321AD, Emperor Constantine decreed dies Solis Invicti (Day of Sol Invictus) - Day of the Unconquered Sun (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sol_Invictus).

Though Sol Invictus (unconquered sun) was a pagan Roman god, and had been featured on Roman coins, Constantine co-opted the pagan heritage along with Christianity. This was done to grant a day of honour to God in place of Saturday which God had decreed in His word. Later on, when the entire Roman Empire completely adopted Christianity, since Romans were already accustomed to Sunday as their day off in honour of their sun god, Sunday was adopted to replace the Sabbath day (Saturday) which Jehovah commanded in His Holy law (Exodus 20:8-11).

Below are some of the customs, dogmas and ceremonies which were added to Christian practices and beliefs by the Church of Rome.

Time (A.D.)	Custom, dogma or ceremony instituted	Time (A.D.)	Custom, dogma or ceremony instituted
325	Institution of Easter to commemorate the death of Jesus Christ	1097	Celibacy of the priesthood was declared
364	Institution of Sunday as the Lord’s Day to replace Saturday (the Jewish Sabbath)	1090	The Rosary was adopted
375	Worship of angels and dead saints and the use of images	1190	The sale of indulgences (pardon)
394	The introduction of the mass	1215	The doctrine of transubstantiation was declared as a dogma
431	The exultation of Mary, "Mother of God"	1215	Auricular confession
500	Introduction of clerical garb (costume)	1220	The adoration of the wafer
538	Emperor Justinian defeats the three Arian Goth kingdoms. He gives the Pope of Rome political power	1229	The Bible was forbidden to laymen (common people)
590	The title of “Pope” (Supreme ‘holy’ Father) was conferred	1232	The Roman Inquisition was established by Pope Gregory IX and the emperor Frederick II
593	The doctrine Purgatory introduced	1414	The cup was restricted to only the priest in the communion service
600	The use of Latin as official language of the church during mass worldwide	1438	Purgatory was declared as a dogma
709	Kissing the pope's foot	1439	The Seven Sacraments
786	The worship of the cross, images and relics	1534	The Jesuit order was established
800	Offering prayers to Virgin Mary	1545	Tradition was declared equal to the Bible
850	The use of holy water	1546	The Apocryphal books added to the Catholic Bible
890	The worship of St. Joseph	1560	The creed of pope Pius IV was declared
995	The canonization of dead saints

Emperor Constantine strove for religious standardization and prescribed various rules during that transformation of Rome to Christianity. Gold, silver, and bronze statues (idols) were confiscated from pagan temples and brought into the Christian church and then given Christian names such as Jesus, Virgin Mary, St. Peter, St. James, St. Paul, etc. These idols are still used in the Roman church even until today and innocent church members bow to them, confess to them and carry them on high and hail them.

In 325AD, Constantine summoned the first Council of Nicaea, the first council of Christian bishops that produced the Nicene Creed (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/First_Council_of_ Nicaea). At this meeting most of the ‘official definition for Christian orthodoxy’ proposed by Constantine were upheld by most of the Christian community. Not long afterwards, under the reign of Theodosius (379-395), paganism was completely destroyed and was replaced by Catholicism as the universal religion. Thus, Imperial Rome transformed into Papal Rome and this is how the Universal (Catholic) Church of Rome (the Papacy) emerged and became powerful throughout the world for 1,260 years (even after the fall of the Imperial Roman empire).

By 476AD, the Imperial Roman empire was in shreds, and it divided into ten major parts. Three parts – the Ostrogoths, the Heruli, and the Vandals, did not fully accept Catholic teachings and were looked upon as opponents of Catholicism. Therefore, Emperor Zeno arranged a treaty with the Ostrogoths in 487AD which led to the eradication of the Heruli in 493AD. Emperor Justinian also destroyed the Vandals in 534AD and crippled the power of the Ostrogoths in 538AD thereby eliminating all the powers that had opposed the power and influence of Catholicism.

In 538AD the Bishop of Rome (who was later given the title ‘Pope’) was given the oversight responsibility over the universal church of Rome.  By 1000AD Catholicism was the only religion in Christendom and the single most powerful religious influence in the then known world. Papal army was ever ready to deal mercilessly with heresy (counter opinion to Catholicism) wherever it arose.

To the prophet Daniel, Angel Gabriel explained that in the latter time of the kingdom of the four generals of Greece, when the transgressors have reached their fullness, a king shall arise, having fierce features, who understands sinister schemes. His power shall be mighty, but not by his own power; he shall destroy fearfully, and shall prosper and thrive; he shall destroy the mighty, and also the holy people. Through his cunning he shall cause deceit to prosper under his rule; and he shall exalt himself in his heart. He shall destroy many in their prosperity. He shall even rise against the Prince of princes; But he shall be broken without human means (Daniel 8:23-25).

As recorded in history, Imperial (Pagan) Rome conquered Greece in a fierce battle in 168BC and ruled the world until 476AD when the empire disintegrated. Within this period, the Romans agreed with the Jews and physically killed Christ Jesus (the Prince of princes). Then the followers of Christ (the holy people) were also persecuted, killed and destroyed. Also, in 70AD the Romans completely destroyed the Jewish temple in Jerusalem (the earthly sanctuary in the Glorious Land).

After Jesus resurrected from death and ascended to heaven, Satan continued to attack Jesus spiritually by attacking the sanctuary in heaven where Jesus ministers as High Priest. In Hebrews 9:11,12, the Bible says, not with the blood of goats and calves but with His own blood, Christ as High Priest, entered the Most Holy Place once for all, having obtained eternal redemption for us. “And for this reason, He is the Mediator of the new covenant, by means of death, for the redemption of the transgressions under the first covenant, that those who are called may receive the promise of the eternal inheritance.” “Therefore He is also able to save to the uttermost those who come to God through Him, since He always lives to make intercession for them” (Hebrews 9:15;7:25). When Satan saw that the use of persecution was failing, he devised another plan to prevent humans from going to Jesus, the Priest and Mediator of the new covenant.

Through Papal Rome Satan set up a priesthood on earth to obscure the priesthood of Christ, where people could go to make confessions, and buy indulgences (pardons) for their sins. People were allowed to buy forgiveness (pardon) from the priest even before they committed intended sins. People were directed to the Pope, priests, and ‘fathers’ for salvation instead of Christ. Satan led people to accept solemnized pagan traditions, rituals, idols, saints, creeds, and canticles in the church instead of the holy commandments of Jehovah. The mediation work of Christ (The High Priest of the new covenant) in the heavenly sanctuary, was cast down and trampled under foot through the Papacy. The Pope of Rome was declared the representative of the Son of God (VICARIUS FILII DEI) on earth (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vicarius_Filii_Dei). But according to Jesus the only person which The Father would send in Jesus’ name to represent Him on earth is The Holy Spirit (John 14:26). Any man who claims to represent Jesus on earth would definitely be the anti-christ. “Through his cunning he shall cause deceit to prosper under his rule; and he shall exalt himself in his heart …” (Daniel 8:25).

The vision in Daniel 8 has four main parts – (i) the ram having two horns – one being higher than the other; (ii) the he-goat having a notable horn between his eyes which was broken and the four which came up; (iii) the little horn which grew exceedingly great toward the south, toward the east, and toward the Glorious Land; and (iv) the 2,300 days and cleansing of the sanctuary. Angel Gabriel, who was commissioned to make Daniel understand the vision explained the first, second and third parts of the vision to Daniel. When He got to the fourth part – the 2,300 days (the evenings and mornings), Daniel fainted. "And the vision of the evenings and mornings which was told is true; therefore seal up the vision, for it refers to many days in the future. And I, Daniel, fainted and was sick for days; afterward I arose and went about the king's business. I was astonished by the vision, but no one understood it" (Dan 8:26,27).

Daniel fainted and was sick for days but he recovered and went about the king's business. No one, including Daniel, understood the vision of the evenings and mornings (the fourth part – 2,300 days). Daniel had this vision of the 2,300 days and the desolate sanctuary in the third year of the reign of Belshazzar (Dan 8:1). At that time, God’s sanctuary in Jerusalem was already desolate 50-60 years before when Nebuchadnezzar conquered Jerusalem. The 2,300 days and the desolate sanctuary he saw in the vision confused him so much and he turned to God and the scriptures for understanding. He understood from the prophecies of Jeremiah that Israel would go into bondage for 70 years due to their sins and hard-heartedness (Jeremiah 25:11-12; 29:10). At the time he had the vision, they had been in bondage in Babylon for more than 50 years and the period of their bondage would soon be over. Therefore, he was so much confused about the 2,300 days period. He worried and thought that, probably, the sin of his people was going to make the desolation of Jerusalem last even longer.

As the ram symbolized Medo-Persia, the he-goat symbolized Greece, and the little horn also symbolized another kingdom, Daniel knew definitely that the 2,300 days would symbolize a long prophetic period in the future, and not just 6 literal years. In Genesis 29:27.28, Laban told Jacob to serve him for a week if he needed Rachel for a wife. The week (7 days) represented 7 years. “Fulfill her week, and we will give you this one also for the service which you will serve with me still another seven years”. Also, in Ezekiel 4:6, God told His people, “I have laid on you a day for each year.” So, a day representing a year was not new to Daniel, and he know the 2,300 days would be 2,300 years in reality.

Daniel studied and prayed about the 2,300 days as well as the desolation of the sanctuary for about 12 years – until the first year of the reign of King Darius (Dan 9:1). At that time (538BC), Daniel had been serving in Babylon for almost 70 years (from 605BC). “Then I set my face toward the Lord God to make request by prayer and supplications, with fasting, sackcloth, and ashes. And I prayed to the LORD my God, and made confession, and said, "O Lord, great and awesome God, who keeps His covenant and mercy with those 

who love Him, and with those who keep His commandments, … O Lord, hear! O Lord, forgive! O Lord, listen and act! Do not delay for Your own sake, my God, for Your city and Your people are called by Your name” (Dan 9:3-19). “while I was speaking in prayer, the man Gabriel, whom I had seen in the vision at the beginning, being caused to fly swiftly, reached me about the time of the evening offering. And he informed me, and talked with me, and said, "O Daniel, I have now come forth to give you skill to understand. … therefore consider the matter, and understand the vision” (Dan 9:21-23). The same man (angel) Gabriel who was explaining the vision to Daniel at the beginning returns swiftly to him to finish the part He could not explain.

Gabriel said, "Seventy weeks are determined for your people and for your holy city, to finish the transgression, to make an end of sins, to make reconciliation for iniquity, to bring in everlasting righteousness, to seal up the vision and prophecy, and to anoint the Most Holy. Know therefore and understand, that from the going forth of the command to restore and build Jerusalem until Messiah the Prince, there shall be seven weeks and sixty-two weeks; The street shall be built again, and the wall, even in troublesome times” (Dan 9:25,26).

Gabriel went straight to the 2,300 days part of the vision and said, 70 weeks are determined (cut off) “for your people and for your holy city.” Seventy (70) weeks (out of the 2,300 days) were determined for Israel to finish six things – (i) to finish the transgression, (ii) to make an end of sins, (iii) to make reconciliation for iniquity, (iv) to bring in everlasting righteousness, (v) to seal up the vision and prophecy, and (vi) to anoint the Most Holy. Gabriel went ahead to give Daniel the exact start-point of the 70 weeks (2,300 days), that from the going forth of the command to restore and build Jerusalem until Messiah the Prince, there shall be seven weeks and sixty-two weeks (7 weeks + 62 weeks = 69 weeks); the street shall be built again, and the wall, even in troublesome times.”

 

THE COMMAND TO RESTORE AND BUILD JERUSALEM

When did the command to restore and build Jerusalem go forth? Ezra 6:14 says, “So the elders of the Jews built, and they prospered through the prophesying of Haggai the prophet and Zechariah the son of Iddo. And they built and finished it, according to the commandment of the God of Israel, and according to the command of Cyrus, Darius, and Artaxerxes king of Persia.” Three different kings of Medo-Peria commanded for the rebuilding of Jerusalem – the first command came from Cyrus; the second command came from Darius; the third command came from Artaxerxes. The work of restoring and rebuilding Jerusalem could not be completed under the commands of Cyrus and Darius because the Jews faced fierce opposition and they stopped work. But at the command of Artaxerxes, which was the last command, Jerusalem was fully restored, rebuilt and finished even in troublesome times. Among the 3 commands, only the command of Artaxerxes is recorded in the Bible (Ezra 7:11-28) exactly as it was given. In the command, Artaxerxes made money available to cater for all the cost of work. Also, Artaxerxes gave authority to the Jewish nation to set magistrates and judges who may judge all the Jewish people, even to the extent of issuing death penalty, banishment, confiscation of goods, or imprisonment. In effect, the command of Artaxerxes made Israel a sovereign state again, and that was when Jerusalem was fully restored.

In Ezra 7:7,8, the Bible says “Some of the children of Israel, the priests, the Levites, the singers, the gatekeepers, and the Nethinim came up to Jerusalem in the seventh year of King Artaxerxes. And Ezra came to Jerusalem in the fifth month, which was in the seventh year of the king.” This states clearly that Artaxerxes’ command went forth in his 7^th year as king and the Jews went out from Babylon to Jerusalem to continue the rebuilding in the 5^th month of the same year.

Which year was the 7^th year of Artaxerxes? The Canon of Kings by Claudius Ptolemy, one of the most trusted and accurate historical documents, records that Artaxerxes become king over Persia in 464BC (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Canon_of_Kings). If Artaxerxes became king in 464BC and he gave the command to rebuild Jerusalem in his 7^th year, then the command was given in 457BC. As studied before, to the Jews, spring season (March/April) was the beginning of the year as God commanded them (Exodus 12:2). So, the 5^th month from spring was fall/autumn (September/October). From 457BC, “there shall be seven weeks and sixty-two weeks.” 7 weeks = 7x7 days = 49 days (which is 49 years in reality). Angel Gabriel said, when the command to retore and build Jerusalem is given, the streets and walls will be built again even in troublesome times. History records that the rebuilding of the temple, street, and walls of Jerusalem was completed in 408BC, exactly in 49 years (7 weeks) from 457BC.

Gabriel told Daniel, know therefore and understand, that from the going forth of the command to restore and build Jerusalem until Messiah the Prince, there shall be seven weeks and sixty-two weeks ... From fall 457BC to Messiah the Prince, there shall be 7 weeks (49 years) and sixty-two weeks (62x7 days = 434 days), 434 years in reality. 49 years + 434 years = 483 years. Therefore, from fall 457BC, Messiah the Prince, should appear after 483 years. So, when 483 years are added to fall 457BC, it takes us to 27AD in the fall, and what happened? Messiah the Prince – Jesus Christ, was anointed (baptized) by the Holy Spirit. “How God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Ghost and with power: who went about doing good, and healing all that were oppressed of the devil; for God was with him” (Acts 10:38). “The Spirit of the LORD is upon Me, because He has anointed Me to preach the gospel to the poor; He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to set at liberty those who are oppressed” (Luke 4:18). Jesus preached this sermon just after He was baptized and anointed by the Holy Spirit.

[NOTE: A year zero does not exist in the Anno Domini (AD) calendar year system. Therefore, the year 1BC is followed directly by year 1AD. This is why -457+483 = 27AD and not 26AD (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/////Year_zero). Also, Jesus was 30 years when He was baptized but His baptism occurred in 27AD and not 30AD. This is because history records that Jesus Christ was born around 4BC (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Date_of_birth_of_Jesus)

 

MESSIAH CUT OFF

Gabriel told Daniel, “And after the sixty-two weeks Messiah shall be cut off, but not for Himself; and the people of the prince who is to come shall destroy the city and the sanctuary. The end of it shall be with a flood, and till the end of the war desolations are determined. Then he shall confirm a covenant with many for one week; but in the middle of the week, He shall bring an end to sacrifice and offering. And on the wing of abominations shall be one who makes desolate, even until the consummation, which is determined, is poured out on the desolate” (Dan 9:26,27). After the 483 (49+434) years, two great events will occur – (1) the Messiah shall be cut off (2) the people of the prince who is to come shall destroy the city and the sanctuary.  

When was the Messiah cut off? Remember, at the beginning of the 2,300 days prophecy, Gabriel said, 70 weeks are determined for your people and for your holy city. 69 weeks (483 years) of the 70 weeks takes us from fall 457BC to fall 27AD. One week is left to complete the 70 weeks. And Gabriel said The Messiah shall confirm a covenant with many for one week and in the middle of the week, He shall bring an end to sacrifice and offering. This one week (1x7 days = 7 days; 7 years in reality) continues from fall 27AD and ends in fall 34AD. And in the middle of the week the Messiah shall be cut off (killed), bringing an end to sacrifices and offerings. The killing of Jesus – The Messiah, brought an end to the killing of sheep, goats, bulls and other sacrifices and offerings for the forgiveness of sins in the earthly sanctuary. He (the Messiah), the Perfect Lamb of God, was sacrificed, therefore, there is no need for the sacrifice of animals. The death of Jesus brought an end to six things:

(i)     to finish the transgression (to end rebellion against God),

(ii)    to make an end of sins (to forgive sin),

(iii)  to make reconciliation for iniquity (to pay the price the Law demanded),

(iv)    to bring in everlasting righteousness (to make us righteous),

(v)   to seal up the vision and prophecy (to fulfill the Messianic prophecies),

(vi)  to anoint the Most Holy (to anoint and glorify Jesus as our High Priest).

The death of Jesus occurred in the middle of the week; the middle of 7 years is 3½ years. So, when 3½ years is added to fall 27AD, it takes us to spring 31AD (March/April). And this is the time of Easter which is always celebrated to commemorate the death of Christ. Beloved, the Bible – the written Word of God, is accurate and powerful, sharper than any two-edged sword; do not be deceived by anyone to disbelieve the Bible.

The Messiah was cut in spring 31AD, and when the remaining 3½ years is added to spring 31AD, the 70-week (490-year) period ended in the fall of 34AD; and that was the time Stephen was stoned, the first martyr of Jesus Christ (Acts 7). After the stoning of Stephen, the followers of Jesus started running away from Jerusalem and other Jewish towns for safety, and as they moved away, they carried the gospels of Christ to the gentiles. The time God gave to Israel expired in fall 34AD, and the gospel moved to the gentiles. The privilege God gave to Israel as His special people ended. Jesus told the Israelites, "O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the one who kills the prophets and stones those who are sent to her! How often I wanted to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, but you were not willing!” (Matt. 23:37). Israel, as a nation, rejected Jesus and His disciples, and God rejected them. Now, all who accept Jesus through faith, loves and keeps His commandments constitute the ‘new, spiritual’ Israel – the descendants of Abraham. Galatians 3:14 says, “that the blessing of Abraham might come upon the Gentiles in Christ Jesus, that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith.”

 

THE DESTRUCTION OF JERUSALEM IN 70AD

Jesus told the Jewish nation, “If you had known, even you, especially in this your day, the things that make for your peace! But now they are hidden from your eyes. For days will come upon you when your enemies will build an embankment around you, surround you and close you in on every side, and level you, and your children within you, to the ground; and they will not leave in you one stone upon another, because you did not know the time of your visitation" (Luke 19:42-44). In April 70AD, due to the rise of rebellion in Jerusalem by the Jews against the Romans, the Romans, led by General Titus, attacked and destroyed Jerusalem and the Jewish temple completely. Jesus warned His followers to watch out for a sign in order to take refuge. “Therefore when you see the 'abomination of desolation,' spoken of by Daniel the prophet, standing in the holy place" (whoever reads, let him understand), then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains. Let him who is on the housetop not go down to take anything out of his house. And let him who is in the field not go back to get his clothes.” (Matt. 24:15-18).

In April 70AD the Roman army started besieging Jerusalem. Few meters outside the wall of Jerusalem, they set up their idols (abomination of desolation) in the holy ground. The followers of Jesus remembered Jesus’ words and quickly ran out of the city. They saw the sign and they understood the time. Within three weeks the Roman army broke the first two walls of the city. By August 70AD, the Roman forces overwhelmed the city, set fire to the Jewish Temple and utterly destroyed Jerusalem, leaving no stone upon another, as Jesus prophesied (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Siege_of_Jerusalem_(70_CE). Gabriel explained, “And after the sixty-two weeks Messiah shall be cut off, but not for Himself; and the people of the prince who is to come shall destroy the city and the sanctuary.”

The fulfillment of the 2,300 days vision which started in the fall of 457BC ended in the fall of 1844AD (-457+2,300 = 1844; not 1843 because there is no zero year from BC to AD). When Daniel had this vision, in Daniel 8:13,14, Daniel heard a holy one speaking; and another holy one said to that certain one who was speaking, "How long will the vision be, concerning the daily sacrifices and the transgression of desolation, the giving of both the sanctuary and the host to be trampled under foot? And he said to me, "For two thousand three hundred days; then the sanctuary shall be cleansed." So, the vision was going to be 2,300 days (in reality 2,300 years) long, then the sanctuary shall be cleansed. This strongly suggests that the sanctuary was going to be cleansed after the fall of 1844AD.

As studied before, in ancient Israel, the cleansing of the sanctuary foreshadowed the final day of judgement. In that shadow, anytime a person sinned, the sinner would take an animal to the sanctuary, confess his/her sins on the head of the animal, kill it, collected its blood, and the blood was sprinkled on the horn of the altar as well as on the second veil in the sanctuary by the priest. If the sinner sincerely went through the process, God forgave the sins of the sinner but the sins still remained on the horn of the altar and on the veil. The sins were forgiven, the sinner was free from the sins but the sins still remained on the sanctuary until it was finally cleansed. Therefore, on the Day of Atonement all the accumulated sins on the sanctuary were removed and cleansed. This act of cleansing the sanctuary really typified the removal or blotting out of sins from the books of records in heaven where Jesus currently works. When Daniel saw the setting up of the judgement in Daniel 7, books were opened, indicating that the judgement had to do with investigation and blotting out of sin from the books.

Anytime a sinner sincerely repents of his/her sins, God forgives him/her, but the record of sins remains in the books of record until the sins are finally blotted out during the final judgement. So also “Christ was offered once to bear the sins of many. To those who eagerly wait for Him He will appear a second time, apart from sin, for salvation” (Hebrews 9:28). In His second coming, Jesus will appear without sin. All sins will be blotted out before God sends Jesus.  “Repent therefore and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, so that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord, and that He may send Jesus Christ, who was preached to you before, whom heaven must receive until the times of restoration of all things, which God has spoken by the mouth of all His holy prophets since the world began” (Acts 3:19-21). When the sins of all repentant sinners are blotted out and the investigative phase of the judgement is ended, God will send Jesus whom heaven must receive until the times of restoration of all things. This indicates that blotting out of sins precedes the second coming of Jesus.

The prophecies of Daniel 7, 8 and 9 which predicted the earthly kingdoms, the rebuilding and restoring of Jerusalem, and the first coming of Jesus Christ, also predicted the cleansing of the sanctuary (pre-advent judgement) starting in 1844. In the present time, we are living in the period of the antitypical Day of Atonement. The judgement hour of God began after the 2,300 years ended in 1844. Currently, many are being purified, made white, and refined, but the wicked are doing wickedly; and none of the wicked understands, but the wise understand (Daniel 12:10). Soon, the investigative phase of God’s judgement will end and all people in the world will make up their minds. Before Jesus returns, two groups of people will be distinctly identified living on earth – those who know God and those who know Him not. Soon, this proclamation will go forth, “He who is unjust, let him be unjust still; he who is filthy, let him be filthy still; he who is righteous, let him be righteous still; he who is holy, let him be holy still. And behold, I am coming quickly, and My reward is with Me, to give to everyone according to his work. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End, the First and the Last” (Revelation 22:11-13). Soon, the saints of God will be ushered into their heavenly home where they will have the joy of celebrating the antitypical Feast of Tabernacles.

God bless you and keep you until I come your way again.