Their 70 Weeks Of Daniel Exposed
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THE SEVENTY WEEKS OF YEARS PROPHECY SECTION 1 A Traditional Jewish Translation, Interpretation & Calculation of DANIEL 9:24-27 24. "Seventy weeks have been decreed for your people and your holy city to finish the transgression, to end sin, to atone for iniquity, to bring in eternal righteousness, to seal vision and prophet and to anoint a Holy of Holies. 25. Know therefore and understand that from the going forth of the word to restore and to build Jerusalem until [mashiach] an anointed one, a prince, will be 7 weeks; and for 62 weeks it will be rebuilt, street and moat, even in troublous times. 26. And after the 62 weeks will [mashiach] an anointed one be cut off and have nothing, and the people of a prince who will come will destroy the city and the Sanctuary, and its end will be with a flood. Until the end of a war desolations are decreed. 27. And he will make a covenant with many for 1 week, and in the middle of the week he will put an end to sacrifice and offering;..." NOTE: Did Year One begin during the initial Five Days of Creation, on the Sixth Day when Adam was formed, or one year later? This unknown is why our traditional dates from Creation, & their corresponding B.C.E. years are accurate within two years. The latter are in: "The 165 year discrepancy" below. To understand a passage one must always study it in context. At the beginning of Daniel 9 we find: Daniel 9:2 "In the first year of Darius' reign I, Daniel, considered in the Books the number of years about which the word of the This is referring to: Jeremiah 29:10 "When 70 years are finished for Babylon, I will remember you, and fulfill for you My promise to bring you back to this place." These 70 years of desolation began when Jerusalem was destroyed, and Jews were deported to Babylon (2 Kings 25:8-12). It ended with the building of the Second Temple (Ezra 6:15). In Daniel 9:3-20, Daniel prayed for the Jewish people, praised G-d, implored Him to end the exile, and to rebuild the Temple and Jerusalem. Daniel 9:24 Seventy weeks have been decreed for your people and your holy city, 1 day = 1 year.......1 week = 7 years.......70 weeks = 490 years. Leviticus 25:8 "And you will number 7 Sabbaths of years, 7 x 7 years, and there will be to you the time of 7 Sabbaths of years, even 49 years." Daniel was told details of what would transpire during the 490 years starting from the first desolation of Jerusalem. That occurred in our Biblical calendar year 3338 or 3,338 years from Year One. (see Appendix) The 490 years ended at the second desolation of Jerusalem. Daniel 9:24 to finish the transgression, to end sin, to atone for iniquity, and to bring in eternal righteousness, At the end of this full 490 year period the Messiah would appear, and these Messianic promises would be fulfilled. OR Jerusalem would again be destroyed, and we would be exiled (9:26). Not both. Not earlier. Daniel 9:24 and to seal vision and prophet, During this 490 year period, vision and prophecy ceased with the Prophet Malachi. Daniel 9:24 and to anoint a Holy of Holies [Kodesh Kodashim]. The rebuilt and functioning Second Temple (Ezekiel 45:3). Daniel 9:25 from the going forth of the word to restore and to build Jerusalem This is referring to the word of Jeremiah at the first desolation of Jerusalem. Thus, from the view of Daniel, this command was a past declaration: Jeremiah 30:18 "Thus says the L-rd: Behold, I will restore the captivity of Jacob's tents, and have compassion on his dwellings, and the city will be rebuilt upon its mound, and the Palace shall stand on its proper place."The Hebrew debar which linked Daniel 9:2, 9:25 and Ezra 1:1 primarily means word. To build (banah). Its Hebrew root letters are beit nun hei. To restore or To bring back (shuv). Its Hebrew root letters are shin vav veit. Daniel 9:25 until [mashiach] an anointed one, a prince, will be 7 weeks; Seven weeks of years after the destruction of the First Temple, Cyrus the first [mashiach] "anointed one" appeared as Isaiah the Prophet had foretold some 200 years earlier: Isaiah 45:1, 13 "Thus says the L-rd to His anointed, to Cyrus...He will build My city and set My exiles free, neither for price nor for reward, says the L-rd of hosts." And so it was, Cyrus fulfilled the word of G-d through His Prophets Isaiah and Jeremiah: Ezra 1:1, 3 "Now in the first year of Cyrus, king of Persia, in order that the word of the L-rd by the mouth of Jeremiah might be accomplished, the L-rd stirred up the spirit of Cyrus, king of Persia to make a proclamation...Whoever there is among you of all His people his G-d be with him, let him go up to Jerusalem, which is in Judah, and build the House of the Cyrus informed his governors, ruling in Syria, the details of his decree: NOTE: The Christian Schools of thought claim that the 490 years did not begin with the decree of Cyrus because Ezra 1:3 does not make reference to Jerusalem. But the declarations of Jeremiah, Isaiah and Cyrus himself confirmed that the city was included in the reconstruction project. Daniel 9:25 and for 62 weeks it will be rebuilt, street and moat, even in troublous times. Jerusalem was rebuilt but it was a time of oppression under our Persian, Greek and Roman rulers. The opposition began when Zerubbabel, and the group of returnees started the construction work in Jerusalem (Ezra 4). That was two years after Cyrus' decree took effect (Ezra 3:8). It continued "...all the days of Cyrus king of Persia, until the reign of Darius king of Persia" (Ezra 4:5). Daniel 9:26 And after the 62 weeks will [mashiach] an anointed one be cut off and have nothing, This second [mashiach] "anointed one" was King Agrippa II of Judea. During the war in 66 C.E. the Jews dethroned, and expelled him from Jerusalem. Although, Agrippa was Jewish, he deserted to the Roman side, and did not regain his royal status (Agrippa II New World encyclopedia.org). Daniel 9:26 and the people of a prince who will come will destroy the city and the Sanctuary, Jerusalem and the Second Temple were destroyed by the Roman army originally led by General Vespasian. When he became the Roman emperor, his son General Titus, the new crown prince took over the command (Titus Britannica.com). Thus, he is this prince. Daniel 9:26 and its end will be with a flood. Until the end of a war desolations are decreed. Complete destruction is so described elsewhere: Nahum 1:8 "But with an overrunning flood, He will make a full end of its place." Daniel 9:27 And he will make a covenant with many for 1 week; and in the middle of the week he will put an end to sacrifice and offering; Vespasian made a peace agreement with the Jewish leaders. However, he broke this covenant after the first half week (3.5 years) and prohibited sacrifices (Major Jewish commentators). *************** *************** *************** *************** SECTION 2 A Refutation of Christian Translation, Interpretations & Calculations of DANIEL 9:24-27 THEIR TRANSLATION DANIEL 9:24-27 24. "Seventy weeks are determined for your people and for your holy city, to finish the transgression, to make an end of sins, and to make reconciliation for iniquity, to bring in everlasting righteousness, to seal up vision and prophecy, and to anoint the Most Holy. 25. Know therefore and understand that from the going forth of the command to restore and to build Jerusalem unto the Messiah the Prince shall be 7 weeks, and 60 and 2 weeks: the street shall be built again, and the wall, even in troublous times. 26. And after 60 and 2 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. 27. And he shall confirm the covenant with many for 1 week; and in the middle of the week he shall bring an end to sacrifice and offering;..." a. The above is the present day Kings James Version. Remarkably, their original 1611 C.E. edition punctuated 9:25 significantly different: "unto the Messiah the Prince, shall be 7 weeks; and 60 and 2 weeks, the street shall be built again," It correctly has a semicolon stop and separation after 7 weeks, indicating two mashiachs (9:25/26). It was changed to a comma in their 1769 edition. We were in agreement for 158 years!b. This change enables Christians to say that the one mashiach (Jesus) came after 69 weeks, written as 7 and 62 (9:25). c. In the Hebrew, "the" appears before the second 62 weeks: "And after the 62 weeks shall..." (9:26). They exclude it to make it less obvious that the 62 weeks are a distinct segment of time separating the two mashiachs. d. Conversely, "the" before "mashiach" and before "Prince" do not exist (9:25). They were added to give the impression that the one and distinct Redeemer is being referred to. e. The Hebrew root letters: mem-shin-yud-chet (mashiach) appear in the Hebrew Bible 39 times. Except in Daniel 9:25/26, the KJV correctly translates it as "anointed" or "anointed one". f. "be cut off" "But the person who does anything defiantly...will be cut off from his people. Because he has despised the word of the L-rd, and has broken His command" (Numbers 15:30-31). g. "but not for himself" is a mistranslation. "ve'ein" means - and have nothing. THE 165 YEAR DISCREPANCY The First Temple Destruction Until The Second Temple Destruction The B.C.E. dates that correspond with our Rabbinic chronology starting from Year One were: NOTE: In accordance with mainstream Christian understanding, the ground rules for this disputation are: Our later and shorter timeline for this period in which we were active participants concurs with: 1. Many believe Artaxerxes Longimanus stopped the construction work in Jerusalem (Ezra 4:21-24). But his reign began in 465 or 464 B.C.E. and this decree continued "until the 2nd year of the reign of Darius king of Persia" (Ezra 4:24). That year was 520 B.C.E., 55 years earlier. 2. Darius completed the Second Temple in 516 B.C.E. (Ezra 6:15). In 458 or 457 B.C.E., in the 7th year of Artaxerxes, Ezra was allowed to return to Jerusalem (Ezra 7:1). This 58 or 59 year separation contradicts Scripture, which has a short time between these events: Ezra 7:1, 6 If Darius was the king in Ezra 7-10 & Nehemiah, then he was being addressed as Artaxerxes. And it was only 13 months after the Temple was rebuilt when Darius sent Ezra "to beautify the House of the L-rd in Jerusalem" (Ezra 7:27). Darius' reign of 36 years (522-486 B.C.E.) accommodated the last dated event in the Book of Nehemiah: 3. Nehemiah 12:1-6 lists the 22 heads of the Priests "who ascended with Zerubbabel" in 538 B.C.E. But 93 or 94 years later, at least 13 of them, their names listed in the same order, signed a covenant with Nehemiah in 445 or 444 B.C.E. (Nehemiah 10:2-9). They were above 120 years old! Floyd Nolen Jones Th.D, Ph.D The Chronology of the Old Testament p. 241, 23rd Edition: ********** Ezra 6:14: The Jews rebuilt the Temple according to the decree of Cyrus, and Darius "and" Artaxerxes. Cyrus decreed that the Temple be rebuilt in 538 B.C.E. (Ezra 1:3-4). Darius decreed that the work be restarted in 520 B.C.E. (Ezra 6:7). Between their decrees, the 1st Artaxerxes stopped the building (Ezra 4:21-24). So the verse is not speaking about him. Nor is it referring to the 2nd (Ezra 7-10) or 3rd Artaxerxes (Nehemiah). They ruled decades after the Second Temple was completed. ARTAXERXES' DECREES a. Why was the calculation for Daniel 9:25-26 not quoted in the New Testament? And why was it not until 150 years after the crucifixion that the first authority to write a Christian interpretation on Daniel 9 was Irenaeus in 180 C.E. (Against Heresies)? His followers failed to formulate a united belief system. They broke up into 4 rival factions. The FIRST SCHOOL declares: "from the going forth of the word to restore and to build Jerusalem" (9:25) was referring to Artaxerxes' 7th year decree in 458 OR 457 B.C.E. (Ezra 7), and that the 490 year prophecy began from then. His decrees can not be dated because it is not known if his reign began in 465 OR 464 B.C.E. There is no extant record when Xerxes, the previous king was killed (Artaxerxes 1 Encyclopedia Iranicaonline. org). b. Both Schools claim that Jerusalem was in rubble from 586 B.C.E. until their decree was issued. ARTAXERXES' 7th YEAR DECREE.....EZRA 7 Nisan (March / April) ***** Av (July / August) ***** Tishrei (September / October) Ezra 7:1, 6 "Now after these things, in the reign of Artaxerxes king of Persia,...the king granted him all he requested." But the FIRST SCHOOL must claim that it was in Artaxerxes' 7th year, 458 OR 457 B.C.E. Ezra left Babylon with the decree on the 1st day of the 1st month, in the 7th year of the king (Ezra 7:8, 9, 13). Hence, it was signed, issued & took effect earlier. Scripture supports it: This scenario has a precedent in Scripture. Ahashverosh, a previous king, issued decrees concerning his Jewish subjects. From its narrative, we learn that Babylon had an extensive communication network: The natural sequel of events described in Ezra 8:32-36 confirms it: ********** Chronology of Jesus Wikipedia. org: Opinion B: From B.C.E. to C.E. 1 year is added. Opinion A: Nisan 458 B.C.E. - 483 years = Nisan 26 C.E. + 3.5 years = Tishrei 29 C.E. + 3.5 years. OR Opinions A are disqualified because they have the crucifixion in Tishrei. All the gospels agree it was in Nisan. They hide this blunder by omitting the months and seasons. And by inserting double years. A 3.5 year ministry for Jesus is too long. Matthew 26-27, Mark 14-15, and Luke 22-23 in detailing Jesus' public life after his baptism refer to only one Passover. And it was on the 1st day of this Passover, the 15th of Nisan that Jesus was crucified. Thus, his ministry lasted a maximum 1 year. This School ignores the war against Jerusalem which ended in 70 C.E. (9:26). Their 490 years continued only until 33 or 34 C.E. OR Luke 3:1-2 has John the Baptist beginning his ministry "In the 15th year of the reign of Tiberius Caesar." But scholars disagree from which year the count started: This uncertainity enables each School to choose "the" year that John baptized Jesus. It initiated Jesus' ministry, a pivotal point in their timeline. They assume that Jesus was baptized during the first year of John's ministry. This is also not known. ********** The Jews were a subject people. The groups who left Babylon had written permissions from the kings. Upon their arrival in Jerusalem, copies were given to the Persian rulers (Ezra 8:36, Nehemiah 2:9). ARTAXERXES' 20th YEAR DECREE......NEHEMIAH 2 Cyrus' decree took effect in 538 B.C.E. However, the 483 year intervening period (69 weeks x 7 years) ended before Jesus was born. Therefore, the SECOND SCHOOL chose Artaxerxes' 20th year decree in 445 OR 444 B.C.E. It empowered Nehemiah, via official letters (iggerot) to build the city walls (Nehemiah 2:5, 9). They must begin their calculations on Nisan 1st. But the decree is dated: The day is missing. Our Oral Tradition does not have it. Ancient histories also don't. So this School assumes its Nisan 1st, the Jewish New Year Day. Wrong, that's Tishrei 1st! Their other huddle was that 483 years from 445/444 B.C.E. ended at 39/40 C.E. The 483 years were then reduced by dividing 173,880 days with numbers larger than the 360 day multiplier: Finally, their start & end dates (Nisan 1st & 10th) were changed to Julian calendar dates: 1. Scripture has an intervening period of 483 years, not 476.38 or 476.07. Nevertheless, they still maintain that the 173,880th day ended the 69th week (Daniel 9:26). It was allegedly on Palm Sunday, Nisan 10th, the day Jesus entered Jerusalem. The year during which Palm Sunday, and the crucifixion occurred is not known. Jesus was only one of thousands of people who suffered the penalty of crucifixion. His crime was that he protrayed himself to be "The King of the Jews." It was treason against the Roman emperor. APPENDIX That the destruction of the First Temple occurred in the year 3338 from Year One is derived from the Hebrew Bible. The year in which the following individuals died brings us to 2448, the year of the Exodus from Egypt: The First Temple construction began 480 years thereafter = 2928 (1 Kings 6:1). ********** The flood waters rose for exactly 5 months. The 17th day of the 2nd month to the 17th day of the 7th month, 150 days (Genesis 7:11, 24; 8:4). The SECOND SCHOOL elaborates upon these details, and hypothesizes that the entire Biblical period had a 30 day month (5 x 30 = 150), and a 360 day year (12 x 30 = 360). They quote New Testament verses written 500 years after our Bible closed as "proof". This is their 69 x 7 x 360 days = 173,880 days calculation. But, until we know more about the calendar used during the flood, everything is guesswork: Nevertheless, our calendar during the Biblical period until today, was given to us in Egypt, 800 years after the flood: Each month has 29 or 30 days. Thus, the Jewish year has 354 days. A month is added 7 times during every 19 years. Until the 3rd century C.E., the next month began when the New Moon was seen: ********** Talmud Sanhedrin 97b "Blasted be the bones of those who calculate the end. For people will say: since the awaited time has arrived, and yet the Messiah has not come, he will never come." |