The Seventy Weeks and the Great Tribulation - The Preterist Archive

115 Pages·2002·0.6 MB·English

The Seventy Weeks
and the Great Tribulation
A Study of the Last Two Visions of Daniel,
and of the Olivet Discourse of the Lord Jesus Christ
by Philip Mauro
Written in 1921, revised in 1944
TABLEOFCONTENTS
CHAPTER1
PrinciplesThatShouldGovernintheInterpretationofProphecy 1
BibleChronology 2
AProphecyofTranscendentInterest 2
“DanielTheProphet”(Matthew24:15) 3
CHAPTER2
“TheCommandmenttoRestore,AndtoBuild.” 5
ConcerningEclipses 6
TheDecreeofCyrusTheGreat 7
ConcerningCyrus 8
Nehemiah’sWorkonTempleWall 11
CHAPTER3
DetailsoftheSeventyWeeks 14
CHAPTER4
“UntoMessiahthePrince” 19
ThePrince 22
CHAPTER5
Messiah“CutOff”.The“Hour”. 25
TheJudgment.“ThePrinceThatShallCome”. 26
Whois“ThePrinceThatShallCome”? 26
CHAPTER6
TheSeventiethWeek 29
“ForOneWeek” 31
“MySacrificesandDrinkOffering” 32
CHAPTER7
AretheSeventyWeeksConsecutive? 34
WhytheSeventyWeeksAreDividedIntoThreeParts 38
TheOverspreadingofAbominations(Daniel9:27) 38
TheDecreeofCyrusAgain 40
TheRemainderoftheSeventiethWeek 40
God’sPropheticTimeMeasure 41
CHAPTER8
Daniel’sLastVision 44
Daniel11 45
The“Thing”RevealedtoDaniel 46
ThePersianEra 47
AlexandertheGreat 47
Alexander’sSuccessors 47
AntiochustheGreat 48
TheRaiserofTaxes 48
AntiochusEpiphanes—the“VilePerson” 48
TheUprisingoftheMaccabees 50
CHAPTER9
TheKing 52
The“Break”Theory 52
“HerodtheKing” 53
“AccordingtoHisWill” 54
ExaltingandMagnifyingHimself 55
TheDesireofWomen 55
TheGodofForces 56
TheTimeoftheEnd 57
CaesarAugustus 57
“Daniel’sLastVision” 58
Plutarch’sDescriptionoftheActianWar 58
“TheCountriesandtheGloriousLand” 59
Edom,MoabandAmmon 59
TheTreasuresofEgypt 60
TheLibyansandEthiopians 60
TidingsFromEastandNorth 61
HisPalaceandHisEnd 62
CHAPTER10
MichaeltheGreatPrince.TheTimeofTrouble. 64
ManyAwakening.ManyRunningToandFro.
KnowledgeIncreased.HowLongtheEnd?
MichaelthePrince 64
ATimeofTroubleSuchAsNeverWas 65
ManyAwakeningOutoftheDust 66
ManyShallRunToandFro 67
HowLongtheEnd? 68
ATime,TimesandAPart 69
TheTakingAwayoftheDailySacrifice 69
ThePeriodofThreeandAHalfYears 71
CHAPTER11
“TheWiseShallUnderstand.”HaveThesePropheciesAFutureApplication? 72
HaveThesePropheciesAFutureApplication? 73
CHAPTER12
TheLord’sProphecyonMountOlivet 75
TheImportanceoftheDestructionofJerusalem 76
OldTestamentPropheciesConcerningJerusalem 77
WrathtotheUttermost 77
FutureTroublesforMankind 79
CHAPTER13
OutlineoftheOlivetProphecy 80
TheGreatTribulation.TheDaysofVengeance. 81
Self-inflictedSufferings 85
CHAPTER14
SuchAsNeverWas 86
Mark’sAccountoftheOlivetProphecy 86
TheAbominationofDesolation 90
Luke’sAccount.IsittheSameDiscourse? 92
Israel’sLastProbation 92
TheTimeofJacob’sTrouble 92
TheGreatTribulationofRevelation7 93
CHAPTER15
TheSiegeofJerusalemAsDescribedbyJosephus 95
TheStrangeRetreatofCestius 97
TheDaysofVengeance 97
VespasianRecalled.TitusPlacedinCharge. 99
CHAPTER16
ConcludingComments.EdersheimonMatthew24. 103
TheBeginningofSorrows 104
AnIlluminatingContrast 105
SignsintheSun,MoonandStars 106
APPENDIX 110
1
CHAPTER 1
Principles That Should Govern
in the Interpretation of Prophecy
O
urobjectinthepresentseriesofpapersistobringbeforeourreaderssomeresultsofrecentstudiesofthe
prophecyofTheSeventyWeeks(Daniel9),andoftheLord’sdiscourseonMountOlivet(Matthew24,
Mark13,Luke21),inwhichHeappliedandexpandedapartofthatprophecy.
Writingsandaddressesonprophecyalwaysexciteinterest,becausetheyappealtotheelementofcuriosity
which is prominent in human nature. But such writings and addresses are of benefit only so far as they
rightly interpret the Scripture. In the case of unfulfilled prophecy this is oftentimes a matter of difficulty;
whileontheotherhandwritersonpropheticthemesareunderconstanttemptationtoindulgeinSurmises
andspeculations,andeveninflightsofimagination.Muchhasbeenputforthasinterpretationofprophecy
whichisutterlyunproved,butwhichcouldnotbedisprovedexcept,asincaseswheredateshavebeensetfor
thecomingofChrist,bytheeventitself.
Anotherfactwhichhasbeenimpresseduponusinthisconnectionisthattherehasbeennoprogressinthe
interpretationofunfulfilledprophecyforagoodmanyyears.At“propheticconferences”,andinbooksand
magazines,thesamethingsarebeingrepeatedtoday,withlittlevariation,thatweresaidtwodecadesago.It
wouldseemthat,forsomereason,theLordhasnotbeen,oflate,sheddingfreshlightuponthispartofHis
preciousWord.Ourownthoughtaboutthematteristhatwritersonprophecyhavegonesofarinadvancing,
andthepeopleofGodinaccepting,mereconjectures,unprovedtheories,oratbestmereprobabilities,asin-
terpretationsofthepropheticScriptures,thattheremustneedsbeasurrenderofourspeculativeideas,anda
retracingofsomeofoursteps(whichhavedivergedfromthetruth),eretherecanbeanyrealadvanceinthe
understandingofthispartoftheWordofGod.
Havingthesethingsinmind,wepurpose,inenteringuponthepresentlineofstudies,tobegovernedby
certainprincipleswhich,webelieve,shouldcontrolatalltimesthosewhoassumetoexpoundtheWordofGod
totheirfellowsaints.
Thefirstofthesecontrollingprinciplesis,neithertoacceptnortogiveforthassettledinterpretationany-
thing that rests upon surmise or mere probability; but only what is supported either by direct proof from
Scripture,orbyreasonabledeductiontherefrom.Wemaintainthatitisfarbettertohavenoexplanationat
allofadifficultpassagethantoacceptonewhichmayturnouttobewrong.Foritisnoteasytogiveupanidea
whenoncewehavecommittedourselvestoit.
Infact,thatwhichchieflystandsinthewayoftheacceptanceoffreshlightandtruthfromtheScriptures
isthestrong(insomecasesalmostinvincible)reluctanceofthehumanmindtosurrender,oreventoexamine
thegroundof,opinionswhichpossiblywereoriginallyaccepteduponhumanauthorityonly,andwithoutany
inquiryastothesupportwhichcanbefoundforthemintheWordofGod.
Anotherguidingprincipleisthattheproofadducedinsupportofanyinterpretationshouldbetakenfrom
theScriptureitself.Ourconvictionisthat,whateverinformationisessentialfortheinterpretationofanyand
every passage of Scripture is to be found somewhere in the Bible itself. Were it not so the Holy Scriptures
wouldnotbeabletomakethemanofGodperfect,thatistosay,complete,andthoroughlyfurnishedunto
everygoodwork(2Timothy3:16–17).Wemust,ofcourse,appealtohistoryinordertoshowthefulfillmentof
prophecy;foritcannotbeshowninanyotherway.ButtheinterpretationofScriptureisanothermatter.
Furthermore,whereverweofferastatementoropiniontothereaderforhisacceptance,wefeelboundto
givealongwithittheproofsbywhichwedeemittobeestablished.Thisshouldbedemandedofeverywriter.
But, most unhappily, there are now in circulation many books dealing with Bible subjects, whose authors
deemthemselvestobesuchhigh“authorities”thattheyhabituallymakeassertionsofthemostradicalsort
withoutcitinginsupportthereofanyproofwhatever.Weearnestlycautionourreaderstobewareofallsuch.
ItisnotaccordingtothemindofGodthatHispeopleshouldrestuponanyhuman“authorities”whatever.
HisownWordistheonlyauthority.
2
Thesepapersarepreparedforthebenefitof“thecommonpeople”.WhatweundertakebythegraceofGod
todoistomakeeverystatementandconclusionsoplain,andtosupportitbysuchclearprooffromtheScrip-
turesalone,thattheordinaryreaderwillbeablebothtoseeforhimselfthemeaningofthepassage,andalso
to comprehend perfectly the scriptural evidence by which that meaning is established. Thus he will be en-
tirelyindependentofallhuman“authority”.
Thisisanexceedinglyimportantpoint.For,asmattersnowstand,itwouldbedifficultorimpossibleto
findanyonewhoseviewoftheSeventyWeeksprophecydoesnotrest,astosomeoneormoreessentialfea-
turesthereof,uponmerehumanauthority.Inourowncase,whenwebeganthesestudies(aboutMay1921)
ouropinion(inregardespeciallytotheChronologyofthepropheticperiod)hadnobetterbasisthanthatsuch
weretheviewsofcertaineminentwritersonBibletopics;andthiswasmostunsatisfactory,becauseweknew
thattherewereotherequallyeminentstudentsoftheBiblewhoheldanentirelydifferentview.Butnowwe
areinnouncertainty.Wehavesolidgroundunderourfeet;foreveryconclusionrestsupontheunshakable
rockofGodsowntestimony.Thisisasitshouldbe.
WewishparticularlytoimpressuponourreadersthattheproofsfurnishedbytheScripturesforourcom-
prehensionofthisgreatandmarvelousprophecyarenothardtounderstandortoapply.Onthecontrarythey
arequitesimple.Onamomentsreflectionitwillbeseenthatitcouldnotbeotherwise.FortheScriptures
werewritten,notfortheerudite,butforthesimpleminded.OurLordsaid,speakingofthisveryprophecy,
“Whosoreadeth,lethimunderstand”(Matthew24:15);anditshouldnotsurpriseustofindthatallthemate-
rialsneededforourunderstandingofthematterarecontainedintheBibleitself.
(cid:1) Bible Chronology
PriortothepublicationofMartinAnstey’sgreatworkin1913,alltheexistingsystemsofBibleChronol-
ogyweredependent,fortheperiodoftimeembracedbytheSeventyWeeks,uponsourcesofinformationout-
side the Bible, and which are, moreover, not only unsupported by proof, but are in conflict with the Scrip-
tures.Anstey’ssystemhastheuniquemeritofbeingbasedontheBiblealone.Thereforeitiscapableofbeing
verifiedbyallBiblereaders.ButfortheprophecyoftheSeventyWeeksthereisnoneedtoresorttoanysys-
temofchronology,seeingthattheprophecycontainsitsownchronology.Infactthedifficultiesandconfusion
whichhaveariseninconnectionwiththisprophecyaredueinlargemeasuretotheattempttomakeitcon-
formtoanincorrectchronology.
(cid:1) A Prophecy of Transcendent Interest
TheScripturewearenowabouttostudyisoneofthemostmarvelousandmosttranscendentlyimportant
in the Word of God. That which is of supreme interest in it is the divinely revealed time measure, starting
fromthereturnoftheIsraelitesoutofBabylonianhistoricaleventsecondinimportanceonlytotheExodus
fromEgypt—downtotheculminatingeventofallprophecyandallhistory,even“untoMessiah,”andtoHis
being“cutoffandhavingnothing.”
Theverynatureofthethingshererevealedisaguarantythat,intheScripturesthemselves,willbefound
everythingthatisneededforarightandclearunderstandingthereof;andfurtherthatthewholematterlies
within the comprehension of ordinary saints. All we ask of our readers is their prayerful attention to the
Scripturestowhichweshallrefer.Uponthatsoleconditionwecanconfidentlypromisethemthattheywillbe
well able to understand every matter advanced, and to see for themselves whether it be supported by the
WordofGodornot.
Finallywedesiretosaythattheconclusionswehavereachedinvolvenothing(unlessinrespecttosome
minordetails)thathasnotbeenpointedoutbysoundBibleexpositorsofotherdays.This,however,wewere
(insomeimportantparticulars)unawareofuntilourstudieswerecompleted;forwhiletheywereinprogress
weconsultednohumanauthoritiesexceptAnstey’sBibleChronology,mentionedabove.
Ifanyofourreadersshouldfindthemselvesindisagreementastoanyofthematterssetforthherein,we
wouldaskofsuchonlyapatientexaminationoftheproofsadvanced,togetherwiththatmeasureofkindlytol-
erationwhichistobeexpectedinsuchcasesamongstthosewhoare,withequalsincerity,seekingtoknowthe
mindofGod.
3
(cid:1) “Daniel The Prophet” (Matthew 24:15)
ThebookofDanieldiffersinmarkedparticularsfromallothers.Themiraculouselementaboundsinit;
andbecauseofthisithasbeenwithinrecentyearsanobjectofvenomousattackbytheenemiesoftruth.Fur-
thermore, thecommunications foundinitarenot,likeotherprophecies, inthenatureofexhortations and
warningstothepeopleofthattime;forDanielwasnot(liketheotherprophets),themessengerofGodtothe
peopleofDanielsownday.Theyare,onthecontrary,inthenatureofDivinerevelations,giventoDaniel,ei-
therintheformofvisions,orofmessagesdirectfromheaven.Itdoesnotappearthattheywerecommuni-
catedtothepeopleofthatday.ThusthebookisseentobenotforthepeopleofDanielsowntime,butfor
thoseofalaterperiodorperiods.HereisaverymarkeddifferencebetweenthepropheciesofDaniel,andall
others.
Moreover,thebookofDanielhastodoinaveryspecialwaywithChrist;andtothisfeaturewewouldcall
particularattention.ChristHimselfisdistinctlyseeninit,onceinearthinthemidstoftheburningfieryfur-
nace,deliveringthemenwhotrustedintheirGod(3:25);andonceinheaven,receivinganeverlastingKing-
dom(7:13–14).AndbeyondallelseininterestandimportanceisthefactthattoDanielwasgiventheexact
measureoftimefromaneventclearlymarkedinhisownday—aneventforwhichhehadferventlyprayed—
tothecomingofChrist,andtoHisbeing“cutoff”.Moreover,inthisconnectionGodrevealedtoDanielthe
marvelousthingswhichweretobeaccomplishedthroughthecrucifixionofChrist,aswellastheoverwhelm-
ingjudgments—the“desolations”—farsurpassinganythingoflikenaturetheretofore—whichweretofall
upontheCity,theSanctuaryandthePeople,inconsequenceoftheirrejectionandcrucifixionofChrist.
InrespecttotheseremarkableandimmenselyimportantfeaturesthebookofDanielstandsinaclassby
itself.
Moreover,thisbookcontains,notonlypredictionsthatweretobefulfilledatthefirstcomingofChrist,
butalsopredictionsrelatingtotheendofthepresentage.Forwehaveinthevisionofthegreatimageofgold,
silver, brass, iron and clay, recorded in Chapter 2, an outline of the course of human history from Daniel’s
owntimedowntothesecondcomingofChristinpowerandglory;andthebreadthoftheprophecyissuch
thatitembracesthechiefpoliticalchangesofthewholeworld.
Itisdoubtlessbecauseoftheuniquecharacterandimportanceofthisbookthatithasbeensofiercelyat-
tackedwithinrecenttimes,andthateveryattempthasbeenmadetoraiseadoubtas,toitsauthenticity;for
greateffortshavebeenmadetoconvincethepeopleingeneralthatitwasnotwrittenbyDaniel,orinhisday.
Thoseattemptshaveconspicuouslyfailed;buttheeffortsoftheadversarytodiscreditthisbookarestilltobe
seeninthecrudeinterpretations,miscalculations,andfantasticalviewswhichhavebeenpouredforthinthis
day,nowthatithasbecomeamatterofimportanceto“understand”theseprophecies.
AnintimationoftheeffortsthatwouldbemadetobecloudtheprophecyofDanielisfoundinthewordsof
Christwhen,inreferringdirectlytothatprophecy,hesaid,“Whosoreadethlethimunderstand”(Matthew
24:15).Butthosewordsmayalsobetakenasanencouragementtoseekarightunderstandingofthatwonder-
fulseriesofprophecies.
The chief interest of our study centers in the revelation given to Daniel in the first year of the Medo-
Persianempire,andfoundintheninthChapter;anditistothisprophecyofpropheciesthatwewishtodirect
attentionatthepresenttime.ItisgenerallyknownastheprophecyoftheSeventyWeeks(Daniel9:24–27).
Thesettingofthisprophecyshouldfirstbecarefullynoted.Danielhadlearned,throughJeremiah25:11;
29:10,thattheperiodwhichGodhadsetforthe“desolationsofJerusalem”wasjustseventyyears(Daniel
9:1).Thatperiodwasthenabouttoexpire;forthedecree,wherebythecaptivitywasendedandtheJewswere
allowed(andevenexhorted)toreturntotheirlandandcity,wasissuedby,Cyruswithintwoyears(Ezra1:1).
ThatthiswasthefulfillmentofJeremiah’sprophecyiscertainlyknown,becauseitisrecordedinEzra1:1,
thattheLordstirredupthespiritofCyrustoissuethatdecree,fortheexpresspurposethat“thewordofthe
LordbythemouthofJeremiahmightbefulfilled”.Thisissurpassinglywonderfulandimpressive.
TheeffectuponDanielofreceivingthisrevelationwastosendhimtohiskneesinconfessionandprayer.
Hisprayershouldbecarefullyexamined.Itwillbeseenthatithastodoentirelywiththecity,thesanctuary,
andthepeopleofGod,withspecialreferencetothe“desolations”ofthecity.Itwillbeseenalsothatthese
same subjects are what occupy the prophecy which the angel Gabriel brought to Daniel in response to his
prayer.Wecallspecialattentiontothis,andalsotothefollowingpointsofinterest:
4
1. God’sresponsetoDaniel’sprayerwasintheformofarevelationbroughttohimbytheangelGabriel,
whostated,asthefirstitemofinformation,thattheseventyyearsofcaptivityweretobefollowedbyape-
riod of seventy sevens (of years). The word here rendered “weeks” is literally “sevens”; so there is no
doubtthattheperioddesignatedinthisprophecyisseventysevensofyears—490years.
2. ThedecreewhichwastobringthecaptivitytoanendbyfreeingtheJews,grantingthemlibertytoreturn
totheirownlandandtorebuildthecityandsanctuary,wastobealsothestartingpointofthe“deter-
mined”periodofseventysevensofyears.Thisisclearlyseenfromtheprophecyitselfinconnectionwith
Ezra1:1andotherScriptureshereafterreferredto;anditisimportant—indeednecessaryinorderto
avoidbeingmisled—thatwegraspthisfactandkeepitinmind.Sowerepeatthattheepoch-makingde-
creeofCyrusinthefirstyearofhisreign(assoleking),invirtueofwhichthecityandtemplewererebuilt
underZerubbabelandJoshua,wasboththeterminationofthe70yearscaptivityandalsothestarting
pointforthepropheticperiodof70sevens,whichhadbeen“determined”,ormeasuredout,inthecoun-
cilsofheaven,uponthepeopleandtheholycity.Wheretheoneperiodwastoend,theother(justseven
timesaslong)wastobegin.Againweaskthatthispointbecarefullynoted.Fullproofofitscorrectness
willbegiveninournextchapter.
3. Danielhad,inhisplayer,confessedthesinsofhispeople,forwhichsinsGodhadbroughtuponthemthe
“desolations”oftheircityandsanctuary.But,tohisintensegriefnodoubt,theangelGabrielrevealedto
himthatafarmoreterriblesin,theveryculminationofthesinsofthepeople,wasyettobecommittedby
them. This was to happen within the period “determined” by the prophecy; and moreover, in conse-
quencethereof,ajudgmentfarmoreseverewastofalluponthem,eventheutterdestructionofthecity
andsanctuary,thesweepingawayofthenationas“withaflood”,and“desolations”ofage-longduration.
NowonderevefindDaniel,inthethirdyearofCyrus,stillmourningandfastingthreefullweeks,andla-
mentingthathiscomelinesswasturnedinhimintocorruption(10:2–3,8).Danielhadsaidinhisprayer,
“Yea,allIsraelhavetransgressed”(verse11).AnevidentresponsetothisisseeninthewordsofGabriel,
“seventyweeksaredetermineduponthypeopletofinishthetransgression.”Withthiswemaycompare
thewordsofChrist,spokentotheleadersofIsrael,justbeforetheOlivetdiscourse:“Fillyeupthenthe
measureofyourfathers”(Matthew23:32).TheydidsobyrejectingandcrucifyingHim.
4. ThemostimportantfeatureoftherevelationbroughtbyGabrieltoDanielwastheprecisemeasureof
time(69sevens,or483years)“toMessiah,THEPRINCE”;andthetimewhenMessiahwastobe“cutoff
andhavenothing”.Thisisthewonderofwonders,theprophecyofprophecies.
5. TheangelGabriel,whobroughtthesemarvelouspredictionstoDaniel,isthesamewhoannouncedthe
approachofthefulfillmentofthemtoZachariahandtoMary(Luke1:11–19;26).
6. TheexpressionusedbyGabrieltoDaniel,“thouartgreatlybeloved”,istheexactequivalentoftheword
addressed by the same messenger to Mary — “thou art highly favored” (Anstey’s Bible Chronology, p.
276).Mr.Ansteysaysofthisexpression:“ItisusedthreetimestoDaniel,andnevertoanyoneelseexcept
Mary;andGabrielistheonlyangelemployedtomakeknowntomentherevelationofthemysteryofre-
demption.”
7. Therevelationembracestwomainsubjects(a)thecomingandcuttingoffoftheMessiah,(b)thedestruc-
tionand“desolation”oftheCityandSanctuary.ItisafactveryfamiliartoallreadersoftheBible,that
ChristJesuscalledthisprophecytothemindsofHisdisciplesontheeveofHisbeing“cutoff,”anddefi-
nitelyannouncedtothematthattimetheapproachingdestructionand“desolation”ofJerusalemand
theTemple(Matthew24:1–22;Luke21:20–24).
Inthesesevenpointswehavethemainelementsforarightunderstandingoftheprophecy.
5
CHAPTER 2
“The Commandment to Restore, And to Build.”
“From the going forth of the commandment to restore and to build Jerusalem
unto Messiah the Prince” (Daniel 9:25)
T
he prophecy begins at, verse 24. The angel informs Daniel that seventy sevens of years were “deter-
mined”(ormarkedout)uponhispeople,anduponhisholycity,tofinishthetransgression,tomakean
endofsins,tomakereconciliationforiniquity,tobringineverlastingrighteousness,tosealupthevisionand
prophecy,andtoanointthemostholy(place).Herearesixthingswhichweretobeaccomplishedwithinthe
definitelydeterminedperiodof490yearsofJewishhistory.Intothosesixthingswepurposetolooklateron.
Butthereisoneimportantquestionthatshouldbesettledfirst.Whendoesthestretchof490yearsbegin?
Thenextversegivesthisneededinformation.Weread,“Knowtherefore,andunderstand,thatfromthego-
ingforthofthecommandmenttorestoreandtobuildJerusalemuntotheMessiah,thePrince,shallbeseven
weeksandthreescoreandtwoweeks.”Fromthiswelearnthattherewastobeatotalof69weeks(7weeks
plus62weeks)or483yearsfromthegivenstartingpointuntotheMessiah.
Wemustthereforedeterminewithcertaintytheeventfromwhichthecountoftheseventyweekswasto
begin;foritismanifestthatthemeasuringline,notwithstandingitwasgivendirectlyfromheaven,andnot-
withstandingitisrecordedforourbenefitintheinspiredScriptures,willbeofnousetouswhateverunless
thestartingpointbecertainlyknown.Itisequallymanifestthatthestartingpointcannotbecertainlyknown
unlessitberevealedintheScripturesandinsuchwisethattheordinaryreadercan“knowandunderstand”
itbeyondadoubt.Thisessentialmatter,however,isrevealedintheWordofGod;andmoreovertheinforma-
tionisgiveninamannersoplainandsosimplethatthewayfaringmanneednoterrtherein.Tothiswewill
comeinamoment.Butfirstitisdesirabletospeakofthevariousandconflictingideasonthisvitalpointthat
arefoundincurrentwritingsonprophecy.For,strangetosay,thereisthegreatestdisagreementandcontra-
rietyofopinionastotheparticular“commandment”or“word”referredtobytheangelasthestartingpoint
ofthe70weeks.Therearenolessthanfourdifferentdecrees,orroyalcommands,whichhavebeenbrought
forward as the point from which the seventy weeks are to be counted. Some able and learned expositors
chooseone,andothersequallyableandlearnedchooseanother.YettheWordofGodspeaksasclearlyasto
thisasitspeaksconcerningwhereChristshouldbeborn.
Whythenthisdifferenceofopinion?Theexplanationisthatthosewho,inrecentyears,haveturnedtheir
attentiontothisprophecy,havegoneabouttheinterpretationofitinthewrongway.Theyhavepursueda
methodwhichcannotdootherthanleadtoanerroneousconclusion.Thisshouldbeunderstoodbythereader
(andwewillseektomakeitquiteclear)beforeproceedingfurther.
Therightwayofgettingatthechronologyoftheprophecyissosimpleandobviousthatachildcanreadily
comprehendit.AllweneedtodoistoascertainfromtheWordofGodthetwoeventsspecifiedbytheangel,(1)
thegoingforthofthe“commandment”and(2)themanifestationof“MessiahthePrince.”Havingdefinitely
fixedthesetwoevents(whichtheScripturesenableustodowithcertainty)weknowfromtheprophecyitself
thatfromtheonetotheotherisjust483years.Bythismethodwehavenoneedofasystemofchronology.
Butourexpositorshaveproceededinaverydifferentway.Firsttheyhavemadechoiceofoneoranotherof
thevarioussystemsofchronologywhichhavebeencompiledbyvariouschronologists—asUssher’s,Lloyd’s,
Clinton’sorMarshall’s.Then,havingassignedthecorrectnessoftheselectedchronology,theyhavesought
firstforadecreeofsomePersianking,andsecondforsomeeventinthelifetimeofChrist,whichwouldbeas
nearaspossibleto483yearsapart,accordingtotheselectedchronology.
It will be clear upon the briefest consideration that, according to this method, the interpretation of the
prophecyiscontrolledbywhateverchronologytheexpositormayhaveselected;forheneedsmustrejectevery
interpretationwhichdoesnotagreewithhisassumedchronology.
Now,notonlyisthismethodofprocedurefundamentallywronginthatittriestomakeeventsofBiblehis-
toryfitinwithaman-madechronologicalscheme,butthefactisthateverychronologicalSystemcoveringthe
periodwehavetodowith(i.e.,fromthebeginningofthePersianmonarchydowntoChrist)islargelyamatter
6
ofguesswork.Allthosesystems,withoutanyexception,arebaseduponthe“canon”ofPtolemy,thatistosay,
a list of supposed Persian kings, with the supposed length of the reign of each, which list was compiled by
Ptolemy,aheathenastronomerandwriterofthesecondcenturyADButPtolemydoesnotevenpretendto
havehadanyfactsastothelengthofthePersianperiod(thatistosay,fromDariusandCyrusdowntoAlex-
andertheGreat).Ptolemyestimatesorguessesthisperiodtohavebeen205yearslong.Andthisiswhathas
causedallthetroubleanduncertainty;foreveryonewhohasattemptedtoconstructaBiblechronologyhas
basedhimselfonPtolemy’sestimate.Inawordthen,thereisnochronologyinexistenceoftheperiodfrom
CyrustoChristexceptintheBible.
InordertoshowhowgreatistheuncertaintyastothelengthofthePersianempire,wehaveonlytomen-
tionthefactthat,accordingtoJewishtraditionsinthedaysofChrist(whichsurelyareasmuchtobetrusted
asheathentraditionsofalaterdate),theperiodofthePersiankingswasonly52years.Hereisadifferenceof
153years,andthatinregardtoamatterwhichisessentialtoanunderstandingofthisprophecy.SirIsaac
Newtonsaysthat“someoftheJewstookHerodfortheMessiah,andwerecalled‘Herodians’.Theyseemto
have grounded their opinion on the 70 weeks.” Inasmuch as the accession of Herod was 34 years before
Christ,itisevidentthattheopinionoftheHerodiansrequiredacomparativelyshortPersianperiod.Onthe
otherhand,theopinionsofcertainmodernexpositorsarebaseduponaPersianeraofsupposedlylongdura-
tion.
Inorderthatthereadermayclearlyunderstandthesituation,anditshearingsuponourstudy,wewould
pointoutthatUssher’schronology(whosedatesaregivenattheheadofthe“margin”ofourBibles)makesit
536yearsfromthefirstyearofCyrustotheyear1AD(fouryearsafterthebirthofChrist).Addtothis26
yearstotheLord’smanifestationtoIsraelatHisbaptismandwehave562years.But,accordingtotheWord
ofGoditwastobeonly483yearsfromthecommandmenttorestoreJerusalem“untoChrist.”If,therefore,
onebeginsbytakingUssher’schronology(oranyoftheothers)asthebasisofhisinterpretation,heisforced
toselectastartingpointabouteightyyearssubsequenttoKingCyrus,who(accordingtoScripture)wasthe
truerestorer,themanwhomGodspeciallyraisedup,andofwhomHesaid,“HeshallbuildMycity”.(Tothis
wewillcomeshortly.)
ButwearenotlefttochoosebetweenJewishtraditionsandheathentraditions,ortobaseourconclusions
uponeither.FortheWordofGodshowsusplainlywhatwasthebeginningofthepropheticperiod;andwith
thatinformationinourpossession,weknowcertainlythatitwasjust483years“untoChrist.”Therefore,we
areboundtorejectanyandeverychronologicalscheme,whetherfromJewishorheathensources,andany
andeverysystemofinterpretationbasedthereon)whichconflictswiththefactsrevealedintheScriptures.
This important matter of the defective character of all existing chronologies is fully discussed, and the
factsclearlysetforth,inMartinAnstey’sBibleChronology,publishedin1913,towhichwemustrefersuchof
ourreadersaswishtostudythematterexhaustively.Mr.Anstey’sworkcommandsourconfidenceandre-
spectbecausehedisregardsallheathensources,andallguesswork,andderiveshisinformationsolelyfrom
theScriptures.
ConcerningthedatesgiveninPtolemy’stableofPersianKings,Ansteysays:“Theyrestuponcalculations
orguessesmadebyEratosthenes,andoncertainvaguefloatingtraditions,inaccordancewithwhichthepe-
riod of the Persian Empire was mapped out as a period of 205 years.” And he shows, by a great variety of
proofs taken entirely from the Scriptures, that the period which Ptolemy assigns to the Persian Empire is
abouteightyyearstoolong.ItfollowsthatallwhoadoptPtolemy’schronology,oranysystembaseduponit
(asallmodernchronologistspriortoAnsteydo)wouldinevitablybeledfarastray.Itisimpossibletomakethe
real Bible events agree, within 80 years, with the mistaken chronology of Ptolemy. This single fact makes
manymodernbooksonDanielutterlyworthless,sofarastheirchronologyisconcerned;andthechronology
isthemainthing.
(cid:1) Concerning Eclipses
AnattempthasbeenmadetocallAstronomytotheaidofthedefectiveChronologyofPtolemy,byutilizing
certainincidentalreferences,containedinfragmentaryhistoricalrecords,toeclipsesofthesunormoon.But
such references are of no value whatever for the purpose, seeing that it is impossible to determine, in any
givencase,whichoneofanumberofeclipses—withinsayfiftyorahundredyears—wastheonereferredto.
Forexample,oneoftheclearestofthesehistoricalreferencesisthatofthe“EclipseofThales,”mentionedby
Herodotus.Thiseclipseislocatedbyoneastronomerasoccurringin625B.C.;byanotheraslateas585B.C.