Teachinghearts	The Messiah (Moshiach) Comes The 2300 Years (Daniel 8 and 9) "Explore the Word. Change the World"	Statistics: Time: 150 minutes Print: 28 pages

	Babylon		Medo-Persia	Greece	Rome			Rome	Papal Rome	Europe			Europe		Christ
Sanctuary Trampled			490 Days				1810 Days					Sanctuary Restored
-		457 BC	2300 Days									1844	Time of the End

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Daniel 9 Daniel 8: 13,14

Background
This is the most important prophecy you will ever study because it tells when the Messiah would appear.

Daniel is in distress according to Daniel 8: 26-27. Although the vision was explained, he did not understand. He did not understand the significance and time of the 2300 year prophecy.
His failure to understand the full vision was is conflict with the charge that was given to the Angel Gabriel to "...make this man understand the vision" (Daniel 8: 16). Gabriel had started revealing the vision to Daniel, but Daniel could not handle its impact. He fainted and was greatly troubled concerning its meaning (Daniel 8: 27).

As we demonstrated in the last lesson, the only part of the vision that was not explained was the time prophecy. In Chapter 9, we see Gabriel returning and completing the explanation of the 2300 year prophecy.

The Big Question. How Long?
Then I heard one holy one speaking, and another holy one said to that particular one who was speaking, "How long will the vision about the regular sacrifice apply, while the transgression causes horror, so as to allow the holy place and the host to be trampled?" (Daniel 8: 13).
This a picture of the two holy ones standing before God at the Ark of the covenant in the Most Holy Place. They see the people in the outer court and in the Holy Place being trampled. If it were possible, the destructive forces would go after the Most Holy Place in heaven, where they were.
Question: Heaven asks a profound question. "How long would Satan be allowed to continue his rampage?"
Answer: And he said to me, "For two thousand three hundred days; then the sanctuary shall be cleansed. (Daniel 8: 14).
They would be allowed to work for 2300 years! No wonder Daniel fainted!

The Symbols of Daniel 8 and 9
Before we study the interpretation, let us look at the symbols.

1. Prophetic Time Symbols
One of the most important concepts to understand is prophetic time. God uses one day to be equal to one year of real time. (Numbers 14: 34 and Ezekiel 4: 6) This is discussed in more detail on this page.
The prophecies introduce a period of two thousand three hundred years for the trampled sanctuary to be restored.

2. Sanctuary Symbols
Chapter nine must be studied with chapter eight. In chapter eight, the symbols use sanctuary images and depict the destruction and trampling of the sanctuary during this period. Chapter 9 shows the details of the trampling and destruction of the Commander who is the Prince of the Covenant. The covenant is symbolized and memorialized in the sanctuary.

Daniel 8 - The Sanctuary and Feasts. The symbols are the destruction of the sanctuary and the people by the renegade scapegoat on the day of atonement.

• Sanctuary Animals. Ram and goat from the Day of Atonement (Yom Kippur).

  Attacks the Sanctuary					Attacks People
  West	North				Priests Camp People in the Outer Court Attacks Christ	East
  	North Wall			-
  	West Wall	Most Holy Place	Holy Place
  	South Wall
  	South
  The City of David in the South

• The Sanctuary. It is a three sided structure enclosed on the North, South and West. Notice that the ram is pushing in all these three directions (Daniel 8: 4). The east side only had a curtain, not a solid wall. The symbols show a destruction of the sanctuary building by pushing down the walls.
• Ark of the Covenant. Ram with two horns standing by a river. God, Ark with two angels and the river of life.
• Altar. The breaking of the horn into four horns towards the four winds of heaven reminds of the four horns of the altar.
• Goat. It is the goat, a symbol of Satan, from which the little horn grew. The goat defeats the ram in the Outer Court. This is a symbol of Satan killing Christ on the earth. Therefore, Satan defeats the forces of good until the sanctuary is restored. This symbol continues with the destruction of the sanctuary through the conquest of the people, the continual, heaven and the ministry of Christ.
• The Ark of the Covenant. In Daniel 8: 16 we see a symbol of the throne room of God with the river of life and the two covering cherubim. There is a Man with authority sitting above a river, on either side are Gabriel and another Holy one (Verse 13).
• Sanctuary Restored. Refers to the services on the Day of Atonement when the sins of the people are permanently removed and the sanctuary is cleansed.
• The People. After he destroys the sanctuary, he destroys the people. There are symbols that refer to the people.
  1. Stars. These are the saints and prophets and could include even the first fruits who are in heaven.
  2. The Territory of the Little Horn (Verse 9). All three directions are the location of God's people. It is this area that the religious power controls, the people of God.
     • South. Since God is in the North, then logically, the people who face Him must be in the south. In ancient Jerusalem, the city of David was south of the sanctuary.
       In another lesson we also show that the people in the last days symbolically run from Babylon the Great in the north to symbolically wait in the south for the Second Coming.
     • East. Although all Levi surrounded the sanctuary, the priests were camped in the east.
     • Pleasant Land. This is Israel.
  3. Commander of the Host. He even attacks the Messiah while He is on earth as the ram and in heaven as the true High Priest.
• The Ram and the Goat (Christ and the Antichrist). Christ comes to be circumcised (cut off at the crucifixion) and the impotent, uncircumcised little horn (little penis) comes to attack and rape.
• Holy Place and the People. Finally, Daniel describes the vision as the destruction of the continual, the people and the building. The vision described the destruction symbolically. A direct reading of the text does not talk about a destruction of the sanctuary. It is only as we look at the symbols that we see elements of the sanctuary under attack as Daniel also concluded.
  How long will the vision about the continual apply, while the transgression causes horror, so as to allow both the holy place and the host to be trampled? (Daniel 8: 13)

Daniel 9 - The Covenant
This chapter is less symbolic than the previous. But the subject in Daniel 9 is based on the covenant. Since the sanctuary system was instituted to fulfill the covenant, it makes sense that the visions in both chapters is steeped in the covenant and its sanctuary. We left chapter 8 with the sanctuary in distress. The enemies of God were attempting to destroy the sanctuary, the people and their Messiah Lamb. And we find that God allowed it because of transgression in the people. But what does this say about the covenant? In it God promises to protect His people, make them righteous and make them triumph over their enemies. The answer comes in chapter 9 when God sets a time when He will send the permanent answer to the question of sin among His people. The answer is the Prince of the Covenant, the Messiah.

• Sabbath and Jubilee. The covenant week and the final period were both written in terms of the Sabbath rest and the Jubilee period. This is seven years and 490 years. This is significant because the Sabbath is the promised rest from sin. The Jubilee is the forgiveness of all debt and the restoration and equalization of all people.
• Covenant. God keeps the covenant and He chose a specific time to do it.
• Sacrifice. Sacrifice and offering would end because God had no pleasure in them and they did not cleanse the heart of the people.
• Messiah. He was to become the better sacrifice that would be offered once for all humans for all times.

3. Symbols: The Trampling of the Sanctuary and the People.
Historically, the trampling of the physical sanctuary, services and the people of God has occurred with each successive kingdom. The pagan empires destroyed the physical building and enslaved the nation of Israel. At His death, Christ became the high priest of a sanctuary in heaven that could not be destroyed. Papal Rome removed the knowledge of God and the ministry of Christ from the church and martyred the church.

The prophecy symbolized the destruction of the sanctuary by these powers. Each one escalates the level of the assault on the sanctuary. It is not meant to be a description of what was done historically. It is meant to simply show that each power contributed to the destruction of the sanctuary or the service of God in some manner.

• Ram ("Medo-Persia"). I saw the ram pushing to the west, and the north and the south. (Daniel 8: 4)
  This is a highly symbolic illustration of the pushing down of the sanctuary walls.
  In reality the Persian empire helped to rebuild the sanctuary that Babylon destroyed. But here we have a symbolic representation of that power destroying this structure. How did this happen? Persia tried to change the worship and destroy the people.
  The prophetic role of Persia was a paradox. Its symbols must both depict its work as a savior and destroyer.
  » Destroyer Symbols. It still attacked and ruled Israel. It also tried to destroy the people by regulating pagan worship or death. Daniel was thrown into a den of lions because of this conspiracy.
  » Savior Symbols. The ram and Cyrus who represented Christ and the kings from the east. They represent both deliverance from Babylon and Babylon the Great. It was also the only power that built the physical sanctuary instead of destroying it.
• Goat ("Greece"). Daniel 8: 7. It killed the ram that was standing before the river, broke his horns, threw him to the ground and stomped on him and grew in power.
  This is a fuzzy illustration of the attack on the true sacrifice, Christ, by the scapegoat who should be banished. It is a reversal of the roles on the day of Atonement. The development of the four horns in all directions illustrates the emergence of a new altar system. New sacrifices, new access to God.
  The process of forcing the Greek culture on the conquered lands caused many Jews to forget their God. They influenced the priests and even took the priesthood from the family of the Levites. This caused the Maccabean revolt.
• Little Horn ("Rome"). He magnified himself to the Prince of the host, the daily was taken away and place of his sanctuary was thrown down. (Daniel 8: 11)
  This is a clear statement of the attacks against the high priest, the ministry and the sanctuary.

Kingdom	Symbol	Year	Sanctuary			Destructive Actions
Babylon	-	609-539	First temple			Destroyed the first temple (586). Exiled the people
Medo-Persia	Ram	539-331	Second temple		-	Enslaved Israel and tried to change their worship
Greece	Goat	331-168			-	Defiled the temple, forbid worship, occupied Israel, corrupted priests, sold the office of the high priest and replaced the true rulers with the Hasmonean dynasty
Pagan Rome	Little Horn	31-70			Christ	Destroyed the second temple and the Christ temple
		70-132	The Place of the Sanctuary			Jews exiled from Jerusalem. A mosque has been built on the temple mount since 715
Papal Rome		538-1798	Christ (High Priest)			Assumed the ministry of Christ as our only intercessor
		538-End		Ark (Throne)		Sits in the temple as God
		538-End		Ark (Laws)		Changed the laws (Sabbath, Passover)
		600		Altar of Incense		Ministry of Christ as our high priest replaced with a human priesthood
		1014		Table of Shewbread (Drink Offering)		Blood is spilled. People martyred in the crusades and inquisition
		1504		Menorah		Reformation. The Age of Enlightenment
Europe	Ten Horns	1844	Heaven			Sanctuary Restored. The day of atonement began

After Christ returned to the permanent, indestructible sanctuary in heaven, the forces of evil concentrated on destroying the people, their connection to the High Priest and their respect for the laws.

4. Symbols: The Vision

Type of Vision
Chapter	Type
Daniel 8: 1-2	Chazon
Daniel 8: 13	Chazon
Daniel 8: 15	Chazon
Daniel 8: 16	Mar'eh
Daniel 8: 17	Mar'eh
Daniel 8: 26	Mar'eh
	Chazon
Daniel 8: 27	Mar'eh
Daniel 9: 21	Chazon
Daniel 9: 23	Chazon
Daniel 9: 24	Chazon
Daniel 10: 1	Mar'eh
Daniel 10: 7,8	Mar'ah
Daniel 10: 16	Mar'eh
Daniel 10: 14	Chazon
Daniel 11	Chazon

In Daniel two different Hebrew words are used to refer to this vision. The words are used in several chapters. When they are used, it is important to understand what section of the vision is being explained.

Chazon (2300 Years)
Mar'eh (490 Years)			1810 years remain from the Chazon
Explain		Keep Secret

1. Chazon (הזוך). Means: Mental sight, dream, revelation, oracle or vision.
   It refers to the long vision of 2300 days which starts with the Persian empire and concludes at the time of the end.
   • Daniel 8: 1-2. A vision appeared to me. I looked in the vision.
   • Daniel 8: 13. How long will the vision about the continual [tamid] apply.
   • Daniel 8: 15. When I, Daniel had seen the vision, I sought to understand it.
   • Daniel 8: 26. The vision [mar'eh] of the evening and morning is true, but keep the vision [chazon] secret for it pertains to many days in the future.
     He did not explain the Messiah. Daniel explained the political events of the mar'eh without reference to the time division, or the religious aspects of the work of the Messiah during this period. This vision included the Persians and the Greeks. But it also appears to give some of the highlights of the chazon. But he gave no information about the details at the end of the chazon as Daniel 11.
   • Daniel 9: 23. I have come to tell you, for you are highly esteemed; so give heed to the message and gain understanding of the vision.
     Although some of the vision was interpreted, according to Daniel 8: 27, Daniel did not understand some of the vision. Which part? The only unexplained part was the previous vision of the 2300 days and the cleansing of the sanctuary in Daniel 8. Gabriel had already explained the meaning of the ram, goat, horns and the little horn. Only the time prophecy was not explained.
     
     As further proof that it is the 2300 day time prophecy that was not explained, we find Gabriel beginning his explanation in chapter 9 with a reference to a time prophecy. Gabriel now explains how the time prophecy is related to the mar'eh of the 2300 days and what happens to the Jewish people.
   • Daniel 10: 14. Now I have come to give you understanding of what will happen to your people in the latter days, for the vision pertains to the future days.
     Then chapter 11 gives the details of the vision of the 2300 days.
   • Daniel 11. According to chapter 10: 14, the angel came to explain the "chazon". All of chapter 11 to 12 is the detail about the 2300 days.
   Keep Secret. The prophecies that were fulfilled after they lost the covenant to the Gentiles were to be kept secret. The next temple, that has not been built yet, will also be destroyed and they will be exiled again.
2. Mar'eh (מראה) or Mar'ah (feminine). Means: View, appearance, the thing seen, pattern, mirror, shape or vision.
   It refers to the vision of the 490 days, part of the chazon. It is the vision about a man which ends with Christ.
   The Mar'eh was what was explained. The chazon was not explained. Gabriel explained the events from the Greek conquest of Persia to the attack on Christ by the Romans. But Mare'eh also means pattern and it is a pattern of what would occur in the chazon as the little horn attacked the people and the sanctuary in the same way it attacked the Messiah. Revelation 12 and 13 also shows this sequence of events. Unable to further persecute the child who escaped from the dragon, it attacked the woman and her other children.
   • Daniel 8: 16. Gabriel, give this man an understanding of the vision.
   • Daniel 8: 17. The vision pertains to the time of the end.
   • Daniel 8: 26. The vision [mar'eh] of the evening and morning is true, but keep the vision [chazon] secret ...
   • Daniel 8: 27. And I Daniel fainted and was sick certain days; afterward I rose up, and did the king's business; and I was astonished at the vision, but none understood it.
     It seems incredible that after the angel gives a detailed explanation of the vision that Daniel made this statement. So what was not explained?
     

     Prophecy		Mar'eh Explained in Daniel 8	Destruction	Mar'eh Patterns
     Ram		Medo-Persian empire	Sanctuary trampled	Lamb with 2 Horns	Jesus (Lamb of God)
     	Two Horns	Kings of Media and Persia
     Goat		Greek empire		Dragon from the sea	Satan
     	Great Horn	First king (Alexander the Great)
     	Four Horns	Breaks into four kingdoms
     Little Horn		Fierce king		Pope	Eighth head
     	Sanctuary Trampled	Rome destroyed the sanctuary in 70 AD		When Satan appears as the scapegoat in the false Second Coming, he may follow this pattern of the angry goat in his final attack
     	Great to heaven	Mighty but not by his own power
     	Magnified to Prince of Princes	Stands up against Jesus Christ. Makes himself a human god	Host (Jews and Christians) trampled
     	Cast down stars	Destroys the mighty and holy people
     	The host was given to it with the daily	Host. Destroys the mighty and holy people
     		Daily. Papal Rome assumed the role of priest and intercessor of the continual	Times, laws and signs trampled	Breaks first four commandments. » Sabbath changed » Passover changed » Day, month, year changed
     	Removed the continual from the Commander	His policy causes craft and deceit to succeed. Sacrifices stopped in the sanctuary
     	Magnifies Himself	Removes laws, changes times and laws
     	Sanctuary restored	He is broken without hand (human agency)	Defeated by God	Second Coming
     	2300 days	Not Explained		Sanctuary Restored

   • Daniel 10: 1. but he understood the message and had an understanding of the vision.
   • Daniel 10: 7-8, 16. Now I Daniel alone saw the vision, while the men who were with me did not see the vision; nevertheless a great dread fell on them, and they ran away to hide themselves. So I was left alone and saw this great vision; yet no strength was left in me, for my natural color turned to a deathly pallor and I retained no strength.
   Explain. The Jews were supposed to understand the prophecy that was fulfilled while they had the covenant. By the days of Jesus the Mar'eh was being fulfilled. Although Jesus tried to tell them that He was going to die they did not believe Him. However, Jesus explained some of the chazon in Matthew 24 and advised us to understand Daniel, yet He still kept some details hidden about how long it would take.

The Babylonian Captivity
This event set in motion a time table which led to the first coming of the Messiah. Since prophecy is full of signs and repetitions, this may also be a template of the Second Coming of the Messiah to rescue us from captivity under Babylon the Great and resolve the problem of sin.

(70 Periods of Time)			Unknown Time		(490 Periods of Time)
Babylonian Captivity		Freedom	Delays	Decree	End Sin				Messiah Comes
Control	Slaves in Babylon	Exodus	Rebuild Jerusalem		483 Days		3.5 Days		3.5 Days
Slaves in Babylon the Great		Evangelism			130 Days	360 Days (Seven Last Plagues)

In the final exodus from Babylon, the decree to rebuild Jerusalem will be issued by God and it must be related to the latter rain and the declaration at the beginning of the seven last plagues that all the righteous at that point will be accounted righteous forever. It took three decrees to reach the point to count down the 490 years. It takes three proclamations to restore, rebuild and finish the city. This is what is called the three angel's message.

1. First Angel (Restore). Turn to God as the creator. Restore His laws and truths.
2. Second Angel (Rebuild). Get out of Babylon. A final urgent call to the people who are the temple to come out.
3. Third Angel (Finish). It is finished! The plagues will fall on those with the mark of the beast.

The Seventy year prophecy of Jeremiah (Daniel 9: 1-2)
... When seventy years have completed for Babylon, I will visit you and fulfill my good Word to you, to bring you back to this place ... (Jeremiah 29: 10-15)

» Land Sabbaths Violated. This punishment was given because they violated the covenant to keep the Sabbaths.
to fulfill the word of the Lord by the mouth of Jeremiah, until the land had enjoyed its Sabbaths, all the days of its desolation it kept Sabbath until seventy years were complete. Verse 21. (2 Chronicles 36: 14-21)
According to Leviticus 25: 3-4, the land must rest every seven years. For 420 years they did not observe the Sabbaths of the land so, during the captivity, God gave back the land all the Sabbaths that it should have rested, seventy years. The dates show that the apostasy started around the time the temple was built and the covenant was read to the people.

12 Disobedient Tribes				Assyrian Captivity		Captive and Scattered in Babylon				Persia
1025 BC	Temple Built	985	Kingdom Divided	721	10 Tribes	609	2 Tribes	586	Temple Destroyed	539 BC
Apostasy (420 Years)						Desolate Land Enjoys Sabbath (70 Years)

Daniel's Prayer of Repentance For Israel (Daniel 9: 3-19)

The Wrath of God		Seventy Year Domination Year Event 609 Battle of Megiddo 606 Babylon invades Judah 597 Ruling class exiled 586 Temple Destroyed 539 Conquered by Persia 536 Zerubbabel sent to Jerusalem 516 New temple dedicated (609-539) Land ruled (606-536) People ruled (586-516) Temple destroyed
Event	Fulfillment
Cities Wasted	Jerusalem destroyed
Sanctuary Destroyed	Temple destroyed in 586-516BC
People Scattered	Exiled to Babylon
Land Keeps Sabbath	70 Years (609-539)

Daniel's prayer is structured according to the covenant curses. He recognizes that the people are in captivity because they had repeatedly violated the terms of the covenant and were now suffering the condemnation of the final curse, which is the wrath of God. Daniel acknowledged their sin and the right of God to give them this punishment under the legal terms of the covenant.

And if you will not listen to Me after all this, but walk against Me, then I will walk against you with fury [wrath]. ... and I will make your cities waste and bring your sanctuaries to desolation. ... And I will scatter you among the heathen. ... Then shall the land enjoy her Sabbaths as long as it lies desolate and you are in your enemies' land. (Leviticus 26: 27-35)

• Covenant. God keeps covenant and mercy to them that keep His Commandments. (verse 4)
• Disobedience. Israel had not obeyed God, nor kept His laws. (verse 10)
• Righteousness of God. He acknowledges the righteousness of God in His works. God was not unfaithful, Israel was. (verse 14)
• Wrath. Daniel acknowledges the people's sins and the right of God to send His wrath. (verse 11, 15- 16)
• Forgiveness. He pleads for forgiveness and the restoration of the sanctuary and Jerusalem. (verse 17-19)

The 490 Year Prophecy of the Messiah
Jewish Period Ending. "Seventy weeks have been decreed for your people and your holy city, to finish the transgression, to make an end of sin, to make atonement for iniquity, to bring in everlasting righteousness, to seal up vision and prophecy and to anoint the most holy place.
The Messiah Comes. "So you are to know and discern that from the issuing of a decree to restore and rebuild Jerusalem until Messiah the Prince there will be seven weeks and sixty two weeks; it will be built again, with plaza and moat, even in times of distress.
"Then after the sixty two weeks the Messiah will be cut off and have nothing, and the people of the prince who is to come will destroy the city and the sanctuary. And its end will come with a flood; even to the end there will be war; desolations are determined.
Final Week. "And he will make a firm covenant with the many for one week, but in the middle of the week he will put a stop to sacrifice and grain offering; and on the wing of abominations will come one who makes desolate, even until a complete destruction, one that is decreed, is poured out on the one who makes desolate." (Daniel 9: 24-27)

490 Years. Seventy Weeks. (Daniel 9: 24)
Remember that the angel came specifically to explain the 2300 days that were not explained in the previous vision.
seventy weeks are determined. (Daniel 9: 24)

2300 days (Daniel 8: 14)
Daniel 9: 25, 26 (70 Weeks Cut Off) Daniel 9: 27							1810 days
69 Prophetic Weeks			1 Prophetic Week
7 Weeks	62 Weeks		3½ days		3½ days		1810 years
49 years	434 years		3½ years		3½ years
483 Years			7 Years
457 BC decree to restore Jerusalem			27 AD Baptism	31 AD	Gospel to the Jews	34 AD	Stephen is stoned	1844 AD

The word "determined" is translated from the Hebrew word 'chathak' which means 'cut off'.
So, the seventy weeks are 'cut off' from the time 2300 year prophecy that Gabriel is explaining for Daniel.

Seventy weeks were given to the Jewish nation. They had just suffered the wrath of God for one series of disobedience when God allowed them to go into captivity under the Babylonians. Their final probationary period would last from the time they paid the penalty for disobedience until they once again filled up the cup of the wrath of God. This would happen when they rejected the Messiah who was to appear at the end of this time period.

490 Years. Time seems to resolve events in chunks of 490 to 500 years, jubilee time. In fact, the famous 1260 year period is half of five of these periods. This makes it related to the five cycles of curses and half way between the time of freedom. Our prophecy is concerned with the period after the Babylonian captivity was over.

490 Years	490 Years		490 Years		490 Years		-	490 Years			-	490 Years
After Babel	430	40	370	120	420	70 Years		483	7 Years	34 AD		Gentiles Called	538 AD
Abraham	Egypt	Exodus	Judges	Kings	Rebellion	Babylon		The End	Messiah			Christians	Captivity

• Adam to Noah (1656 Years). Sin occurred before the year 130, the birth of Seth. Noah preached for 120 years. So for about 1500 years after sin or 1500 years before God began warning about judgment, the world experienced three sets of this time period.
• Abraham to Israel (500 Years). Jacob (Israel) was born and it was about 500 years since the flood.
• Israel in Egypt (430 + 40 Years). It was about 500 years from Jacob to the Promised Land (Genesis 15: 13).
• Judges and Kings (500 Years). They ruled an undivided land for about 500 years (1 Kings 6: 1).
• Divided Land (500 Years). The land was divided and then the people were carried off to captivity.
• Before Messiah (500 Years). They were to wait for the Messiah while under occupation.
• After Messiah (500 Years). The two branches descended into apostasy until 538 AD when they were captured.
• Papal Rome(1260 Years). For 2.5 sets of 500 years, the church was under occupation.
• Modern Time (? Years). How long do we have?
• Millennium (1000 Years). There are two sets of this time period after the Second Coming.

The First 483 Years (Sixty Nine Weeks). The Decree of 457 BC (Daniel 9: 25)
So you are to know and discern that from the issuing of a decree to restore and rebuild Jerusalem until Messiah the Prince there will be seven weeks and sixty two weeks; it will be built again, with plaza and moat, even in times of distress. (Daniel 9: 25)
The decree to 'restore and rebuild' Jerusalem. There were three decrees for restoring Jerusalem and the temple:

• Rebuild the Temple.
  1. Ezra 1: 1-4. First decree by Cyrus in 538-537 BC.
  2. Ezra 6: 7-12. Second decree by Darius (519 BC).
• Restore the Temple Treasures and Rebuild the City and Walls.
  3. Ezra 7: 11-12. Final decree by Artaxerxes in 457 BC provided the finances to do whatever they wanted. It restored the stolen furnishings and treasures. This provided money for the sacrifices, the vessels taken from the sanctuary and allowed people to go back to Jerusalem. Ezra also used his authority to rebuild the city (Ezra 4: 12, 21).
     As part of this effort to rebuild Jerusalem and its temple, Artaxerxes also allowed Nehemiah to go and rebuild the walls in his twentieth year (Nehemiah 2: 1).

Kings of Persia
King	Reign	Decree
Cyrus II the Great	559-530		538 BC	Ezra 1: 1-4
Darius the Mede	539-536	None
Cambyses II	529-522
Bardiya (Smerdis)	522
Darius 1	522-486		519 BC	Ezra 6: 7-12
Xerxes 1 (Ahasuerus)	486-465	Married Esther
Artaxerxes 1 (Longimanus)	465-425		457 BC	Ezra 7: 11-12
			444 BC	Nehemiah 2: 1
Xerxes 2	424	None
Sogdianus	424
Darius 2	423-405
Artaxerxes 2	404-359
Artaxerxes 3	358-338
Arses	337-336
Darius 3	335-330
Alexander the Great	330-323	Greek Empire
Cyrus left Darius the Mede in charge as governor
Achaemenes, Teispes, Cyrus 1 and Cambyses ruled before the conquest of Babylon

The final decree in 457 BC restored the government of Israel to full authority and it is the starting point of the prophecy. The first two had dealt only with rebuilding the temple. It was not until the decrees of Artaxerxes in 457 BC that full restoration of the city occurred (Ezra 7: 21-28).

Three Decrees. Ezra recognized that the combination of the three decrees of Cyrus, Darius, and Artaxerxes were required.
And they builded it and finished it according to the commandment of the God of Israel, and according to the commandment of Cyrus and Darius and Artaxerxes king of Persia. (Ezra 6: 14)

» The Seventh Year of Artaxerxes. How do we know that the third decree was in 457 BC? The key is determining the seventh year of the reign of Artaxerxes.
The Timing. He came to Jerusalem in the fifth month, which was in the seventh year of the king. For on the first of the first month he began to go up from Babylon; and on the first of the fifth month he came to Jerusalem, because the good hand of his God was upon him. For Ezra has set his heart to study the law of the Lord and to practise it, and to teach His statutes and ordinances in Israel.
The Decree of Artaxerxes. Now this is a copy of the decree which king Artaxerxes gave to Ezra the priest, the scribe, learned in the words of the commandments of the Lord and His statutes to Israel. Artaxerxes, king of kings, to Ezra the priest, the scribe of of the law of God in heaven, perfect peace. And now I have issued a decree that any of the people of Israel and their priests and the Levites in my kingdom who are willing to go to Jerusalem may go with you. I, even I, king Artaxerxes, issue a decree to all the treasurers who are beyond the river, that whatever Ezra the priest, the scribe of the law of the God of heaven, may require of you, it shall be done diligently. (Ezra 7: 8-13, 21)
Ezra went to Jerusalem in this year. Artaxerxes ruled from 465 to 425 BC. We can calculate this from the following historical documents.

1. Ptolemy's Canon. Documents the reigns of kings as far back as the seventh century BC and through the Roman empire. It lists the king, number of years he reigned and the number of years since the reign of Nabonassar.
   Artaxerxes ruled for 41 years, between 283-324 years after the rule of Nabonassar. Since the list continues through the Roman empire we can work backward from known dates of the reign of the Roman emperors. His reign ended 437 years before the end of Augustus Caesar's reign (27 BC to August 14 AD).
2. Olympiad Dates. Classical historians accurately preserved Olympiad dates for Artaxerxes. These were transmitted from Xenophon and Thucydides through Plutarch to the Christian chronographer Julius Africanus.
   Artaxerxes started ruling in the fourth year of the seventy eighth olympiad (78.4) which is 465 BC.
3. Cuneiform Text. (Compiled by Parker and Duberstein), Archeological findings of Babylonian Cuneiform texts providing a relatively complete catalog of dates for kings who ruled there from 626 BC to 75 AD.
   Counting backwards from the relative dates shows that be began to rule in 465 BC.
4. Elephantine Papyri. Records written by Jews who lived on the island of Elephantine, in southern Egypt, during the Persian period. The dates were recorded with both the Persian-Babylonian lunar calendar and the Egyptian solar calendar dates. So this helps to fix the time of reign of Artaxerxes to our dating system. The records include sales and loans and other business transactions which are dated in the day, month, and year of the ruling king.
   Several papyri show that his seventh year was between 458-457 BC.

The Rebuilding
The prophecy starts with the giving of the commandment and reaches to the Messiah 69 years later. This is the seven and sixty two weeks. Some have speculated about why the prophecy divides the time into two sections and what happened in the seven weeks (49 real years). The answer could simply be their way of expression just as the old English expression of "three score and two years" means sixty two years. Whatever the reason that period of time is not necessary for understanding the starting point of the prophecy.

Most people believe that this time was related to the building of the temple. The prophecy makes no claims about what would be done during the seven years. John adds to the mystery by giving a time period that is almost equal to this time.
Then the Jews said, forty and six years was the temple in building, and will you rear it up in three days? (John 2: 20)

• Zerubabbel's Temple. It is impossible to tell when this forty six years started and ended. If we count back from the sixth year of Darius when the temple was finished, we actually arrive at the year 561 BC This is before their captivity ended. It was actually 23 years from Cyrus' command to the completion of the temple in the sixth year of Darius. It was 93 years until the wall was rebuilt and even then the houses were not rebuilt.
• Herod's Temple. It was in existence at the time of Christ is not the same temple that was built after the Babylonian captivity. A bigger temple was built around the existing structure and this took forty six years to build at the time they made that statement. History claims that the remodeling occurred between 20 BC and 63 AD. So, the most likely explanation was that John referred to the restoration efforts by Herod that improved the original structure.

However, the answer to the riddle is not important. The start of the 69 weeks is dated from the commandment to rebuild, not the successful completion of the building project. And it clearly states the rebuilding of the city of Jerusalem not just the temple.

» What is The Correct Decree? Some interpreters place the important decree with Nehemiah, not Ezra, since that decree specifically addressed building the city and they date the decree to rebuild from this year (445/444 BC).
Times of Distress. it will be built again, with plaza and moat, even in times of distress. (Daniel 9: 25)
The prophecy states that the rebuilding will be done under distress. Historically, this is what happened.

Cyrus II Darius I Artaxerxes I Year 1 Work Stops Year 2-6 Year 7 ? Year 20 (538/7) Decree 1 (519) Decree 2 (458/7) (City, walls, temple) (445/4) Finishes walls in 52 days Zerubabbel: Foundation and Temple Ezra Nehemiah Ezra 6: 3-4; 5: 16 Ezra 4:21-24 Ezra 4: 24; 6: 15 Ezra 4:12; 7: 8-13, 21 Nehemiah 2: 1-6; 6: 15 Sporadic Rebuilding Times of Distress Jesus is Destroyed and Raised Up Disciples Wait Pentecost (52 Days) Jesus Lays the Foundation and Opens Temple Church is Built at the End of Time Plagues (52 Weeks)

• Nehemiah's Decree (444/5 BC). He used his authority to rebuild the walls. This decree appears to grant more power to complete the reforms that began with Ezra. The work was being delayed by the surrounding nations.
  » Too Late. If this was the decree that began the fulfillment of prophecy, it places the crucifixion in 41-44 AD.
• Ezra's Decree (457 BC). Since the fulfillment begins with the decree to rebuild the city, critics claim that Ezra's decree only authorized the building of the temple, not the city.
  But this decree fulfilled both parts of the prophecy to "restore and rebuild". It restored the treasures of the temple and gave finances to rebuild. Apparently, Ezra also used his authority to rebuild the city until the work was stopped. Nehemiah's authorization letter gave him permission to resume the work and he built the wall.

  Jesus as Zerubabbel The experience of Zerubabbel is a type of Christ. He will lay the foundation of the Temple of God and finish it after His enemies try to stop the work. » One Year of Building. The 52 days represent either the 52 weeks when we will be protected from the seven last plagues or the 52 weeks when we will accomplish the great evangelism that will build the final church.

  
  Rebuilding the City and Walls. Let it be know to the king that the Jews who came up from you have gone have come to us at Jerusalem; they are rebuilding the rebellious and evil city and are finishing the walls and repairing the foundations.
  Stop Work Order. So now issue a decree to make these men stop work, that the city may not be rebuilt until a decree is issued by me.
  Unfinished Temple. Then work on the house of God in Jerusalem ceased, and it was stopped until the second year of the reign of Darius king of Persia. (Ezra 4: 12, 21, 24)
  The efforts were stopped because of jealousy (Ezra 4: 19-24). This is not the efforts of Nehemiah because Nehemiah finished the walls. But it shows that the people who went up before Nehemiah, during the reign of Artaxerxes, were building the city, not just the temple.
  The temple was finished by the time of Ezra's decree and all that was needed was to restore the temple articles, finish the city and walls and any supporting structures of the temple.

Nehemiah 4: 16-17 says that they had to rebuild the walls with half the people as armed guards. Ezra also records the attempts to stop the building. Their enemies succeeded in convincing Xerxes that the Jews would cause trouble. Consequently, two previous commandments to rebuild were not obeyed because of the delaying tactics of the enemy.
Then the people of the land discouraged the people of Judah, and frightened them from building. And hired counselors against them, to frustrate their purpose, all the days of Cyrus king of Persia, even until the reign of Darius king of Persia. (Ezra 4: 4-5)

The Last Seven Years (The Seventieth Week)
Sixty nine of the seventy weeks elapsed from the decree to rebuild until the Messiah. The Messiah appears during the final week. This is represented by the seven day feast of unleavened bread. The Jews had seven years to remove sin. The Gospel commission was only given to the Christians after they rejected the disciples. Then they had forty years of wandering before the wrath of God fell again on their temple in 70 AD.

• The Anointing (27 AD)
  until Messiah the Prince there will be seven weeks and sixty two weeks. (Daniel 9: 25)
  The word Messiah means the "anointed one". Christ did not officially become the Messiah until the anointing which occurred at the baptism. Anointing is done with oil, which is a symbol of the Holy Spirit. He was baptized by water and by the Holy Spirit who descended in the form of a dove.
  Then Jesus arrived from Galilee at the Jordan coming to John to be baptized by him. But John tried to prevent Him saying "I have need to be baptized by You, and do You come to me?" But Jesus answering said to Him, "Permit it at this time; for in this way it is fitting for us to fulfill all righteousness." Then he permitted Him. After being baptized, Jesus came up immediately from the water; and look, the heavens were opened, and he saw the Spirit of God descending as a dove and coming on Him. and look, a voice out of the heavens said, "This is my beloved son in whom I am well pleased". (Matthew 3: 13-17).

  The Reign of Tiberius Caesar (13 or 14 to 37 AD) Augustus Caesar ruled from 27 BC and died on 19 August 14 AD. He was succeeded by his stepson, Tiberius. The senate confirmed his position on September 18. He was adopted in 4 AD and became co-emperor with Augustus in 13 AD when the senate approved him as proconsul and princeps with Augustus to eliminate the problem of hereditory transfer of power.

  
  The seven prophetic weeks or 49 real years went from 457BC to 408BC.
  The 62 weeks or 434 years went from 408 BC to 27 AD.
  What happened in 27 AD?
  • It was the fifteenth year of Tiberius Caesar. (Luke 3: 1-3)
  • Jesus became the Messiah at His baptism. (John 1: 41)
  • The baptism of Jesus. (Luke 3: 21-22)
  • God anointed Jesus with the Holy Ghost. (Acts 10: 38)
  • "eager expectation." There was messianic hope among the people. (Luke 3: 15). Probably because they believed that the Messiah would come in the seventy seventh generation after Adam.
  • Jesus announced the fulfillment of a time prophecy. (Mark 1: 14-15)
    But when the fullness of the time came, God sent forth His son, born of a woman, born under the law. (Galatians 4: 4)
  • The first Passover after He began His ministry, the people said that it was 46 years since the temple was being built (John 2: 20). Herod began the remodeling in 20/19 BC. So 46 years later was 27 AD.
• The Crucifixion (31 AD)
  and after the 62 weeks, shall Messiah be cut off, but not for himself. (Daniel 9: 26)

  The Evidence for Christ Item Comment Decree Sixty nine weeks after any of the decrees ended during 54-47 BC to 27-34 AD. Only Jesus appeared in this time Other Messiahs Other Messiahs appear too late or too early Legacy No movement survives all other possible candidates History Christianity is the leading religion Talmud Messiah must come during the second temple period. (Sanhedrin 99:a)

  
  Circumcision (Cut off). The Prince of the Covenant would be cut off in the same way as the sign of the initiation into the covenant. His human body would be cut off like the foreskin so that He could keep the covenant. He will die after the sixty two weeks for the sins of others. Later we will learn which year and what day and time.
  
  ... But Not for Himself. Jesus died for the sins of the world.
  but not for himself can also be translated as and have nothing.
  Sometime after the 62 weeks, after 27 AD, Christ was indeed "cut off" (Hebrew "Karath" - which means "cut off", "kill" ), and he literally had nothing - even his disciples forsook him at that time.
  But all this was done, that the scriptures of the prophets might be fulfilled. Then all the disciples forsook him, and fled. Matthew 26: 56
  
  ... and the people of the prince that shall come shall destroy the city and the sanctuary. And its end will come with a flood; even to the end there will be war; desolations are determined. (Daniel 9: 26)
  Multiplicity. The word "Prince" refers to three people.
  1. Jesus: Prince of the Covenant. The Messiah is the Prince of the Covenant (Daniel 11: 22 and Daniel 9: 25). With this covenant, He came to make peace between heaven and earth by offering Himself as the permanent sacrifice.
     • People Destroyed the Sanctuary. The Jews are the people of the Prince who destroyed Him. They destroyed His body which He referred to as the sanctuary.
       "Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up". ... But He was speaking of the temple of His body. (John 2: 19, 21).
     • People Destroyed the City. The people destroyed the city when they scattered the disciples who are the foundation of the city that Jesus is building. When the disciples were scattered, it literally caused a breach in the walls so that the attacking forces could destroy the sanctuary within the city.
       And the wall of the city had twelve foundations, and in them the names of the twelve apostles of the Lamb. (Revelation 21: 14)
  2. Titus: Prince of the Roman Army (Destroyed the Temple in 70 AD). The total desolation of Jerusalem occurred as predicted. Water represents people, and a flood represents people coming by force. The Roman army came like a flood and the war desolated and destroyed the sanctuary building. Having rejected God's Messiah, the temple was destroyed by the Roman Legions under General Titus in 70 AD. He would become the next emperor.
  3. Hadrian: Prince of Rome (Destroyed the City in 136 AD). He tore down, ploughed up, renamed the city and then exiled Israel.
  This clear fulfillment of prophecy demonstrates that although it takes a series of people who represent the state, prophecy identifies the state as the entity which fulfills the prophecy. So the "prince of the city" is in fact many princes who may even be described as "the people of the prince".
  
  

  Three Days and Nights in the Bowel Thursday Friday Saturday Sunday Night 1 Day 1 Night 2 Day 2 Night 3 Day 3 Nissan 14 Nissan 15 Nissan 16 Lamb Killed Sabbath Wavesheaf Tortured, Killed Buried Resurrection Boil and Eat Swallow Vomit Jesus in the Bowels Jonah in the Belly of the Fish Jonah 1: 14-16 Jonah 1: 17 Jonah 2: 10 A high Sabbath is the merging of two Sabbaths when the Sabbath of a feast day occurs on the Weekly Sabbath.

  The End of the Second Temple Period.
  Apparently, the Talmud states the following.
  "Messiah must come during second temple period". (Sanhedrin 99:a).
  The second temple period ended in 70 AD when the Romans destroyed it.
  
  Friday Crucifixion.
  When was Jesus crucified? It was the day before a high Sabbath. This means that the Passover Sabbath occurred on the same day as the weekly Sabbath. Unfortunately, our current Jewish calendars and astronomical calculations cannot confirm a high Sabbath during these years. Why? It is because the Jews had a calendar reform in 135 AD and we do not know how this change affected previous calendars. Therefore, anyone who attempts to calculate feast days by counting back from current calendars will be incorrect for any years before 135 AD.
  
  The Jewish day was from sunset to sunset. Jesus was killed on Nissan 14. This is Thursday night through Friday evening. Nissan 15 was the second day of Passover. This is a feast Sabbath. It was also the weekly Sabbath.
  The Impossible Solar Eclipse of 14 Nisan 31 AD.
  Historical records cannot tell us when the crucifixion occurred. Various religious groups place it somewhere between 28 and 34 AD. Some try to prove their argument by trying to calculate when a solar eclipse might have been visible over Jerusalem within a ten year period that should cover His death. But such proof is scientifically impossible. Because the Jewish calendar was a lunar calendar, we are positive that Jesus died during a full moon. Nisan 14-15 occurs on a full moon every time. The darkness that occurred during the crucifixion could not have been the result of a normal solar eclipse because solar eclipses only happen during a new moon! In addition, since a full moon is half way between new moons, the Passover is scientifically the worst possible time for a solar eclipse to occur. So the dark day was a miracle that was caused by forces we do not understand.
  
  The Ministry of One Righteous Life - Daniel 9: 27.
  Jesus fulfilled this prophecy.
  Covenant. and he shall confirm the covenant with many for one week. (Daniel 9: 27)
  

  The Gap Theory Error
  #	Prophecy
  1	Jesus confirms the covenant for one week
  	The Antichrist makes a seven year peace treaty with Israel
  2	Jesus causes animal sacrifices to stop
  	The Antichrist stops all sacrifices when he breaks the treaty after three and a half years.
  3	Jesus and the temple were desolated
  	The Antichrist persecutes.
  4	Jesus is the temple and the sacrifice
  	The temple must be rebuilt and sacrifices restarted
  The Gap Theory assigns this prophecy to the Antichrist and interprets the three points of verse 27 as we describe above.

  The entire Bible is about this covenant. The "Messiah" or "Christ" is the Prince of this covenant and the use of the word Messiah in verse 25 is a clue that this prophecy is about the fulfillment of the eternal covenant. Verse 27 confirms this. Therefore, this covenant is God's covenant, not a future peace treaty by Antichrist.
  
  » The Final Week: (A Global Fulfillment).
  This week is the final seven years of the 490 year prophecy. Jesus confirmed the covenant with "many" of the Jewish people for the period of his ministry (3½ years) and then after his crucifixion and resurrection, through the early Church for another 3½ years until the stoning of Stephen after which time the gospel was taken to the Gentiles.
  Now I say that Jesus Christ was a minister of the circumcision for the truth of God, to confirm the promises made to the fathers. (Romans 15: 8)
  How shall we escape, if we neglect so great salvation; which at the first began to be spoken by the Lord, and was confirmed to us by them that heard him. (Hebrews 2: 3)
  
  » The Final Week (A Local Fulfillment).
  This week is the final week of His life. His ministry lasted 3.5 years of seven years. But when He came to Jerusalem on the donkey for the final Passover the events lasted one week and He was "in the bowels of the earth" in the middle of the week. The events mimicked the seven year period.

  Monday		3.5 Days Teaching	Thursday Night		3.5 Days in the Bowels	Resurrection	Sunday Evening
  27 AD	3.5 Years Jesus Preaches to the Jews				3.5 Years Disciples Preach to the Jews			34 AD
  Seed	Fruit Tree Grows for 3 Years				Fruit Tree Grows for Three Years

  
  Wheel Within A Wheel.

  457 BC	490 Years		1810 Years	1844 AD
  Covenant with the Jews			Covenant with the Gentiles

  This is an example of a long prophecy that is partially copied locally when a major event occurs that is a part of its fulfillment. The remarkable events of that final week and final seven years mimic each other because they are based on the law. The first fruits must be offered to God after the third year.
  Plant Fruit. When you enter the land and plant all kinds of trees for food, then you shall count their fruit as forbidden. Three years it shall be forbidden to you; it shall not be eaten.
  First Fruits. But in the fourth year all its fruit shall be holy, an offering of praise to the Lord.
  Harvest Belongs to the People. In the fifth year you are to eat of its fruit, that its yield may increase for you, I am the Lord your God. (Leviticus 19: 23-25)
  Ministers Exclusively to Israel. These twelve Jesus sent out after instructing them: "Do not go in the way of the Gentiles, and do not enter any city of the Samaritans; but rather go to the lost sheep of the house of Israel. And as you go, preach, saying, 'The kingdom of heaven is at hand.' (Matthew 10: 5-7)
  The last week of His life mimicked the last seven years of the covenant with Israel. When God came to examine the fruit there was only one righteous seed that the people had already eaten for themselves and planted in the ground.
  All the major events that pointed to the end of the covenant with the Jews followed an important 3.5 year period.
  • Crucifixion (31 AD). Messiah destroyed after 3.5 years of ministry.
  • Covenant Lost (34 AD). Gospel officially goes to the Gentiles after 3.5 years.
  • Temple Destroyed (70 AD). This followed the first Jewish revolt and a 3.5 year siege (66-70 AD).
  • Exile and Destruction of Jerusalem (136 AD). This followed the second Jewish revolt for 3.5 years by Bar Kokabah, the failed Messiah accepted by the Jews (132-135 AD).
  Death. and in the middle of the week he shall cause the sacrifice and grain offering to cease. (Daniel 9: 27)
  Christ paid the ultimate sacrifice. He was killed in the middle of this seven year period in 31 AD. By doing so, he did away with the need for animal sacrifices and sin offerings. He caused the Temple veil to be torn from top to bottom (Matthew 27: 51) symbolizing that man now could have access directly to God without priests through the atoning blood of his sacrifice. No more was God shielded from man by the temple veil. Christ had paid the ultimate sacrifice for our sins. As a result he had fulfilled the shadow of the Mosaic sacrificial law.
  Above when he said, sacrifice and offering and burnt offerings and offering for sin you would not, neither have pleasure in them; which are offered by the law: Then said he, Lo, I come to do your will, O God. He takes away the first, that he may establish the second. By the which will we are sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all. (Hebrews 10: 8-10)
  Christ had "done away with" or "fulfilled" the sacrificial law, and had established His eternal covenant of "Grace". He paid the penalty for all of our sins and satisfied God's justice of requiring a blood sacrifice for sins.
  
  » The Year, Date and Time He Died. This prophecy tells us what year He would die. But another prophecy tells us what day and time. This was the prophecy told by the Passover feast. In the Passover, the lamb would die and the blood would cover all who trusted in it and they would be passed over by death.
  So this is when the Messiah would die.
  • Year. 31 AD 483 + 3½ years after the commandment to rebuild Jerusalem.
  • Day. Nisan 14. On a Passover which occurred on a Friday that year.
  • Time. 3 to 6 P.M. The time the Passover lamb was killed. The sacrificial system also designated when the lamb would die. It was "between the evening", after the sun started going down from its highest point at midday to sunset.
  Curse and Abominations. and on the wing of abominations will come one who makes desolate, even until a complete destruction, one that is decreed, is poured out on the one who makes desolate. (Daniel 9: 27)
  • Wing of Abominations. When abominations have spread over the land, vengeance will come.
  • One Who Makes Desolate. A force that executes revenge will desolate the place of abominations.
  • Decreed Destructions. These desolations are decreed by law. The curses promise a sword of vengeance and the destruction of the abominable thing.
  • Complete Destruction. However, the destruction is not complete until all the guilty are destroyed.
  • Desolator is Desolated. So the evil desolator will also be destroyed.
  
  God brought about or allowed desolation's because of the unfaithfulness of Israel (Daniel 9: 11,18). Just like the desolations that occurred when the Babylonians destroyed the city and the sanctuary; this punishment would occur because of the covenant curse. They were hostile to God when they rejected the Messiah. In fact, the greatest hostility to God is this killing of God.
  So the desolations of the curse came. The Romans destroyed the city and the sanctuary and killed over one million people in 70 AD (Matthew 24: 15). This also prophetically applies as a type or foretaste of the coming desolation of the church at the hands of Papal Rome.

  The Cross: (כנף) The Wings of Abomination (Abomination on Soaring Heights)
  

  See how Christ Suffered the Curses for Us

  What does the phrase "wings of abomination" mean? Let us look at a Jewish translation of this verse in the book "Daniel. Translation and Commentary by Rabbi Hersh Goldwurm. Page 265-267". It states that the Hebrew word for wing is a metaphor for a "high place" just as a winged bird flies. (כנף)
  ... and upon soaring heights will the mute abominations be. Until exterminations as decreed will pour down on the abomination. (Daniel 9: 27)
  
  The abomination on soaring heights is the death of God on the cross. Even the cross looks like wings spread out.
  If you look at the words of Jesus Christ in John 12: 32 you get the same image. His death, lifted high on the cross is the abomination (the murder of God) that occurred on "soaring heights".
  And I, if I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all men to Myself. (John 12: 32)
  However, it was this abominable death of an innocent that atoned for our sins and allows Him to draw us back to God.
  How did Jesus become an abomination?

  • He Became Sin. He made Him who knew no sin to became sin for us ... (2 Corinthians 5: 21)
    
  • He Became the Abominable Serpent. As Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of Man be lifted up. so that whoever believes in Him will have eternal life. (John 3: 14-15)
    He became a symbol of Satan because He became sin. Salvation came from what seemed to be cursed.
  • He Became A Curse. Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law, having become a curse for us - for it is written, "cursed is everyone who hangs on a tree". (Galatians 3: 13)
  • He Became the Demon Goat. This was another symbol of Satan that was the sin offering.
  • The Mute Abomination. He was silent. Normally, this refers to a dumb, lifeless idol that cannot talk. Jesus also remained silent even when He was being oppressed and because they said He was guilty of blasphemy and lifted up immobile on the cross like a pedestal, He became the mute abomination.
    ... He was led as a sheep to slaughter; as a lamb before its shearer is silent; so He does not open His mouth. (Acts 8: 32; Isaiah 53: 7)

  The Final Curse: Desolations (The Decreed Exterminations)
  Until exterminations as decreed will pour down on the abomination. (Daniel 9: 27)

  The Abominations and Desolations # Abomination Desolation 1 Jesus Became sin Body crucified, 31 AD 2 Jews Reject Christ Temple destroyed (70 AD) Both Jesus and the Jews became abominations that were desolated. 3 Rome Destroy temple Mt. Vesuvius 79 AD 4 Wicked Destroy church Seven last plagues
  See the lesson on the Blessings and Curses

  
  It is the covenant curse that decrees desolations and exterminations for abominations.
  and I will make your cities as well as make your sanctuaries desolate, and I will not smell your soothing aromas.
  I will make the land desolate so that your enemies who settle in it will be appalled over it. (Leviticus 26: 31-32)
  
  This legal extermination for becoming an abomination occurred on two levels.

  • Jesus. He was exterminated for becoming sin.
  • Israel. The destruction of Jerusalem and the temple occurred because of their hostility to God.
    Jesus interpreted their desolation as occurring when the sanctuary was destroyed. They had an additional 3.5 years to fulfill the covenant. After the last Passover the generation had an additional forty years to consider the events. Just as their ancestors wandered in the desert for forty years after the first Passover, they had forty years to accept their God after the last Passover (the crucifixion). This final desolation happened when the Romans destroyed the temple in 70 AD. It is not a future event over 2000 years later. It would be an event seen by that generation.
    Therefore when you see the abomination of desolation which was spoken through Daniel the prophet standing in the Holy Place [let the reader understand], then those who are in Judea must flee to the mountains. (Matthew 24: 15-16)
    But when you see Jerusalem surrounded by armies, then recognize that her desolation is near. (Luke 21: 20)
    But when you see the abomination of desolation standing where it should not be [let the reader understand], then those who are in Judea must flee to the mountains. (Mark 13: 14)

  Three and a Half Years. How do we know that Christ worked for three and a half years?
  First, this prophecy sets the time between His anointing and "cutting off" as half a week. Secondly, the gospels also verify some of this.

  • Beginning of Ministry. Jesus started His ministry at His baptism and His anointing at the age of thirty. In another lesson we prove that He was born during the Feast of Tabernacles.
    When He began His ministry, Jesus Himself was about thirty years of age. (Luke 3: 23).
  • End of Ministry. His ministry ended during the Passover when He was crucified.
  • Duration of Ministry. He worked as the Good Shepherd for about three Passovers.

    6 Months		Year 1	Year 2	Year 3
    30 Years Old (Luke 3: 23)		31 Years Old	32 Years Old	33 Years Old
    Tabernacles	Passover	Passover?	Passover	Passover
    Baptism	Cleansed the temple (John 2: 13-15)	Heals on the Sabbath (John 5: 1, 9)	Five loaves, two fishes (John 6: 4, 9)	Crucifixion (John 11: 55-57)
    Good Shepherd	Drove away the wolves	Heals the sheep	Feeds the Sheep	Died for us

  • Age at Death. He died at about the age of 33 as required by the prophecy of the unclean woman.

• Probation Ends - The Stoning of Stephen (34 AD)
  At the end of the 490 years, the end of the seventieth week the time for the Jews was over. The responsibility for teaching the world about the kingdom of God passed to another nation.
  Look, your house is being left to you desolate. (Matthew 23: 38)
  
  At the end of this period, Stephen was stoned and he became the first Christian martyr. The Jewish people had gotten Rome to kill Christ for them. But here, the Sanhedrin directly did the stoning!
  Saul (Paul) was present at the stoning of Stephen and he was later called to go to the Gentiles. (Acts 7: 51-60)
  The message was taken from the Jews and given to the Gentiles to become the light to spread the good news to all the earth. Prior to this, it was supposed to be the Jews who God intended to be the light bearers. But they rejected the truth and light given to them once too often, and lost that privilege. (Acts 13: 46-47)
  Therefore, the kingdom of God will be taken away from you and given to a people producing the fruit of it. (Matthew 21: 43)
  » The Conversion of Paul. Except for the dating of the event by prophecy, we have no other evidence of the exact date that it occurred except that Paul's conversion can be dated around 33-34 AD. He had been working for about 14 years, according to Galatians 2: 1 when he began his first missionary journey to Cyprus and met Sergius Paulus around 47-48 BC (Acts 13: 7). A boundary stone listed his appointment as curator in Rome in 47 AD by emperor Claudius. So he served as proconsul in Cyprus for three years and was then appointed as curator in Rome in 47 AD.

The Six Major Points of Daniel 9: 24. The Work of the Messiah

The Gap Theory Error 69 Weeks 2000+ Year Gap 1 Week The Gap Theory claims that Jesus did not accomplish all these six points. Some groups claim none were completed others say only some were. Therefore the prophetic clock stopped and the last seven years is ripped from the preceding 69 years and placed at the end of time. Jesus and the Jews will fulfill this prophecy during the last seven years on earth. The period between is called the Gap. The problem is that this is illogical. 69 + 2000 + 1 is not equal to seventy. God could just have easily said 69 weeks. This theory makes it seem that God did not expect Jesus to fail at doing all the works. So being surprised by the failure, He had to postpone the remaining time until the end. The creative minds have begun to speculate that God counts time by covenants. In this way they ignore huge gaps in time.

Gabriel made six major points in Daniel 9: 24. Seventy weeks (490 years) are given to Israel and Jerusalem to confirm the covenant with these specific actions. Jesus fulfilled them as the only faithful Jew.

1. Finish The Transgression (to end lawlessness).
   Fill up the measure of the guilt of your fathers. (Matthew 23: 32)
   They were about to tip the scale of disobedience and the final curse would be applied. But one righteous Jew would remain faithful.
2. To Make An End Of Sins. This was the period up to the end of the Jewish probation. They had this long to cease being lawless, and to follow God as He intended. See Hebrews 9: 11-14; 10: 9-14.
   ... but now once in the end of the world He has appeared in the world to put away sin by the sacrifice of Himself. (Hebrews 9: 26)
   See Hebrews 5: 9. One righteous man can be exchanged for many and end all sin. This is fair because one disobedient man brought this punishment on the world.
3. To Make Reconciliation For Iniquity. Jesus did this at the cross.
   For if, when we were enemies we were reconciled to God by the death of His son, much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by His life. (Romans 5: 8-11 (Verse 10))
   And all things are of God, who has reconciled us to Himself by Jesus Christ. (2 Corinthians 5: 17-20) See Colossians 1: 20-21
4. To bring in everlasting righteousness. Jesus did this at the Cross when He introduced righteousness by faith.
   See Romans 3: 21-26; 4: 13; 5: 17-19.
   For as by one man's disobedience many were made sinners, so by the obedience of one shall many be made righteous. Romans 5: 19
5. To Seal Up The Vision And Prophecy. By clearly demonstrating the fulfillment of the 490 years (70 weeks) prophecy, Jesus "sealed" or confirmed the accuracy of the overall prophecy of Daniel 8 and 9. So He "sealed" or authenticated and validated the vision and the prophecy for us. Since the 70 week portion of the 2300 years was confirmed on earth with such startling accuracy, we should have equal confidence to unearth the fulfillment for the end of the 2300 years.
6. To Anoint The Most Holy. and the Holy Spirit descended upon Him in bodily form like a dove, and a voice came out of Heaven. "You are My beloved Son, in You I am well pleased". (Luke 3: 22)
   The Hebrew can read Most Holy One or Most Holy. As we learned Jesus was the Holy one of God that was anointed 27 AD. at His baptism when the Holy Spirit descended on Him.
   Christ went up to heaven after His resurrection to inaugurate the real sanctuary in heaven and begin His ministry as the high priest, when he presented Himself as the wavesheaf at His resurrection. So it is possible that this prophecy means that He anointed the sanctuary in heaven. The Most Holy One anointed the Most Holy Place.
   Just as the prophecy indicated, Christ's anointing occurred and the beginning of the sanctuary ministry in heaven occurred within the 70 weeks.

1844: The Cleansing of the Sanctuary
Then I heard one saint speaking, and another saint said to that certain saint which spoke, How long shall be the vision about the daily [sacrifice], and the transgression of desolation, to give both the sanctuary and the host to be trodden under foot? And he said to me, to two thousand and three hundred days; then shall the sanctuary be cleansed [restored to its rightful state]. (Daniel 8: 13-14)
The cleansing of the sanctuary occurred on the Day of Atonement (Leviticus 16: 29-31, 33, 34). On this day, the high priest entered the Most Holy Place, symbolically transferred the accumulated sins from the sanctuary (the temple) to the scapegoat, and he then banished the scapegoat to the desert. (Leviticus 16: 10, 29, 30) In the Hebrew tradition it was the last day in which they could be sealed and have their names kept in the book of life!

Captivity in Babylon	2300 Days (Daniel 8: 14) (Chazon)							Time of the End
	Daniel 9: 25, 26		Daniel 9: 27			1810 years		Sanctuary Cleansed or Restored		Second Coming	Scape goat
	(Mar'eh) 70 weeks (490 years) cut off					Sanctuary Destroyed	-
	69 weeks (483 years)		1 week (7 years)
	7 Weeks (49 years)	62 Weeks (434 years)	Christ (3½ years)		Ministry to Jews (3½ years)	Christian era
70 Years	483 Years		3½ Years		40 Years		-	-	Wrath	1000 Years
70 Years	457 BC		27 AD	31AD	34 AD	70 AD	1844	Now		Azazel Banished
-			Passover		Day of Atonement
The 2300 years and the 490 years both start at the same time. Therefore, 490 years are "cut out" from the 2300. 2300 - 490 = 1810 years.   34 AD + 1810 = 1844 AD. Seventy weeks were cut off of the longer time prophecy of 2300 days. This time was given to the Jews. It began with the release from Babylonian captivity when the commandment to build and restore Jerusalem was given. The seventy weeks would end with the Messiah. 457 BC Decree to restore and build Jerusalem after Babylon. The final decree provided the money to rebuild. 27 AD Baptism of Jesus. He was anointed by the Holy Spirit and formally became the Messiah at that time. 31 AD The crucifixion of Jesus 34 AD The stoning of Stephen. The gospel formally goes out to the Gentiles who will produce the fruits. 1844 AD The 2300 day time prophecy ends with the formal beginning of the judgment.

Sprinkling the Blood The blood was sprinkled on the ark eight times. Once up and then seven times down. Blood Given to God. In the Garden of Gethsemane, He first offered His own blood. This is the blood cast up. Blood Taken by Man. Then the people made seven wounds that shed His blood. This is the blood cast down. 1 Gethsemane. Blood from His pores that He gave 2 Beaten. Flagellum tore skin 3 Crown of Thorns. Tore head 4-5 2 Nails. Pierced hands 6-7 2 Nails. Pierced feet 8 Sword in His side. Blood and water poured out

The events of the day of of atonement began to be fulfilled at the crucifixion. They will end at the millennium. Passover, Yom Kippur and Tabernacles were being merged like they were at the first exodus. This causes the perfect sacrifice to be killed only once for all time. During this day, the High Priest is ministering in the sanctuary as He removes the sin of the penitent people and cleanses the sanctuary. The day had several important events.

• Casting Lots ("31 AD"). The priests and people selected the Lord's goat who was to die for sins. They chose Jesus and released Judas and Barabbas, even casting lots for His clothes.
  By these actions the priests did their duties by selecting the Lord's Goat for sacrifice. When they sent away a regretful Judas, they were also banishing the scapegoat who went outside the city to die by himself in the garbage dump.
• Lord's Goat Killed ("31 AD"). When He died during the Passover the curtain that concealed the Most Holy Place was torn. It is now the Day of Atonement. The only day that the Most Holy Place can be opened.
• Blood Applied to the Most Holy Place ("31 AD to Second Coming"). Jesus ministers as our High Priest in heaven, using His own blood for the removal of our sins.
  » Tamid ("Continual"). The regular daily offerings were made.
  » Mussaf. The special additional offerings of a bull, ram, seven male lambs and a goat were given.
  » Atonement. Jewish tradition says that the High Priest entered the Most Holy Place four times on the Day of atonement. He made three offerings and then he retrieved the vessels that he used on the fourth time.
  1. Incense. The most important offering was prayer using a pan with incense and hot coals.
  2. Bull Offering. He made atonement for himself. Jesus became sin. The blood was sprinkled eight times on the ark and then on the curtains.
  3. Lord's Goat. He made atonement for the sins of the people. The blood of the goat was sprinkled eight times on the ark. Then he sprinkled the bull's blood and then the goat's blood on the curtain eight times. Then he mixed the blood of the bull and goat and placed it on the four corners of the altar of incense and sprinkled the mixed blood seven times in the center.
  4. Pan and Spoon. He retrieved the vessels that were used for the incense offering.

  The Sealing of the Righteous During this awesome time, the people are being sealed. They repent as they recognize the significance of the events in heaven.

• Sanctuary Cleansed ("1844"). Finally the high priest entered the Most Holy Place to cleanse the sanctuary.
  So, we have the end of the 2300 years and the date for the restoration and cleansing of the sanctuary in the heavenly temple in 1844. So, what happened in 1844?
  1844 was not simply the day of atonement. It was one important phase in several events that must occur on that day. Jesus went in the Most Holy Place to cleanse the sanctuary by making the atonement offerings. Jesus also restored knowledge of His tamyid (continual) ministry and His role as the High Priest that were almost wiped out in the dark centuries.
  I saw in the night visions, and then, with the clouds of heaven there came one like a son of man, and he came to the Ancient of Days and was presented before him. And to him was given dominion and glory and kingdom, that all peoples, nations, and languages should serve him; his dominion is an everlasting dominion, which shall not pass away, and his kingdom one that shall not be destroyed. (Daniel 7: 13,14 RSV)
• Scapegoat Blamed ("Final Ministry"). Before the scapegoat is banished the priest lays his hands on his head and confess all the sins of Israel over it (Leviticus 16:21). So part of the final ministry will be to place the blame for sin on Satan as we restore the honor and glory of God when we lay out all the issues before the world.
• The Last Trumpet ("Second Coming"). The service ends with a long blast of the shofar as Satan is defeated.
  Satan is Defeated by Non-Human Forces. By his cunning he shall make deceit prosper under his hand, and in his own mind he shall magnify himself. Without warning he shall destroy many; and he shall even rise up against the Prince of princes; but, by no human hand, he shall be broken. (Daniel 8: 25 RSV)
  This last trumpet could be the trumpet that wakes the righteous dead.
  » Joyful Greeting. When the high priest leaves the sanctuary, the crowds kissed his hands to show gratitude.
  » Ne'ilah ("Locking"). Near sunset the door to the ark that contains the Torah remains open for the entire service. Then it is closed as a signal that the gates of heaven are shut.
  » A Feast. When he gets home, he invites his friends and family to a feast.
  • Pan and Spoon. The wrath of God will be poured out when He takes the pan of hot coals and incense and answers the prayers of the martyrs. Then He comes to retrieve His golden vessels who have been tried in the fire. We are the vessels, tried in fire, who have been praying for rescue.
  • Ne'ilah. Probation will be closed.
  • Joyful Greeting. Jesus received His dominion and glory from a grateful heaven and earth. (Daniel 7: 14)
  • Feast. The Jews will recognize Him during a Passover feast and we will have a feast in heaven.
• Scapegoat Banished ("Second Coming"). He will be banished to the empty earth for one thousand years in a garbage dump full of rotting corpses. He was also thrown out of heaven at the crucifixion because he no longer represented earth (Revelation 12: 7-10).
• Scapegoat Killed ("Third Coming"). He is thrown off a cliff. Satan will fall from the heights he coveted. He wanted to conquer Mount Zion, the throne of God.

  Access to Heaven and Earth Lord's Goat Scapegoat Banished to Earth Thrown from a Cliff Sinners Coals Trumpet Second Coming Empty Earth Third Coming Killed Cast Lots Blood Applied Wrath Wilderness Judgment Night Morning Afternoon Sunset Evening Day of Atonement (Yom Kippur)

  In contrast to heaven, earth is the wilderness to which Satan was banished after the crucifixion.
  And the seventy returned with joy saying, "Lord, even the demons are subject to us in Your Name". And He said to them, "I was watching Satan fall from Heaven like lightning." (Luke 10: 17-18)
  At the Second Coming this banishment will be to harsher conditions on an empty earth.

The Merging of the Feasts and Sacrifices
How do we know that the sacrifices for all the feasts happened during the Passover death?

The Events of Christ's Exodus at the Beginning of the "Day of the Lord" Palm Branches Trials Beaten Lord's Goat Carrying the Cross Strong Man Killed Eaten 2000 Years Wave Sheaf Waving Simon Heaven Tabernacles Passover Bread Yom Kippur for the Righteous Feast 10-15 Tabernacles Tishri 15 Nissan 14 Nissan 15 Tishri 21

• Logical. The logical and historical circumstances point to it.
  • Died Once. Christ can only die once for all (Hebrews 10: 8-10 and 1 Peter 3: 18). So the Lord's goat must have been killed on the same day as the Passover lamb and all other sacrifices.
  • Succos at Passover. When the Jews left Egypt, Passover and the Feast of Tabernacles (Succoth or Booths) were celebrated at the same time in the first month. The first place they camped on the first day of their exodus was a place called Succoth (Booths).
    Then the sons of Israel journeyed from Ramses and camped in Succoth. (Numbers 33: 5)
    They were leaving Egypt to live in temporary shelters under the protection of God until they reached the Promised Land. It was only in the law that God separated these two feasts into the first and seventh month.
• Sacrifices. During the His final week all the animals from all the sacrifices appeared symbolically to be sacrificed and the great feasts were symbolically kept.
  • Lamb (Passover). He died on Passover, during the time that the Passover lamb was traditionally offered. The innocent Lamb was tried in a fiery trial, convicted and sentenced to death.
    » Eating The Unleavened Bread. For seven days they listened to the words of life from the sinless man who was the Bread of Life.
    » End of Passover. Passover is not complete until Elijah drinks the third cup and wrath is poured out on the wicked. After this Christ drinks the fourth cup with us in the kingdom.
  • Goat (Yom Kippur). The symbols show that at the crucifixion the rituals of the Yom Kippur service were being done.
    • Two Hands in the Bowl. When the Lord's Goat and the scapegoat are selected, the priests placed two hands in the bowl to retrieve the lots. At the Passover supper, both Jesus and Judas dipped their hands in the bowl. This was supposed to be a sign that identified the traitor.
    • Scapegoat Chosen. The people were asked to choose between Jesus and Barabbas.
    • Strongman. In the Yom Kippur ritual, the strongman led the scapegoat away to the wilderness. At the beginning of the Millennium, the Strongman leads Satan to the Abyss to be punished. In this case, the strongman helped the Lord's Goat to bear His burdens. Simon of Cyrene was the strongman who helped Him and Jesus was the strong man Who bore the burdens of our sins.
      » The Identity of the Strongman. God the Father must be the Strongman at the Crucifixion because the Seder ritual shows that the Father stayed close to Him throughout the entire ordeal.
    • Veil Opened. The Most Holy Place is only opened on Yom Kippur. The veil between the Holy Place and the Most Holy Place was torn in two, exposing the room and the Ark of the Covenant (Hebrews 10: 20 and Matthew 27: 51).
    » End of Yom Kippur. Yom Kippur is not complete until the scapegoat appears live in Jerusalem and Satan is killed. Then the Strong Man comes on a white horse, instead of a donkey, to imprison the scapegoat. After Yom Kippur, those who are not written in the book of life will be killed.
    » Between Yom Kippur and Tabernacles. The Jews build their sukkah and gather their lulav. God does not begin to record their sins again until the fifteenth. This corresponds to the 2000 years after the crucifixion as Christ is building a home for us and our sins are not being counted against us because He is our advocate.
  • Bull (Tabernacles). When He rode into Jerusalem on a donkey, they greeted Him with palm branches in a welcome that copied the rituals of the Feast of Tabernacles.
    » The Wavesheaf. After His resurrection He went to heaven for seven days to present the wavesheaf offering in a celebration that resembles the Feast of Tabernacles.
    » The Bull With the Yoke. He was the bull who was tied to a yoke when He carried the cross to Golgotha and was slaughtered. This act reminds us of the Philistines sending young calves with the ark of the covenant and the sin offerings on a cart back to Israel. Then these animals were slaughtered using the wood from the cart.
    » Celebration. For seven days earth celebrated and feasted as the Lord saved them. Then heaven celebrated for another seven days as the first fruits and the offerings were displayed.
    » End of Tabernacles. Tabernacles is not complete until we receive our inheritance and settle into our permanet homes in the Promised Land.
  • Grain and Bread. His body was beaten up and punched as if it were being kneaded. He was broken, torn, lifted up, stretched out like dough as if waving and displayed like the grain offering. The breast, shoulder, thigh and wave offering were also displayed in this way.
  • Donkey. This is not a sacrificed animal, but Christ was treated as an unclean slave. So the lowly donkey was given the priviledge of representing Him.
    The donkey and the ox came to bear the burdens of our sins on His shoulders and back like a yoke. The patibulum (crossbar) was on His shoulders and the stipes (upright) was on His back.

The Events of Israel's Exodus at the End of the "Day of the Lord" Elijah's Cup Strong Man ScapeGoat Killed Fourth Cup No Sin Wave Sheaf Judgment Chained Unleavened Bread Waving Passover Wrath Yom Kippur for the Wicked Passover Tabernacles Life Death Repent Plagues Second Coming Millennium (Heaven) Book of Life Passover (Nissan 14) Sabbath (Nissan 15)

The Restoration of the Sanctuary
Three times Gabriel declares in Daniel 8 that the vision of the 2300 day / years reaches to the time of the end. (Daniel 8: 17,19,26). Therefore, any interpretation that concludes that this was fulfilled before Christ is wrong.

1. So he came near where I stood; and when he came, I was frightened and fell upon my face. But he said to me, "Understand, O son of man, that the vision is for the time of the end."
2. He said, "then, I will make known to you what shall be at the latter end of the indignation; for it pertains to the appointed time of the end.
3. The vision of the evenings and the mornings which has been told is true; but seal up the vision, for it pertains to many days hence." (Daniel 8: 17,19,26).

The 2300 years of Daniel 8: 14 stretches from the time of the ram symbolizing Medo-Persia all the way down to the nineteenth century. At the end of the 2300 years of Daniel 8: 14, Jesus reverses the effects of Satan's control over the church. Heaven has all the testimony and the witnesses that they need to convict Satan in the judgment. (Daniel 8: 14; Daniel 7: 13,14; Daniel 8: 25)

The Objects Restored
At the perfect time God reveals what has been hidden and He restores what has been broken.

• Sanctuary. The sanctuary was destroyed by Babylon and then by Rome in 70 AD. The importance of the sanctuary, its laws and services are restored after 1844. We recognize that there is an indestructible temple in heaven. We also recognize a body of evidence that will restore the High Priest to His people. This evidence has been obscured for thousands of years because its significance was not understood. Now at the end of time, after the dragon has tried to destroy knowledge, after the skeptics have denied that Jesus Christ even existed, after the skeptics have claimed that the disciples wrote lies and made fanciful and arbitrary connection to prove their Messiah, we find a body of cohesive evidence taken out of the laws, prophets and sanctuary and kept by the Jews which prove that Jesus is the Messiah that even the disciples did not write about.
• Furniture and Holy Objects. The knowledge about the objects in the sanctuary will be restored. The one atoning sacrifice, true baptism, the light of the word of God, the seder, the importance of personal prayer, the covenant and the Ten Commandments and our role as a nation of priests.
• People. The people were rejected in 34 AD and the church was split into two groups. The new covenant was made with the Gentiles. But the people of the old covenant were given another task that would help to reconcile the church, restore their dignity and restore the sanctuary at the end of time. Ironically, the people who rejected the Messiah were given the task of keeping the evidence that proved that Jesus is the Messiah! So the two branches of the church will be reunited under the High Priest as the people of the old covenant regain their light and lead the people of the new covenant before the Second Coming.
• Priest. The High Priest Who was rejected by the people in 31 AD is now recognized as the High Priest by the entire nation of global Israel (Jews and Gentiles).

Disassembling and Reassembling the Sanctuary

Ark of the Covenant	Scapegoat Attacks		The Little Horn Attacks				Holy Objects Arrive
	Moses Aaron	Judah		Gershon	Merari	Reuben		Kohath	Joseph	Dan
Led by Christ (Priest and King)			Sanctuary Destroyed			Affliction	Sanctuary Restored		People Blessed	People Cursed
			Christ Killed			Peter's Denial
Covenant in Gethsemane	Tried by Priests		Trial, Beaten		Calvary	Abandoned	Resurrected		Reunion	Revenge
	Arrested by Rome		31 AD	Crucifixion		1260 Years	1844	Laws Restored		Plagues

This prophecy follows the law on disassembling and reassembling the sanctuary (Numbers 10). According to the rules, we can also see the restoration of the sanctuary as meaning not just that it was being cleansed on the Day of Atonement, but it was rebuilt. This law also demonstrates that part of the restoration of the sanctuary is a restoration of its objects, including the furniture, commandments and uncorrupted feasts before the arrival of a special generation of people.
The Ministry of the Southern Priests. Then the Kohathites set out, carrying the holy objects; and the tabernacle was set up before their arrival. (Numbers 10: 21)
The Kohathites were Levites who camped in the south. It suggests that this ministry of the southern priests will occur when the church flees from Babylon the Great in the north to the south.
So before the world is faced with the other truths about the sanctuary, it must be rebuilt and cleansed. Then we will learn about the laws, the ceremonies and how they prophesy about Christ and our future by some special people who lead the tribes of Joseph, Manasseh and Benjamin. This future includes persecution by a serpent, wrath, death, resurrection and a pillar of fire.

The Evidence For Jesus Christ As The Messiah
In our next lesson we will show all the evidence from the law and the prophets that Jesus is the Messiah. Some of it is new and even more convincing and more comprehensive than the traditionally accepted evidence.
Here we will deal with the evidence that is related to time and candidates.

First Temple					Second Temple Period															Heavenly Temple
-	The First Decree by Cyrus													Too late
-	1		The Second Decree by Darius															Too late
			2		The Third Decree by Artaxerxes																Too late
					3		4		Too early		Messianic Period					Jews		Gentiles Called			Too late
																-	-
586 BC	538 BC		519 BC		457 BC		444 BC		Judas Maccabee 160 BC	125 BC	55 BC	36 BC	27 AD	Jesus Christ		31 AD	34 AD	40 AD	Temple Destroyed 70 AD	110 AD	Shimon Bar Kokhba 132-135 AD	Sabbatai Zvi 1665 AD
									Too early	125 BC Only Possible Messianic Period 110 AD											Too Late
	Real Time									Prophetic Time											2300 Days Continue
Judah	Gentiles							Hasmonean 168-37				House of Herod 37BC-70AD								Gentiles
Babylon					Sanhedrin																	-
We know that the Messiah will appear at the end of the 69 weeks after one of these decrees (55 BC to 31 AD). If we assume that we did not know what age He will be at that point, it will be reasonable to give a range of forty years to seventy years on either side of the date of the end of all three decrees for Him to be possibly alive. Messianic Period. Therefore, if we allow a maximum range of seventy years, the only possible Messianic period in prophetic time is 125 BC to 110 AD. Only Jesus appeared in this period or within 100 years of the outer limits.

The prophecy says that the Messiah should appear sixty nine weeks after a decree to rebuild Jerusalem. There were three decrees. Assuming any of the three decrees could be correct, we must look at what evidence there is for another possible candidate.

The Timing of the Three Decrees.
These are the times during which the Messiah could possibly appear. The Messiah should appear during week sixty nine. We do not know what age he will be, therefore we will assume that he could be any age up to about seventy years. Assuming that we also do not know which of the three decrees is the one prophesied, and assuming that the time could be real time (one day is one day) or prophetic time (one day is one year), then we can establish the range of years in which the Messiah must appear.
If any of the three decrees are correct then the Messiah must appear within a reasonable time, sixty nine weeks of real time or (483 prophetic years) after the decrees were issued. And He must die three and a half years later.
There are six to eight possible time periods, four real times and four prophetic times if you also count the decree of Artaxerxes in 445/444 BC.

• Prophetic Time (538 BC - 44 AD). 483 years after the decrees are 55-51 BC, 36-32 BC, 27-31 AD and 40-44.
  The point is, no matter which decree is used, only Jesus appeared in this period. And only Jesus appeared within seventy years before or after any of these dates (125 BC - 110 AD), covering the total possible lifespan.
  Judas Maccabee appeared 100 years too early and no one considers him to be the Messiah. Bar-Kokhba appeared 100 years after but no movement survives him either. All the other candidates appeared too late and no movement survives them. They had no visible effect on the future. Only Jesus did.
• Real Time (538 BC - 457 BC and 444 BC). The Messiah should have appeared within two to six years of one of the decrees. This is 544-532, 525-513, 463-451 and 450-438. He did not appear between 544 BC and 438 BC. The major Jewish champions in those times were Zerubabbel, Nehemiah and Ezra, but they did not claim to be the Messiah and nobody recognized them as such.

The Candidates. These are the best possible candidates throughout history.

1. Zerubabbel. Using real time, Zerubabbel (521 BCE-485), a descendant of David, was a type of Christ who would rebuild the house of God. His partial fulfillment of the attributes serve only as a sign of the Messiah on the day God overthrew kingdoms, principalities and powers at the crucifixion.
   Messianic Sign. On that day, says the Lord of hosts, I will take you, O Zerubbabel my servant, the son of Shealtiel, says the Lord, and make you like a signet ring; for I have chosen you, says the Lord of hosts. (Haggai 2: 23)
2. Judas Maccabee. A leader in the Maccabean revolt in 167 BC when the Greeks desecrated the temple under Antiochus Epiphenes. He was killed in 160 BC in the battle of Elasa. No movement survives him. He did not claim to be the Messiah.
   » Hasmonean Dynasty. Alexander Balas the Greek ruler, awarded his brother Jonathan the office of priest and later king in the Hasmonean dynasty. His father Mattathias was a lesser priest of the line of Jehoiarib, but not from the line of Zadok who should be priests. They were not from the line of David.
3. Jesus Christ. He said that He was the Messiah. He even said that He is God. He was crucified after a three and a half year ministry in 31. AD, but a worldwide movement survives Him. Thirty percent of the world is Christian.
4. Jewish Messiahs (30-100 AD). These messiahs are on time but no movement survives them and they do not meet other requirements.
   • Theudas (44-46). He led an unsuccessful revolt with about 400 people.

   It came to pass, while Cuspius Fadus was procurator of Judea, that a certain charlatan, whose name was Theudas, persuaded a great part of the people to take their effects with them, and follow him to the Jordan river; for he told them he was a prophet, and that he would, by his own command, divide the river, and afford them an easy passage over it. Many were deluded by his words. However, Fadus did not permit them to make any advantage of his wild attempt, but sent a troop of horsemen out against them. After falling upon them unexpectedly, they slew many of them, and took many of them alive. They also took Theudas alive, cut off his head, and carried it to Jerusalem. Josephus (Jewish Antiquities 20.97-98)

   • Judas the Galilean. He is mentioned in the bible along with Theudas as unsuccessful movements.
   For some time ago Theudas rose up claiming to be somebody, and a group of about four hundred men joined up with him. But he was killed and all who followed him were dispersed and came to nothing. After this man Judas of Galilee rose up in the days of the census and drew away some people after him. He too perished and all those who followed him were scattered. (Acts 5: 36-38)
   • Menahem ben Judah (70). A zealot who led a revolt at Masada. He was killed as a result of a conspiracy by another zealot.
5. Shimon Bar Kokhba (132-135). The high priest, Rabbi Akiva, said that he was the Messiah. He started a three and a half year revolt against the Roman occupation. He was killed and the Jews were exiled from Israel and the land renamed Palestine. No movement survives him.
6. Other Jewish Messiahs. These messiahs are too late and no movement survives them.

   133-135	440	684-705	720-723	Crusades	1160	1240
   Bar Kokhba	Moses of Crete	Abu 'Isa	Serene	Several Messiahs	David Alroy (Alrui)	Abraham Abulafia

   • Moses of Crete. The Messiah was expected in 440 because of a computation found in the Talmud and the problems of the declining Roman empire pointed to signs of the times. A man appeared in Crete who promised to lead the people through the sea back to Palestine. On the day of their exodus they threw themselves into the sea and they either drowned or had to be rescued.
7. Shabbatai Zvi (Zevi). In 1665, a Turkish Jew who thought that he could get the Muslims to return Palestine to the Jews. He converted to Islam after he was threatened with death or conversion. This was a very important global movement that led to several claims by subsequent followers to be the Messiah or the reincarnation of Zevi.

   1295	1413	1502	1524-1532	1534-1572	1665-1755	1980's-1994
   Nissim ben Abraham	Moses Botarel of Cisneros	Asher Lemmlein	David Reuveni and Solomon Molko	Isaac Luria	Zevi and his followers	Menachem Mendel Schneerson
   1626-1676 Followers of Zevi 1678-1683 1726-1755 Sabbatai Zevi Barukhia Russo, Miguel (Abraham) Cardoso (1630-1706), Jacob Querido, Löbele Prossnitz Mordecai Mokia Jacob Frank

The Deadline. Many prophecies indicate that the Messiah must come before the destruction of the second temple in 70 AD and the city of Jerusalem in 136 AD.

• The Destruction of the Temple. The Messiah must come before the temple and the city are destroyed.
  ... and the people of the prince who is to come will destroy the city and the sanctuary. (Daniel 9: 26)
  When Daniel had this vision he was a slave in Babylon, taken there after the destruction of the first temple. So the vision must be about a future temple.
• The Second Temple. The glorious Messiah visits the inferior temple built after the people returned from Babylon.
  Inferior Temple. Who is left among you who saw this temple in its former glory? And how do you see it now? Does it not seem to you like nothing in comparison?
  Messiah Brings Glory to This Temple. The latter glory of this house will be greater than the former, says the LORD of hosts, and in this place I will give peace, declares the LORD of hosts. (Haggai 2: 3, 9)
  Since this temple was destroyed in 70 AD, the Messiah must have come before then bringing honor, glory and peace. Herod had just completed an expensive remodeling project so that this also makes the temple glorious in its last days. This prophecy settles the question of whether the prophecy was referring to a future temple.
  
  Other prophecies state that the Lord will come to the temple. When Jesus rode through the east gates towards the temple, the people blessed Him from the Temple.
  Blessed is He Who comes in the name of the Lord. We have blessed You from the house of the Lord. (Psalm 118: 26)
  ... And the Lord whom you seek will suddenly come to His temple ... (Malachi 3: 1)
• The Tribe of Judah. Shiloh (the One sent) must come when Judah was still identifiable as a tribe.
  Shiloh Comes. The scepter shall not depart from Judah, nor a ruler's staff from between his feet until Shiloh comes, and to him shall be the obedience of the peoples. (Genesis 49: 10)
  When Jacob made this prophecy Judah was not king, yet the blessing recognized the monarchy as belonging to him, the fourth son. In fact Saul, from the tribe of Benjamin was the first king. In addition, a son of David from the tribe of Judah will be on the throne forever, apparently contradicting this prophecy. So when did the scepter depart from Judah and what does that phrase mean if Judah will be on the throne for eternity?
  • Jewish Kings During The Times of The Gentiles. Israel was ruled by a succession of Gentile oppressors after Babylon. During the Greek occupation there were other illegitimate kings. First, the Hasmoneans (Maccabeans) from the tribe of Levi occupied the throne. Then during the Roman occupation the Herodians (Idumeans or Edomites), descendants of Esau, became the kings and ended with Agrippa II who was exiled around 70 AD.
    » The Sanhedrin (The Court). The tribe of Judah was identifiable during this period even if they were not on the throne. The Sanhedrin is believed to have been begun by Ezra and was ruled by the house of David. So the law givers from the house of David existed when Shiloh came and their leadership gave the Jews some autonomy even though the occupiers appointed kings, high priests and local governors.
  • The Prophecy of the Rule of Edom. Obadiah and other prophecies predict that the Edomites would rule Israel when the Messiah came and would help the enemies of Israel. The House of Herod were descended from the Edomites (Esau) and they were placed on the throne of Israel by Rome. The Herodian kings were responsible for the death of Jesus and some disciples.
  • The Tribe of Judah. Judah became a major tribe after the Assyrian captivity captured ten tribes. After the destruction of the records in 70 AD, the exile of the nation in 136 AD and 2000 years of obscurity, the ability of an individual to identify with the tribe is gone. So Shiloh must have come.
  • The Scepter of the New Covenant. Shiloh means "until he comes to whom it belongs". Jesus is the owner of the scepter of Judah. The blood of Jesus is the blood of the new covenant. The scepter or stick of Judah was now joined with Joseph. Judah was no longer the exclusive line of the monarchy. In fact, Joseph seems to have preeminence as he claims a double inheritance.
    The Scepter. ... Look, I will take the stick of Joseph which is in the hand of Ephraim ... and I will put them with the stick of Judah, and make them one stick, and they will be one in My hand. (Ezekiel 37: 19)
    However, look at the remarkable way in which two seemingly opposing prophecies were fulfilled. The scepter departed from Judah, but a Son of David from the tribe of Judah is on the throne forever with a new scepter that is partly Judah!
  • The Gathering of the Peoples. He will gather the people and they will obey Him.
• The Second Temple Period. Jewish tradition in the Talmud states that the Messiah should appear during the Second Temple Period. This period lasted from around 515 BC to 70 AD. Only Zerubabbel, Judas Maccabee and Christ meet this requirement, Bar-Kokhba did not.

The Works of the Messiah. The Messiah is associated with certain works, some of which appear to conflict. He also has an established lineage.

Requirements Fulfilled by The Major Candidates Type of Time → Real Prophetic Time Too Late Year → 521BC 167BC 31 AD 132 AD 1665 All Future Candidate Zerub Judas Jesus Kokhba Zvi Second Temple On Time Line of David Miracles, Works 3.5 or 7 Years Redemption Rejected Suffer Successful Conqueror Zerubabbel fulfilled some of the signs around 521 BC

• The Line of David. We know that Jesus was from the line of David through both Mary and His step-father Joseph. Judah Maccabee is from the tribe of Levi. They were priests who illegally took away the throne from the Davidic line. Bar-Kokbah and Zvi cannot trace their lineage because the temple records were destroyed.
  » Bar-Kokbah. However, since the Jews at that time thought that Bar-Kokbah might be the Messiah, we will assume that he was from the line of David.
  » The Temple Records. Since the temple records were destroyed in 70 AD no one can accurately establish their lineage anymore. Therefore, they cannot prove their ancestry to David as a requirement for being the Messiah.
  The gospels of Matthew and Luke establish His lineage to David through Joseph and Mary. Judging by the initial reception that He received, Jesus must have met this qualification. This historical acknowledgement should also be proof that substitutes for the subsequent loss of the records.
• 3.5 to 7 Year Period. An important period of 3.5 or seven years is associated with His works.
• The Work of the Messiah. Only Jesus fulfilled all the works that were to be done by the Messiah. No other candidates had miracles attributed to them except for the miracle of the Hannukah lights which occurred during the Maccabean revolt. But the miracle was not attributed to Judas or any of his brothers.
• The Suffering Messiah. Only Jesus appeared to experience a life as the lamb of God. The Jews objected to this conquered Messiah. But the overwhelming evidence in the laws and feasts are that the Messiah would suffer.
• The Conquering Messiah. No one has fulfilled this yet. Technically, Jesus did conquer death with His death and He dethroned our enemy Satan.
  But the prophecies are clear that He must also destroy all enemies. Jesus says that He will appear as a physical conqueror when He returns. None of the prophecies disallow Him from fulfilling the prophecies in this manner with separate appearances.
  The major Jewish objection to Jesus is that He did not conquer their enemies. But no other future champion for the Jews can claim to be the Messiah because he would be too late to fulfill the other Messianic duties. The time is over and the temple is gone. No future Messiah can come to a rebuilt temple, because the Messiah must come to the second temple which is already destroyed. No other past Messiah candidate has met this criterion either.
  Therefore, the Jews must look for their Messiah in the past, before 70 AD And they must reevaluate any objections that they have to the possible candidates as conquering Messiahs.

Law of Vengeance: The Punishment of the Enemies of Christ.
I will also bring upon you a sword which will execute vengeance for the covenant; and when you gather together into your cities, I will send pestilence among you, so that you will be delivered into your enemies' hands. (Leviticus 26: 25)
The temple was destroyed 40 years after Christ was killed. Rome was plagued with destruction 49 years after the crucifixion and Israel was exiled from Jerusalem 105 years (3.5 prophetic months) after the crucifixion. All seem to develop over a three to four year period. However, these events do not appear within the 490 year time period, yet we recognize that all these events are somehow connected to it in some sort of definite time table. How are they related and why did God wait so long?

• Mother and Child. You are not allowed to kill a mother and child on the same day or take the mother and leave the helpless child to die. You can take the child and leave the mother.
  The Bird in the Field. If you happen to come upon a bird's nest along the way, in any tree or on the ground, with young ones or eggs, and the mother sitting on the young ones or on the eggs, you shall not take the mother with the young.
  You shall certainly let the mother go, but the young you may take for yourself, in order that it may be well with you and that you may prolong your days. (Deuteronomy 22: 6-7)
  Doves take only two or three sticks to make a nest. The cross was the nest lifted up on high tree at the crucifixion and it was the two sticks that made the nest when the cross fell on the ground on the road to Calvary. Israel was the mother sitting on the child, Christ. She was set free while Christ was taken and killed.
  » The Sacrificed Animal. Whether it is an animal in the field or one dedicated for sacrifice, both mother and child cannot be killed on the same day (Leviticus 22: 27-28 and Exodus 34: 26).
• Vengeance for the Covenant. The law promises that vengeance will come and Christ said that it will begin with the siege of Jerusalem.
  Days of Vengeance. But when you see Jerusalem surrounded by armies, then recognize that her desolation is near ... because these are days of vengeance, so that all things which are written will be fulfilled. (Luke 21: 20, 22)
  God still reserves the right of vengeance but He has taken that right away from us. Judas, the priests, Israel, Rome, Herod, Nero, Titus and Roman soldiers suffered the same fate as the innocent Man whom they condemned and the people they destroyed.
  God's Vengeance. Never take your own revenge, beloved, but leave room for the wrath of God, for it is written, "Vengeance is mine, I will repay" says the Lord. (Romans 12: 19)
• Three Years. According to the law, iniquity is visited on the third or fourth generation (Deuteronomy 5: 8-10) and vengeance is settled by the third and fourth generation and lasts 3.5 years.
  Since vengeance is based on "an eye for an eye", the punishment determined for the enemies of Christ follows the same pattern as the injustice heaped upon Christ.

Iniquity Complete Days of Vengeance for the Covenant Messiah Destroyed Sanctuary Destroyed Land Taken Christ (31 AD) Judas (34 AD) Israel (66-70 AD) Rome (79-81 AD) Exiled (136) 455 Stephen Broken Dead Hung Stoned Siege Sanhedrin Treasures Temple Vesuvius Disasters Jerusalem Rome Darkness - Blood Fire Smoke Fire - Messianic Judaism (1850) Sanctuary Restored (1844 AD) Zionism (1882-1948) Israel (1948)

These events must not be confused with the real fulfillment, neither must they be dismissed as irrelevant. Any similarity to the prophecy by other individuals or powers or events is as a result of the law of vengeance on those who are directly connected to the events of the crucifixion.
At the end of the 2300 day prophecy in 1844, the restoration of Israel seems to follow this same schedule.
Sanctuary studies among Christians began in the 1840's. Messianic Judaism started in 1850. Zionism restored the language and the hope in the people until a permanent homeland was established in 1948 and the exiles returned.

The Desolations of Israel: The Destruction of Jerusalem and the Temple in 70AD
... and the people of the prince who is to come will destroy the city and the sanctuary. And its end will come with a flood. Even to the end there will be war. Desolations are determined. (Daniel 9: 26)

Desolation of the Sanhedrin The people suffered just like Jesus. From the Bible and the account of Josephus these are the details. Judas the Traitor He was disemboweled and hung in the garbage dump. (Matthew 27: 5. Acts 1: 18-19) Pilate Killed Himself in Italy In 36 AD Pilate was fired for cruelty and died in 37 AD King Eaten by Worms In 44, Herod Agrippa 1 was eaten by worms immediately after the people called him a god (Acts 12: 23) Siege Jerusalem was surrounded Famine and Cannibalism Women ate their own children High Priest Wrongly Accused The high priest Matthias, the third generation and the grandson of Annas, was wrongly accused of treason by his own people Sanhedrin Massacred Three of Matthias' sons were killed before him. Then he and 16 other members of the Sanhedrin were executed Mass Crucifixions People who tried to find food at night were beaten, tortured and crucified until there was no more wood to make crosses Temple Burned (70 AD) The temple was destroyed Saducees (Priests) Exiled when temple fell House of Herod (70 AD) Exiled when people revolted Trees Destroyed The trees were cut down and the land salted in 71 AD City Destroyed (136 AD) Jerusalem was destroyed and renamed by Hadrian People Exiled The people were exiled in 136 AD for over 100 years

» The Desolation of The Sanhedrin (The Malicious Court).
Technically, the Jews did not sin when they caused the Messiah to die. According to the law the Lord's goat must die and the Jewish priests were asked to kill the goat. So God could not punish them because He died. However, they were punished for injustice.
Malicious Witness Punished. The judge shall investigate thoroughly, and if the witness is a false witness and he has accused his brother falsely, then you shall do to him just as he had intended to do to his brother. Thus you shall purge the evil from among you. (Deuteronomy 19 : 18-19)
They used false witnesses to bring the charge which caused His death, therefore, they suffered the same pattern of punishments as Christ experienced. The punishment for perjury in court is the same as the "eye for eye" justice. Except for His body being eaten by worms, the people and leaders suffered like Jesus.
After the nation of Israel rejected Christ, they had three and a half years of ministry from the disciples. After they stoned Stephen, and the Gospel legally went to the Gentiles, they had another forty years before the temple was destroyed by the Romans, fulfilling the prophecy of Daniel.
... and the people of the prince who is to come will destroy the city and the sanctuary. (Daniel 9: 26)
Destruction also came to the high priest Matthias, the grandson of Annas, in the third and fourth generation as the third commandment required.
... visiting the iniquity of the fathers on the children, and on the third and fourth generation of those who hate Me. (Deuteronomy 5: 9)
Beginning on Passover (April 14, 70 AD or Nisan 17) Titus besieged the temple from April to September. On Tisha B'av (9th Av or August 10), the temple began to burn. Titus finally had control by September 7 around Yom Kippur. The city and the temple were destroyed by the flood that was the Roman army.
Records indicate that for forty Passovers and Yom Kippurs until the destruction of the temple in 70 AD, God signified that He had rejected the earthly temple services through several miracles. If the miracles began at Passover in the year of the crucifixion (31 AD) then the fortieth Passover and Yom Kippur would be in 70 AD. This is thirty nine years and eight months later, or about forty years.

Forty years before the destruction of the Temple, the western light went out, the crimson thread remained crimson, and the lot for the Lord always came up in the left hand. They would close the gates of the Temple by night and get up in the morning and find them wide open.
Jerusalem Talmud (Jacob Neusner, The Yerushalmi, page 156-157)

"Our rabbis taught: During the last forty years before the destruction of the Temple the lot ['For the Lord'] did not come up in the right hand; nor did the crimson-colored strap become white; nor did the western most light shine; and the doors of the Hekel [Temple] would open by themselves".
Babylonian Talmud (Soncino version, Yoma 39b)

• The Temple Lot. On Yom Kippur, a lot was used to determine which of the two goats would be the Lord's goat and which would be Azazel, the scapegoat (Leviticus 16: 8). The priest placed both hands in a bowl so that the hand which received the lot was just as random as the lot that was selected. The lot for Azazel was the black stone. Before the crucifixion, the choice would be governed by chance. The priest would pick a black stone as often as he picked the white stone for either the left or right hand. But after the crucifixion, the priest always picked the Lord's stone in his left hand for forty years.
• The Red Strip. A red strip of cloth was tied to the Azazel goat at Yom Kippur and a piece was also tied to the temple door. Every year the red cloth on the door would turn white to signify the acceptance of the atonement. But it remained red for the last forty years.
• Open Temple Doors. The temple doors would open every night on their own for forty years. This open door began at the crucifixion when the veil that separated the Most Holy Place was ripped in two from top to bottom (Matthew 27: 51).
• Menorah Light. The eternal flame of the menorah was never to be extinguished. But every night for forty years the light would go out no matter what the priests did to keep it lit.

» The Desolation of Jerusalem (Bar Kochba Revolt).
The culture and leadership of the Roman empire was full of homosexuals and pedophiles so that at that time it seemed like Sodom and Gomorrah ruled the holy nation. Emperor Hadrian's favorite was a twelve year old Greek youth named Antinous. In March 130, around Passover, Hadrian and a group of his favorite male companions came to Jerusalem. Between April and July, Hadrian outlawed circumcision as a part of a strategy to reform the Jewish religion so that it complied with Rome. He may have begun plans to build the Temple of Capitoline Jupiter on the Temple mount. On 28 October 130, near the fall feasts, Antinous drowned mysteriously in the Nile and Hadrian had him deified by March 131. By October 134 coins struck with his image as god and statues are distributed to spread the worship of Antinous.
Between 132 and 135, the people revolted and accepted a false Messiah, Shimon Bar Kochba. It ended with the desolation of Jerusalem and the exile of the people. The city was dug up, its name was blotted out by emperor Hadrian. The city was renamed Aelia Capitolina after himself (Publius Aelius Hadrianus) and the chief Roman god (Jupiter Capitolinus). The land was renamed Syria Palaestina (Palestine) after the Philistines.
So legally, any punishment that the Jews had for rejecting the Messiah was completed in 136 AD.

The Law of Curses and The Division of Israel.
Political and religious pressure splits the two branches of the church when the Christians did not want to be associated with anything Jewish after 135 AD. The hostilities between the two communities seem to take on the pattern of events that occurred after the ten northern tribes were split from the southern tribes about 120 years apart. Both were eventually taken away into captivity and scattered.

Nation Second Curse Third Curse Fourth Curse Fifth Curse Nation Division Two Nations Captivity and Exile Occupation Wrath Physical Israel 922 BC 1 10 Northern Tribes 722 BC Assyria Persia, Greece, Rome, Islam ? Gathered 2 2 Southern Tribes 609 BC Babylon 539 BC Persia - Rome 31 AD Wrath Spiritual Israel 34 AD 1 Jews 136 AD Rome 638 AD Islam 1948 Gathered 2 Christians 538 AD Papal Rome 1798 AD Communism 1991 Called Pagan Rome 330 AD 1 Byzantine Rome 638 AD Islam 1918 AD Colonial Europe 1945 Babylon the Great 2 Western Rome 476 AD Barbarians 1798 AD 1945

1. Terror (Raids). The first curse on the nation of Israel was the constant incursions during the time of the judges.
2. Land Divided (922 BC). The nation was split between the ten tribes in the north and the two in the south.
3. Children Taken (722 BC and 609 BC). Assyria took the northern tribes in 722 BC and Babylon took Judea.
4. War and Vengeance For The Covenant (539 BC to 31 AD). They were ruled by Medo-Persia, Greece and Rome. Jesus Christ came to fulfill the covenant and suffer the vengeance for the covenant in our place.
5. Wrath on the Sanctuary (31-136 AD). The second sanctuary and Jesus Christ were destroyed by Rome and the people were exiled.
   
   Vengeance on Spiritual Israel. The nation of Israel was scattered after the crucifixion as the vengeance for the covenant consumed them until the fifth curse was exhausted.
   After this period, the spiritual nation of Israel repeated the pattern of five curses. They were split in two, held captive by a series of powers and they are now being called and gathered at the end of time to flee so that they can escape the wrath on Babylon the Great and the wicked.
   Vengeance on Pagan Rome. Rome was also split in two and suffers the same fate as they are scheduled for destruction at the end of time. The destruction of Rome is a part of the series of punishments sent on Babylon because they are the working arm of Satan. In another lesson we show how Babylon suffered their five series of curses.
   
   » Scattered. The period ends with the destruction of the sanctuary and the exile of the wicked and with the gathering of the righteous remnant.
   » God Appears. It ends with the appearance of their god, either the Lord (Lord's goat) or the Scapegoat.

The Parables of Jesus: Invitation to The Wedding Feast of God is Rejected. This parable prophesies about the fate of the nation. Invitations were sent to the wedding of the king's son. However, the guests refused the invitation and killed the servants and the son. God responded by burning their city and extending the invitation to everyone.
City Burned Down. But the king was enraged and, and he sent his armies and destroyed those murderers and set their city on fire. (Matthew 22: 7)

Worshipping the Beast and His Image. The experience of the Jews between 66 and 136 AD reflect the issues that will be faced by the final generation. The events that occurred in seventy years could occur in 7 years or less.

• Sodom and Gomorrah. We will be ruled and persecuted by homosexuals who do not respect our beliefs.
• Desecrating the Holy Place. They came to the holy mountain on Passover and changed the religion. Tiberius was also a homosexual pedophile who was hated by the people because of his brutality, yet he never desecrated the religion and the holy place like Hadrian.
• Worship the Image. Beware of coins and statues and other memorabilia for the dead or the living. The process through which the Romans created gods out of humans is the same process by which saints are made for worship in the church. It also gives us some insight into what the prophecies are describing when it says that the dragon has power to give life to the image of the beast and force us to worship it (Romans 13).
• Jerusalem Besieged. We will be surrounded by the armies of Satan who are trying to destroy us.
• Exiled. Persecution will make us abandon our homes and flee for safety.

The Desolations of Rome: The Destruction of the Roman Army in 79 AD
... and the people of the prince who is to come will destroy the city and the sanctuary. And its end will come with a flood. Even to the end there will be war. Desolations are determined. (Daniel 9: 26)
Everyone who killed Christ was desolated according to this same pattern when their end came.

• The Prince Who is to Come ("Titus"). Titus is the prince to come and his people are the Roman legion that destroyed Jerusalem. At that time he was general of the army. Nine years later, He was emperor of Rome for three years and his reign was cursed with disasters.
• The Flood at Its End (Mount Vesuvius). The flood that came at its end was a fiery flood of lava and volcanic ash that destroyed the city of Pompeii and Herculeneum where the army of Titus was on vacation.
  Titus. His short reign was plagued with disasters which prompted the people to speculate that he was cursed because of what he did to Israel.
  Destruction of the Soldiers (Tenth Legion [X Fretensis]). Forty nine years after the death of Christ, 9 years after they destroyed the temple, on 24 August 79 AD, and one month after Titus became emperor on June 24, the Roman legion under then general Titus who were responsible for the destruction of Jerusalem and the temple were on vacation in Pompeii when a volcanic eruption blew up Mount Vesuvius and buried the city of Pompeii, Herculaneum and Stabiae and the soldiers who desecrated the sanctuary! They were stoned to death with hell fire! The Romans had no idea that this volcano existed.
  The Colosseum (Flavian Amphitheatre) was funded by the treasures taken from the temple. Beginning in 72 AD, it was built by his father Vespasian, opened in 79 AD and dedicated by Titus in 80 AD with 100 days of festivities. 50 tons of gold and silver treasures were stolen and paraded through the streets of Rome in 71 AD. The event is carved in the arch of Titus in the Colosseum which was built to honor the Roman conquest of Jerusalem.
  Destruction of the City of Rome. Rome and its people were destroyed by fire and plague as revenge for the destruction of the city and the people and the burning of the temple.
  » Fires. In 80 AD a fire ravaged Rome for three days and nights.
  » Plague. In 80-81 AD one of the worst bouts of plague hit Rome. 10,000 were buried in one day.
  Destruction of Pompeii. The volcano also destroyed the city named after the man who conquered Jerusalem in 63 BC and put Israel under Roman rule. Pompey had entered the temple and desecrated it. In a civil war with Julius Caesar, he was beheaded when he fled to Egypt. So his head and his name were cut off.
  » Divine Justice. According to the law, the strangers who come near to the sanctuary or tear it down will be killed. Only the priests were allowed to tear down Jesus. All the Romans involved in the death of Jesus and the destruction of the sanctuary would be killed by divine retribution.
  So when the tabernacle is to set out, the Levites shall take it down; and when the tabernacle encamps, the Levites shall set it up. But the stranger (layman) who comes near shall be put to death. (Numbers 1: 51)
• Destruction and Fall of Rome. Within three centuries, the empire would fall under the constant invasion by a flood of Barbarian hordes from Germany and Asia.
  Hadrian Dies (138). Hadrian attempted suicide by stabbing himself. However, he later died of heart failure.
  Army Desolated (378). The Goths kill the emperor and half the Roman army.
  Rome Sacked (410). Visigoths sack Rome.
  Rome Burned (455). Gaeseric led the Vandals to burn Rome.
  Rome Occupied (476). The Heruli Invade Italy and end the western Roman Empire.

» The Future Destruction of Rome. After studying the repetitive phenomenon in prophecy, it is my opinion that at the end, when the Antichrist from Rome comes in like a flood to destroy Israel and Jerusalem, Mount Vesuvius and the super volcano at the Campi Flegrei Caldera in Naples will destroy Rome. They may even be sitting above a volcano that they do not know exists!
In addition, I have come to the conclusion that vengeance for the Nazi holocaust in world war 2 is not over especially since antisemitism and holocaust denial is increasing and is embraced by governments and the United Nations. When random signs of the destruction from the skies affects a large city, it may occur in Germany.
The signs give some insight into the events that fulfill this prophecy on the day of vengeance.
I will display wonders in the sky and on the earth. Blood, fire and columns of smoke. The sun will be turned into darkness and the moon into blood before the great and awesome day of the Lord comes. (Joel 2: 30-32)

Blood. War.
Fire. Volcanic eruption.
Columns of Smoke. Volcanic ash.
Dark Sun and Blood Moon. Effects of ash in the upper atmosphere.

The Desolations of the Earth: The Destruction of Satan
Verse 26 is about the crucifixion of Christ. But notice at the end it hints that there will be similar wars and desolations up to the end. The crucifixion was just one crucial battle in the war on sin that caused the desolation of Christ. But until the final end, there will be more wars and more desolations. Sometimes the good are the victims, but ultimately evil loses the war.
With every desolation, a way of escape is made through a place or in the sleep of death. For the righteous, death is temporary. For the wicked, death will ultimately be permanent. All the battles in this war followed the same pattern of desolation.

War in Heaven		War of the Angels			War of the Dragon			War of the Bridegroom
Elapsed Time		Unknown	6000 Years					1000 Years
Battle		Satan Rebels		Wicked	Christ	70 (AD)	Little horn	Second Coming		Armageddon
Desolation	People	Bad angels	Adam	Noah	Christ	Israel	Church	Good	Wicked	Satan	All Wicked
	City	Heaven	Earth	Earth	Disciples	Jerusalem	Church	Babylon the Great			Gog, Magog
	Sanctuary	Throne	Eden	Earth	His Body	Temple	Truth	False religion			Earth
	The End	Exile	Exile	Death	Crucifixion	Destroyed	Martyred	Seven Last Plagues			Second death
	The Flood	Michael	Satan	Flood	Roman Army		Europe	Army of Christ			Lake of fire
The Great Escape		Sick Earth		Ark	Heaven	Christians	America	Heaven	Death	Abyss	No Escape

Multiple Desolations in The Great War. The desolations began in Heaven when Satan, one of the covering cherubs at the throne of God rebelled. He was thrown out of heaven by Michael and His army (Revelation 12: 7). Satan and his angels were banished to the earth. They literally escaped to earth. They exported the rebellion to earth and destroyed Eden so Adam was also banished to the earth, outside of Eden.
Almost two thousand years later, God had to destroy the earth with a flood because the rebellion had become extensive.
Two thousand years later Israel was exiled when Jerusalem fell, but the Christians escaped when the Romans temporarily abandoned the siege. The church would later be martyred for another thousand years before it escaped to the new world.
At the end the Antichrist will be desolated when his false religion and the city of Babylon the Great fall.
At the third coming Satan will experience the final desolation when God and Magog fall in hell fire.

Problems in the Gap
A discussion of this prophecy would not be complete without a discussion of a very popular interpretation of this time prophecy called the Gap Theory. It states that the last week is split off from the seventy weeks and moved to the future because Christ did not fulfill everything required.

Summary of The Gap Theory

69 Weeks 483 Years 2000+ Year Gap 1 Week 7 Years Messiah. The first 69 weeks is interpreted about the same as we do. But they say that Christ did not complete His mission in Daniel 9: 24. Seven Years. The last week is split off and thrown into the future when Christ will complete His mission. Antichrist. The Antichrist will appear and he will fulfill Daniel 9: 27. Rebuilt Temple. A temple is built in Jerusalem before the Antichrist comes Animal Sacrifices. They begin again.

• The Assumptions. There are many assumptions made based on the Gap theory. The prophecy does not explicitly state the following points. But they are assumed because of the interpretation that "he shall cause sacrifice to cease".
  • The Antichrist. Although the text was about Christ, the interpretation says that the "He" at this point is the Antichrist. They apply all prophesies about the Antichrist to Daniel 9. But 2 Thessalonians 2: 6-12 is the prophecy from Daniel 7 and 8 not Daniel 9.
  • A Peace Treaty. The covenant he makes for one week is a peace treaty that lasts for seven years. He makes a covenant at the beginning of the seven years and then breaks it after 3½ years.
  • Sacrifices Restarted. If sacrifice will stop then they must be restarted in a new temple.
    Given the perfect sacrifice of Christ, how could anyone think that God would restart useless sacrifices and when there is a promise of no death in the new earth?
  • A Rebuilt Temple. If he causes sacrifice to stop and the Jews can only offer sacrifices in a proper temple, then the temple must be rebuilt.
    The Real Temple and Lamb. I saw no temple in it, for the Lord God the Almighty and the Lamb are its temple. (Revelation 21: 22)
  • Daniel 9: 24 Not Fulfilled. They say that Daniel 9: 24 was not fulfilled by Christ. We show that they were.
  • The Second Coming occurs after this transplanted seven years. This is because 2 Thessalonians says that Christ will come after the "man of sin" is revealed. They assume that this will be immediately after.
• No Precedent. We have never had an instance of a time prophecy that has been split up and scattered across time. All time has been continuous, whether or not we have believed that the prophecy has been fulfilled or not.
  • 7 years of plenty and 7 years of famine in Egypt.
  • 40 years wandering in the desert.
  • 70 year captivity in Babylon. The only known problem with this period is that critics charge that the Jews did not spend seventy years in Babylon. However, if you count the time that the nation was under Babylonian control and occupation in 609 BC when Josiah was defeated in the battle of Meggido until the Medo-Persian invasion and Cyrus freed them in 539 BC then it is seventy years of submission to Babylon.
  • 1260 days, 3½ years, 42 months. The reign of the little horn.
  • 1290 and 1335 days. Most people do not understand this time period that is connected to the end of time.
  • 2300 days - from the Persians to the restoration of the sanctuary.
• Strange Mathematics. The theory would have us believe that 69 + 1 prophetic weeks = 2000 years + 70 prophetic weeks. In real time that would be 490 real years = 2490+ real years. It is illogical. It is unreasonable.
• A God of Confusion. God could have easily said that 69 weeks were given. The argument that Christ did not fulfill the mission and therefore God had to stop the clock and place the last week into the future is not reasonable. This would mean that God did not know that Christ would fail so He said seventy weeks.
• Relationship to the 2300 years. The connection to the 2300 years is ignored. The seventy years is cut off another time period. It is not simply any random collection of time given to the Jews.
• The Antichrist Switch. The wonderful prophecy about the Christ suddenly switches to the Antichrist. Why?
  Verse 26 mentions the Messiah and a Prince that would come whose people would cause destruction. Then the "he" in verse 27 and the entire verse is assigned to an evil "prince who is to come" of verse 26, not the Messiah. But both verses mention the work of the Messiah and the Romans as we can see below.

  Verse	Messiah (Prince)	Jews	Rome (Desolation)
  26	Then after the sixty two weeks the Messiah will be cut off and have nothing	and the people of the prince who is to come will destroy the city and the sanctuary	And its end will come with a flood; even to the end there will be war; desolations are determined.
  		The Antichrist. He is the prince of the Romans who will come to destroy	The Antichrist. He will destroy Jerusalem
  27	And he will make a firm covenant with the many for one week, but in the middle of the week he will put a stop to sacrifice and grain offering.		and on the wing of abominations will come one who makes desolate, even until a complete destruction, one that is decreed, is poured out on the one who makes desolate
  	The Antichrist. He will make a peace treaty and stop sacrifices 3.5 years later in a rebuilt temple	The Antichrist. The many are the entire world. The prince who is to come is the Antichrist.
  	Christ. "He" is the Messiah	Christ. The "many" are the Jews	God. He desolates Rome
  Sacrifices Stopped. Messiah stops all temporary animal sacrifices when He is cut off (sacrificed) as the eternal sacrifice 3.5 years after He began His ministry. Covenant of Peace. He fulfills the covenant and reconciles us to God		Prince (Jesus or Titus). » Messiah. He is the Prince of the Covenant Who will come again. His people destroyed His body temple and scattered the disciples (city). » Titus. He is the prince of the Roman army who destroyed the sanctuary. » Hadrian. He destroyed the city.	Rome is allowed to conquer because of the hostility to the Messiah. The curse is applied and the Romans destroy the city and the sanctuary just as Babylon did
  The Antichrist. This is the interpretation of those who believe the Antichrist fulfills these prophecies.

• The Strong and Mighty Covenant.

  The Strong Covenant The Hebrew word gâbar is the word used for "strong". It also means to prevail, to exceed, to confirm, to be great, mighty, strengthen, be valiant, make certain and steadfast. Therefore, it carries the idea that this is an unbreakable fulfillment of the covenant.

  The language suggests that this is a permanent covenant. Therefore, the idea that "the end of sacrifice and grain offering in the middle of the week" means a broken covenant is a false assumption.
  It was because Jesus confirmed that covenant that we could put an end to temporary sacrifices. Jesus fulfilled this at His death. This death also meant the ending of the temporary sacrifices and grain offering as they were replaced with better sacrifices.
  The strong and mighty covenant was kept. It was not broken.
• Jesus' Interpretation. Jesus places the abomination of desolation in the future when the temple was destroyed by the Romans in 70 AD. So if the week was separated, then it must have been fulfilled by 70 AD. This is the year that the temple was desolated by the Romans.
  Therefore, when you see the abomination of desolation spoken of by Daniel, stand in the Holy Place (let him who reads understand), then let him who is in Judea flee to the mountains. (Matthew 24: 15-16)
  This causes problems for certain interpretations.
  • Praetorist. Therefore, those who apply this prophecy to Antiochus Epiphanes are incorrect because Jesus places this fulfillment in His future not in in the past.
  • Futurist (Gap Theory). Those who place the interpretation at the end of time after a 2000 year gap are incorrect because Jesus places the fulfillment at the destruction of the temple in 70 AD.

Repetition and Enlargement
All Hebrew men were required to attend three feasts. This prophecy tells us how God would fulfill the first two of the three feasts required to keep His part of the covenant.

1. Passover. Nisan 14, 31 AD. The Messiah would die on the Passover.
2. Yom Kippur. October 22, 1844. He would judge and vindicate His people on this day.
3. Tabernacles. This is future. He would make His people perfect and take them to live with Him.

Daniel 9 gives the details of a part of the vision of Daniel 8: 14. It specifically tells the details about the first 490 years.
Daniel 11 will give the details about the entire period. Other prophecies discuss the judgment.

Prophecy	Topic	Repetition	Comment
Daniel 2: 34, 44	Messiah	Rock	Christ replaces earthly kingdom
Daniel 7: 13-14		Son of Man	Christ is given the kingdom
Daniel 8: 11		Commander of the Host	The continual was removed from Him by the little horn
Daniel 9		Messiah	The arrival and work of the Messiah during the Mar'eh
Daniel 11: 22		Prince of the Covenant	Places the Messiah in the Roman period during the reign of a vile person. Tiberius Caesar the pedophile.
Revelation 19: 11		Faithful and True	Jesus returns to conquer His enemies
Daniel 2: 34, 44	Judgment	Rock smashes idol	God sets up a kingdom
Daniel 7: 9-10, 13, 22		Thrones set up	Christ takes the kingdom and judgment was passed in favor of the saints and against the "Little Horn"
Daniel 8: 14		Sanctuary cleansed	Feast of Yom Kippur - the day of atonement would occur in 2300 years
Ezekiel 40		Measurement	The sanctuary was measured
Revelation 11: 1		Measurement	The sanctuary, altar and people of God were measured

Summary
Nearly 500 years in advance, prophecy predicted

1. The exact dates of the rebuilding and restoration of the Temple and Jerusalem.
2. The date of the "Anointing" of Jesus as the Messiah Prince.
3. The exact date (year, day, time) of His crucifixion (31 AD, during Passover, at the evening sacrifice).
4. The end of the Jewish probationary period.

Through Prophecy we have unequivocal proof of Jesus' claim to be the Messiah. And by Jesus' fulfillment of the prophecy we see that He sealed the prophecy and the vision proving its reliability. Seeing the accuracy of the 70 week prophecy we can depend upon God to have fulfilled the second part with equal accuracy in the year 1844.
So, in 1844, we see Jesus entering the final stage of His ministry. As Our High Priest he entered the Holy of Holies to begin the judgment and restore the church and knowledge about God and to remove all traces of evil.

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Study to show yourself approved to God as a workman who does not need to be ashamed, accurately handling the word of truth.   2 Timothy 2: 15 Copyright     Updated : February 2010 Credits: Author: Laverna Patterson. Editor: Patterson (January 2008) Many other concepts were revealed by the Holy Spirit because of a gift. e.g. The cross, evidence, abominations and desolations, Christ as the curse. The symbolic attack on the sanctuary. All images were created by Laverna Patterson and are the property of teachinghearts. Other Messiahs. URL: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_messiah_claimants I did my best to recognize the Hebrew alphabets but I know some are incorrect.