CHAPTER VII
ARE THE SEVENTY WEEKS CONSECUTIVE?
The idea which we have discussed in our last chapter, namely that Daniel
(#Daniel 9:27) refers not to Christ but to antichrist is usually coupled
with another, also of a very radical sort, namely, that the 70th week
of Gabriel’s prophecy does not come where we would naturally expect
to find it, that is, immediately after the 69th week, but that it is detached
from the other 69, is separated from them by many centuries, is yet in
the future, and will be found at the very end of this present age. The
extent to which these ideas have found acceptance in our day makes it
a matter of importance to inquire very carefully into the reasons that
have been given in support thereof.
We do not know just when or how these ideas sprang up. That is not, of
course, a reason for rejecting them; for God is pleased from time to time
to give new light from His Word. But it is a reason for subjecting them
to a rigid scrutiny. This we have sought to do, and the result is we have
come to the conclusion that, not only are they destitute of support in
the Word of God, but they are directly contrary thereto. This we shall
endeavour to make clear.
As regards the idea that verse 27 (#Da 9:27) refers to antichrist, little
more need be said. If the scriptures which we have cited in a preceding
chapter establish that the verse was fulfilled by the Lord Jesus Christ
when He died for our sins, His death having occurred "in the midst
of the week" (which began with His anointing), then there is no need
to show negatively that the passage does not await a fulfilment by antichrist,
or other end time potentate. Nevertheless the negative arguments are of
value by way of corroboration.
We point out, therefore, that in order to make the "he" of Daniel
9:27 refer to antichrist, it is necessary to make "the prince that
shall come" of verse 26 to mean a future prince. We think we have
already shown that this is absolutely inadmissible. But even if we make
the unwarranted assumption that a future "prince" is referred
to, still it is a question whether the pronoun "he" of verse
27 refers to him or to Christ. At this point all our previous evidences
and arguments would come in to show that the pronoun must in any case
be taken as referring to "the Messiah." The fulfilment of the
prophecy by Christ proves that the "He" refers to Him.
But beside all this, there are insuperable obstacles in the way of the
acceptance of the view we are discussing. For we are bound to reject any
and every interpretation which is not supported by the Scriptures. And
how is it in this case? There is not one word of proof in support of any
one of the following propositions, each and all of which must be proved
ere the view in dispute can be considered established: (1) that a future
Roman prince will make a covenant with many Jews; (2) that the supposed
covenant will be for a term of one week; (3) that it will have for its
purpose to permit the Jews to resume their ancient and long abolished
temple sacrifices; (4) that the supposed prince will break the supposed
covenant in the midst of the week, and thus "cause the sacrifice
and oblation to cease." We repeat that we are bound to reject the
interpretation referred to unless each and all these four propositions
(which are involved in it) are established by evidence from the Word of
God; and the fact is that there is not one word of proof for any one of
them.
Those who advance this interpretation commonly refer in support of it
to (#Mt 24:15 2Th 2:3-9 Re 13:3-15). But, without discussing those scriptures,
it is quite sufficient for our purpose to say that none of them makes
the remotest allusion to any covenant between antichrist (or any other
personage) and the Jews. The interpretation we are discussing has no basis
whatever in the Scriptures. It is entirely a work of the imagination,
resting upon nothing but unprovable assumptions.
We come now to the view, held and taught by many modern expositors of
good repute, that the week which came next after the 69th week from the
starting point, and which was in fact the 70th actual week, as time is
ordinarily reckoned, is not to be taken as the 70th week of the prophecy;
but that the prophetic period is to be regarded as having been interrupted
at the end of the 69th week, "the clock of prophecy having stopped."
They hold that some period of seven years yet in the indefinite future
is to be taken (when it comes) and added to the 69 weeks now past to make
up the complete number of 70. Or, as it is sometimes expressed, this entire
age of over 1900 years, comes in as a "parenthesis" between
the 69th and the 70th week of the prophetic period. We deem this view
to be erroneous, and believe we can show clearly that it is not supported
by, but is contrary to, the testimony of Scripture. We maintain that the
70th week of the prophecy occurred just where we would expect to find
the 70th number of any series, and that is next after the 69th; or in
other words that the 70th actual or historical week was also the 70th
prophetic week.
The idea that the 70th week of the prophecy is detached from its companions
and is relegated to the distant future, is a necessary corollary of the
idea already referred to, namely, that the "he" of verse 27
(#Da 9:27) refers, not to Christ, but to a future antichrist. Manifestly
those two ideas stand or fall together; for if verse 27 relates to Christ,
then the last week followed immediately after the 69th; but if it relates
to antichrist, or a coming Roman prince, then it is yet future.
Therefore, all the facts and reasons we have given in proof that verse
27 speaks of Christ, and all the facts and reasons given to show that
the prince that is to come of verse 26 was Titus, avail equally to prove
that the 70th week joined directly on to the 69th. And conversely, all
the facts and reasons we are now about to set forth in proof that the
70th week was indeed one of the "seventy, " and not a detached
and remote period, avail equally to prove that verse 27 refers to Christ.
We would point out to begin with that the words "Seventy weeks are
determined, " etc., are words of clear and certain meaning. They
are just the words which would be used by one who wished to be understood
as saying that, within the measure of 70 weeks, the six things specified
in (#Da 9:24) would happen. If the speaker meant something very different,
even that the specified things would not occur for more than two thousand
years, then manifestly the words used by him could serve only to mislead
those who trusted in them.
Therefore again, as in the case of the clause, "the people of the
prince that shall come, " we appeal first of all to the words themselves,
which are the best evidence of their own meaning.
Never since the world began has a described and "determined"
measure of time, expressed in the way always used for that purpose (that
is, by stating the number of time units making up the complete measure)
been treated according to the view we are now discussing. Never has a
specified number of time units, making up a described stretch of time,
been taken to mean anything but continuous or consecutive time units.
The Bible usage in this regard will be shown presently. If, therefore,
the period of the "seventy weeks" be an exception to a rule
so universal and so necessary, we should at least require of those who
maintain that view such clear and convincing proof as to leave no room
for doubt.
But what do we find? There is no proof of any sort in support of the idea
referred to; but, on the contrary, the 70th week of the prophecy is tied
to the other 69 by at least seven unbreakable bands. Six are found in
verse 24, and a seventh in verse 27. This will be shown later on.
We ask careful attention to the following points:
1. Where periods of time are given beforehand in the prophecies of the
Bible they always mean that the time units composing the period named
are continuous. This must be so, else the prediction would serve only
to deceive those who believed it. We have no other way of describing and
limiting a period of time than by stating the number of time units (hours,
days, months, or years) contained therein. It is therefore a necessary
law of language that the time units be understood as being connected together
without a break.
As a most pertinent example of this, let us consider the period of seventy
years, with which the period of seventy weeks of years is so closely connected.
God had foretold to Jeremiah that "after seventy years be accomplished
at Babylon, I will visit you, and perform My good word toward you, in
causing you to return to this place" (#Jer 29:10). From this word
Daniel "understood the number of years whereof the word of the Lord
came to Jeremiah the prophet"; and thereupon he set his face to seek
the fulfilment of that promise. Have not we exactly the same reason to
understand that the "seventy weeks" of years mean what they
appear to mean, that Daniel had for understanding that the words "seventy
years" were to be taken in accordance with their plain and obvious
meaning? Surely the two instances are exactly alike. Can we even imagine
such a thing as that God, in giving that promise to Jeremiah, intended
that the seventieth year of the predicted period—that in which the
captivity of Israel was to be returned—was to be separated from the
other sixty nine, and postponed for say five hundred years? Would not
Daniel, in that case, have been miserably deceived through simply believing
the Word of God? For obviously, everything depended upon that seventieth
year, without which the period would not be one of "seventy years."
Take away the seventieth year, and a plain simple statement becomes utterly
devoid of meaning. Have we then any more right or reason to imagine that
the last week of the seventy—that in which the six great things of
Daniel 9:24 were to be accomplished—is to be separated from the other
sixty nine, and postponed for a score of centuries? We submit to every
candid mind that the two cases are exactly parallel, and that the same
principle of interpretation must be applied to the seventy weeks of years,
as to the seventy years. And the more so are we bound to apply the same
principle of interpretation to both because there is manifestly an intended
parallel between the seventy years which ended with the decree of Cyrus,
and the seven times seventy years which began at that great event. For
just as the ending of the captivity of Judah in the seventieth year was
necessary "that the word of the Lord might be fulfilled, " so
likewise the accomplishment of the six things predicted in Daniel 9:24
must take place in the seventieth week of years, else the prophecy would
utterly fail, and the word of the Lord would be falsified. That those
six things did take place, one and all, in the seventieth consecutive
week from the starting point of the prophetic period, is a fact which
cannot be disputed. To this we will come later on.
Furthermore, in every other case in Scripture where God has foretold the
measure of time within which a specified thing was to happen, the time
measure so indicated was intended to be taken in its plain and ordinary
sense. We give some examples:
The 430 years sojournings of Abraham’s posterity, whereof God had
spoken to him (#Ge 15:13 Ex 12:40 Ga 3:17) were accomplished to a day
(#Ex 12:41,42).
The seven years of plenty and seven years of famine, which Joseph foretold,
were fulfilled according to the plain meaning of the words (#Ge 45:6).
The forty years wanderings of the Israelites in the wilderness, which
God appointed as a punishment for their unbelief (#Nu 14:34), were forty
consecutive years.
But let us take a stronger illustration. Our Lord, in foretelling His
own death, declared again and again that "the third day, " or
"in three days, " or "after three days, " He would
rise again. Those expressions all mean one and the same thing, and would
never be taken in any sense but one. Suppose, however, that some ingenious
person should now come forward with the idea that Christ did not rise
from the dead on the third consecutive day after His death, but that His
resurrection is yet future; and suppose he should endeavour to make the
words of Christ agree with this view by saying that the third day, on
which He was to rise, did not follow immediately after the other two,
but there was an unmentioned "parenthesis" of about two thousand
years in between, would he not have for his view as much foundation in
the words of Scripture as those who would insert a "parenthesis"
of two thousand years between the 69th and 70th week of Gabriel’s
prophecy?
In reply to this argument one might say—"But we have other proof
that the third consecutive day was meant, in that Christ actually arose
on the third consecutive day." That fact does indeed help to show
the meaning of the words "three days, " though it does not impart
the meaning to them; and likewise in the case we are considering, the
meaning of the words "seventy weeks" is further established
by the fact that the six things which were to take place within that period
actually happened in the seventieth consecutive week from the starting
point.
We are bold, therefore, to lay it down as an absolute rule, admitting
of no exceptions, that when a definite measure of time or space is specified
by the number of units composing it, within which a certain event is to
happen or a certain thing is to be found, the units of time or space which
make up that measure are to be understood as running continuously and
successively. "Seventy years" would invariably mean seventy
continuous years; "seventy weeks" would mean seventy continuous
weeks; "seventy miles" would mean seventy continuous miles.
If, for example, one journeying along a road were informed that, within
seventy miles from a given point he would come upon certain specified
things, as a hill, a tower, a stream, a mill, and the like, there is manifestly
but one sense in which he could understand the statement. Suppose in such
a case that he should proceed on his way for 69 miles without meeting
any of the specified things, would he not confidently expect to find them
in the one remaining mile of the 70? Suppose, however, he should traverse
that mile without coming upon any of those things, would he not have a
right to say he had been grossly and intentionally deceived? And would
it set the matter right for the one who made the deceptive statement to
say that the 70th mile he had in mind did not join on the 69th, but was
two thousand miles further on? We say the deception in such case would
be intentional; for if one uses an expression which has a definite and
well settled meaning, but gives to it in his own mind a very different
meaning, which he keeps to himself, he can have had no other purpose than
to mislead those who might act upon his words.
2. We have thus far appealed only to the plain and obvious meaning of
the words "seventy weeks are determined upon thy people and upon
thy holy city to finish the transgression, " etc. But there is much
more in this prophecy to bind the last week of the seventy firmly to the
other sixty nine. The 69 weeks brought us "unto the Messiah, "
but not to His death, by which Israel "finished the transgression."
In order that there should be not the slightest uncertainty as to this,
the prophecy says, "And after the three score and two weeks shall
Messiah be cut off." Thus the 69 weeks are nothing, except years
which must elapse—a blank space of time, —whereas the 70th week
is everything to the purpose of fulfilling the six predictions of verse
24. If then, we know when the Messiah was cut off, we know when the six
things of verse 24 were accomplished. And we do know, both by the words
of the prophecy, and also by the information given in the Gospel according
to John, that Christ was crucified within the "week" (seven
years) following His anointing and manifestation to Israel. We know, in
other words, that He was "cut off" in the seventieth week counting
in the ordinary way from the given starting point. And this would be true
regardless of what decree be taken as that starting point. This double
witness, that of the prophecy itself and that of the Gospel records, puts
the matter beyond all doubt. By means thereof we know to a certainty that
none of the six great things foretold in verse 24 happened within the
sixty nine weeks, but that each and all of them came to pass within the
week which came next thereafter, that is to say in the seventieth consecutive
week from the starting point. Nothing could be better established upon
clear scriptural evidence than this.
This matter, however, is important enough to warrant our dwelling a while
longer upon it. In view of the facts stated above no one will or can deny
that the crucifixion occurred in the 70th week from the starting point
of the prophecy. The proof of this is absolute. It only remains then to
point out that the crucifixion of Christ accomplished the predictions
of verse 24. That also is, we should suppose, a fact which is not reasonably
open to dispute. An attempt, however, has been made to escape the force
of the evidence of verse 24 by saying that it refers to the time when
Israel as a nation will enter into the benefits of the death and resurrection
of Christ. But the words of verse 24 will not bear such an interpretation.
They plainly declare that, within the measure of 70 weeks of the history
of Daniel’s people and city, certain things would take place. The
verse says not a word about the time when the Jewish nation should enter
into the benefit of the atonement. It speaks definitely of the time of
the happening of the specified events, quite regardless of whether the
Israelites as a nation should ever enter into the benefits thereof. A
new lease of existence was about to be given to the nation and city, and
Daniel was informed, to his great distress, that 70 weeks of that renewed
existence to people and city were allotted for them "to finish the
transgression, " etc.
Take for instance the words "to make reconciliation (or atonement)
for iniquity." There can be no uncertainty as to the meaning of this.
To deny that reconciliation (or atonement) was fully and finally completed
when Christ died and rose again would be to deny the very foundation of
Christianity. Moreover, the true Israel—the believing part of Daniel’s
people—did enter immediately into the benefits of the atonement.
Beyond all question, then, the 70th week of the prophecy was that in which
Christ died and rose and ascended into heaven.
3. The case is, however, still further strengthened by the corroborating
evidence of (#Da 9:27). We have found a perfect fulfilment of this verse
(confirming the covenant with many, and causing the ancient system of
offerings to cease) in the atoning death of the Lord Jesus Christ; and
we have shown that this was a work supremely great and glorious in the
eyes of God. But more than this, the things predicted in verse 27 were
the very means whereby those predicted in verse 24 were to be accomplished.
Thus the first and last parts of the prophecy are bound firmly together.
It is impossible to detach the 70th week from the other 69 without destroying
the prophecy as a whole. For if the 70th consecutive week from the starting
point was not the 70th of the prophetic period, then none of the six predicted
things came to pass within that period. In that view they all happened
in an unmentioned gap between the 69 (which brought us "unto the
Messiah") and the 70th which is yet future. Thus, according to this
view, the prophecy has been completely falsified.
4. God has given a test whereby His people are to prove the sayings of
one who claims to be a prophet of the Lord. For it is written that, if
the things predicted by the prophet "follow not nor come to pass,
that is the thing which the Lord hath not spoken, but the prophet hath
spoken it presumptuously" (#De 18:21 see also #Joh 14:29). Tested
by this rule, the prophecy of the seventy weeks must be interpreted according
to its plain and ordinary sense, else those who looked for the fulfilment
of it in its time would have been fully justified in rejecting it as the
thing which the Lord had not spoken.
WHY THE SEVENTY WEEKS ARE DIVIDED INTO THREE PARTS
The fact that the last week is mentioned separately is often referred
to as if it afforded ground for postponing it to a future era. But that
circumstance affords no reason whatever for inserting a period of time,
long or short, between the 69th and 70th weeks. The message of the angel
also makes separate mention of the first "seven weeks" from
the rest. But no one seems to have seen in that circumstance a reason
for inserting a few millenniums between those two parts of the seventy
weeks. Why then apply a different rule to the last week, the most important
of all the seventy, and without which the period would have no significance?
Likewise the Lord Jesus mentioned "the third day" (after His
death) separately from the other two. But does that afford any reason
for inserting say a century or two between the second day and the third?
Surely, the transcendent importance of the events of that "third
day, " and of those of the final "week" of the seventy,
affords reason enough for their separate mention.
The entire period is laid out in this way: The first portion consisted
of seven sevens of "troublous times, " within which the rebuilding
of the temple and of the city, with its street and wall, were to be accomplished;
then follow sixty two sevens to the manifestation of Christ to Israel,
that is to the time when Jesus of Nazareth was "anointed with the
Holy Ghost and with power, " and was publicly proclaimed to all the
people of Israel by John the Baptist; and then comes the seventieth and
last week, "in the midst" of which "Messiah was cut off,
" thus accomplishing God’s great purpose in redemption, and
fulfilling all the things predicted in verse 24.
The middle period of sixty two weeks, within which no prophetic events
were to occur, coincides with that silent stretch of years between Malachi
and John the Baptist between "the word of the Lord to Israel by Malachi"
and the day when "the word of God came unto John the son of Zacharias
in the wilderness" (#Lu 3:2)—a period during which there was
no voice from God to His people, and no happenings in which His hand is
seen working in their affairs.
It is sometimes attempted to justify the detaching and postponing
of the seventieth week of Daniel by reference to the fact that when, in
the synagogue at Nazareth, the Lord read from Isaiah 61, He stopped in
the very midst of a passage (the next words being, "and the day of
vengeance"), and said, "This day is this scripture fulfilled
in your ears, " thus implying that the part He did not read was yet
future (#Lu 4:16-21). But it needs no great discernment to see that there
is a wide difference between the two cases. For, in the first place, Isaiah
had not said that the matters foretold by him were to happen within a
certain measure of time. He said nothing at all as to that; whereas the
time when the specified events were to take place is the very essence
of the prophecy of the seventy weeks. But what is equally important, we
have the word of the Lord Jesus declaring (or at least implying) that
only so much of Isaiah’s prophecy as He had read in their ears was
fulfilled at that time. But we have no word or hint from Him, or from
any source to which we should give heed, to the effect that the seventieth
week of Daniel is yet in the future.
THE OVERSPREADING OF ABOMINATIONS (DAN. 9:27)
We come now to the last part of Daniel 9:27, which, as given in our A.
V., reads thus: "And for the overspreading of abominations he shall
make it desolate, even until the consummation, and that determined, shall
be poured upon the desolate" (marg. desolator).
These words are admittedly obscure. Nevertheless, even without help from
other translations, it is at least clear that the main prediction here
is that the city and temple were to be made a desolation, and that the
desolation was to be for a protracted period—" even until the
consummation" (or end). Moreover it is also implied that at the end
there should be restoration for the city: and that, at the time of the
end, that which had been "determined" was to be "poured
upon the desolator." This last prediction points to the outpouring
of God’s wrath upon the destroying agencies, as foretold in detail
in the Book of Revelation (#Re 11:18, etc.).
This portion of the prophecy was repeated in substance, and in much plainer
language, by the Lord Jesus in His Olivet discourse, as reported in Luke
21. He there speaks of "the days of vengeance" (which corresponds
to the words "he shall make it desolate"), and He further declares
that "Jerusalem shall be trodden under foot of the Gentiles, until
the times of the Gentiles be fulfilled" (#Lu 21:22,24); which corresponds
with the words, "even until the consummation" (or end).
We would also call attention to a parallel between verses 26 and 27 (#Da
9:26,27). The first part of verse 26 foretells that after the threescore
and two weeks Messiah shall be cut off; and the first part of verse 27
contains the parallel prediction; "And He shall confirm the covenant
with many, "" and in the midst of the week He shall cause the
sacrifice and oblation to cease." The second part of each verse speaks
of the desolations of the city and sanctuary. This parallel affords further
confirmation of the correctness of our reading of the prophecy.
The words "for the overspreading of abominations" are very obscure,
and many suggestions as to their meaning have been offered. We shall not
discuss these, for the reason that the Septuagint translation gives a
clear rendering, and our Lord’s adoption of it puts the authoritative
stamp of His approval upon it. According to that version "the abomination
of desolation" was to be upon (or to come against) the temple, that
is, for its destruction. In other words there was to come an agency or
force (which God terms an "abomination") which was to make the
place a "desolation."
The Lord Jesus Christ used the same expression when, in warning His disciples
of the approaching destruction of Jerusalem by the armies of Titus, He
said: "When ye therefore shall see the abomination of desolation,
spoken of by Daniel the prophet, stand in the holy place (whoso readeth,
let him understand), then let them which be in Judea flee into the mountain,
" etc.
This reference by our Lord to the last verse of the Seventy Weeks’
prophecy is a connecting link between that scripture and His own prophecy
on Mt. Olivet. The great value of this connecting link will appear later
on.
The word rendered "abomination" means, according to the Hebrew
and Greek lexicons, anything that is peculiarly loathsome or detestable.
Hence it is sometimes used of an idol. But this is a secondary meaning,
and it does not appear to be used in that sense in the New Testament.
In (#Lu 16:15) it is applied to the covetousness of the Pharisees; in
(#Ti 1:16) it is applied to those who deny God in their works; in (#Re
21:8,27) it is also applied to persons who do wickedly. Hence there is
nothing either in (#Da 9:27) or in (#Mt 24:15) to warrant the idea that
those prophecies speak of idol worship being set up in some Jewish temple.
Moreover Christ had disowned the temple at Jerusalem (#Mt 23:38) calling
it "your house; " and henceforth it is not recognized as the
House of God. Much less will recognition be given to a temple such as
may be put up by the apostate Zionists. On the other hand, the Word of
God makes it quite plain, as we hope to show later on, that the "abomination,
" which was to make the city and sanctuary a "desolation, "
was the army of Titus, "the people of the prince that shall come."
We have now completed our examination, clause by clause, of the wonderful
prophecy of the Seventy Weeks. We have found—and without going beyond
the Scriptures for our proofs—a clear and satisfactory meaning for
every statement, a meaning which is consistent with the scope and design
of the prophecy as a whole. That prophecy has to do with the greatest
of all subjects, the coming of Christ to Israel, and His rejection and
crucifixion by Israel, with the marvellous consequences of His sacrifice
for sins, and His victory over death and the grave.
We have based nothing upon conjecture or surmise, and have not found it
necessary to appeal to systems of chronology, (which are admittedly defective
and uncertain) nor to rely upon any human authorities.
Moreover, the evidence produced in support of our conclusions is of such
a simple sort that "the common people" can easily understand
it and appreciate the force thereof.
And finally, inasmuch as the proofs advanced herein are all taken from
the Scriptures and the passages are cited, the reader has it in his power
to bring all our conclusions to the test of Scripture, and this it is
his responsibility to do. On the other hand (and we attach much importance
to this) the current interpretations, which fix the starting point of
the Seventy Weeks at a date later than the decree of Cyrus, are each and
all based upon some chronological scheme built up from heathen traditions,
obscure historical records, guesses at eclipses, and astronomical calculations,
which the ordinary reader has no means whatever for verifying.
THE DECREE OF CYRUS AGAIN
In concluding this part of our study we would again call attention to
that great historical landmark, the decree of King Cyrus, which stands,
by God’s express appointment, between two prophetic eras, and marks
the ending of the one and the beginning of the other. The first era was
the seventy years of "desolation, " whereby the people were
punished for their "transgression" against the law and the prophets.
The other was seventy times seven years, within which they were "to
finish the transgression" by the rejection of the gospel of the Kingdom,
and by crucifying Him who came bringing the good tidings and publishing
peace (#Isa 52:7 Ac 10:36).
It was indeed an extraordinary decree. For first it was plainly foretold
by Isaiah, by whom also the name of the monarch who was to make it was
given; second, when the time was come for "the going forth"
thereof, that monarch became the sole ruler of the world; and third, God
Himself stirred up the spirit of Cyrus to make the decree, and to send
it forth by proclamation throughout all his dominions.
It should be noted in this connection that inasmuch as God had said that
the Seventy Weeks were to begin from "the going forth" of the
commandment to restore and to build Jerusalem, the inspired record is
careful to call our attention to the fact that Cyrus not only gave the
word or commandment, but also "made a proclamation throughout all
his kingdom" (#Ezr 1:1).
These facts all bear witness to the exceptional importance of this epoch
making decree; and they also afford strong assurance that in it we have
the true starting point for the prophetic period of seventy weeks. It
was indeed a new start—like a resurrection from the dead—for
Jerusalem and the people of Israel. It was the rebirth of the nation.
Nothing in all the history of the chosen people, with the one exception
of the Exodus from Egypt, is made so much of in the Old Testament as the
return from Babylon. It was foretold by the prophets, sung by the psalmists,
recorded by the historians. It stands out with such prominence upon the
page of inspiration that it is a wonder how any students of Scripture
should have failed to grasp its significance, and should have gone groping
about for some other decree to serve as a starting point for that divinely
given measuring line which was to reach "unto Messiah the Prince."
THE REMAINDER OF THE SEVENTIETH WEEK
At this point in our exposition it appears desirable to notice a question
which has arisen in the minds of some in regard to the fraction of the
seventieth week remaining after the death, resurrection and ascension
of Christ, whereby the predictions of verse 24 (of Daniel 9), as well
as those of the first half of verse 27, were fulfilled. To some it seems
that our exposition leaves three and a half years not accounted for.
If, however, we give attention to the terms of the prophecy we will clearly
see that it affords no warrant for such a question. Those who ask it have
evidently failed to take into consideration the fact that, in this prophecy,
the unit of the time measure is a heptad, not a year. If we think of the
Seventieth "Week" as a period of seven years, then it would
indeed appear as if there were three years and over which were not accounted
for by the exposition. But if, on the other hand, we take the prophecy
as it is given, that is to say, in heptads, not years, then it will be
clearly seen that all the seventy heptads are accounted for. For our exposition
simply follows the terms of the prophecy, which are quite plain, and which
locate certain events "in the midst of" the last heptad, but
do not locate any events at the end thereof. If, therefore, any part of
the determined period is unaccounted for, it is the prophecy itself, and
not this writer’s exposition thereof, that is chargeable. But the
fact is that the prophecy accounts first for sixty nine heptads (which
reached "unto the Messiah") and then it accounts specifically
for the one remaining heptad, and for the whole of it, by telling what
was to happen in the midst thereof. Thus the prophecy (and the exposition
which simply follows it) leaves no part of the prophetic period unaccounted
for.
Those who raise the above question must further assume that some predicted
event was to mark the very end of the last "week" of the determined
period. But a glance at the prophecy itself will suffice to show that
such assumption is contrary to its terms. For by the express terms of
the prophecy the climax of the things predicted in it—that is to
say, the death, resurrection and ascension of Christ—was to take
place, not at the end of the last week, but "in the midst of the
week" (v. 27).
According to verse 24, which gives the substance of the prophecy in condensed
form, six specified things were to happen within a measured period of
seventy heptads (starting, as appears by verse 25, from the going forth
of the decree to restore and to build Jerusalem), which things required
for their accomplishment that Christ should die, should rise again, and
should ascend into heaven. From the fact that seventy heptads are mentioned
it would be reasonable to infer that the full number (seventy) would be
necessary to the complete fulfilment of the prophecy; and this inference
is confirmed and made a certainty by what immediately follows; for the
next verse disposes of sixty nine weeks, which reach only "unto the
Messiah, " leaving all the six predicted things yet to take place.
Hence they must needs take place in the seventieth heptad.
But there is nothing so far to indicate in what part of the remaining
week those things were to be accomplished. Therefore, had they happened
at the beginning thereof, the prophecy thus far would have been perfectly
fulfilled, leaving no part of the seventy weeks unaccounted for. For it
must be remembered that we have not to do with years but with heptads.
But the last verse of the prophecy is more specific. It contains the definite
statement that the great events which were to fulfil the predictions of
verse 24 would happen "in the midst of" the last heptad. And,
in agreement with this, it appears clearly by the Gospel of John that
the crucifixion of our Lord took place in the midst of the heptad which
began with the baptism of Christ and His manifestation to Israel (#Joh
1:31), which began, in other words, at the end of the sixty nine heptads
which reached unto the Messiah. Thus the entire period specified in the
prophecy is fully accounted for.
It is pertinent in this connection to point out that the Scriptures habitually
disregard fractional remainders of a time unit, whether it be a day, a
week, a month, or a year. Thus, if it were foretold that a thing (such
as the return out of Babylon) would happen in a certain year, its occurrence
in the first month of that year would be a perfect fulfilment of the prediction,
and the remaining eleven months would be simply disregarded as being without
significance for the purpose of the prophecy.
Or to take another example, our Lord declared to His disciples concerning
His approaching death and resurrection that "in three days, "
and "after three days, " He would rise again. If, therefore,
He arose the very first hour of the third day, His prediction was fulfilled,
the remaining hours of that day being without significance so far as the
prediction is concerned. They do not have to be accounted for.
For one can readily see that if a prophecy should call for the happening
of a certain event on a specified day, and the thing were to happen about
noon of that day, the prophecy would be perfectly fulfilled, and there
would be no question at all as to what becomes of the remaining half day.
Precisely so it is with the Seventy Weeks, for it obviously makes no difference
that the time unit is in this instance a "week" instead of a
day. But the prophecy we are studying is more definite than the supposed
illustration, in that it declares specifically that the things foretold
would occur in the midst of the last week.
Several able expositors, including Dr. Pusey and Dr. Taylor, to whose
works we have already referred, offer the suggestion that the fraction
of a "week, " which was unexpired at the date of the Crucifixion,
measured the time (ending with the martyrdom of Stephen) during which
the gospel was preached exclusively to the Jews. But inasmuch as the date
of Stephen’s death is not known with certainty we can accept the
above only as a possibility. In our opinion the prophecy does not call
for a specific event to mark the end of the last week, though such there
may have been, and quite possibly the death of Stephen was that event.
GOD’S PROPHETIC TIME MEASURE
Because of the great importance of the subject of God’s prophetic
time measure, and of all that depends upon it, we return to it again,
for the purpose of giving a concise statement of our conclusions in regard
thereto, and of the reasons on which they are based.
The message of Gabriel, found in (#Da 9:24-27), differs from all other
prophecies in several particulars, and chiefly in that it contains a measuring
line of "determined" length, whereby the years were to be measured
from a given event (one of the great landmarks in Jewish history) down
to the coming of the Messiah and the
accomplishment of His work of redemption. The full length of that line
was seventy "heptads, " i.e., sevens (or "weeks")
of years, making a total length of 490 years. The declared purpose of
the prophecy (v. 24) was to foretell the exact time of the occurrence
of certain things which are of supreme importance to mankind.
The prophecy reveals, moreover, that the last heptad, or "week, "
of the seventy was to be the most important era of all time, for that
in that "week" the Messiah was to be cut off and have nothing
(which act of wickedness by the Jews would "finish the transgression"
and bring judgment upon them); and for that in it also the new covenant
"with many" was to be confirmed in His blood (#Mt 26:28), the
numerous sacrifices and oblations of the law were to be displaced by the
"one sacrifice" of Christ (#Heb 10:9), an end was to be made
of sins, reconciliation (or atonement) was to be made for iniquity, everlasting
righteousness was to be brought in, and the most holy (place) was to be
anointed. One has only to read with proper care the plain words of this
great prophecy to see that it comes to its climax in the "week"
in which the death and resurrection of Christ and the coming of the Holy
Spirit were to take place, that is to say, in the last week of the seventy;
and hence that to remove that week from its place in the series, and to
"postpone" it to a time far in the future, simply makes havoc
of the entire prophecy.
Furthermore, in the light of this sure word of prophecy it is easy to
see that, when the Lord Jesus began preaching in Galilee, saying "The
time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent ye, and believe
the good news" (#Mr 1:14,15), He was referring to "the time"
measured out or "determined" in this prophecy, and that He was
calling upon the people of Israel to "repent" and "believe,
" as the condition of receiving the new birth (#Joh 3:3,5) and thereby
entering into the salvation of the kingdom of God.
True it is that most of the people, and nearly all their leaders, refused
to repent and believe the good news; and the reason was that the Messiah
they were expecting was to be a temporal prince and a conquering hero,
and the kingdom they looked for was to be the restoring of earthly dominion
to Israel, and the setting up again of the throne of David at Jerusalem.
It is impossible, however, that, when the Lord said, "The time is
fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand, " He could have been
speaking of the restoration of the kingdom of Israel; for "the time"
of that event (assuming, which we do not admit, that it is ever to occur)
has not been revealed to anyone, not even to the Son of God Himself (#Mt
24:36). This is proved conclusively by the Lord’s reply to the question
put to Him by His disciples after His resurrection, "Lord, wilt Thou
at this time restore again the kingdom to Israel?" His reply being,
"It is not for you to know the times or the seasons, which the Father
has put in His own power" (#Ac 1:6,7). But it is quite the other
way in respect to the kingdom of God, which is "righteousness, and
peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost" (#Ro 14:17), or in other words,
the day of salvation and the acceptable year of the Lord; for that is
an era whose "time" was fixed in the counsels of God, and definitely
foretold in the prophecy of the seventy weeks, besides being announced
by John the Baptist and the Lord Himself. Or, to state the matter in different
terms, the "time" of the first coming of Christ was definitely
"determined" and foretold, and therefore it is written that
"when the fulness of the time was come, God sent forth His Son, to
redeem them that were under the law" (#Ga 4:4,5); but the "time"
of His second coming is kept secret in the unrevealed counsels of the
Father.
It should be specially noted in this connection that one of the most important
uses of this prophecy is as a witness against the Jews; for it proves
conclusively that Jesus of Nazareth, Who came at the predicted time, and
Who accomplished the predicted things—i.e., making atonement for
iniquity, bringing in everlasting righteousness, confirming the new covenant,
taking away the sacrifices of the law, &c.—is the true Messiah.
For now that the "determined seventy weeks, " within which the
Messiah was to come, and to be "cut off, " are long past, it
is absolutely impossible that one can come and fulfil the prophecy. Hence
the time element is of vital importance.
But this use of the prophecy is completely frustrated by the current idea
that God’s measuring line is an elastic one, and that it was intended—not
to measure seventy weeks of years, as all simple minded persons have understood,
but—to be stretched out to a length of thousands of years, and that
the things predicted in verses 24 and 27 are not even yet fulfilled. Inasmuch
as the evident purpose of the prophecy was to limit the "time"
within which those vital things upon which the salvation of men depends,
were to be accomplished, it follows that, to postpone the seventieth week
to the distant future, makes shipwreck of the entire prophecy.
The alteration of God’s measuring line whereof we are speaking has
been effected by the strange expedient of inserting many centuries of
time (more than nineteen hundred years thus far) between the sixty ninth
and the seventieth week. And the result is that, instead of a definite
and "determined" measuring line of 490 years, we have one which
already is over 2400 years in length, and is growing longer every day.
Nothing can be more evident than that the usefulness of a measuring line
depends firstly, upon its accuracy, and secondly, upon the user’s
knowledge of its length. Hence to tamper with and alter the dimensions
of a measure or gauge of time or space, or to change the location of any
of the markings thereon, is to destroy its usefulness. In the case of
the measuring line of (#Da 9:24-27) there are two intermediate markings.
One is at the end of seven heptads, which indicates the finishing of the
street and wall of the city, and also apparently the ending of Old Testament
prophecy in the days of Malachi; the other is at the end of the 69th heptad,
which reached "unto the Messiah, the Prince." This subdivision
of the entire period of seventy weeks has the (evidently designed) effect
of setting apart in a special way the final week; and the obvious reason
for this is to concentrate attention upon that particular era of time
within the brief limits whereof were to occur the most stupendous events
of all the ages, namely, the crucifixion and resurrection of the Divine
Redeemer, and the coming of the Holy Ghost. Thus the climax of the prophecy
falls within the last week; and it follows that to remove that week out
of its proper place is to make havoc of the Scripture. And this is not
reasonably open to dispute by any who believe that Jesus of Nazareth is
the promised Messiah; for it is certain that, if the Messiah did come
at the end of 69 weeks, as foretold in verse 25, then He was "cut
off" within the next ensuing week of years, and that in that next
ensuing week (the seventieth of actual historic time) He fulfilled all
the predictions of verses 24 and 27.
But, not only has God’s measuring line been altered as already stated,
but it has been changed from a line of determined length to one of indeterminate
length. (It would really seem as if the word "determined" had
been inserted in the angel’s message as a caution and warning against
this very mutilation). For, according to the idea we are discussing, the
number of years to be inserted between the sixty ninth and seventieth
week is still an unknown quantity. The last week, when thus detached from
its 69 companions, does not belong to any known series whatever. This,
in our opinion, not only destroys the usefulness of the prophecy, but
turns it into an absurdity. For a measure of time or space, even when
tampered with, is still a measure of fixed quantity, though deceitful
because inaccurate. But a measure which has no limits at all, one which
continues to enlarge its dimensions, which, from an original length of
490 years, has already been stretched to 2400, and is still elongating
itself, is not a measuring line at all. It is an absurdity.
Finally, it is clear beyond all dispute that the exposition we are discussing
detaches the predicted events of verses 24 and 27 entirely from the prophetic
seventy weeks, of which they constitute the very soul and essence, and
leaves them to happen whenever they may. Indeed, it severs the predictions
of verse 27 from Christ altogether, and transfers them to some future
antichrist, though of that feature of the case we need not speak at present.
It follows that, just as the Jews, having closed their eyes to the coming
of Messiah the Prince at the predicted time, and to the complete fulfilment
of this and other prophecies in His day (#Ac 13:27) by His being "cut
off, " are vaguely looking for a fulfilment of their expectations
at some indefinite time in the future, even so the expositors referred
to, having closed their eyes to the complete fulfilment of verses 24 and
27 in the seventieth actual week from the given starting point, are looking
vaguely and vainly for some other fulfilment, at an indefinite future
time, in the imaginary doings of some antichrist, who they say (but without
a word of Scripture to support them) will make a bargain with "many"
Jews about renewing their temple sacrifices, and will break that supposed
bargain after three and a half years. The only difference is that, whereas
the Jews have thrown the prophecy overboard completely, the expositors
referred to are trying to show respect for it, and to make it agree with
their interpretation, by the expedient of carrying the last week of the
seventy all down the centuries of our era, purposing to find a place for
it on the chart of time when their imaginary fulfilment shall come to
pass—if ever.
Index - 1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5 - 6 - 7 - 8 - 9 - 10 - 11 - 12 - 13 - 14 - 15 - 16 - Appendix
