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Finally, The Correct Interpretation of the 70 Weeks Prophecy in Daniel

eclipseEventSigns

Endeavoring to interpret prophecy correctly.
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Finally, The Correct Interpretation of the 70 Weeks in Daniel

In our cynical age, the kneejerk reaction will be to reject this claim or even laugh this off as ridiculous. Can the barriers be broken just to get to an open mind that would even consider this evidence?

What this is NOT.
  • It is not based on a vision or personal revelation
  • It is not tied to a particular denomination or church tradition
  • It is not based on a particular type of year (ie. 360 day "prophetic" year)
  • It is not tied to a particular translation of the Bible

What this IS and why it's the correct interpretation.
  • It does treat the original text, written in Hebrew, as accurate historically, culturally and linguistically
  • It is consistent with the entire message of Scripture
  • It is consistent with all other prophetic passages of Scripture
  • It uses the restored Jewish calendar which was in use during the Biblical era

But why has this interpretation NEVER before been seen until now?

This proper interpretation has only been rediscovered now in our modern age. It was never meant to be properly understood until the time of the end. This is due to various phases of how this passage has been interpreted since it was originally spoken by Gabriel.

Daniel properly understood the 70 Weeks from the start. [Dan 9:22 LSB] Then he made [me] understand and spoke with me and said, "O Daniel, I have now come forth to give you insight with understanding."

The proper interpretation was hidden from and not fully understood by the majority after the book began to be circulated. However, the original Hebrew text and the Aramaic translation in the Targums was understood generally and led to a general expectation of the coming Messiah. However, the original Greek Septuagint had a totally corrupt text for Daniel 9. (What is now in the current Septuagint is Theodotian's translation of Daniel from centuries later.)

Some did have a more accurate understanding. Most likely the Magi figured out the prophecy. Very likely Simeon and Anna (in the temple) also knew exactly when the Messiah would arrive.

After 70 AD and continuing through the early Roman Church period, the dominant view was to treat the prophecy as allegory. Less and less access to the written text for the common folk allowed this view to remain for centuries.

The prophecy as understood by the jewish scholars never had a hope of being understood correctly. Their system of historical dates omitted several centuries as compared with historical fact.

With the invention of the printing press and the availability of readable translations, study of the prophecy increased. However, the particular interpretation bias found in the King James Version did not allow for the proper understanding of the prophecy to develop. The eastern churches who used the Greek translation mirrored that same interpretation bias so they also were similarly in the dark.

Increasing scholarship of ancient history allowed for the restoration of accurate literal-based alternatives to the allegorical interpretation. Some of these included those by Bishop Ussher, Magellan, and Isaac Newton. But they all came to very similar conclusions due to the influence of church tradition, use of the Jewish calendar and common assumptions. In the late 1800s Sir Robert Anderson introduced a completely novel interpretation which seemed to solve the various issues that many had struggled with.

This became the dominant interpretation of conservative Bible scholars for almost one hundred years. There have, of course, been many fringe interpretations which can be very easily dismissed upon examination. During the early 1970's Harold Hoehner recognized that there were several flaws in Anderson's method and attempted to correct them. This then became the accepted interpretation which has been accepted since.

However, this interpretation accepted by the majority is flawed because
  • it still makes use of the corruptions in the modern Jewish calendar,
  • it is still forced into a certain interpretation because it is based on the assumptions of the translators of the King James Version,
  • it does not recognize that the presumed historical anchor dates are just not historically possible and
  • it does not fully appreciate the purpose of why the 70 Weeks prophecy was given in the first place.

But since 2005 the proper and accurate interpretation of the 70 Weeks of Daniel has been understood again. The first time in two millennia.


I hope this has piqued your interest to investigate further. Here is a link to the 7 video series which explains the proper understanding of the 70 Weeks Prophecy in great detail. I invite you to examine all the included references and sources for yourself.
70 Weeks Prophecy Series

Or if you prefer the published book which contains even greater detail and all the calculations, see here:
Hidden Rhythms in Prophecy
 
There can only be one correct interpretation of the 70 Weeks prophecy. That means most views are wrong. When considering the interpretation that I have researched, I wanted to identify a single issue as the test to judge all other interpretations by. I think I have found it.

Everyone argues endlessly about which king made the decree to start the whole period of the 70 Weeks. Was is Cyrus? Was it Darius? Was it Artaxerxes? Was it something else people come up with? Well, Ezra gives us the major clue.

When talking about the second temple, he says: [Ezr 6:14 LSB] 14b So they built and completed [it] according to the decree of the God of Israel and the decree of Cyrus, Darius, and Artaxerxes king of Persia.

Ezra 6:14 states that there were more than just 3 decrees from earthly kings that allowed for the rebuilding of the temple (and by extension, rebuilding Jerusalem). There was a fourth. In addition Ezra seems to list the earthly decrees in chronological order. That would suggest that the decree by God, which no one recognizes, happened BEFORE the one from Cyrus. Where is this decree? Why does no one recognize or address this? Can your particular system even survive taking this decree into account? Either your interpretation can't pass the test or your interpretation does not consider the Word of God as accurate.

My claim is that ALL interpretations of the 70 Weeks Prophecy can not pass this test. Except for the one correct one.
 
Here's another clue about the Ezra 6:14 Test.
People just do not fully address the real reason for the 70 Weeks Prophecy. They focus on the climax - Daniel 9:24-27. But in order to truly understand the prophecy, the entire Chapter 9 must be correctly understood. The key is in verse 2
[Dan 9:2 ESV] 2 in the first year of his reign, I, Daniel, perceived in the books the number of years that, according to the word of the LORD to Jeremiah the prophet, must pass before the end of the desolations of Jerusalem, namely, seventy years.

Daniel studied and understood what was in Jeremiah's writings. It caused such a stir in him that he launched into an impassioned prayer. He realized the very reputation of God was on the line.
[Dan 9:19 ESV] 5 ... O Lord, pay attention and act. Delay not, for your own sake...

The entire chapter revolves around Jeremiah. Daniel correctly understands Jeremiah. He prays. God hears and immediately sends Gabriel with an answer for Daniel. God's answer as the 70 Weeks Prophecy directly addresses what Jeremiah said. This is what everyone has missed - for centuries.

Gabriel ties the 70 Weeks right back to the very place where Daniel had been intensely studying. He gives him an answer within his own lifetime. Not with some future decree by an earthly king when he is long dead. Gabriel tells Daniel to "understand" and Daniel would have immediately understood exactly what Gabriel was saying. The utterance or going forth of the word (command) to restore and build Jerusalem is the key anchor point. But it's a play on words. It's not just the subject matter but the actual words themselves. The words to restore and build - Hebrew "sub" and "bana" - that's the key. Where were those actual words used in Jeremiah and what exactly did they signify?
 
Here's another clue for the Ezra 6:14 Challenge.
Ezra specifically lists 4 commands. These allowed the temple to be finished by reason of, as a result of, because of these 4 commands. This is not the same as stating they all only dealt with the temple. Some were limited in scope to the temple. But some included reentry into the land so that Jerusalem would be rebuilt along with the temple. Three were by earthly kings. The first in the list was by God Himself. Where is this command and when was it done?

An in depth analysis of Daniel 9:25 very clearly shows that none of the eventual 3 decrees by earthly kings is being referred to. The very first part of the phrase that Gabriel speaks makes this evident. "So you are to know and have insight that from the going out of...."[Dan 9:25a] Gabriel tells Daniel to listen to this information and fully understand it. Daniel is not going to have to wait around for some earthly king like Artaxerxes to make a decree a hundred years after he is dead. He was to understand what Gabriel was saying immediately. God gave Daniel an answer to his prayer right then and there.

As I stated previously it's all tied to Jeremiah's writings, which Daniel had been studying intensely and finally understood. "Restore" and "rebuild". "Sub" and "bana". The keys that Gabriel told to Daniel and what he understood. But also the phrase "the going out of the word". The "word" is the Hebrew "dabar". It means speech, utterance, words. Daniel never uses this word to refer to an official decree by an earthly king. Never. He uses entirely different words for that. But he does use "dabar" when talking about the word of God. God's word through the prophets. He actually uses it at the beginning of the chapter.

[Dan 9:2 LSB] 2 in the first year of his reign, I, Daniel, discerned in the books the number of the years [concerning] which the word of Yahweh came to Jeremiah the prophet ...

Gabriel specifically ties the "sub" and "bana" to the word of the Lord through Jeremiah which Daniel was well acquainted with. It would have made immediate and perfect sense to Daniel. Just as Gabriel told him it would.

So where is this word of the Lord using the specific words "sub" and "bana"? This is the Ezra 6:14 Challenge. If an interpretation of the 70 Weeks prophecy doesn't address this issue, it is not correct.
 
Here's another clue for the Ezra 6:14 Challenge.

Ezra 6:14 shows that Ezra understood the 70 Weeks Prophecy correctly. He recognized the existence and importance of God's command to be listed as one of the four decrees which allowed for the return to the land and the completion of the second temple. Return and restore. "Sub" and "bana".

But the proper interpretation was being lost to time. Very few truly understood the 70 Weeks. And this makes complete sense. Gabriel said the prophecy would be sealed during the period of 70 weeks. One of the 6 purposes for the 70 Weeks is:
[Dan 9:24 LSB] 24 "Seventy weeks have been determined for your people and for your holy city,... to seal up vision and prophecy"

Later, in Gabriel's last recorded visit to Daniel, he says:
[Dan 12:4 LSB] 4 "But as for you, Daniel, conceal these words and seal up the book until the time of the end; ..."
The entire contents of Daniel's prophecies would be hidden from proper interpretation until the time of the end.

So those who try to find the interpretation within the writings of the early Church Fathers are on a fool's errand. They did not properly understand prophecy. God said it wouldn't be possible then. Or some look to Bishop Ussher. Nope. He was wrong too. Or Isaac Newton. Nope. Or Magellan. Nope.

Well, surely Sir Robert Anderson. He came up with a fantastic ingenious method that is highly popular to this day. Well, he definitely lived closer to the time of the end. But that's been already 140 years. So nope. How about the prophecy craze starting in the mid 20th century? Getting closer. But still not the time of the end. What about the explosion of prophecy "ministries" with everyone interpreting news headlines and trying to find the "7 year peace treaty"? Closer still to the time of the end. But still not as almost everyone still is tied to the misunderstandings from Church tradition.

Only with a fresh and accurate approach to the original text in Hebrew and the willingness to go where the Scriptural evidence leads will the proper interpretation be found. It won't be found in any English translation as none of the various Bible translators fully understood the 70 Weeks prophecy so no one has translated the Hebrew text in a manner that allows for the interpretation to become obvious.

The time of the end continues to get ever closer. The Ezra 6:14 Challenge exists to separate all the old misunderstandings of the past from the one correct interpretation that results when things are understood correctly. Does your particular interpretation of the 70 Weeks meet the Challenge?
 
Here's another clue for the Ezra 6:14 Challenge.

Ezra 6:14 lists 4 commands that were given in order for the temple to be completed - and by way of returning to the land and restoring it. The Hebrew words "sub" and "bana". "Return" and "restore". These are the words found in Daniel 9:25. The words which signaled the start of the entire period of the 70 Weeks.

Arguments have raged back and forth as to when did this period start. What king's decree started the whole thing? Look on any forum thread about this topic and every tom, dick and harry has their pet interpretation. Very few base theirs on an accurate understanding of the text. Some tie it to their particular denomination. Or some "personal vision from God". Or some supposed expert scholar. But no one realizes that Ezra 6:14 invalidates all of their interpretations. They don't acknowledge or realize that God's command to "sub" and "bana" came before any of the 3 kings' decrees.

This makes complete sense, unfortunately. Out of all the many English translations, they all interpret Daniel 9:25 differently. It's a complete mess. This shows that no translator has ever truly correctly understood the 70 Weeks prophecy.

The vast majority of proposed interpretations are based on the King James Version.
King James Bible
Know therefore and understand, that from the going forth of the commandment to restore and to build Jerusalem unto the Messiah the Prince shall be seven weeks, and threescore and two weeks: the street shall be built again, and the wall, even in troublous times.

Some are very close in wording.
New American Standard Bible
So you are to know and understand 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 streets and moat, even in times of distress.

New International Version
"Know and understand this: From the time the word goes out to restore and rebuild Jerusalem until the Anointed One, the ruler, comes, there will be seven 'sevens,' and sixty-two 'sevens.' It will be rebuilt with streets and a trench, but in times of trouble.

But their biases are very evident. Anyone who knows the Hebrew language knows that there are no capital letters in Hebrew. Or punctuation. Any translation that puts in capitals and adds punctuation is making an INTERPRETATION of the original Hebrew text. It's very safe to say that anyone who bases their own view on the KJV, NASB, NIV or similar with added capitals will NEVER come to the correct view of the prophecy.

Obviously, the English language needs punctuation. But what about those translations who don't add capitals for "messiah" and "prince"?
NET Bible
So know and understand: From the issuing of the command to restore and rebuild Jerusalem until an anointed one, a prince arrives, there will be a period of seven weeks and sixty-two weeks. It will again be built, with plaza and moat, but in distressful times.

JPS Tanakh 1917
Know therefore and discern, that from the going forth of the word to restore and to build Jerusalem unto one anointed, a prince, shall be seven weeks; and for threescore and two weeks, it shall be built again, with broad place and moat, but in troublous times.

Coverdale Bible of 1535
Vnderstode this then, and marcke it well: that from the tyme it shalbe concluded, to go and repayre Ierusalem agayne, vnto Christ (or the anoynted) prynce: there shalbe seuen wekes. Then shall the stretes & walles be buylded agayne [sixty-two] wekes, but with harde troublous tyme.

Even though the Coverdale still capitalizes "Christ", they include the alternate "anoynted". But notice where the periods of weeks occur. Totally different. And what are you going to do with this translation?
English Standard Version
Know therefore and understand that from the going out of the word to restore and build Jerusalem to the coming of an anointed one, a prince, there shall be seven weeks. Then for sixty-two weeks it shall be built again with squares and moat, but in a troubled time.

The proper interpretation is all tied to the original Hebrew text. No one will understand the prophecy correctly by reading an English translation. That is part of the Ezra 6:14 Challenge.
 
Here's another clue for the Ezra 6:14 Challenge.

After comparing the various alternate English translations of Daniel 9:25 and showing just how much they vary in timing the periods of Weeks, there's another major issue to consider. Anyone whose interpretation combines the first 7 Weeks together with the next 62 Weeks needs to also combine the following 1 Week with the final 1/2 Week. They MUST deal with the 70 1/2 Weeks Prophecy. Yes. 70 and 1/2 Weeks as their text reads.

How is that possible? Why have they missed this all this time? They just don't know what the Hebrew text says.

Daniel 9:25 Hebrew text literally says "weeks seven and weeks sixty and two". They take a look at this (usually just in the English) and happily combine it all together to get 69 Weeks.

But they MUST be consistent and do the same with Daniel 9:27. The Hebrew text literally says "week one and half the week". Add it together in the same way. 1 1/2 Weeks. If you add it together in verse 25, you must do the same thing in verse 27.

69 + 1 1/2 = 70 1/2 Weeks.

What's the problem? Well, of course back in verse 24 Gabriel specifically says there are 70 Weeks in total. It can't possibly be 70 1/2 Weeks. So these people who don't treat the text in a consistent manner have a problem. They don't realize they have a problem. They will deny they have a problem. But that doesn't change the fact that they do indeed have a problem.

This is all part of the Ezra 6:14 Challenge.
 
Here's another clue for the Ezra 6:14 Challenge.

We've compared the various alternate English translations of Daniel 9:25 and showed just how much they vary in timing the periods of Weeks, And we've discovered the inconvenient issue for those who combine the 7 Weeks with 62 Weeks as they need to be consistent to then combine the 1 Week with 1/2 Week and then explain away the resulting 70 1/2 Weeks. Next, there's the glaring error for those that want to use the 457 BC decree as the starting point of the 70 Weeks timeline.

Daniel 9:25a is very clear that the start of the whole period is "from the going out of a word to restore and rebuild Jerusalem" [LSB]. "Sub" and "bana" in Hebrew. And very specifically tied to restoring and rebuilding Jerusalem.

Ezra 7 contains the narrative for those that want to use 457 BC as the start. Putting aside the issue about combining the 7 Weeks with the 62 Weeks inconsistency, the purpose for the decree by Artaxerxes in his 7th year simply doesn't support the 70 Weeks prophecy. No where in that chapter does it mention restoring and rebuilding Jerusalem. No "sub" and "bana". Nothing. The decree was about beautifying the temple.
[Ezr 7:23 LSB] 23 "Whatever is decreed by the God of heaven, let it be done with zeal for the house of the God of heaven, so that there will not be wrath against the kingdom of the king and his sons.
[Ezr 7:27 LSB] 27 Blessed be Yahweh, the God of our fathers, who has put [such a thing] as this in the king's heart, to beautify the house of Yahweh which is in Jerusalem,

The Temple. Not Jerusalem. Yet, some will counter with this:
[Ezr 7:25 LSB] 25 "And you, Ezra, according to the wisdom of your God which is in your hand, appoint magistrates and judges that they may judge all the people who are in [the province] beyond the River, [even] all those who know the laws of your God; and to anyone who does not know [the laws], you shall make [them] known.

They assume that because Ezra was supposed to set up the ruling council that somehow meant a connection with rebuilding Jerusalem. It simply does not say this. This ruling council was the start of what would later become the Great Sanhedrin. A group of religious rulers that had their headquarters in the temple. The decree of Artaxerxes in his 7th year does not meet the requirements for the start of the 70 Weeks prophecy in Daniel 9:25.

This is all part of the Ezra 6:14 Challenge.
 
Here's another clue for the Ezra 6:14 Challenge.

What is with the first 7 Weeks anyway? What is the purpose behind carving out that period of 7 Weeks of years? 7 x 7. 49 years.

Every interpretation put forward must explain the reason for this period. Very few do. I have yet to see a Scriptural reason given for this period. Except for the correct interpretation, of course.

The only reason that I've seen given when someone is honest enough to tackle this inconvenient sticking point, is it took 49 years in order for Jerusalem to be restored. Really? Really! That's the best they can come up with?
So hypothetically 457 BC - 49 years = 408 BC
or hypothetically 444 BC - 49 years = 395 BC
or hypothetically 445 BC - 49 * 360 day years = 397 BC

Will someone ever make the case of where there is evidence that Jerusalem was completely rebuilt by any one of these choices: 408 BC, 395 BC or 397 BC? It's actually really shocking that some expert Biblical scholars propose this theory with a straight face (ahem, Tommy Ice) and quickly move past this hoping that no one will notice. But some of us DO notice these things.

Jerusalem faced multiple periods of destruction; it was truly a time of hardship. This period included the conquest by Antiochus Epiphanes and the Maccabean revolt. Josephus chronicled this period. Here are some passages relating how Jerusalem fared during this period with emphasis added.

“And when he [Antiochus] had pillaged the whole
city[Jerusalem]
, some of the inhabitants he slew, and
some he carried captive, together with their wives and
children, so that the multitude of those captives that
were taken alive amounted to about ten thousand. He
also burnt down the finest buildings; and when he had
overthrown the city walls,
he built a citadel in the lower
part of the city, for the place was high and overlooked
the temple, on which account he fortified it with high
walls, and towers
, and put into it a garrison of Macedonians.”
[Josephus] Antiquities XII, 5, 4

There were threats of annihilation against the people.
“When King Antiochus heard of these things, he was
very angry at what had happened: ...and that he should
conquer Judea
, and take its inhabitants for slaves, and
utterly destroy Jerusalem, and abolish the whole nation.”
[Josephus] Antiquities XII, 7, 2

“Judas also rebuilt the walls round about the city; and
reared towers
of great height against the incursions of
enemies, and set guards therein.”
[Josephus] Antiquities XII, 7, 7

“...they went out of the temple. But when Antiochus
came into it, and saw how strong the place was, he
broke his oaths, and ordered his army that was there to
pluck down the walls to the ground; and when he had so
done
, he returned to Antioch.”
[Josephus] Antiquities XII, 9, 7

“I [Alexander, the son of Antiochus Epiphanes] also
give you leave to repair and rebuild your temple, and
that all be done at my expences. I also allow you to
build the walls of your city, and to erect high towers,

and that they be erected at my charge. And if there be
any fortified town that would be convenient for the
Jewish country to have very strong, let it be so built at
my expences.”
[Josephus] Antiquities XIII, 2, 3

“When Simon and Jonathan had finished these affairs,
they returned to Jerusalem, where Jonathan gathered
all the people together, and took counsel to restore the
walls of Jerusalem, and to rebuild the wall that encompassed
the temple, which had been thrown down, and to
make the places adjoining stronger by very high towers;
and besides that, to build another wall in the midst of
the city,
in order to exclude the market-place from the
garrison which was in the citadel, and by that means to
hinder them from any plenty of provisions; and moreover,
to make the fortresses that were in the country
much stronger, and more defensible, than they were before.”
[Josephus] Antiquities XIII, 5,11

“Some time after this, when Alexander, the son of Aristobulus,
made an incursion into Judea, Gabinius came
from Rome into Syria, as commander of the Roman
forces. He did many considerable actions: and particularly
made war with Alexander, since Hyrcanus was
not yet able to oppose his power, but was already attempting
to rebuild the wall of Jerusalem, which Pompey
had overthrown
although the Romans, which were
there, restrained him from that his design.”
[Josephus] Antiquities XIV, 5, 2

“And now Herod, in the eighteenth year of his reign,
and after the acts already mentioned, undertook a very
great work, that is, to build of himself the temple of God,
and make it larger in compass,
and to raise it to a most
magnificent altitude, as esteeming it to be the most glorious
of all his actions, as it really was, to bring it to perfection.”
[Josephus] Antiquities XV, 11, 1

Jerusalem, the walls and the temple faced multiple times of destruction and rebuilding over the centuries. Yes, "in times of distress". This claim that 7 Weeks of years was how long the construction took is just not accurate to history. Is there some other alternate explanation? At this point, any interpretation that combines the 7 Weeks with the 62 Weeks can not be defended.

This is all part of the Ezra 6:14 Challenge.
 
Here's another clue for the Ezra 6:14 Challenge.

The Challenge has identified the following facts.

1. Ezra says there were 4 commands given allowing for the completion of the temple. When was the first one done; where is this literal decree?
[Ezr 6:14 LSB] 14b So they built and completed [the Temple] according to the decree of the God of Israel and the decree of Cyrus, Darius, and Artaxerxes king of Persia.

2. The words to restore and build - Hebrew "sub" and "bana". Where were those actual words used in Jeremiah and what exactly did they signify?
[Dan 9:2 ESV] 2 in the first year of his reign, I, Daniel, perceived in the books the number of years that, according to the word of the LORD to Jeremiah the prophet, must pass before the end of the desolations of Jerusalem, namely, seventy years.

3. In Daniel 9:25 the phrase "the going out of a word...". The "word" is the Hebrew "dabar". It means speech, utterance, words. Daniel never uses this word to refer to an official decree by an earthly king. Never.

4. The entire contents of Daniel's prophecies would be hidden from proper interpretation until the time of the end.
[Dan 12:4 LSB] 4 "But as for you, Daniel, conceal these words and seal up the book until the time of the end; ..."

5. Bible translations of the 70 Weeks passage vary all over the place with the timing of the Weeks in the prophecy. It's so confusing since every translation puts their particular bias into the text. They have to. Hebrew does not have capital letters or punctuation so any translation will be an interpretation. The proper interpretation is all tied to the original Hebrew text. No one will understand the prophecy correctly by reading an English translation.

6. Many combine the 7 Weeks with the 62 Weeks to get a combined 69 Weeks. But they don't realize that in order to treat the text consistently, then according to the Hebrew text, they MUST also combine the following 1 Week with the 1/2 Week. All this adds up to 70 1/2 Weeks. It obviously must be 70 Weeks so they must explain this issue with their assumption.

7. There are those who use the 457 BC decree of Artaxerxes as the start of the period of 70 Weeks. Daniel 9:25 is quite specific to state that the start has to do with restoring and rebuilding Jerusalem. The 457 BC decree had nothing whatsoever to do with that; it allowed for the beautification of the Temple.
[Ezr 7:27 LSB] 27 Blessed be Yahweh, the God of our fathers, who has put [such a thing] as this in the king's heart, to beautify the house of Yahweh which is in Jerusalem,

8. There must be a specific purpose behind carving out the first period of 7 Weeks of years? What exactly is the reason for those 49 years?

All these facts must be addressed and properly explained by any interpretation of the 70 Weeks. This is all part of the Ezra 6:14 Challenge.
 
t seems most people are not interested to investigate the very many interpretations that people come up with. Most are very closed minded after they settle on some interpretation that checks whatever theological baggage boxes they have. I have never come across this kind of study that I will be talking about. There might be someone who has done this before. But I'm saying I haven't come across it.

There is no English translation of Daniel 9 that is truly accurate to the original Hebrew text. The closest I've come across is Young's Literal Translation. But even that one contains obvious errors. An English translation is going to have to present the text in proper grammatical structure and phrasing. Just that act alone will distort any particular language structure of the Hebrew text. The second closest English translation is the ESV. So let's use that translation as a base. You'll see why in a second.

There are a few basic facts about Hebrew which have to be taken into account. First, Hebrew does NOT have a difference between capital and lower case letters. Second, the original Hebrew did not have any indication of punctuation. Third, sentences and change of thought were signified by using the word "and".

So here is the ESV text with some words (in blue) changed to more accurate renderings. No capitals. No punctuation. Every "and" starts a new line.
[Daniel 9:24-27 ESV]
24 "seventy weeks are decreed concerning your people
and your holy city to finish the transgression
and to put an end to sin
and to atone for iniquity
and to bring in everlasting righteousness
and to seal both vision and prophet
and to anoint holy holies

25 and know therefore
and understand that from the going out of the word concerning to restore
and build jerusalem until anointed one prince [there shall be] seven weeks
and sixty-two weeks will be returned to
and will be rebuilt with wide flat spaces
and upright sections even in a troubled times

26 and after the sixty-two weeks an anointed one shall be cut off
and shall have nothing
and the people of the prince who is to come shall destroy the city
and the sanctuary
and its end shall come with a flood
and to the end there shall be war
desolations are decreed.

27 and he will confirm, re-enable covenant with many for one week
and for half of the week he shall put an end to sacrifice and grain offering
and on the wing of abominations shall come one who makes desolate
and until the complete destruction
and the decisive decision is poured out on the desolator."
Click to expand...
This already gives quit a different picture of the prophecy than is found in most English translations. And remember, this is based on treating the Hebrew more accurately and not putting in any particular bias of interpretation like most English translations do.

Next step. Combine the "and"s where it is obviously referring to similar items.
[Daniel 9:24-27 ESV]
24 "seventy weeks are decreed concerning your people and your holy city to finish the transgression
and to put an end to sin
and to atone for iniquity
and to bring in everlasting righteousness
and to seal both vision and prophet
and to anoint holy holies

25 and know therefore and understand that from the going out of the word concerning to restore and build jerusalem until anointed one prince [there shall be] seven weeks
and sixty-two weeks will be returned to and will be rebuilt with wide flat spaces and upright sections even in a troubled times

26 and after the sixty-two weeks an anointed one shall be cut off and shall have nothing
and the people of the prince who is to come shall destroy the city and the sanctuary
and its end shall come with a flood
and to the end there shall be war
desolations are decreed.

27 and he will confirm, re-enable covenant with many for one week
and for half of the week he shall put an end to sacrifice and grain offering
and on the wing of abominations shall come one who makes desolate
and until the complete destruction and the decisive decision is poured out on the desolator."
Click to expand...
Things are even more clear. Final step is to remove the verse markers. And arrange the Weeks into definite beginning and end based on change of thoughts

[Daniel 9:24-27 ESV]

Purpose
seventy weeks are decreed concerning your people and your holy city to finish the transgression
and to put an end to sin
and to atone for iniquity
and to bring in everlasting righteousness
and to seal both vision and prophet
and to anoint holy holies

7 Weeks
and know therefore and understand that from the going out of the word concerning to restore and build jerusalem until anointed one prince [there shall be] seven weeks

62 Weeks
and sixty-two weeks will be returned to and will be rebuilt with wide flat spaces and upright sections even in a troubled times

After
and after the sixty-two weeks an anointed one shall be cut off and shall have nothing
and the people of the prince who is to come shall destroy the city and the sanctuary
and its end shall come with a flood
and to the end there shall be war
desolations are decreed.

1 Week
and he will confirm, re-enable covenant with many for one week
and for half of the week he shall put an end to sacrifice and grain offering
and on the wing of abominations shall come one who makes desolate
and until the complete destruction and the decisive decision is poured out on the desolator."
Click to expand...
This is a much clearer rendering of the original Hebrew which follows the grammatical structure and characteristics of the language. It leads to the proper interpretation of the prophecy.
 
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The missing puzzle piece is that it was God Himself who gave the command to return to and rebuild Jerusalem. Gabriel told Daniel to reread Jeremiah to find out where and when this had been done. He gave him a play on words. That it would not just be the subject matter but the very words themselves he should look for. "sub" and "bana". Where did God use those words? And Jeremiah includes the date when this was done. He doesn't just give one date. He gives two so that it was very specific. This was in 587 BC.

Each group of Weeks has a specific purpose. And a particular start and end. They are not combined. In fact, what no one has noticed in the modern era, is that there isn't just one gap. There are two gaps. But that's not all. Each gap is itself a grouping of Weeks. The first gap was 14 Weeks (98 years) long. The second gap is approaching 290 Weeks (2030 years) long. The entire prophetic timeline is made up of groups of Weeks.

This interpretation is the most accurate because:
1. it takes the prophetic text literally (the years are proper years)
2. it syncs with the historical information in the Bible
3. it syncs with the prophecies in Isaiah, Jeremiah, Daniel and Ezekiel
4. it confirms the purposes given for the 70 Weeks
5. it provides a proper and accurate understanding of the Hebrew text and customs

And it passes the Ezra 6:14 Challenge.
 
Finally, The Correct Interpretation of the 70 Weeks in Daniel

In our cynical age, the kneejerk reaction will be to reject this claim or even laugh this off as ridiculous.
No, that is not correct, and it is not a kneejerk reaction to say so, and neither am I launching. Nice combination of appeals to ridicule and incredulity, though.

Jesus plainly and explicitly stated his disciples would see Daniel's AoD standing in the holy place so whatever that was they saw it and the 70 weeks have come and gone.

Daniel 9:24-27
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. 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. 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 Messiah was cut off and rendered with nothing.
  • A new city of peace and a temple not made by human hands were built.
  • The city and the sanctuary were destroyed.
  • A flood of war and desolation came.
  • A new covenant was made.
  • The sacrifices and offerings were stopped.
  • Those of the abomination that made Israel desolate were met with destruction.
ALL of the criteria in Daniel 9 pertaining to the 70 weeks have happened.

Matthew 23:34-39
Therefore, behold, I am sending you prophets and wise men and scribes; some of them you will kill and crucify, and some of them you will scourge in your synagogues, and persecute from city to city, so that upon you may fall the guilt of all the righteous blood shed on earth, from the blood of righteous Abel to the blood of Zechariah, the son of Berechiah, whom you murdered between the temple and the altar. Truly I say to you, all these things will come upon this generation. Jerusalem, Jerusalem, who kills the prophets and stones those who are sent to her! How often I wanted to gather your children together, the way a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, and you were unwilling. Behold, your house is being left to you desolate! For I say to you, from now on you will not see Me until you say, "Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord."


All that happened, too. Jesus was crucified killed. The apostles were killed along with many of the other NT-era prophets, at least one of them also crucified. Jerusalem was desolate and its source were those who routinely entered the Holy of Holies.

Desolation is abominable. They were told to look for the abomination of desolation. It was desolation that was the abomination. They, the apostles, saw it.

Galatians 4:21-31 ESV
Tell me, you who desire to be under the law, do you not listen to the law? For it is written that Abraham had two sons, one by a slave woman and one by a free woman. But the son of the slave was born according to the flesh, while the son of the free woman was born through promise. Now this may be interpreted allegorically: these women are two covenants. One is from Mount Sinai, bearing children for slavery; she is Hagar. Now Hagar is Mount Sinai in Arabia; she corresponds to the present Jerusalem, for she is in slavery with her children. But the Jerusalem above is free, and she is our mother. For it is written, “Rejoice, O barren one who does not bear; break forth and cry aloud, you who are not in labor! For the children of the desolate one will be more than those of the one who has a husband.” Now you, brothers, like Isaac, are children of promise. But just as at that time he who was born according to the flesh persecuted him who was born according to the Spirit, so also it is now. But what does the Scripture say? “Cast out the slave woman and her son, for the son of the slave woman shall not inherit with the son of the free woman.” So, brothers, we are not children of the slave but of the free woman.

It is the new city of peace that is the free woman. The old one is desolate and so too are her children.
 
No, that is not correct, and it is not a kneejerk reaction to say so, and neither am I launching. Nice combination of appeals to ridicule and incredulity, though.
...snip....
I've presented hours of research and it is all sourced and referenced. This thread is to discuss that research. Not argue things which you state which have been shown to incorrect.

So, how does your view pass the Ezra 6:14 Challenge? If it can't, then it is not correct.
 
I've presented hours of research and it is all sourced and referenced.
Too bad all that time and effort were wasted, and you think appeals to yourself merit anything.
This thread is to discuss that research.
Given the evidence posted in my op-reply it is and should be a short discussion.
Not argue things which you state which have been shown to incorrect.
LOL! Scripture states waht it states and any objective comparison easily and readily shows I took scripture exactly as written and did not "interpret" anything while the op is nothing but a denial of what is specifically written and a pile of eisegetic interpretation. It's sad because people wroking from the modern futurist frameworks (like Dispensational Premillennialism) have been writing interpretations like this op four about 200 years now and not a single one of them has ever come true.
So, how does your view pass the Ezra 6:14 Challenge? If it can't, then it is not correct.
ROTFLMBO! Perfectly!

It is an assumption on your part that it must do so.

The fact is there is no prophecy in the entire Bible explicitly stating another temple of stone will be built and every prophecy containing any mention of the word "temple," (or "tabernacle," etc.) can and should be read to apply to either the temple that was standing in Jesus'' day or the temple that is his body and anyone who reads through the OT with that in mind will discover the Bible makes a lot more sense than the views of those who over the course of the last 200 years have produced a 100% fail rate. Post 16 meets the "Ezra 6:14 test" perfectly. It is the op that fails that test.
 
Too bad all that time and effort were wasted, and you think appeals to yourself merit anything.

Given the evidence posted in my op-reply it is and should be a short discussion.

LOL! Scripture states waht it states and any objective comparison easily and readily shows I took scripture exactly as written and did not "interpret" anything while the op is nothing but a denial of what is specifically written and a pile of eisegetic interpretation. It's sad because people wroking from the modern futurist frameworks (like Dispensational Premillennialism) have been writing interpretations like this op four about 200 years now and not a single one of them has ever come true.

ROTFLMBO! Perfectly!

It is an assumption on your part that it must do so.

The fact is there is no prophecy in the entire Bible explicitly stating another temple of stone will be built and every prophecy containing any mention of the word "temple," (or "tabernacle," etc.) can and should be read to apply to either the temple that was standing in Jesus'' day or the temple that is his body and anyone who reads through the OT with that in mind will discover the Bible makes a lot more sense than the views of those who over the course of the last 200 years have produced a 100% fail rate. Post 16 meets the "Ezra 6:14 test" perfectly. It is the op that fails that test.
Mock all you want. If you don't research the presented facts, there's nothing more to discuss.
 
Nice...eclipseEventSigns...nice...you have spent a measurable amount of time in research...nice work...posted all or a portion of it here in what for me was a very difficult to follow format...abundance of data and you are excited about the outcome of your investment...awesome Bro!

So...where do you place that 70th or 70.5 week of Daniel? I must have missed it...forgive me.

Tatwo...:)
 
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