The Consequences of Rejecting Christ
No historical revisionism can alter the fact that the Lord Jesus was put to death by his own people, the Jews (John 1:11). This does not sanction any modern-day mistreatment of the Jewish people; it does, however, acknowledge that Israel, as a nation, suffered a serious consequence as a result of its role in the death of the Messiah.
Daniel’s prophecy depicted the Roman invasion of Jerusalem and the destruction of the Jewish temple. The prophet spoke of a certain “prince that shall come,” who would “destroy the city and the sanctuary” like an overwhelming flood (9:26b). All of this was “determined” (see 9:26b,27b) by God because of the Jews’ rejection of his Son (Matthew 21:37-41; 22:1-7; see Young 1954, 679).
The interpretation of this portion of the prophecy is beyond dispute. Jesus, in his Olivet discourse concerning the destruction of Jerusalem (Matthew 24:1-34), talked about “the abomination of desolation, which was spoken of through Daniel the prophet” (24:15). The Lord was alluding to Daniel 9:27. The “abomination that makes desolate” was the Roman army, under its commander, Titus (“the prince”—9:26b), who vanquished Jerusalem in A.D. 70. [NOTE: The “prince” of verse twenty-six is not the same as the anointed “prince” of verse twenty-five. The prince of verse twenty-six comes after the anointed Prince has been cut off.]
The historical facts are these. In A.D. 66, the Jews, who were subject to Rome, revolted against the empire. This plunged the Hebrews into several years of bloody conflict with the Romans. Titus, son and successor of the famous Vespasian, overthrew the city of Jerusalem (after a five-month siege) in the summer of A.D. 70. The holy city was burned (cf. Matthew 22:7), and the “sanctuary” (temple) was demolished. Christ had informed his disciples that the day was coming when the Jews’ “house” would be left desolate (Matthew 23:38); indeed, not one stone would be left upon another (Matthew 24:2). Significantly, only one stone from that temple, and parts of another, have been identified positively by archaeologists (Frank 1972, 249).
J.N. Geldenhuys summarized this situation by noting that Titus
overran the city with his army, destroyed and plundered the temple, and slew the Jews—men, women and children—by tens of thousands. When their lust for blood had been sated, the Romans carried off into captivity all the able-bodied remnant of the Jews (for they had done away with all the weaklings and the aged), so that not a single Jew was left alive in the city or its vicinity. Only on one day in the year—the day of remembrance of the destruction of the temple—were they allowed to mourn over the city from the neighboring hill-tops (1960, 141).
This event was referred to by Daniel as the “abomination of desolation” because the city of David was desolated by the Roman army—an abominable force because of its idolatrous fabric. It is not without considerable interest that apparently even the Jews recognized that the destruction of the Hebrew nation was a fulfillment of Daniel’s remarkable prophecy. Josephus, the Jewish historian, stated that “Daniel also wrote concerning the Roman government, and that our country should be made desolate by them” (Antiquities of the Jews X.XI.7).
Conclusion
Daniel’s inspired record regarding the “seventy weeks” is a profound demonstration of the validity of scriptural prophecy. It foretells the coming of the Messiah, and details his benevolent work. The prophecy pinpoints the very time of Jesus’ crucifixion. Finally, it reveals the disastrous consequences of rejecting the Son of God.
(Thanks to Wayne Jackson - ChristianCourier for historical chronology)
Next time.......Look what's going on in Israel!
Saturday, August 21, 2010
Friday, August 13, 2010
To my Jewish brothers....
Consider the prophecy of Daniel in the time of the captivity.
First, the Messiah would enter history to overcome the problem of the human condition. He would “finish transgressions,” make an “end of sins,” and effect “reconciliation for iniquity.”
Second, in addition to his redeeming work in connection with sin, Daniel showed that the Messiah would usher in an era of “everlasting righteousness.”
Third, the angel’s message suggested that as a result of the Messiah’s work, “vision and prophecy” would be “sealed up.” The Hebrew term means to bring to a conclusion or finish.
Fourth, Daniel stated that the “most holy” would be anointed.
Seventy weeks of Daniel’s prophecy are divided into three segments—seven weeks, sixty-two weeks, and the “midst” of one week? There was purpose in this breakdown.
1. The first division of “seven weeks” (literally, forty-nine years) covers that period of time during which the actual rebuilding of Jerusalem would be underway, following the Hebrews’ return to Palestine (9:25b). This was the answer to Daniel’s prayer (9:16). That reconstruction era was to be one of “troublous times.” The Jews’ enemies had harassed them in earlier days (see Ezra 4:1-6), and they continued to do so in the time of Ezra and Nehemiah.
2. The second segment of sixty-two weeks (434 years), when added to the previous forty-nine, yields a total of 483 years. When this figure is computed from 457 B.C., it terminates at A.D. 26. This was the year of Jesus’ baptism and the beginning of his public ministry.
3. Finally, the “midst of the week” (three and one-half years) reflects the time of the Lord’s preaching ministry. This segment of the prophecy concludes in A.D. 30—the year of the Savior’s death.
“In the midst of the week” – which day is the midst of the week? Wednesday of Passover week the Messiah is executed. He said I give you Jonah who was in the belly of the whale three days. Yeshua was in the grave three days and rose again Saturday eve at the end of Shabbat. (no, there’s no such thing as “good Friday”)
….and then came the destruction!
To be continued…….
First, the Messiah would enter history to overcome the problem of the human condition. He would “finish transgressions,” make an “end of sins,” and effect “reconciliation for iniquity.”
Second, in addition to his redeeming work in connection with sin, Daniel showed that the Messiah would usher in an era of “everlasting righteousness.”
Third, the angel’s message suggested that as a result of the Messiah’s work, “vision and prophecy” would be “sealed up.” The Hebrew term means to bring to a conclusion or finish.
Fourth, Daniel stated that the “most holy” would be anointed.
Seventy weeks of Daniel’s prophecy are divided into three segments—seven weeks, sixty-two weeks, and the “midst” of one week? There was purpose in this breakdown.
1. The first division of “seven weeks” (literally, forty-nine years) covers that period of time during which the actual rebuilding of Jerusalem would be underway, following the Hebrews’ return to Palestine (9:25b). This was the answer to Daniel’s prayer (9:16). That reconstruction era was to be one of “troublous times.” The Jews’ enemies had harassed them in earlier days (see Ezra 4:1-6), and they continued to do so in the time of Ezra and Nehemiah.
2. The second segment of sixty-two weeks (434 years), when added to the previous forty-nine, yields a total of 483 years. When this figure is computed from 457 B.C., it terminates at A.D. 26. This was the year of Jesus’ baptism and the beginning of his public ministry.
3. Finally, the “midst of the week” (three and one-half years) reflects the time of the Lord’s preaching ministry. This segment of the prophecy concludes in A.D. 30—the year of the Savior’s death.
“In the midst of the week” – which day is the midst of the week? Wednesday of Passover week the Messiah is executed. He said I give you Jonah who was in the belly of the whale three days. Yeshua was in the grave three days and rose again Saturday eve at the end of Shabbat. (no, there’s no such thing as “good Friday”)
….and then came the destruction!
To be continued…….
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