The 2,300 Day Prophecy
The Tribulation & The Judgment Hour – 2
Lesson 18 Part 2
Daniel 9: 24, “Seventy weeks are determined upon thy people and upon thy holy city, to finish the transgression, and to make an end of sins, and to make reconciliation for iniquity, and to bring in everlasting righteousness, and to seal up the vision and prophecy, and to anoint the most Holy.”
“Seventy weeks are determined” (or lit. trans. “cut off”) “for thy people” – The Israelites. So 70 weeks are cut off from 2,300 days. Now in 70 weeks there are 490 days. And remember a day is symbolic of a year. The 2,300 day prophecy then can be broken into two segments: The first 490 days or years for the Israelites; then the remaining 1810 years bring you down to the time when the sanctuary would be cleansed, the time of the end. Now several things were to happen in the 70 weeks or 490 years, but first we must have a beginning date.
Before we go further, lets reconfirm the principle in prophecy of using a day for a year.
Number 14:34 …’After the number of the days in which ye searched the land, even forty days, each day for a year, shall ye bear your iniquities, even forty years, and ye shall know my breach of promise.’
Ezekiel 4:6 …’And when thou hast accomplished them, lie again on thy right side, and thou shalt bear the iniquity of the house of Judah forty days: I have appointed thee each day for a year.’
In Daniel 9:25 we find the event that marks the beginning date. Daniel 9:25, “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.”
“The command to restore Jerusalem.” When was that? Turn to Ezra 7:13, 20, 23, 27, “I make a decree, that all they of the people of Israel, and of his priests and Levites, in my realm, which are minded of their own freewill to go up to Jerusalem, go with thee. And whatsoever more shall be needful for the house of thy God, which thou shalt have occasion to bestow, bestow it out of the king’s treasure house. Whatsoever is commanded by the God of heaven, let it be diligently done for the house of the God of heaven: for why should there be wrath against the realm of the king and his sons? Blessed be the Lord God of our fathers, which hath put such a thing as this in the king’s heart, to beautify the house of the Lord which is in Jerusalem.”
This command went forth in 457 B.C. Artaxerxes gave the command and this date is fully established by history. So we have our beginning date 457 B.C. Now verse 24 said 70 weeks, or 490 years were cut off for the Jewish nation. Let’s do some arithmetic. Our beginning date, 457 B.C. , minus 490 years brings us to 34 A.D. What happened in 34 A.D. in Jerusalem and with the Jews? That was the year Stephen, the first Christian martyr was stoned after his last appeal to the Jews. They had rejected Christ and the apostles, and from that point on the apostles began preaching to the Gentiles and Israel was “cut off” as a nation. Notice these verses regarding how it took place, and how all believers are now God’s chosen people: Acts 13:46-50; Matthew 21:43; Galatians 3:28, 29; Romans 10:12; Romans 2:28, 29. So we see the 70 weeks, or 490 years were precisely fulfilled on time as all prophecy is.
But even more amazing is verses 25-26. In this 490 year period, several more predictions are made about Christ. Notice verse 25, “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.” Seven weeks and three score and two weeks equal 69 weeks. That equals 483 days or years. Subtract 483 years from our starting point in 457 B.C. and what do we have? A.D. 27. According to verse 25 the Messiah would come that year! And Christ did!
Christ was baptized in A.D. 27. Luke 3:1 says it was the fifteenth year of Tiberius Caesar, and many Roman records show that date was 27 A.D. Christ Himself said, “The time is fulfilled,” He knew the prophecies! Do you remember also what He said in Matthew 3:15?
To “fulfill all righteousness” just like Daniel 9:24. The prophecy is precise!
Did you ever wonder why Jesus spent 30 years in an obscure carpenters shop before He went out and declared He was the Messiah? Jesus read the same prophecy you are right now. Based on this Jesus knew the exact year He was to appear!
Verse 26, “And after threescore and two weeks shall Messiah be cut off, but not for himself: and the people of the prince that shall come shall destroy the city and the sanctuary; and the end thereof shall be with a flood, and unto the end of the war desolations are determined.”
He would be “cut off” or crucified sometime after A.D. 27. And it continues on to say that the city and the sanctuary would be destroyed, and be made desolate. Jesus often referred to this passage when He was here on earth. He saw the Jews rejecting Him, and prophesied these things. Matthew 23:37-38, “O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, thou that killest the prophets, and stonest them which are sent unto thee, how often would I have gathered thy children together, even as a hen gathered her chickens under her wings, and ye would not! Behold, your house is left unto you desolate.”
Matthew 24:2, “And Jesus said unto them, See ye not all these things? verily I say unto you, There shall not be left here one stone upon another, that shall not be thrown down.”
In A.D. 70, this verse was fulfilled as the Roman armies surrounded Jerusalem and destroyed the city and sanctuary. History records it as one of the most terrible events that ever took place. To this day the temple has never been rebuilt again. Verse 27 then zeros in on the exact time for the crucifixion. “And he shall confirm the covenant with many for one week: and in the midst of the week he shall cause the sacrifice and the oblation to cease, and for the overspreading of abominations he shall make it desolate, even until the consummation, and that determined shall be poured upon the desolate.”
Jesus did confirm His covenant with the Jews for one week, or seven years. From 27 A.D. to 34 A.D. At this time they cut themselves off as we just studied. In the midst or “middle” of the week, He (Jesus) would cause the sacrifices, the oblations to cease. Seven days in a week equals seven years. So the middle, or three and half years from A.D. 27, brings us to the spring of A.D. 31. It was at this precise time, at the feast of the Passover, that Christ was crucified. Thus the sacrifices and oblations ended. The veil in the sanctuary was torn in two. In A.D. 34, the other three and a half years as the prophecy predicted saw the Jews total rejection. All right on time! With perfect precision, the prophet predicted the time of Christ’s baptism, crucifixion, and rejection of the Jewish nation.
So the 70 weeks or 490 years, ending in A.D. 34, pertains to the nation of Israel. Let’s pause here for a moment to discuss another topic. This one week, (seven years), has been the subject of much speculation in the last few years. Even for a child it’s obvious that this seven years is part of the 70. You have a total of 70 weeks or 490 years. You have 69 weeks, or 483 years to the Messiah, and that leaves one week or seven years in between. We also see the perfect fulfillment of this one week in Jesus.
Today, however, some people take this one week, and without any biblical evidence lift it out of the context, and move it over 2,000 years into the future to apply to a future seven year tribulation period which is supposed to take place. Incredible as that seems, it’s really being done! The great seven year tribulation is supposed to be preceeded by the secret rapture, (another deception not taught in the Bible, we have previously discussed this). Then after the secret rapture, in three and a half years, the Antichrist is supposed to come, and after the full seven years, the end is to come.
One will search the Bible in vain to find any evidence for this doctrine. There will be a period of tribulation, yes, but nowhere is it said to be seven years. The word tribulation in the Bible occurs about 20 times, and in every case, God’s people are in it, go through it, and God preserves and honors them. A few examples:
John 16:33 In the world you will “have tribulation: but be of good cheer.”
Acts 14:22 We must “through much tribulation enter into the kingdom.”
Romans 5:3. “We glory in tribulation.”
Romans 12:12. Be “patient in tribulation.”
2 Corinthians 1:4. “Who comforts in all our tribulation.”
2 Corinthians 7:4. “I am exceeding joyful in all our tribulation.”
1 Thessalonians 3:4. “We told you before that we should suffertribulation.”
2 Thessalonians 1:4. “In all your persecutions and tribulations” that you endure.
Revelation 1:9. “John … your brother and companion in tribulation.”
Revelation 7:9-14, speaks of the saved of the earth and says, “These are they which came out of great tribulation!”
I hope that this is clear
Also Daniel 9 says the prophecy of the 70 weeks was to be “sealed up” by Christ. A further dilemma comes for those who support this false teaching when we look at the Antichrist. When will the Antichrist appear? After the rapture, during the tribulation? No way!
2 Thessalonians 2:1, “Now we beseech you, brethren, by the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, and by our gathering together unto him.” Notice the second coming and rapture is the same event. Verses 3-4, “Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come,” (the coming of Jesus and our gathering unto Him) “except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition; Who opposed and exalteth himself above all that is called God, shewing himself that he is God.” “That day” (the coming of our Lord and rapture, verse 1) will not come until Antichrist appears! Verse 7 says, “For the mystery of iniquity doth already work.” And verse 8 clearly says, “that Wicked” will be destroyed with the brightness of Jesus’ coming! This totally refutes any possibility of supporting the seven-year Antichrist tribulation period.
Compare this with Revelation 20:4-6. Those raised in the first resurrection will be the ones who did not worship the beast or receive his mark!
The devil is intelligent. The prophecy of Daniel 9 which so beautifully uplifts Jesus Christ as Messiah, Savior and Redeemer of all men has been twisted into a fable that glorify the Antichrist.
Now as we continue the prophecy in Daniel, we can find out when the cleansing of the sanctuary begins. We know positively the beginning date of the prophecy is correct, 457 B.C. Jesus confirmed that. Look at Daniel 8:14 and can calculate this.
When did this cleansing of the heavenly sanctuary begin? Simply calculate 457 B.C. minus 2,300 years and it brings us to the year 1844. Over 150 years ago, according to this prophecy, the cleansing of the sanctuary began, and we entered the “time of the end.”
We, today, are living in the judgment hour. That’s a sobering thought. Christ is right now cleansing the sanctuary of all its sins, and each person who has ever lived is being judged. How long it will take, no one knows, but today my friend, your name could come up. Are you ready for Jesus to come? This scene is made real by Daniel.
“Daniel 7:9-10, “I beheld till the thrones were cast down, and the Ancient of days did sit, whose garment was white as snow, and the hair of his head like the pure wool: his throne was like the fiery flame, and his wheels as burning fire. A fiery stream issued and came forth from before him: thousand thousands ministered unto him, and ten thousand times ten thousand stood before him: the judgment was set, and the books were opened.”
This is happening as you read this page! There are only two sides today; those who are willing to stand up for Jesus and those who are not.
And so for encouragement, let’s read Revelation 3:5, “He that overcometh, the same shall be clothed in white raiment; and I will not blot out his name out of the book of life, but I will confess his name before my Father, and before his angels.”
Jesus will stand for you in the judgement. When Jesus comes, He is not coming as a little babe, but in heaven He will lay aside His priestly robes, and in their place put on the regal garments of King of Kings, and come quickly. Every case will be decided.
Revelation 22:11-12, “He that is unjust, let him be unjust still: and he which is filthy, let him be filthy still: and he that is righteous, let him be righteous still: and he that is holy, let him be holy still. And, behold, I come quickly; and my reward is with me, to give every man according as his work shall be.” Oh how we need to be ready today!
In closing, let’s read Revelation 14:6-7. “And I saw another angel fly in the midst of heaven, having the everlasting gospel to preach unto them that dwell on the earth, and to every nation, and kindred, and tongue, and people, Saying with a loud voice, Fear God, and give glory to him; for the hour of his judgement is come: and worship him that made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and the fountains of waters.” The judgment is come. Since the fulfillment of this prophecy the message of Revelation is relevant. A real understanding of this message will change our lives! We are not living in ordinary time, we’re living in the judgment hour!
Jesus has sent this message in love, He wants us to be ready! How will you fare when your name comes up? Thank God for Jesus, who longs to represent us. He can take the most wicked sinner, wash away his sin, clothe him in His righteousness, and present him faultless before God’s throne.
STORY OF MARTIN LUTHER
Martin Luther was a great reformer, but he felt himself to be a very great sinner. Discouragement distressed him. Many times he reasoned as we do, “What’s the use of trying?”
One night he had a dream, perhaps it was a vision direct from God. That night it seemed as though the devil stood before him holding a long sheet of parchment that reached right to the floor. Martin Luther knew that it was a list of his own sins!
With a smirk the devil questioned, “Did you commit these sins, Martin?” And Luther was obliged to reply, “Yes, every one of them.”
The devil asserted, “Then there is no hope for you.”
Luther sank down in despair. But suddenly he noticed the devil was holding his hand over one corner of the sheet.
“What is under your hand?” Luther demanded. And when the devil lifted his hand, what do you suppose Martin Luther saw written there above the long list of his sins?
“THE BLOOD OF JESUS CHRIST… CLEANSETH US FROM ALL SIN.” 1 John 1:7.
If any of us had to stand alone, we would have absolutely no hope. But praise the Lord, Jesus, our heavenly Priest, will stand for us in the judgment. He will represent us at the tribunal of the universe. If we are willing to surrender our lives to Him and live for Him here, He will represent us there. If we are willing to repent of sin and confess it, He will cover it with His blood and present us clothed in His righteousness in the judgment. Won’t you make that decision today?
