MESSIAH THE PRINCE MAKES HIS ENTRANCE INTO JERUSALEM

 

Now we look for the end of the 69 weeks, “Know therefore and understand, that from the going forth of the commandment to restore and to build Jerusalem unto Messiah the Prince shall be seven weeks, and threescore and two weeks: the street shall be built again, and the wall, even in troubled times.” Daniel 9.25

The key statement here is, “unto Messiah the Prince.” When did Messiah the Prince appear in Jerusalem? The only time Jesus appeared in Jerusalem as the royal political Prince was on Palm Sunday of 32 AD. We arrive at the year 32 AD by looking at Luke 3.1-3 where it says John the Baptist began baptizing in the 15^th year of Tiberius. Historical evidence indicates that the 15^th year of Tiberius began in August of 28 AD. This would have been the year Jesus came to John to be baptized--at the beginning of His 3.5 year ministry. So Palm Sunday would have happened in the spring of 32 AD.

We know that this time period of 69 weeks should arrive at an auspicious time. When we calculate the time of 476 years and 24.7 days from Nissan 1 or 2 of 445 BC, we arrive at Jesus entering Jerusalem around Nisan 10, four days prior to Passover. This particular year, 32 AD, was a year with a late Passover, so it fits perfectly.

The rabbi’s of that time period who studied the prophecies should have been aware of this date and they should have been able to understand that the Messiah was going to show up in Jerusalem right around this time. We know there should have been people who knew this. They were searching the scriptures about the Messiah 30 years prior when the wise men came looking for Jesus. Some people must have known about this date.

Palm Sunday came four days prior to the crucifixion of Jesus. The O.T. (Lev 23) tells us Passover is on Nisan 14. This is the day Jesus would have been crucified. This would have been a Thursday. In 32 AD Nisan 14 must have come on a Wednesday evening (beginning of Thursday on Hebrew calendar) because according to Jonah 1.17 and Matt 12.14 the first fruits resurrection of Jesus occurred on the first day of the week, our Sunday, and this was after three full days of death. This would have made Palm Sunday Nisan 10. Without going into detail, if we calculate backwards from when Jesus entered Jerusalem on Palm Sunday it takes us to the new moon of Nisan in 445 BC when Artaxerxes issued his royal edict to rebuild the walls and gates of Jerusalem.

This is when Jesus for the first and only time entered Jerusalem as King (Matt 21.8-11). This was His first coming as Royal King. The end of the future 70^th week of Daniel will be Jesus’ second coming as King. This 2,000 year gap is the “time of the gentiles.” The book of Hebrews 12 exhorts the generation that will go through the tribulation a special exhortation to run on behalf of all who have come before them.

This group needs to “discern the times” so that they will be strengthened during this time. No man knows the day, but we are told to “discern the times.” The generation that goes through this will have reliable information from the Lord, along with a basic calendar of events as they go up to witness in the latter days.

A journey through dark days lies ahead for a soon to come generation. It would be wise of us therefore to begin to prepare our hearts and make spiritual preparation for these coming days. We need to pass down the correct information on the terrible days of the end of the age. Only those who are prepared mentally and spiritually will know what to expect and be able to overcome. The parable of the wise and foolish virgins was Jesus way of telling us to prepare and be ready. Those who do not have the extra oil will miss out. We need to find that extra oil from spending time with the Lord --only each individual alone can do that--the choice is yours!


THE 70^TH WEEK
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. Daniel 9.27


“At that time Michael shall stand up, the great prince who stands watch over the sons of your people; and there shall be a time of trouble, such as never was since there was a nation, even to that time. And at that time your people shall be delivered, every one who is found written in the book. And many of those who sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, some to everlasting life, some to shame and everlasting contempt. Those who are wise shall shine like the brightness of the firmament, and those who turn many to righteousness like the stars forever and ever.
“But you, Daniel, shut up the words, and seal the book until the time of the end; many shall run to and fro, and knowledge shall increase.” Daniel 12.1-4


PHASE ONE...The seven year peace covenant involving God’s land of Israel and His covenant people is outlined in the above scripture. The Anti-Christ, in his early global peacemaking role will confirm the seven year peace treaty. This will be to those who understand, the blowing of the trumpets of warning. This makes it very likely that this peace treaty will be agreed to on a future Rosh Hashanah or Jewish New Year. This is also known as the Feast of Trumpets during the new moon of Tishri, the very next feast yet to be prophetically fulfilled.

 
PHASE TWO...The Anti-Christ is possessed and is revealed as “the beast” midway through the 70^th week. He stops the daily sacrifices in the rebuilt Jewish Temple in Jerusalem. He profanes the Temple by setting up the “abomination of desolation”. Dan 9.27, 11:31, 12.11, Matt 24.15, Mark 13.14 This begins the final 1260 days of 3.5 Biblical years or 42 Biblical months of the 70^th week which begins the great tribulation period.

Note: Based on Luke 21.20-21 some believe the “abomination of desolation” is when armies surround or occupy Jerusalem and the residents are told to flee. In this case the abomination would be the very armies themselves profaning Jerusalem.


PHASE THREE...When Messiah appears, he destroys the Anti-Christ and stops the trampling of Jerusalem and the time of the gentiles comes to an end. The sixth seal opens and the sun turns to darkness and the moon to blood. The sign of the Son of Man is seen in heaven. (Joel 2.31, Matt 24.29-30, Rev 6.12-17, Rev 19.11-21) Messiah contends with the nations that have come against Jerusalem at the Battle of Armageddon. A grace period of days, or judgment ends on the 10^th of Tishri, the climatic ultimate Day of Atonement. This is the final day to repent as God’s wrath is then to be poured out upon the heads of the wicked. The 10 days between the Feast of Trumpets and Day of Atonement are called the “Days of Awe” in traditional Judaism. The Day of Atonement is when the Lord returns and we meet Him in the air with the resurrected dead. (Rev 19.11-21, 20.1-7, 1 Thess 4.13-18, 2 Thess 2.1-17, 1 Corinthians 1516-28, 50-52)


Interestingly, when the Feast of Trumpets, in a given year, and the Day of Atonement seven years later are separated by 86 moons and not by 87 moons (which occurs over half the time according to the position of those seven years in the 19 year Metonic Cycle), then the time span encompassing these two Holy Days or Feasts of the Lord, is precisely 2550 days! This is the exact number of days encompassing the 70^th week of Daniel, (the final seven years of this age), plus the 30 day extension which reaches out beyond the 1260 days of the first half of the week. These extra 30 days may be a grace period or judgment of some kind, I don’t know for sure. Daniel 12.11


Rosh Hashanah is the next feast on God’s calendar to be prophetically fulfilled. This is the “Head of the Year” or Jewish New Year. This matching of the fall feast’s to the 70^th week of Daniel, and the final 7 years of the age, suggests that the future peace treaty which Israel will sign with the Anti-Christ will be signed in the autumn season. This treaty would be a warning of what is to come. The next feast in line to be fulfilled will be the climatic Day of Atonement, later during that seven year period. This is the most holy day on the Jewish calendar and it will erupt into fulfillment when the Lord returns!


The last day of this age will be the fulfillment of the Jewish Day of Atonement in the New Covenant. This 10^th day of Tishri in some future year will be the final day to repent for this age. The next day will be the day the heavens are opened into the Day of the Lord. Judgment Day will have arrived! The angel’s of God’s wrath will descend upon the wicked and they shall be bundled and burned! Matt 13.30


Following that awful wrath on the wicked, comes the harvest of the elect at the resurrection of the dead, and the Feast of Tabernacles (the Wedding Supper of the Lamb) which will celebrate the coming future 1,000 year millennium of the Messiah. The elect will rule and reign with Him as they teach the nations His ways. Zechariah 14.9-11, 16


The Lord told us that no man knows the day, but he did warn us to be aware of the “watch” in which the thief will come. "Watch therefore, for ye know not what hour your Lord doth come. But know this, that if the master of the house had known in what watch the thief would come, he would have watched and would not have suffered his house to be broken into. Therefore be ye also ready, for in such an hour as ye think not, the Son of Man cometh.” A watch is a three hour period. The Lord is warning us to be alert on our watch. There will be clues to when He is coming.


SIGN OF THE FIG TREE - “Now learn this parable from the fig tree: When its branch has already become tender and puts forth leaves, you know that summer is near. So you also, when you see all these things, know that it is near—at the doors! Assuredly, I say to you, this generation will by no means pass away till all these things take place. Heaven and earth will pass away, but My words will by no means pass away. Matt 24:32-35 The nation of Israel is the fig tree. The Lord, I believe, is talking about a generation that will see it all. Also read Mark 13 and Luke 21.

Then He also said to the multitudes, “Whenever you see a cloud rising out of the west, immediately you say, ‘A shower is coming’; and so it is. And when you see the south wind blow, you say, ‘There will be hot weather’; and there is. 56 Hypocrites! You can discern the face of the sky and of the earth, but how is it you do not discern this time? Luke 12.54-56

For more information:
http://endtimepilgrim.org/70wks1.htm