DavidTree
Active Member
Ditto with you and @civicThe Roman Empire continued on until 1453, when the Turks took Constantinople. That Empire was richer and stronger than the Eastern part of the Roman Empire when the Eastern part ended. Actually, the 70 weeks speaks to the end of Israel, and if you consider God to be direct, the 70 weeks prophecy has not ended yet. The Prince entering the city at the end of the 69th week is Jesus the Messiah. This Messiah Jesus is cut off after the 69th week. If we take that as 33 AD, how does one more week get us to 70 AD? It doesn't. Not even close. HOWEVER, the prophecy states that God has decreed 70 weeks for his people (Daniel's people, the Jews/Israel) and the holy city (Jerusalem). God did not say they are contiguous. Based on what we know of history, the first 69 weeks were. They are even named as the 7 weeks and the 62 weeks. Someone did the math and the last day of the prophecy ended on the day of Jesus' triumphal entry. So God is very accurate in His prophecies. (You would hope so, because it is His name, and His perfection on the line.) Why does the prophecy stop at 69 weeks and say that the Prince arrives at the end of the 69 weeks, and then the Messiah is cut off AFTER 69 weeks. Why not at the start of the 70th week? I mean, if the weeks were contiguous, it should be at the start of the 70th week right? By about 7 days give or take. But it doesn't say that. It does give an introduction to the 70th week, but it isn't the cutting off of the Messiah. It is when the prince who is to come makes a covenant with the many for the week, and then, like in the other prophecy in Daniel about the abomination of desolation, he violates the covenant, puts an end to the sacrifices, and commits the abomination of desolation. (The other prophecy is clear as to why, a few centuries before Jesus was born, the sacrifices were stopped prior to the abomination of desolation at that time where a pig was sacrificed on the altar in the holy of holies. It is a multi-fulfillment prophecy.
You can't resurrect Jerusalem and Israel, but God did in 1948. Against all odds. Prophecy fulfilled. Ezekiel's dry bones back to life. Israel no longer a wilderness, but sprung back to life with the return of the Jews to their rightful place. Even Mark Twain, who visited before 1948 said that the place was a vast wilderness. The point you miss about the upcoming judgment, it finishes the 70 weeks for Israel, with all the results decreed at the beginning, and it ends God's judgment of the whole world. It is centralized on Israel and Jerusalem, but Jesus says the great tribulation to come is extensive, that is to say great. And He compares it not to the history of Israel, but the history of the whole world from the creation to the end of time. The time of Jacob's trouble is only compared to Israel's history, from its founding until its end. So the great tribulation of matthew 24 is worldwide, but it will be worst in Israel, where the Antichrist will set himself up to be God. Israel has not yet been saved. Israel has not yet accepted their Messiah. God is not done with Israel.
With the exception that CHRIST was "cut-off" in the 70th week = NOT the 69th
"AFTER the 69th week MESSIAH will be cut-off"