Eighth Period

p. CH 37From the Beginning of Daniel’s Seventy Weeks to the Crucifixion of Messiah

Embraces 490 Years.

p. CH 38The Decree of Phocas

The authorities for the statement, that Phocas confirmed the supremacy of the Roman See, and thereby constituted the Bishop of Rome the Spiritual Chief of All Churches, are Paul the Deacon; and ANASTASIUS in his Ecclesiastical History of the A.D. 606. The latter observes: “This (Boniface III.) obtained from Phocas the Prince, that the Apostolical See of the Blessed Apostle Peter should be Head of All Churches; because the Constantinopolitan church had written that she is the first of all the churches.”

Gordon and Baronius date Phocas’ decree A.D. 606; Muratori, A.D. 607. In 608, he gave the Pantheon to the Pope; a temple originally dedicated to Cybele and all the gods. The Pope rededicated it to the Virgin and all the Martyrs—the gods and goddesses of the Catholic superstition.

Daniel’s Seventieth Week

From the Beginning of John the Immerser’s Mission to “the Cutting Off of Messiah the Prince”

Embraces 7 Years.

p. CH 39Notes on the Seventieth Week

I.—Improved Translation of the Text

The following translation made by me I regard as an improvement upon that of the English version. Gabriel said to Daniel in the first year of Darius the Mede, B.C. 542, “Seventy sevens have been decreed with respect to thy people, and with respect to thy holy city, for finishing the transgression, for perfecting sin-offerings, for covering iniquity, for causing to come in a righteousness of hidden periods, for sealing the vision and Prophet, and for anointing the Holy of holies. 25. Know then and be wise. From the going forth of a commandment for causing to return and for building Jerusalem to the Anointed Prince there shall be seven sevens and sevens sixty and two: she shall return, and the Broad wall and the breach be builded, even in the trouble of the times.

26. And after the sixty and two sevens the Anointed one shall be cut off, but there shall be nothing in Him. And the City and the Holy Place the people of the Prince coming shall destroy; and the end thereof shall be with a sweeping away, and before the end of the war desolations are decreed.

27. And He shall cause to confirm a covenant for many one seven: and half of the seven He shall cause to cease sacrificing and offering. And because of an overflowing of abominations there shall be a desolating even to destruction; and that decreed shall be poured out upon the desolator.”

2.—Speculations of Chronologists on the Seventy Weeks

Various have been the speculations of “the wise and prudent” concerning the beginning and ending of this notable and interesting prophecy. Mr. Shimeall tells us, that the Seventy Weeks, which he admits are 490 years, began in the seventh of Artaxerxes, B.C. 453, and ended 3½ years after the crucifixion, Jesus being crucified “in the midst of the week.” Besides this, he tells us that the decree issued to Ezra in the 7th year was for the re-building of the city, street, and wall of Jerusalem. This, however, is all mere fiction. The 7th year of Artaxerxes was B.C. 469, and not 453, a difference of 16 years; which leaves only 21 years, instead of 33, the age of Jesus when crucified; so that Mr. Shimeall’s termination of the 490 years is 12 years before, instead of 3½ years after, that event.

Jesus was not crucified “in the midst of the week.” What Gabriel said was khatzi hasshahvua, “half of the seven:” khatzi signifies “half, part or portion of anything.” He divided the p. CH 40 last seven into halves, and said in “half of the seven He (the Prince) would cause to cease sacrificing and offering.” But whether the first half or the last half, he did not say. He left that to be determined by events. And events did determine it most remarkably: for at the full end of the last half, even fifty days after it had ended in the Crucifixion, many for whom the covenant was confirmed, obeyed the voice of the Spirit in Peter, in being immersed upon the name of Jesus Christ into remission of sins; and thenceforth were caused by “the word of reconciliation” to cease offering bloody sacrifices and meat-offerings according to the law.

Others would have us believe that the Crucifixion occurred at the end of 69 weeks, and that the last, or seventieth week, is all yet in the future! Upon this hypothesis, then, Jesus of Nazareth is not the Christ, and Christianity is all a fable! Gabriel declared, that certain six things were to be accomplished within the seventy weeks; first, the finishing the transgression of the law; second, the perfecting of sin offerings in the Christ; third, the covering of iniquity with a spotless robe; fourth, the induction of a righteousness that should entitle to life in the ages to come; fifth, the sealing the vision and prophet like to Moses; and sixth, the anointing the Most Holy of the saints with spirit and power. These things were all to be done within the 490 years. It is certain they were none of them fulfilled within 69 weeks, or 483 years. If, then, the seventieth week is still future, which is the only portion of time allotted to their accomplishment, these six important and indispensable items are in the future likewise. And, as the apostolic revelation of the mystery, set forth in the word of reconciliation they preached, was all based upon the truth of the claims of Jesus to the Messiahship, their proclamation is a mere cunningly devised fable on the supposition of the last seven years of the 490 being in the future. But the Chronikon Hebraikon demonstrates the error common to all chronologists who do not terminate the Seventy Weeks with the Crucifixion.

It is entirely incorrect to say that the decree issued to Ezra in the 7th of Artaxerxes was “for the building of the city, street, and wall of Jerusalem.” It was for no such purpose; but for the restoration of the civil law. The Seventy Weeks can only be computed rightly from the 20th of this reign, when the second decree of Artaxerxes was issued to Nehemiah for the execution of what is erroneously assigned to Ezra; and the years elapsing between the 20th year and the Crucifixion exactly filling up the interval, prove the commandment delivered to Nehemiah, B.C. 456, to be the true beginning.

p. CH 41Chronological Summary