Times Appointed Part 3

21st September 2023, hej

This Article: (10 Pages)

1) Daniel 9: Times to the first Coming of Messiah

To understand how times work we can look at Daniel's prophecy to the first coming of Messiah, which has been fulfilled.

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. Know therefore and understand, that from the going forth of the commandment to (1) restore and to build Jerusalem unto the Messiah the Prince shall be seven weeks, and threescore and two weeks: (2) the street shall be built again, and the wall, even in troublous times. And after threescore and two weeks shall Messiah be cut off. (Daniel 9:24-26)

There are four time periods. One overall of 70 weeks, 2 dated from the going forth of the commandment and another of 62 weeks. In real time 70 weeks is a little over a year. Clearly this prophecy was for longer, therefore, a 'week' could mean a prophetic week. If this is the case, on a day for a year, a principle established in Ezekiel 4:6, 70 weeks is 490 years. There are two dates given to start the time periods, from Ezra's work in the 7th of Artaxerxes (approx 457BC) and Nehemiah's in the 20th of Artaxerxes (444BC). Adding 490 to these dates and allowing for the loss of 4 years at the change of the Common Era(CE), comes to either 29 or 42AD. The first is too early, actually pre-dating the crucifixion and the second is too late. The 7 +62 (69) week period ends in 22 or 35AD. Neither are precise, leading people to question the date of Artaxerxes. However, though dates before 1000 BC are uncertain, by the time of the Romans and Greeks there are cross checks, and dating is more reliable.

There is another solution which comes from understanding the origin of the 'day for a year' principle. Whereas the people were to keep the Sabbath every seventh day, the Land was to keep the Sabbath every seventh year, called shmita. There are two scales: the first is a 24 hour day (one revolution of the earth) for the people, the second is a year (one revolution around the sun) for the land.

Jewish days of the week are labelled one to seven, where 'Sabbath' means 7th day. The Jews also labelled their years from one to seven, with the 7th year called 'Shmita'.

To a Jew, the 70 weeks for the holy city or the land refers to 70 Shmita 'weeks'. Israel in modern times keeps the 7th year. The seventh year is a specific year. The last was in 2007/8. If this year is tracked back, allowing for the lost 4 years at C.E., there is only one Shmita 'week' of 7 years between the first decree of Artaxerxes with the 7th year finishing in the very year before the second decree in the 20th year of Artaxerxes.

The Shmita year cycle as calculated back to the time of Ezra

In Daniel's prophecy, there are 2 events: (1) restore and to build Jerusalem, (2) the street and the wall. The first decree of Artaxerxes given to Ezra in 457BC was to restore and build Jerusalem (1). Whereas Cyrus way back in 537BC gave a decree to build the temple, Artaxerxes in 457BC supports a return to establish Jerusalem as a Jewish city with priesthood and government. Ezra brings the key people and materials and they complete the temple and the services (Ezra 8). He begins reforms (Ezra 9-10). There is then a 7th year in 453/2BC. Now the temple is completed, what are they doing and what is their concern? From Ezra we learn they are building a wall,

yet our God has not forsaken us in our bondage, but has extended mercy unto us in the sight of the kings of Persia, to give us a reviving, to set up the house of our God, and to repair the desolations thereof, and to give us a wall in Judah and in Jerusalem. (Ezra 9:9)

An examination of Nehemiah shows that by the 20th of Artaxerxes they were attempting to build the walls but were in trouble. He was told,

The remnant that are left of the captivity there in the province are in great affliction and reproach: the wall of Jerusalem also broken down, and the gates thereof are burned with fire.(Nehemiah 1:3)

Note the present tense and the fact that Nehemiah wept. Why would he weep if it was as it had always been? He would weep though, if they had attempted to build the wall and others were hindering it. When Nehemiah turns up they are already at work building and Nehemiah writes that he secretly inspects their very poor progress,

And the rulers knew not whither I went, or what I did; neither had I as yet told it to the Jews, nor to the priests, nor to the nobles, nor to the rulers, nor to the rest that did the work.(Nehemiah 2:16)

The reason for the poor progress in building the walls, was a well organised opposition, that may have actively knocked down the work,

Tobiah the Ammonite was by him, and he said, Even that which they build, if a fox go up, he shall even break down their stone wall (Nehemiah 4:3)

They later “conspired all of them together to come and to fight against Jerusalem, and to hinder it” (Neh 4:8). As a result Nehemiah organises an armed watch over the work that prevents an attack.

The 2nd Decree from Artaxerxes is specifically, as the sequence in Daniel's prophecy requires, for the building of the walls and street gates {event (2) p27 above}. At this time there were “troublous times” which also is exactly as Daniel's prophecy requires.

The dating for the start of the prophecy of 70 weeks (and the 7 weeks) is the Shmita 'week' after the first decree, the 'week' of 453/2BC that ends in the “troublous times”. The end of the 70 weeks is then in 33/34AD and relates to the end of the Apostles work in Jerusalem, to Stephen's death, and the beginning of Paul's work. Daniel's prophecy states,

He (Messiah) 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,(Daniel 9:27)

As 7+62 is 69, the 'one week' is clearly the 70th week. Taking the shmita weeks from the first after Ezra's Decree, the 69th ends and the 70th week begins in 26/27AD. If, as most agree Yeshua was born in 4BC, then his ministry, when he begins to be about 30 (Luke 3:23) begins in September/October 27AD at the end of a 7th year. This fits perfectly, as at the end of every 7th year the release of debtors is proclaimed (Deuteronomy 15:1-10) and also servants (Jeremiah 34:13-14) and Yeshua proclaims at the beginning of his ministry,

The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor; he has sent me to heal the brokenhearted, to preach deliverance to the captives, and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty them that are bruised, To preach the acceptable year of the Lord.(Luke 4:18-19)

They had made the Sabbath for both people and the land a ritual, and Yeshua had come to remind them of the 'acceptable' sacrifice (Isaiah 58:5, 61:2, Jeremiah 6:20). The use of the word 'year' fits with it being the end of a Sabbath, or 7th year. The ministry and parables are full of references to sowing and then harvest, which fits with the renewed sowing that comes after a 7th year. The midst of the 'one week' would then be 3.5 years later at Passover 31AD when with Yeshua's death and resurrection, sacrifice is required no longer.

Counting Shmita weeks is precise, and is logical. By why 7 weeks and 62 weeks not just 69, and why 62 weeks twice?

A clue is given as at Yeshua's birth they were waiting for him (Luke 2:38). There is no other time period but Daniel's given. They must have counted weeks and known to expect him. One of the 62 weeks relates to the coming, the second to the week he was cut off. The second 62 weeks is specifically to the cutting off. But the first is linked to the coming and is also linked to the finish of the wall in 'troublous times'.

And the street shall be built again, and the wall, even in troublous times. (Daniel 9:25)

The completion of the wall was in the 32nd of Axtaxerxes (Nehemiah 13:6) and this year is also a 7th year (432/1BC). Counting from this 'week', 62 weeks ends in 5/4BC, after which Yeshua is born. In diagram

Diagram of the weeks (of years) ending in the Sabbath (Shmita) year.

(Note there are 4 years missing at AD in the common dating 452BC-33AD is 490 years)

But what was so special about the 7 'weeks' (49 years)? It is possible this refers to Ezra's ministry. This idea has no scripture to support it, but the canon of inspired books was finished and compiled about this time, and it traditionally is attributed to Ezra. I also note that Daniel is told,

he shall confirm the covenant with many for one week: (Daniel 9:27)

One week is seven days. Seven weeks for 'one week' of weeks. There may be a double application, with Ezra also confirming the covenant made with Moses and the worship set out by David. This was not a work of a few years. The Bible shows him working at least until the dedication of the wall in the book of Nehemiah. Nehemiah 12 ends with a comment:

all Israel in the days of Zerubbabel, and in the days of Nehemiah, gave the portions of the singers and the porters (Nehemiah 12:47).

As Ezra wrote this, it shows they strictly followed the law all the days of Ezra and Nehemiah. Historians admit not much is known of their later life. A date for Nehemiah's death of 413BC was found, and a tradition that states Ezra lived for 120 years, which suggests the 7 weeks to 404/3BC is possible (though it cannot be proven).

2) The Sabbath for the Land: the Shmita year

The dates for the seventh year used above came from working back from the year 2007/8 which was 5768 in the Hebrew calendar, or the 824th occurrence of the 7th year, or in Hebrew Shmita. But is the Hebrew 7th year after all these years correct? It is likely that it is.

The law of Moses required every seven years that the land lie fallow (Exodus 23:10-11 and Leviticus 25:1-7). They were told not to worry about food, as in the 6th year there would enough to last until they had new produce in the 9th year (Leviticus 25:20-22). At the end of the 7th year at the feast of Tabernacles they were to come before God at the place he chose to listen to the reading of the Torah. (Deuteronomy 31:10-13). Also at the end of the 7th year every creditor had to remit all debts owed by his neighbour (Deuteronomy 15:1-10), and let any brother who had become his servant to go free (Jeremiah 34:13-14). The seventh year was a year of rest ending in forgiveness and a second chance.

An example was the covenant that the king Zedekiah made with the people which were at Jerusalem, “to proclaim liberty unto them”; That every man should let his manservant, and his maidservant, being an Hebrew, go free (Jeremiah 34:8-9). This proclamation indicates that that year was a 7th year it seems likely this was 593BC and the 4th of Zedekiah's reign. They then took their servants back and in 588BC, 5 years later as Nebuchadnezzar approaches the city (Jeremiah 34:1-7) Jeremiah tells them,

At the end of seven years let ye go every man his brother an Hebrew, which has been sold unto thee; .. ye were now turned, and had done right in my sight, in proclaiming liberty every man to his neighbour; and ye had made a covenant before me in the house which is called by my name: But ye turned and polluted my name, and caused every man his servant,..to return, and brought them into subjection,.. Therefore thus says the LORD; Ye have not hearkened unto me, in proclaiming liberty, every one to his brother, and every man to his neighbour: behold, I proclaim a liberty for you, says the LORD, to the sword, to the pestilence, and to the famine; and I will make you to be removed into all the kingdoms of the earth. (Jeremiah 34:14-17)

Thus in 586BC, a 7th year, Jerusalem and the temple were destroyed. And 70 years later the temple was completed after the 2nd decree in 523BC and a 7 year intensive construction period ending in a another 7th year, (the 10th from 586BC) in 516BC. Also 432BC is a 7th year and corresponds to the 32 of Artaxerxes and in that year there was a release from debt where they were instructed by Nehemiah to restore property and servants (and in addition to leave off charging interest, or usury).

Then said they, We will restore them, and will require nothing of them; so will we do as thou say. (Nehemiah 5:12).

Working back from modern dates (with 4 years added over the common era), the 7th year fits exactly with the scholars dates for the years where the release is specifically mentioned in the scriptures.

When we look at events around the 7th year in modern times in Israel, there seems more than co-incidence. 1881/2 was a 7th year. In mid to late 1882 people began arriving in the first Aliyah. It was not until the new year (the first year of a 7 year 'week'), that they could begin to plant crops. In 1888/9 the Rabbis enforced the Shmita (arguing for all that year with the settlers and the Rothschilds). This first Aliyah ended in 1902/3 also a 7th year. The year 1916/7 was truly a Sabbath year for the land as nobody would have planted due to the war fought all that year ending November when the British and colonials took Beersheva, beginning the 'release' of the land. In the next first year of the 'week' beginning with the British taking control of Jerusalem in December 1917.

But there is more. The 3rd Aliyah doubling the previous was from 1919 ending in 1923/4 a 7th year. There was a break for the 7th year. Then in the 4th Aliyah from 1924 to 1929, also a 'week', the immigration rate doubles again, but rests in 1930/1, again the 7th year. Immigration picked up again and continued into the 7th year of 1937/8- but in a first year, 1939 immigration is officially restricted. From 1948 immigration increases again but slows in the Sabbath year, 1951/2. This is the first year Israel officially kept Shmita and left land fallow.

The next 7th year marks the move of the Parliament to Jerusalem 1958. The next year of rest 1965/6 begins in November 1956 with the IDF attacking Syria who had been diverting its water. But from 11 November 1966, the beginning of a first year, when a land mine kills Israelis the Israelis begin more reprisals, which escalate to the Six Day war of June 1967. The release of Jerusalem began at the end of the 7th year of release, and was completed in a first year. Then begins another period of immigration.

There is more. The next 7th year of release was 1972/3. At the end of 1972 Anwar Sadat began making threats. And while Israel rested and waited during the 7th year, their neighbours mobilized, beginning action with a training exercise at the end of the 7th year. The attack came at Yom Kippur at the start of a first year. Organised fighting ended in October 1973 at the end of a first year. And this was Israel's last battle to confirm their existence as a nation.

The events following the next 7th years are not so remarkable. The 7th of 1993/4 was a rest after the increased immigration from 1990. But in 2000/1 something unprecedented happened in the world. An obscure campaign called Jubilee 2000 begun by Martin Dent, an obscure academic, in 1996 in Britain, by September 2000 had the ear of the world leaders and, to the puzzle of all, caused nation states to act against their self interest and begin to cancel the poorest nations debts. Though called Jubilee, it is misnamed, as it is really about a 7th year and the release of debts. By April 2008 the US senate passed a bill for the cancelling of debts of the poorest nations noting the seven years 'Sabbath' since 2000! (http://www.opencongress.org/bill/110-h2634/text).

And in 2007/8, the most recent 7th year, the whole world experienced the effect of the release from debt of the Shmita year. In September 2007, the beginning of the 7th year, the Northern Rock Bank in England had troubles. But the real action was to be in the USA where from the end of 2007 loan defaults of sub-prime loans increased sharply. The year ended with the debts of a bank Lehmann Bros linked to Israel being cleared (in bankruptcy), at the same time as the Law required people to remit debts owned to their brethren. And the 1st year of the new 'week' began with the US government voting a package to rescue those who could not pay their debts, which was followed by many other nations.

The only major event in Israel's history not about a 7th year/1st year, is the declaration of the state in 1948. Or was it? The events leading to the declaration of 1948 began in 1945 with conflict with the British and Arabs, which was a 1st year and they ended with mass immigration leading to tent cities of over 200,000 people, causing Ben Gurion to sign a reparations agreement with West Germany in September 1952. Thus ending a 7th year with another release. And so it was in a first year of a 'week' that Israel had money to begin to build a country.

There is evidence for Israel having correctly maintained the 7th year. Most seventh years have brought significant events with the last two having world-wide effects. If the 2000/1 year of release was about the release of a few poor nations monetary debt and 2007/8 was about God's principle of releasing debts on an even bigger global scale, what will 2014/5 bring? The release of all debt?

Isaac Newton saw an application of the 'seven weeks' of Daniel 8 at the end time. This is plausible as the time period of seven weeks hangs with no event that fits it. We may also note how it may be read,

From the going forth of the commandment to restore and to build Jerusalem unto the Messiah the Prince shall be seven weeks, and sixty and two weeks (Daniel 9:25)

But why 7 + 62? Why not just 67? The passage may note a 2nd coming, as it can be read,

From the going forth of the commandment to restore and to build Jerusalem unto the Messiah the Prince shall be seven weeks

As of 2007/8 Israel has kept six 'weeks' since 1967 when the Knesset passed the 'Law and Administration Ordinance (Amendment No. 11) Law, 1967', authorizing the Government to apply the law of Israel to a united Jerusalem. The 7th week ends 2014/15.

3) The Release and the Jubilee

After the seventh 7th year, or 'week', the next year (the 50th) is a jubilee.

You shall count for yourself seven sabbatical (Shmita) years, seven years, seven times and it shall be for you, the days of the seven sabbatical years, forty-nine years. You shall make a proclamation with the shofor on the tenth day of the seventh month. On Yom Kippur shall this shofor-proclamation be made throughout all your land. You shall sanctify the year of the fiftieth year and proclaim freedom in the land for all of its inhabitants; it shall be for you a jubilee. (Leviticus Vayikra 25: 8)

This is thought a highly significant time, and a likely season for the return of Messiah, as it is about liberty. At the end of the 7th year there is a release of debt and bondservice. At the beginning of the very next year the 50th all return to their inheritance, and rest.

And ye shall hallow the fiftieth year, and proclaim liberty throughout all the land unto all the inhabitants thereof: .. and ye shall return every man unto his possession, and.. unto his family. .. ye shall not sow, neither reap that which grows of itself in it, nor gather the grapes in it of thy vine undressed. For it is the jubile; it shall be holy unto you: ye shall eat the increase thereof out of the field. (Leviticus 25:9-12)

To cover a Jubilee year there was always a three year excess in a 6th year (Leviticus 25:21). Despite this law there seems no record of a Jubilee kept in the scripture. There are only two events recorded like it. In Nehemiah 5, dated at the 32 of Artaxerexes, there is a 7th year release of debtors and bondservants. After this, in Chapter 7, there is a list of inheritances that ends with this,

So the priests, and the Levites, and the porters, and the singers, and some of the people, and the Nethinims, and all Israel, dwelt in their cities; and when the seventh month came, the children of Israel were in their cities. (Nehemiah 7:73)

That they were “in their cities” indicates they had claimed their inheritances as they would in a 50th year (the 7th month is also the first). The very next event they are gathered in Jerusalem in the first month,

And all the people gathered themselves together as one man into the street that was before the water gate; and they spake unto Ezra the scribe to bring the book of the law of Moses, which the LORD had commanded to Israel. And Ezra the priest brought the law before the congregation both of men and women, and all that could hear with understanding, upon the first day of the seventh month. (Nehemiah 8:1-2)

The whole congregation then keep the feast of Tabernacles (Neh 8:14). If the 32nd of Artaxerxes is a seventh 7th year and the year after is a Jubile, then going back (though the dates are more uncertain), a jubilee falls between Cyrus' decree and Darius' 18 years later. Then another occurs 4 years before Ezekiel's vision of the temple. This is 50 years after the great passover of Josiah which was also close to a jubilee year (due to the prosperity the feast may have been the year after a jubile, as in a Jubile they are eating store of two years old). Going back further, the great passover feast of Hezekiah in his second year (2 Chronicles 30) may have been a jubile year. Further still the dedication of the temple by Solomon may have been around a jubile year.

The pattern from Nehemiah/Ezra has Yeshua's birth a year or two after a Jubilee (It was a tax year so they would have grown crops that year. It wasn't a Sabbath year or a Jubile). However, if they kept a Jubile in the time of Nehemiah and Hezekiah then Yeshua did not come in a jubilee year. That Yeshua quoted, “he hath sent me to bind up the broken-hearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives” (Isaiah 61:1-2), shows he came at the end of a 7th year. This was Yeshua's role at that time. However, it will not be completed and fulfilled until his second coming, when he will give people their inheritance, which is the Jubile.

4) The Jubile projected forward

The Jubile is about return to inherited land as it was given by lot. As the Jewish people rightly observe, they have a problem keeping it, as firstly they are still in dispute about the West Bank, and secondly they have no idea who belongs to which lot (or often even which tribe they belong to).

However, if three points can be said to be a pattern, then projecting the Jubilee years forward from the feast of Nehemiah/Ezra of 431/430BC into modern times does make a pattern.

The year 1777/8 where Britain declares war on France and America begins independence perhaps is not significant to Israel. The next 1819/20 is a few years after the end of Napoleon, but also of no great significance. At this time the land enjoys her 'sabbaths' and there is no movement that Jews should return. The idea of return first occurs in 1839/40 (a seventh year) when the British set up a consulate in Jerusalem.

Things, however, begin happening 1868/9 when in November 1869 the British open the Suez Canal (and move into Egypt). Seven years from this event the writers George Eliot and Benjamin Disraeli popularise the idea of Jews returning. The Suez canal opening of 1868/9 leads 50 years later to Britain's 1917/8 conquest of Israel from Jerusalem to Damascus, which allowed the Balfour declaration of support a return of Jews to take effect. Which in turn lead to the next (3rd) date in the pattern 1966/7 and the Six Day war (where the war was fought to the Suez) which meant Israel had a territory that corresponded (approximately) to that under king David, and which allowed a further return.

Retrospectively, the declaration of independence in 1948 was not as important as the events in 1967. It was not until 1967 that Israel's existence was confirmed. Most nations fight wars of independence and then declare independence. In Israel they declared independence and fought for 19 years afterwards to establish it.

In this pattern projected forward from the feast of Nehemiah/Ezra of 431/430 BC.

1868/9, Disraeli and Britain in the Suez

1917/8, Britain captures Jerusalem/Balfour declaration

1966/7, Israel gains Jerusalem, Judea & Samaria

The next 50th year is in 2016.

Summary of Sabbath years and Jubile

67 weeks

70th week (31BC midst of week)

The next 7 year 'week' ends

452BC Ezra

26/26 ministry

33/34 AD End

2014

2015

2023

Jubilee based on 32 Artaxerxes being a 7th Sabbath week the next Jubilee is

1967

2016

5) Daniel 12: to the latter days: a time, times, and an half

Daniel 12 introduces the coming of Messiah and the resurrection. Before this coming there is a time of trouble for Daniel's people, when they are a nation, (“as never was since there was a nation”).

And one said to the man clothed in linen, which was upon the waters of the river, How long shall it be to the end of these wonders? And I heard the man clothed in linen, which was upon the waters of the river, when he held up his right hand and his left hand unto heaven, and sware by him that liveth for ever that it shall be for a time, times, and an half; and when he shall have accomplished to scatter the power of the holy people, all these things shall be finished. (Daniel 12:6-7)

The length of the time the power of holy people is scattered or 'overspread' is 1260 years. This period is ended not at the return but when “the wise shine as the brightness of the firmament” and at that time “many shall run to and fro”. This speaks of the end of oppression and the growth of the number of true servants of Yahweh. The date must also be related to Israel, and the people of Daniel.

It so happens that the growth of travel began at the time when there was a revival of people reading the Bible and of people seeking to create a homeland for the Jews. Eliot's Daniel Deronda of 1876 is credited with beginning political Zionism. But it had its roots in what historians have labelled 'the Great Awakenings'. The first was in America from 1730-40 the second was from 1800-30 and was far wider in scope and brought such groups as the Campbellites. The third and most significant was in 1857 (Considered to last from 1857-60). A further and greater resurgence came in 1880 and lasted till 1903.

At the same time as these Great Awakenings there was one amongst Jews. Before Zionism there was a large wave of immigration inspired by the messianic dreams of the Gaon of Vilna. This led to hundreds of the Gaon's disciples, settling in 1808 in Tiberias and Safed, and later in Jerusalem. There was an expectation of the arrival of the Messiah in the Jewish year 5600, English year 1840 and thousands of Jews from Persia, Morocco, Yemen and Russia moved to Israel increasing after 1832 when Muhammad Ali of Egypt captured Israel. The first great Aliyah then followed in 1882 and lasted to 1903.

The prophecy is in terms of “times” and this term possibly indicates an era as the start rather than a date. The great resurgence of two witness above, the Christian and the Jewish is concurrent, being from 1882-1903. This era also parallels the development of travel 'to and fro' with the first car being built in 1885, and car making becoming an industry by 1905. The 1260 years back from this era gives a start era from 622-643AD. During this time there is one who scatters or overspreads the “holy People”, or the Jewish people that arises.

From 614 to 629 the Persians captured Jerusalem from the Byzantine empire. However, the year 622 is extremely significant as this is the beginning of the Islamic calendar. By 637-8 the Islamic Caliph Umar had captured Jerusalem and several years later built a timber mosque on the temple mount, the current site of the Dome of the Rock, about the year 639AD. This Caliph died in 644. Add 1260 years to 644 and by 1904 their power to scatter the Jewish people had ended. By 1904 the beginning of the great gathering of Jews to Israel had begun.

6) Daniel 12: 1290 days and 1335 days

Daniel after hearing of the times asks “O my Lord, what shall be the end of these things?” Daniel had been told when the unsealing or the “time of the end” would start, but he is asking for the end or the finish of the nations' crushing of the Holy Land. Daniel had been told the future of the land and the nations struggle over it, which is recorded in chapter 11. This account has a gap at verse 40 ending in verse 39 with the Byzantine empire. He is told,

Go thy way, Daniel: for the words are closed up and sealed till the time of the end. Many shall be purified, and made white, and tried; but the wicked shall do wickedly: and none of the wicked shall understand; but the wise shall understand. (Dan 12:8-10)

That is, the knowledge of the last day is sealed to the time mentioned above, when the truth would be revived, and then the “wise” would understand. This began to occur from 1848 to 1868 with many people understanding it from that time. Daniel is then given more information, about the time of the end of the nation's dominance of Israel. This would be sealed, but at some point would be understood.

And from the time the perpetual (or daily) is taken away, and the coming forth of the detestable destroyer, there shall be a thousand two hundred and ninety days.

Blessed is he that waits, and reaches up to the thousand three hundred and five and thirty days. But go thou thy way till the end be: for thou shall rest, and stand in thy lot at the end of the days. (Dan 12:11-13)

The text does not mention “daily sacrifice”. The word can also mean 'perpetual'. It could mean the temple mount the place where Yahweh has placed his name perpetually (Heb: 'all days' see 2 Chron 7:16). The temple was removed in AD 70 and an abomination set up after the Bar Kochbar revolt in 135AD, when the Roman emperor Hadrian built a temple to Jupiter and prevented Jews from entering the city. This edict lasted till the Muslim Caliph Umar who allowed Jews to return in 638. In the 530's Justinian built a church “Of our Lady” there, which was destroyed by the Persians in 614. From 614 the site was vacant until a new destroying power arose to rule over the land, the Muslims. A timber mosque was built about 638-44AD. The timber mosque was replaced by a structure that even today dominates Jerusalem, and it is the oldest existing operating Islamic building in the world. The Dome of the rock. It was built between 685 and 691 AD. The year AH72 (where 622 is year 1 is written on the building -and must refter to at least June 6,691. Beside the Dome of the rock is Al-Aqsa Mosque built in 685.

But none of these early dates related to the temple with 1290 years added match an super-notable end time significant event. Yet let us consider - what if it is not pointing to one event but to more than one? Consider that the start of the 1290 is bracketed by two linked events: the taking away and then the comming forth!

What is a perpetual (or daily) taken away? What if it had nothing to do with the temple but was to do with the coming forth of the detestable destroyer of the land?

The most famous event in the history of Islam is when Muhammad conquered Mecca in 622, he destroyed the 360 idols around the Kaaba, the black stone. The black stone was supposed to go back to the beginning, to Adam. So firstly it was seen as perpetual having existed since the beginning, secondly the 360 idols represented a daily sacrifice made to each one in turn for each day of the year. And it was taken away. The work of destroying is continued by Abu Bakr who is the first Caliph or king. From Revelation we are told of a 'star' that releases a group that is locust like. These are the Saracens.

And they had a king over them, which is the angel of the bottomless pit, whose name in the Hebrew tongue is Abaddon, but in the Greek tongue hath his name Apollyon. (Rev 9:11)

Abaddon means 'perish, destory' (the place of destruction), Apollyon means 'destroyer'. We can date the first destroyer as Abu Bakr from 622-632 as his work begins in parallel with Muhammad. The duration of the destroyers hold over the land to destroy is 1290 years. This takes us to 1912-1922.

In 1912 October 8 the First Balkan War begins when Montenegro declares war against Turkey. This war starts a process that leads to WW1 and the capture of the land by Britain (December 1917). Britain's role was endorsed in 1922 when the League of Nations at Conference of Lausanne entrusted them to administer the Mandate for Palestine. This allowed the Balfour declaration of 1917 to come into effect.

It is clear from the passage that the 1335 days run parallel. The record says they are blessed that wait for the 1335 days. From the excitement of the Mandate and the implementation of the Balfour declaration in 1922 there was a time of patient waiting for the end of the rule by the nations of the land. All the 'wise' now had the expectation of the coming being soon, as the events predicted in the Bible were being fulfilled. And by 1948 the state of Israel was proclaimed. The 1335 days ended 1957-1967. In 1957 James A. de Rothschild financed the construction of a permanent Knesset building in Jerusalem, construction beginning 1958. By 1967 the Jews controlled all Jerusalem (except the temple mount).

We see multiple applications. If the date 691 for the desolation of the temple mount is taken, 1290 comes to 1981, a year after 1980 when a law is passed in the Knesset proclaiming Jerusalem is indivisible (complete and united) which results in the United Nations passing a resolution for all countries to remove their embassies from Jerusalem (which they did). It is a deep irony that the real result of this protest is that they established that they had no presence there. If this is followed to the 1335th year the temple mount will be back in the hands of the God of Israel by 2020-26.

7) A summary of what Daniel was shown

In context Daniel Chapter 11 predicts how the kings of the North and the South will struggle over the Holy Land. Daniel is told there is a gap until the king of the South will push at the king of the North in the end times. Now we can see the end times began in 1882-1903 when Britain as the king of the South began to act (It was that very year of 1882 that British troops moved into Egypt to protect the Suez canal. The 1888 Convention of Constantinople in formally granted the British protection of the canal).

But this was not enough information. Daniel wanted to know when the end of foreign occupation of the land would occur. This would not happen all at once, so he was given two answers. The first was to the end of Ottoman rule and their return under protection, and the second was to full control of the land by Jews.

The 1290 years of Muslim “scattering” over the land ended when the Balkans rebelled in 1912 and the British as the King of the South proceeded to push at the Ottomans culminating in the action of 1915-1918 leading to the British capture of Jerusalem and the diplomatic work to 1922 when the British gained the Mandate over Palestine. In 1922 the desolator of the Holy Land was removed, and there was the promsie of a Jewish homeland, but as yet Daniel's people did not possess the land.

Then there is a lot waiting and work by Jewish and evangelical people to bring to pass the revival of nationhood. Conquest was gradual. Though Jerusalem was named as the capital in 1949, the parliament was in temporary housing. In 1957 moves began to build a permanent capital and it was completed in 1967 when Daniel's people, the Jews, claimed the rest of Jerusalem and the land of Ancient Northern Israel (Samaria). By 1967 we could see that the 1335 days began to be ended.

Let us see the start and end of the eras graphically overlaid - such a system would give hope to each generation that as they see the beginning they might see also the end.. We can have great hope now as we see that the last possible time of the nations has passed.

Blessed is he that waits

Why might those that come to the 1335 days be blessed if they wait and reach up or 'reach out to touch'? The 1290 days concluded with the beginning of the British Mandate that allowed the Balfour declaration to take effect. From this point every person who held onto the hope of Israel would feel they could almost touch the time of the return. The faith of their fathers had been made reality. People no longer pointed to the state of the Jews in persecuted diaspora as a sign, now their return was absolute confirmation that Yahweh would indeed do what he had said.

Those that reached to 1967 were also blessed in there being a visible reward for their labour as others would see the evidence and come to know the hope of Israel. But they were also blessed as they were given another prophecy by a greater prophet, Yeshua himself, that meant they could know for sure they were the generation to see his second coming.

Summary of the time periods so far

67 weeks

70th week (31BC midst of week)

The next 7 year 'week' ends

452BC Ezra

26/26 ministry

33/34 AD End

2014

2015

2023

Jubilee based on 32 Artaxerxes being a 7th Sabbath week the next Jubilee is

1967

2016

Daniel's 2300 days (years) from the 'little horn' coming out of Grecian 'Goat'

279/7BC

275-3BC

2017 /9

2021

2023

Revelation 17, the prophecy of one hour 30 years from the agreement to give power to 'beast'

1986

1993

2016

2023

Daniel 7: 1260 years of the power that speaks great words until the kingdom

754 Pepin

756 Rome

774Charls

2014

2016

2034

Daniel 12 the power that scatters the holy people 1260 years

622-643

1882-1903

Daniel 12 the 1290- 1335 years

Blessed are those that come to 1335

622-632Abu Bakr

1912-1922 Mandate

1957-1967 Jewish rule

Note: events are over a few years giving a range for the start and the end.

8) The Olivet prophecy of the Generation

Yeshua gave two 'times' in this prophecy, both of a generation. An analysis of the 3 records shows Matthew and Mark focus on the generation ending 70AD.

Now learn a parable of the fig tree; When his branch is yet tender, and puts forth leaves, ye know that summer is nigh: So likewise ye, when ye shall see all these things, know that it is near, even at the doors. Verily I say unto you, This generation shall not pass, till all these things be fulfilled. Matt 24:32-35 (similar to Mark 13:28-31)

The context Matthew and Mark record is,

The sun shall be darkened, and the moon shall not give her light, And the stars of heaven shall fall, and the powers that are in heaven shall be shaken.”(Matt 24:29 Mark 13:24-25)

Yeshua is speaking of the Jewish world of AD 70. At that time the Jewish “Sun” the political structure was eliminated, and the religious order was removed including the temple, so there was no Jewish “light” at all. In addition all the minor rulers, the Sadducees and Pharisees were removed or dispersed, the “stars” that “fall”. Their fear that the Romans would take away their “place and nation” (John 11:48) was realised.

Luke gives some detail of the destruction in AD 70 and summarises it as “great signs from heaven”, but then goes on to focus on a second generation,

And they shall fall by the edge of the sword, and shall be led away captive into all nations: and Jerusalem shall be trodden down of the Gentiles, until the times of the Gentiles be fulfilled. (Luke 21:20-24)

Luke tells us that Yeshua said that when Jerusalem was in Jewish hands there would be distress of nations. The era of protests began in 1967. This year paved the way for the controversy over Jerusalem that even now is bringing all nations to war.

Luke adds a parable of the fig tree.

Behold the fig tree, and all the trees; When they now shoot forth, ye see and know of your own selves that summer is now nigh at hand. So likewise ye, when ye see these things come to pass, know ye that the kingdom of God is nigh at hand. Verily I say unto you, this generation shall not pass away, till all be fulfilled. (Luke 21:29-33)

Matthew and Mark's parable speaks of the branch being “tender”and the putting forth of the leaves, however, Luke speaks of “all the trees” and when they all “shoot forth”. Matthew and Mark do not mention the sign relates to the kingdom of God. Luke says that when all the trees shoot forth that the kingdom of God is nigh. This second Generation that sees the end of the “times of the gentiles” rule over Jerusalem “shall not pass” but would see, not the destruction of Jerusalem, but rather the coming of the kingdom of God.

According to Matthew's account Yahshua says the “sign of the Son of man” precedes his actual return. This matches Luke's record.

And there shall be signs in the sun, and in the moon, and in the stars; and upon the earth distress of nations, with perplexity; the sea and the waves roaring; Men's hearts failing them for fear, and for looking after those things which are coming on the earth: for the powers of heaven shall be shaken. (Luke 21:25-26)

Therefore, at the time of the “sign of the Son of man” there are “signs” in the sun and moon and stars. The same “sun” that was “darkened” or politically extinguished in AD 70, must be in existence and “shining” again. The “sun” darkened in AD 70 was the Jewish nation. Therefore as Israel exists, the Jewish “sun” is “shining” again. This matches Luke's account that Jerusalem would cease to be in the nation's or Gentile hands before Messiah returns.

The “sign of the son of man” is therefore the re-establishment of Israel as a nation. This “sign” was such a great sign that many called it a “miracle”. Israel was a remarkable miracle, as no other nation has been voted into existence in the United Nations. Truly this “sign” or miracle occurred in “heaven” or the place of rule by the National powers. There were 19 years after the “sign of the son of man” was in place until Jerusalem was again in Jewish hands ending 'the times of the gentiles'.

Table comparing the accounts to show all of Yeshua's words in order

Matthew (Marks variant) only in Matthew	Luke (key alignments in bold)
Immediately after the tribulation of those days shall the sun be darkened, and the moon shall not give her light, and the stars shall fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens shall be shaken: (Mat 24:29)(Mar 13:24-25)	But when ye shall hear of wars and commotions, be not terrified: for these things must first come to pass; but the end is not by and by. (Luk 21:9) Then said he unto them, Nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom: And great earthquakes shall be in divers places, and famines, and pestilences; and fearful sights and great signs shall there be from heaven. (Luk 21:10-11)
Luke 's record adds what Yeshua said regarding the wars and earthquakes but Luke does not write of the sun being darkened- he lumps this together as the “great signs”.
	(Luke here gives a lot of detail about what would happen in Jerusalem from v12-24) And they shall fall by the edge of the sword, and shall be led away captive into all nations: and Jerusalem shall be trodden down of the Gentiles, until the times of the Gentiles be fulfilled. (Luke 21:20-24)
Break in Yeshua's prophecy that history has shown as spanning nearly 2000 years
And then shall appear the sign of the Son of man in heaven: (Mat 24:30)	And there shall be signs in the sun, and in the moon, and in the stars; and upon the earth distress of nations, with perplexity; the sea and the waves roaring; Men's hearts failing them for fear, and for looking after those things which are coming on the earth: for the powers of heaven shall be shaken. (Luk 21:25-26)
and then shall all the tribes of the earth mourn, and they shall see the Son of man coming in the clouds of heaven with power and great glory.(Mat 24:30) (Mar 13:26)	And then shall they see the Son of man coming in a cloud with power and great glory. (Luk 21:27)
And he shall send his angels with a great sound of a trumpet, and they shall gather together his elect from the four winds, (from the uttermost part of the earth) from one end of heaven to the other.(Mat 24:31) (Mar13:27)
	And when these things begin to come to pass, then look up, and lift up your heads; for your redemption draweth nigh. (Luke 21:28)
Now learn a parable of the fig tree; When his branch is yet tender, and putteth forth leaves, ye know that summer is nigh: So likewise ye, when ye shall see all these things, know that it is near, even at the doors. Verily I say unto you, This generation shall not pass, till all these things be fulfilled. Heaven and earth shall pass away, but my words shall not pass away. (Mat 24:32-35) (Mar 13:28-31)	And he spake to them a parable; (Luke notes Yeshua spoke a parable which from Matthew and Mark we know is the “Parable of the tender branched fig tree” but he did not record it) Behold the fig tree, and all the trees; When they now shoot forth, ye see and know of your own selves that summer is now nigh at hand. So likewise ye, when ye see these things come to pass, know ye that the kingdom of God is nigh at hand. Verily I say unto you, This generation shall not pass away, till all be fulfilled. Heaven and earth shall pass away: but my words shall not pass away. (Luk 21:29-33)
The difference in the parable of the fig tree. Matthew and Mark are almost word for word. But Luke uses different terms entirely. Matthew and Mark speak of the branch being “tender”and the putting forth of the leaves, but Luke speaks of the “shooting forth” or of a rapid growth. These are distinctly different terms. Matthew and Mark say that Yahshua said “Now learn” but Luke says Yashua said “behold the fig tree”. Luke is always precise. The simple explanation is that the full parable had two iterations. In the second iteration Yeshua adds “and all the trees” and that “when ye see these things come to pass, know ye that the kingdom of God is nigh at hand.” Neither Matthew or Mark mention other trees or use the term “kingdom of God”. Therefore there are two generations. One sees the end of Jerusalem (when the tree of Israel was weak and tender) and the second that sees a strong growth of the tree of Israel with other nations also sprouting forth sees the coming of the Kingdom.

9) The Second Generation

The prophecy speaks of a Generation. The first generation was from 31 to 70AD, which was shortened (Matthew 24:22, Mark 13:20) due to the grace of God as it was an era of of terrible trial, making 39 years.

The Biblical lifespan is 70 years, except 80 for reason of strength (Psalm 90:10). People were numbered for work, to go forth for war or serve Yahweh from 20 years (Exodus 38:26). This makes a generation of 50 years, from the time one group is replaced entirely by another. But some were numbered from 30 years specifically for service in the tabernacle (Numbers 4). This gives a generation of 40 years. A short generation for positions of leadership is 40 years and a long one counting from when the new generation begins to labour is 50 years. This is borne out in Matthew

So all the generations from Abraham to David are fourteen generations; and from David until the carrying away into Babylon are fourteen generations; and from the carrying away into Babylon unto Christ are fourteen generations. (Matthew 1:17)

Abraham to David is 1896 - 1085 or 57.9 years, David to Babylon is 1085-586 which is 35.6 years, Babylon to the Birth of Messiah is 586- 4BC which gives 41.5 years. This gives an average of 45 years for a generation.

To date the time for the generation to start, the prophecy speaks not of Judea or Israel but of Jerusalem. Note the disciples at the very beginning ask Yeshua about the fate of the temple and Jerusalem, and the focus is always on Jerusalem. Therefore it starts from 1967.

This date of 1967 also is known world wide as the beginning of the era of protest and of Generation X. The Western world has defined a generation from born between 1964 and 77 as “X” or a phenomena.

The generation then at the earliest ends in 2007 and at the latest ends in 2017 (unless the very long generation of 57.9 years is used, then the end is 2024).

The previously mentioned 7 'weeks' for the land of Daniel 8 to Messiah, is a generation also, as the 50th year Jubile was designed so each generation would go back to their inheritance. Counting 7 Shmita (or 7th) years from after 1967 ends in 2015 with the 50th year being 2016.

10) Signs in the Sun and Moon

Matthew speaks of the “sign of the son of man”, which is the establishment of Israel as a nation, and Luke adds that after this there will be “signs in the sun, and in the moon and stars”.

The great earthquake of Revelation 11 which was the French Revolution was heralded by a massive earthquake in Lisbon in 1755 on All Saints Day which destroyed every major church in the city. The first Aliyah of the Jews to Israel in 1883- 1903 was heralded by Krakatoa, which turned the Northern skies at sunset blood red, and produced a blue moon. Is it possible there will also be natural signs in the sun and moon?

Work has been done by Mark Bliltz to correlate Jewish feasts and eclipses using NASA's website. As the Jewish year is lunar, it is likely there would be correlations. A full eclipse is known as a “blood red moon”. He found very rare pattern relating to 4 full eclipses in a row, also known as a tetrad. He found a pattern with 7 Passover/Sukkoth tetrads since the common era.

The first was in 162/163AD in a time of tribulation for the Jewish people as after the 135AD Bar Kokhba revolt the Jews were banned from Jerusalem. The next 3 were in 795/796, 842/843, 860/861AD where the Islamic Caliphate ruled Jerusalem. The 5th was in 1493/4 at the height of the Spanish inquisition. In 1492 all Jews were ordered to convert or to leave Spain by 31 July that year.

April 2, 1493 - Passover - total lunar eclipse

September 25, 1493 - Sukkoth - total lunar eclipse

March 22, 1494 - Passover - total lunar eclipse

September 15, 1494 -Sukkoth - total lunar eclipse

There were none from 1600-1900, then there were two in the 1900's.

April 13, 1949 - Passover - total lunar eclipse ("blood red moon")

October 7, 1949 - Sukkoth - total lunar eclipse ("blood red moon")

April 2, 1950 - Passover - total lunar eclipse ("blood red moon")

September 26, 1950 - Sukkoth - total lunar eclipse ("blood red moon")

It was May 14 in 1948 that the state of Israel was declared. The resulting war ended with armistices being signed from 23 March to 20 July 1949. The 7th group,

April 24, 1967 - Passover - total lunar eclipse ("blood red moon")

October 18, 1967 - Sukkoth - total lunar eclipse ("blood red moon")

April 13, 1968 - Passover - total lunar eclipse ("blood red moon") October 6, 1968 - Sukkoth - total lunar eclipse ("blood red moon")

The Six Day war resulting in the capture of Jerusalem was 5 June to 10 June 1967.

The 8th group is the last to occur before the 2100's. And in addition in this 8th group there are two solar eclipses.

April 15, 2014 - Passover - total lunar eclipse ("blood red moon")

October 8, 2014 - Sukkoth - total lunar eclipse ("blood red moon")

March 20, 2015 - NewYear Day Jewish sacred year - total solar eclipse

And 14 days later

April 4, 2015 -Passover - total lunar eclipse ("blood red moon")

September 13, 2015 Rosh Hashanah (New Year) - partial solar eclipse

And 14 days later