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WARNINGS TO AVOID FALSE PROPHETS
INTERPRETING BIBLICAL PROPHECY
EVIDENCES OF FULFILLED PROPHECIES
FULFILLED MESSIANIC PROPHECIES
DANIEL'S 70 WEEKS AND THE COMING OF MESSIAH
SHILO COMES BEFORE LAST JEWISH KING
DANIEL AND NEBUCHADNEZAR'S DREAM
EARLY CHRISTIAN INTERPRETATION OF DANIEL
Isaiah 46:8-10
Remember this, and show yourselves men, bring it again to mind, O you transgressors. Remember the former things of old: for I am God, and there is none else; I am God, and there is none like me, Declaring the end from the beginning, and from ancient times the things that are not yet done, saying, "My counsel shall stand, and I will do all my pleasure:"
This passage just quoted above from the Book of Isaiah was revealed in a genuine and authentically historic setting. Earlier God had spoken through the same prophet saying, "Set forth your case, says the LORD: bring your proofs, says the King of Jacob ... let them bring them and tell us what is going to happen." Isa 41:21-23 Isaiah, Jeremiah and Ezekiel faithfully foretold the soon coming captivity into oblivion for the northern kingdom in 721 B.C., and of the capture of the southern kingdom in B.C. 586. The language of these utterances reveals the truth that false prophetic voices were also present in Bible times during these critical times. God addressed them, "behold you are less than nothing and your works are utterly worthless; he who chooses you is an abomination." Isa 41:24 God is not passive when He hears a false prophet but, "frustrates the omens of liars, and makes their knowledge foolish." Isa 41:25 God purposely stands apart from false prophets. He told Balaam, the unholy Moabite prophet, "God is not a man that He should lie, nor the son of man, that He should change His mind. Does He speak and then not act? Does He promise and then not fulfill?" Num 23:19
All three words are located in this passage. The first word "seer"used to describe Samuel comes from ra'ah Strong's No. 7200 which means one who discerns or gazes. The word "prophet" used to describe Nathan comes from nabi Strong's No. 5030 which is translated into English as "prophet" meaning to announce, "declare" or utter a communication. New Unger's Bible Dictionary The last word "seer" which is used to describe Gad comes from hozeh Strong's No. 2374 which was a name given to prophets because of the visions granted to them. New Bible Dictionary, Tyndale, 1986, p. 975-976; Illustrated Dictionary & Concordance of the Bible, Jerusalem Pub., 1986, pp. 826-829
The Fulfilment
Development of the Prophetic Office
Abraham
Moses
Cessation of Old Testament Prophecy. See Old Testament canon.
In the New Testament church the terms "prophetes, propheteia, propheteuo," signify speaking under the extraordinary influence of the Holy Ghost. Thus in Acts 11:27 prophecy of a famine by Agabus; 21:10 prediction of the sufferings of Paul; 13:1 exhortation to mission work; 21:9 prophetical gift of the daughters of Philip. Paul himself also had this gift Acts 16:6; 18:9; 22:17; 27:23. In the public services of the church, prophecy occupied a prominent position (see especially 1 Cor 14). A prophetical book in a special sense is the Apocalypse of John. International Standard Bible Encylopaedia
Prophecy in Christian Congregations
According to the Law, which forbade this under penalty of death, Saul had tried to destroy those who practiced incantations, who generally were women. 1 Sam 28:9 This practice, however, continued to flourish. In addition, the Babylonians and other peoples had also a developed art of interpretation in order to find omens for the future. Especially was the examination of intestines practiced by them. The liver of sacrificial animals particularly was carefully examined, and, from this, predictions, good or bad, were inferred. Ezek 21:21 This art passed over from the Babylonions to the seafaring Etruscans, and through these came to the Romans. But other phenomena also were by the different nations interpreted as prophetically significant and were by those skilled in this art interpreted accordingly. Among these were miscarriages by human beings and animals, the actions of hens, horses, the flight of birds, earthquakes, forms of the clouds, lightning, and the like. Further, mechanical contrivances were used, such as casting of lots, stones, sticks, etc. International Standard Bible Encylopaedia
The Mantic Art
Contents of Extra-Biblical Oracles
1. Prophetic ecstacy
2. Professional Prophets on Staff
3. Mosaic Law on Prophets
1. The matter of revelation being given to the prophet in the form of intuition, the future was made to appear to them as either immediately present, complete, or all events in progress.
2. The fact that the matter of prophecy is given in the form of intuition also furnishes the reason why it always sees the realization of that matter in particular events which are complete in themselves; i.e.,
a prophecy may appear as just one event, but in reality there may be a two, three, or fourfold fulfillment.
3. Since the matter of prophecy presents itself to view as a multitude of individual facts, it may sometimes appear as though single predictions contradict each other when they are, in fact, only those parts into which the ideas revealed have been separated, mutually completing each other, e.g., contrasting pictures of the Messiah in states of suffering and states of glory.
4. The matter of prophecy is in the form of intuition which further means that as far as its form is concerned, it is on the plane of the beholder himself, i.e., the prophet spoke of future glory in terms of his own society and experience." Things To Come, Zondervan, 1964, J. Dwight Pentecost, p. 45
2. Determine the full meaning and significance of all proper names, events, geographical references, references to customs or material culture, and references to flora and fauna.
3. Determine if the passage is predictive or didactic.
4. If predictive determine if fulfilled, unfulfilled, or conditional.
5. Determine if the same theme or concept is also treated elsewhere.
6. As a reminder, keep vividly in mind the flow of the passage, i.e., pay attention to context.
7. Notice that element of the prophecy that is purely local or temporal.
8. Take the literal interpretation of prophecy as the limiting guide in prophetic interpretation. Things To Come, Zondervan, 1964, J. Dwight Pentecost, p. 59-60
Professor Josh McDowell says, "the first prophecy goes all the way back to Adam and Eve with the predicted and promised Divine Redeemer." Gen 3:15-16 The prophetic Messianic theme enlarges from there to hundreds of sites in the Law, Prophets and the Psalms and even through the New Testament all the way to Revelation. Evidence That Demands A Verdict, vol. 1, p. 268
Genesis 49:10 Born under Israel "scepter" Luke 1:5
Dating the prophetic writings
Accuracy of Prophecies Overall
Seventy weeks does not mean weeks of seven days. Daniel is talking about weeks of years. Seventy weeks is seventy times seven years. One week equals 7 years, 70 weeks equals 490 years.
2. To make an end of sin. The national sins of Israel will come to an end at the time of the Second Coming of Christ. Ezek 37:23; Zech 12:10-13:1
3. To make reconciliation for iniquity. This reconciliation will not come before Israel turns to Christ as their Savior. Many Gentiles and a very few Jews have come to Christ to date. Israel will experience salvation for the most part nationally when they see Jesus Christ return as Zechariah prophesied. Zech 12:10; 13:1
4. To bring everlasting righteousness. Israel will experience the imputed righteousness of Jesus Christ at the end of the 70th week. Jer 33:14-16; 31:31-34; Isa 1:26
5. To seal up the vision and prophecy. This language means that everything that is prophesied to occur will be fulfill.
6. To anoint the most Holy. In the 70th week the holy of holies will be anointed in the millennial temple which Ezekiel prophesied about. Ezek. 40-48; Acts 15:16
The Time Periods
The Starting Point
The Time Element Calculated
"The temple was destroyed in A.D. 70 by Titus the Roman. Therefore, according to Daniel's prophecy, the Messiah had to come and be crucified between March 30, A.D. 33 and A.D. 70. Christ was crucified April 3, A.D. 33." Prophecy: Fact or Fiction, p. 15-22, particularly p. 19-20
In 132-135 A.D., a Jew named Bar Cocheba led another rebellion against Rome a brave attempt to regain Jewish control of the holy land. As Pompey and Titus had done previously Antoninus Pius took control for the iron rule of Rome. After this last attempt it became illegal for a Jew to live in Jerusalem. In Palestine 985 towns were wiped out, 580,000 people were slain. The Jews became the Diaspora or the exhiles from that date until 1948. The Story of Civilization, Simon and Schuster, 1954, Will Durant, vol. 4 The Age of Faith, p. 347 The later triumph of Christianity over Palestine "brought new difficulties. Before hi conversion Constantine had placed the religion of the Jews on a footing of legal equality with those of his other subjects. After his conversion the Jews were oppressed with new restrictions." ibid For Jesus to fulfill the prophecies detailing events in His life He had to have been born, lived, ministered and died before 70 A.D.
"The scepter shall not depart from Judah, nor the ruler's staff from between his feet, until Shiloh comes, and to him shall be the obedience of the peoples" [Genesis 49:10].
Controversy
Jewish scholars also prefer not to place emphasis on the word Shiloh Strong's No. 7886 which they translate as a pronoun meaning 'he whose it is.' It is however considered by scholars as a Messianic title and is transliterated directly into many modern language translations such as the KJV, NASB, NKJV, and the ASV. New Unger's Bible Dictionary confirms that Shiloh is a "title of the Messiah. Gen. 49:10 Though there has been much discussion as to the grammatical interpretation of the word, Jewish officialdom and the Christian church agree as to the fact that the patriarch is here proclaiming the coming of the Messiah. New Unger's Bible Dictionary
Defining Scepter "shebet" Strong's No. 7626
2. Keil & Delitzsch wrote, "The sceptre [shebet Strong's No. 7626 literally a stick for punishing, writing, fighting, ruling, walking, etc. figuratively the sceptre of a clan or tribe] is the symbol of regal command, and in its earliest form it was a long staff, which the king held in his hand when speaking in public assemblies; (e. g., Agamemnon, Il. 2, 46, 101) and when he sat upon his throne he rested in between his feet, inclining towards himself (see the representation of a Persian king in the ruins of Persepolis, Niebuhr Reisebeschr. ii. 145)." Keil & Delitzsch Commentary on the Old Testament
3. The Septuagint. The Jewish rabbis who translated the Hebrew Old Testament into the Greek Septuagint 250 years before Christ translated shebet Strong's No. 7626 with the Greek word archon Strong's No. 758 which is found 135 times in the Septuagint and 39 times in the New Testament. Its final use is in Revelations describing Jesus Christ as ruler of the kings of the earth. Rev 1:5 Archon is used consistently in the Greek Scriptures to refer to rulers, chiefs, authorities, leaders, magistrates, official's, and princes.
4. The Jewish Targums. "The main benefit received from the Targums is the knowledge of the views of the Jewish rabbis as to the meaning of certain passages Thus in Gen 49:10 there is no doubt in the mind of the Targumist that "Shiloh" refers to the Messiah." International Standard Bible Encylopaedia Shiloh was understood to be the Person of Messiah who is coming rather than the geographic place that He will visit.
2. Each family tribe in Israel had its own "staff" as symbols of authority. Num 17:2
3. When God had both kingdoms of Israel carried off into Babylon for 70 years they still had these staffs that Ezekiel mentioned having people write upon their staffs. Ezek 37:16-17 Ezekiel spoke of these staffs being bound together with Judah. At no time did these "staffs of authority" disappear.
4. Upon return, after the 70 years were over, Judah never lost its "tribal staff" of or national identity. They still possessed their own lawgivers and judges even during the captivity. Ezra 1:5, 8 Historians speak of postexilic Israel in terms of the consolidation fo Judaism. Ency Brit 13:49-50
5. Israel was ruled after their return to Palestine beneath the monarchies of Persia from 430 B.C. to 330 B.C., under Greece in the Hellenistic period from 330 B.C. to 166 B.C. The Hasmonean period from 166 B.C. to 63 B.C. saw brief independence from the Greeks under the Maccabean princes, but by 63 B.C. Pompey, the famed Roman general captured Jerusalem brining Palestine under the rule of Rome under Herod the Great who succeeded the final Maccabean princes [authorized leaders from the tribe of Judah] in ruling Israel. The Priests who ruled Israel under these various governments can be traced back to the seventy elders in Numbers and the Sanhedrin in Jesus day ruled. ibid. There was no time when the "staff of Judah" disappeared or was lost, however the legal power of the Sanhedrin "is restricted twenty-years before the trial of Christ. This restriction was the loss of the power to pass the death sentence." Evidence That Demands A Verdict, vol. 1, p. 168
Josephus
The Talmud (Bab., Sanhedrin, Chap. 4, fol. 51b)
The Talmud (Bab., Sanhedrin, Chap. 4, fol. 37, recto)
Rabbi Rachmon
Nebuchadnezzar's Dream Daniel 2:31-45
1. Babylonian Empire 626 B.C. - 539 B.C.
2. Medo-Persian Empire B.C. 539 - 331 B.C.
3. The Greek Empire 330 B.C. - 166 B.C.
4. The Roman Empire 146 B.C. - A.D. 476
5. The Divine Kingdom The Integrity of Bible Prophecy
God is holy. God's Word is also holy. Bible prophecy scholars say that "one fourth of the Bible was prophetic at the time it was written." Things To Come, Zondervan, Pentecost, p.vii Prophets & Prophecy
Biblical prophets and prophecy is identified by three Hebrew words, Nabi, Ro'ah and Hozeh. "Now the acts of King David, from first to last, are written in the chronicles of Samuel the seer, in the chronicles of Nathan the prophet, and in the chronicles of Gad the seer." 1 Chronicles 29:29 Work of the Prophet
Unger's dictionary says quotes Robertson, "The prophets had a practical office to discharge. It was part of their commission to show the people of God 'their transgressions and the house of Jacob their sins.' Isa. 58:1; Ezek. 22:2; 43:10; Mic. 3:8 They were, therefore, pastors and ministerial monitors of the people of God. It was their duty to admonish and reprove, to denounce prevailing sins, to threaten the people with the terrors of divine judgment, and to call them to repentance." New Unger's Bible Dictionary The prophet of God's "words are not the production of his own spirit, but come from a higher source. For he is at the same time, also, a seer, who sees things that do not lie in the domain of natural sight, or who hears things which human ears do not ordinarily receive. International Standard Bible Encylopaedia The Old Testament was more than a spokesman for God. Merrill Unger's Bible Dictionary says, "in addition to the declaration of God's will, the enunciation of His judgments, the defense of truth and righteousness, and bearing testimony to the superiority of the moral to the ritual, prophecy had an intimate relation to God's gracious purpose toward Israel." Mic 5:4, 7:20; Isa 60:3; 65:25 Evidence That Demands A Verdict, vol. 1, p. 268 Prophetic Inspiration
Because it is such an important subject we have devoted an entire chapter to the general subject of Biblical "inspiration," but this chapter deals with the way this work of the Holy Spirit operates directly through the prophet in producing and fulfilling Bible prophecy. "The divine power, which comes over a human being and compels him to see or to hear things which otherwise would be hidden from him, is called by various terms expressive of inspiration." International Standard Bible Encylopaedia
"In genuine prophecy, according to Biblical conceptions, the fulfilment constitutes an integral part. This is set up by Deut 18:21 as a proof of the genuineness of a prophetic utterance. The prophetic word "falls to the ground" 1 Sam 3:19 if it is not "raised up" (heqim, "fulfil," for which we more rarely find mille', but regularly in the New Testament plerousthai "being fulfilled") by the course of events." International Standard Bible Encylopaedia
It is a characteristic peculiarity of the religion of the Old Testament that its very elementary beginnings are of a prophetical nature. International Standard Bible Encylopaedia
The fathers, above all Abraham, but also Isaac and Jacob, are the recipients of visions and of divine revelations. Especially is this true of Abraham, who appeared to the foreigners, to whom he was neither kith or kin, to be indeed a prophet (nabhi') (
Above all, the creative founder of the Israelitish national religion, Moses, is a prophet in the eminent sense of the word. His influence among the people is owing neither to his official position, nor to any military prowess, but solely and alone to the one circumstance, that since his call at the burning bush God has spoken to him. This intercourse between God and Moses was ever of a particularly intimate character. While other men of God received certain individual messages only from time to time and through the mediation of dreams and visions, Yahweh spoke directly and "face to face" with Moses. Num 12:6ff; Deut 34:10; c.f. Exo 33:11 Moses was the permanent organ through whom Yahweh brought about the Egyptian plagues and through whom He explained what these meant to His people, as also through whom He led and ruled them. The voice of Moses too had to explain to them the divine signs in the desert and communicate to them the commandments of God. The legislation of Moses shows that he was not only filled with the Spirit of God occasionally, but that he abode with God for longer periods of time and produced something that is a well-ordered whole. A production such as the Law is the result of a continuous association with God." International Standard Bible Encylopaedia Prophecy in the New Testament
Malachi finds a successor in John the Baptist, whose coming the former had predicted. John is the greatest of the prophets, because he could directly point to Him who completed the old covenant and fulfilled its promises. All that we know in addition concerning the times of Jesus shows that the prophetical gift was yet thought of as possibly dwelling in many, but that prophecy was no longer the chief spiritual guide of the people. Josephus, Ant, XIII, xi, 2; XV, x, 5, International Standard Bible Encylopaedia
In the Christian congregation prophecy is found in pastors, evangelists, and teachers. The Christian church at large is more developed on the historical basis of revelation as completed in Christ as the Word of God. In spiritually aroused eras in the history of the church, prophecy again puts in its appearance. It has never ceased altogether, but on account of its frequent misuse the gift has become discredited. Jesus Himself warned against false prophets, and during the apostolic times it was often found necessary to urge the importance of trying spirits. 1 Jn 4:1; 1 Cor 12:10; 14,29 International Standard Bible Encylopaedia Warnings to Avoid False Prophetic Utterances
Necromancy and Technical Witchcraft
Here we find everywhere indeed the art of sooth-saying, the headquarters for which was Babylon. But with this art the prophecy of the Old Testament stands out in bold contrast (compare the prohibitions in Lev 19:26,31; 20:6,27; Deut 18:10, prohibitions that refer to necromancy for the purpose of discovering the future). This art was practiced through a medium, a person who had an 'obh (Babylonian, ubi), i.e. a spirit that brought forth the dead in order to question them. The spirits were thought to speak in murmurings or piping sounds, Isa 8:19 which could be imitated by the medium (ventriloquist).
More spiritual and popular was the interpretation of dreams. It also was the case that mediums intentionally would convert themselves into a semi-waking trance. In this way the suitable mediums attained to a certain kind of clairvoyance, found among various peoples. This approaches the condition of an ecstatically aroused pseudo-prophet, of whom mention is made above. In Greece, too, oracles were pronounced by the Pythian prophetess, who by vapors and the like was aroused to a practice of the mantic art. In Dodona it was the voice of the divinity in Nature, which they sought to read in the rustling of the trees and the murmuring of the water. How uncertain these sources were was well known to heathen antiquity. The ancients complain of the enigmatical character of the Sibylline utterances and the doubtful nature of what was said. In contrast to this, Israel knows that it possesses in prophecy a clear word. Num 23:23 International Standard Bible Encylopaedia
Tthe contents also of the Biblical prophecies are unique through their spiritual uniformity and high level of moral content. The oracle at Delphi, too, at times showed a certain moral elevation and could be regarded as the conscience of the nation. But how insignificant and meager was that which it offered to those who questioned it, in comparison with the spontaneous utterances of the prophets of Israel! Also what has in recent times been said concerning the "prophetical texts" from ancient Egypt (Gressmann, Texte und Bilder, I, 20 ff) may indeed show some external similarity to the prophecies of Israel; but they lack the spiritual and religious depth and the strictly ethical dignity of the prophets of the Scriptures, as also the consistency with which these from century to century reveal the thoughts of God and make known with constantly increasing clearness their purposes and goal. International Standard Bible Encylopaedia Tests For a True Prophet
Professor J.A. Motyer, of Clifton Theological in Bristol has defined certain points that may be made about the question of true and false prophets who said, "there have been many episodes in the Bible which have caused conflict as to who was a true prophet and who was a false prophet. 1 Ki 22; Jer 28; 1 Ki 13:18-22 The solution is very practical and important rather than simply academic. We have certain characteristics which we can examine and apply to see the falseness or truth in a prophet." Evidence That Demands A Verdict, vol. 1, p. 269
"This state of ecstacy seemed to occur without forewarning or was caused by certain conditions, especially certain forms of music. Such unusual and suspicious conditions arose as total expulsion of all self consciousness, and no sensitivity or fear of pain was evident. This was wide spread in Canaan, especially in Baalism." Evidence That Demands A Verdict, vol. 1, p. 269 Dr. Motyer did acknowledge that on rare occasions both Isaiah and Ezekiel had ecstatic experiences. Isa 6 We are also reminded the rare experience of Elisha requesting a minstrel before he prophesied. 2 Ki 3:15
"The false prophets were usually on a paid staff under the king. These men ‘prophesied' what the king desired to hear." Evidence That Demands A Verdict, vol. 1, p. 269 Dr. Motyer also recalls that this isn't a final test because Samuel and Nathan were professional prophets.
"The Old Testament records three noteworthy passages down this line. Deu 13, 18; Jer 23; Ezek. 12:21-14:11 Deuteronomy 18 claims that what does not become fulfilled is not true prophecy. It should be remembered that this is a negative criterion." Evidence That Demands A Verdict, vol. 1, p. 269 What does not come true is not from God. Professor Motyer says this test alone is not adequate because even if the prophetic utterance is fulfilled then someone needs to turn to Deuteronomy 13 and test the prophet's theology and if that is lacking he should still be rejected.
We have devoted an entire chapter that focuses on interpreting Scripture including some history of interpretation. These rules all apply to the field of Bible prophecy however there are some unique characteristics to prophetic passages. Dr. J. Dwight Pentecost has written, "the characteristics of Old Testament prophecy are: Time Element in Prophetic Interpretation
Pentecost wrote, "in regard to the language of prophecy, especially in its bearing upon the future, the following points should be note: 1.) the prophets often speak of things that belong to the future as if present to their view. Isa 9:6 2.) They speak of future things as if they were in the past. Isa 53 3.) When the precise time for individual events was not revealed, the prophets describe them as continuous. They saw the future as rather in space than in time; the whole, therefore, appears foreshortened; and perspective, rather than actual distance, is regarded. They seem to speak of future things as a common observer would describe the stars, grouping them as they appear, and not according to their true positions." Things To Come, Zondervan, 1964, J. Dwight Pentecost, p. 46 Law of Double Reference
Pentecost has written, "few laws are more important to observe ... two events, widely separated as to the time of their fulfillment, may be brought together into the scope of one prophecy." Things To Come, Zondervan, 1964, J. Dwight Pentecost, p. 46 The prophet had a message to deliver "in his own day as well as for a future time." ibid.Conditional Prophecies
Pentecost wrote, "a condition may be involved in a command or promise without its being specifically stated. This is illustrated by the career of Jonah." ibid. Ninevah repented upon first hearing the prophets message frustrating the fulfillment of a gloomy consequence and the attitude of the prophet who seemed to be looking forward to the negative fulfillment. Ninevah experienced the grace and mercy of God which a fact that Jonah had not mentioned as possible in his message.Rules for Interpreting Biblical Prophecy
1. Determine the historical background of the prophet and the prophecy.
Because of the Bible's unique claim among religious books in the world to be able to both present prophetic utterance but also to produce fulfillment, we will be looking at some of these events as they contain evidence for the holiness of both God and His Word.
Messianic Prophecy Description Messianic Fulfillment
Gen 3:15-16 Born of seed of woman Galatians 4:4
Gen 12:2-3 Born of seed of Abraham Matthew 1:1
Genesis 17:19 Born of seed of Isaac Matthew 1:2
Numbers 24:17 Born of seed of Jacob Matthew 1:2
Genesis 49:10 Descended from Judah Luke 3:33
Isaiah 9:7 Heir to throne of David Luke 1:32-33
Daniel 9:25 Time for Jesus' birth Luke 2:1-2
Isaiah 7:14 Born of a virgin Luke 1:26-27; 30-31
Micah 5:2 Born in Bethlehem Luke 2:4-7
Jeremiah 31:15 Slaughter of innocents Matthew 2:16-18
Hosea 11:1 Flight to Egypt Matthew 2:14-15
Isaiah 40:3-5; Malachi 3:1 Preceded by forerunner Luke 7:24, 27
Psalm 2:7 Declared the Son of God Matthew 3:16-17
Isaiah 9:1-2 Galilean ministry Matthew 4:13-17
Deuteronomy 18:15 That "prophet" to come Acts 3:20, 22
Isaiah 61:1-2 Came to heal broken hearted Luke 4:18-19
Isaiah 53:3 Rejected by his own (Jews) John 1:11
Psalm 110:4 A priest like Melchizedek Hebrews 5:5-6
Zechariah 9:9 Triumphant entry Mark 11:7, 9, 11
Psalm 41:9 Betrayed by friend Luke 22:47, 48
Zechariah 13:7 Forsaken by disciples Mark 14:27
Zechariah 11:12-13 Sold for 30 pieces silver Matthew 26:15; 27:5-7
Zechariah 11:12 Money thrown in temple Matthew 27:5
Psalm 35:11 Accused by false witnesses Mark 14:57-58
Isaiah 53:7 Silent to accusers Mark 15:4-5
Isaiah 50:6 Spat upon and smitten Matthew 26:67
Psalm 35:19 Hated without reason John 15:24-25
Psalm 109:24-25 Fell under weight of cross John 19:17; Luke 23:26
Isaiah 53:12 Crucified with thieves Mark 15:27-28
Zechariah 12:10 Hands pierced John 20:27
Psalm 22:16 Hands and feet pierced Luke 23:33
Psalm 22:7-8 Scorned and mocked Luke 23:35
Psalm 69:21 Given vinegar and gall Matthew 27;34
Psalm 109:4 Prayed for His enemies Luke 23:34
Psalm 22:18 Soldiers gambled for coat Matthew 27:35
Psalm 34:20 No bones broken John 19:32-33, 36
Zechariah 12:10 Side pierced John 19:34
Psalm 22:1 Forsaken cry from cross Matthew 27:46
Amos 8:9 Darkness over the land Matthew 27:45
Isaiah 53:9 Buried with the rich Matthew 27:57-60
Psalm 16:10; 49:15 Would rise from the dead Mark 16:6-7
Genesis 3:14-15 Will crush Satan's head Colossians 2:15
Psalm 68:18 Would ascend back to heaven Mark 16:19
Psalm 110:1 Seated right hand God Hebrews 1:3
Moses before 1406 B.C., Isaiah between 760-740 B.C., Jeremiah 626-580 B.C., Ezekiel 593-590 B.C., Daniel 605-538 B.C., Hosea 755-710 B.C., Joel 835 B.C., Amos between 760-753 B.C., Obadiah 840 B.C., Micah 735-710 B.C., Nahum 663-654 B.C., Habakkuk between 609-605 B.C., Zephaniah 640-612 B.C., Haggai 520 B.C., Zechariah between 480-470 B.C., Malachi between 432-425 B.C. Nelson's Complete Book of Bible Maps & Charts, 1993
Peter Stoner, in a scientific review of the accuracy of Bible prophecy wrote, "no human being has ever made predictions which hold any comparison to those we have considered, and had them accurately come true. The span of time between the writing of these prophecies and their fulfillment is so great that the most severe critic cannot claim that the predictions were made after the events happened." Evidence That Demands A Verdict, vol. 1, p. 272 SEVENTY WEEKS OF DANIEL AND BIRTH OF MESSIAH
Daniel 9:24-27 Text of Daniel's Prophecy
Daniel 9:24-27
24. "Seventy weeks have been decreed for your people and your holy city, to finish the transgression, to make an end of sin, to make atonement for iniquity, to bring in everlasting righteousness, to seal up vision and prophecy and to anoint the most holy place.
25. "So you are to know and discern that from the issuing of a decree to restore and rebuild Jerusalem until Messiah the Prince there will be seven weeks and sixty-two weeks; it will be built again, with plaza and moat, even in times of distress.
26. "Then after the sixty-two weeks the Messiah will be cut off and have nothing, and the people of the prince who is to come will destroy the city and the sanctuary. And its end {will come} with a flood; even to the end there will be war; desolations are determined.
27. "And he will make a firm covenant with the many for one week, but in the middle of the week he will put a stop to sacrifice and grain offering; and on the wing of abominations {will come} one who makes desolate, even until a complete destruction, one that is decreed, is poured out on the one who makes desolate."
Historical Notes On Daniel's 70 Weeks
Six 70th Week Events v. 24
1. To finish transgression in 70 weeks refers to the transgression of Israel. The cross was accomplished at the end of 69 weeks. Dan 9:25 After the cross in this last 70th week redemption will pour out on Israel. Zech 12:10; 13:1 The People of the Seventy Weeks
These events are associated with "your people." v. 24 The angel Gabriel was speaking to Daniel about the Jews. These prophecies predicted then future events for Israel and the "the holy city" in Jerusalem. v. 24 Other prophecies focus on the future of the church and the world or the Gentiles as the Jews call the world, but this passage primarily focuses on the Jews.
The overall period of the seventy weeks is given in the Hebrew as being 70 times 7. Technically, weeks are not mentioned in the Hebrew text. But we understand that 70 X 7 = 490. We also understand the first period, is referred to as being a period of 7 X 7 = 49. The second period referred to is 62 X 7 = 434. The third period combines both the first and second periods to equal 69 periods or 69 X 7 = 483. The first period is the length of time associated with rebuilding the temple. The third period of 62 plus 7 or 69 weeks is the number associated with the time of the coming Messiah.
Nearly everyone agrees that the prophetic clock starts when the command is issued to rebuild Jerusalem. v. 25 This was fulfilled when Artaxerxes gave Nehemiah a decree to rebuild the holy city March 14, 445 B.C. with its walls in the last month of 445 B.C. or the first month of 444 B.C. Neh 1:3, 2:4-8; Major Bible Prophecies, p. 170 This means that the key dates surrounding Messiah must be completed after 483 years from 444 B.C. and before 70 A.D., when every Jew was removed from Palestine and Jerusalem along with the temple were laid waste.
Beginning at 445 B.C., chronologists say if we calculate through the various changes in calendars going from Biblical years to solar years that we can move ahead 483 years and arrive at 33 A.D. Major Bible Prophecies, p. 174 One chronologist says the edict to restore Jerusalem was given on Nisan 1, 444 B.C. (our month of April) and Christ was crucified Nisan 14, 33 A.D. Chronological Aspects of the Life of Christ, Hoehner, p. 138 Hoehner's Calculations
Multiplying the sixty-nine weeks by seven years for each week by 360 days gives a total of 173,880 days. The difference between 444 B.C. and A.D. 33 then is 476 years. By multiplying 476 by 365.24219879 or by 365 days, 5 hours, 48 minutes, 45.975 seconds, one comes to 173,855 days, 6 hours, 52 minutes, 44 seconds, or 173,855 days. This leaves only 25 days to be accounted for between 444 B.C. and A.D. 33. By adding the 25 days to March 5, (of 444 B.C.), one comes to March 30, (of A.D. 33) which was Nisan 10 in A.D. 33. This is the triumphal entry of Jesus into Jerusalem. "The terminal event of the 69 weeks is the presentation of Christ himself to Israel as the Messiah as predicted in Zech 9:9. This materialized on Monday, Nisan 10 (March 30), A.D. 33. On the following Friday, April 3, A.D. 33, Christ was crucified or "cut off." Dan 9:26 483 YEARS EQUAL 69 BIBLICAL WEEKS
From 444 B.C. until 33 A.D. is 476 years. If we add 444 and 33 we get 477. This is because we need to subtract one year as you go between 1 A.D. and 1 B.C. Prophecy Fact or Fiction, p. 21; see also Ptolemy's explanation of how to calculate between 1 A.D. and 1 B.C., The Almagest, Great Books, Ptolemy, 140 A.D., v. 16, Appendix A, p. 466-468 Multiplying 476 years times 365.24219879 days [we use this number because it is the exact length of planet earth's solar year gives us 173,855 days]. If we add the 25 days between March 5 to March 30 we then have 173,880. If you followed those instructions, you converted from the Julian calendar to the Hebrew. The Hebrew calendar has 360 days each year. If we divide 173,880 by 360 we get 483 years which is exactly the 69 weeks in Biblical years! "Shilo" Must Come "Before" the Last Jewish King
Leaves the Throne at Jerusalem
Moses, the author the Law included in the first book of the Bible this prophecy about the time of the coming Messiah. It limits the time for the arrival of Messiah as having to occur prior to the loss of the "scepter of Judah."
This passage is debated among Old Testament scholars. Modern Jewish scholars usually have two problems with the way Christian's translate this passage. 1.) Adam Clarke wrote, "The Jews have a quibble on the word shebet, Strong's No. 7626 which we translate sceptre; they say it signifies a staff or rod, and that the meaning of it is, that "afflictions shall not depart from the Jews till the Messiah comes." Translating shebet as affliction seems to support their claim that since they are still under affliction therefore Messiah has not come! Dr. Clarke wrote, "Targum of Jonathan ben Uzziel and the Jerusalem Targum, apply the whole of this prophecy, in a variety of very minute particulars, to the Messiah, and give no find of countenance to the fictions of the modern Jews." Adam Clarke Commentary 2.)
1. Theological Word Book of the Old Testament, "This noun commonly denotes a rod. It was used for beating cumin, Isa 28:27 as a weapon, 2 Sam 23:21 and as a shepherd's implement either to muster or count sheep, Lev 27:32; Ezek 20:37 or to protect them. Ps 23:4; Mic 7:14 In Psalm 23:4 it is used metaphorically of the Lord's protection of his servant as he walks in paths of righteousness." The word also denotes a sceptre, the mark of authority. The association of smiting and ruling is evident. Thus it is the symbol of rulership. Whereas the prophets predicted that the sceptre of Israel's enemies will be removed, Amos 1:5; Zech 10:11 Jacob predicted that "the sceptre shall not depart from Judah... until Shiloh come..." Gen 49:1 and the psalmist predicted that the rule of Israel's ideal king would endure forever. Ps 45:7 These promises find their fulfilment in the Lord Jesus Christ. Bibliography: Fall, Zeev W., "Two Symbols of Justice," VT 10:72-74. Wolf, C. Umhau, "Terminology of Israel's Tribal Organization," JBL 65:45-49. TDNT, IX, pp. 246-49. B.K.W. Evidence That A Jewish King on the Throne at Jesus' Birth
1. The prophecy of the "scepter" in Genesis preceded by many centuries the beginning of kings in Israel.
The Sanhedrin lost some of their political power "after the deposition of Archelaus, who was the son and successor of Herod, 11 A.D.. Josephus, Ant., Book 17, Chap. 13, p. 1-5 The procurators, who administered in the Augustus name, took the supreme power of the Sanhedrin away so they could exercise the jus gladii themselves; that is, the sovereign right over the life and death sentences. All the nations which were subdued by the Roman Empire were deprived of their ability to pronounce capital sentences. Tacitus says, "the Romans reserved to themselves the right of the sword, and neglected all else." Evidence That Demands A Verdict, vol. 1, p. 168
"Since the Sanhedrin no longer had jurisdiction in capital offenses, there is no practical utility in this ruling, which can become effective only in the days of the Messiah." Evidence That Demands A Verdict, vol. 1, p. 169 Historians date this loss of the scepter of Judah in A.D. 7 about 23 years before Jesus' trial.
"Woe unto us, for the scepter has been taken from Judah, and the Messiah has not appeared!" Evidence That Demands A Verdict, vol. 1, p. 169
"When the members of the Sanhedrin found themselves deprived of their right over life and death; a general consternation took possession of them; they covered their heads with ashes, and their bodies with sackcloth, exclaiming: "Woe unto us, for the scepter has departed from Judah, and the Messiah has not come." ibid., p. 169 Professor Josh McDowell has written, "the Talmud itself admits ‘a little more than forty years before the destruction of the Temple, the power of pronouncing capital sentences was taken away from the Jews." Talmud Jerusalem, Sandhedrin, fol. 24, recto. However, it hardly seems possible that the jus gladii remained in the Jewish hands until that time. It probably had ceased at the time of Coponius, 7 A.D. Essai sur l'histoire et la geographie de la Palestine, d'apres les Talmuds et la geographic de la Palestine, d'apres les Talmuds et les autres sources Rabbinique, p. 90; Paris, 1867. Evidence That Demands A Verdict, vol. 1, p. 168-169DANIEL'S INTERPRETATION OF NEBUCHADNEZAR'S DREAM
Daniel is important to any study examining Bible prophecy. His predictions outline a huge panorama of history beginning from his own time in 603 B.C. His writings are also important because they touch important future events. When Jesus taught His Olivet Discourse "he gave a list of events of the end time" Mt 24 and part of Jesus' list included "the prophecy of Daniel ‘the abomination of desolation' passage." Dan 9:27; 11:31; 12:11; Prophecy: Fact or Fiction Daniel In The Critics Den, CCC, 1981, McDowell, p. 5
Four World Kingdoms from 603 B.C.
Text of Daniel 2:31-45 Historical Notes Daniel 2:31-45
31. "You, O king, were looking and behold, there was a single great statue; that statue, which was large and of extraordinary splendor, was standing in front of you, and its appearance was awesome.
32. "The head of that statue {was made} of fine gold, its breast and its arms of silver, its belly and its thighs of bronze,
33. its legs of iron, its feet partly of iron and partly of clay.
34. "You continued looking until a stone was cut out without hands, and it struck the statue on its feet of iron and clay and crushed them.
35. "Then the iron, the clay, the bronze, the silver and the gold were crushed all at the same time and became like chaff from the summer threshing floors; and the wind carried them away so that not a trace of them was found. But the stone that struck the statue became a great mountain and filled the whole earth.
36. "This {was} the dream; now we will tell its interpretation before the king.
37. "You, O king, are the king of kings, to whom the God of heaven has given the kingdom, the power, the strength and the glory;
38. and wherever the sons of men dwell, {or} the beasts of the field, or the birds of the sky, He has given {them} into your hand and has caused you to rule over them all. You are the head of gold.
39. "After you there will arise another kingdom inferior to you, then another third kingdom of bronze, which will rule over all the earth.
40. "Then there will be a fourth kingdom as strong as iron; inasmuch as iron crushes and shatters all things, so, like iron that breaks in pieces, it will crush and break all these in pieces.
41. "In that you saw the feet and toes, partly of potter's clay and partly of iron, it will be a divided kingdom; but it will have in it the toughness of iron, inasmuch as you saw the iron mixed with common clay.
42. "{As} the toes of the feet {were} partly of iron and partly of pottery, {so} some of the kingdom will be strong and part of it will be brittle.
43. "And in that you saw the iron mixed with common clay, they will combine with one another in the seed of men; but they will not adhere to one another, even as iron does not combine with pottery.
44. "In the days of those kings the God of heaven will set up a kingdom which will never be destroyed, and {that} kingdom will not be left for another people; it will crush and put an end to all these kingdoms, but it will itself endure forever.
45. "Inasmuch as you saw that a Stone was cut out of the mountain without hands and that it crushed the iron, the bronze, the clay, the silver and the gold, the great God has made known to the king what will take place in the future; so the dream is true and its interpretation is trustworthy."
The first world empire was the head of gold v. 32 which represented Nebuchadnezzar's kingdom of Babylon. v. 38 Nebuchadnezzar inherited and enlarged Hammurabi's Babylon. After the death of Nebuchadnezzar in 562 B.C., a drastic deterioration occurred under his evil sons. When Belshazzar died to fulfill the "handwriting on the wall" in 539 B.C., the Babylonian Empire ceased to exist Dan 5:25-28 when Cyrus came to power. Although Cyrus was inferior to Nebuchadnezzar he was a moral giant compared to Belshazzar and Merodach.
The second empire were the arms and breasts of silver v.32 which represented the Medo-Persian Empire. The Medo-Persians were a dual empire. They were in turn an inferior kingdom. v. 39 It was Cyrus, the monarch from Media, who issued the edict which allowed Israel to return to its homeland under his protection in 536 B.C. Alexander the Great defeated the Medes and Persians in 331 B.C.
The third were the belly and thighs of brass which represented the Grecian empire. Prominent in Daniel's visions is the figure of Alexander the Great who was responsible for the Greek culture and language being so pervasive by the time of Christ. Greek was the language of the New Testament. While Greek culture was strong, their pure democracy was weak compared to the Republican political structure of Rome. The Greeks were defeated by Rome in 146 B.C.
The fourth world class power structure were the legs of iron with feet and toes of iron and clay. This represents the Roman Empire. The iron represented prophetically the military and political strength of Rome because of the Roman Legions. But Rome was inferior being internally weak and divided through moral decay. As the legs in the image indicates, Rome was to be a divided kingdom. This very famous and important division took place in 364 A.D. Greek culture and Roman power produced the sufficient peace and prosperity to produce the system of roads, shipping, commerce and mail routes that allowed the Gospel of Christ to be spread quickly after Christ. In A.D. 476 the Goths deposed the last Roman Emperor of the west, but the iron-like influence of Rome continued through the middle ages. Many have tried to re-unite the Roman Empire but have failed experiencing the weakness of the mixture of clay and iron.
This "Stone that was cut out of the mountain without hands," v. 45 able to crush the remaining Ps 2:9 Roman influence is the Second Coming of Jesus Christ as King of kings and Lord of lords. Isa 2:2-4; Rev 19:11-16 No one can place a date on this still future event.