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Prophecy 4 – The Seventy Weeks
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Love Versus Foreknowledge

Some people become confused when hearing about the concept of Plan A and Plan B for the first time. The confusion often stems from this argument: If God perfectly foreknows the future, there cannot be two plans! Let us carry this argument to its logical conclusion. If God foreknew that Lucifer would sin and He created Him anyway, who is responsible for sin? Why did God create a third of the angels foreknowing that they would participate in Lucifer’s rebellion? God also foreknew that Adam and Eve would sin. Did He create them so that Jesus would have to die? Not at all. These are important questions and God has answered them.[34] God declares that He keeps His foreknowledge separate from His love for His subjects. We will examine this topic in depth when we study Prophecy 6.

For now, please consider this: God foreknew the flood in Noah’s day would be necessary long before it happened. God foreknew Israel’s rebellion long before He led Israel out of Egypt. He foreknew that Israel would have to wander in the desert for forty years. God foreknew that Israel would have to be sent into Babylonian exile. God foreknew that Israel would reject and crucify Christ, and God foreknew that Jerusalem would be totally destroyed in A.D. 70.

Even though He foreknew all of these events, God’s foreknowledge did not alter His love or behavior. God does not deal with any created being on the basis of His foreknowledge because His love is not influenced by His foreknowledge. God is love. His actions are always consistent with the principles of love. God already knows whether I will be saved or lost, but His foreknowledge does not affect His efforts to win over my heart. God’s love will not permit Him to use His foreknowledge to manipulate His children for His own benefit. God created Lucifer foreknowing the damage that Lucifer would cause. God chose Israel foreknowing the damage His choice would cause. God showered every gift and grace on Israel. He gave Israel many wonderful promises, and most of all, He sent His own Son to Israel because His love is not influenced by His foreknowledge.

God loved Israel with all His heart. He wanted Plan A to work out. He went so far as to reveal wonderful things to Jeremiah, Isaiah, Ezekiel, and other Old Testament prophets about the contents of Plan A. The key point that so many people miss is that Plan A was a marriage contract. The fulfillment of Plan A was conditional on Israel’s participation.[35] God’s perfect foreknowledge allowed Him to outline a portion of Plan B to Daniel even though, at the same time, He was illuminating Plan A to Jeremiah and Ezekiel. This explains why God hid Plan B from human understanding (sealed up the book of Daniel) until Plan A was dead.

The concept of Plan A and Plan B is essential when understanding Bible prophecy. Plan A was based on man’s cooperation with God. Plan B is not. If Israel had cooperated with God during the seventy weeks, the New Testament portion of the Bible would not have been necessary. Israel would have been prepared to receive the Messiah and the sin problem would have been resolved as the Old Testament declares. Jesus would have remained on Earth after His resurrection and the kingdom of God would have been established on Earth long ago. If all this had happened as first planned, Plan B would have remained unknown. But Plan A was terminated and God appointed new trustees to be the heirs of Abraham.[36]

Rule Two says a fulfillment only occurs when all of the specifications are met, and this includes the order stated in the prophecy. This vision has a starting point in time. Artaxerxes issued the decree on or about Nisan 1, 457 B.C. When it comes to pinpointing the death of Jesus in the middle of the seventieth week, there is no room for debate on this date when all the facts are presented. The only year that can meet all of the details provided in Scripture and at the same time, align with the Sun and Moon, is A.D. 30. The Sun and Moon are important because their celestial positions eliminate speculation on the timing of Nisan 1 in A.D. 30. Their positions have been carefully researched and the results can be examined at the official website of the U.S. Naval Observatory.[37]

Rule Three says that apocalyptic language can be literal, analogous, or symbolic. We know there are no symbolic elements in this prophecy because symbols are defined with relevant Scripture. The language used in this vision is either literal or analogous. No symbols are offered or defined.

Rule Four is heavily used in this prophecy. It says the presence or absence of the Jubilee Calendar determines how God measures time. Both the seventy weeks prophecy and the 2,300 day prophecy fall within the operation of the Jubilee Calendar. Therefore, both of these time periods must be translated – a day equals a year. Moreover, it is important to notice that the weekly cycle of years did not end with the death of Jesus in A.D. 30 because Jesus died in the middle of the week. In fact, the weekly cycle of years did not end in the Thursday year of 1844. The weekly cycle of years ended in 1994, at the end of seventy Jubilee cycles. See Appendix A.


References:


  1. See Chapter 6 in my book, Daniel: Unlocked for the Final GenerationReturn
  2. Ibid., pages 176-209 Return
  3. Leviticus 25:13 Return
  4. Ezekiel 4:5,62 Chronicles 36:20-22 Return
  5. Four decrees were issued to restore and rebuild Jerusalem: Cyrus: 536 B.C.; Darius I Hystaspes: 519 B.C; Artaxerxes: 457 B.C.; Artaxerxes: 444 B.C. Only one decree, 457 B.C., occurs in a Sunday year which also happens to be a Jubilee year. Identifying Jubilee years is important because Daniel 9:25 specifies the decree to restore and rebuild Jerusalem must occur at the beginning of “seven sevens” which is a Jubilee cycle. For further discussion on the patterns of Jubilee cycles, please see Appendix A. Return
  6. Ezra 8:31 Return
  7. 2 Corinthians 5:10Ecclesiastes 12:14 Return
  8. Jeremiah 25:112 Chronicles 6:36-3936:21 Return
  9. Leviticus 26 Return
  10. Galatians 3:27-29Romans 2:28,29Ephesians 2:1-14 Return
  11. For a discussion on the important differences between God’s unilateral and bilateral covenants, please see Chapter 8 in my book, Jesus: The Alpha and The Omega or freely download at https://www.wake-up.org/Alpha/Chapter8.htmReturn
  12. Mark 1:15 Return
  13. John 1:11 Return
  14. Leviticus 26:40-44 Return
  15. Leviticus 25:2355Leviticus 26:41-452 Chronicles 7:20 Return
  16. Exodus 19:4-6Isaiah 42:649:6 Return
  17. Ezra 7:9-13 Return
  18. Leviticus 25:10 Return
  19. Ezra 8:31 Return
  20. Cyrus, 536 B.C. – Ezra 5:13
    Darius I Hystaspes, 519 B.C. – 
    Ezra 6:12
    Artaxerxes, 457 B.C. – 
    Ezra 7:11-13
    Artaxerxes, 444 B.C. – 
    Nehemiah 2:1-8 Return
  21. Luke 3:1-31523 Return
  22. Zechariah 3 and 4 Return
  23. Zechariah 4:6-9; Ezra 4 Return
  24. Leviticus 26:13-39Deuteronomy 28:15-29:1 Return
  25. Romans 5:6Galatians 4:4,5 Return
  26. Romans 5:10 Return
  27. Genesis 3:15 The terms and conditions for salvation were given to Adam and Eve by Jesus. Adam and Eve were covered with the skin of the first animal sacrifice. Genesis 3:21 Abel’s offering indicates that he also knew the terms and conditions for salvation. Genesis 4:4 See Hebrews 11:4Return
  28. Hebrews 9:26 through 10:14 Return
  29. Matthew 24:2 Return
  30. See Prophecies 9 and 12. Return
  31. Daniel 9:20-23, italics and insertion mine Return
  32. Daniel 9:24, italics mine Return
  33. Matthew 23; Jeremiah 31:31Luke 22:20 Return
  34. Please see Chapter 10 in my book, A Study on the Seven Seals and the 144,000. Return
  35. Please see Chapters 5 and 8 in my book, Jesus: The Alpha and The Omega. Return
  36. Ephesians 2; Galatians 3:28,29Romans 2:28,29 See also Appendix B. Return
  37. Go to http://www.usno.navy.mil and search for the topic “Spring Phenomenon.” For a comprehensive presentation on the dating of Christ’s death, please also see pages 189-209 in my book, Daniel, Unlocked for the Final Generation or download the chapter here: https://www.wake-up.org/Daniel/DanChap6.htm Return





 



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