Shall we pray.
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Father in heaven,
what a privilege it is
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to call You Father.
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We thank You for the
awesome opportunity that we have
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of coming together
once again to open Your Word
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and understand the
message that You have for us
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at this awesome
period in human history.
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Father, we cannot understand
Your Word without divine help.
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And that's why we come
before Your throne in humility
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expressing our need
of wisdom from on high.
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We ask, Father, that You
will bless us by Your presence
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through the ministry of
the angels, that You will
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make things absolutely
clear to each one of us.
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And we thank You,
Father, for Your presence
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and for hearing our prayer.
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Because we come
to Your throne boldly
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in the name of Jesus, amen.
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I'd like to begin by reminding
all of you who are present here
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that the 70 week
prophecy is the smaller portion
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of the prophecy
of the 2300 days.
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In other words, the 2300
days are the complete prophecy,
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and the 70 weeks are
cut off from the prophecy
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of the 2300 days.
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The 70 weeks are the
first portion of the prophecy
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of the 2300 days.
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I'd like to begin by reading
the prophecy of the 70 weeks
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as it is written
in Daniel chapter 9
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and verses 25 through 27.
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Daniel chapter 9 and
verses 25 through 27.
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Immediately after Gabriel
comes back and says to Daniel,
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"Understand the
mareh," he goes on to speak
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immediately about the 70 weeks.
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The 70 weeks are
related to the mareh.
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They help explain, in
other words, the time factor
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of the 2300 days.
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And so we find in Daniel 9:25,
"Know therefore and understand,
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that from the going
forth of the command
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to restore and
build Jerusalem..."
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Not only to build, but to
restore and build Jerusalem.
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"...until Messiah the
Prince, there shall be
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seven weeks and sixty-two weeks.
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The street shall be
built again, and the wall,
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even in troublesome times.
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And after the sixty-two
weeks Messiah shall be cut off,
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but not for Himself.
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And the people of the prince
who is to come shall destroy
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the city and the sanctuary.
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The end of it shall be with a
flood, and till the end of the
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war desolations are determined.
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Then he," that is the
prince who is to come,
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"shall confirm a
covenant with many for one week.
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But in the middle of the
week," this is the last week,
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"he shall bring an end
to sacrifice and offering.
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And on the wing of abominations
shall be one who makes..." What?
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"...desolate." Don't
forget, two key words.
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It uses the words, "On
the wing of abominations
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shall be one who makes desolate,
even until the consummation,
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which is determined, is
poured out on the desolate."
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This is the famous
prophecy of the 70 weeks.
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And now we want to
interpret the meaning
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of this magnificent prophecy.
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We're not going to be
able to finish our study
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in the lecture today.
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We're actually going to
study two parts of the 70 weeks.
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Today, we are going to
study up to the point of the
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cutting off of the Messiah.
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And then in our lecture
tomorrow, we are going to
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deal with the remaining portion
of the prophecy of the 70 weeks.
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So let's begin at
Daniel chapter 9 and verse 25
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where it says...
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Question, is there a beginning
point to the 70 week prophecy?
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Yes, it says, "from."
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Is there an ending
point to the first 69 weeks,
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at least, of the
70 week prophecy?
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Absolutely, because
it says, "from...to."
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So there is a clearly defined
beginning point, and what?
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And ending point.
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Now it's interesting to
notice the word, "command."
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"From the going
forth of the command."
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That word, "command," is
used a little bit earlier
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in Daniel chapter 9.
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It's actually used in verse
23 where the Bible tells us
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that God gave the
command to Gabriel to explain
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the mareh to Daniel.
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In other words, what
we have here is a decree,
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or an order, or a command.
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Now you notice that this
command contemplates two things.
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Number one, it contemplates
the idea of restoring Jerusalem,
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and also of what?
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Building Jerusalem.
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Now I don't have time to get
into all of the details on this,
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but they are not the same thing.
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They are related one to another,
but they're not the same.
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Restoring and building
are two separate things,
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although they are related.
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Now in order to understand
what it means to restore
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and build Jerusalem,
we need to understand
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what is meant by Jerusalem.
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Now we usually think
of Jerusalem as a city
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composed of buildings
and walls and a temple.
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But Jerusalem means
much more than that.
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Jerusalem not only means
the physical city composed of
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buildings and walls, it also
refers to the social, religious,
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and political order of the city.
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The institutions, the political
and the religious institutions,
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of the city.
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That is to say,
Jerusalem means the commerce,
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the rulers, the magistrates,
the judges, and the civil
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and the religious laws.
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Now it is a fact that
Jerusalem lost its sovereignty,
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not when the city was destroyed.
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It lost its
sovereignty in the year 605
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when King Nebuchadnezzar came
and he took all of the royalty
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and all of the
princes and all of the rulers
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away to Babylon from Jerusalem.
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In other words, Jerusalem
lost its political autonomy.
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In other words, now the
city belonged to someone else.
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And not only that,
the institutions by which
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the city had
functioned came to an end.
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Because there were no legitimate
rulers in the city of Jerusalem.
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In fact, let's notice 2
Kings 24 verses 14 through 16
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where we find this idea of
what is meant by Jerusalem.
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Jerusalem does not
mean only the physical city.
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It means the city composed
of all of its magistrates,
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its rulers, its business people,
its military leaders, etc.
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Now notice 2 Kings chapter
24 and verses 14 through 16.
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It says here, speaking
about Nebuchadnezzar...
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Now I've always wondered
how he could carry Jerusalem
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into captivity.
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He must have had
some pretty heavy carts
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to be able to do that.
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What is meant when it says
that he carried all Jerusalem
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into captivity?
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Is it talking about the
city or is it talking about
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the leaders of the city; the
political, and the commercial,
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and the military leaders?
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Let's read it.
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It continues saying,
"Also he carried into captivity
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all Jerusalem: all
the captains," notice,
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"all the mighty men of valor..."
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These are the
warriors, the military.
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Now do you notice
that Jerusalem is used in
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two different
ways in this passage?
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First of all, it says
that he took Jerusalem captive.
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But then at the end of the
verse it says he took all these
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into captivity from
Jerusalem to Babylon.
00:10:06.57\00:10:10.09
So Jerusalem means two things.
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It means, first of
all, the political and
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economic and
military leaders of Jerusalem.
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That is, the
political structure of the city.
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And it also means
the physical city itself.
00:10:22.87\00:10:26.82
Now I want you to notice
also 2 Kings 14 verse 22 where
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the words "built" and "restore,"
the very words are used,
00:10:32.65\00:10:36.43
so that you can see
that "built" and "restore,"
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though related,
mean different things.
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2 Kings 14 verse 22.
00:10:42.37\00:10:44.68
It's speaking about
Azariah, and it says,
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"He," that is Azariah...
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What does that mean that
he built and he restored it?
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It means that he gave it
back to Judah for Judah to what?
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To rule over it.
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And so it says...
00:11:04.71\00:11:05.79
So any decree that
fulfills this command
00:11:13.33\00:11:17.49
to restore and build Jerusalem
not only needs to include
00:11:17.69\00:11:22.51
building the
physical city, but also what?
00:11:22.54\00:11:25.91
Restoring its
political, military,
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and judicial institutions
so that the city can function
00:11:29.84\00:11:34.87
as a political and
economic and social entity.
00:11:34.90\00:11:41.23
Now there were four decrees
that were given with regards
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to Jerusalem.
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Let's take a look at those
four decrees that were given.
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The first decree
was given by Cyrus.
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And that was given
in the year 536 BC.
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You can find it in Ezra
chapter 1 verses 2 through 4.
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We're not going to read
it, we don't have the time.
00:12:03.31\00:12:05.53
And it's also found in 2
Chronicles 36 and verse 23.
00:12:05.84\00:12:10.28
Now if you read those verses,
you'll discover that Cyrus
00:12:10.59\00:12:13.98
only gave
permission to build the temple.
00:12:14.01\00:12:16.54
It had nothing
to do with restoring
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and building Jerusalem.
00:12:19.44\00:12:20.86
It had only to
do with the temple;
00:12:20.89\00:12:23.08
the religious
institutions of Israel.
00:12:23.11\00:12:26.44
Now after this,
after the captivity,
00:12:26.87\00:12:30.59
several thousand Jews, 50,000
actually, returned to Jerusalem.
00:12:31.38\00:12:36.23
And taking advantage of
this decree that Cyrus gave,
00:12:36.56\00:12:40.92
they began building the temple
and they put the foundations
00:12:40.95\00:12:43.96
of the temple down.
00:12:43.99\00:12:45.10
But then there was opposition
by the people of the land.
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And therefore they said,
"It's not time for us to build
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the temple because we're
having all sorts of problems."
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And so basically, they gave up
the idea of building the temple.
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And all of them started
building their own houses
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and remodeling their own houses.
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They went to do their own thing.
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You can find this in the
book of Haggai chapter 1.
00:13:04.23\00:13:07.76
It says very clearly there what
happened during this period.
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So then a little bit
later on, Darius the First;
00:13:11.52\00:13:15.22
who is Darius the
Persian, not Darius the Mede.
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Not the one who
conquered Babylon.
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But this is Darius the Persian.
00:13:21.10\00:13:23.24
He gave a decree renewing the
decree that was given by Cyrus.
00:13:23.27\00:13:28.75
This decree, you can read it.
00:13:28.78\00:13:30.39
It's found in Ezra
6 verses 3 through 12.
00:13:30.42\00:13:33.85
And it's also found in the
books of Nehemiah and Haggai.
00:13:34.11\00:13:38.62
And basically, Darius the First
simply ratified and confirmed
00:13:38.82\00:13:44.66
the decree that had
been given by Cyrus.
00:13:44.69\00:13:47.13
And this happened, as I
mentioned, in the year 520.
00:13:47.16\00:13:50.85
Nothing in this decree about
restoring and building the city.
00:13:51.43\00:13:55.62
The only thing that you
will find in this decree
00:13:55.65\00:13:58.32
was rebuilding the temple.
00:13:58.35\00:14:00.98
And so this decree
cannot fulfill the command
00:14:01.01\00:14:04.62
to restore and
to build Jerusalem.
00:14:04.65\00:14:07.77
A third decree was given
by King Artaxerxes the First.
00:14:08.08\00:14:12.64
Also known as Longanimus.
00:14:12.67\00:14:15.03
It was given in the
fall of the year 457 BC.
00:14:15.06\00:14:21.10
And if you read
Ezra 6 verses 14 and 15,
00:14:21.36\00:14:24.99
It tells us that this was
the third decree with regards
00:14:25.19\00:14:29.49
to Jerusalem which was
given by Persian kings.
00:14:29.52\00:14:33.32
It's the third decree.
00:14:33.35\00:14:34.51
The first was Cyrus,
the second was Darius.
00:14:34.54\00:14:37.66
And it says in Ezra 6:14-15
that this was the third decree
00:14:37.86\00:14:42.23
that was given.
00:14:42.26\00:14:43.42
I believe that this is
the decree that fulfills the
00:14:43.81\00:14:48.62
prophecy of the 70
weeks; the command to build
00:14:48.65\00:14:52.15
and restore Jerusalem.
00:14:52.18\00:14:53.83
And in a moment we're
going to go through that.
00:14:53.86\00:14:55.72
But before we do, allow me
to mention the fourth decree.
00:14:55.75\00:14:59.36
It was given in the year 445 BC.
00:14:59.66\00:15:03.86
And most evangelical scholars
today believe that this is the
00:15:04.06\00:15:07.92
decree that marks the beginning
of the 70 week prophecy.
00:15:07.95\00:15:11.45
I disagree with this.
00:15:11.79\00:15:13.72
Because the year 445 is
really not a new decree at all.
00:15:13.75\00:15:19.60
You see, basically what happened
is that after Artaxerxes
00:15:19.93\00:15:24.24
gave his decree to
restore and build Jerusalem,
00:15:24.27\00:15:27.63
evil reports came from the
people that lived in Judah.
00:15:28.32\00:15:32.39
And they said, they
wrote a letter to the king
00:15:32.61\00:15:34.85
and they said, "King, the
Jews are rebuilding the city,
00:15:34.88\00:15:38.27
and they're rebuilding the wall.
00:15:38.30\00:15:39.97
And these are a
rebellious people.
00:15:40.00\00:15:42.43
They have a bad history.
00:15:42.46\00:15:44.22
And therefore, if you
allow them to continue building,
00:15:44.25\00:15:47.26
they're going to cause
you all sorts of problems."
00:15:47.47\00:15:49.87
And so the Bible tells us
that Artaxerxes put his decree
00:15:50.07\00:15:56.12
on hold until he could
investigate the situation.
00:15:56.15\00:16:00.56
And in the year 445...
00:16:00.94\00:16:02.85
And by the way, in the handout
that you have in your hands,
00:16:02.88\00:16:05.16
you have all of the text.
00:16:05.19\00:16:06.23
You can check this out.
00:16:06.26\00:16:07.45
What Artaxerxes did
after he checked out all of the
00:16:08.57\00:16:12.05
information, he
renewed the decree to restore
00:16:12.08\00:16:16.62
and to build
Jerusalem in the year 445 BC.
00:16:16.65\00:16:21.45
So this one does not fit.
00:16:21.73\00:16:24.01
Now let's read the
decree that does fit.
00:16:24.46\00:16:27.72
It's the decree that is
mentioned in Ezra chapter 7.
00:16:28.17\00:16:33.00
Go with me to chapter 7 of
Ezra and you're going to find
00:16:33.31\00:16:37.56
the words of
Artaxerxes the First.
00:16:37.59\00:16:41.80
And there's a very
interesting little detail here.
00:16:42.18\00:16:46.00
Here, Artaxerxes is
speaking and he says...
00:16:46.90\00:16:49.48
"I issue a decree..."
00:16:49.58\00:16:52.95
That word, "decree," is
the identical word that is used
00:16:54.63\00:16:59.73
in Daniel 9:25,
the word, "command,"
00:16:59.76\00:17:03.71
to restore and build Jerusalem.
00:17:03.74\00:17:05.84
It's the identical
Hebrew word, "dabar."
00:17:05.87\00:17:09.02
So would we suspect
that this might be the decree
00:17:10.35\00:17:13.03
if it's the same word,
"command," that you find
00:17:13.06\00:17:15.37
in Daniel 9 verse 25?
00:17:15.40\00:17:17.14
Absolutely.
00:17:17.46\00:17:18.51
And so Artaxerxes
says, "I issue a decree..."
00:17:18.86\00:17:22.91
He's saying to Ezra, "Anyone
who wants to go to Jerusalem
00:17:34.68\00:17:38.32
to restore and to
build can now go."
00:17:38.63\00:17:42.52
Now the question is,
why do we take this decree
00:17:42.90\00:17:46.16
of Artaxerxes in 457 BC as the
decree that begins the 70 weeks?
00:17:46.19\00:17:52.56
There are three reasons.
00:17:52.92\00:17:55.22
The first reason is the
one that I already mentioned.
00:17:55.74\00:17:58.37
The word, "dabar," which
is translated, "command,"
00:17:58.85\00:18:02.33
in Daniel 9:25, is the very word
that is used in Ezra 7 verse 13
00:18:02.36\00:18:08.04
where the king
says, "I make a decree."
00:18:08.07\00:18:12.28
Same word.
00:18:12.31\00:18:13.55
There's a second reason.
00:18:13.91\00:18:15.25
None of the three other
decrees would fit the chronology
00:18:15.89\00:18:20.72
of the Messiah.
00:18:21.06\00:18:22.27
Let's take a look at them.
00:18:22.73\00:18:23.91
Let's suppose that we began
the 70 weeks in the year 536 BC.
00:18:23.94\00:18:28.98
You go 70 weeks of years
later, which is 490 years.
00:18:29.62\00:18:33.99
What date would you end up?
00:18:34.25\00:18:35.83
You would end up
in the year 46 BC.
00:18:35.86\00:18:39.17
Could that be
fulfilled with the Messiah?
00:18:40.73\00:18:42.65
Absolutely not.
00:18:43.14\00:18:44.45
Well let's take the second
decree, the decree of Darius,
00:18:44.67\00:18:47.68
Darius the Persian, and
see whether that one fits.
00:18:47.71\00:18:51.29
You go from the year
520, 490 years forward.
00:18:51.46\00:18:56.64
Where would that take you?
00:18:57.72\00:18:59.17
It takes you to the year 30 BC.
00:18:59.51\00:19:02.74
Jesus hadn't even been
born in the year 30 BC.
00:19:03.40\00:19:06.79
But let's take the one that
was given in the year 445 BC,
00:19:07.47\00:19:13.68
the renewal of the
decree by Artaxerxes.
00:19:13.96\00:19:17.78
If you go from 445 BC forward,
it takes you to the year 45 AD.
00:19:18.27\00:19:25.74
The problem is, Jesus Christ
was crucified in the year 31 AD.
00:19:25.77\00:19:31.45
And so taking this
decree, it would be too late.
00:19:31.89\00:19:35.08
Every scholar agrees
that it would be too late.
00:19:35.11\00:19:37.49
And so the first two
decrees would be too early.
00:19:38.02\00:19:41.60
And the last
decree would be too late.
00:19:41.80\00:19:44.29
How many decrees
does that leave us?
00:19:44.78\00:19:46.87
It only leaves us one decree.
00:19:47.07\00:19:50.15
Now there's a third reason.
00:19:51.20\00:19:52.54
And this is the
most important reason.
00:19:52.57\00:19:54.21
And that is that the decree
of Artaxerxes in the year 457
00:19:54.24\00:19:59.13
is the only one that not
only gives permission to build,
00:19:59.16\00:20:02.95
but it also gives the
authorization to restore
00:20:02.98\00:20:07.04
the political
structure of Hebrew society.
00:20:07.07\00:20:11.13
Notice once again Ezra
chapter 7 and verse 12.
00:20:11.45\00:20:15.95
"Artaxerxes, king of kings..."
00:20:16.52\00:20:19.64
Verse 13, "I issue a decree..."
00:20:28.79\00:20:32.35
What were they
going to consult about?
00:20:52.20\00:20:53.96
With regard to what?
00:20:53.99\00:20:55.75
In other words, was Artaxerxes
saying that you can re-establish
00:21:00.12\00:21:04.25
society in harmony
with the Law of God?
00:21:04.28\00:21:06.88
Absolutely.
00:21:06.91\00:21:07.96
But now let's go
down to verses 25 and 26
00:21:08.22\00:21:11.50
where the re-establishment
of the civil order of Israel
00:21:11.87\00:21:15.55
is clearly mentioned.
00:21:15.58\00:21:17.70
Chapter 7 and verses 25 and 26.
00:21:18.00\00:21:21.19
It says, "And you, Ezra..."
00:21:21.22\00:21:23.36
Interesting, would that have
to do with restoring the city?
00:21:29.77\00:21:32.71
Absolutely.
00:21:33.13\00:21:34.17
Is he authorizing to
re-establish the civil order
00:21:38.16\00:21:41.73
as well as building the city?
00:21:41.76\00:21:43.63
Absolutely.
00:21:43.66\00:21:44.69
That had been taken
away by Nebuchadnezzar.
00:21:44.72\00:21:46.80
In fact, Nebuchadnezzar
had taken away the sovereignty
00:21:46.83\00:21:51.55
of Israel 19 years
before the city was destroyed.
00:21:51.58\00:21:54.23
It was actually
withdrawn in 605.
00:21:54.71\00:21:57.28
The city was
destroyed in the year 586.
00:21:57.31\00:21:59.75
So it says, "And, you
Ezra, according to your
00:21:59.98\00:22:02.47
God given wisdom, set
magistrates and judges
00:22:02.50\00:22:05.96
who may judge all the people...
00:22:05.99\00:22:07.56
By whose laws is this
area going to be governed now?
00:22:14.59\00:22:17.99
By the laws of God.
00:22:18.38\00:22:19.61
The theocracy is
being re-established.
00:22:19.64\00:22:22.08
And notice...
00:22:22.11\00:22:23.14
Punitive measures could
be taken against anyone who
00:22:27.51\00:22:30.41
did not obey these laws.
00:22:30.44\00:22:31.81
Because it says...
00:22:31.84\00:22:32.87
Is Artaxerxes authorizing the
civil order to be re-established
00:22:48.28\00:22:52.89
once again according to
the laws of the God of Israel?
00:22:52.92\00:22:57.27
Absolutely.
00:22:57.30\00:22:58.33
It is the only decree
that fits with the criteria,
00:22:58.36\00:23:02.87
both chronologically and with
the duties and the work that
00:23:02.90\00:23:08.47
needed to be performed to
restore and to build Jerusalem.
00:23:08.50\00:23:13.85
Now somebody might be asking,
"Pastor Bohr, how accurate
00:23:14.11\00:23:18.45
is the date 457 as the date
for this decree of Artaxerxes?"
00:23:18.48\00:23:24.54
The fact is, the Bible
says that this was given in the
00:23:24.90\00:23:27.22
seventh year of the
reign of Artaxerxes.
00:23:27.25\00:23:31.23
This date is one of the
most firmly established dates
00:23:31.43\00:23:35.65
of antiquity.
00:23:36.17\00:23:37.41
In fact, there was a book
written several years ago.
00:23:37.44\00:23:40.45
It's called, The
Chronology of Ezra 7,
00:23:40.48\00:23:43.63
by Siegfried
Horn, an archaeologist,
00:23:43.66\00:23:45.88
and by Kenneth Wood.
00:23:45.91\00:23:47.34
And in this book, which
unfortunately it's out of print,
00:23:47.63\00:23:51.09
they draw on historical,
biblical, archaeological,
00:23:51.36\00:23:55.81
and astronomical data to
prove, shadow of a doubt,
00:23:55.84\00:24:00.13
that 457, the fall of 457,
was the date when Artaxerxes
00:24:00.33\00:24:07.04
gave his decree to
restore and to build Jerusalem.
00:24:07.07\00:24:11.89
This date is set in history.
00:24:11.92\00:24:15.29
It is a certain date.
00:24:15.32\00:24:16.74
So we can know that the 70
week prophecy begins in the fall
00:24:16.77\00:24:22.13
of the year 457.
00:24:22.16\00:24:23.97
In a moment, you're
going to see the reason why
00:24:24.00\00:24:25.86
we know it was in the fall,
00:24:25.89\00:24:27.84
in our study of the
prophecy of the 70 weeks.
00:24:28.54\00:24:31.26
It says there in
Daniel chapter 9 and verse 25,
00:24:31.55\00:24:34.93
"From the going forth
of the command to restore
00:24:34.96\00:24:37.80
and to build
Jerusalem..." Until when?
00:24:37.83\00:24:40.77
Now the question is, why didn't
Gabriel just say 69 weeks?
00:24:50.71\00:24:57.45
Why does he divide this period
into 7 weeks and 62 weeks?
00:24:58.59\00:25:03.99
Which we know are what?
00:25:04.02\00:25:05.68
69 weeks.
00:25:05.83\00:25:07.23
He could have said 69.
00:25:07.26\00:25:08.98
The reason why is because
he actually is going state
00:25:09.26\00:25:13.78
that the first 7
weeks, 49 years, have to do
00:25:13.81\00:25:18.15
with the restoring
and the building of what?
00:25:18.18\00:25:21.09
Of Jerusalem.
00:25:21.63\00:25:22.93
In fact, let's notice what
we find in Daniel chapter 9
00:25:23.13\00:25:29.19
and verse 25, "Until Messiah
the Prince, there shall be
00:25:29.22\00:25:32.91
seven weeks and
sixty-two weeks."
00:25:32.94\00:25:35.83
Now notice, the last part of
verse 25 says, "The street..."
00:25:35.86\00:25:40.96
The street of what?
00:25:41.33\00:25:42.67
Of Jerusalem.
00:25:43.12\00:25:44.30
And by the way,
that's a mistranslation.
00:25:44.33\00:25:45.74
I won't get into that because
that's another half an hour.
00:25:45.77\00:25:48.75
"...and the wall..."
Also a mistranslation.
00:25:52.16\00:25:54.85
Very clearly a mistranslation.
00:25:54.88\00:25:56.67
So during those 7 weeks,
or 49 years, the restoring
00:26:00.23\00:26:05.48
and the building of Jerusalem
was going to be done, how?
00:26:05.51\00:26:09.30
In very troublesome, what?
00:26:09.33\00:26:11.96
In very troublesome times.
00:26:12.31\00:26:13.61
And if you read the book of
Ezra, you will find all sorts of
00:26:13.64\00:26:18.24
opposition to the rebuilding
and restoring of Jerusalem.
00:26:18.27\00:26:21.73
Those who had stayed back in
the land fought tooth and nail
00:26:21.76\00:26:25.04
so that it wouldn't happen.
00:26:25.07\00:26:26.33
They certainly
were troublous times.
00:26:26.53\00:26:29.58
But now notice that it says that
from the going forth of the word
00:26:29.92\00:26:35.17
"to restore and build Jerusalem
until Messiah the Prince,
00:26:35.20\00:26:38.39
there shall be seven
weeks," which has to do with
00:26:38.59\00:26:40.80
the re-establishment
of the civil order
00:26:41.00\00:26:43.77
and religious order of Israel.
00:26:43.80\00:26:45.37
And after 62
weeks, you come to whom?
00:26:45.71\00:26:49.04
You come to the
arrival of the Messiah.
00:26:49.58\00:26:53.72
Now the question is, what
does the word, "Messiah," mean?
00:26:54.89\00:26:59.38
The Hebrew word,
"Mashiyach," means, anointed.
00:26:59.73\00:27:05.38
It means, anointed.
00:27:06.05\00:27:07.78
And so we need to
find out what was the act
00:27:09.03\00:27:12.42
that anointed Jesus Christ?
00:27:12.45\00:27:15.29
Now you notice that it says,
"Until Messiah the Prince."
00:27:15.64\00:27:19.31
Right?
00:27:19.34\00:27:20.37
So He has two
names; He's called Messiah,
00:27:20.40\00:27:22.71
and He's called what?
00:27:23.01\00:27:24.40
The Prince.
00:27:24.43\00:27:25.46
There's no doubt whatsoever
that the Prince is Jesus Christ.
00:27:26.02\00:27:29.45
He's called by different
names in the book of Daniel.
00:27:29.48\00:27:31.77
He's called, the
Prince of the host.
00:27:31.97\00:27:33.60
We've already studied that.
00:27:33.63\00:27:34.94
He's called, the
Prince of the covenant.
00:27:34.97\00:27:37.47
He's called,
Michael the great Prince.
00:27:37.50\00:27:40.79
And in Daniel 8, He's
called, the Prince of princes.
00:27:40.82\00:27:44.32
Do you know
something very interesting?
00:27:45.01\00:27:46.71
In the prophetic chapters
of Daniel, excluding the
00:27:47.27\00:27:51.27
historical chapters where
it talks about the princes
00:27:51.30\00:27:53.89
that serve Nebuchadnezzar,
but in the prophetic chapters
00:27:53.92\00:27:57.07
of Daniel, every single
time that the word, "prince,"
00:27:57.10\00:28:00.93
appears, it
applies to Jesus Christ.
00:28:00.96\00:28:04.31
There is no
exception to the rule.
00:28:04.34\00:28:06.44
In other words, this
prince is none other than whom?
00:28:06.47\00:28:09.84
Than Jesus Christ.
00:28:10.01\00:28:11.21
In fact, Isaiah also
called Him, the Prince of peace.
00:28:11.41\00:28:15.75
And Peter, in the
early chapters of Acts,
00:28:16.08\00:28:19.62
called Jesus,
"the Prince," twice.
00:28:20.05\00:28:23.22
So there's no doubt
whatsoever about who this
00:28:23.25\00:28:26.55
Messiah the Prince is.
00:28:26.65\00:28:28.57
Now the question is, the
word, "Messiah," means anointed.
00:28:28.60\00:28:32.51
When was Jesus anointed?
00:28:32.54\00:28:36.22
Well let's go to John
chapter 1 and verse 32.
00:28:36.49\00:28:39.68
John chapter 1 and verse 32.
00:28:39.71\00:28:43.06
Here, it's speaking
about the baptism of Jesus,
00:28:44.04\00:28:47.89
which marks the
beginning of His ministry.
00:28:48.09\00:28:50.90
John 1 and verse 32.
00:28:51.87\00:28:54.36
Is this referring to the baptism
of Jesus where the Holy Spirit
00:29:07.15\00:29:10.03
fell upon Jesus?
00:29:10.06\00:29:11.25
Absolutely.
00:29:11.28\00:29:12.31
Now I want us to
go down to verse 41,
00:29:12.49\00:29:15.78
just a few verses after this.
00:29:15.81\00:29:17.91
Andrew speaks to his brother
Peter, and I want you to notice
00:29:18.21\00:29:22.44
what Andrew says to Peter.
00:29:22.47\00:29:24.29
This is immediately after it
speaks about the Holy Spirit,
00:29:24.54\00:29:28.65
John speaking about the Holy
Spirit descending upon Christ.
00:29:28.88\00:29:32.09
It says in verse 40, "One of
the two who heard John speak,
00:29:32.47\00:29:36.65
and followed Him, was
Andrew, Simon Peter's brother.
00:29:36.93\00:29:40.65
He first found his
own brother Simon..."
00:29:40.87\00:29:43.51
Interesting.
00:29:48.22\00:29:49.49
The same word.
00:29:49.66\00:29:50.80
Right after the
baptism of Jesus,
00:29:50.83\00:29:52.96
"We have found the Messiah."
00:29:52.99\00:29:55.05
And now listen to
what it continues saying.
00:29:56.11\00:29:57.99
You see, in Greek the
word, "Christ," is exactly
00:30:03.73\00:30:06.57
equivalent to "Messiah."
00:30:06.60\00:30:08.14
Have you ever heard
the word, "christened?"
00:30:08.32\00:30:10.68
It comes from, christ-ened.
00:30:11.29\00:30:13.15
It means, to anoint. Doesn't it.
00:30:13.47\00:30:15.93
So "Christ" means the same
as "Messiah;" the anointing.
00:30:16.11\00:30:21.25
Immediately after the
baptism of Jesus, we find
00:30:21.41\00:30:25.32
Andrew saying to Peter, "We
have found the anointed One."
00:30:25.35\00:30:31.00
Now notice Luke 4 and verse 14.
00:30:31.58\00:30:34.80
We're still talking
about, "Messiah the Prince."
00:30:34.83\00:30:37.96
Luke 4 and verse
14. It says here...
00:30:37.99\00:30:41.81
How did He return
to Galilee? In what?
00:30:45.94\00:30:48.15
In the power of the
Spirit, He returned to Galilee.
00:30:48.57\00:30:51.40
Now what comes
immediately before this text?
00:30:56.74\00:31:00.25
If you look in Luke 3, it
describes the baptism of Jesus.
00:31:00.57\00:31:04.90
Then chapter 4
verses 1 through 11 describe
00:31:05.14\00:31:09.24
the temptations of Jesus.
00:31:09.27\00:31:11.40
And then the last
part of chapter 4 describes
00:31:11.76\00:31:15.81
the beginning of the public
ministry of Jesus in Galilee.
00:31:15.84\00:31:20.11
And it says, after His
baptism, after the temptations,
00:31:20.28\00:31:24.96
when He begins His ministry,
it tells us that He returned
00:31:24.99\00:31:28.60
in the power of
the Spirit to Galilee.
00:31:28.63\00:31:31.81
Now notice with what
words Jesus began His ministry.
00:31:32.05\00:31:35.67
It's in the
synagogue in Nazareth.
00:31:37.24\00:31:39.45
Notice Luke chapter
4 and verses 18 and 19.
00:31:39.79\00:31:44.07
Here, Jesus says, "The
Spirit of the Lord is..." What?
00:31:44.32\00:31:48.66
"...is upon Me,
because He has..." What?
00:31:49.00\00:31:52.14
When did Jesus
receive the Holy Spirit?
00:31:52.75\00:31:55.10
When He was what? Baptized.
00:31:55.72\00:31:58.05
So it says, "The Spirit
of the Lord is upon Me...
00:31:58.31\00:32:01.07
So when was Jesus
anointed as the Messiah?
00:32:16.66\00:32:19.89
He was anointed
as the Messiah when
00:32:20.49\00:32:22.37
He received the Holy Spirit.
00:32:22.40\00:32:23.56
And when did that take place?
00:32:23.62\00:32:25.36
At His baptism.
00:32:25.56\00:32:27.07
If anybody has any doubt,
let's read Acts chapter 10
00:32:27.26\00:32:30.96
and verses 36 to 38.
00:32:30.99\00:32:33.60
Acts chapter 10
and verses 36 to 38.
00:32:33.63\00:32:37.62
There's the key word.
00:33:01.88\00:33:02.91
When was Jesus anointed with
the Holy Spirit and with power?
00:33:09.43\00:33:13.24
At the moment of His what?
00:33:13.27\00:33:14.74
Of His baptism.
00:33:14.84\00:33:16.17
And so it says here in
verse 37, "That word you know,
00:33:16.33\00:33:20.39
which was proclaimed throughout
all Judea, and began from
00:33:20.42\00:33:23.15
Galilee after the
baptism which John preached..."
00:33:23.18\00:33:25.53
So when is the moment that
the 69 weeks come to an end?
00:33:36.33\00:33:42.06
It's when Jesus becomes what?
00:33:43.06\00:33:45.59
The anointed One.
00:33:45.62\00:33:47.58
And that refers to His what?
00:33:47.61\00:33:49.74
To His baptism.
00:33:49.98\00:33:51.67
Now do we have a date
for the baptism of Christ?
00:33:51.98\00:33:54.83
We sure do.
00:33:55.03\00:33:56.06
Luke chapter 3
and verses 1 and 2.
00:33:56.24\00:33:59.73
This date refers
to the year 27 AD.
00:34:00.19\00:34:04.29
Now I want you to
notice, it gives us
00:34:04.55\00:34:06.75
several historical markers.
00:34:06.78\00:34:08.42
I think God wants us
to know when this date is.
00:34:08.45\00:34:11.34
Because notice all
the historical markers
00:34:12.91\00:34:15.06
that God gives.
00:34:15.09\00:34:16.29
Luke 3:1-2
00:34:16.46\00:34:18.59
We know that this
is the year 27 AD.
00:34:24.73\00:34:28.39
Does God gives us all kinds
of historical markers here?
00:34:47.62\00:34:50.21
He most certainly does.
00:34:50.24\00:34:51.44
And then Jesus is baptized.
00:34:55.53\00:34:57.59
This is the year 27 AD
when Jesus begins His ministry.
00:34:57.90\00:35:02.55
Now let me ask you,
to whom did Jesus preach?
00:35:02.58\00:35:05.64
Jesus went all over
the world and preached
00:35:07.72\00:35:09.61
to the Gentiles, didn't He?
00:35:09.64\00:35:11.09
Who did He preach to only?
00:35:12.71\00:35:14.26
To the Jews. Why?
00:35:14.91\00:35:16.06
Because the prophecy
of the 70 weeks says,
00:35:16.69\00:35:18.69
"Seventy weeks are determined
for your city and your people."
00:35:18.89\00:35:21.84
So Jesus had to
preach to the Jews
00:35:22.58\00:35:24.57
until this time was finished.
00:35:24.60\00:35:25.81
Are you with me?
00:35:25.84\00:35:26.90
Notice what we
find in Matthew 10:5-6.
00:35:27.10\00:35:30.66
It's explicit.
00:35:30.69\00:35:32.07
Matthew 10 verses 5 and 6.
00:35:32.10\00:35:35.51
When the 70 weeks
ended, is that when the gospel
00:35:45.19\00:35:47.40
was suppose to go to
the Gentiles, according to
00:35:47.43\00:35:49.22
what we studied this morning?
00:35:49.25\00:35:50.57
When at last he sent his
son, and they rejected the son?
00:35:50.87\00:35:55.50
Is that when the gospel was
going to go to the Gentiles?
00:35:55.73\00:35:58.27
"The kingdom taken from
you and given to a nation
00:35:58.30\00:36:01.39
that produces
the fruits thereof."
00:36:01.42\00:36:03.05
Yes.
00:36:03.08\00:36:04.18
But at this point, the
70 weeks had not ended.
00:36:04.28\00:36:08.20
So what is the focus
of the ministry of Jesus?
00:36:08.23\00:36:10.67
It says...
00:36:10.83\00:36:11.86
Because the 70
weeks were not up.
00:36:24.12\00:36:27.00
And the 70 weeks
were for the city
00:36:27.03\00:36:29.20
and for the people of Daniel.
00:36:29.23\00:36:31.01
Are you with me?
00:36:31.04\00:36:32.07
How the Bible
harmonizes all these things
00:36:32.62\00:36:35.10
is simply marvelous.
00:36:35.13\00:36:36.87
Now let's go on in our study.
00:36:37.53\00:36:39.08
It says in the prophecy of the
70 weeks, Daniel 9 verse 26...
00:36:39.11\00:36:43.68
"And after the
sixty-two weeks..."
00:36:43.71\00:36:45.86
Notice it doesn't
specify when after.
00:36:45.89\00:36:48.58
It simple says, "After
the sixty-two weeks..."
00:36:48.78\00:36:51.20
At some point.
00:36:51.23\00:36:52.75
Now let's go to Isaiah
53 and verse 5 to see if
00:36:59.11\00:37:01.75
this is an accurate statement.
00:37:01.78\00:37:03.34
Isaiah 53 and verse 5.
00:37:03.37\00:37:05.42
Did Jesus die for Himself?
00:37:05.45\00:37:07.45
No, He didn't die for Himself.
00:37:08.52\00:37:10.13
Notice Isaiah 53 and verse 5.
00:37:10.42\00:37:12.79
It says here...
00:37:13.09\00:37:14.12
So the suffering and death
of Jesus, was it for Himself?
00:37:30.71\00:37:34.70
No, it was for us.
00:37:35.11\00:37:37.03
Now what does the
expression, "cut off," mean?
00:37:37.54\00:37:40.51
It says, "The Messiah shall be
cut off, but not for Himself."
00:37:40.54\00:37:43.50
We notice what
Jesus did, He did for us.
00:37:43.53\00:37:45.74
But what does, "cut off," mean?
00:37:45.89\00:37:47.73
Well Isaiah 53, which is
that great Messianic prophecy,
00:37:48.21\00:37:51.56
verse 8 tells us
what it means to cut off.
00:37:51.59\00:37:54.91
Speaking about the
Messiah, it says...
00:37:55.26\00:37:57.29
Interesting.
00:38:06.15\00:38:07.80
Does that mean that He died?
00:38:13.28\00:38:14.88
Does "cut off"
mean that He died?
00:38:14.91\00:38:16.81
Yes.
00:38:17.73\00:38:18.76
He was cut off from
the land of the what?
00:38:18.79\00:38:21.25
Of the living.
00:38:21.45\00:38:22.60
Did He do it for Himself?
00:38:22.63\00:38:24.11
No.
00:38:24.14\00:38:25.17
Because it continues saying...
00:38:25.20\00:38:26.52
Did Jesus do this for Himself?
00:38:33.20\00:38:34.76
No.
00:38:35.25\00:38:36.31
Was He cut off or did He die?
00:38:36.34\00:38:38.09
He most certainly did.
00:38:38.29\00:38:39.37
Who fulfills this
specification where it says
00:38:39.47\00:38:43.28
that after 62 weeks, the
Messiah would be cut off.
00:38:43.31\00:38:47.25
That is, He would be killed.
00:38:47.28\00:38:48.75
But not, what?
00:38:48.78\00:38:50.51
But not for
Himself, but for others.
00:38:50.54\00:38:52.85
There's only one.
00:38:52.88\00:38:53.92
It has to be Jesus Christ.
00:38:54.12\00:38:55.76
Because the
Messianic prophecy of Isaiah 53
00:38:55.79\00:38:58.38
is in perfect harmony with the
prophecy of Daniel chapter 9.
00:38:58.41\00:39:02.30
Now let's go on
to the next phrase.
00:39:02.78\00:39:04.91
It says in Daniel 9 verse
26, after speaking about the
00:39:05.25\00:39:09.83
cutting off of Messiah
the Prince, not for Himself,
00:39:09.86\00:39:15.74
after His death, it
says, listen carefully,
00:39:16.14\00:39:19.80
"And the people
of the prince..."
00:39:20.00\00:39:22.00
Who do you think this prince is?
00:39:22.31\00:39:24.06
Is there any change between
the previous phrase and this one
00:39:25.32\00:39:28.68
to indicate that this
is a different prince?
00:39:28.71\00:39:30.87
Evangelical scholars today say
that this the antichrist prince.
00:39:31.39\00:39:35.66
There's no evidence in
the sequence of this prophecy
00:39:35.87\00:39:38.39
that this is some kind
of antichrist prince who is
00:39:38.42\00:39:41.07
going to rise in the future.
00:39:41.10\00:39:42.55
Notice it says, "And
the people of the prince..."
00:39:43.04\00:39:46.42
Question, was Jerusalem
going to be destroyed again?
00:39:53.88\00:39:57.04
This is interesting.
00:39:57.72\00:39:59.05
Because God had told Daniel,
00:39:59.15\00:40:00.66
"You know, Jerusalem
is going to be..." What?
00:40:01.22\00:40:03.54
Restored and what? Built.
00:40:03.71\00:40:06.83
But then after 69
weeks, the Messiah,
00:40:06.86\00:40:09.10
the anointed One,
was going to come.
00:40:09.13\00:40:10.48
And after it at some
point, after the 69 weeks,
00:40:10.86\00:40:13.67
the Messiah is
going to be cut off.
00:40:13.70\00:40:16.10
And He's not
cut off for Himself.
00:40:16.13\00:40:18.71
And then he says the
Sanctuary and the city
00:40:19.18\00:40:22.26
are going to be destroyed again.
00:40:22.29\00:40:25.67
Are you following me or not?
00:40:26.10\00:40:27.47
They're going to
be destroyed again.
00:40:27.71\00:40:29.31
Now, does the
cutting off of the Messiah
00:40:30.60\00:40:33.08
have anything to do with
the destruction of the city?
00:40:33.11\00:40:35.30
It most certainly does.
00:40:35.86\00:40:37.08
Messiah is cut
off, not for Himself.
00:40:37.29\00:40:39.38
And then it speaks about what?
00:40:39.41\00:40:40.97
It speaks about the
destruction of the city.
00:40:41.00\00:40:44.17
And it continues saying,
once again, "And the people of
00:40:44.37\00:40:48.06
the prince who is
to come shall destroy
00:40:48.09\00:40:50.35
the city and the Sanctuary.
00:40:50.38\00:40:51.90
The end of it," that is of
the city and the Sanctuary,
00:40:51.95\00:40:54.66
"shall be with
a..." What? "...a flood."
00:40:54.69\00:40:57.18
In Scripture invasions of armies
are represented by the flood.
00:40:57.47\00:41:02.40
For example, read Isaiah 8:7-8.
00:41:02.43\00:41:04.52
It's not on your list, but
you might want to write it down.
00:41:04.55\00:41:07.02
Isaiah 8 verses 7 and 8.
00:41:07.05\00:41:09.02
And then it continues saying,
"Till the end of the war..."
00:41:09.25\00:41:13.02
Here comes the key word.
00:41:13.30\00:41:14.43
What's the key word?
00:41:14.46\00:41:15.60
Desolations.
Don't forget that word.
00:41:15.90\00:41:18.17
"...desolations are..." What?
00:41:18.27\00:41:20.63
"...are determined."
00:41:20.87\00:41:22.60
Now we need to
interpret who this prince is.
00:41:22.88\00:41:25.35
There are three views
concerning the prince.
00:41:25.52\00:41:27.97
The first view
is the traditional
00:41:28.54\00:41:30.55
Seventh-day
Adventist view of the prince.
00:41:30.58\00:41:32.68
Basically, the idea is
that the prince is Titus.
00:41:33.09\00:41:36.84
And the people of the
prince are the Roman armies.
00:41:37.71\00:41:42.04
That's the
traditional point of view.
00:41:42.28\00:41:44.75
A second view is that the
prince is a nasty antichrist
00:41:45.70\00:41:50.05
that is going to arise
in the future after the
00:41:50.31\00:41:53.15
rapture of the church.
00:41:53.18\00:41:54.90
That does not fit at
all, as we're going to study
00:41:55.16\00:41:58.05
along the 70 weeks.
00:41:58.08\00:41:59.54
The third view is
the one that I espouse.
00:41:59.93\00:42:02.85
And that is that
the prince is Jesus.
00:42:03.05\00:42:06.13
And the people of
the prince are the Jews.
00:42:06.33\00:42:10.21
And you say,
"Pastor, that doesn't fit."
00:42:10.77\00:42:12.78
Well let's examine it
to see if it does fit.
00:42:12.81\00:42:15.57
First of all, let's
talk about view number one.
00:42:16.12\00:42:18.34
Listen carefully.
00:42:18.91\00:42:19.96
View number one is
that the prince is Titus,
00:42:20.54\00:42:23.74
and the people of the
prince are the Roman armies.
00:42:23.77\00:42:26.28
This view is not sustainable.
00:42:26.96\00:42:29.35
And you say, "Why
is it not sustainable?"
00:42:29.38\00:42:31.60
For the simple reason that
in verse 27, we are told that
00:42:32.19\00:42:36.40
this prince
would do three things.
00:42:36.43\00:42:38.70
What would he do?
00:42:40.42\00:42:41.59
First of all, he
would confirm the covenant
00:42:42.07\00:42:44.14
with many for one week.
00:42:44.17\00:42:45.80
Did Titus do that?
00:42:46.37\00:42:47.83
Did Titus confirm a covenant
with Israel for the last week?
00:42:48.41\00:42:51.67
No, he lived in the year 70.
00:42:51.70\00:42:53.86
Secondly, in the midst of
the last week, he would cause
00:42:54.26\00:42:57.46
the sacrifice and
oblations to cease.
00:42:57.49\00:42:59.33
Did Titus do that?
00:42:59.36\00:43:00.49
He did cause the
sacrifice and oblation to cease,
00:43:00.52\00:43:02.95
but in the year 70.
00:43:02.98\00:43:04.01
Not in the
middle of the last week.
00:43:04.04\00:43:05.64
And then finally, he
would make Jerusalem desolate.
00:43:07.18\00:43:10.03
That's the only one that fits.
00:43:10.06\00:43:11.57
Are you understanding me?
00:43:12.23\00:43:13.62
And so Titus does not fit.
00:43:13.90\00:43:16.30
Because the people of the prince
would actually be those...
00:43:17.12\00:43:22.02
Or the prince of
the people, rather.
00:43:22.38\00:43:24.11
...would confirm
the covenant for a week.
00:43:24.14\00:43:26.13
In the midst of the last week
he would cause the sacrifice
00:43:26.50\00:43:29.39
and oblation to cease.
00:43:29.42\00:43:30.57
And in the third place
his death would lead to the
00:43:30.67\00:43:35.05
desolation of Jerusalem.
00:43:35.08\00:43:36.60
Now the question is, who
is this prince and who are the
00:43:37.84\00:43:42.80
people of the prince?
00:43:42.83\00:43:44.13
You're saying, "Pastor
Bohr, you're a little bit crazy.
00:43:44.16\00:43:47.57
You're saying that the
Jews destroyed their city?
00:43:48.38\00:43:51.08
The people of the
prince destroyed Jerusalem?"
00:43:51.29\00:43:54.32
That's exactly what I'm saying.
00:43:54.54\00:43:56.35
Let me talk, first of all,
to provide you with an analogy.
00:43:57.07\00:44:00.16
What happened with the
first destruction of Jerusalem?
00:44:01.65\00:44:04.72
Let me ask you, who destroyed
Jerusalem the first time?
00:44:04.75\00:44:07.48
There's three
explanations given in the Bible.
00:44:10.32\00:44:12.95
And I'm going to give
you only the references.
00:44:12.98\00:44:14.46
They're probably on your list.
00:44:14.49\00:44:16.07
Daniel 9 verse 14, I'll quote.
00:44:16.28\00:44:18.78
It says, "The Lord
brought this disaster upon us."
00:44:18.81\00:44:22.68
So who caused the first
destruction of Jerusalem?
00:44:23.83\00:44:26.00
The Lord.
00:44:26.52\00:44:27.55
2 Chronicles 36 verses
17 to 20 says that God used
00:44:28.00\00:44:36.36
Nebuchadnezzar to
destroy the city of Jerusalem.
00:44:36.92\00:44:41.23
It says in fact, He
brought against them
00:44:41.26\00:44:43.82
the King of the Chaldeans.
00:44:43.85\00:44:45.57
And Daniel 9:11 and verses
14 and 15 says very clearly
00:44:45.90\00:44:51.40
that it was Israel's
sins that brought the
00:44:51.70\00:44:54.33
destruction of Jerusalem.
00:44:54.36\00:44:55.44
So the question is,
who destroyed Jerusalem?
00:44:55.47\00:44:57.37
Was it God, was
it Nebuchadnezzar,
00:44:57.40\00:44:59.25
or was it the people?
00:44:59.28\00:45:00.56
All of the above?
00:45:02.18\00:45:03.99
You see, the people,
the rebellion of the people
00:45:04.88\00:45:07.69
led God to use Nebuchadnezzar
00:45:08.25\00:45:12.77
to punish the
people for their rebellion.
00:45:12.97\00:45:14.64
Are you understanding me or not?
00:45:14.67\00:45:16.02
In fact, the Bible says this.
00:45:16.50\00:45:18.46
Notice what Jeremiah
said to King Zedekiah.
00:45:18.76\00:45:22.01
This is in Jeremiah
38 and verses 21 and 23.
00:45:22.04\00:45:27.12
Jeremiah 38
verse 21 and verse 23.
00:45:27.15\00:45:30.47
Jeremiah is saying, "Submit
to the King of Babylon or else."
00:45:31.56\00:45:34.95
Notice...
00:45:34.98\00:45:36.01
He's saying to King Zedekiah.
00:45:39.17\00:45:40.82
Who was going to cause the
city to be burned with fire?
00:45:51.65\00:45:54.06
Zedekiah, the king.
00:45:55.05\00:45:56.92
Why?
00:45:57.41\00:45:58.50
Because he was
not obeying the Lord.
00:45:58.70\00:46:00.30
He was being rebellious
and he was not subjecting
00:46:00.33\00:46:03.56
himself to King Nebuchadnezzar.
00:46:03.59\00:46:05.80
Now let's talk about the
second destruction of Jerusalem.
00:46:06.32\00:46:09.50
Did you notice that each
time that the destruction
00:46:09.89\00:46:13.28
of Jerusalem is addressed in
the prophecy of the 70 weeks,
00:46:13.31\00:46:16.34
there's something that the
Messiah did immediately before?
00:46:16.53\00:46:19.63
He's cut off and
Jerusalem is destroyed.
00:46:20.19\00:46:23.65
Then it says He causes
the sacrifice and the oblation
00:46:24.34\00:46:27.41
to cease, and once
again Jerusalem is destroyed.
00:46:27.44\00:46:31.62
Does the rejection of
the Messiah and the death
00:46:31.97\00:46:35.94
of the Messiah
have anything to do with
00:46:35.97\00:46:38.04
the destruction of Jerusalem?
00:46:38.07\00:46:39.53
Absolutely.
00:46:39.90\00:46:41.10
Go with me to Psalm
118 and verses 22 and 23.
00:46:41.95\00:46:46.02
Psalm 118 verses 22 and 23.
00:46:46.05\00:46:48.73
Psalm 118 is a
Messianic prophecy.
00:46:48.93\00:46:51.44
Notice what it says.
00:46:51.47\00:46:52.81
"The stone which the
builders rejected..."
00:46:53.07\00:46:55.12
You immediately recognize this
as a Messianic prophecy, right?
00:46:55.15\00:46:57.80
"The stone which the
builders rejected..."
00:46:58.46\00:47:00.66
Now to whom does
this prophecy apply?
00:47:07.29\00:47:10.91
Is this referring just
to anyone or is it referring
00:47:11.01\00:47:14.04
to Jesus Christ as the Messiah?
00:47:14.07\00:47:15.73
It's referring to the Messiah.
00:47:15.94\00:47:17.70
Notice Matthew 21 and verse 42.
00:47:18.13\00:47:20.27
Jesus quotes this verse.
00:47:20.30\00:47:21.71
He's saying, "This
psalm belongs to Me."
00:47:21.74\00:47:23.71
Matthew 21 and verse 42.
00:47:24.12\00:47:26.85
To whom does Jesus apply
this prophecy of Psalm 118?
00:47:42.12\00:47:45.75
He applies it to Himself.
00:47:46.05\00:47:48.66
Do you know that a little
bit later on in this Psalm,
00:47:49.29\00:47:54.82
in verse 26, we find a very
interesting verse that was sung,
00:47:54.85\00:48:00.06
listen carefully, it
was sung by those who were
00:48:00.09\00:48:03.61
accompanying Jesus in the
triumphal entry into Jerusalem.
00:48:03.64\00:48:07.34
You see, it says, "The people
of the prince who is..." What?
00:48:07.37\00:48:13.15
"...who is to come..."
00:48:13.85\00:48:15.10
Now, let's notice that
expression, "who is to come."
00:48:15.72\00:48:19.44
Go with me to
Psalm 118 verse 26.
00:48:20.40\00:48:23.18
We've already shown that
this is a Messianic psalm.
00:48:23.21\00:48:25.79
The people were singing what?
00:48:26.78\00:48:29.57
So who is it that comes
in the name of the Lord,
00:48:41.17\00:48:44.02
according to Psalm 118?
00:48:44.05\00:48:45.92
It is none other
than Jesus Christ.
00:48:46.18\00:48:49.21
Now let's go to an
interesting passage that puts
00:48:49.78\00:48:51.98
all of this together.
00:48:52.01\00:48:53.14
Luke 19 and verses 37 to 44.
00:48:53.17\00:48:57.63
And I want you to see
that there are three things
00:48:57.83\00:49:00.17
in this passage,
three key things.
00:49:00.20\00:49:02.74
Luke 19 verses 37 through 44.
00:49:02.77\00:49:07.17
Three main ideas.
00:49:07.20\00:49:08.49
The first idea is that
Jesus comes into Jerusalem
00:49:08.52\00:49:11.88
and the people are singing,
"Blessed is He who comes
00:49:12.22\00:49:14.90
in the name of the Lord."
00:49:14.93\00:49:16.23
This is the
Prince who is to come.
00:49:16.26\00:49:18.41
The second idea is that
Jesus speaks about His rejection
00:49:18.89\00:49:22.88
by the Jewish nation.
00:49:22.91\00:49:24.26
And the third idea is
that Jesus speaks about
00:49:24.50\00:49:27.77
the destruction of Jerusalem.
00:49:27.80\00:49:29.26
Three ideas.
00:49:29.29\00:49:30.34
First idea, Jesus
comes into Jerusalem.
00:49:30.70\00:49:33.24
They sing, "Blessed is He who
comes in the name of the Lord."
00:49:33.27\00:49:36.47
Second idea, Jesus is rejected.
00:49:36.77\00:49:39.66
Third idea, Jesus speaks about
the destruction of Jerusalem.
00:49:39.69\00:49:43.20
Let's read this
passage, Luke 19:37-44.
00:49:43.53\00:49:47.61
Is this the
prince who is to come?
00:50:04.66\00:50:06.85
Absolutely.
00:50:07.37\00:50:08.66
Is Jesus speaking
about His rejection by the
00:50:36.18\00:50:38.60
city of Jerusalem?
00:50:38.63\00:50:39.85
He most certainly is.
00:50:39.88\00:50:41.17
And what is the
result going to be because
00:50:41.20\00:50:43.76
the Jewish
nation has rejected Him?
00:50:43.79\00:50:45.93
Notice what we find in verse 43.
00:50:46.15\00:50:48.37
The destruction is spoken of.
00:50:48.40\00:50:50.05
Who caused the
destruction of Jerusalem?
00:51:16.51\00:51:18.65
Titus?
00:51:20.46\00:51:21.60
Would Titus have
destroyed Jerusalem if the
00:51:21.70\00:51:23.85
people were faithful?
00:51:23.88\00:51:25.26
No.
00:51:25.36\00:51:26.40
Would God have
destroyed Jerusalem if the
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people had been faithful?
00:51:28.66\00:51:30.12
Absolutely not.
00:51:30.15\00:51:31.31
So who brought
destruction upon Jerusalem?
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You know, there's a text in the
Old Testament where God says,
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"Ephraim," or Israel,
"you have destroyed yourself."
00:51:37.98\00:51:43.05
What is it that led to
the destruction of Jerusalem?
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It was the rejection of
the Messiah by the people.
00:51:47.11\00:51:51.34
Now let's review something
that we studied this morning.
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You remember in
Matthew chapter 21
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Jesus arrived in
the temple, right?
00:51:57.74\00:51:59.71
And then you have
the fig tree episode.
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Everything He deals with
after Matthew 21 has to do with
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the history and the
rebellion of the Jewish nation.
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The fig tree
episode that has no fruit.
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Jesus curses the fig tree
and it dries up from the roots.
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And Jesus says,
"You're never going to produce
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fruit ever again."
00:52:16.35\00:52:17.59
And it represents the
Jewish theocracy as a nation.
00:52:17.62\00:52:20.79
It's not saying
that all Jews are lost.
00:52:20.82\00:52:22.60
It's talking about the Jewish
theocracy as God's chosen vessel
00:52:22.63\00:52:26.96
to proclaim the gospel.
00:52:26.99\00:52:28.44
You remember also the
parable of the vineyard workers.
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The three stages there.
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He sends
messengers; they reject them.
00:52:33.93\00:52:36.60
So he sends more messengers;
and they reject them.
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And then he says, "Last of
all, I'm going to send..." What?
00:52:40.21\00:52:43.19
"I'm going to send my son."
00:52:43.42\00:52:44.80
And what did they do?
00:52:44.83\00:52:45.90
They rejected him as well.
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And then Jesus, after
He tells this parable,
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we find Jesus saying, "The
kingdom will be taken from you
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and given to a nation that
produces the fruits thereof."
00:52:56.53\00:53:00.20
Who is that nation that
produces the fruits thereof?
00:53:00.23\00:53:03.10
It'll become absolutely clear,
if it isn't already, tomorrow
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when we deal with the
second part of the 70 weeks.
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That it has to do with
the preaching of the gospel
00:53:10.52\00:53:14.86
in the Gentile world.
00:53:14.89\00:53:16.43
And then you noticed that after
he gives the parable of the
00:53:16.68\00:53:19.31
vineyard workers, He
pronounces the woes on the
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scribes and the Pharisees.
00:53:22.62\00:53:23.90
And He says, "Fill up the cup.
00:53:23.93\00:53:25.67
The cup is full."
00:53:25.93\00:53:27.16
But as we noticed, Jesus
said, "I'm still going to
00:53:27.53\00:53:30.16
send you wise men.
00:53:30.19\00:53:31.49
And I'm still going
to send you prophets."
00:53:31.52\00:53:33.66
Because the 70 weeks don't
end when Jesus is rejected.
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They end three and
a half years later.
00:53:36.87\00:53:38.67
Are you with me or not?
00:53:38.70\00:53:39.77
So there's still three
and a half years of grace
00:53:40.17\00:53:42.74
for the Hebrew
nation even after this.
00:53:42.77\00:53:45.16
And then Jesus, after He
pronounces the woes on the
00:53:45.36\00:53:48.32
scribes and the
Pharisees, in Matthew chapter 23
00:53:48.35\00:53:51.70
and verse 38, He
departs the temple.
00:53:51.73\00:53:54.48
The Shekinah is departing
the temple, and He says,
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"Your house is
left unto you..." What?
00:53:57.88\00:54:01.56
Is that a word that's
used in Daniel chapter 9?
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Absolutely, "Your house
is left unto you desolate."
00:54:05.00\00:54:07.89
In other words, the Shekinah
has abandoned the temple.
00:54:09.92\00:54:12.58
And now where
does Jesus go to sit?
00:54:12.75\00:54:15.03
Just like in the first
destruction, He goes to
00:54:15.81\00:54:18.54
sit on the Mount of Olives.
00:54:18.57\00:54:19.88
And what does He
begin talking about?
00:54:19.91\00:54:22.04
He begins talking about
the destruction of what?
00:54:22.41\00:54:25.13
Of Jerusalem.
00:54:25.45\00:54:26.66
Because of the
rejection of the Messiah.
00:54:26.84\00:54:29.52
Are you following me or not?
00:54:29.55\00:54:31.07
Is this prophecy talking
about some future antichrist
00:54:31.10\00:54:34.61
after the rapture?
00:54:34.64\00:54:35.70
Listen carefully to what
the Christian world has done.
00:54:35.93\00:54:38.62
First of all, they have
absolved the Jewish nation
00:54:39.24\00:54:42.17
from the guilt of
the death of the Messiah.
00:54:42.40\00:54:45.84
And how have they done that?
00:54:46.90\00:54:48.59
They have done that by
projecting this prophecy
00:54:48.99\00:54:53.10
to a future
antichrist after the rapture.
00:54:53.13\00:54:56.28
So the Jewish nation has nothing
to do with the fulfillment
00:54:56.52\00:54:59.68
of the rejection of the Messiah.
00:54:59.71\00:55:01.53
The second thing that they
have done is by saying that the
00:55:02.18\00:55:05.65
prophecy of the little
horn applies to the future
00:55:05.68\00:55:08.37
antichrist, they have absolved
the Roman Catholic Church
00:55:08.40\00:55:11.95
from the guilt of killing
the body of Jesus Christ;
00:55:11.98\00:55:15.92
His church.
00:55:15.95\00:55:17.56
And so basically, by directing
these prophecies to the future,
00:55:18.13\00:55:21.70
they have lost sight of
the guilt of the Jewish nation
00:55:22.47\00:55:25.39
as a nation, and the guilt
of the Roman Catholic papacy
00:55:25.42\00:55:29.74
in persecuting the
saints of the Most High.
00:55:29.77\00:55:32.47
Because they're projecting
these things to the future
00:55:32.67\00:55:34.86
and they do not see how
these things have been fulfilled
00:55:34.89\00:55:37.48
in the past.
00:55:37.51\00:55:38.70
Notice how Ellen White described
the destruction of Jerusalem,
00:55:38.94\00:55:42.53
the reason, in Great
Controversy, page 35.
00:55:42.56\00:55:45.84
What had the Jews done?
00:55:51.68\00:55:52.96
They had forged
their own fetters.
00:55:53.76\00:55:55.71
Who destroyed Jerusalem?
00:56:15.71\00:56:17.00
They did by
rejecting the Messiah.
00:56:17.86\00:56:20.40
Now she quotes that verse.
00:56:21.89\00:56:23.35
It's found in Hosea 13 verse 9.
00:56:23.79\00:56:25.96
So which of the three
options makes more sense?
00:57:09.04\00:57:11.71
Was it Titus and
the armies of Rome? No.
00:57:12.17\00:57:15.53
Is it some
future antichrist? No.
00:57:15.64\00:57:18.78
Who is it referring to?
00:57:18.94\00:57:20.41
The people of the
prince are the Jews;
00:57:21.28\00:57:23.56
the people of Jesus
Christ who brought rejection
00:57:23.78\00:57:26.42
against the city for
their rejection of Jesus.
00:57:26.45\00:57:29.63