Bible Prophecy Simplified Podcast

 

Based on the book, REDEMPTION: Bible Prophecy Simplified, A Study of HOPE.

PODCAST: Part One: The Plan

The Six Purposes of Daniel's 70-Weeks: Purpose Two

Seventy Weeks are determined upon thy people and upon thy holy city to...make an end of sin (purpose two).

The word end, as used in Daniel 9:24, means to close up, to seal up, to stop. Remember, this passage refers to Daniel’s people (the Jews) and to Daniel’s holy city (Jerusalem). It is the uniquely Jewish rebellion of rejecting the true Messiah (first century of this age) and accepting the false messiah (last century of this age) that purpose one will prohibit and bring to an end.

Purpose one limited and detained THE REBELLION. In doing so, it prohibited the ultimate consequences of annihilating the human race. This is still future and will be due to an amazing loophole that Israel’s husband inserted into the Mosaic Law in order to save his wayward wife [Israel] from the disastrous consequences of an end-times treaty that she will make with the Man of Sin. Isaiah calls the treaty a covenant with death and an agreement with hell ^{Isaiah 28}.

According to Daniel 9:24, when the Seventy Weeks are finished, THE REBELLION [and subsequently the consequences of it] will have been prohibited and brought to an end (purpose #1). Never again will the Jewish people ignorantly deny that Jesus is the Son of David, the Messiah, the Anointed One of God.

Their eyes will be opened, and their ears will no longer be dull of hearing. This heart-wrenching scene is described in Zechariah 12:10-14, 13:1-2.

Israel’s rebellion in rejecting her true Messiah was done in ignorance. Her husband, YAHWEH, made provision for forgiving ignorant sin. And Jesus, her kinsman Redeemer, as he hung on the cross, asked his Father to forgive the ignorant sin of his adulterous wife.

Forgive them Father for they know not what they do….

The sin and rebellion of the six purposes of the seventy weeks, are uniquely Jewish sins, and the purposes all have to do with Daniel’s people, the Jews, and Daniel’s city, Jerusalem. But before the seventieth week can begin, God’s purpose for his Ek-klesia, his Out-Called, must be fulfilled.

To everything there is a season and a time for every purpose under the heavens

The Bible says our Creator has established and pre-appointed certain times and seasons to accomplish his purposes. The time and season of “Christ In You,” [which is described as beginning in Acts chapter two, when the Holy Spirit descended and made the physical bodies of believers his permanent home], is a time of great harvest. Soul winning, without regard to race. All peoples, all nations, Jews, and gentiles, all who believe become one in Christ Jesus. But in his death and resurrection, Jesus won a great victory that goes beyond even the salvation of our souls. He became the victor in a cosmic war that impacts and transcends earth and the universe as we know it.

There is a great purpose for the preset—pre-appointed—time and season of the time of “Christ in You (Colossians 1:27),” which we are living in as this is being written and which has both a beginning and an end. It began on Shavuot/Pentecost ^{Acts chapter two} and will end when the dead “In Christ” rise first and those who are alive and remain are caught up together with them to meet the Lord in the air ^{1 Thessalonians 4:16-18}.

Behold I show you a mystery. We shall not all die, but we shall all be changed….

Up until the 69^th week, when Messiah was cut off, God dealt with his people Israel on a national basis as a theocracy, with a central place of worship and a hierarchical priesthood. The priests were all descended from the Israelite tribe of Levi. Though temple worship continued until AD 70, the 69^th week was officially concluded when Messiah was cut off (crucified).

When Jesus rose from the dead, he recognized only the new entity that he had previously called his Ek-klesia. The Out-Called. A new era was born. A new season of worship began that had no earthly form of hierarchical government. The time and season of “Christ in You,” is a time of complete voluntary devotion between the Out-Called (the Called-Out ones) and their God. This pre-appointed season is individually based, with no nation any more special than another.  Indeed, between AD 70 and 1948, there was no nation of Israel. It had ceased to exist entirely, and no earthly government was singled out to replace it. But in 1948, the dead nation of Israel came back to life, and God will fulfil his plans and promises to Jacob. But first he will fulfil his plan for the time and season of the Ek-klesia, which has no temple, tabernacle, or other centralized place of worship.

Upon this rock I will build my Out-Called….living stones…a spiritual house…a holy priesthood….

During the amazing season and time of “Christ in You,” the believers themselves become temples of the Living God. 

…the times and the seasons which the Father has put in his own power.  

Messiah was cut off in the 69^th week, which occurred in the first century of this present age. Daniel’s 70^th week will occur in the last century of this age. The events of the 70^th week will all take place during the seven years immediately preceding Messiah’s physical and visible return to earth to establish his kingdom (and the 75-days following his return). That means there is a centuries-long gap between the 69^th and 70^th weeks.

What will be happening during the centuries-long gap between the time Messiah is cut off and the time when the nation of Israel makes the covenant with death and agreement with hell?

During the gap between the 69^th and 70^th weeks, the greatest mystery of all time is revealed. The time and season of “Christ in You” was began. The time and season we live in [as this is being written] was the biggest and best-kept secret of all the ages…because if the princes of this world (fallen angels) had known about it, they would never have crucified the Lord of Glory. And it is the death and resurrection of Jesus that gives his own a glorious eternity, while at the same time spells certain doom for the enemies of our souls.

During the Time of “Christ in You,” God does not forget Jacob [his physical people Israel], but the final Week, the 70^th Week, must wait until God completes his purpose for the Ek-klesia, the Body of Christ, which includes the Resurrection and the Harpazo ^{1st Thessalonians 4:16-18}. After that, the 70^th Week begins the countdown to Christ’s physical and visible return to establish his Kingdom on earth.

On earth as it is in Heaven….

What about the previously mentioned seventy-five days following Christ’s return? In chapter 12, Daniel mentions 1290 days, which is thirty days longer than the final 3 ½ years of the seven-year covenant Israel makes with death and hell. This same 1260-day period is described elsewhere in scripture as forty-two months, again, 3 ½ years.  The final forty-two months of the treaty will be the most severe but there is an additional thirty days mentioned in Daniel 12:11.

What will be happening during that thirty-days?

It gets even more interesting when the thirty days is further extended [in verse 12] by another forty-five days—bringing a total time extension to seventy-five days past the original 1260 days (3 ½ years). Daniel says “Blessed are they who wait and come to the 1335th day” ^{Daniel 12:11-12}.

What will be happening during the seventy-five days?

This speaks to what will be happening during the first seventy-five days after Christ returns and defeats his enemies at the Battle of Armageddon ^{Daniel 12:11-12}.  There are several things we know will be happening: The Battle of Armageddon will likely take more than one day. The elect [Jews who may still be scattered] will be gathered, judgments with rewards and punishments will take place, and the Marriage Supper of the Lamb will also be held on earth after Christ’s return.

It’s possible there will be overlap in these events, as Jesus describes someone trying to attend the Marriage Supper without a wedding garment. If the Marriage Supper takes place in Heaven, there is no way this could happen. But it takes place on earth, so it is entirely possible someone would attempt to slip in.

Now to purpose number two of the seventy weeks. Keeping in mind that all six purposes will be completed during Daniel’s seventieth week, which begins when the end-times nation of Israel makes a covenant with death and an agreement with hell. The 70^th week will extend to the end of the seventy-five days that Daniel writes about in chapter twelve.

All of this is still future.

To fully grasp the six purposes, we must look at how these purposes interact with the Time of Jacob’s Trouble, also called The Great Tribulation. The two terms, The Time of Jacob’s Trouble and The Great Tribulation, are synonymous with the same time-period, Daniel’s 70^th Week. Though the entire world will experience trial during that time, Jesus is speaking to the Jewish people specifically in Matthew 24, when he called it a time of Great Tribulation. John, in Revelation 7:14, called it The Great Tribulation. The word [the] is in the text of Revelation 7:14 (see the Koine Greek), though for inexplicable reasons, Bible translators chose to leave the word [the] out of their translations of Revelation 7:14.  

The Great Tribulation/the Time of Jacob’s Trouble takes place during the seven years immediately prior to the physical and visible return of Jesus Christ. On his return, he will be accompanied by the armies of Heaven, which will consist of angel armies and the Body of Christ [resurrected and raptured Jews and gentiles from the time of “Christ in You].”

He is coming with the clouds…seeing we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses…The Lord comes with ten thousands of his righteous ones.

During the seven years of Daniel’s 70^th week, these believers will have been in Heaven with Jesus. In Heaven, they will stand before his Judgment Seat, which is not for determining salvation, which they already have, but rather for determining rewards. After that, there will be a wedding! This is where the Body of Christ marries her betrothed. She was called out from earth as his Body but will return to earth with him, as his Bride. The reception, the wedding feast, the marriage supper, always happens after the wedding. Though the wedding between Jesus and his Out-Called will take place in Heaven, the great Marriage Supper of the Lamb will happen afterwards on earth, at his Coming.

The six purposes of the seventy weeks are some of the most compelling reasons to believe the scriptures teach a pretribulational harpazo (more commonly known as the rapture). The six purposes have to do with the people and the city of Daniel. They do not have to do with the Ek-klesia, the Out-Called Body of Christ.

At the resurrection and the rapture, when the dead in Christ are raised and those who are living and remain are caught up, Jesus is coming for his “Body,” the Body of Christ, which consists of both Jews and Gentiles. At the time of this writing, believers are betrothed to our Lord, but we are not yet his Bride. We are the Out-Called, the Ek-klesia, the Body of Christ.

It is not coincidental that even the name given to the New-Testament people of God speaks to a pre-tribulational rapture. He calls believers his Ek-klesia, the Out-Called. Yes, we are in the world but not of it, but Ek-klesia literally means out called. And that is just what our betrothed intends to do. He intends to call us out.

After the time of “Christ in You” is concluded by the Body of Christ being called out, the nation of Israel will confirm her covenant with death and her agreement with hell. This will begin the 70^th week. The Out-Called is in Heaven with her [now] husband, and our Creator will have turned his attention back to his wayward wife of the Old Covenant, physical and national Israel, who still rejects her Messiah. She is still on earth and for the next seven years will experience extreme trauma while the six purposes draw to their pre-determined conclusions.

We have already discussed purpose one, which is detaining the rebellion, bringing to an end [and prohibiting] the consequences of Israel’s rebellion against her true Messiah and eventual acceptance of the false. Those consequences must be prohibited to prevent total annihilation of the Jewish race and the entire human race. But Jesus told us those days of destruction would be cut short, otherwise no flesh could be saved.

Purpose Two is to make an end of sins.

This means to finish, bring to an end, close up, seal up sins. But exactly which sins are being referenced here?

For 2000 years God has been restraining and prohibiting the consequences of Israel’s ignorant rebellion against and participation in the crucifixion of her Messiah.

Father forgive them, for they KNOW NOT what they do.

Before the end of Daniel’s 70^th week, God will put a stop to ignorant Jewish rebellion against God’s Christ. Purpose one has been prohibiting the rebellion and bringing it to an end. In the end, the consequences of the rebellion will also be prohibited. The Jewish race and all humanity will be saved from annihilation.

Purpose number two is to “make an end of sins.” When purpose number two is accomplished, there will be no more ignorant sin against the true Messiah in favor of the imposter. Going forward, those who side with the Man of Sin, will do so with their eyes wide open.

The term “make an end of sin” has to do with ceremonial offering for sin. God will end, once and for all, the sacrifices which the antichrist will allow to be reinstated in Jerusalem as part of his disastrous treaty (which he will break half-way through).  

Commentators usually associate purpose number two with the atonement of Jesus, which did indeed put an end to the need for any other sacrifice or offering for sin, but they are mistaken. Purpose number two does not refer to Jesus. Remember, the 70 weeks have to do with Daniel’s people and Daniel’s city. And, as this is being written, Daniel’s people in Daniel’s city, as a people, still reject the sacrifice of Jesus. After the death and resurrection of the true Messiah [in the 69^th week] God stopped all other sin offerings by allowing the Temple in Jerusalem to be destroyed in AD 70. But once the Israeli government makes a covenant with death and agreement with hell (the future seven-year treaty with the Man of Sin), the Jews will reinstate sacrifices and offerings in Jerusalem. Purpose number two will end this.

During the 70^th week, God’s Ek-klesia, his Out-Called, will not be on earth. They will be called-out before the covenant with death and hell is signed, and God will again deal with Israel politically, as a nation. Though he has never forgotten them, once again his attention is laser-focused on the Jewish people and on their city, Jerusalem.

During the time of “Christ in You,” God’s attention was on his Ek-klesia, his Out-Called. And anyone, Jew or gentile could come to him, and by faith in the atoning sacrifice of Jesus become a Child of God. However, the time and season of “Christ in You” will give way to another pre-appointed time and season, the Time of Jacob’s Trouble, which will begin when Israel’s leaders sign the seven-year covenant with death and make their agreement with hell. 

During the first half of the covenant, the daily sacrifice will be reinstated. By the very practice of these sacrifices, the religious leadership of Israel will publicly thumb their noses at Jesus, every day…for 3 ½ years…until the sacrifices are violently taken away and the false Messiah exposes himself by demanding worship for himself and setting his own image in the holy place.

Purpose Two: …make an end of sin [offerings]

This will effectively expose the false Messiah and make an end of, close the avenue for, and seal up God’s people, Israel, from ever committing that particular sin again, that of trying to bring atonement and absolution through any avenue aside from faith in the true Messiah and his sacrifice.

Summary

Purpose one detains and prohibits the rebellion [and consequences thereof] of Jewish rejection of the true Messiah and acceptance of the false.

Purpose two brings to an end once and for all the practice of ignorant denial of the true Messiah by sacrifice and sin offerings during the first half of the Antichrist’s reign. 

Watch the 70-week video series.

Review of “The Sword” by Elaine Ricker Kelly

 The Sword is a delightful and unifying resource for education and biblical conversation between egalitarian and complementarian Christians. Kudos to Elaine Ricker Kelly for her wonderful concept!

It was a quick and inspiring read and is perfect for anyone interested in cutting away barriers and building one another up in conversation and even friendly debate about women's roles.

The book includes Elaine Kelly's system of 104 flashcards, which provide a simple and entertaining guide in directing the egalitarian/complementarian conversation. The flashcards address opposition without endorsing it. These thought-provoking cards work just as well with individuals as with groups.

CAVEAT: They are excellent for different age groups and work just as well in adult gatherings as with teens or preteens.

Kelly stated her desire was to assist readers in working out their own views about the role of women in the home, church, and society. I believe her simple and engaging work will do just that. She absolutely succeeded in her goal of creating flashcards as a fun way to engage in healthy debate on what the Bible says about women’s roles in the home, church, and society. She did a brilliant job of creating an inspiring and empowering resource that either complementarians or egalitarians can comfortably use in their discussions.

I loved it and whole-heartedly recommend it.

The Sword: A fun way to engage in healthy debate on what the Bible says about a woman’s role: Kelly, Elaine Ricker: 9781738823307: Amazon.com: Books

 Elaine R Kelly writes inspirating and empowering fiction and non-fiction. She blogs on biblical equality, biblical interpretation, church history, women leaders, and the Christian feminist movement. 

The Story behind my Song: "Main Street" (It's a true story!)

 My song, "Main Street," is a true story. The characters in the song are real people. 

Among other things, I am a Christian folk artist, and though this song is not overtly "Christian" (no mention of God or Jesus), I believe it was inspired by the Holy Spirit. 

Back story: Every time I would drive through a certain part of Winter Haven, Florida, I would enjoy the surroundings, the lights, the businesses. I would think how cheerful everything looked from the main drag. I would also think how just a few blocks to the west, that lovely, cheerful, facade would give way, very suddenly, to a dark, ugly, and sometimes dangerous, underbelly. 

Living and moving within that underbelly were some remarkably harmless and likeable--even loveable--souls. People who were pleasant to talk to and had capacity to offer wonderful friendship but were prevented by problems most of us distain and would rather not deal with. 

Two of those people are featured in my song, Main Street (not the real name of the street). They were my friends. And I will never forget them. Their absence barely made a ripple in the ebb and flow of Main Street. It was hardly noticed at all. But I noticed. And the Spirit of the Lord moved me to write about it from his perspective, from the perspective of one who remembers and cares about the forgotten ones.  

May our vision never be blinded by our sight

Jocelyn Andersen

"The Storyteller" 

Listen to Main Street 

Jocelyn Andersen | ReverbNation

The Six Purposes of Daniel's 70 Weeks: Purpose One

Seventy Weeks are determined upon thy people and upon thy holy city to..."Finish the transgression..."

What does it mean to Finish the Transgression? 

The word translated as finish in Daniel 9:24 means literally to finish, restrict, hold back, detain, or prohibit. And the word translated as transgression in verse 24, can also be translated as rebellion. 

Therefore, the first purpose of the Seventy Weeks can be understood to restrict the progression of the rebellion and prohibit its consequences.

The transgression, this writer believes more accurately translated as the “rebellion,” in Daniel 9:24, is not referring to sin in general or to the great rebellion/transgression in the Garden (which afflicts all humanity, is indeed progressive, but for which Jesus has already made atonement). The rebellion in purpose number one of Daniel's seventy weeks, refers to a uniquely Jewish rebellion which will cause worldwide annihilation if it is permitted to progress. 

The rebellion, referred to in Daniel 9:24, is the national rejection of, and rebellion against, Jesus Christ as the Messiah of Israel. First, the religious and political leadership of the nation of Israel rebelled against their Messiah, and then the population at large followed suit as he stood before the Judgment Seat of Pilate (Luke 19:39-44, 47, 23:1, 21, 23).

Jesus predicted that, though the true Messiah would be rejected, the false messiah, the imposter, who we understand to be the Man of Sin—the antichrist—would ultimately be accepted by the Jewish people (John 5:43).

The transgression, mentioned in Daniel 9:24, is the rebellion that began when God’s people Israel rejected the true Messiah. This began a destructive process that will continue to progress until the false messiah is accepted by that same nation. If their rebellion [of rejecting the true Messiah] is not held back, detained, prohibited, restricted, brought to an end and finished—utter planetary annihilation will follow. But God, in his mercy, has made it clear that he will not allow this to happen (John 5:43 John, 18:38-40, Mark 15:11-15, Malachi 4:5-6).

Isaiah 28:14-18 gives a brief overview of what will be happening during the time the transgression will be hurtling towards its devastating conclusion. We will look at this in more detail during our study of the 70th Week, which is connected with all six purposes of the seventy weeks. Isaiah tells us that Israel will enter into a disastrous peace treaty with the false messiah. 

This prophecy has not yet been fulfilled. 

Isaiah calls this treaty the Covenant with Hell and Death, and the only thing that will ultimately save the Jewish race, God’s people Israel (and this planet), is that her husband—Almighty God—will disannul her agreement according a loophole that he inserted, thousands of years ago, into the Law of Moses (Isaiah 54:4-8, Numbers 30:8-9, Malachi 4:5-6).

This loophole provides the means for the consequences of the rebellion to be restricted, held back, and prohibited, because Israel’s husband is going to make certain the agreement made centuries ago by his adulterous wife will not stand (Isaiah 28:18). 

A distinction must be made, here, between physical Israel, God’s wife, and the Bride of Christ, which consists of both Jews and gentiles. Physical Israel is the wife of the Old Covenant, and her husband will miraculously deliver her from the Covenant of Hell and Death using an amazing loophole in the Mosaic Law. 

Some will ask, “But didn’t God divorce Israel?” Doesn’t that mean he is no longer her husband (Jeremiah 3:8)? There will also be a miraculous disappearance of the divorce decree. This will be covered in detail when we study the 70th week. 

Ezekiel 37:16-19 tells us that God will reunite Israel and Judah into one nation again, and Isaiah 50:1 and 62:4 tells us that no Bill of Divorce can be found. Why not? The reason is the divorced wife will be absorbed into the union of the two kingdoms. Judah was never divorced, therefore, in the union, the divorced wife will no longer exist. God will call the entire restored Hebrew nation by the name of Israel, the name he gave to Jacob. 

What affects Israel, effects the entire earth. In Isaiah 49:8, we read that God will save the earth from annihilation by preserving Israel (Jacob). Matthew 24:22 says it will be because of the elect’s sake (the Elect are the Jewish people) that all flesh will not go extinct during The Time of Jacob’s Trouble/the Great Tribulation. Isaiah 49:8 and Matthew 24:22 are companion verses that dovetail perfectly with one another in speaking of the same time period.

Summary of Purpose One (Prohibit the Rebellion)

The number one purpose of the seventy weeks has to do with prohibiting and bringing an end to process of the annihilation [of the entire race of Israel and all humanity]. This process was begun when the nation rebelled by rejecting the true Messiah as they and their leadership stood before the judgement seat of Pilot. Jesus said that transgression would lead directly to their later acceptance of the false Messiah (who the Bible calls by many different names and titles, including the antichrist and the Man of Sin). Unless the progression of that First Century rebellion is restricted and absolutely prohibited, there would be no fulfillment of the prophecies God made for his Kingdom and the New Heavens and the New Earth. 

The Six Purposes of Daniel's 70 Weeks: Introduction

In Daniel chapter nine, the prophet wrote of “Seventy Weeks” that were pre-determined upon his people and his city.

"His people..." Daniel’s people are the Jewish people.

"His city..." Daniel’s city is Jerusalem.

In Daniel 9:21-24, the angel Gabriel speaks to Daniel and refers to Daniel’s people, the Jews. In Daniel 6:10, Daniel prays towards his holy city, Jerusalem.

We know the term seventy weeks is symbolic of seventy weeks of years, with each week being symbolic of one year, as when Jacob completed seven additional years of work for Rachel, it was said that he had fulfilled her "week."

The Bible declares six purposes for Daniel’s Seventy Weeks. This study will explore and discuss these purposes.

Although the timeframe and the purposes of the seventy weeks has been pre-determined to complete God’s plan for a specific race and a specific city (Daniel’s people [the Jews] and Daniel’s city [Jerusalem]), the purposes of the seventy weeks are relevant to and impact all people, both Jews and Gentiles.

This study is geared towards an integrated understanding of God’s Word (dovetailing related/companion scriptures), as opposed to forming “one verse” or “single premise” theology. 

Overview of the purposes of the 70 Weeks

Daniel 9:24 says, “Seventy Weeks are determined upon thy people and upon thy holy city to…” accomplish six things:

1.            Finish the transgression

2.            To make an end of sins

3.            To make reconciliation for iniquity

4.            To bring in everlasting righteousness

5.            To seal up the vision and prophecy

6.            To anoint the Most Holy

We understand from these things, that although the purposes of the seventy weeks have to do with God’s plan for all the peoples of the earth, the seventy-week timeframe itself is bound by a pre-determined and pre-appointed, fixed, timeframe that is inextricably linked to what is happening with Daniel’s people [the Jews] and Daniel’s city [Jerusalem].

We understand from the Seventy Weeks of Daniel, that by watching what happens with God’s great sign [the nation of Israel] we can discern and understand the signs of the times –Matthew 13:3.

There is controversy over the nation of Israel. This writer accepts that the physical nation of Israel, located in the middle east within the historical boundaries of the biblical country and ancient city of Jerusalem, is the fulfillment of many prophecies that God would gather his people Israel back to their land.

Some scholars believe the Seventy Weeks of Daniel concern what is happening with the Jewish people only while they are living in their land, and that is one of the reasons for the differentiation between the first 69 weeks and the 70th week. Many believe the gap represents the time the Jewish people were in exile—not living in their land (Israel). We accept that premise and will write further about it later in the study. 

70 Weeks Defined

The Bible has different types of language, literal, figurative, and symbolic, and what this writer calls ancient-descriptive, which is a literal description of something an ancient witness has never seen before and is describing as best they can, using the only vocabulary available to them. If there is no good reason to believe a verse or passage is figurative, symbolic, or ancient-descriptive, a literal understanding is in order.

Figurative language is explained within the context of the verse or passage in which it is used and should not be confused with symbolic language. The key to unlocking symbolic language is to compare other verses or passages in which the symbol has been used. The Bible interprets its own symbols.

To understand the passage in Daniel chapter nine, the Seventy Weeks need to be defined scripturally. We understand the Seventy Weeks are not referring to seventy “seven-day” weeks. Verse twenty-five makes that clear.

Genesis 29:27-28 gives the key to understanding the length of each Week: “Fulfill her Week...serve with me yet seven other years. Jacob did so and fulfilled her Week.” Thus, we see that, according to scripture, the Seventy Weeks in Daniel 9:24 can be interpreted as representing seventy weeks of years, with each “week” equaling seven years.

When we multiply each of the seventy years by seven, it comes to a total of 490 years (70 x 7 = 490).

The prophecy in Daniel 9:24-26 covers the time period beginning with the commandment to rebuild the wall of Jerusalem (and the city) up to the time of the crucifixion of Christ. Both history and Daniel 9:25 agree that the time period, from the proclamation to rebuild the wall to the crucifixion of Christ, equals 483 years, which according to Genesis 29:27-28, equals 69 Weeks.

But seventy weeks of years equals 490 years. Not 483 years. That means there is a total of seven years (one week) left that is yet unaccounted for.

The Seventy Weeks, that have been determined upon the people of Daniel (the Jews) and on their holy city (Jerusalem), are for a certain purpose. And they can only be fulfilled while the God's people Israel are living in their land. This has been the case since 1948 when the prophecy of a physical rebirth of the nation of Israel was fulfilled (Ezekiel 37). The Jews regained partial control of Jerusalem in 1967, but it wasn't until 1980 that Jerusalem was declared to be the capital of Israel. Even so, no one on the national scene recognized this until 2018, when amid international outcry, the United States recognized Israel's ancient capital by relocating the American Embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem. Since then other countries have followed suit. 

Purposes of the Seventy Weeks

   We have seen that Daniels’s vision of the Seventy Weeks concerns only his people (the Jews) while they are living in his holy city (Jerusalem).

   The Seventy Weeks have been biblically defined as being weeks of years (as opposed to seven-day weeks) with each week equaling seven-years. But what is the purpose for the seventy weeks? Understanding this, adds a hitherto unplumbed depth to our knowledge of Bible prophecy.

   In Daniel 9:24, six purposes are given for the 70 Weeks. The 70 Weeks are ordained to:

•             Finish the Transgression

•             Make an end of sins

•             Make reconciliation for iniquity

•             Bring in everlasting righteousness

•             Seal up the vision and prophecy

•             Anoint the most Holy

Each purpose is intricately linked to the events of the as yet unfulfilled 70^th Week and the part Daniel’s people and Daniel’s city play in end-time events, and indeed in the fate of the entire world.

Our next study will cover purpose number one: What does it mean to FINISH THE TRANSGRESSION?

I could not afford to buy a car: And my God showed me just what he could do!

It was 1992. I was a single mom with three sons aged 12 to 17, and I needed a car. The only problem was, I didn't have money to pay cash for a car, and I could not afford a car payment. 

But I had a plan.

A local church was having their annual fundraising auction, and, that year, someone had donated a car! My name was on that car. I knew it. It was "my" car. 

I fully expected to buy it for $100 (all I had) or less. I knew it was worth more, but I also knew my Redeemer lived and he could do anything. If he wanted to, my God could get me that car for $100 or less. And I was convinced he would.

Auction day finally arrived. I tucked $100 cash into my pocket and headed to the church gymnasium (where the auction always took place). I took a seat in the bleachers and waited for the bidding to start. 

It took a while for the bidding on "my" car to begin, but when it did, I was devastated. The church started the bidding for it at $800, and all I had was $100. The car wasn't fancy, but even so, at $800, I knew it was a steal. So, I was surprised when no one bid on it. 

I still had hope. So, just to make sure they wouldn't change their minds and offer the car at a lower price, I stayed till the auction was officially over. Then dispiritedly made my way off the bleachers and out of the building. 

Outside, I walked through the parking lot and, with a sigh, ambled past "my" car for one last look. There was a man standing next to the car. He asked if I wanted to buy it. I explained my predicament, and he asked what kind of payments I could afford. I gave him a ridiculously low figure.  

He held out his hand and said, "Deal! I'll take your $100 down. You come to my office tomorrow, and we'll do the paperwork." We shook on it, and the next day the car was mine.

My plan wasn't God's plan, but the inspiration for it was. My plan got me in the right place at the right time for God's plan to click into place and come to fruition. 

What a Mighty God we serve!