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Seventy Weeks
Are Determined
The prophecy that is about
to engage your attention is found in Daniel 9:24-27. Although
our readers may have pondered it many times with perplexity and
frustration, basically its message is not difficult. We have to
admit that it has been a source of conflicting opinions and
interpretations, still it is a part of God's Word and therefore
we should search for the message it seeks to convey. This will
be both rewarding and enlightening.
This passage of scripture reads as follows: Although this passage of scripture has presented a great
variety of opinions and different interpretations among
theologians and scholars, there are basically only two major
irreconcilable dissimilarities. On the one hand, there are those
who accept the prophecy as totally fulfilled. These are often
referred to as Amillennialists, but a more appropriate
designation would be Scriptural Millennialists. These believers
regard the Kingdom of God, which was inaugurated by Christ as
the Scriptural fulfillment of the promises made to the fathers
in the Old Testament.
The Dispensationalists on the contrary claim that Daniel's
70th week is in the future, and will begin when the so-called
"Rapture" takes place. In order to do this, they have
originated what is called the "postponement Theory,"
which means that the first sixty-nine weeks of Daniel happened
on schedule, but the Seventieth Week was postponed or put in
abeyance indefinitely. The church age according to them is
called, "The Great Parentheses" according to H. A.
Ironside and many others. H. A. Ironside portrays the prophets
as men standing on the prairie gazing at the distant mountains.
They see the range of mountains, and dimly see the more distant
peaks, but they do not see the intervening valleys that separate
them. This, says Ironside, is like the prophets who saw the
First Coming of Christ, and also saw the Second coming, but they
did not see the Church Age that intervened. (The Great
Parentheses, page 12) What Mr. Ironside fails to reveal is that
the prophets were not telling just what they saw as men standing
on the prairie, but as we read in 2 Peter 2:21, "For the
prophecy came not in old time by the will of man, but holy men
of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Spirit." In
view of the fact that the Bible was Divinely inspired, any
suggestion that the prophets were less that 100% accurate in
their predictions reflects on the Holy Spirit, the INSPIRER.
It is in this connection that the interpretation of the
Dispensationalists is violently and diametrically at variance
with the Word of God. For instance: In Ironside's book (The
Great Parenthesis, page 23) he tells of the prophecy of Daniel,
then adds, "The fact is that they were not fulfilled."
BUT JESUS SAID, "These are the words that I spake unto you,
while I was yet with you, that ALL THINGS MUST BE FULFILLED,
which were written in the law of Moses and in the prophets, and
in the Psalms, concerning me."
Although we have only made one quotation, we can add scores
of others. Whose word has the authority, Ironside and the
Dispensationalists, or Christ? CHRIST SAID that He had fulfilled
ALL that the prophets had written. IRONSIDE SAID, he did not.
This is a serious allegation and needs to be investigated. Now
on page 23 of this book by Ironside I quote: "The fact is
they were not fulfilled. Israel did not recognize their Messiah.
They did not know Him yet as their Sin-bearer. Their
transgression has not been finished. An end of sins for them has
not been made. They do not know anything yet of atonement for
iniquity."
There is a scriptural answer here for each of these
assertions. · The Jews "finished" their transgression
when they Crucified Christ. That was their crowing offense. The
Enormity of the crime of condemning Christ to death on The cross
cannot be exceeded, and therefore it "finished" their
Transgression. Ironside has stated, "They do not know
anything yet of atonement for iniquity." · The Bible says,
"He came unto His own but His own received Him not. But as
many as received Him, to them gave He power to become the sons
of God, even to them that believe on His name. Atonement for all
mankind has been made, and when we believe it, this is what
makes us "sons of God." Those who reject Him, neglect
Him or refuse Him, are still among those who "receive Him
not." The Atonement or death of Christ for us was made for
"WHOSOEVER" will believe. (John 3:16)
Ironside continues, "The seventieth week has been
postponed by God Himself. The moment Messiah died on the cross
the prophetic clock stopped. There has not been one tick on that
clock for nineteen centuries. It will not begin to go again
until the entire present age has come to an end, and Israel will
once more be taken up by God."
There are a few questions that ought to be asked here. · What clock was God using when it stopped?
· What has Israel got to do to start the clock ticking
again?
A lot of these questions appear senseless, but they are based
on Dispensational claims. They say that God postponed the
Seventieth Week. The various meanings in Roget's Thesaurus state
that postpone means: to delay, defer, procrastinate, suspend,
waive, table, shelve, reserve, etc. According to Deuteronomy
22:18, God does not permit any of these interpretations to
accompany prophecy that He has determined. If God has anything
to do with it, it must be executed on time or we can deem it
false. God did fulfill the covenant He promised in the
Seventieth week of Daniel according to His infallible Word.
Dispensationalists reject this and say, "Another covenant
with the so-called Anti-Christ is required to fulfill their
interpretation of prophecy."
Who is Right?
Dispensationalists anchor their entire system of
interpretation on what they call the "Postponement
Theory." According to Webster, a theory is an unproved
assumption, or a hypothesis accepted for the sake of argument.
This meaning is amplified elsewhere to include a surmise,
supposition, conjecture, speculation or proposal. Neither
"Postponement" nor "Theory" has anything
authoritative to rest upon. In the last analysis, it amounts to
a shrewd guess.
John Walvoord, in his book called (The Millennial Kingdom,
page 227) admits this weakness as follows: "While the most
literal interpretation of the first 69 weeks is thus afforded a
literal fulfillment, nothing can be found in history that
affords a literal fulfillment of the last 7 or the Seventieth
Week. It has been taken by many that this indicates a
postponement of the fulfillment of the last seven years of the
prophecy to the future preceding the Second Advent. If so, a
parentheses of time involving the whole present age is
indicated."
The issue is simply. Either we accept the statement of H. A.
Ironside who has said, "The fact is, they (i.e. the
prophecies of Daniel 9:24-27) were not fulfilled." Or, we
accept Christ's statement that "all was fulfilled."
(Luke 24:44) Either we build our theology on Walvoord's unproven
dispensational hypothesis or we build on "Thus saith the
Lord." There is no other alternative. Let us examine the
first statement Walvoord has Made.
"While the most literal interpretation of the first 69
weeks is thus afforded fulfillment." Please note that the
first 69 weeks only measured a period of time, viz. 483 years
until the baptism of Christ, or as Daniel wrote: "Until
Messiah the Prince" or the Anointed. The opening words of
Jesus when He began His ministry were, "The Spirit of the
Lord is upon me because He hath anointed Me." (Luke 4:18a)
The first 69 weeks literally described the return of the Jews
from Babylon and the rebuilding of Jerusalem during the first 7
weeks. The remaining 62 weeks is only a space of time until the
70th week. Everything in the prophecy hinged on the specific and
detailed fulfillment of the 70th week 7+62+1+70.
Dispensationalism falls into a very embarrassing and fatal
trap at this point. John Walvoord writes in (The Return of the
Lord page 49) "For the purpose of the present study…we
must assume the inspiration of Scripture and the validity of
infallibility of its revelation."
Elsewhere, the same writer goes on record in favor of the
inerrancy, infallibility and inspiration of the scriptures. (On
page 124 of the Millennial Kingdom) he states…"Premillennialism
is based on the thesis of the infallibility of the
Scriptures." Infallibility means, "Incapable of error,
that which is certain, reliable, decisive, conclusive, unerring,
to be depended upon, trustworthy." It is unimpeachable. It
is faithful, constant, precise and authentic.
Now notice how Dispensationalism discounts the infallible
Word of God. The infallible Word of God states: "Seventy
weeks are determined." That is God's decree! However,
because Dispensational doctrine finds, and I quote again,
"Nothing in history that provides a literal fulfillment of
the Seventieth Week, therefore it dictates a postponement."
At this point, they exchange God's infallible Word that is
inspired by the Holy Spirit for man's unproven assumption.
Notice that they do not even offer a scriptural authority for
their postponement, for there is none! They simply say, "If
so, a parenthesis…is indicated." This is the biggest IF
in Dispensationalism, where they discard God's infallible Word
in favor of man's conjecture and supposition. If they are wrong
and God's Word is right, their entire citadel of error crashes.
In Ironside's book (The Great Parentheses, page 25) He
states, "Strange is it the many have supposed it was the
Prince Messiah Himself who was to confirm a covenant for one
week. But when did He ever make such a covenant? The blood of
the covenant which He shed upon the cross is not to confirm a
covenant for 7 years, but it is the blood of the everlasting
covenant."
It is interesting to note here, that Dispensationalists do
admit that there was a covenant ratified by Christ during the
Seventieth Week. But the Jews reject this covenant, although it
was "everlasting" as the fulfillment of Daniel
9:24-27. Again they substitute their interpretation for God's
infallible Word.
We shall illustrate this point by a further quotation from
(The Millennial Kingdom, page 133) "Daniel's Seventy Weeks
are subject to literal interpretation even though the interval
between the 69th and the 70th week is only hinted at by Daniel
himself." Doctor Walvoord does not explain where this
supremely important postponement was "ONLY HINTED AT"
nor does he explain how the infallible Bible could be confronted
with such an embarrassing error as flagrant as the postponement
of the entire Old Testament to some future age, to maintain this
delusion.
Dispensationalism has resorted to some very serious and
questionable allegations. For instance, on (page 228 of The
Millennial Kingdom) we read, "This very fact confused even
the prophets." In his book (The Return of the Lord, page
41) this same author says, "As the time of His ascension
into the heavens drew near, the disciples were somewhat
confused…they did not understand that the Kingdom would follow
the Second Coming." Mr Walvoord does not enlighten us as to
how he arrived at this clear understanding that all the apostles
were confused in their understanding of the Bible, especially
since the Holy Spirit inspired their utterances. To be confused
means they were perplexed, bewildered, tangled, or a
cross-purposes. This is a rather serious assessment to make
against those who were chosen to be the vehicles of God's
infallible truth. Dispensationalism is bankrupt of any
scriptural authority to support the Postponement Theory! It is
an unproven hypothetical assumption.
The Bible says, "Seventy Weeks are Determined."
Daniel 9:24…Commenting on this Bible passage in the
Scofield reference Bible page 915, Dr. Scofield says,
"Prophetic time invariable so near as to give full warning,
so indeterminate as to give no satisfaction to mere
curiosity." First of all, notice that the Bible says,
"DETERMINED." Scofield says, "Prophetic time is
invariably indeterminate." The prophetic time to which Dr.
Scofield refers is now more than 1900 years overdue, so it
cannot be classified as near enough to give any warning.
The Bible says, "Seventy Weeks are determined." In
the Scofield Bible, in his notes on the same page, he says,
"Prophetic time is invariably indeterminate." Let us
see if prophetic time is invariably indeterminate.
· Christ was to be buried and rise again in the third day.
Was there anything indeterminate about His rising? Could He have
risen any other day and still have fulfilled That prophecy?
· Joseph prophesied of seven fat years followed by seven
Years of famine. Was the time to be regarded as invariably
indeterminate?
· Jeremiah prophesied of seventy years of captivity in
Babylon. What if that did not happen on schedule? If the
seventieth year had happened several hundreds of years later,
would that have fulfilled the prophecy? God keeps His
appointments meticulously on schedule. This is what makes the
scriptures INFALIBLE. A break or postponement does not make a
fulfillment possible. It is a flagrant error!
Jesus said, "If I do not the works of my father, believe
me not." (John 10:37) Dispensationalism is wreaked on this
rock, for it is decisive! Daniel prophesied by the Holy Spirit
and no man can tamper with what Deity has ordained. Jesus
further said, "For the works which my Father hath given me
to finish, the same works that I do bear witness of Me, that the
Father hath sent Me." (John 5:36b) Let us ask what does Dispensationalism expect to Happen
during Daniel's Seventieth Week? Their current literature assures us that there will first of
all be a secret rapture, when the believers will be caught up
for a 7 year excursion in the air. Then, there will be the
manifestation of the so-called Anti-Christ and his covenant with
the Jews, which he will break in the middle of the week. Then
will come The Great Tribulation and the Millennium.
Unfortunately for them, none of these speculations can be found
in Daniel 9:24. There is no reference to re-establishing the
Jewish nation or economy mentioned. What the inspired writer and
prophet did plainly say is this…"And the people of the
prince that shall come shall destroy the city and the sanctuary:
and the end thereof shall be as with a flood, and unto the end
of the war desolations shall be determined…and for the
overspreading of abominations he shall make it desolate, even
until the consummation, and that determined shall be poured upon
the desolate." (Daniel 9:26-27b)
What Daniel wrote about was the "CONSUMATION" of
Jewry, not its exaltation and eventual restoration. (On page 136
of The Millennial Kingdom) Dr. Walvoord states, "The
doctrine of Israel remains one of the central features of
pre-millennialism." I would like to point out that
"Israel" is not a doctrine. Israel is a
"history" as far as the Bible is concerned. Whether
doctrine or history, it is not central in the Bible. Christ is
the central theme in the Word of God and He is the One God has
exalted. If Israel is central in pre-millennialism, we must
remember that Christ is central in the Kingdom of God and in the
Bible.
(On page 227 of The Millennial Kingdom) we read, "While
Dispensationalists have regarded as a parentheses unexpected and
without specific prediction in the Old Testament…" On the
contrary, Peter says, "To Him give all the prophets
witness, that through His name whosoever believeth in Him shall
receive remission of sins." (Acts 10:43) Surely that is
specific and it includes ALL.
We repeat the following two quotations because we wish to
answer them clearly. They are crucial to the issue we are
dealing with, and therefore require special attention.
H. A. Ironside says in (The Great Parentheses, page 25)
"Strange is it that many have supposed it was the Prince
Messiah Himself who was to confirm a covenant for one week. But
when did He ever make such a covenant? The blood of the covenant
He shed on the cross is not to confirm a covenant for seven
years, but it is the blood of the everlasting covenant."
Now, to this we add this statement from Dr. John Walvoord in
(The Milennial Kingdom page 227) which says, "Nothing can
be found in history that provides a literal fulfillment of the
last seven years, or Seventieth Week. It has been taken by many
that this indicates a postponement of the fulfillment of the
last seven years."
First of all, let us do a little mathematics. The Bible says,
"Seventy Weeks are determined." This period is
composed of seven weeks, during which the city of Jerusalem is
restored. Then a period of 434 years (62 weeks) elapse until the
baptism of Christ. The baptism of Christ is established because
He is referred to as Messiah, the Prince, in other words, the
Anointed One. There remained but one week. It is generally
established that Christ ministered three and one half years
before His crucifixion, when He was cut off. The remaining three
and one half years was the period of time when the gospel was
proclaimed to the Jews, ending with Peter's Divinely guided
mission to the house of Cornelius who was the first Gentile to
embrace salvation. (Acts chapter 10) Further, the duration of
the Covenant was not limited to one week, but was ratified
during that one week of prophecy. Its duration was and is
endless! This is the New and Everlasting Covenant
Next, we take the keenest issue with Dr. Walvoord in his
statement that, "Nothing can be found in history that
provides a literal fulfillment of the last seven years, or the
Seventieth Week." First of all it should be pointed out
that the ministry, death and resurrection of Christ was LITERAL.
It was an historical event that actually happened. We repeat,
that during that period of time, the Jews did "Finish"
the transgression. Their culminating crime was the rejection of
Christ and delivering Him up to be crucified. Christ pointed out
to them a long list of prophets and godly men who they executed,
and ended by saying, "Fill ye up then the measure of your
fathers." (Matthew 23:32)
· Christ did make an end of sins! Now, if all the things prophesied were fulfilled on schedule,
there is no need of wresting the scriptures and saying
unequivocally, as these Dispensationalists have spoken,
"The fact is they were not fulfilled." Dispensational
interpretation was most surely not fulfilled, but God fulfilled
all that was prophesied literally and with infallibility. It
could not be otherwise, for God cannot fail. He knows the end
from the beginning. As it is written: "For who hath known
the mind of the Lord? Or who hath been His counselor?"
(Romans 11:34)
We just do not accuse God of being delinquent with His
promises, and injecting postponements, and parentheses of time
to justify our interpretation. We accept His terms and His time
and if we seem mistaken, let us remember God has not changed.
What God determines, man cannot postpone!
In my book, The Sign of His Coming, I take the following
quotation when Daniel prophesied; "He shall confirm the
covenant." (Daniel 9:27) The evidence is very conclusive
that "He" meant the Messiah. There are 281 references
to "Covenant" in the scriptures listed in Young's
Analytical Concordance. Not one of these scriptures in any way
suggests the idea of a covenant between the Jews and a supposed
Anti-Christ. There is not a hint anywhere that such a covenant
is suggested, intended, proposed or prophesied at any time.
Concerning the covenant between the believers and the Messiah,
there are many scores of such references. (Jer. 31:31-33 and
Hebrews 8:7-13)
Even more convincing is the testimony supplied by the Hebrew
word for covenant which is used in the phrase, "He shall
confirm the covenant." The Hebrew word is "Bereeth."
According to the Pulpit commentaries, Vol. 29 page 275 "Bereeth"
is only used in connection with a Divine Covenant. It is never
used to designate a "league" with any other power or
force, but is always reserved to describe a covenant between God
and man. For that reason, the covenant cannot be applied to
anyone except the Messiah. It cannot possibly describe a
covenant with a supposed future Anti-Christ or any other
political group-involving apostate Jews.
The Massoretic Text renders Daniel 9:27 thus: "And one
week shall confirm a covenant with many, and in the middle of
the week, my sacrifice and my offering shall be taken
away." The use of the personal pronoun, "my"
signifies that it was the Mosaic sacrifices and the oblations
that were meant. God honored and ordained these shadows of good
things until the time of Christ's death. That is the only
sacrifice that God could call "My sacrifice." We see
then, that the death of Christ did inaugurate the New and
Everlasting Covenant and that Christ did confirm that Covenant
at Calvary during His earthly ministry. When Christ died, the
old Mosaic sacrifices ceased to have any further efficacious
value. The way to God was now opened by, "A new and living
way when the veil was Divinely torn asunder." (Hebrews
10:20)
Perhaps there is no better place to end this treatise than
with the words found in Hebrews 13:20-21, "Now the God of
peace, that brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, that
great Shepherd of the sheep, through the blood of the
everlasting covenant make you perfect in every good work to do
His will, working in you that which is well pleasing in His
sight, through Jesus Christ: to Whom be glory forever and ever.
Amen."
In other words, God's Word is infallible! That which God
determines, He fulfills--on schedule!
Prophecy is not based on an unproven Dispensational
assumption. The God who knows the end from the beginning,
tolerates no such thing as a postponement theory! He does
everything according to His own DETERMINATE WILL.
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