It is one of the most controversial and often debated portions of Scripture.  In fact, the Jewish Talmud forbids Jews from reading this passage and attempting to calculate the dates of this chapter. (Talmud Sanhedrin 97b).  Why? What is trying to be concealed?   It is one of the most amazing chapters in the Bible, for in these verses we are told when Messiah would come.  Incredibly, even the archangel Gabriel is dispatched to lend understanding to the author of its meaning.

In 538 B.C. and being mindful of Jeremiah’s prophecy (Jeremiah 25:11) regarding the 70 years of captivity that Israel experienced during the Babylonian Captivity, Daniel began to pray and intercede for his people, inquiring of the Lord the future of Israel.  He received one of the most amazing visions ever given to a man, the vision of Seventy Weeks of Years foretold to the precise day when Israel would reject and “cut off” their Messiah, and then look forward to the distant future and Israel’s final “week of years.”

^“24 Seventy weeks are determined upon thy people and upon thy holy city, to finish the transgression, and to make an end of sins, and to make reconciliation for iniquity, and to bring in everlasting righteousness, and to seal up the vision and prophecy, and to anoint the most Holy.

²⁵ Know therefore and understand, that from the going forth of the commandment to restore and to build Jerusalem unto the Messiah the Prince shall be seven weeks, and threescore and two weeks: the street shall be built again, and the wall, even in troublous times.

²⁶ And after threescore and two weeks shall Messiah be cut off, but not for himself: and the people of the prince that shall come shall destroy the city and the sanctuary; and the end thereof shall be with a flood, and unto the end of the war desolations are determined.

²⁷ And he shall confirm the covenant with many for one week: and in the midst of the week he shall cause the sacrifice and the oblation to cease, 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 9:24-27 KJV)

“From the going forth…sixty-two weeks (threescore and two weeks)” was fulfilled to the exact day 483 biblical years after it commenced.

How does one calculate this?  First, if we want to understand precise times in the fulfillment of prophecy, we still need to use the same biblical lunar-solar year of 360 days which the prophets themselves used.

The commandment to rebuild “the walls of Jerusalem” was fulfilled by King Artaxerxes Longimanus of Persia on March 14, 445 B.C.

“In the month of Nisan, in the twentieth year of King Artaxerxes….” (Nehemiah 2:1)

According to the ancient Talmud, “The first day of the month Nisan is the New Year for the computation of the reign of kings and for festivals.”

The Royal Observatory, Greenwich, UK, states that the first of Nisan in King Artaxerxes 20^th year was March 14, 445 B.C.

“from the commandment to restore and to build Jerusalem”– seven “weeks” (7X7= 49 years) and sixty–two “weeks” (62X7= 434 years).  49+434= 483 biblical years or 173,880 days (483×360= 173,880).

At the end of 69 “weeks”, according to Daniel, “Messiah will be cut off.”

From March 14, 445 B.C. (1^st of Nisan) to April 6, 32 A.D.  (10^th of Nisan) is 173,880 days.

To arrive at this from a solar calendar year perspective, use a calculator.  From March 14, 445 B.C. to March 14, 32 A.D. is 476 years of 365 days each or 173,740 days.  Add 24 days from March 14 to April 6.  Then add 116 leap days that occurred.  (173,740+24+116= 173,880 days).

April 6, 32 A.D. just happened to be the Tenth of Nisan, or Palm Sunday.  It was the same day that all Jewish families selected an unblemished lamb to care for the next four days until it was slaughtered to be their Passover lamb.  And it was the only day that Jesus allowed Himself to be worshiped as Messiah.  It was on that day that he rode into Jerusalem on the back of a foal and his disciples recognized Him as the Messiah, proclaiming, “Blessed be the King that cometh in the name of the Lord: peace in heaven, and glory in the highest.” (Luke 19:38) But the Pharisees and most of the people refused to acknowledge Him as Messiah.  The called out to Jesus, “Master, rebuke thy disciples.” (verse 39)

But Jesus replied to the Pharisees that “if these should hold their peace, the stones would immediately cry out.” Then Luke describes the scene as Jesus approached Jerusalem, “he beheld the city, and wept over it, Saying, If thou hadst known, even thou, at least in this thy day, the things which belong unto thy peace! but now they are hid from thine eyes.  For the days shall come upon thee, that thine enemies shall cast a trench about thee, and compass thee round, and keep thee in on every side,  And shall lay thee even with the ground, and thy children within thee; and they shall not leave in thee one stone upon another; because thou knewest not the time of thy visitation.” (Luke 19:41-44)

As our Passover Lamb, Jesus was crucified four days later.  As He hung on the cross, the Bible tells us the sun became darkened from 12 noon until 3pm.   This celestial event was even recorded in Rome, Athens, Syria and Carthage, Egypt as shared by historians Thallus, Phlegon, Tertullian, and Julius Africanus.  It was not just a ‘solar eclipse.”  A solar eclipse can last only a maximum of 7 minutes.  This event lasted three hours and the land so darkened that Phlegon said one could see all the constellations of the stars as if it were night.

This is just a portion of the “evidence.”  When one considers the full record of all the evidence it is obvious that the birth, life, death, resurrection and ascension of our Lord Jesus Christ is simply undeniable.

Jesus had earlier chastised the Pharisees for being able to recognize the seasons but not recognizing the time of “thy visitation.”  (Luke 12:56; Matthew 16:3)

Consider it.  Do you recognize the season you live?

 

Sources: Sir Robert Anderson, Grant Jeffrey, Phlegon, Thallus, Tertullian, Julius Africanus, Dr. John Walvoord, Daniel Anderson

“When David Livingstone returned to his native Scotland after sixteen difficult years as a missionary and explorer in Africa, his body was emaciated by the ravages of some twenty-seven fevers that had coursed through his veins during the years of his service.  His left arm hung useless at his side, the result of his being mangled by a lion.

Speaking to the students at Glasgow University, he said, ‘Shall I tell you what sustained me during the hardship and loneliness of my exile?  It was Christ’s promise, ‘Lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.’”

A little over a year ago Sons of Thunder made known a number of challenges and needs that were necessary to fulfill the work of the ministry in Zambia.  Specifically, we asked for financial help for the medical ministry in supplying the needs of our dedicated and “home-grown” medical personnel who play such a vital role in ministering to Zambians every day.  Not only did we need to provide ample and better housing for them but we had a financial gap limiting our ability to compensate them fairly.  Additionally, Sons of Thunder was in need for overland vehicles to replace other aging SUVs that had succumbed to the relentless wear and tear they are subjected in the African bush.  Reliable transportation is absolutely critical in southern Africa for many different reasons.

“And God is able to make all grace abound toward you; that ye, always having all sufficiency in all things, may abound to every good work:” (2^nd Corinthians 9:8)

Since purchasing the farm in 1996 near Livingstone (named after David Livingstone), Sons of Thunder has time and again experienced God raising up people to serve and minister in extraordinary ways, opening up new opportunities to proclaim the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ, and His making provision for the various ministry needs that arise.

A little over a year ago monies came forth from a ministry source that enabled SOT to purchase a badly needed Toyota Hilux pickup truck to replace a Land Rover beyond repair.  The utility of this vehicle has already proven itself in the last year.

Last spring, a Colorado family vacationing in southern Africa was introduced to Sons of Thunder in a chance conversation while on safari in Botswana.  Compelled by the story, they visited the Sons of Thunder Farm the next day and enjoyed a complete tour by Alexander, our farm manager.  Later, founder Jerry Beall shared the history of Sons of Thunder and answered questions about ministry needs.

Upon their return to the U.S. and at the Lord’s prompting, their donations funded the complete construction of a much-needed second medical housing unit that is now home for two highly trained and registered female nurses near the Sons of Thunder Medical Clinic.  This was a tremendous blessing for the medical ministry.

And just a couple of months ago another friend to the Sons of Thunder ministry answered a call read in the SOT monthly newsletter for a new SUV and donated monies enabling the purchase of a Toyota 4WD truck that seats up to twelve with a heavy duty grill guard and roof rack with ladder that is perfectly suited for transporting medical supplies.  The vehicle also enables the bedding of a patient in the back and is perfect for making medical calls in the bush.

We are most thankful to the Lord for how He meets us in these critical needs and how He moves on people like you to make all things possible.  Through the working of the Holy Spirit, Sons of Thunder has made a dynamic impact on thousands of lives in southwestern Zambia and beyond.  In this last year, it is your continued support that sustains the four churches, the medical ministry, the maternity ward, our state-certified school with 400 students, a small-business micro community, and the life-changing agricultural ministry led by Farming God’s Way, a patented non-till agricultural technique that is saving lives.

As the new year unfolds, Sons of Thunder has numerous opportunities identified accompanied with their own set of challenges.  And we are still seeking to solve the revenue gap for our medical team’s compensation in line with Zambian salary expectations.  Would you be willing to support us?

For more information about Sons of Thunder Ministries you can view the You Tube video found below and/or explore our website at:  www.sotministry.org.

I would welcome any inquiries you may have about Sons of Thunder Ministries and can be contacted at info4acarpentersview@gmail.com.

Thank you again for your generous support.  Together, we continue to exalt the Lord Jesus Christ and the Gospel of Salvation.

Ron

Excerpt: Billy Graham, Hope for Each Day

Based on the number of comments received on the last post regarding the story of the Magi, there is another aspect relating to the birth of Christ that should be shared and that is corroborated by the Biblical account and historical documentation.  Why did Joseph and Mary go to Bethlehem?

In the half century before the birth of our Savior, there was much political infighting and disarray within the Roman republic.  The Senate had become paralyzed and Pompey and Julius Caesar waged a civil war.  After Pompey was assassinated in Egypt, Julius Caesar was the unquestioned emperor until he too was murdered by members of the Senate in 44 B.C.  He was succeeded by his 19-year old adopted son Octavius Caesar who rose to political and military glory under the acclaimed title “Caesar Augustus” while efficiently consolidating his power.  Within the Roman Empire he was exalted as a god.

At the same time his close confederate and political appointee Herod the Great controlled Jerusalem and the land of Israel.  Augustus and Herod were friends and companions since their youth and their friendship was maintained as they fulfilled their adult roles.  Herod even sent his sons to Rome to be schooled.  But as the fortunes of Augustus increased, in contrast Herod encountered increasing domestic troubles in Israel.  Within Judaism, there was increasing speculation that a promised Messiah, a “King of the Jews,” was prophesied to be born and this news circulated from Jerusalem to Rome.

It was a time of heartless brutality.  The dark power of Caesar Augustus and Herod the Great held Israel in harsh political and superstitious bondage and any potential pretenders to the throne were quickly eliminated to ensure their longevity.  Meanwhile, in order to retain his political and military power, Augustus commanded that the entire Roman Empire be scrutinized by a massive census.  It was within the context of this backdrop that our Lord came to be born on this planet.  Enter the Biblical account:

“And it came to pass in those days, that there went out a decree from Caesar Augustus, that all the world should be taxed.  (And this taxing was first made when Cyrenius was governor of Syria).  And all went to be taxed, every one into his own city.  And Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judaea, unto the city of David, which is called Bethlehem: (because he was of the house and lineage of David:) To be taxed with Mary his espoused wife, being great with child.” (Luke 2:1-5)

Why had Joseph and Mary come all this way from Nazareth when she was in the late stages of pregnancy?  Because it was decreed by Roman bureaucrats.  Both Joseph and Mary’s genealogies were out of the line of Judah.  Joseph’s ancestry can be found in the royal genealogy of Jesus in Matthew coming directly through King David.  Bethlehem, the city of David, was the place where Roman magistrates had located themselves to receive those who were of the tribe of Judah.  In the legal genealogy of Jesus found in Luke we find that Mary also traces her ancestry through the House of David.

This mandate from Caesar Augustus declaring that the entire Empire be forced to register at designated locations was centered less on taxation and more on identification.  Concerning the word “taxed” in verse 1 of Luke’s account, W.E. Vine in An Expository Dictionary of New Testament Words, explains that it is translated from the Greek word apographo, meaning “to write out, enroll, inscribe, and in register.”

He writes, “Confirmation that this census (not taxation) was taken in the dominions of the Roman Empire is given by the historians Tacitus and Suetonius.  Augustus himself drew up a sort of Roman Doomsday Book, a Rationarium, afterwards epitomized into a Brevarium, to include the allied kingdoms, appointing twenty commissioners to draw up the list.” (pp. 32, 33)

In other words, this census was Caesar’s way of insuring that no pretender to any local throne would materialize or claim a following among the Jews which could be raised to claim a regal authority against Rome.  For the Romans, such a threat would deserve immediate execution (and which Herod eventually attempted.)

In The Star that Astonished the World, Ernest L. Martin acknowledges a reference made by ancient Jewish historian Josephus: “The oath of loyalty mentioned by Josephus is what brought Joseph and Mary to Bethlehem…, then it makes sense why Mary had to accompany Joseph.  In a regular census Mary would not have needed to go with Joseph, nor would Joseph have needed to travel so far.  Some have suspected that since both Joseph and Mary were descendants of David, and were legitimate claimants to the throne of Israel (had such a throne existed), it could easily be seen why Mary, as well as Joseph, was expected to sign the oath of loyalty to Augustus.  All “royal claimants” would have especially been singled out to give the oath of allegiance.”  (pp. 186, 187).

Taxation was certainly on the Roman agenda, but the control of the Empire was its chief concern.  This “taxation” was really a registration, intended to track any and all citizens of the Empire who might have some claim to rulership through family lineage.  The royal lineage of David presented a threat to Rome and to Herod.

King Herod was terrified when the Magi announced that they had come to worship the child whom they called “King of the Jews.”  To preserve his throne, Herod tried to assassinate Jesus in His infancy, by killing all the children in Bethlehem under the age of two.  It would be 30 years later that Roman, Jewish, and Herodian authorities would finally succeed in killing Him.  They would execute Him on a cross that held a placard with the very words, “King of the Jews.”

“And there appeared a great wonder in heaven; a woman clothed with the sun, and the moon under her feet, and upon her head a crown of twelve stars: And she being with child cried, travailing in birth, and pained to be delivered.  And there appeared another wonder in heaven; and behold a great red dragon, having seven heads and ten horns, and seven crowns upon his heads.  And his tail drew the third part of the stars of heaven, and did cast them to earth: and the dragon stood before the woman which was ready to be delivered, for to devour her child as soon as it was born.  And she brought forth a man child, who was to rule all nations with a rod of iron: and her child was caught up unto God, and to his throne.” (Revelation 12:1-5)

Sources: W.E. Vine, Flavius Josephus, Ernest L. Martin, Dr. Randall Price, Gary Stearman, Dr. Michael Heiser, Dr. Ken Johnson