Basic HTML Version
186
From Here to Forever
astonished at the vision,” he says, “but none understood it.”
Daniel
8:27
.
Yet God had bidden His messenger, “Make this man to under-
[204]
stand the vision.” In obedience, the angel returned to Daniel, saying:
“I am now come forth to give thee skill and understanding. ... there-
fore understand the matter, and consider the vision.” One important
point in chapter 8 had been left unexplained, namely, the 2300 days;
therefore the angel, resuming his explanation, dwells chiefly upon
the time:
“Seventy weeks are determined upon thy people and upon thy
holy city. ... 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. And after threescore and two weeks shall Messiah be cut
off, but not for himself: ... 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.”
Daniel 8:16
;
9:22, 23, 24-27
.
The angel had been sent to Daniel to explain the point he had
failed to understand—“unto two thousand and three hundred days;
then shall the sanctuary be cleansed.” The first words of the angel
are, “Seventy weeks are determined upon thy people and upon thy
holy city.” The word determined literally signifies “cut off.” Seventy
weeks, 490 years, are to be cut off as specially pertaining to the
Jews.
Two Time Periods Begin Together
But from what were they cut off? As the 2300 days was the
only period of time mentioned in chapter 8, the seventy weeks must
therefore be a part of the 2300 days. The two periods must begin
together, the seventy weeks to date from “the going forth of the
commandment” to restore and build Jerusalem. If the date of this
commandment could be found, then the starting point for the 2300
days would be ascertained.
In the seventh chapter of Ezra the decree is found, issued by
Artaxerxes, king of Persia, in 457 B.C. Three kings, in originating
[205]
and completing the decree, brought it to the perfection required by