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How Daniel Identified Jesus as the Christ
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Prophet Daniel Foretold Christ’s Ministry
The burden of Christ’s preaching was, “The time is fulfilled, and
the kingdom of God is at hand: repent ye, and believe the gospel.”
Mark 1:15
. The gospel message as given by the Saviour was based
on the prophecies. The “time” which He declared fulfilled was the
period made known to Daniel. “Seventy weeks,” said the angel
Gabriel, “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.”
Daniel 9:24
. A day in prophecy stands for a year.
Ezekiel 4:6
. The
seventy weeks, or 490 days, represent 490 years.
A starting point for this period is given: “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,” sixty-nine weeks, or 483
years.
Daniel 9:25
.
The commandment to restore and build Jerusalem, as completed
by the decree of Artaxerxes Longimanus (see
Ezra 6:14
;
7:1, 9
,
RSV), went into effect in the autumn of 457 B.C. From this time
483 years extend to the autumn of A.D. 27. According to the
prophecy, this period was to reach to the Messiah, the Anointed One.
In A.D. 27, Jesus at His baptism received the anointing of the Holy
[148]
Spirit and soon afterward began His ministry. Then the message was
proclaimed, “The time is fulfilled.”
Then, said the angel, “He shall confirm the covenant with many
for one week [seven years].” For seven years after the Saviour entered
on His ministry, the gospel was to be preached especially to the Jews;
for three and a half years by Christ Himself, and afterward by the
apostles. “In the midst of the week He shall cause the sacrifice and
the oblation to cease.”
Daniel 9:27
. In the spring of A.D. 31, Christ
the true sacrifice was offered on Calvary. Then the veil of the temple
was rent in twain, showing that the sacredness and significance of the
sacrificial service had departed. The time had come for the earthly
sacrifice and oblation to cease.
The one week—seven years—ended in A.D. 34. Then, by
stoning Stephen, the Jews finally sealed their rejection of the gospel.