456
Prophets and Kings
four hundred and ninety days, represent four hundred and ninety years.
A starting point for this period is given: “Know therefore and under-
stand, 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” (
Daniel 9:25
), sixty-nine weeks, or
four hundred and eighty-three years. The commandment to restore
and build Jerusalem, as completed by the decree of Artaxerxes Longi-
[699]
manus, went into effect in the autumn of 457 B.C. See
Ezra 6:14
;
7:1, 9
. From this time four hundred and eighty-three 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 Spirit and soon afterward
began His ministry. Then the message was proclaimed, “The time is
fulfilled.”
Mark 1:15
.
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 the ston-
ing of Stephen the Jews finally sealed their rejection of the gospel; the
disciples who were scattered abroad by persecution “went everywhere
preaching the word” (
Acts 8:4
); and shortly after, Saul the persecutor
was converted and became Paul the apostle to the Gentiles.
The many prophecies concerning the Saviour’s advent led the
Hebrews to live in an attitude of constant expectancy. Many died in
[700]
the faith, not having received the promises. But having seen them afar
off, they believed and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims
on the earth. From the days of Enoch the promises repeated through
patriarchs and prophets had kept alive the hope of His appearing.
Not at first had God revealed the exact time of the first advent; and
even when the prophecy of Daniel made this known, not all rightly
interpreted the message.