Good afternoon all, I wonder if someone could help me with this. I have been presented with a prophecy of Jesus’ first coming by a non Christian that is being used as a method for dating His second coming as described in Revelation. I wonder if you could perhaps tell me if this first prophecy is recognised by the Church and if so how I can separate it from the second prophecy which I suspect most certainly is not accepted by the Church.
1st Prophecy - the Date of Christ’s First Coming
- Meaning of Dan 9:24 = 70 weeks or 70 x 7 from the rebuilding of Jerusalem to the sacrifice of the Messiah;
- Num 14:34 says 1 day is as a year to God.
- 70 x 7 days = 490 years.
- Ezra 7 = Artaxerxes ordered the rebuilding of Jerusalem in 457 BC.
- 457 + 33 years the age Christ died according to tradition = 490 years after Artaxerxes’ commandment, thus fulfilling the prophecy.
- Dan 9:25 gives 69 weeks, not 70 - this referring to the completion of the building of the temple, whereas Dan 9:24 refers to the start of building - took 7 years to build the temple.
2nd Prophecy - the Date of Christ’s Second Coming
- Dan 8:13-14 gives 2300 days from rebuilding of temple to the cleansing of the sanctuary.
- Apply 1 day = 1 year from Num 14:34 as previously.
- 457 BC + 2300 years = 1844 AD.
This latter seems patently absurd to me, because the events in Revelation seem inconsistent with what’s happened since 1844, but the guy I’m in discussion with claims that his faith can explain all the events in Revelation (mostly as metaphors, but then they see the resurrection as a metaphor too). My knowledge of Persian history is spotty at best and I must confess I don’t understand a lot of the book of Daniel, but if someone could give me a hand with the context or anything scriptural that can counter this second prophecy, it would be very much appreciated, Counter arguments on the first prophecy also appreciated if it is not sustainable.
Thanks.
You are dealing with a Seventh Day Adventist interprepretation.
First, Numbers 14:34 does not claim to be a general principle of interpreting prophecy, it relates only to its specific context, where it was spelled out.
Numbers 14:34 (New International Version)
For forty years—one year for each of the forty days you explored the land—you will suffer for your sins and know what it is like to have me against you.’
Second, Read Daniel 8, in context, it speaks of an earthly sanctuary, not one in heaven.
9 Out of one of them came another horn, which started small but grew in power to the south and to the east and toward the Beautiful Land. 10 It grew until it reached the host of the heavens, and it threw some of the starry host down to the earth and trampled on them. 11 It set itself up to be as great as the Prince of the host; it took away the daily sacrifice from him, and the place of his sanctuary was brought low. 12 Because of rebellion, the host of the saints and the daily sacrifice were given over to it. It prospered in everything it did, and truth was thrown to the ground.
13 Then I heard a holy one speaking, and another holy one said to him, “How long will it take for the vision to be fulfilled—the vision concerning the daily sacrifice, the rebellion that causes desolation, and the surrender of the sanctuary and of the host that will be trampled underfoot?”
14 He said to me, “It will take 2,300 evenings and mornings; then the sanctuary will be reconsecrated.”
The Interpretation of the Vision
Sign of the Last Days When (Paperback)
by Carl O. Jonsson (Author)
The Gentile Times Reconsidered (Paperback)
by Carl O. Jonsson (Author)
Besides, based on these two books their 457 BC starting date could be off too.
Daniel 8:14: The Day of Atonement, and the investigative judgment (Unknown Binding)
by Desmond Ford (Author)
They give me headaches.
.