Free Republic
Browse · Search
Religion
Topics · Post Article

To: wmfights
Christian commentators prefer to start the Seventy Weeks countdown with 444 or 445 B.C.E. because it brings their calculations closer to the time period in which Jesus died (30/33 C.E.). A far better starting date is the decree of Cyrus (537 B.C.E) upon which all subsequent grants of approval were based (Isaiah 44:28). A correct reading of the passage and some simple arithmetic dispels any attempt to claim 444 B.C.E. as a starting date and Jesus' death in 30/33 C.E. as a terminus.

First, the seven weeks and the sixty-two weeks are really two separate periods and speak of two separate "anointed" ones. Second, even if we were to count 483 years from 444 B.C.E. we get to the year 38 C.E. Jesus is crucified in the period ranging from 30 to 33 C.E. But, the text of Daniel 9:26 says, "And after the sixty-two weeks an anointed one shall be cut off." This shows that if we use 444 B.C.E. as a starting date the alleged second "anointed one" was "cut off" in the period following the year 38 C.E. (that is, "after the sixty-two weeks"). There would be no connection to anyone "cut off" prior to that year. Thus, there is no reference here to Jesus.

561 posted on 01/26/2007 9:52:27 PM PST by Invincibly Ignorant
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 558 | View Replies ]


To: Invincibly Ignorant; wmfights
A far better starting date is the decree of Cyrus (537 B.C.E) upon which all subsequent grants of approval were based (Isaiah 44:28). A correct reading of the passage and some simple arithmetic dispels any attempt to claim 444 B.C.E. as a starting date and Jesus' death in 30/33 C.E. as a terminus.

Actually in order to understand Isaiah 44:28, one must begin reading at Isaiah 44:24, where it tells us who is the one who says to Jerusalem: "thou shalt be built". It is not Cyrus who says that to Jerusalem but the Lord God who says it:

"the Lord, thy redeemer . . . who confirms the word of his servant, and performs the counsel of his of his messengers, who says to Jerusalem, 'thou shalt be inhabited' and to the cities of Judah, 'you shalt be built'... Who says to the deep, 'be dry and I will dry up your rivers', Who says of Cyrus, 'he is my shepherd, and shall perform all my pleasure', even saying to Jerusalem, 'thou shalt be built', and to the Temple, thy foundation shalt be laid." [Isaiah 44:24-28]

As you can see a careful reading indicates that the Lord God is doing all the saying here, not Cyrus.

And remember Ezra tells us that the adversaries of Judah heard that they "were building the temple unto the Lord" and when they were told that their help was not needed in "building a house unto God", they hired counselors to frustrate the construction all the days from Cyrus to Darius. In the days of Artaxerxes the impostor [522-522] they levelled a false accusation at the Jews, claiming that they were violating the decree of Cyrus by "building the rebellious and wicked city, Jerusalem" instead of just building a house for the Lord. Artaxerxes [522-522] as a result then commanded that the city not be built [which was not happening]. But as a result of that command, Ezra says : "then ceased the work of the house of God which is at Jerusalem". Artaxerxes was quickly deposed and when the decree of Cyrus was found the work on the Temple began again --- but not any work "to build" the city of Jerusalem because it had not been decreed by Cyrus or anyone until Artaxerxes [465 - ?], the real Artaxerxes.

567 posted on 01/27/2007 7:49:17 AM PST by Uncle Chip (TRUTH : Ignore it. Deride it. Allegorize it. Interpret it. But you can't ESCAPE it.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 561 | View Replies ]

Free Republic
Browse · Search
Religion
Topics · Post Article


FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson