Prophetic Chart
Our Atonement
There has been a terrible estrangement between God and man. Sin, evil, raised its ugly head in Eden. Man separated himself from his loving Creator God. Mankind became debased, rebellious, lustful, and carnally minded. All those attributes are the enemy of God, for God is love. It tells us in Romans 8:7:
"Because the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be."
And sin is the transgression of the law.
"Whosoever committed sin transgresseth also the law: for sin is the transgression of the law."
1.John 3:4
Sin separates - not only nations, married couples, parents and children, friends, families - but also churches and professed followers of Christ. Sin is the cause of all the awful problems and wretched events in this world. But God is love.
"For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life."
John 3:16 [100]
God has solved man's sin problem. The greatest event of all time, past and future, is Jesus Christ dying a substitutionary death on the cross. The question is what will we do about this bridge God built for us to respond to. Each man and woman must answer this question if they trust God - or themselves - and thus fix their eternal destiny.
"For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ; that every one may receive the things done in his body, according to that he has done, whether it be good or bad."
2.Cor. 5:10
All people will meet at this same confessional for we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ. But the judgment is not simply a day of terror which, as Paul wrote, calls forth in our hearts, "A certain fearful looking forward of judgment...." Hebrews 10:27 That fearful day is the execution of God's Judgment. The issue of this day before is, what will you do with Jesus? Will you accept Him or reject Him? The finalization of this Judgment is not merely an arbitrary announcement in the heavenly courts, saying: `Guilty or Not Guilty', `Damned or Saved.' No, it is the studious result of the examination of mankind's records. There the final question comes up: "What have you done with Jesus Christ?" [200]
It is therefore very important that we comprehend the requirements of God as recorded in the Holy Bible. In this paper we shall concentrate on prophetic imagery, what it means and how the Book of Revelation can be understood for in its pages we read the last call to man, the last invitation, to come to the judgment now through the gospel of the foresightful provision of Jesus!
"And I saw another angel fly in the midst of heaven, having the everlasting gospel to preach unto them that dwell on the earth, and to every nation, and kindred, and tongue, and people, Saying with a loud voice, Fear God, and give glory to him; for the hour of his judgment is come: and worship him that made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and the fountains of waters."
Revelation 14:6-7 [300]
Here God announces "The Hour of His Judgment is Come" - but the Call is named also, the - "Everlasting Gospel". These two announcements go hand in hand. God's declaration of the `judgment' is also a declaration of the `gospel' by which to escape condemnation in judgment. In fact we can find no more beautiful and thrilling picture of the gospel, no more expressive description of the heart that gave birth to Calvary than in the truth about the judgment. - Never have the words of Paul in Romans 5:10 held a more gripping or demanding appeal than now in the hour of God's Judgment. That, though we be enemies, we might be reconciled to God by the death of His Son.
Be ye reconciled! Prepare now, lay aside your difference with God's lifestyle of gracious love. Accept Christ before your condemnation in the judgment! That is the message presented here! And the message comes from the throne of God. Be ye reconciled to God Now, for "the hour of God's judgment is come."
One day soon, we know not which day, our decision will be made permanent. The divine message recorded in Revelation will go forth from the heavenly Supreme Court from which there is absolutely no appeal. and the court will close and Jesus will come. And all the saints sing, `Amen, Even so, come, Lord Jesus.' The guilt of the unrepentant and unreconciled will stand for ever in eternity. Therefore, we cannot go soft on sins in our life!
"He that is unjust, let him be unjust still: and he which is filthy, let him be filthy still: and he that is righteous, let him be righteous still: and he that is holy, let him be holy still. And behold, I come quickly; and my reward is with me, to give every man according as his work shall be."
Revealtion 22:11-12
Every man, woman and child who has ever taken the name of Christ sincerely or insincerely has a case before the Supreme Court of Heaven. When that court closes, Jesus will come as King to render the execution of its verdicts.
The astounding, startling and serious fact is this:
We will not wait until doom's day to appear before the judgment seat of God. The Bible tells us that the court is in session already now - and has been in session for over 150 years, since 1844! When it closes, just before Jesus comes - (the hour of which no man knows) - it will be forever too late to be saved, Rev. 15.What? How could that be? How come no one told us this before?
This reaction is quite frequently found in Bible study and is the topic of this study today.
We recall what we said earlier, that God's last call was the Everlasting Gospel and it is also a call to judgment? (Rev. 14:6-7)
"For the hour of His judgment is come."
Verse 7
Notice: We read here not "will" come or "has come", but "Is Come"!
In other words, the judgment is already in session when men and women everywhere hear this message.
This means the "Review of Investigation" and "the deciding part" of God's judgment will be carried on in heaven during the closing days of this earth's history - and we today may know it is taking place right now in heaven.
From our earthly courts we know that every trial consists of three parts:
1. The investigation of evidence - the testimony of records and witnesses.Listen now and let it sink in:
2. The verdict or sentence, guilty or not guilty.And finally
3. the execution of the verdict.
For the righteous, or all those that have confessed faith in the blood atonement of Jesus at any time, the first two parts of the trial take place in heaven - before Jesus comes.When Jesus comes again in might and power, he comes to execute the verdict previously rendered, for the pronouncement in Revelation 22:11 is made in heaven before Jesus comes. The Bible tells us that "... the Son of man shall come in the glory of His Father with His angels; and then he shall reward every man ... behold, I come quickly; and my reward is with me ..." (Matth. 16:27; Rev. 22:12).
For those of you who never heard this, listen again:
Those that preach the "everlasting gospel" in the last days and deliver this warning message of Judgment will be able to tell exactly when this last phase of judgment began, else how could the message ever be proclaimed to every nation, kindred, tongue and people in the "hour" of God's Judgment?To underscore this message we read again the following scripture:
"And he said unto me, Unto two thousand and three hundred days[400]; then shall the sanctuary be cleansed." Daniel 8:14 [500] So we plead with all, help in spreading this `eternal gospel' as spoken of in the Bible. Many today are unemployed or underemployed, that need not be. We all have a job to do, to spread the message of the soon coming of Jesus.
But let us go on with this study.
We are still in Daniel chapter 8.
In Verse 17 we read this vision is for the "Time of the End!" And Verse 19 tells us it has to do with the "last end of the indignation," and verse 26 adds "it will be for many days." In other words, it is for our day, recorded for our warning and preparation to meet Jesus through the gospel - to be called and attracted to a life with Him.
We also recognize that the prophecies in the Bible cover the whole of salvation history. Just listen to the preaching in the churches and over the air waves to understand that the gospel, though varied, is preached everywhere today. For that reason we can be sure that God has prophecies which point to our time, the closing days of earth's history. The 2300 days of Daniel 8:14 is such a time span which encompasses over 2000 years in order that we may know when this `Good News' heavenly judgment begins - `Good News' for those who choose God it truly is.
To unravel this long time period we apply God's `master key' found in the Bible in two places, underscoring its importance.[515]
"After the number of the days in which ye searched the land, even forty days, each day for a year, shall ye bear your iniquities, even forty years, and ye shall know my breach of promise."
Numbers 14:34
"And when thou hast accomplished them, lie again on thy right side, and thou shalt bear the iniquity of the house of Judah forty days: I have appointed thee each day for a year,"
Ezekiel 4:6 [530]
Here we learn that 2300 days is really 2300 literal years of historic time for one prophetic day represents one literal year. These 2300 prophetic days are imbedded in the middle of the symbolic prophecies of the kingdoms as described in chapter 8 verses 1-12 and verses 20-26, and therefore these 2300 days are also symbolic, they stand for literal years.
Why Daniel Fainted and the Meaning of the Jewish Sanctuary Service
Knowing about this length of time does nothing unless we know its starting point. While Daniel chapter eight is an account of a vision and symbols, the explanation of this vision is interrupted at the end of the chapter by Daniel's illness and fainting, leaving only the 2300 days not fully explained. In fact, it was the angel's opening statement of explanation on this point that made Daniel so very ill. We read:
"And I Daniel fainted, and was sick certain days; afterward I rose up, and did the king's business; and I was astonished at the vision, but none understood it."
Daniel 8:27
In chapter nine Daniel then pours out his heart to God in a most beautifully stated prayer.
At this point it is very important to consider Daniel's circumstances in order to understand Daniel's prayer. Daniel fainted and became ill because of the "vision of the evening and morning ... is true".
This statement refers back to Daniel 8:14 and the 2300 year-days before the sanctuary was to be cleansed. We must also comprehend the context of Daniel in Babylonian captivity and what the cleansing of the sanctuary would mean to a captive Daniel [540].
With many others Daniel was far away from his homeland. King Nebuchadnezzar had taken prisoners and the vessels of God's temple (Dan. 5:3) to Babylon and destroyed Jerusalem and the temple itself leaving the sanctuary exposed to destructive weather, rain and heat.
Despite knowing the temple was exposed to the elements, Daniel prayed daily three times by his open window facing the direction of Jerusalem to keep his heart connected with God and worship. As a result of this earnest seeking for God on the part of Daniel, God came closest to the restoration of personal fellowship this side of Eden with Daniel until Jesus walked among man. In Jewish faith, the only way men could approach God properly in these Old Testament times was through the Sanctuary Service at the Temple of Jerusalem. For this reason they addressed their prayer by facing toward Jerusalem. (Consider Ex. 25:8-9; Num. 7:89; Ps. 77:13; 68:24; Num. 18:1; John 3:19-20; 6:33,35; Rev. 8:3-4; Hebr. 7:25; Rev. 3:21)
We understand now that Daniel fainted and became ill because deep down he realized that these 2300 evenings and mornings were years and that thought took momentarily his breath away and flored him.
The Connection between Daniel 8 and 9
We recall that the division into chapters of the Book of Daniel was done in modern times. Daniel's fervent prayer and the angel's response to it would not be understandable unless this is recognized. The problem of this long time prophecy of 2300 year-days, Daniel refers to the words in chapter 9 verse 2. [550] Here he says he understood by books, that Israel would be in captivity only 70 years, referring to Jeremiah 25:11 and especially Jeremiah 29:10.
"For thus saith the Lord, That after seventy years be accomplished at Babylon I will visit you, and perform my good word toward you, in causing you to return to this place."
Jeremiah 29:10
Daniel thought God was going to extent the captivity of Israel from 70 years to 2300 years and all this time there would be no restoration of the Holy Sanctuary service! Now we can understand Daniel's astonishment and the intensity of his beautiful intercessory prayer.
Several times Daniel refers to Jerusalem's desolation and to the destruction of the Sanctuary and verse 17 summarizes his whole prayer:
"Now therefore, O our God, hear the prayer of thy servant, and his supplication, and cause thy face to shine upon thy sanctuary that is desolate, for the Lord's sake."
Daniel 9:17
But the verse, more than any other, which shows unmistakably that the explanation of the angel is a continuation of the misunderstood vision of Daniel 8:14 is Daniel 9:21 and the last phrase of verse 23:
"Yea, while I was speaking in prayer, even the man Gabriel, whom I had seen in the vision at the beginning, being caused to fly swiftly, touched me about the time of the evening oblation ... therefore understand the matter, and consider the vision."
Daniel 9:21,23
Here Daniel says that it was the same angel Gabriel of Daniel 8:16 whom he "had seen in the vision at the beginning," who returned to continue the explanation.
Comment: Now we are prepared to understand clearly the vision that tells us the date for the coming of the Messiah, the date for his death, the date for the gospel to go to the Gentiles and the date for the beginning of the judgment. [570]
The start of prophetic time is presented in Daniel 9:24-27.
"Seventy weeks 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
[575], and to seal up the vision and prophecy, and to anoint the most Holy.
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 the people of the prince that shall come shall destroy the city and the sanctuary; and the end thereof [shall be] with a flood, and unto the end of the war desolations are determined.
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, and for the overspreading of abominations he shall make [it] desolate, even until the consummation, and that determined shall be poured upon the desolate." Daniel 9:24-27 [580]
Simple math tells us that, according to the `a day for a year' principle,
seven weeks represent ........................ 07 weeks ....... x 7 ... = 0049 yearsHistory tells us that three decrees were issued by Persian kings. The first decree, issued by Cyrus (559 - 530 B.C.), reads as follows:
threescore (a score =20) = ................... 60 weeks ....... x 7 ... = 0420 years
plus the 2 weeks = .............................. 02 weeks ....... x 7 ... = 0014 years
yields ................................................. 69 weeks
Grand Total in years: ......69 weeks x 7 days/week ........ = .......... 483 years
Now in the first year of Cyrus king of Persia, that the word of the LORD by the mouth of Jeremiah might be fulfilled, the LORD stirred up the spirit of Cyrus king of Persia, that he made a proclamation throughout all his kingdom, and put it also in writing, saying,(civil liberty)
Thus saith Cyrus king of Persia, The LORD God of heaven hath given me all the kingdoms of the earth; and he hath charged me to build him an house at Jerusalem, which is in Judah.
Who is there among you of all his people? his God be with him, and let him go up to Jerusalem, which is in Judah, and build the house of the LORD God of Israel, (he is the God,) which is in Jerusalem.
And whosoever remaineth in any place where he sojourneth, let the men of his place help him with silver, and with gold, and with goods, and with beasts, beside the freewill offering for the house of God that is in Jerusalem (religious liberty). Ezra 1: 1-4 This decree granting full civil and religious freedom, issued in 536 B.C., did not lead to the rebuilding of Jerusalem and represents a precedent for the subsequent decrees.
The second decree, issued by Darius (521-485 B.C.) in 519 B.C., reads:
"Then Darius the king made a decree, and search was made in the house of the rolls, where the treasures were laid up in Babylon.
Ezra 5:1-12
The second decree led to a small effort to get construction going but was stymied by the local population.
And there was found at Achmetha, in the palace that is in the province of the Medes, a roll, and therein was a record thus written:
In the first year of Cyrus the king the same Cyrus the king made a decree concerning the house of God at Jerusalem, Let the house be builded, the place where they offered sacrifices, and let the foundations thereof be strongly laid; the height thereof threescore cubits, and the breadth thereof threescore cubits;
With three rows of great stones, and a row of new timber: and let the expenses be given out of the king's house:
And also let the golden and silver vessels of the house of God, which Nebuchadnezzar took forth out of the temple which is at Jerusalem, and brought unto Babylon, be restored, and brought again unto the temple which is at Jerusalem, every one to his place, and place them in the house of God.
Now therefore, Tatnai, governor beyond the river, Shetharboznai, and your companions the Apharsachites, which are beyond the river, be ye far from thence:
Let the work of this house of God alone; let the governor of the Jews and the elders of the Jews build this house of God in his place.
Moreover I make a decree what ye shall do to the elders of these Jews for the building of this house of God: that of the king's goods, even of the tribute beyond the river, forthwith expenses be given unto these men, that they be not hindered.
And that which they have need of, both young bullocks, and rams, and lambs, for the burnt offerings of the God of heaven, wheat, salt, wine, and oil, according to the appointment of the priests which are at Jerusalem, let it be given them day by day without fail:
That they may offer sacrifices of sweet savors unto the God of heaven, and pray for the life of the king, and of his sons.
Also I have made a decree, that whosoever shall alter this word, let timber be pulled down from his house, and being set up, let him be hanged thereon; and let his house be made a dunghill for this.
And the God that hath caused his name to dwell there destroy all kings and people, that shall put to their hand to alter and to destroy this house of God which is at Jerusalem. I Darius have made a decree; let it be done with speed."
The third decree, issued by Artaxerxes (465-425 B.C.) in the fall of 457 B.C. (his 7th regnal year), reads:
"Now this is the copy of the letter that the king Artaxerxes gave unto Ezra the priest, the scribe, even a scribe of the words of the commandments of the LORD, and of his statutes to Israel.
Ezra 7:11-14
This decree was the final one and for the first time, provided for the establishment of the Jewish State under Persian control and taxation, and led to the successful fulfilling of the prophecy to rebuild Jerusalem. The Bible says, that, after Nehemiah took charge of the building works, it took 52 days and the wall was finished, Neh. 6:15. This tells us that Nehemiah was a motivator. He looked ahead and saw how much it meant for the people inside the city to be able to sleep in peace at night knowing their enemies would not be able to sneak into the city unhindered.
Artaxerxes, king of kings, unto Ezra the priest, a scribe of the law of the God of heaven, perfect peace, and at such a time.
I make a decree, that all they of the people of Israel, and of his priests and Levites, in my realm, which are minded of their own freewill to go up to Jerusalem, go with thee."
Beginning in 457 B.C. and dating 483 years into the future brings us to 27 A.D. As you calculate this remember that the year 1 B.C. was followed by the year 1 A.D. and there is no year zero. Ignoring that would result in one year short, 26 A.D.
The prophecy says "until the Messiah the Prince", referring not to the birth of Jesus but to the date of his baptism. The word "Messiah" is the Hebrew word meaning "anointed one".[600]
Jesus was God's Son in the flesh from the time of His birth, fully God, fully man. But Jesus was anointed by His Father with the Holy Spirit to carry out His Divine mission as Messiah at his baptism, when the heavens opened, the Spirit descended upon Him in the form of a dove and the Father proclaimed Him publicly as His Son.[700]
Jesus came exactly on time in the fall of 27 A.D. to the Jordan to be baptized of John the Baptist.[705]
The Book of Luke gives enough guidance to pinpoint this exact date of history. Luke 2:1-23 makes it clear Jesus was baptized in the 15th year of Tiberius Caesar. According to a number of reliable authorities Tiberius began his rule with his step-father as Co-regent in A.D. 12, his 15th year would therefore be 27 A.D. Therefore, Jesus could be the only one in all of history who was the Messiah. This prophecy in the Book of Daniel was made in 538 B.C. and was fulfilled precisely on time. [720]
The most foolish and unscholarly thing some started to teach became known as the `gap theory'. They apply, with reference to Daniel chapter 9, the confirming of the covenant to the `anti-christ' in the days before Jesus comes! It is called the `gap theory' because they must insert into the prophecy almost 2000 years that have passed since Jesus died following which they re-insert the 70th week as applying to anti-christ. This is wresting the Bible texts involved from their context to teach what they want to teach. It is also where the seven-year tribulation theory originates from. This interpretation is impossible, illogical and just does not fit anywhere in the context of these passages. Jesus is the one who confirms the covenant from the time of His baptism in the fall of 27 AD to the stoning of Stephen in the fall of 34 AD. This is the period of the last week, the 70th week.
The 70th Week - Chart
Consider the following evidence:
As we have seen, Jesus came on the scene on time in 27 A.D. Did he die on time?
We read in Daniel chapter 9:
Verse 25: "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, and for the over spreading of abominations he shall make [it] desolate, even until the consummation, and that determined shall be poured upon the desolate."Here Daniel says the Messiah is to confirm the covenant with many for one week. How long is that in prophecy? In prophecy one week equals 7 years. We calculated already the 69 weeks which equal 483 years and which took us from 457 B.C. to 27 A.D., The one week of the 25th verse needs to be tacked on to the 69 weeks and constitutes the 70th week and results in a total year period of 490 years [800]
Verse 26: "And after threescore and two weeks shall Messiah be cut off, but not for himself ..."
But "in the midst of the week He would "cause the sacrifice and oblation to cease."
What is the meaning of that?
One half of one week is obviously 3 ½ prophetic years - the exact length of time during which Jesus ministered to his people. At the end of this 3 ½ year period, the middle of the prophetic week, Jesus died on the cross just like the prophecy specified and thereby confirmed the covenant to Israel and many generations of believers of all ages and nations. By His death in the spring of 31 A.D., He caused all need and reason for the sacrifices and oblations of the Jewish service to cease (Dan. 9:27) and that is the reason why New Testament Christians no longer offer animal sacrifices or engage in any of the other ceremonial tasks relating to these temple services. Jesus was God's Lamb, the true sacrifice for sin. All the slaughtered animals of the Jewish system were only Heaven ordained symbols of their faith in salvation to come through Jesus, the Messiah, and pointed forward to Him.
That is why we read:
"For it was not possible that the blood of bulls and of goats should take away sins."
Hebrews 10:4
It was the moment in history when Jesus preached the gospel of the Kingdom of God, saying,
". . . The time is fulfilled, the kingdom of God is at hand: repent ye, and believe the gospel."
Mark 1:15
There is only one possibility which time Jesus was speaking about, the time recorded in Daniel 9:24,25. The prophecy which takes us from the decree to restore and rebuild Jerusalem to "the Messiah, the Prince." This period of 69 weeks, which symbolized 483 years, is here confirmed by Jesus Christ Himself. He became the anointed when John led Him down into the waters of the Jordan in 27 AD, and when the Holy Spirit rested upon Him in the shape of the dove, Mark 1:9,10. John the disciple recognized Jesus as the annointed, John 1:41. Thus Jesus statememt "the time is fulfilled," vindicates the year-day principle, as does John's application of the 1260-day prophecy in his Book, the Revelation.
What about the second half of the one week period? The second half relates to the remaining 3 ½ years of Messianic time promised to "confirm of the covenant". It marks the time when the gospel of the covenant was expanded - meaning to be preached to the Gentiles also. This takes us straight into the Book of Acts.
After the death of Jesus and before His ascension 40 days after His resurrection (Acts 1:3), Jesus told His disciples in the great gospel commission they should go first to the lost sheep of the house of Israel. They spent the balance of the 3 ½ years of covenant time doing just that. God did not reject Israel as the bearer of His grace, which is the good news of the gospel, for killing His Son on Calvary. But He did so because they refused to repent and accept that death as necessary for their salvation, as the atonement for their sins, during the 3 ½ years from Calvary to the stoning of Stephen.
In the Book of Acts we find the outline of progress by which the gospel was to go to the world.
"But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the world."
Acts 1:8
In 34 A.D. Stephen was stoned to death by members of the Jewish Sanhedrin after his powerful, spirit-filled testimony from Scripture concerning the evidences of Christ's divinity. The Jewish Sanhedrin was the equivalent of the United States Senate. The stoning of Stephen represents an official national rejection of Jesus and the gospel.
"When they heard these things, they were cut to the heart, and they gnashed on him with [their] teeth.
Acts 7:54-58
Because of this final act of rejection climaxing the 490 years of confirming or fulfilling His covenant to the Jewish nation, God reluctantly took the gospel from the hands of the Jewish Nation. From that time we notice that the gospel began in a marked way to go to the Gentiles. As Paul states, God no longer makes a difference between Jews and Gentiles, or any race, for all are one in Jesus.
But he, being full of the Holy Ghost, looked up steadfastly into heaven, and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing on the right hand of God,
And said, Behold, I see the heavens opened, and the Son of man standing on the right hand of God.
Then they cried out with a loud voice, and stopped their ears, and ran upon him with one accord,
And cast [him] out of the city, and stoned [him]: and the witnesses laid down their clothes at a young man's feet, whose name was Saul."
The Church that at first had been entirely Jewish now began to gather to itself Greeks, Romans, Ethiopians, and people of every race and nationality.
The Cleansing of the Sanctuary
We have discussed the significant events of the 70 weeks, the 490 year period reaching from 457 B.C. to 34 A.D. What remains is the 2300 year-day period. When does that start and when does that end?
What is "the cleansing of the sanctuary?" and what does it have to do with the judgment? Which sanctuary is here being talked about?
Here follow some important considerations.
Studying about the sanctuary we discovered already that the Bible talks about at least two sanctuaries, the heavenly and the earthly, the `true' and the `shadowy', the `pattern' and the `replica'.
"And let them make me a sanctuary; that I may dwell among them.
Exodus 25:8-9
Since the 2300 years begin in the same year in which the 490 year period began, 457 B.C., it takes us to the year 1844 A.D. Just like God told the Israelites precisely when the `Day of Atonement' was to be celebrated (Lev. 23:27,32) so we can expect to know when God's people should be able to know exactly when the Judgment would sit.
In 1844 the ancient, Mosaic sanctuary was long gone and, therefore, could not be the one to be `cleansed'. This year also marks the fulfillment of Revelation 10:6:
According to all that I show thee, [after] the pattern of the tabernacle, and the pattern of all the instruments thereof, even so shall ye make [it]."
"... and time shall be no longer."
The time spoken of is prophetic time of which there are no periods which reach beyond 1844. The types of the Mosaic system having been fulfilled except those of the day of atonement, that leaves us with the `real' sanctuary in heaven which is made reference to in Daniel 8:14.
From the moment of Christ's death, the earthly Sanctuary no longer had a part in God's plan. Its role had been to keep men's eyes focused on the sacrifice of the Savior-to-come. Now that He had come, their eyes were to be lifted from the earthly Sanctuary to the one in heaven where that same Savior ministered as their High Priest in the Sanctuary above.
The Abomination of Desolation
When Jesus died on the cross a significant event occurred in the Temple of Jerusalem.
We read:
"And, behold, the veil of the temple was rent in twain from the top to the bottom; and the earth did quake, and the rocks rent; ..."
Matthew 27:51
By the tearing from top to bottom of this thick, multi-layered veil or curtain, which separated the Most Holy apartment from the Holy, God showed the earthly sanctuary service was now voided and men were to look to the heavenly. The rending of the veil also shows that each one of us can come before God personaly to pray for forgiveness and God's guidance in understanding His Word with a willing spirit to learn it.
In addition, the prophet Daniel also predicted the destruction of both, the Sanctuary service and the temple structure itself. It is to these events that Jesus referred to as we read:
"When ye therefore shall see the abomination of desolation, spoken of by Daniel the prophet, stand in the holy place, (whoso readeth, let him understand: ..."
Matthew 24:15.
It is very clear that Jesus referred to events which would take place to the generation of people that rejected Him. For this statement refers back to an earlier conversation in which He concluded,
"Your house is left unto you desolate" or forsaken, empty. Matthew 23:38 and Luke 19:41-44.
The prediction was fulfilled when the Roman armies surrounded the city of Jerusalem and laid siege to it. The city finally fell in 70 A.D. and the earthly sanctuary was destroyed. Not one stone was left upon another as Jesus predicted in Matthew 24:1-2; See also Dan. 9:26,27; 12:11; Jer. 51:51; Eze. 7:16-22. [900]
We have already considered much about the Jewish Sanctuary. Now we shall turn our attention to the New Testament explanation of the function of Jesus, our High Priest, and His work in His Heavenly Sanctuary for us. We want to especially discover the meaning of the "cleansing of the Sanctuary".
We read:
"Now of the things which we have spoken [this is] the sum: We have such an high priest, who is set on the right hand of the throne of the Majesty in the heavens;
Hebrews 8:1-6
Hebrews chapter 9 goes on to outline the significance of this earthly Sanctuary service as a type of the heavenly. Verse one tells us the first covenant, sometimes referred to as the `old covenant' had ordinances of divine service and a worldly or earthly Sanctuary. However, it is from His Heavenly Sanctuary that He now sends forth the Holy Spirit into our lives when we accept His gospel and receive Him as our Savior. Jesus is now directing the affairs of man from that position in heaven.
A minister of the sanctuary, and of the true tabernacle, which the Lord pitched, and not man.
For every high priest is ordained to offer gifts and sacrifices: wherefore [it is] of necessity that this man have somewhat also to offer.
For if he were on earth, he should not be a priest, seeing that there are priests that offer gifts according to the law:
Who serve unto the example and shadow of heavenly things, as Moses was admonished of God when he was about to make the tabernacle: for, See, saith he, [that] thou make all things according to the pattern showed to thee in the mount.
But now hath he obtained a more excellent ministry, by how much also he is the mediator of a better covenant, which was established upon better promises."
For this reason we read:
"And after that I looked, and, behold, the temple of the tabernacle of the testimony in heaven was opened."
Revelation 15:5
From the Book of Hebrews we learn that the ancient Sanctuary and its services were "figures of the true:"
"For Christ is not entered into the holy places made with hands, which are figures of the true; but into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God for us."
Hebrews 9:24
Since the Mosaic sanctuary was modeled after the heavenly it stands to reason that we should find clues in the ancient services which explain what occurs in the heavenly. This we have already described here and also hier in some ways (for our German readers) in previous files.
In summary, the Bible gives us four key dates:
Opposition to the Sanctuary Doctrine
- The date Christ's earthly ministry began.
- The date on which Christ's sacrificial death in the outer court occurred.
- The date on which His First Apartment mediation in the heavenly sanctuary began - after His ascension.
- The date Christ's Second Apartment Final Atonement began - the beginning of the great Investigative Judgment.
The sanctuary doctrine has long been a point of contention. Why is that so? Ellen White explains it this way:
"Many and earnest were the efforts made to overthrow their (early Advent believers) faith. None could fail to see that if the earthly sanctuary was a figure or pattern of the heavenly, the law deposited in the ark on earth was an exact transcript of the law in the ark in heaven; and that an acceptance of the truth concerning the heavenly sanctuary involved an acknowledgment of the claims of God's law and the obligation of the Sabbath of the fourth commandment. Here was the secret of the bitter and determined opposition to the harmonious exposition of the Scriptures that revealed the ministration of Christ in the heavenly sanctuary."
[GC, p. 435.]
In this writers opinion such opposition is illegitimate and detrimental to Christian growth in Christ Jesus. One reason why the idea of A.F. Ballenger and others, that, when Christ went back to heaven after His ministry on earth, he went back to where God is, which must be the Most Holy Place, is a result of inadequate study, is because these critics didn't study the Thrones of God! Placing God everywhere (and no-where) in heaven wars against the biblically revealed type and anti-type of the Tabernacle Sanctuary Temple. [See also here for a detailed study.]
Notes & References
[0100] That these are the words of Jesus himself is underscored by the previous context.
[0200] "He that believes on him is not condemned: but he that believes not is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God. And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil." John 3:18-19.
Jesus, in our heart, leads us to search His Word. Says He, `Abide in me as I abide in my Father.' (See John 15:4-7) We abide with Jesus by reading His Word. His inspired Word, the whole Bible (not just a few favored verses), teaches the whole spectrum of the history of salvation from beginning to end. After we have first accepted Christ we may go on and learn how this age of sin will come to a close to restore the world to the state it was first meant to be.
Question: `If an investigative judgment is necessary to determine who are prepared for the kingdom of God, how was it that Christ was able to assure the disciples beforehand that in the regeneration when the Son of man should sit in the throne His glory, that they also would sit upon twelve thrones?' `Isn't it true that the Lord knows them that are His?' 2.Tim. 2:19.
Answer: God is eternal, omnipotent, omnipresent, and omniscient. Belief in the Final Judgment is not a denial of the truth of God's all-knowingness. We should not set the Investigative Judgment against the omniscience of God. By such a strained argument many other Bible truths can be destroyed as well. Divinity knows from eternity past, every choice mankind would make, and the consequent results in the life and salvation of every creature. But it was thought best in Divine councils to have an Investigative Judgment as a concluding part of the great controversy, to reveal to the universe the justice underlying every aspect of salvation and damnation. God doesn't need a Day of Investigative Judgment but His creatures do. Judgment that will sit to weigh and decide the lives of men is a basic truth taught in the Bible. It does not teach that this great Examination was done at some point in the past, nor does it teach that it is never to be done at all, as a thorough study of this subject shows.
[0300] The last portion of these verses quote a portion of the fourth commandment where we read, "... the Lord made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that in them is ..." Exodus 20:11.
[0400] Literally `evenings and mornings', that is days.
[0500] Historically, some, at one time, thought this referred to the actual return of Christ in the clouds of Heaven, but in all the 260 New Testament references to this event, not one gives even a hint of the actual day or date! In fact, Christ Himself, declared in Matthew 24:36: "Of that day and hour knoweth no man, no not the angels of heaven, but My Father only." But the same Lord repeatedly urged, Watch! Watch! Watch for the signs, the milestones of our Lord's return. Now we can say, never before have these mileposts been fleeting past us any faster than today. - - What is the meaning of "coming in the clouds" of Matthew 24:30; Rev. 1:7? Some teach that the phrase `coming in the clouds' is merely a metaphor, the carrying over of an idea and not a literal event. However, in Acts 1:9,11 we are told that at a future point in time, `coming in the clouds' as Christ ascended to heaven will be the way Christ will return at the time of the end to begin His reign.
[0515] We may say when God says something once in His inspired Word, we ought to pay attention, when He says something twice even more so, once He says something three times we better listen up in full attention.
[0530] Ezekiel was a prophet during the Babylonian captivity and began his ministry ca. 592 BC, six years before the captivity of the people.
[0540] There were three types of captivities, the captivity of the kingship (609-539 BC), the captivity of the people (605-536 BC), and the captivity of the temple (586-515 BC). We use the captivity of the people in this topic. The important point to remember is that by 515 BC, all three 70 year stretches came to their end and the prophecy to its completed fulfillment. Jeremiah's `70 year captivity' prophecy relates to Daniel's `70 weeks' prophecy in that both use the number 70, a multiple of `seven', the seventh day Sabbath is highlighted here for all to take notice of. But the 70 weeks have other characteristics we discuss above which separate it from the 70 year prophecy.
[0550] As a reminder, prophecy may be classified in the following ways:
Prophecy may be classified by content:
1) ethical messages of reform for contemporaries as through Elijah and Jeremiah.
2) predictions in which the ethical element may often occur as through Isaiah, Jeremiah and Daniel.
Prophecy may be classified by form:
1) literal prophecies,
2) figurative or symbolic prophecies,
3) enacted prophecies,
4) prophetic parables.
Prophecy may be classified as to range:
1) immediate or short-range prophecies,
2) predictions of single, distant events,
3) long-range outline prophecies covering long periods.
[0570] More on the interrelationship of Daniel 8:14 and 9:24-27. After receiving a vision of a ram, he-goat, and a little horn, Daniel heard the voice of a heavenly being asking a series of questions - "How long shall be the vision, the daily, and the transgression of desolation, to give both the sanctuary and the host to be trodden under foot?" Daniel 8:13. He was then told the answer - "Unto 2300 days, then shall the sanctuary be cleansed." This concluded the vision. Daniel wanted an explanation. He then heard a commission given - "Gabriel make this man to understand the vision. . . . for at the time of the end shall be the vision." Dan. 8:16,17. However, the 8th chapter closes with the words, "I was astonished at the vision, but none understood it." As we said, the vision of the morning and evening was not understood by Daniel. The ninth chapter of Daniel describes events some 11 years later and tells of Daniel searching the books of Jeremiah, and entering into prayer concerning the prophecy found there. While Daniel is praying Gabriel comes, Dan. 9:21. Daniel related the coming of Gabriel to the prior vision he had seen which had as yet not been fully explained. Gabriel himself confirms this understanding. And we read the angels words in Dan. 9:22-23. He gave Daniel no additional vision - and the only previous vision which Daniel had not understood was the 2300 day period. Contextual wise then we can say that chapter 8 and 9 have something in common and belong together.
Is there a linguistic connection? In these two chapters, there are two Hebrew words used for the word `vision'. How they are used serves as an important link between Daniel 8:14 and 9:24-27. One word for vision is "ghah-zohn", the other, "mar-eh". The word "ghah-zohn" is used to refer to the vision as a whole (Dan. 8:1-3), while the word "mar-eh" is used to refer to the 2300 days specifically. Observe closely how the word "mar-eh" is used. In Dan. 8:14, the word "days" is not from the usual Hebrew word "yohm", but rather, "evenings (and) mornings". For this reason this part of the vision is noted as "the vision of the evening and morning." Dan. 8:26. In this instance, the word for vision is 
"mar-eh". Gabriel was specifically instructed to make Daniel understand the vision - the word being "mar-eh", Dan. 8:26, this in contrast to the word "chazon" in the same verse. When Daniel expressed astonishment at the vision, indicating that none understood it, the word `mar-eh', Dan. 8:27, is used. When Gabriel returns, Daniel observes that he is the only one whom he had seen in the vision,
"ghah-zohn/chazon", to which Gabriel refers, and the only prior vision is the vision of Dan. 8. Conclusion: On the basis of linguistic evidence Dan. 8:14 and Dan. 9:24-27 are related but you ought to follow the links to see the scriptures.
[0575] First, the Hebrew word for "week" is `shabua' and the Greek word for `the week' is `teis sabbasin' or `sabbata' meaning `a week' or `from Sabbath to Sabbath.
Righteousness by Faith is more than a doctrine - it is a way of life, including the conduct and administration of the Church. What the future holds because of the continued failure to reverse the trend of spiritual death is given as follows. Based on Ezekiel chapter 9 we read: "Here we see that the church - the Lord's sanctuary - was the first to feel the stroke of the wrath of God. The ancient men, those to whom God had given great light, and who had stood as guardians of the spiritual interests of the people, had betrayed their trust. They had taken the position that we need not look for miracles and the marked manifestation of God's power as in former days. Times have changed. These words strengthen their unbelief, and they say, The Lord will not do good, neither will He do evil. He is too merciful to visit His people in judgment. Thus peace and safety is the cry from men who will never again lift up their voice like a trumpet to show God's people their transgressions and the house of Jacob their sins. These dumb dogs, that would not bark, are the ones who feel the just vengeance of an offended God. Men, maidens, and little children, all perish together. ... No superiority of rank, dignity, or worldly wisdom, no position in sacred office, will preserve men from sacrificing principle when left to their own deceitful hearts. Those who have been regarded as worthy and righteous prove to be ring-leaders in apostasy and examples in indifference and in the abuse of God's mercies. Their wicked course He will tolerate no longer, and in His wrath He deals with them without mercy." [EGW, Testimonies, Vol. 5, p. 211.]
[0580] The Hebrew word for `cut off' is `chathak' 
.
The Hebrew word for week is `
"shabua', a period of seven (days)'. Those who postulate the year 458 BC as the year in which Ezra returned to Jerusalem are just slightly off because of the accession year method. See here for the details.
[0600] See Isaiah 61:1-2 and compare to Matthew 11:5 and Luke 4:16-21.
[0700] See Matthew 3:16-17 and also Acts 10:38.
[0705] Nothing the Lord does is by accident or without a lesson to learn. This was true at the time when John the Baptist was announced to his parents as it was to the birth of Jesus. Like Abraham, so Zacharias and Mary were to learn a spiritual lesson which man usually is slow to learn and fast to forget. The lesson was to be humble and submit themselves and have faith in the power of God. Five hundred years before the birth of John the Baptist, the Lord communicated to Daniel through the angel Gabriel the prophetic period which was to extend to the coming of Christ. The knowledge that the end of this period was near had moved Zacharias to pray (Luke 1:5-13) for the Messiah's advent. Now the very messenger, through whom the prophecy was given to Daniel, had come to announce its fulfillment to Zacharias. The words of the angel, "I am Gabriel, that stand in the presence of God," show that he holds a position of high honor in the heavenly courts. When he brought the message to Daniel, he said, "There is none that holdeth with me in these things, but Michael [Christ] your Prince." (Dan. 10:21). - Zacharias had expressed doubt on the words of the angel. This resulted in that he was not to speak again until they were fulfilled. Since he was a priest in the Temple at Jerusalem, his doubt weight different then if a common working man would have doubt. We are responsible for what we know and expressly believe. That is so because it was the duty of the priest in the service of the temple to pray for the pardon of public and (corporate) national sins, and for the coming of the Messiah; but when Zacharias attempted to do this, he could not utter a word. The importance of the calling of John the Baptist was, however, of far reaching consequences beyond preaching repentence and to baptize. His age was characterized by intemperance in every form among the people. Indulgence in wine and luxurious food was lessening physical strength, and debasing the morals to such an extent that the most revolting crimes did not appear sinful. The voice of John was to sound forth from the wilderness in stern rebuke for the sinful indulgences of the people, and his own abstemious habits were also to be a reproof of the excesses of his time. That is why John was to be raised in right and strict meal time habits. The connection between intemperance and gross sin are obvious even today.
[0720] A list of 10 fulfilled time prophecies includes: 1) The 120 years to the Flood (Gen. 6:3); 2) the 7 days preceding the Flood and the 40 days of rain (Gen. 7:4); 3) the 400 years of sojourn of Abraham's seed (Gen. 15:13); 4) the 3 days of the butler's and baker's dreams (Gen. 40:12-20); 5) the 7 years of plenty (Gen. 41:28-54); 6) the 40 years in the wilderness (Num. 14:34); 7) the 3½ years of famine (1.Kings 17:1; - Lk. 14:34); 8) the 70 years captivity (Jer. 25:11); 9) Nebuchadnezzar's 7 times (Dan. 4:13-16); 10) the 7 weeks, 3 score and 2 weeks, and the 1 week, making 70 weeks, determined upon the Jews (Dan. 9:24-27).
We should explain also the 1335 year/ day period of Daniel 12:11,12. We read: "And from the time that the daily sacrifice shall be taken away, and the abomination the makes desolate set up, is 1290 days. Blessed is he that waits, and comes to the 1335 days."
We explained already the 1260 prophetic year/ day period which reached from 538 to 1798 A.D.. The end of the pagan Roman Empire, however, occurred not in a single year. It was in 508 AD **) (others say 476) that the pagan Roman Empire (under Justin) came to its end that this, however, was not made into law and declarations until 538 AD. When we calculate this out we get 508 + 1335 = 1843, a year very close to the significant year of 1844. What does that mean? The Word of God says, "Blessed is he that waiteth (1 year long) and comes or reaches 1335 days."(Dan. 12:12) The students of these prophecies during those years in the first half of the 19th century, for example William Miller**, calculated at first that the 2300 year/day period would end in 1843. Their error was one of information. They thought at first that 1 BC was followed by the year 0 which was followed by 1 AD. This, however, is not how the BC/AD calendar was setup. It was setup to be 1 BC was followed by 1 AD. It appears that God held his hand over this error in order to sift the adherents to these teachings. As 1843 came along and nothing happened, the ca. 100,000 believers shrank back to a handful by comparison. They had rechecked their calculations and discovered the error. That is how next 1844 was anticipated to be the year when Christ would come.
We learn from this that God had given His prophet at least two methods to know when some important heavenly truths were to be proclaimed. God did this because He is more cunning than man. Why is He more cunning? Because during a few decades before now, doubters did their work and cast unbelief on the sanctuary and investigative judgment messages. They said, don't believe anymore in 1844 and the investigative judgment. Only problem is, they forgot about Daniel 12. They forgot that the 1290 and 1335 year/days of Daniel 12:11,12 also pointed to these endtime years (1798 and 1844). They forgot that 508 + 1335 = 1843 and 508 + 1290 = 1798. These prophetic time periods tasted at first "... sweet as honey" (it was a happy making message) (Offb. 10:9) but then was "... bitter in the belly" as the expected event did not occur in 1843. The Advent believers experienced a delay, a waiting time. The time from 1843 to 1844 was that waiting time and those who patiently waited experienced a blessing - of course - only if they kept being patient through the sifting period. And that is why we read in Habakkuk 2:3, that there is this tarrying or waiting time. And yet, there were about 100,000 people ready to meet the Lord. But after that great disappointment, there was only left a handful in the room. That was the first shaking of Adventism.
Excluding other starting dates for the 1260/1290 year period. Why should we not use an event like the stoning of Stephen for starting these time periods? Was the sacrifice taken away in 34 AD? Since 1260 + 34=1294, what happened then? Anything that fulfills prophecy? No, friends. The sacrifice was taken away as a figure of speech by Rome with their high mass, and by cancelling God's holy day and substituting their first day holy day. In other words, we need a year which solidified the power of the papacy in Rome.The year 538 AD is such a year.
** William Miller, in his days before he studied Prophecy, penned a remarkable poem: "'Come, blest Religion, with thy angel's face, Dispel this gloom, and brighten all the place; Drive this destructive passion from my breast; Compose my sorrows, and restore my rest; Show me the path that Christian heroes trod, Wean me from earth, and raise my soul to God!"
Let us remember that all these dates and calculations mean that God was not to leave His people in complete darkness as to when the endtime is coming near. Both years, 1798 and 1843/44, are important dates on God's prophetic calendar. They point to the beginning of the heavenly judgment. In other words, we all have a date set to appear before the judge not in person but by our record filed in a book in heaven. This is important for the whole world to know since we take charge of our character and let the blood of Jesus Christ cleanse us from all our sins and keep our robes clean unto the day of His coming. That is the group of faithful believers I desire to belong to. How about you?
** In the secular book `History of the Christian Church' (p. 141) I read that between 476 and 519 events happened which indicate the end of the pagan Roman empire. It says, "... the Roman see, feeling its honor and its orthodoxy attacked by this practical rejection of Chalcedon, excommunicated Acacius and broke off relations with the East, the schism continuing till 519, when the Emperor Justin renewed the authority of Chalcedon, under circumstances that increased the prestige of the papacy." In `Western Civilization' (p. 352) I read that "the emperor Zeno devised a scheme whereby he could rid himself not only of the Ostrogothic menace, but at the same time, of the German chieftain Odovacar, who ... had deposed the Western Emperor Romulus Augustulus in 476. Thus in 489 Zeno sent the Ostrogothic King Theodoric (d. 526) to conquer Italy and rule it in the emperor's name." - Therefore, we see out of these two sources how close they come to the year 508 AD as the end of pagan Rome which became more codified by 538 AD when the papacy began its absolute rule. It appears that a pope Silverius (537-538) was in place in 538 AD but died in that year to be followed by one named Vigilius (538-555).[`Annuario Pontificio' Official Papal Yearbook]
[0800] 70 weeks times 7 days per week = 490 prophetic day-years, Daniel 9:24. The Jewish year had 12 months. How many days were in each month? We learn that from the Flood account. 17th day of the 2nd month to the 17th day of 7th month (Genesis 7:11; 8:4). From Genesis 7:24; 8:3 we learn that the flood lasted 150 days. When 5 months last 150 days, each month lasts 30 days. From Old Testament times then, Jewish reckoning of time used 12 months of 30 days each in a year that had 360 days. In the Book of Revelation we learn that 1260 days equal 3½ years which equal 42 months, where again, each month has 30 days. Therefore, in prophetic time each year has 360 days and each month has 30 days. Listening to radio sermons of preachers of various Protestant denominations we learn some (John McArthur) start to preach about Daniel's time prophecies and the increase in earthquakes as predicted by Jesus toward the end of time. These are messages that God's end time church has preached for more than 150 years.
[0900] For the account of Josephus on the destruction of Jerusalem in 70 A.D. see his book Wars of the Jews,
Bk. II, ch. xix - Josephus states the remarkable fact, that, when Cestius was marching upon Jerusalem, in fulfillment of the words of Jesus in Mt. 24:20, and had reached Lydda, not many miles from Jerusalem, "he found the city empty of its men; for the whole multitude were gone up to Jerusalem to the Feast of Tabernacles." [Ibid., Sec. 1.] - The law of Moses required the presence of every male in Israel at this feast in Jerusalem, Deut. 16:16. This way, in the providence of God, the disciples had no Jewish enemies left in the country to hinder their flight and they escaped as Jesus had told them to pray for that opportunity not to occur in the winter or on a Sabbath.
How do we know the flight was not on a Sabbath day? (See [Josephus, War of the Jews,' Bk. II, ch. xix, Sec. 1,2; 7, p. 495, 496.]) - The whole Jewish nation, now assembled at Jerusalem, did most openly violate the Sabbath a few days prior to the flight of the discpiles. Josephus then states, "He (Cestius) pitched his tent at a certain place called Gabao, 50 furlongs** distance from Jerusalem. But as for the Jews, when they saw the war approaching to their metropolis, they left the feast, and betook themselves to their arms; and taking courage greatly from their multitude, went in a sudden and disorderly manner to the fight, with a great noise, and without any consideration had they of the rest of the seventh day, although the Sabbath was the day to which they had the greatest regard; but that rage which made them forget the religious observation [of the Sabbath], made them too hard for their enemies in the fight; with such violence therefore did they fall upon the Romans, as to break into their ranks, and to march through the midst of them, making a great slaughter as they went." We see then that a very short time before the disciples' flight, on the eve of their flight, the rage of the Jews toward their enemies made them utterly disregard the Sabbath! - But after Cestius encompassed the city with his army, he thus gave inadvertently the signal Jesus had spoken of, he suddenly withdrew his troops, as Josephus says, "It then happened that Cestius was not conscious either how the besieged despaired of success, nor how courageous the people were for him; and so he recalled his soldiers from the place, and by despairing of any expectation of taking it, without having received any disgrace, he retired from the city, without any reason in the world. When the robbers perceived this unexpected retreat of his, they resumed their courage, and ran after the hinder parts of his army and destroyed a considerable number of both their horsemen and their footmen; and now Cestius lay all night at the camp, which was at Scopus; and as he went off further next day, he thereby invited the enemy to follow him, who still fell upon the hindmost and destroyed them ... So it was not without difficulty that they got to Gabao, their former camp, and that not without the loss of a great part of their baggage. There it was that Cestius stayed two days; and was in great distress to know what he should do in these circumstances. ..." - This was the moment of flight for the disciples. It marks how the providence of God opened the way for his people in Jerusalem to escape. [** 1 furlong is 660 feet, 50 = 33,000 feet = 6¼ miles]
How do we know the flight did not take place in the winter? Because we read it occurred during the `Feast of Tabernacles' which took place a week after the Day of Atonement in mid July. Josephus also tells that Cestius camped out all night, saying, "... and now Cestius lay all night at the camp" (Ibid. Sec. 7), which would have hardly been said so without problems during the winter time.
Bk. V,
ch. i - Sedition at Jerusalem;
ch. ii - Titus marched to Jerusalem;
ch. iii - Sedition revived in Jerusalem;
ch. iv - Description of Jerusalem;
ch. v - Description of the Temple;
vi - Concerning the Tyrants;
vii - How one of the towers fell down;
viii - How the Romans took the 2nd wall twice;
ix - Titus, when the Jews were not at all mollified by his leaving the siege for a while ...;
x - How many desired to desert to the Romans and the famine;
xi - How the Jews were crucified before the city;
xii - Titus thought fit to encompass the city with a wall;
xiii - The great slaughters and sacrilege that were in the city;
Bk VI, ch. I - The miseries of the Jews still grew worse;
ii - How Titus gave orders to demolish the Tower of Antonia;
iii - Stratagem of the Jews, burnt many of the Romans;
iv - When the ... Battering Rams ... could do nothing ... orders to set fire to the gates of the Temple;
v - Distress of the Jews upon the conflagration of the Holy House concerning a false prophet, and the signs that preceded the destruction;
vi - How the Romans carried their ensigns to the Temple;
vii - What afterwards befell the seditious;
viii - How Caesar ... gave orders for machines to be brought ... but then he possessed the whole city;
ix - What injunction Caesar gave when he was come within the city.;
The Prophecy of Jesus that Jerusalem would be destroyed was given in 30 AD, 40 years before the actual event. Jesus had told His disciples to pray that "your flight be not in the winter, neither on the Sabbath day." Mt. 24:20.
