DANIEL’S SEVENTY WEEKS.
DEAR BROTHER, ―I have read with interest W. J. C’s paper on the last week of Daniel’s seventy.... However, it seems very hazardous to affirm, when chronologists differ, that the Lord’s ministry lasted just three and a half years. Some writers limit the time to one year and a few months; others to two and a half years; and others again reckon it to have commenced with one Passover, and finished with the fourth, thus making it to extend over a period of three years. Eusebius, who lived in the fourth century, expressed his agreement with this view, and in modern times the dissertations of Greswell are said to have established it with a high degree of probability. Still, this is not certainty. Besides, three years are not three and a half years, under any circumstances. Therefore the conditions required for the submerged half-week do not seem to be fully met, since a theory built upon conjecture is not safe, and is not what we are taught to rely upon either.
The prophecy of the seventy weeks is not conjecture, however, but the inspired word of the Living God. And is, therefore, that upon which our souls can rest, and to which our hearts must bow as the infallible word of truth.
Such being the case, we must be guided in the exposition of the prophecy by what it declares. There we are informed that seventy weeks were appointed unto Daniel’s people (the Jews) and his holy city (Jerusalem) to accomplish certain matters, a summary of which is then given.
Next we have the seventy weeks divided into three parts, viz., seven weeks, threescore and two, and one week. Then follow the special features that characterize each division. The seven weeks are devoted to building the walls of Jerusalem, the sixty-two weeks introduce the Messiah and His being cut off, and the last week is occupied with the Roman prince and his dealings with the Jews of the last days. This prince — who is the “little horn” of Daniel 7., the first “beast” or Revelation 8., and the beast who with the “false prophet” (or Antichrist) will be cast into the “lake of fire” (Rev. 19.) — at the beginning of the week will make a covenant with the Jewish people for seven years. The half-week will see the covenant broken, and the faithful Jews subjected to the most cruel persecutions, which will last until the Lord comes in person to deliver His people and destroy His and their enemies. Hence, perhaps, the reason why so much greater prominence is given to the last half-week in the prophetic word.
But, however this may be, there seems ample evidence that the whole week is taken up by the Roman prince and his doings. If this be the case there seems no room given for supposing that half the last week was fulfilled in the Lord’s ministry, and that it will be fulfilled a second time after the Church is gone. Such a notion is trot apparent in the prophecy at any rate.
Further, much is made of the word “after,” as if it must mean a long period subsequent to the sixty-two weeks. This is not necessarily the case, however. For the Hebrew word “achar” may mean “at the end” of a period or event, as immediately following it, and not as implying an interval. Thus, “at the end of the sixty-two weeks,” that is “when they are accomplished.”
Compare Genesis 41:29, 30, with verses 53, 54, for the use of this word.
Again, the word “unto” comes in for its share of indefiniteness. It becomes, therefore, an important question as to what part of our Lord’s earthly sojourn the reference is made. The word is, “unto Messiah the Prince shall be seven weeks and threescore and two weeks;” unto must refer then to the end of the sixty-nine weeks nearly. And this is further strengthened by the fact that the Lord Jesus is here called the Prince, which seems to mean much more than His mere birth-title “King of the Jews.” It probably refers rather to the only time that the Lord presented Himself to Jerusalem as her King, when He came thither on the ass’s colt (Matt. 21.). This was six days before He suffered as King of the Jews. “It is worthy of remark,” says one, “that the decree of Artaxerxes was issued in the month Nisan, the very month in which the Passover was kept, and in which our Lord both rode into Jerusalem and was crucified.” It was also the first month of the Jews’ religious year.
In conclusion, it seems evident that nothing need be introduced into the prophecy to elucidate more fully its meaning. Its divisions are few, and their landmarks plain and positive; and its numbers are definite and complete with reference to the sum total. Such being the case, does it not become us to leave the seventy weeks as they are, and seek to mold and regulate our thoughts and theories by what is written, instead of what is written by our thoughts and theories? — Yours, &c. W. J. H.
F. M. H. writes: — It seems to me that one great difficulty in considering Napoleon Bonaparte to have been the “seventh head” (Rev. 17:10) of the Roman Empire is that he did not make a seven years’ covenant with the Jews, &c.
I DON’T see the difficulty as to the “seventh head.” In Daniel nothing is said about seven heads, and we are not told anywhere that the seventh head is to make a seven years’ covenant. “The prince that shall come” (Dan. 9:26) will do so, and this prince will be the chief of the Roman Empire of that time. Clearly he will be the last chief of the resuscitated Roman Empire. (Might this not be the eighth of Revelation 17:11? — “and the beast that was, and is not, even he is an eighth,” &c.)
Now when this Roman Empire revives, it is seen to arise out of the sea (Rev. 13.) as a beast with seven heads and ten horns. What these heads and horns represent we learn from Revelation 17. “The seven heads are seven mountains” (ver. 9). This clearly, as we know, points to Rome geographically — the city of seven hills. In passing, does not this dispose of the view that not a few hold to-day, that there is to be a literal Babylon rebuilt in the land of Shinar? The Roman capital built on its seven hills will be the seat of the beast in its last phase, dominated by the corrupt religious system of Babylon the Great.
But not only do the seven heads stand for seven mountains, they have a double signification — “and they are seven kings.” I understand this to refer, not so much to individual rulers as to different forms of government which from time to time have characterized the “fourth beast.” The one that existed when John wrote was the imperial — this was the “sixth.” Possibly this was the head “wounded to death” of Revelation 13., which reviving became the “seventh.”
I do not affirm that Napoleon was this seventh head, but his brief and extraordinary career was most suggestive, and bears a striking analogy to what is said in Revelation17:10. However this may be, there is to be “an eighth” — not definitely called a “head,” for, in fact, this eighth stands for the beast itself. It is difficult, hover, to distinguish too precisely between the beast as such, and its chief. But what we do see clearly from the prophetic Word is that (1) the Roman Empire is to revive; (2) that it will have a prince over it in its last form; and (3) that this prince, whoever he may be, will make a covenant with the apostate Jewish nation for “one week.” — ED.
People say, How few opportunities we have for serving the Lord! Few opportunities! Why, your life is your opportunity! No matter what your circumstances are, every act of your life brings5 an opportunity to bring glory to the Lord Jesus Christ G. V. W.