Friday, February 20, 2015

Suleiman and the 70 Weeks of Daniel

I've argued on this Blog for why I believe the first 69 weeks of Daniel 9 were fulfilled from 454 BC-30 AD.  I decided later in response to those who are Futurists yet view the 70th Week as fulfilled, to investigate the possibility of the 70th week being fulfilled from 30-37 AD.  And then I came to the conclusion that the 70th Week is a Prophecy with a dual Fulfillment.

I eventually decided to contemplate in my mind the possibility of the first 69 weeks having a second fulfillment also.  This would require another decree to rebuild Jerusalem.  It need not seem identical to the one by Artaxerxes or any other Persian ruler.  It matters only that it fit what Daniel 9 says of it.  Interestingly Daniel 9's description of the Decree says nothing about Israelites returning to Jerusalem at this time, or anything about The Temple.  Only the City being restored and rebuilt with a specific emphasis on The Walls.

I decided to look at Wikipedia's Timeline of Jerusalem and saw that 1535-1538 AD Suleiman The Magnificent had Jerusalem rebuilt including The Walls which had been in ruin since at least 135 AD. Also The Dome of The Rock was renovated then.  These restored Walls are the Walls that stand to this day.  The story goes that he gave a decree to rebuild the Walls that was prompted by a divinely inspired dream he had.  Whatever prompted the Decree, we have archaeological evidence of it.
Building inscription commemorating the rebuilding of the walls of Jerusalem 
Jerusalem 
Ottoman period, 1535–1538 
Stone 
Israel Antiquities Authority 
Accession number: IAA 1942-265 
The Ottoman Sultan Suleyman the Magnificent ordered the construction of new buildings in Jerusalem and the renovation of existing ones. Among his most notable projects were the renovation of the Dome of the Rock on the Temple Mount and the rebuilding of the Jerusalem city walls. The walls, reminiscent of those surrounding Istanbul, are the ones that still surround Jerusalem’s Old City today. This building inscription commemorates their renewal.
“Has decreed the construction of the wall he who has protected the home of Islam with his might and main and wiped out the tyranny of idols with his power and strength, he whom alone God has enabled to enslave the necks of kings in countries (far and wide) and deservedly acquire the throne of the Caliphate, the Sultan son of the Sultan son of the Sultan son of the Sultan, Suleyman.”
Digital presentation of this object was made possible by: The Ridgefield Foundation, New York, in memory of Henry J. and Erna D. Leir
I've already addressed the usual argument against Date Setting.  

Problem is we don't know exactly when this "decree" was, it was in the range of 1535-1538 AD.  In my view in order for it to fit perfectly it needs to have been made in Nisan.  

I did some searching and found that others had noticed this possibility before me.  A lot of them however seem to incorporate mistakes about the 70 Weeks Prophecy I addressed in my earliest posts on it.

I saw on one website someone arguing that only this Decree could fit Daniel 9 and not any of the Persian ones.  They base it on seeing Daniel 9:25 as saying that the Wall must continually stand at least during the entirety of the 62 weeks.  The Walls built during Persian times were breached at least once before the earliest possible date one could give for the 62 weeks ending (106 BC and that requires a few assumptions I view as wrong, I as you know see them as ending in 30 AD), by Antiochus Epiphanes forces, Josephus Antiquities of The Jews Book 12 Chapter 5 does say he destroyed the walls.  Suleiman's Walls meanwhile have stood without interruption unto this very day.

The problem with that argument is that it removes the first Advent of Christ from the 70 Weeks.  Also Gabriel was clearly promising something in the near future, something at least some of Daniel's original readers would live to see.  What's said about the Walls standing has room for interpretation, Antiochus did not completely destroy them like the Romans did in 70 and 135 AD. 

It is a common feature of Double Fulfillment Prophecies that certain key details are not fulfilled in their truest sense till the second fulfillment, that's largely why we know it needs a second.  In the case of the 70 weeks we tend to see the 70th alone as what needs something yet future to be fulfilled.

But given what I argued already about my view of the 70th Week, the implication that perhaps the Walls could be torn down or breached when the Eschatological 70th Week starts is pretty provocative.  Since I am expecting the Nisan that starts The Week to include an Islamic conquest of Jerusalem in response to The Temple being rebuilt.  And a Decoy Antichrist will kill the true Antichrist who will be heralded as Messiah Ben-Joseph.

Most people believe if Jerusalem is conquered by a foreign enemy during the 70th Week it's at the midway point, at the same time as the Abomination of Desolation.  And I have other reasons for thinking an End Times deception could involve making people think the beginning of The Week was it's middle.  It was I think in Nisan that the Walls of Jericho fell.

If this theory is true, I think some discovery will be made before the 70th Week begins that will clarify exactly when Suleiman made his decree.  And if it was in Nisan on either the Rabbinic Hebrew, Kariete Hebrew or Samaritan Hebrew calendar, then I will start feeling this hypothesis is very possible.

The margin of error currently gives us Nisan of 2018-2021 for the start of the 70th week.  Tishri of 2021-2024 for the Midway Point, when I place The Rapture/Second Coming, and when we all place the Abomination of Desolation.  And Nisan of 2025-2028 for the end of the 70th Week.

People have independently of this seen reasons to look to that range for the end times.  Some of those I might get into in future posts.  I've offered two possible 70th Week theories on this blog before, neither of which are compatible with this.  I'm trying to consider many possibilities.

Update: It seems the 1535-1538 range is really the time the walls were under construction, though other construction in Jerusalem continued for awhile after, 1541 for the Golden Gate, and then additional renovations after the 1546 Earthquake.  Which means the Decree could have likely been Nisan 1535 placing the 70th week as 2018-2025, with the Seventh Trumpet sounding on the First of Tishri in 2021, marking the Mid-Way Point.

I've come to view the 7 and 62 weeks distinction as that the 7 weeks is how long the construction went on.  I know of no documentation that anything was exactly finished in 1584, but it's possible, that's 38 years after the earthquake.

Also a correction on something I said above, it was April 1st 1969 not 68 reconstruction in the Old City was allowed.  I've seen one website suggest that the second fulfillment perhaps switched the order of the 7 weeks and the 62 weeks.  I think that's torturing the text a bit, but that it is a full jubilee from then to Nisan 2018 is interesting.

Update May 2017:   If you want to learn more about Suleiman himself in an easy and fun way, I recommend watching Extra History: Suleiman The Magnificent.

20 comments:

  1. It seems more plausible to me that the weeks of years would roll according to the secular Jewish calendar, from Tishri through Elul. That would put the midpoint of the tribulation week near the Spring Feasts. Jesus entered triumphant into Jerusalem on the tenth of Nisan, perhaps His counterfeit will want to emulate that idea as well. This consideration would also have Jesus' return aligning with the Fall feasts, which have not yet been fulfilled by Him, as the earlier feasts were.

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    1. I'm aware how popular that assumption is. But I"m aware of no Biblical precedent for the Secular Jewish calendar at all, and indeed only Rabbinic Jews acknowledge it, Karites do not.

      I'm not even convinced of the theory that the year begin with Tishri before the Exodus, even though I like the implication of the Ark landing on the 17th day of the 7th being the same day as the Resurrection, that day falling during Tabernacles could also possibly mean something.

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    2. Hi Jared, about 3 days ago I had the same revelation as you about Daniel 70 week prophecy (although I had not yet come across your website - nor any other raising this point). I came to the conclusion that Daniel's 70 week prophecy is repeating in our day. I arrived at this conclusion by working backwards. I determined that if this was the year of Jubilee and also the year of the Harpazo of the Church - then Daniel's 69 prophetic weeks (Dan 9:24-27) would expire in the year 2018. So then I counted backwards 69 weeks from the year 2018 (69x7=483years) and I arrived in the year 1535AD. When I saw in Wikipedia that Sultan Suleiman of the Ottoman Empire had made "A DECREE" in 1535ad "TO REBUILD THE WALLS OF JERUSALEM" - I realised that this prophecy of Daniel was indeed repeating itself in our time. For this is the same precise language of Daniel 9:25. And so now, if time permits, I will be researching Suleiman the Magnificent and "his decree" so that I may write a short book on this Bible prophecy. For then Christians will know with certainty that there are yet still 7 Years of Great Tribulation on God's timeline to be completed. In 1535ad William Tyndale was arrested for translating the Greek New Testament into English. But by God's divine providence the English NT was printed and distributed only a few months later that same year - all over England and Europe. I find this to be no trivial coincidence as it was the first mass printing "ever" of the English NT in Europe. And the fact that this coincided with Suleiman's decree to rebuild of the Old walls of Jerusalem cannot be left to chance. Perhaps Yosua's point about an additional 7 years being added to the year 2025 is referring to the first Shemita cycle of Christ - when He returns in the year 2025ad to rule and reign on the earth at his Armageddon coming - which also happens to be Israel's 77th Birthday of Independence. God Bless.

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    3. Hi Jared, I forgot to mention that many people were called into ministry in 2011 (7 years ago). And this would explain why Jacob worked 7 years for Rachel (but was immediately deceived by Laban into marrying Leah (the true mother of the Covenant - Judah). And then Jacob having to work another 7 years for Rachel in anguish and bitter lamentation (tribulation). And, it also explains Joseph's seven years of plenty - those called in 2011 to sow and prepare good seed for the harvest in the seven good years (by writing books, articles and recording videos etc - so their works do follow them)to provide for those remaining on the earth in the seven 7 lean years of Great Tribulation to follow.

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    4. Also pointed out in my book which uses the Hebrew holy days to decode The Revelation, there is no evidence that Christ himself will return at the end of the age. This is the common interpretation that also motivates Fundamentalist Christians to wish for and even assist Israel to rebuild their temple as it will lead to the return of the Christ. The prophecies of the Bible are not merely 'dual' they are multi. Jesus said that not all flesh would be destroyed. Was he talking about the events leading up to 70 a.d. or about the near future? The judgment of the earth and the Great White Throne Judgment do not have to be one and the same. In fact the implication is a thousand years in between. Or 365 thousand since to God a day is a thousand years. Also look up the translations for day and week and year in Hebrew. They have multiple meanings. Day also means 'era'. Year also means ' cycle'. Week also means 'Set of seven'.There are 7 of Gods Appointed Times in a year. So Daniels 70 sets of seven can be 70 years, 490 years, 70 Jubilees of the 50 year kind or of the 70 year kind or all of the above as the prophecies repeat. I totally agree however with the partial fulfillment notion that implies it ain't over yet. Antiochus Epiphanes, Caligula, Nero, Christ. All fit the description if The Annointed one (the Messiah). Now we are looking for a ruler who worships walls, is a little horn or a trumpet that blades who speaks boastful things, who does not admire women or the praise of women, who is a man of lies, a lawless one who makes an image walk and talk (TV?). There remain several significant acts not yet done: he will shoot stars down from the sky, and he will change the calendar.We assume the calendar of Israel since that is who the prophecy is about. He will place a talking statue of a foreign God in the Holy of Holies and will abolish the daily sacrifices. Well without the temple there can be no holy of Homies and no sacrifices to abolish. So get ready for a holy war by 2021 if you are right about the years.

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    5. A small point about the image walking and talking look perhaps at Sophia the walking talking robot and know it has been granted citizenship just a little food for thought. What is the title of your book and is it published
      Thanks

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  2. It is also interesting to note that it was the same year, 1535 that the Vatican ordered the famous painting in the Sixtin chapel, representing end times. Very strange. If we add another 7 years period after 2025, we arrive in 2032, exactly 2000 years (or "2 days") from the crucifixion. "The 3rd day He will revive us". Maybe these last 7 years from 2025 to 2032 will be the period of the true tribulation following the false one made so that "even the elects would be deduced if it were possible"...

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    1. 2025 would be the end of the 70 weeks, including the 70th.

      I've often considered the possibly that the first half of the Week will be mistaken for the second Half.

      I've also considered that the Time of Jcaob's Trouble could total 20 or 21 years.

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  3. That's true, but I don't know if we can count the first 7 years as "trouble":

    "And Jacob served seven years for Rachel; and they seemed unto him but a few days, for the love he had to her. (Gen 29:20)

    If we consider this, then there are 13 or 14 years left, or two periods of 7 years, where the last one is really troublesome and shortened, like it is said in Matthew 24:22 that "those days should be shortened..."

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    1. Well if this Hypothesis is true, then things need to go down this Spring. So I'll be paying attention, but I'll be fine if it turns out to be wrong.

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    3. I have read elsewhere online that Jacob's trouble in fact is not the time when he worked for Laban, but after. it's true that jacob worked hard during these years, but hard working doesn't necessary means "trouble". What happened after these years was more "troubling". During is flight from laban, Jacob's was sandwiched between Laban who chased him from behind, and Esau that came before him with four hundred men. It is written: "Then Jacob was greatly afraid and distressed" (Gen 32:7). That sounds more "troubling" than the previous hard but peaceful years of working for Laban. Maybe both have to be count has "Jacob's troubles"...

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  4. According word of God it fulfill
    It's difficulty to caliculatte and imagine

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  5. In my book The Sound of the Trump which is available on Amazon but I intend to revise soon due to more information now, I have marked 2028/29 as the end of the 6000 year age of mans struggle with God. Based on many events including the 50 year Jubilees from the time of Christs ministry beginning( 28/29 a.d.) There will have been 40 of those by the end of 2029 but wait. The first jubilee in Canaan was delayed 7 years. So the date of the 7 years from 2018 to 2025 May be right on the button. It is Nostradamus date for The Great Cateclism. But from 2025 to 29 are probably the dates of the last 3 and 1/2 years of the seven in which the saints wake up and ask "How Long?". Then the Great Tribulation begins all over the world with holy wars and yes, those who call themselves Christians killing Jews Muslims any other faith. After the great tribulation says Christ in Matthew, the sun will grow dark etc. This is now the sixth seal. Now we are faced with another chronological dilemma. One more year as is the common belief? Or another 7 years of astronomical events during the judgment upon the earth? That is the big question. For the decree of 1535 by Suleimon the Magnificent will have been 490 years ago by 2035/36.

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    1. "For the decree of 1535 by Suleimon the Magnificent will have been 490 years ago by 2035/36."

      I think you want to say 2025/26. (Sometimes me too I wish I could edit my posts). I also wonder if the death and resurrection of Christ have not also another 1 day = 1000 years prophetic meaning:
      "After two days will he revive us: in the third day he will raise us up, and we shall live in his sight." (Hos 6:2). That may mean a rapture/second coming sometimes just after 2030...

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  6. Jesus said I come not to destry the law but to fulfill it. The Feast days of Leviticus 23 were a part of the law and as I'm sure most of you reading this know He fulfilled the first four springtime Feast Days so beautifully right on their exact dates.
    The three unfulfilled Feast Dates were in the fall of the year in the Harvest season. What has been growing an is now awaiting Harvest is the church and so the harvesting, the rapture of the church must and will be on a future Feast of trumpets. No other date. God will NOT depart from His divinely pre-set schedule of events. It's the next Feast day and it's fulfillment that nobody seems to want to address. The Day of Atonement know by Judaism as Yom Kippur. We who are reading this do not have to make an atonement. It was done for us on the cross long ago BUT; the nation of Israel MUST make an atonement as a nation for having rejected Our Lord on His first incarnation and for all the years since. Jeremiah called it the Time of Jacob's trouble and Zechariah 14 says that two-thirds of the Jews will perish. It will begin with the ceasing of the oblation and sacrifice and the abomination of desolation at the midpoint of the tribulation. Since the fulfillment of the Feast Day MUST occur on it's exact date it will then be on Yom Kippur of the particular year that marks 3 1/2 years in from the beginning of the tribulation. As an example, Yom Kipper, The day of Atonement in 2024 is October 12th. If th rapture occurs on the Feast of Trumpets in 2020, the tribulation begins in 2021, then October 12th would mark the mid point of the tribulation. The final Feast Day, The Feast of Tabernacles, will be fulfilled by the return of Jesus to reclaim the earth from the enemy (with us on white horses behind Him). This is why Zechariah 14 also says that all the nations of the earth must present themselves each year for the 1,000 of the millennial kingdom to commemorate the Feast of tabernacles. Why that particular Feast day? To commemorate the return of Our Lord to planet earth. See how this all works for any of you reading this.

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  7. Thank you so much for posting the details of the building inscription. I knew the years. But needed to find the evidence to support all that I have found. This is the start date of Daniel's prophecy! Yes, it would be great to have documentation of the year. But since we are in the age of Pisces, the beginning of the year for this information to fit would be 1547. Be blessed!!!! I think He already has.

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  8. D & C 88: 95-99

    95 And there shall be silence in heaven for the space of half an hour; and immediately after shall the curtain of heaven be unfolded, as a scroll is unfolded after it is rolled up, and the face of the Lord shall be unveiled;

    96 And the saints that are upon the earth, who are alive, shall be quickened and be caught up to meet him.

    97 And they who have slept in their graves shall come forth, for their graves shall be opened; and they also shall be caught up to meet him in the midst of the pillar of heaven—

    98 They are Christ’s, the first fruits, they who shall descend with him first, and they who are on the earth and in their graves, who are first caught up to meet him; and all this by the voice of the sounding of the trump of the angel of God.

    99 And after this another angel shall sound, which is the second trump; and then cometh the redemption of those who are Christ’s at his coming; who have received their part in that prison which is prepared for them, that they might receive the gospel, and be judged according to men in the flesh.

    https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/scriptures/dc-testament/dc/88?lang=eng

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  9. PS This was a great read. I personally believe the timeline is 2018-2025, and that the Trump's won't begin to sound until the event you know as the rapture happens (described in the above scripture). But I'm still tossing up a lot of ideas about that event. I'm not sure those who are raptured will be lifted off the planet until the very end--I wonder if some or all will stay, living in a heightened state having seen the Savior face to face. Just a weird idea I've been having.

    I think mid-point for the tribulation period will be sometime between March and May of this year (2021, and will be marked by some event as described in Revelation 12 after the 1260 day period passes. I'm sure you already know about the sign of Revelation 12: 1-2 happening on September 23, 2017. If you read the entire chapter Revelation 12, it's speculated to be symbolic story denoting a 7 year long period. Just so happens that a month before this sign happened, in Aug 2017 there was a total solar eclipse over the US, and in Apr 2024 (nearly 7 years later) another total solar eclipse will intersect the path of the first, making an X over the heartland of America (specifically missouri) Missouri is a special place to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints according to a revelation claimed by the founding prophet Joseph Smith multiple times in the early history of the church

    https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/scriptures/dc-testament/dc/116?lang=eng

    I understand there is a lot of literature that has poor things to say about the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, but having explored all of its doctrine and principles, it really has a lot of interesting information to be considered, and I'm beginning to wonder how much of the anti-church literature is biased and misled. Hopefully some of this info will aid you in your study of the end times.

    Thanks again for this article, it was an awesome read. (Loved the Dual Prophecy concept, would love to hear more about that.)

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