Prophecies Fulfilled

1. Jesus – The Destruction of Jerusalem
   • The prediction by Jesus of Jerusalem being surrounded by armies in Luke 21:20, seems to clearly be Titus marching on Jerusalem with his 3 legions in 70 AD. 
   • Jesus specifically warns people “let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains, let those in the city get out, and let those in the country not enter the city.”
   • But people didn’t listen to what Jesus said.  In fact, the siege of Jerusalem began about the time of passover.  As s result, the Romans allowed people to enter the city, but not to leave it, which ended up being a huge contributing factor to the destruction of Jerusalem as the increase in populous quickly depleted food and water supplies within the city walls.  Had the jews heeded the words of Jesus, they may have escaped with their lives. 
     
2. Daniel – 70 Sets of 7

• Daniel speaks of 70 sets of 7.  That is 70 weeks of years, or 70 sets of 7 year periods.  69 of these were to pass between the time of an issued decree to restore and rebuild Jerusalem until an anointed one (Jesus) comes.  Chuck Missler presents a thorough and compelling chronology of these 69 weeks. 
• The text of Daniel goes on to say “He will confirm a covenant with many for one seven.  In the middle of the ‘seven’ he will put an end to sacrifice and offering. And at the temple he will set up an abomination that causes desolation, until the end that is decreed is poured out on him”
• We know that the end of the sacrifice and offering came with the destruction of the temple in 70 AD, and that the text of Daniel says, that’s the middle of the final “Seven.”  The middle of 7 is 3.5 years – so if we look back 3.5 years to 66 AD, this is actually when the Jewish Roman War begins, and interestingly it actually lasts exactly 7 years. 
• According to Josephus, the end of sacrifice begins on August 5th, 70AD.  If we subtract 3.5 years (half of 1 seven), and remember that a year is 360 days in the Jewish calendar, we get a date near the spring of 67.  Again according to Josephus, this was the time that Vespasian gathered the roman forces together.  This could be the “firm covenant with many for one week” spoken of by Daniel – the covenant could be an alliance, agreement, pledge, league or treaty.  As this marks the beginning of the gathering of the Roman forces (“with many”), this seems like it could be the covenant Daniel references. 
• Problems with this Theory:
  • Matthew notes that Jesus says: “Immediately after the distress of those days “‘the sun will be darkened,  and the moon will not give its light; the stars will fall from the sky, and the heavenly bodies will be shaken.’ “Then will appear the sign of the Son of Man in heaven. And then all the peoples of the earth will mourn when they see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven, with power and great glory. And he will send his angels with a loud trumpet call, and they will gather his elect from the four winds, from one end of the heavens to the other.
    • If the distress of those days was 67-73 AD, are there any recordings of the things Jesus says happening?
      • Darkened Sun
      • Moon doesn’t give light
      • Stars fall from sky
      • Heavenly bodies (sky) shaken.
      • The sign of the son of man appears in heaven. 
      • The people of earth will mourn when they see the Son of Man coming on the clouds with power and glory. 
      • Angels sent with a loud trumpet call
      • Elect gathered from ends of the earth
  • If we know that the 69 sets of 7 lasted from 445 BC until 32 AD (69 x 7 x 360 = 173,880 days) and were all consecutive, why would the final set of 7 begin 35 years later in 67 AD?  Why wouldn’t it just continue on in consecutive days/years and end in 39 AD?
    • Daniel’s prediction doesn’t necessarily suggest that the final week must immediately follow the 69 weeks, so it is possible to allow this to begin at a different time.
  • Daniel’s prophecy suggests that 6 things will happen during the 70 weeks regarding the Jews and Jerusalem.  But have these things really been achieved?
    • Bring the rebellion to an end  (certainly the destruction of Jerusalem and subsequent killings and enslavement of the Jews ended their rebellion against Rome).
    • Put a stop to sin (Sin still exists in the world, that much is obvious.  You’d have to suggest that this means sin is no longer counted due to forgiveness of sins by Jesus death – that might be a stretch of an interpretation.)
    • Atone for iniquity (Sin was definitely atoned for by Jesus death)
    • Bring in everlasting righteousness (This does not exist except in the state of Jesus allows it to be available to those who believe in him).
    • Seal up vision and prophecy (You could argue that this means there are to be no more prophetic visions given by God, though prominent scholars believe Revelation was written around 95 AD, though that is up for debate and does seem to have some flaws. 
    • Anoint the most holy place.  (You could argue that this is God’s people being anointed with the Holy Spirit)