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Well I knew the time would eventually come. I would have to finally deal with Daniel's 70 weeks and do a series of articles on this very important part of Biblical prophecy. I had declined up to now because this is not only a task of great importance but the difficulty in presenting all the problems that are connected with this prophecy is no small thing to deal with. You will see as we begin to get into this serious issue and I will make a dedicated effort to present the information in such a way that the average reader will not only comprehend the truths concerning this prophecy but the problems surrounding it and the reasons for them. So let us begin with some introductory remarks as we begin.
As said by many throughout the years the Book of Daniel is one of the more controversial and disputed books in the whole of the Tanakh (the Hebrew Bible). It was this problem that almost cost the book of Daniel being included in the Jewish Bible. Needless to say there are great differences between the Jewish and the Christian interpretation to the Book of Daniel. Even more today we find the same problem existing as many Biblical scholars are at odds with the Book of Daniel and it's interpretation. This runs the gamut from authorship to the dating of the book itself.
Christians cite many passages of the Hebrew Scriptures to attempt to prove that Jesus of Nazareth is the Messiah spoken of by the prophets. If you have been reading our articles up to now then you know that Bet Emet Ministries has dealt with the corruption of the Hebrew Bible in detail as we have shown repeatedly how the Hebrew Scriptures were corrupted, adulterated, and purposefully mistranslated and misquoted to teach things concerning the Messiah and later Jesus which were never in the minds of the original writers. In other words God's Word as it originally existed has been terribly altered for theological purposes down through history and we today are hard pressed to find the Bible Jesus; in fact it does not exist outside of Biblical Judaism.
One of the more frequently cited passages for proving Jesus is the Messiah is the ninth chapter of the Book of Daniel. Their assertion is that this chapter predicts the coming of the Messiah before the destruction of the Second Temple, which occurred in the year 70 CE. and since Jesus is believed by many to be "the" Messiah then he has to be the fulfillment of Daniel chapter 9. The main verses cited from Daniel 9 to support this assertion are verses 24-27.
Answer for yourself: Is such circular reasoning to be trusted and can examination of the Biblical texts as found in the Hebrew when contrasted with the Greek and later English translations shed any light upon this matter?
As I have been saying and teaching for years the grammar of a Biblical text in it's original language as well as the "CONTEXT" of a Biblical passage along with it's surrounding verses are extremely important for understanding the meaning of any Biblical text.
In order to gain a outlook on the context of Daniel 9 it would be helpful to read through the entire chapter. But then the problems only begin for there are existing today not only the version in the Jewish Bible but multiple variations in the Christian Bible and the confusion only commences as to the original meaning of the passage. Often it is almost, notice I said almost, impossible to gain truth regarding the Biblical texts when so much variety abounds among successive translations with all the manipulation of the Biblical texts by men throughout history which have had various "theological motives. Daniel chapter 9 is not exception as you will quickly see.
If you are a reader of these articles then I presume you are a seeker of truth. It is not my intention to "make" Jesus "the Messiah" nor is it my intention to prove Jesus is "not the Messiah." It is only my intention to examine the Biblical texts as they existed in the days of Jesus for truth as well as examine the path of their textual corruption by the Gentile Church and their "theological" agendas whereby the Hebrew Scriptures were altered to force "fulfillments of prophecy" and attach such "fulfillments" to Jesus when the original writer did not intend such fulfillments in the first place. This is what I have discovered in the fifteen plus years of scholarly research into my faith both during and following Seminary and the years of my Pastorate. You the readers are the final judge as you evaluate the evidence that Bet Emet Ministries will present in these forthcoming articles. I have full faith that when the facts are presented to you in such a manner then you will be able to make an intelligent decision once you see the whole ball of wax so to speak.
What we will see in the forthcoming articles is a verse by verse and text by text exposition of Hebrew words and phrases along with attention paid to grammar and punctuation of the Hebrew Scriptures in translation as well as these same parameters affecting the Greek and English texts of these same Hebrew passages in the various Christian translations. What we need find if we can is continuity in the presentation of the same ideas expressed in context within the Hebrew Scriptures. We either have a faithful translation in our Greek translation of the Hebrew Scriptures or we don't and this of course affects the Latin and English translations that emanate from the Greek as well. Said another way: "We as Christians and followers of Jesus" either have the truth of created fiction" as the fruit of purposeful mistranslation and misquotation and adulteration of the Hebrew Scriptures by the Gentile Christian Church down through recorded history. Unlike before when the Gentile nations of the Dark Ages could neither read nor study the Hebrew and the Hebrew language became a "dead" language even to the Jewish people we today are fortunate to live in an age where the Hebrew language has been revived and the discoveries of the Dead Sea Scrolls confirm the accuracy and authenticity of the 9th and 10th century Masoretic texts. Before the discovery of the Biblical texts as Qumran in 1949 know today as the Dead Sea Scrolls these Hebrew Masoretic texts from the 9th and 10th century were discounted by the Christian world because they read different from the famous Greek translation from the 2nd century B.C.E. It was assumed by Christendom that these Masoretic texts were "deJesusized" and this was the standard answer as to why these Hebrew Scriptures from the 9th and 10th century read so differently than the Greek translation supposedly taken from them. But upon discovery of the Dead Sea Scrolls we find that the Essenes of Qumran had two Bibles: a Greek text and a Hebrew text and they do not read the same and are startling different in many "key" places.
Answer for yourself: Don't you find that quite odd that the Essenes of Qumran would have two very "conflicting" Bibles?
Well it is not my intention to deal with this issue at this time as I have on other websites to anyone's satisfaction. But what we find is that the Essenes of Qumran had their own theology and it contradicted and opposed much of the religious beliefs of the Hebrew Scriptures and one only need to begin an investigation as to what was really found at Qumran to see this for yourself.
As we begin serious study into Daniel chapter 9 and the Seventy Weeks of Daniel and it's Messianic implications let us remember these two passages:
Deut: 4:2 Ye shall not add unto the word which I command you, neither shall ye diminish from it, that ye may keep the commandments of the LORD your God which I command you.
Deut. 12:32 (13:1) All this word which I command you, that shall ye observe to do; thou shalt not add thereto, nor diminish from it.
Our task is simple. We must discover upon study and examination what the true Biblical text of Daniel 9 was in the days of Jesus as well as it's interpretation by the normative Jews of Jesus day. Then we have to make sure that we as Christians and followers of Jesus have been taught the same things and if we find out that we have not we need find the answers as to "why not?".
It is to these issues we now turn.
Needless to say the Book of Daniel is one of the more polemical and controversial Biblical books in the Tanakh (the Hebrew Bible). History is dotted with numerous examples detailing great differences in both the understanding and interpretation of the book between Jews and Christians. As if that is not enough Biblical scholars are at odds with each other as well, specifically concerning authorship and the dating of the work. In the following articles I will address in my opinion the most important of these areas of contention in the interpretation of the book of Daniel pertaining to chapter 9 and the Seventy Weeks.
The prophecy concerning the Seventy weeks of Daniel (Dan 9:24-27) is perhaps the most contested verses of the Bible as to interpretation. Rabbinic Judaism would purport the prophecy was already fulfilled based on the reading and the punctuation in the Hebrew Masoretic text, while Christian notables such as Adam Clarke in their interpretations of the Christian texts of Daniel 9 state the Christian interpretation is in keeping with the Septuagint (the Greek translation of the Hebrew Scriptures). Yet these Jewish and Christian interpretation of Daniel chapter 9 and the Seventy Weeks are completely opposite!
Answer for yourself: How can that be?
The Rabbinic Jews would then further assert that the Septuagint only consisted of the Pentateuch and that the other books such as Daniel were falsely translated and altered not only before but after the time of Christ Jesus. Of course, the Christians say "not so" and that all of the books of the Bible were translated at least fifty years prior to Christ Jesus' advent, that the Greek speaking Jews themselves used the Septuagint until AD 200, and the Masoretic text was falsified as to these passages. On and so forth the arguments go. And not only are the texts controverted between Christian and Rabbinic Jew, but the application of the Christian translations are so controverted between various camps of Christian that is a wonder today than anyone can find the the truth concerning Daniel chapter 9 and the Seventy Weeks.
It would do us well to understand that the prophecy of Daniel does include some specific date setting by God, Himself, and not to mull over it some would be perhaps a bit negligent. But our problems start right in the beginning as to which Bible we are to "trust;" the Jewish Bible or the various Christian translations of Daniel 9 which don't agree with it at all.
Christians are taught to believe according to their Christian and Greek translations of the Hebrew Masoretic texts that the exact time for the coming of the Messiah and the kingdom are given by Daniel and "fulfilled" by none other than Jesus. Of course the Jews and their scholars say that is nonsense because the Hebrew Masoretic text does not say that.
Answer for yourself: So what is the truth of the matter? Did Jesus fulfill Daniel's Seventy Weeks and is this proof that he is Israel's Messiah? And if so then how could the Jewish people and their Torah scholars miss this most important point in their own Hebrew Scriptures?
Christians cite many passages of the Hebrew Scriptures to attempt to prove that Jesus of Nazareth is the Messiah spoken of by the prophets. If you have been reading our articles up to now then you know that Bet Emet Ministries has dealt with the corruption of the Hebrew Bible in detail as we have shown repeatedly how the Hebrew Scriptures were corrupted, adulterated, and purposefully mistranslated and misquoted to teach things concerning the Messiah and later Jesus which were never in the minds of the original writers. In other words God's Word as it originally existed has been terribly altered for theological purposes down through history and we today are hard pressed to find the Bible Jesus; in fact it does not exist outside of Biblical Judaism.
One of the more frequently cited passages for proving Jesus is the Messiah is the ninth chapter of the Book of Daniel. Their assertion is that this chapter predicts the coming of the long expected Messiah before the destruction of the Second Temple, which occurred in the year 70 CE. and since Jesus is believed by many to be "the" Messiah then he has to be the fulfillment of Daniel chapter 9. The main verses cited from Daniel 9 to support this assertion are verses 24-27.
Answer for yourself: Is such circular reasoning to be trusted and can examination of the Biblical texts as found in the Hebrew when contrasted with the Greek and later English translations shed any light upon this matter?
As I have been saying and teaching for years the grammar of a Biblical text in it's original language as well as the "CONTEXT" of a Biblical passage along with it's surrounding verses are extremely important for understanding the meaning of any Biblical text.
In order to gain a outlook on the context of Daniel 9 it would be helpful to read through the entire chapter.
But then the problems only begin for there are existing today not only the version in the Jewish Bible but multiple variations in the Christian Bible and the confusion only commences as to the original meaning of the passage. Often it is almost, notice I said almost, impossible to gain truth regarding the Biblical texts when so much variety abounds among successive translations with all the manipulation of the Biblical texts by men throughout history which have had various "theological motives. Daniel chapter 9 is not exception as you will quickly see.
Now let us continue.
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