Monday: Prophetic Timing
In the first lesson of this quarter, we studied how God called Zerubbabel (c. 538 B.C). and Ezra (457 B.C). to special ministries. In the second lesson, we considered God’s call for Nehemiah (444 B.C.). We need to realize that these callings were performed in harmony with God’s foreknowledge. For example, Zerubbabel was moved by God to do a specific task in response to the end of the 70 years of captivity that Jeremiah had prophesied.
In what year was Ezra called to ministry? It was the same year in which King Artaxerxes issued a decree. How is that year significant in prophecy? Look up Daniel 9:24-27.
Artaxerxes
Daniel 9:25 states that “from the going forth of the command to restore and build Jerusalem until Messiah the Prince, there shall be seven weeks and sixty-two weeks” (NKJV). The last week of this prophecy is mentioned in verse 27. Since one week contains seven days, so a prophetic week equals 7 years (Num. 14:34; Ezek. 4:5-6). Therefore, this prophecy talks about 70 weeks, which equal 490 years. The question that must be answered is, What is the starting date of the 70-week prophecy? The text states that it will be from the time that the decree is given to restore and build Jerusalem.
There were a total of three decrees given regarding the restoration of the Jewish people. Cyrus, Darius, and Artaxerxes all gave commands for restorations. However, only the one from Artaxerxes includes concern for the city of Jerusalem itself, and only this decree is associated with praising God for His intervention (Ezra 7:27-28).
We count the beginning of the 70-week prophecy from the year 457 B.C., the seventh year of King Artaxerxes I as mentioned in Ezra 7:7-26. Additionally, because the year 457 B.C. is also the start of the 2,300-day prophecy of Daniel 8:14 (see tomorrow’s lesson study), this decree serves as the starting point for these two prophecies. The seventy weeks end with year A.D. 34, which is when the preaching of the gospel was enlarged and also went to the Gentiles (marked by the persecution of the early church and the martyrdom of Stephen). The middle of the last week would be the year A.D. 31, which is when Jesus died on the cross.
| Review the prophecy of Daniel 9:24-27. How does it reveal, with amazing accuracy, the ministry of Jesus? How should a prophecy like this help firmly establish our faith? |
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I don't know how many of our readers have actually enjoyed mathematics at school. You probably sat through classes on algebra and geometry because you had to and not because you wanted to. Somewhere along the line of my own education, mathematics became intriguing and beautiful to me; a language as expressive as poetry. I enjoyed the challenge of shuffling numbers and symbols until they made sense.
When I first heard about the time-line prophecies I was likewise intrigued and challenged. Did the numbers add up? Did they start in the right place? Where did they end? Why did God leave a mathematical puzzle for us to solve? And then, Adventist pioneers solved the puzzle, admittedly after a few wrong turns and a bit of back-tracking. How proud we are that the time prophecy interpretation is part of our Seventh-day Adventist heritage.
But what now?
One of the things I learned about mathematics very early in life is that while equations, proofs, functional expressions may be beautiful, they have to be applied to real world situations. The skills learned in solving mathematical problems in the classroom have to be taken out into every day life and put to work.
Likewise, we need to ask ourselves whether our interpretation of the Bible's time prophecies have given us anything more than the smug satisfaction of being right. It is too easy to go over the time prophecies doing the maths ... again. What do we do with our knowledge and understanding now?
There is a passage in 1 Cor that we are all familiar with and it is worth reading it again in the context of this lesson:
Its time to think of the application.
In Acts 1:1-14....;
Waiting on the Lord may be one of the most difficult aspects of the Christian life. When Jesus promised that he would return, he instructed his followers to wait. That is easier said than done. So what do we do in the meantime? What do we do while we wait? This sermon helps the hearer understand what to do while they wait on Jesus' return.
Waiting on the Lord requires patient trust
Waiting means that we give God the benefit of the doubt that he knows what he is doing
Waiting is God's way of seeing if we will trust him before we move forward
Waiting on God reminds us that God is in control
Waiting reminds me that I am not in charge
Waiting reminds me that I am not God
Waiting on the Lord allows God to do his work
God's timing is best
God is working
Waiting on God increases my strength
No one likes to wait. But we wait in traffic, in car pool lines, in holding patterns, in grocery stores, for the foursome ahead of us, for the doctor, for a spouse, for a baby, for retirement, for sermons to get over, or for Jesus to return.
Waiting is not just something we have to do while we get what we want. Waiting is the process of becoming what God wants us to be. What God does in us while we wait is as important as what it is we are waiting for. Waiting, biblical waiting, is not a passive waiting around for something to happen that will allow us to escape our troubles. Waiting does not mean doing nothing. It is not fatalistic resignation. It is not a way to evade unpleasant reality.
Those who wait are those who work, because they know their work is not in vain. The farmer can wait all summer for his harvest because he has done his work of sowing the seed and watering the plants. Those who wait on God can go about their assigned tasks, confident that God will provide the meaning and conclusions to their lives and the harvest to their toil. Waiting is the confident, disciplined, expectant, active, and sometimes painful clinging to God. It knows that we will reap a reward.
When Jesus told his disciples to wait in Jerusalem, he was telling them that that this was a means of experiencing his peace, his prosperity, and his power. In waiting they would catch the wind of God's Spirit. In waiting they would see God move...
I was invited by a friend to attend a Amazing facts evangelistic meeting.
At the meeting, I learned of the prophecies in the book of Daniel.
The accuracy of the prophetic word moved my heart.
The prophecy gives credence to the Word of God.
When I joined the church, I had to study the Word in depth to defend my new found faith.
People in my circle would question the validity of my faith and I need to give reason for my faith.
One of the explanation on Sabbath keeping is in the words of Jesus.
Talking about the second coming Jesus mentions in Matthew 24:20
20 Pray that your flight will not occur in the winter or on the Sabbath.
How can the Sabbath be done away with when Jesus himself gives the commission pray that you would not have to flee in the winter or on the Sabbath.
The siege of Jerusalem took place in AD 70 after the resurrection of Christ.
If we are willing to come learn at His feet, His word becomes light unto our path.
Prophetic mathematics is old.i cant believe iam iam 365 days ×25 years old.God passed laws through prophets..some ended after jesus died for us and some, when the gospel was preached.Now ,God has shown me an ongoing prophecy which tells me to associate with God for his intervention.Therefore,as these walls are being built spiritually,i inclose myself inside Jerusalem only through the Gospel of jesus christ my saviour...
"For whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for our learning, that we through patience and comfort of the scriptures might have hope". (Roman's 15:4.). ..And that hope we can share with the world!.
▪As He has led in the past we can rest assured that He will lead us today and in the future. Take comfort...As Seen In History...His timing will never be wrong!.
Have a blessed day!
Guide me oh thou Great Ones, Pilgrim through this barren land.
Adventist, unlike any other religion is known as PEOPLE Of THE BOOK. We know our prophecy well. Ask us the 1st one in Genesis, we can explain it in detail. We can tell all the others in all the books will precise accuracy. Not forgetting the 3 Angels messages. But after knowing all of this, Where does the Book Knowledge take us? How do we apply this knowledge to our daily lives?
Many times people think they are waiting on the Lord!!!. No one is waiting on the Lord!!! Instead, the Lord is waiting on a people.
One author puts it so nicely, She says, When the character of Christ is fully reproduce in his people, the Lord will come (and take us home). The Lord is waiting on a people to let him dwell in them.
Gal 5:22-23 tell us what are the characteristics of Christ. It is the fruit of the spirit. Against such there no law. Which everything else will come to maturity or fails, the fruit will never.
My people let us pray pray and pray for the fruit of the spirit.
We wait on the Lord by our patience, we inherent the earth. Psalms 37:9. I am looking forward to being taken to heaven for a thousand years then returning with Christ and the Holy City, Christ makes the earth a new right before our eyes, and we inherit it forever, because we wait on the Lord. To be fair I do believe we have two different meanings of wait. There is the wait, that means we are waiting for the Lord to return, and yes the Lord is also waiting for us, knocking on our door waiting for us to respond. Then there is the wait that means hope, have faith, depend upon, put your trust in the Lord. Isaiah 40:31.
If Thou, Lord, shouldest mark iniquities, O Lord, who shall stand? But there is forgiveness with Thee, that Thou mayest be feared. I wait for the Lord, my soul doth wait, and in His word do I hope. My soul waiteth for the Lord more than they that watch for the morning. Let Christians hope in the Lord: for with the Lord there is mercy, and with Him is plenteous redemption. And He shall redeem Israel from all his iniquities.
Guide me oh thou Great Ones, Pilgrim through this barren land.
Adventist, unlike any other religion is known as PEOPLE Of THE BOOK. We know our prophecy well. Ask us the 1st one in Genesis, we can explain it in detail. We can tell all the others in all the books will precise accuracy. Not forgetting the 3 Angels messages. But after knowing all of this, Where does the Book Knowledge take us? How do we apply this knowledge to our daily lives? Many times people think they are waiting on the Lord!!!. No one is waiting on the Lord!!! Instead, the Lord is waiting on a people. One author put it so nicely, She says, when the character of Christ is fully reproduce in his people he will come and take them home.
Let us continue to pray for the Holy Ghost to dwell in us. Gal: 5:22-23 list the characteristics we need to be completel in Christ.
Hi, please assist me. Can someone please show me exactly why the decree to Ezra is the start of the prophecy. From the lesson "However, only the one from Artaxerxes includes concern for the city of Jerusalem itself, and only this decree is associated with praising God for His intervention (Ezra 7:27, 28)." I can't see this? The decree seems to let the people go, and provide for their needs and safety.