A FULL PRETERIST RESPONSE TO “HOLY LAND,” “THE END IS NEAR (AGAIN),” “HOLY WAR” ESCHATOLOGIES – PART 2 JUDAISM (THE ARTICLE FACEBOOK DOESN’T WANT YOU TO READ!)

By Michael J. Sullivan (Copyright 2014). SEE MY BOOK ON THIS SUBJECT ALMOST DONE – DOWNLOAD PDF FILE HERE: ARMAGEDDON DECEPTION BOOK

We are continuing our study of the three eschatologies (views of prophecy) within Islam, Judaism, and “Christian” Dispensational Zionism which emphasize a “in the land,” “end time,” “holy war,” by which their god or religion overcomes the others. These views of eschatology have contributed to the perpetual war in the Middle East and around the world. I think we all realize that while at times we will need to engage militarily, this conflict will ultimately be won through a “war of ideas” – or won on the level of theological debate and the true and Biblical view of prophecy emerging – correcting and healing those ensnared in these false views. Will this take a long time. Yes. But that is what I am dedicated to – and these three articles will be a step in the right direction.

Judaism is not as newspaper “current events” driven when it comes to their views of prophecy in the OT as say Islam or Dispensational Zionism (in fact most in modern day Israel are humanists). But as we will see, their leaders and Rabbis have at times applied and interpreted various passages of the OT to justify them driving out others from their land in order to establish themselves as a nation in 1948 (Ezekiel 37 – which is a false interpretation/view of Dispensational Zionism as well). And it is within their mode of interpretation that they have applied Ezekiel 38-39 to a modern “in the land,” “end time,” “holy war” – so we will have to examine these interpretations as they will eventually be appealed to in the future to justify their actions.

Since modern day Judaism is very outspoken against Christianity I will be addressing other issues in this article as well which will include such things as:

1. Is it true that Jesus and the NT invented the notion that Messiah was to be divine and a savior? I will prove from the law and the prophets and their own Rabbis (pre and post Christ) that this is not true.

2. They claim Jesus and the NT invented the notion of a “Second Coming” because Jesus didn’t establish the kingdom the first time around. Again, I will be appealing to the law and the prophets to demonstrate the evidence of a Messiah coming on the clouds of heaven.

The other issue we will be dealing with in this article is:

3. Post AD 70 is there such a thing as a “Jewish race” and is it possible to even have “Judaism” when Jehovah ended the old covenant and destroying the Temple and genealogies in AD 70?

These are all very important issues that we need to address honestly and Scripturally.

I should also note that the bulk of my exegesis in demonstrating how all of the law and prophets were fulfilled by AD 70 (ex. Luke 21:20-32) will be provided in part 3 of this series when we examine the newspaper eschatology of “Christian” Dispensational Zionism. And we will cover some of the “proof texts” that 1948 was an alleged “fulfillment of prophecy” in depth and in that forum as well.

2. The Eschatology of Israel/Judaism/Zionism (Past and Present)

Using a hyper-literal interpretation of OT scriptures, Jewish eschatology has many similarities to what is being considered modern day Christian thought concerning supposed recently fulfilled prophecy and or alleged future to us fulfillment of such events as:

Israel coming back into the land in 1948 after World War II was a fulfillment of Ezekiel 37 and Deuteronomy 28-32.

A Temple is re-built in Jerusalem.

Israel will be surrounded by the nations of the world in the battle of Gog and Magog Ezekiel 38-39.

Some have affirmed that when Messiah comes His reign will be a transitional reign between the two ages 1. The old covenant age of the law and prophets to 2. Ushering in and establishing the Messianic age or new covenant age. Many have speculated that this will last anywhere between 40 years or a 1,000 or more (and anywhere in-between).

Israel awaits their Messiah to usher in a literal kingdom on earth whereby He and Israel defeat unbelievers (or convince that its religion is true and others are false) and rule the world in peace.

There is a physical/literal bodily resurrection and judgment at the end of the world.

There will be a transformation of the planet earth and a literal new heaven and earth takes the place of the old.

The references for these beliefs are found primarily in the OT books of Deuteronomy, Isaiah, Ezekiel, Zechariah and Zephaniah.

Zionism versus Judaism / who is the real “Israel”? / 1948 – condemned or fulfillment of Torah?

Although Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu might be considered representing humanistic Judaism, he does have some interesting views worth noting. Speaking on the 65th anniversary of the liberation of the Nazi concentration camp at Auschwitz in Poland he declared that Israel becoming a state in 1948 was the fulfillment of Ezekiel 37,

“The Jewish people rose from ashes and destruction, from a terrible pain that can never be healed,” “Armed with the Jewish spirit, the justice of man, and the vision of the prophets, we sprouted new branches and grew deep roots. Dry bones became covered with flesh, a spirit filled them, and they lived and stood on their own feet, as Ezekiel prophesized: “Then He said to me, ‘Son of man, these bones are the whole house of Israel. They indeed say, ‘Our bones are dry, our hope is lost, and we ourselves are cut off!’ Therefore prophesy and say to them, thus says the Lord God, ‘Behold, O My people, I will open your graves and cause you to come up from your graves and bring you into the land of Israel. Then you shall know that I am the Lord, when I have opened your graves, O My people, and brought you up from your graves.”[15]

The Prime Minister is very tight with the American Dispensational Zionist movement (often speaking with them when arriving in the U.S. before our Presidents) and shares their erroneous view that 1948 was a fulfillment of Ezekiel 37. This brings up the concern and question as to if he agrees with the Zionists that what’s next for Israel is an “end time” holy war allegedly found in Ezekiel 38-39? Since most modern Jews reject the notion of a Messiah that is divine and prefer the concept to be a King or President type which will lead through military action, the concern could be that Netanyahu and others might consider himself to be a messiah figure of sorts defending end time prophecies in the Torah?

Before leaving the topic of the Prime Minister, it should be noteworthy that he and his political hero’s drove Palestinians out of their land whom have more in common with racial and ancient Israelites than himself (being a descendant of the European Jews). Of course not many here in the United States understand that there are those claiming to be Orthodox Jews and “Israel” who have always condemned the formation of the modern day nation of “Israel” in 1948. They claim the formation of a state in 1948 was a violation of Torah not the fulfillment of it! They believe what most would consider the “Israeli State” today should simply be referred to as the secular Zionist movement which they define as:

“Zionism here, we are referring to the concept that Jews should rise up, emancipate themselves from exile without waiting for the messiah, and establish a Jewish government in the Holy Land. Using Jewish texts, we demonstrate that this concept is against the Torah and has been opposed by rabbis in all generations.”[16]

Their mission: “The relatively new concept of Zionism began only about one hundred years ago and since that time Torah-true Jewry has steadfastly opposed the Zionist ideology. This struggle is rooted in two convictions: 1. Zionism, by advocating a political and military end to the Jewish exile, denies the very essence of our Diaspora existence. We are in exile by Divine Decree and may emerge from exile solely via Divine Redemption. All human efforts to alter a metaphysical reality are doomed to end in failure and bloodshed. History has clearly borne out this teaching. 2. Zionism has not only denied our fundamental belief in Heavenly Redemption it has also created a pseudo-Judaism which views the essence of our identity to be a secular nationalism.

Accordingly, Zionism and the Israeli state have consistently endeavored, via persuasion and coercion, to replace a Divine and Torah-centered understanding of our peoplehood with an armed materialism. True Torah Jews is dedicated to informing the world and in particular the American public and politicians that not all Jews support the ideology of the Zionist state called “Israel.” In fact, a great number of Orthodox Jews view the ideology of that state as diametrically opposed to the teachings of traditional Judaism. We are concerned that the widespread misconception that all Jews support the Zionist state and its actions endangers Jews worldwide. We are NOT politically motivated. We are motivated by our concern for the peace and safety of all people throughout the world including those living in the Zionist state. We support and pray for peace for the people of the Zionist state but have no interest in and do not support the Zionist government. We seek to disassociate Jews and traditional Judaism from the Zionist ideology by: 1. Providing historical and supporting documentation that Zionism is totally contrary to the teachings of traditional Judaism through the words of our Rabbis, Sages, and Holy Scriptures which oppose the creation of a state called Israel. 2. Providing historical documentation on the ideology and creation of Zionism, the supporters of Zionism and the negative impact of their actions on the Jewish people in the past hundred years, including their involvement in the Holocaust and their activities up to the present day. 3. Publicizing the efforts of traditional Jews to demonstrate their opposition to Zionism, efforts which are often ignored by the mainstream media. 4. Convincing the news media, politicians and the public to cease referring to the State of Israel as the “Jewish State” but to call it what it is: the “Zionist State”. We also aim to reach out to our Jewish brethren who have never studied the subject of Zionism from a Torah perspective, and have only been taught the Zionist side of the story. It is our hope that all of our fellow Jews will soon open their eyes, return to Torah and reject this ideology that replaces the Jew’s age-old hope for G-d’s redemption with a false redemption and a human-initiated state.”[17]

Torah and Politics

Netanyahu allegedly made these statements to Yaakov Vider, a member of the Likud party’s haredi faction (the Times of Israel reported) about the Torah:

“We will legally define the Talmud as the basis of the Israeli legal system,” And, “I will personally deal with the legislation for ‘Israel as the national home of the Jewish people.’ This is a very important law that will change how Israel looks in the future.…[the new bill] will be a Basic Law that [shows] the State of Israel rose [ex. His view of Ezekiel 37?] and exists on the basis of the Torah and the Jewish tradition,” (bold emphasis mine).

Critics of Netanyahu believe this to be a Jewish form of Islamic Sharia Law.

The Messianic Age Is Imminent

As within Islam and Christianity, there is this erroneous belief that the end times will be ushered in before the planet earth reaches its 6,000^th year. Allegedly the seven days of creation in the early chapters of Genesis represent 7,000 years with the 7^th being the earths Sabbath rest or the reign of Messiah (some Christians thinking it’s the “millennium” period of Revelation 20) The Talmud teaches: R. Katina said, “Six thousand years the world will exist and one [thousand, the seventh], it shall be desolate (haruv), as it is written, ‘And the Lord alone shall be exalted in that day’ (Isa. 2:11)… R. Katina also taught, “Just as the seventh year is the Shmita year, so too does the world have one thousand years out of seven that are fallow (mushmat), as it is written, ‘And the Lord alone shall be exalted in that day’ (Isa. 2:11); and further it is written, ‘A psalm and song for the Shabbat day’ (Ps. 92:1) – meaning the day that is altogether Shabbat – and also it is said, ‘For a thousand years in Thy sight are but as yesterday when it is past’ (Ps.90:4) (Sanhedrin 97a).”[18] The Midrash, comments: “Six eons for going in and coming out, for war and peace. The seventh eon is entirely Shabbat and rest for life everlasting”.[19]

The Zohar elaborates: “The redemption of Israel will come about through the mystic force of the letter “Vav” [which has the numerical value of six], namely, in the sixth millennium…. Happy are those who will be left alive at the end of the sixth millennium to enter the Shabbat, which is the seventh millennium; for that is a day set apart for the Holy One on which to effect the union of new souls with old souls in the world (Zohar, Vayera 119a).”[20]

End Time Battle of Gog and Magog

Rabbi Dr. Louis Jacobs (1920-2006) was a Masorti rabbi, the first leader of Masorti Judaism (also known as Conservative Judaism) in the United Kingdom, and a leading writer and thinker on Judaism. He wrote of the end time battle of Gog and Magog within Judaism:

“Gog and Magog are the peoples who will wage war against the Jews before the advent of the Messiah. These two names appear in the vision of the prophet Ezekiel (Ezekiel 38, 39) where Gog is the ruler of the country of Magog. Gog will lead his people in war against the land of Israel but will be defeated and God alone will reign supreme. Since Ezekiel prophesied in exile about the return of the Jewish people to its land, it is possible that he was thinking of contemporary events. Attempts have been made to identify Gog and Magog with nations whom the prophet may have thought to pose a threat in the immediate future to the Jews who were to return to the land.

On the other hand, as a number of biblical scholars understand it, the prophet himself may have had in mind events in the remote future as part of his apocalyptic vision. In subsequent Jewish eschatology, both Gog and Magog are understood to be persons and the “wars of Gog and Magog” become part of the whole eschatological scheme.

As with regard to Jewish eschatology as a whole, there is a considerable degree of uncertainty about what is said to happen at the “end of days,” the picture is really an amalgam of various folk-beliefs, some of them contradictory.

In the eschatological account given by Saadiah Gaon (Belief and Opinions, viii. 6) an attempt is made to accommodate the wars of Gog and Magog into the scheme. Interestingly enough, however, in Maimonides’ scheme at the end of his great code, the Mishneh Torah, in which messianism is interpreted in largely rationalistic terms, there is no reference to the wars of Gog and Magog only to the Messiah fighting “the battles of the Lord” in order to reconquer the land of Israel, rebuild the Temple, and establish God’s reign on earth. Even in Orthodox Judaism, the details of these terrible events are vague and wars of Gog and Magog do not feature at all prominently in Orthodox theology.

Yet, at the time, World Wars I and II did tend to be seen as the wars of Gog and Magog, as the essential prelude to the coming of the Messiah. Some of the Hasidic masters saw the struggle between Napoleon and Russia as the wars of Gog and Magog.”[21]

This of course begs the question that if Jews (and Christians) could view the “current events” (at the time) of Napoleon and World War I and II as the fulfillment of Bible prophecy and the end time battle of Gog and Magog, then they will just re-work the failed system to suit OUR current events.

Is the Israel and Judaism of the OT and NT the Same Modern Israel and Judaism Today?

Some of my Preterist friends such as John L. Bray and David Curtis have correctly pointed out that post AD 70 there can’t be a “Jew” or “Israel” today as there was in Biblical times.

David Curtis: “Many people today still consider the Jewish people as a race. Numerous verses identify Israel, in New Testament prophecy, in terms of their tribal associations; however, these associations do not extend beyond the first century (ex. Matthew 24:30 or Revelation 1:7 which discuss “the tribes of the (land) shall mourn” etc..). After the destruction of Jerusalem in AD 70, the nation of Israel, after the flesh, was scattered throughout the earth, and lost all tribal relations. This scattering was made immutable due to the fact that all tribal genealogical records were destroyed with the Temple in A.D. 70.”

The simple fact is that there is no existing Jewish race. Consider the following quotations:

The Encyclopedia Brittanica (1973) – “The Jews As A Race: The findings of physical anthropology show that, contrary to the popular view, there is no Jewish race. Anthropornetric measurements of Jewish groups in many parts of the world indicate that they differ greatly from one another with respect to all the important physical characteristics.” (vol. 12, page 1054)

Encyclopedia Judaica Jerusalem (1971) – “It is a common assumption, and one that sometimes seems ineradicable even in the face of evidence to the contrary, that the Jews of today constitute a race, a homogeneous entity easily recognizable. From the preceding discussion of the origin and early history of the Jews, it should be clear that in the course of their formation as a people and a nation they had already assimilated a variety of racial strains from people moving into the general area they occupied. This had taken place by interbreeding and then by conversion to Judaism of a considerable number of communities. . . .”

“Thus, the diversity of the racial and genetic attributes of various Jewish colonies of today renders any unified racial classification of them a contradiction in terms. Despite this, many people readily accept the notion that they are a distinct race. This is probably reinforced by the fact that some Jews are recognizably different in appearance from the surrounding population. That many cannot be easily identified is overlooked and the stereotype for some is extended to all – a not uncommon phenomenon” (Encyclopedia Judaica Jerusalem, 1971, vol. 3, p. 50).

Encyclopedia Americana (1986) – “Racial and Ethnic Considerations. Some theorists have considered the Jews a distinct race, although this has no factual basis. In every country in which the Jews lived for a considerable time, their physical traits came to approximate those of the indigenous people. Hence the Jews belong to several distinct racial types, ranging, for example, from fair to dark. Among the reasons for this phenomenon are voluntary or involuntary miscegenation and the conversion of Gentiles to Judaism” (Encyclopedia Americana, 1986, vol. 16, p. 71).

Collier’s Encyclopedia (1977) – “A common error and persistent modern myth is the designation of the Jews as a ‘race! This is scientifically fallacious, from the standpoint of both physical and historical tradition. Investigations by anthropologists have shown that Jews are by no means uniform in physical character and that they nearly always reflect the physical and mental characteristics of the people among whom they live” (Collier’s Encyclopedia, 1977, vol. 13, p. 573). Today, being a Jew simply means that one is of the Judaistic religion or a convert to it, or else in a “brotherhood” of those who are. Therefore, being a Jew has nothing to do with race. We are familiar with a number of notable figures, such as Sammy Davis, Jr., Elizabeth Taylor, and Tom Arnold, in fact, who became Jews by conversion to the religion of Judaism.

Evangelist John Bray: “Many Christians do not know that the vast majority of so-called Jews in the world today are the Ashkenazim Jews, while the remainder of them are the Sephardim Jews. The Ashkenazim Jews have as their background not the nation of Israel but a country called Khazaria, which country at one time was the largest country in Europe. The settlers of Khazaria were Turks and Huns. In A.D. 740 King Bulan of Khazaria decided to adopt the Judaistic religion for his country. A number of Jews were already living there. So he converted to Judaism, along with all his officials, and whole nation ended up being known as a nation of Jews. In 970 Russia came in and dominated the situation, and the Khazars were scattered, many of them going down into Poland and Lithuania. Where at the dawn of our modern civilization the largest concentration of Jews were found. Today, the largest percentage of so-called Jews in the world have as their background this group of people.” (This information is fully documented in detail in John Bray’s book, Israel in Bible Prophecy)

Funk and Wagnall’s New Encyclopedia (1970) – “In 1970 the Israeli Knesset adopted legislation defining a Jew as one born of a Jewish mother or a convert.” (vol. 14, p. 214)

H.G. Wells – “There can be little doubt that the scattered Phoenicians in Spain and Africa and throughout the Mediterranean, speaking as they did a language closely akin to Hebrew and being deprived of their authentic political rights, became proselytes to Judaism. For phases of vigorous proselytism alternated with phases of exclusive jealousy in Jewish history. On one occasion the Idumeans, being conquered, were all forcibly made Jews. There were Arab tribes who were Jews in the time of Muhammad, and a Turkish people who were mainly Jews in South Russia in the ninth century. Judaism is indeed the reconstructed political ideal of many shattered peoples – mainly Semitic…. The main part of Jewry never was in Judea and had never come out of Judea” (The Outline of History,p. 505).

Genesis 49:10: “The scepter will not depart from Judah, nor the ruler’s staff from between his feet, until he comes to whom it belongs and the obedience of the nations is his.” This is a known Messianic text for the Jewish people prior to the coming of Jesus Christ.[22] Jesus/Shiloh (a descendant of Judah) has come gathering in His kingdom the nations (Jew and Gentile) whereby they give Him their obedience. This began roughly between AD 30 – AD 70 and at Christ’s parousia in AD 70 and well into the new covenant age. Jesus clearly foretold the destruction of Jerusalem and her old covenant age/system in Matthew 21:42-45; 22:7; 23-24. Since that time, there no longer remains any geo-political ruling “scepter” privilege for the literal tribe of Judah (any kind of national Israel) nor ever shall be.

As one can clearly see there are no “twelve tribes” of Israel today, no real or pure Jewish race, and no old covenant (with animal sacrifices etc…) to identify modern day Israel with biblical or covenantal Israel. These facts are devastating to modern day Israel’s claims and “rights” to the land of Jerusalem and or their religion of “Judaism.”

Deuteronomy 18:15-19: Moses in the Torah predicted that a greater prophet than himself would arise and that if the people would not heed him they would be destroyed (Deut. 18:15-19). Peter reminds his listeners that Jesus is the fulfillment of Moses prophecy and that if they did not heed Jesus’ warnings they would be cut off (Acts 3:22-23).

Deuteronomy 32:5, 20: “They have acted corruptly toward him; to their shame they are no longer his children, but a warped and crooked generation.” “I will hide my face from them,” he said, “and see what their end will be; for they are a perverse generation, children who are unfaithful.” Again Peter exhorts his fellow Jews that their generation is the “perverse and crooked” generation that Moses foretold (Acts 2:40). Thus Israel’s “end” was to take place in that particular generation and did. Moses states that within this terminal generation the Gentiles will rejoice with the remnant Jews, in that this will be the time whereby God “avenges the blood of his servants,” which Jesus identifies with his AD 30 – AD 70 “this generation” tied to the destruction of their Temple in AD 70 (Deuteronomy 32:43/Matthew 23:32-38). (Deuteronomy 32:5, 20/Acts 2:40/Matthew 24:34/Luke 17:24/Mark 8:38-9:1). It was predicted that within this particular generation that they would not accurately “discern” what their “end would be” (Deuteronomy 32:28-29). Israel in the NT did not heed her Messiah’s warning that her kingdom would be “taken” from them and “given” to “another nation” (ie. the Church) in AD 70 (Matthew 21:42-45/1 Peter 1:4-9).

Jesus from the beginning to the end of His earthly ministry NEVER described His kingdom (that is the kingdom the OT prophets foretold) as anything but spiritual “not of this world” “if it were my servants would fight” etc… It was never designed to continue to be a geopolitical or militaristic literal “kingdom.” These facts are also devastating to Dispensational Zionists false theology as well.

Modern Judaism and Zionist attacks on Jesus’ as a divine Messiah or rejection of Him as Messiah because of an alleged failed imminent Second Coming

Modern Zionists and other Orthodox Rabbis claim Jesus couldn’t have been their Messiah because the Messiah (per their traditional and historical views) was not to be a divine individual but a mere man. Or Jesus is to be rejected as the Messiah because his prophecy to return in His generation was a failed prophecy. Or Jesus couldn’t be the Messiah because didn’t fulfill the law and prophets the way they think they should have been fulfilled (using a hyper-literal interpretation). Let’s examine some of these claims.

Is/was the Jewish Messiah to be divine or not?

On one prominent “Jewish” web site we are told, “But above all, he (the Messiah) will be a human being, not a god, demi-god or other supernatural being.”[23] And, “The term “mashiach” literally means “the anointed one,” and refers to the ancient practice of anointing kings with oil when they took the throne. The mashiach is the one who will be anointed as king in the End of Days.” Oddly no discussion is made on this allegedly modern “Jewish” web site of a commonly known Messianic text such as Daniel 7:13-14 where the “anointed one” is actually worshipped. That doesn’t sound like a mere man to me nor to many Jews before and during Jesus’ day (we will discuss this crucial text further below). And we should note that Jesus as Messiah did appear towards the “end of days” / Israel’s “last days” in His incarnation and second appearing – to bring an end of the old covenant age in an AD 70 “very little while” (Hebrews 1:2, 9:26-28/10:37). Jesus is the exalted and anointed Messiah/God/Davidic King fulfilling Psalm 45:6-7/Hebrews 1:8-9. Is/was the Jewish Messiah to be “Savior” or not?

Here is the modern day false “Jewish” claim that Messiah was never thought to be a savior figure in the scriptures: “The word “mashiach” does not mean “savior.” The notion of an innocent, divine or semi-divine being who will sacrifice himself to save us from the consequences of our own sins is a purely Christian concept that has no basis in Jewish thought.”[24] Israel’s exodus from Egypt is by far the greatest example of “salvation” or “deliverance” which formed Israel’s view that God alone acts as Savior (cf. Ps 106:21; cf. Is 63:8-11; Hos 13:4). This salvation was brought about through the sacrifice of a lamb’s blood placed upon the doorframes of God’s people while the concept of the death a “firstborn” as an exchange for their salvation and deliverance was born (Exodus 12). This would pave the way for the foundation of Judaism itself – the Temple and sacrificial system necessary to atone for Israel’s sins (Leviticus 16). “Salvation” was connected to the Messiah’s (the “King’s” or “Anointed One’s) work in His coming lowly upon a donkey (Zechariah 9:9 – a passage known to be Messianic in Jewish literature).[25] In (Zechariah 13:1) we learn that “On that day (the day of Messiah’s salvation) a fountain will be opened to the house of David and the inhabitants of Jerusalem, to cleanse them from sin and impurity.” How would this come about? This was due to the Messianic Shepherd being “struck” and the sheep scattered (Zechariah 13:7-9 cf. also 11:4-14; 12:10; Matthew 26:31, 56).

To learn more of the Messiah being “struck” or sacrificed “…to save Israel from the consequences of her sins” (which is being denied by our good “Jewish” friend) we must now turn to Isiah 53 and examine how some Rabbis understood it. Let’s quote the entire chapter:

Who has believed our report? And to whom has the arm of the Lord been revealed? For He shall grow up before Him as a tender plant, And as a root out of dry ground. He has no form or comeliness; And when we see Him, There is no beauty that we should desire Him. He is despised and rejected by men, A Man of sorrows and acquainted with grief. And we hid, as it were, our faces from Him; He was despised, and we did not esteem Him. Surely He has borne our griefs And carried our sorrows; Yet we esteemed Him stricken, Smitten by God, and afflicted. But He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities; The chastisement for our peace was upon Him, And by His stripes we are healed. All we like sheep have gone astray; We have turned, every one, to his own way; And the Lord has laid on Him the iniquity of us all. He was oppressed and He was afflicted, Yet He opened not His mouth; He was led as a lamb to the slaughter, And as a sheep before its shearers is silent, So He opened not His mouth. He was taken from prison and from judgment, And who will declare His generation? For He was cut off from the land of the living; For the transgressions of My people He was stricken. And they made His grave with the wicked—But with the rich at His death, Because He had done no violence, Nor was any deceit in His mouth. Yet it pleased the Lord to bruise Him; He has put Him to grief. When You make His soul an offering for sin, He shall see His seed, He shall prolong His days, And the pleasure of the Lord shall prosper in His hand. He shall see the labor of His soul, and be satisfied. By His knowledge My righteous Servant shall justify many, For He shall bear their iniquities. Therefore I will divide Him a portion with the great, And He shall divide the spoil with the strong, Because He poured out His soul unto death, And He was numbered with the transgressors, And He bore the sin of many, And made intercession for the transgressors.^[26] “Messiah …what is his name? The Rabbis say,‘The leprous one’; those of the house of the Rabbi (Jehuda Hanassi, the author of the Mishna, 135-200) say: ‘Cholaja’ (The sickly), for it says, ‘Surely he has borne our sicknesses’ etc. (Isa.53,4).”[27] “Behold my servant Messiah shall prosper; he shall be high, and increase, and be exceeding strong: as the house of Israel looked to him through many days, because their countenance was darkened among the peoples, and their complexion beyond the sons of men.”[28]

The Messiah as a suffering “servant” is also described for us in the previous immediate context (Isaiah 52:13-15, see also Psalm 22). In Isaiah, “Savior” is a consistent title for God, communicating His preeminence and His uniqueness over against foreign gods and idols: “I, even I, am the Lord, and apart from me there is no savior, I have revealed and saved and proclaimed—I, and not some foreign god among you” (Is 43:11, 12). Isaiah further states that God would show himself as savior by the future blessing and restoration of Israel (Is 49:26; 60:16). The idea that Christians have somehow invented the idea that the Messiah is found in such passages as Isaiah 53 or that Messiah would not be a “Savior” – saving Israel (and the Gentile believing world) from their sins is simply not accurate. These concepts are truly Jewish to the core!

When will Messiah come? The new exodus generation

This same Jewish web site claims one of the orthodox views describing when Messiah will come: “…in a generation that is totally innocent or totally guilty;”[29] Please note what is said of Israel’s last day’s terminal generation in Deuteronomy 32:20-22: “And he said, I will hide my face from them, I will see what their end (Matthew 10:22-23, Matthew 24:3, Matthew 13:39-40, – end of the old covenant age) shall be: for they are a very perverse generation (Matthew 23:36, Matthew 24:34, Mark 8:38; Acts 2:40), children in whom is no faith. They have moved me to jealousy with that which is not God; they have provoked me to anger with their vanities: and I will move them to jealousy with those which are not a people (Romans 10:19, 11:11); I will provoke them to anger with a foolish nation (Mt.21:42-43/ 1 Peter 2:9). For a fire is kindled in mine anger, and shall burn unto the lowest hell, and shall consume the earth with her increase, and set on fire (2 Peter 3; Revelation 8:8) the foundations of the mountains.” (Deut. 32:20-22). This “perverse generation” mentioned here in “the Song of Moses” was prophesied to “not be wise” and “not discern” what their “end will/was to be” (Deut. 32:29).

They rejected their true Rock/Christ and thus they would be destroyed. This “judgment” came upon those that rejected him, yet He was compassionate to the remnant and also brought joy to the Gentile nations at the same time (Deut. 32:36, 43). This is the generation Jesus addresses throughout His ministry and the one the NT authors confront and comfort in the first century concerning an imminent judgment and salvation. Judaism’s dilemma of a Messiah coming in a “totally guilty” or “totally innocent generation” is one and the same! Jesus as Messiah in the AD 30 – AD 70 generation was saving and making pure (“innocent”) and righteous the remnant while at the same time holding accountable the perverse, wicked and adulterous among that generation that had rejected Jesus and the prophets.

The author fails to realize that his rejection of Jesus as Messiah is what made the last days AD 30 – AD 70 “this generation” “guilty” and held accountable from all the blood of righteous going back to Abel going through to those NT prophet’s Jesus would send to her prior to her House/Temple being destroyed and Israel’s judgment in AD 70 (Deut. 32:5, 20/Acts 2:40/Luke 17:25/Mark 8:38-9:1/Matthew 23:30-38/24:34). Many of the Rabbis of Jesus’ and Peter’s day described the reign of Messiah to be a transition period between their Old Covenant “this age” and the Messianic or New Covenant “age to come.” They saw Messiah accomplishing redemption, salvation, and the new temple being built during this “millennial” period. What is interesting to note is that the millennial or transition period was thought of to last 40 years (a particular generation) . Their theological reason being – as long as Israel wandered in the dessert was the period in which the remnant of the Messianic generation would see gladness. Speaking of the transition period of Messiah Schoeps says some Rabbi’s considered it: “… a short interval for the interim period, namely, forty years (R. Eliezer ben Hyrcanus; Bar. In Sanh. 99a; R. Aqiba: Midr. Teh on Ps. 90:15; Tanch. Eqeb 7b, Pes. Rabb. 4a). The two Tannaites, commenting on Ps. 95:7, derive this time indication from the Messianically understood v. 10 (“forty years I loathed that generation” and from Deut. 8:2 by a parallelization with the forty years in the desert.”[30]

G.K. Beale also points out the same, “There are numerous Jewish traditions about the nature and length of the future messianic reign. Some speculated that there would be no messianic reign at all, while others proposed periods of an intermediate reign from 40 to 365,000 years.” “see the surveys of rabbinic views in b. Sanhedrin 97a-b, 99a; Midr. Ps. 90:17; Pesikta Rabbati 1…”[31]

Here are parallels of the New Exodus theme:

1) An edict was sent out to kill the male children during the time of Moses (Exodus1:22) and an edict was issued by Herod to kill the male children in hopes of killing Jesus (Matthew 2:16).

2) After killing the Egyptian Moses fled to Midian until the wrath of the king passed (Exodus 2:15) and Joseph and Mary, fled with Jesus to Egypt until the wrath of the king passed (Matthew 2:14).

3) God called Moses back to his country to be his people’s deliverer (Exodus 3:10) just as Jesus was called back to His country (Matthew 2:20) to be their deliverer.

4) God kept Moses 40 days in the wilderness before giving the law on a mountain (Deut. 9:11; Exodus19) and He likewise kept Jesus 40 days in the wilderness before placing Him on a mount to give the New Covenant law and thus the true interpretation of the old (Matthew 4:1-chapter

5) Both received glory on top of a mountain. While being tested by Satan for 40 days Jesus quotes three scriptures found in the Exodus wilderness testing: (Matthew 4:4/Deut. 8:3; Matthew 4:7/Deut. 6:16; Matthew 4:10/Deut. 6:13 & Deut 10:20).

6) God through Moses appointed 70 elders (Numbers 11:16) and Jesus appointed 70 disciples (Luke 10:1). Old Covenant Israel consisted of 12 tribes and Jesus forms the restored Israel with an inner core of 12 disciples.

7) God’s Old Covenant people were delivered from His judgment upon Egypt by the first Passover. This deliverance was substitutional in nature and was brought about through the shedding of a lamb’s blood. God’s New Covenant people were delivered from the wrath (“His blood be upon us and our children”) that would be poured out upon Jerusalem/Egypt/Revelation 11:8 through the New Covenant Passover blood of Jesus (the lamb of God). In the first exodus the death of “first born” of humans and animals were to appease God’s wrath. In the New Covenant exodus Jesus is both the “first born” and the “Lamb.”

8) In God forming Old Covenant Israel during this time it was a creating of the heavens and earth (Isa.51:15-16). Through the cross and parousia of Jesus a New Covenant heavens and earth were being created and would replace the former Old Covenant one “shortly” (Isaiah 65-66; Matthew 5:17-18; Matthew 24:35; 2 Peter 3; and Revelation 21-22).

9) In the formation of Old Covenant Israel, God was bringing about deliverance from the physical bondage and slavery of Egypt. In the New Covenant transitionary period, God was creating and delivering a remnant of New Covenant Israel out from the spiritual bondage and slavery of the Old Covenant “elements of the world” which was the law.

10) Fifty days after the first Passover and the giving of the law (Exodus 19) 3,000 died for idolatry (Exodus 32:28). Fifty days after the Passover in Jesus’ blood 3,000 are saved and filled with the Spirit (Acts 2).

11) There was a miraculous outpouring of the Spirit’s work in building the Old Covenant tabernacle (Exodus 31:1-11). The AD 30 – 70 generation also saw the miraculous work of God in profound ways. There was a miraculous outpouring of the Holy Spirit’s work in the “last days” in which the building and erecting of the spiritual New Covenant tabernacle/temple of God was taking place. The first was a physical building with the hands and the later was a spiritual building by the laying on of hands of the Apostles. The Church was and is clearly the New Covenant kingdom tabernacle or temple that was predicted by the prophets of which Jesus was the corner stone (Acts 15/Amos 9; Mark 12:10-11; Acts 4:11/Psalm118, Ephesians 2:20, 1 Peter 2:4-10/Psalm 118, Isaiah 28:16; 2 Corinthians 6:16/Ezekiel 37:26-27). Just as Micah 7:15 predicted miracles would occur in this new exodus under Messiah – so the miracles lasted until He returned to end her age and fulfill Israel’s promises (Mark 16:15-18/Matthew 28:18-20, 1 Corinthians 13:8-12).

12) God was grieved with the unbelieving Old Covenant generation and did not allow them to enter the Promised Land (Heb. 3:10). God was grieved with the adulterous and wicked generation of His day and did not allow them to inherit His heavenly rest in His kingdom – “In Christ” (Mark 8:31-9:1, Matthew 23:34-46, Hebrews 3-4, 6, 9-10:37, 13:14YLT). 13) The wilderness wandering generation was baptized into Moses by passing through the red sea whereby they would receive a physical salvation from their persecutors. The water which did not touch them did destroy their enemies (1Corinthians 10:1-2). There likewise was a baptism of fire and persecution in which the first century Church underwent that was separating the gold (true believers) from the wood (professing believers) and would eventually burn up the persecutors (Matthew 3:11; Luke 8:13-14; 1 Corinthians 3:13; 1 Peter 4:12; 1 Thessalonians 2- 3; 2 Thessalonians 1:4-12). The children or remnant of Moses generation that went through the red sea would enter into the rest and salvation of the Promised Land. Likewise the remnant of spiritual Israel would inherit and enter the Heavenly Country “In Christ” (Hebrews 3-4, 12) with Peter describing the spiritual New Covenant salvation and entrance into the kingdom as the salvation of the “soul” (1 Peter 1:4-12).

In examining the teachings of Jesus and that of the NT authors, we have found that the contemporary “this generation” of Jesus in (Matthew 24:34) is the one which witnessed His return and brought to maturity the New Covenant Exodus/Redemption predicted by the prophets. That New Covenant Temple/House/City/Creation was matured with the coming of Jesus in AD 70 and therefore, the Church today invites those who through the Holy Spirit’s work realize they are lost and thirsty sinners needing to come Home. The doors are always open and light is always on, so come home thou weary sinner come home (Revelation 21-22:17).

Modern day “Jews” mock Second Coming of Jesus doctrine

“The main task of the Messiah was to bring the world back to G-d, and to abolish all war, suffering and injustice from the world. Clearly, Jesus did not accomplish this. In order to get around this failure on the part of Jesus, Christians invented the doctrine of the “Second Coming.”. . . All the prophecies that Jesus did not fulfill the first time are supposed to be taken care of the second time around. However, the Jewish Bible offers absolutely no evidence to support the Christian doctrine of a “Second Coming.”[34]

“The idea of a second coming is a pure rationalization of Jesus’ failure to function in any way as a messiah, or to fulfill any of the prophecies of the Torah or the Prophets. The idea is purely a Christian invention, with no foundation in the Bible.”[35]

“This two-fold misapprehension of Jesus ¾ the nearness of the kingdom of heaven and his Messiahship perpetuated his memory and created Christianity. Had not the disciples expected his second coming Christianity could never have come into being: even as a Jewish sect. . . . The Jews as a whole could not, however, follow after a belief based on so slight a foundation. . . . Yet again, through the preaching of his messianic claims, after he had failed to manifest himself to the world again, in his power and glory, he became, in spite of himself, a “sacrifice,” a “ransom for many.”[36]

“The success of the Christian claim or its failure rests to a very large extent on the theory of the second coming. . . . The Jews never had the concept of a second coming, and since it was the Jews themselves who first taught the notion of a Messiah, via the Jewish prophets, it seems quite reasonable to respect their opinion more than anyone else’s. . . . the theory of the second coming is not based on Jewish tradition or sources, and is a theory born from desperation.”[37]

The Truth: Of course the Law and Prophets did foretell the coming of Messiah on the clouds of heaven to judge Israel and establish the Kingdom (the Christian view of the Second Coming). The (OG) LXX of (Daniel 7:13-14) (the “Bible” during Jesus’ day) states, that “one like the Son of Man” would “come on the clouds of heaven as the Ancient of Days.” Jesus appeals to this passage (and others) to form His doctrine of His return throughout Matthew’s gospel (ex. Matthew 16:27-28; 24-25; 26:64). And again, Jesus is depicted in the book of Revelation as coming on the clouds of heaven as the Ancient of Days (Revelation 1:7, 14-17). What is really being rejected here, is not that the Law and Prophets foretold a Second Coming (or Messiah coming on the clouds to usher in the kingdom), but rather that Jesus Himself (as very God “the Alpha and Omega”) would come on the clouds to fulfill this promise as the Messiah (Matthew 26:64/Revelation 1:7, 14-17). There was no “failure” for Christ in accomplishing what He set out to do in Israel’s AD 30 – AD 70 terminal generation concerning sacrifice and coming on the clouds in salvation and judgment to close the old covenant age.

As the sacrifice (the Lamb of God) and functioning as the heavenly High Priest, He came a “second time” to the eagerly awaiting congregation to grant the forgiveness of sin to the remnant and close the “ready to vanish” old covenant age “in a very little while” to judge and put under His feet His first century enemies (Hebrews 8:13—9:26-28—10:37). History cannot be louder or mistaken in that Christ did in fact come with power and great glory in AD 70 taking the kingdom from Israel and giving it to the Church (Matthew 21:42-45). This is not only the testimony of the Law and Prophets, but the testimony of history – the consequences for the Jews rejecting their divine Messiah! Selah.

Perhaps others have not seen the significance of the (OG) LXX of Daniel 7:13-14, but even Jewish scholars have admitted that the passage is dealing with a divine Messianic figure. In the Babylonian Talmud, Tractate Sanhedrin Folio 98a (A.D. 400-600) we read:

“R. Alexandri said: R. Joshua b. Levi pointed out a contradiction. it is written, in its time [will the Messiah come], whilst it is also written, I [the Lord] will hasten it! — if they are worthy, I will hasten it: if not, [he will come] at the due time. R. Alexandri said: R. Joshua opposed two verses: it is written, And behold, one like the son of man came with the clouds of heaven whilst [elsewhere] it is written, [behold, thy king cometh unto thee …] lowly, and riding upon an ass! — if they are meritorious, [he will come] with the clouds of heaven; if not, lowly and riding upon an ass.”

Jesus applies both of these OT passages to His redemptive work for Israel through His humility/rejection and suffering servant, to Him coming with salvation and judgment upon the clouds of heaven in AD 70.

Jewish Scholar Alan Segal commenting on R. Akiba. Said and R. Yosi the Galilean disputing over the meaning of the passage said:

“These two rabbis were perplexed by the seeming contradiction in the verses. In one place, more than one throne is indicated by the plural form of the noun. In another place “His (God’s) throne was fiery flames” implies only one throne. Does this mean that the ‘son of man’ in the next verse was enthroned next to God? Rabbi Akiba (110-135 C.E.) affirms the possibility, stating that the other throne was for David. Akiba must be identifying the ‘son of man’ with the Davidic messiah. Nor was R. Akiba alone in the rabbinic movement in identifying the figure in heaven as the messiah. There is some evidence that Judaism contained other traditions linking these verses in Daniel with the messiah.”[38]

Another Jewish scholar Jacob Neusner addresses the ‘older’ traditions which were:

“We focus upon how the system laid out in the Mishnah takes up and disposes of those critical issues of theology worked out through messianic eschatology in other, earlier versions of Judaism. These earlier systems resorted to the myth of the Messiah as savior and redeemer of Israel, a supernatural figure engaged in political-historical tasks as king of the Jews, even a God-man facing the crucial historical questions of Israel’s life and resolving them: the Christ as king of the world, of the ages, of death itself.”[39]

Orthodox Jewish scholar Daniel Boyarin writes on the characteristics of Daniel 7 and the development of Jewish and Christian thought: “What are these characteristics?

• He is divine.
• He is divine in human form.
• He may very well be portrayed as a younger-appearing divinity than the Ancient of Days.
• He will be enthroned on high.
• He is given power and dominion, even sovereignty on earth.

“All of these are characteristics of Jesus Christ as he will appear in the Gospels, and they appear in this text more than a century and a half [sic] before the birth of Jesus. Moreover, they have been further developed within Jewish traditions between the Book of Daniel and the Gospels. At a certain point these traditions became merged in Jewish minds with the expectation of a return of a Davidic king and the idea of a divine-human Messiah was born. This figure was then named ‘Son of Man,’ alluding to his origins in the divine figure named ‘one like a Son of Man/a human being’ in Daniel. In other words, a simile, a God who looks like a human being (literally Son of Man) has become the name for that God, who is now called ‘Son of Man,’ a reference to his human-appearing divinity…”[40]

And:

“There are many variations of traditions about this figure in the Gospels themselves and in other early Jewish texts. Some Jews had been expecting this Redeemer to be a human exalted to the state of divinity, while others were expecting a divinity to come down to earth and take on human form; some believers in Jesus believed the Christ had been born as an ordinary human and then exalted to divine status, while others believed him to have been a divinity who came down to earth. Either way, we end up with a doubled godhead and a human-divine combination as the expected Redeemer.*…”[41]

Ancient Jews described the anticipated Messiah with the title “he of the clouds.” Boyarin referring to other scholars such as J.A. Emerton points out that any good Jew knew that only Yahwe himself rode upon the clouds of heaven in judgment, “Clouds–as well as riding on or with clouds–are a common attribute of biblical divine appearances, called theophanies (Greek for ‘God appearances’) by scholars. J.A. Emerton had made the point decisively: ‘The act of coming with clouds suggests a theophany of Yahwe himself. If Dan. vii. 13 does not refer to a divine being then it is the only exception out of about seventy passages in the Old Testament.’ “…As New Testament scholar Matthew Black puts it bluntly, ‘This, in effect, means that Dan. 7 knows of two divinities, the Head of Days and the Son of Man.’ Those two divinities, in the course of time, would end up being the first two persons of the Trinity.”[42]

“Ancient Jewish readers might well have reasoned, as the Church Father Aphrahat did, that since the theme of riding on the clouds indicates a divine being in every other instance in the Tanakh (the Jewish name for the Hebrew Bible), we should read this one too as the revelation of God, a second God, as it were. The implication is, of course, that there are two such divine figures in heaven, the old Ancient of Days and the young one like a son of man.”[43]

“The Messiah-Christ existed as a Jewish idea long before the baby Jesus was born in Nazareth. That is, the idea of a second God as a viceroy to God the Father is one of the oldest theological ideas in Israel. Daniel 7 brings into the present a fragment of what is perhaps the most ancient of religious visions of Israel that we can find…” (Ibid.).

The presentation of the Son of Man to the Ancient of Days in Daniel 7:13 is perhaps a reference to Christ in His Parousia delivering up the kingdom (“the saints”) to the Father (“the Ancient of Days”) in AD 70. Then cometh the end, when he shall have delivered up the kingdom to God, even the Father; when he shall have put down all rule and all authority and power. (1 Cor. 15:24)

Again my preferred interpretation is similar to that of F.F. Bruce. According to the Old Greek Septuagint translation of Daniel 7:13, the Son of Man came “as the Ancient of Days” on the clouds of heaven, not “to the Ancient of Days.” This translation is in harmony with verse 22, which says that it was the Ancient of Days Himself who came in judgment and gave the saints the kingdom. It is also important to point out that John in the book of Revelation alludes to Dan. 7:9, 13 in his description of Christ as being both the Son of Man who comes on the clouds to judge those whom had pierced Him (first century Jews) and as the eternal Ancient of Days in Rev. 1:7, 13-17. Again the context is developing Christ’s future soon” (Rev. 1:1) Second Coming not His ascension.

Unfortunately many Christians apply this cloud coming of Messiah/Jesus to the ascension. However, the New Testament does not develop or give the slightest hint that “the coming of the Son of Man” on the clouds of heaven would be fulfilled in the Ascension. I would agree with Keil and Delitzch comments that the direction is downward upon the enemies and is developed in the NT to the Second Coming (and nowhere to the ascension):

“…it is manifest that he could only come from heaven to earth. If the reverse is to be understood, then it ought to have been so expressed, since the coming with the clouds of heaven in opposition to the rising up of the beasts out of the sea very distinctly indicates a coming down from heaven. The clouds are the veil or the “chariot” on which God comes from heaven to execute judgment against His enemies; cf. Ps. 18:10f., 97:2–4; 104:3, Isa. 19:1, Nah. 1:3. This passage forms the foundation for the declaration of Christ regarding His future coming, which is described after Dan. 7:13 as a coming of the Son of man with, in, on the clouds of heaven; Matt. 24:30; 26:64; Mark 18:26; Rev. 1:7; 14:14.”[44]

Is/Was Messiah to be “worshiped”?

Before leaving Daniel 7:13-14 it should be noted that this one likened to the “Son of Man” and “Ancient of Days” coming on the clouds of heaven is “worshiped” (vs. 14 NIV the original Aramaic is pelach – some translations render the word to mean divine “service”). In establishing the meaning of a passage or word in a particular text we need to examine its usage elsewhere in the same book. Everywhere in Daniel pelach is used of divine service or worship. Of false gods in Daniel 3:12. In Daniel 3:17-18 we are told that Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego only gave divine service and worship to the only living God and would not render divine service and worship to Nebuchadnezzar’s false gods. In Daniel 3:28 Nebuchadnezzar gives praise to their God and reinstates that they “yielded up their bodies rather than serve and worship any god except their own God.” In Daniel 6:16, 20 it describes Daniel’s divine service to the only living God continually which is given in hopes that God would and did deliver Daniel from the den of the lions. In Daniel 7:27 when the Ancient of Days came (cf. vss. 13-14, 22) to give possession of the Kingdom to the saints, “all rulers will worship and obey him.”

The Seventy sevens of Daniel 9:24-27

First Century Jewish interpretations and expectations of Daniel 9:24-27

“422 BC is associated with when the first temple burned 70 Sabbaticals (490 years) before the second temple burned in 70 AD.” (A Treatise on the Sabbatical Cycle and the Jubilee, 1866, by Dr. B. Zuchermann, Professor at the Jewish Theological Seminary).

“The 2nd century CE rabbinic work Seder Olam Rabbah, which formed the basis of the era counting of the Hebrew calendar, interpreted the prophecy of seventy weeks in Daniel 9:24-27as referring to a period of 490 years, with a “week” being interpreted as a period of seven years, which would pass between the destruction of the First and Second Temple.” (Missing Years, Wikipedia.org)

11Q13 (11Melch):  Appeals to the coming of Messiah in the 10^thcycle or within the 490 years of Daniel 9 which would be in Israel’s “last days.” He had to accomplish the following before AD 70:  1. the Day of Atonement, 2.  gather the believers to Himself, 3.  pour out the days of vengeance upon the wicked and 4.  judge Satan and the fallen Watchers – (directly or indirectly appealing to such passages as Lev. 25; Isa. 27:13; 61:1-11; Dan. 9:24-27; Ps. 7; Ps. 82).

Introducing Christian Full Preterist Chronomessianism

What modern Christian commentators have missed in Daniel 9:24-27 is the context is addressing Daniel being concerned with the prophetic “word” of Jeremiah (Jer. 25 and 29) and the angel is not discussing beginning the 490 years count down beginning with a “decree” of a Gentile king, but rather explaining the “word” of Jeremiah connected with what God had revealed to Daniel in the vision of the four kingdoms in Daniel 7 and earlier in chapter 2.  The Jews of the first century interpreted the passage to have the 70 years of Babylonian captivity included within the 490 years prophecy of Daniel 9:24-27.  The 70 years of captivity are connected to the Babylonian dominance over Israel but there were three more Gentile kingdoms to go before the true and New Covenant restoration under Messiah would be achieved (of which Ezra and Nehemiah only typified).  The 70 years of Babylonian captivity times 7 (based on breaking the sabbath laws of Lev. 25-26) = 490 years.

The next major error, is that Yeshua was a Jew and He along with the Jews of the first century would have used the Jewish calendar which dated the destruction of the first temple around 420 BC and not the Gentile calendar of 586 BC.  Therefore, first century “Chronomessianism” began the 490 years countdown from the destruction of the first temple to an anticipated arrival of the Messiah before the destruction of the second temple.

Messiah had to arrive at the end of the last and 10th jubilee to accomplish all the soteriological and eschatological events listed in Daniel 9:24-27 and Isaiah 61:1-11.  They expected Messiah to arrive right around AD 26 – AND HE DID!  But because they missed the spiritual nature of His Kingdom (Lk. 17:20-37), they missed the fulfillment of this powerful prophecy unfold before their very eyes from AD 26 — AD 66-70.   Yeshua was only developing what He revealed to Daniel, when he prophesied a spiritual kingdom (Dan. 2 and 7).  Not only this, but it was clear from their own prophets that they would not be able to “discern” their own “end” when it would drawn “near” in a particular “last days” “perverse and crooked generation” (Deut. 32/Acts 2:40/1 Pet. 4:5-7). The fact that God would be coming to judge their unbelief and not the Romans was prophesied to be a “strange work” (Isa. 28).  Their carnal expectations caused them to miss Isaiah’s “new work” of the spiritual New Covenant.  The same carnal and physical expectations of the Messianic Kingdom has also caused my opponent Dr. Michael Brown (and most of the Church today) to have a delayed 2,000 plus years and counting arrival of the kingdom and ignore or re-define NT imminence.

We must enter into the Jewish and historical context when approaching Daniel 9:24-27 as relating to the Sabbatical calendar and the redemption of Israel.

While I would differ on some points with Ben Zion Wacholder, I would agree with the majority of these quotes and that there is sufficient,

*** “…evidence in the biblical, Qumran׳ New Testament, and rabbinic literature for a hitherto unnoticed but apparently at one time widespread belief, that the inevitable coming of the messiah would take place during the season when Israel celebrated the sabbatical year. Sabbatical messianism, or chronomessianism, are appropriate terms for a phenomenon that inspired a search in the scriptural prophecies for the exact date of the redeemer’s coming. Although most powerful in the apocalyptic tradition, chronomessianism appears as well in the mainstream of Judaism. The locus classicus of chronomessianic doctrine is found in Daniel 9, particularly in the mysterious verses 24-27.” (Ben Zion Wacholder, CHRONOMESSIANISM THE TIMING OF MESSIANIC MOVEMENTS AND THE CALENDAR OF SABBATICAL CYCLES, Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion, Cincinnati, p.1, bold emphasis MJS).

More quotes from his article that I found useful include the following:

*** “The pre-history of chronomessianism may be traced in several biblical pasages. Isa. 23:15-18 predicts that Tyre will be forgotten for seventy years, at the end of which time the Lord will again remember the famous city.  Jeremiah employs the 70-year period for the length of Judah’s coming exile in Babylonia (Jer. 25: 11-12; 29: 10).  The use of the number 70 might reflect the Jewish affinity for the numeral seven and its multiples, evidenced in weekly and yearly sabbaths (shemittah) and the jubilee; alternately, it might have been a common Near Eastern convention for the maximum life expectancy or the normal span of two or three generations. Whatever that number’s function in Jeremiah, Zech. 1:12 regards the number 70 as the precise length of Judah’s exile. By fusing Jeremiah’s “70-year prophecy” with the assertion in Lev. 26:34-35, 43, that during the exile the land would atone for the sabbaths that Israel had violated, 2 Chron. 36:21-23 suggests not only that Jeremiah’s words came true, but explicitly interprets Cyrus’ edict as having reference to them.

Whatever the precise meaning of these passages, the credit for inventing sabbatical messianism belongs to the author of Daniel 9.” (Ibid., pp. 1-2).  

*** “The ancient Jewish exegesis of Dan. 9:24-27 differs from modern scholarship in two significant ways. With a few exceptions, all medieval and recent commentators translate the key-word shavu’a (supposedly following the LXX) as heptomad or a “week,י’ seven years.  The ancient exegetes, it will be shown, understood shavu’a to refer to the seven- year cycle, the last year of which was “the year of the Lord” (Lev. 25:2), the equivalent of the year of shemittah or release (Deut. 15:1-2), when debts were canceled and land lay fallow. The difference between the two interpretations is that, according to the former, any septennial number will do; according to the latter, however, each seven-year period had its fixed place in a series, precise in beginning and end. A second difference stems from the first. Modern exegetes interpret the passage without reference to Jewish chronology current at that time.  The ancients, however, took it for granted that the numbers in 9:24-27 had to harmonize with their calendar of sabbatical cycles.  No student would undertake to determine the day of the week without reference to the Jewish or Christian calendar; yet none of the nineteenth or twentieth century commentators, I have concluded, tries to harmonize Daniel with the sabbatical cycles as they were uninterruptedly observed during intertestamental and early rabbinic times.” (Ibid., pp. 2-3).

*** “The recently published fragments from a partially preserved pesher offer a fascinating presentation of sabbatical chronomessianism.  Although written in the familiar Qumran style, the pesher applied Daniel’s insight into what evidently was an anthology of biblical passages related to the sabbatical and jubilee themes, but which also included allusions to the reigns of the Righteous (Melchizedek) and Wicked (Melchiresha). After commenting on Lev. 25:13 in regard to the Israelites’ return to their patrimony in the year of דרור (jubilee), the remission of debts in Deut. 15:2, and freedom (דרור) to the captives, proclaimed in Isa. 61:1, llQMelch 3 II continues: “Its interpretation is: that He will proclaim them to be among the children of Heaven and of the inheritance of Melchizedek… For He will restore (their patrimonies?) to them and proclaim freedom to them and make them abandon all of their sins. This shall take place during the sabbatical cycle (shabu’a) of the first jubilee following the nitne] jubilees, and on the Day of Atonement falling at the en[d of the jujbilee, the tenth; To forgive on it (the day of atonement) for all of (the sins) of all the children of [God and] the men of the lot of Melchizedek.”  Although its main thought is quite clear, the precise chronology of the pesher remains obscure. There is no doubt, however, that the tenth jubilee alludes to the chronology of Dan. 9:24’s 70 sabbatical cycles, which equals 10 jubilees, when Melchizedek will overcome Me(a)lchiresha°. Any lingering doubt that this is so disappears when one reads in line 18 of our fragment: “And the herald of good tidings (Isa. 52:7a) refers to the messiah, the Spirit concerning whom it was said by Dan[iel (9:25): ‘Until the coming of the messiah, the prince, 7 sabbatical cycles…’”  Despite the fact that the pesher utilizes a long list of biblical passages, Dan. 9:24-27 remained the key to the author’s chronology of sabbatical messianism.” (Ibid., pp. 10-11).

*** “Chapters 29-30 of Seder Olam, which may be regarded as a kind of midrash on Dan. 9:24-27, tailor the chronology of the burnings of the First and the Second Temples to make them conform to the author’s view of Daniel’s sabbatical numbers: 10 Jubilees = 70 Sabbatical cycles = 490 years elapsed from Nebuchadnezzar’s to Titus’ conquests of Jerusalem.” (Ibid., p. 11).

*** “It is evident that the observance of the sabbatical years and jubilees during the intertestamental times played a far larger role in the consciousness of Israel than has been hitherto recognized. Immense as were the effects of the calendar of sabbatical cycles on the agricultural and social life of the people, its influence was no less on the formulation of Jewish religious beliefs. Concepts such as creation, history, apocalypse, and eschatology all became enmeshed with the calendar of sabbatical cycles. In the 7th year debts were cancelled, hard labor in the fields stopped; the voice of freedom was heard throughout the land as the steps of the messiah were believed to have become more and more audible.” (Ibid. p. 18).

James M. Hamilton Jr. also comments on this relevant Qumran material in relation to Daniel 9:24-27 and the eschatological jubilee of 490 years:

“This seems to indicate that the reference to ‘Melchizedek’ in this passage should be understood along the lines of the David Psalm 110.  In that case, 11Q Rule of Melchizedek bears witness to a hope for a David and Melchizedekian figure who will be anointed by the Spirit, make atonement for his people (the sons of light, i.e. the seed of the woman), thereby freeing them from their sins, proclaiming liberty to the captives, enabling the return from exile, and all these magnificent things take place at the tenth jubilee.” (James M. Hamilton Jr., With the Clouds of Heaven The book of Daniel in Biblical Theology, IVP, p. 162, bold emphasis MJS).

I believe Hamilton is correct to see this material including the Messianic second exodus and Messianic gathering motif as well.  He correctly sees the document including the blowing of the trumpet and eschatological gathering of Isaiah 27:13 with Daniel 9:24-27 (Ibid.).  This is significant in that both Yeshua and Paul connect the trumpet gathering of Isaiah 27:13 with the Second Coming of Christ and resurrection to take place in their generation and in the lifetime of their contemporaries (Mt. 24:30-34; 1 Thess. 4:15-17).  This trumpet eschatological gathering at Christ’s Second Coming in the events of AD 66 – AD 70 is described by Luke as the “days of vengeance” which correlate to Isaiah’s “day of vengeance” during this last eschatological cycle of the Jubilee (Lk. 21:20-32/Isa. 61–63).

Margaret Barker comes the closest to my position because she at least connects this last 10th cycle to the “soon” AD 66 – AD 70 fulfillments to the book of Revelation.

“The seventy weeks of years, 490 years, were ten Jubilees, and the alternative way of reckoning this period was as ten Jubilees. Jewish tradition remembered that the 490 years ended in 68CE; calculation from the second temple Jubilee sequence beginning in 424BCE gives 66CE. A two years discrepancy is hardly significant in the light of what this implies, namely that the tenth Jubilee began in 17/19 CE. In other words, tenth Jubilee fervour and expectations were the context for the ministry of Jesus.” (Margaret Barker, THE TIME IS FULFILLED JESUS AND THE JUBILEE, 1999, http://www.margaretbarker.com/Papers/JesusAndTheJubilee.pdf).

I did find someone (and I do not share her eschatology obviously) who calculated the jubilee cycle as I had (see #2 in the chart below). Marie Casale writes,

“According to Luke 3:21-23, Jesus began to be about 30 years of age when he was baptized by John the Baptist. Having been born in the fall of 5 BC, he was baptized in the fall of 26 AD at the time of his birthday. Then, according to the scriptures, after his fall baptism, he went immediately into the wilderness to be tempted by Satan for forty days. (Mat 4:1-2) He returned to Jerusalem for the first Passover of his ministry, April 9, 27 AD. (Jhn2:13-25) Sometime later Jesus began preaching in Galilee after John the Baptist was put in prison. (Mar 1:14-15, Mat 4:12, Luk4:14-15)

The next event after this was that Jesus preaches in Nazareth on the Sabbath day – Luk4:16-30 *

Luke 4:16-20 And he came to Nazareth, where he had been brought up: and, as his custom was, he went into the synagogue on the Sabbath day, and stood up for to read.  And there was delivered unto him the book of the prophet Esaias. And when he had opened the book, he found the place where it was written, The Spirit of the Lord [is] upon me, because he hath anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor; he hath sent me to heal the brokenhearted, to preach deliverance to the captives, and recovering of sight to the blind, to SET AT LIBERTY them that are bruised, To preach THE ACCEPTABLE YEAR OF THE LORD.  And he closed the book, and he gave [it] again to the minister, and sat down. And the eyes of all them that were in the synagogue were fastened on him. And he began to say unto them, This day is this scripture fulfilled in your ears.

The message in Luke 4:19 has to do with the announcement of ‘the acceptable year of the Lord’. This must be the Sabbath year of 26 AD.

Jesus would have probably announced these words on the Feast of Pentecost in 27 AD. The next holy day, the Day of Trumpets in 27 AD, would begin the second year of his ministry.

The message in Luke 4:18 also has to do with a ‘proclamation of liberty’. Liberty was to be proclaimed as we see here in the commandments of the Sabbath year and of the Jubilee year. (cf. Deut. 15:12-18). (Marie Casale, THE SABBATH JUBILEE YEARS POINT TO THE MINISTRY OF CHRIST).

The “Already and Not Yet” of the Jubilee Cycle of Isiah 61-63/Luke 4

Both Dr. Brown and men like Dr. Michael Heiser refuse to submit to the inspired time frame of the “already and not yet” period of NT eschatology:

I should briefly address those such as Dr. Michael Heiser whom point out that Yeshua did not quote the “day of vengeance” when he opened up Isaiah 61 in Luke 4:18 — this allegedly proving a 2,000 plus “already and not yet” period or gap.

In Jewish hermeneutics often times a Rabbi would quote just one section of a prophecy and the audience knew the theological context of the entire passage was referenced as well.  Dr. Brown hates when Full Preterist’s use this approach but if you ever watch Dr. Brown lecture on Yeshua quoting from Psalm 22, you will see Dr. Brown develop the entire context of the Psalm – which was Yeshua’s desire.

Even for those that discuss Yeshua was only addressing the “already” aspect of fulfilling the Jubilee of Isaiah 61 through His earthly ministry and passion — this does not address the issue that the NT places the “not yet” being fulfilled in the first century “this generation,” “soon,” “quickly,” “at hand,” “about to,” “would not be delayed,” etc…  This and the 10th Jubilee cycle had to be fulfilled within 49-50 years from AD 26.  In Luke 4:18 Jesus may be focusing on the first half of the last 7 if Daniel 9:24-27; but this does not prove the “not yet” of the last half of the 7 is 2,000 plus years and counting.  The last 3.5 years of the 7 was fulfilled between AD 66 – AD 70.

From what I understand, some commentators do claim Jesus’ declaration of the Jubilee of Luke 4:18-21/Isaiah 61 was made in an actual Jubilee year sabbath period, but it is not developed much by them or proven the way I have (and confirmed to me by Marie Casale). If this is accurate and we have a Jubilee sabbath rest year in AD 26/AD 28, then Jesus is in essence saying: “You know the 10th Jubilee of Daniel 9:24-27 that you are expecting as the time of Messiah coming to visit you with salvation and judgment, well, I am Him and the time of this prophetic period being fulfilled is taking place in your hearing and before your very eyes.” The Lord would confirm in (Luke 21:20-22, 27-32; Mt. 24:15-34) that all of the seventy sevens (and thus their “redemption”) would be fulfilled when the “abomination of desolation spoken of by the prophet Daniel” took place within their contemporary “this generation.” When the Roman armies stepped foot on Israel’s land (known to them to be “a holy place” Mt. 24:15/Lk. 21:20-22) this event (the judgment of Jerusalem) brought the 70 7’s prophecy of Daniel to a perfect fulfillment and fulfilled all OT prophecy (as in Daniel 12:1-7).

Here are some more helpful insights from Barker’s article in not just developing the first part of the 10th. cycle to the earthly ministry of Christ, but the last part of the cycle to the “soon” AD 70 judgment,

*** “The Qumran Melchizedek text (11QMelch), written in the middle of the first century BCE but not necessarily composed at that time, describes the events of the tenth Jubilee14. Only fragments have survived so it is possible that the complete text described the other nine Jubilees also. The text begins by quoting the Jubilee laws in Leviticus 25 and Deuteronomy 15, interpreting them ‘for the last days’. The captives who are to return are people whose teachers have been ‘hidden and kept secret’ and these ‘people of the inheritance of Melchizedek’ will return. There is insufficient text for certainty, but this looks like a group who have been secretly preserving the teachings of the first temple, when there was a Melchizedek priesthood. In the tenth Jubilee they would ‘return’, perhaps to the temple as priests? The liberty of the Jubilee is interpreted as release from iniquities, the beginning of the atonement which will occur on the Day of Atonement at the end of the tenth Jubilee. The return and the release from iniquity were to happen in the first week, the first seven years, of the tenth Jubilee i.e. approximately 19-26 CE. If Jesus was born in 7/6 BCE15 and was baptised when he was about thirty years old (Luke 3.23), he began his ministry during the crucial first ‘week’ of the tenth Jubilee.

11 QMelch alludes many times to the Jubilee oracle in Isaiah 61: ‘… the LORD God has anointed me… to proclaim liberty to the captives (Isa.61.1, ‘proclaim liberty’, deror. being a quotation from Lev.25.10). The coming Melchizedek is to rescue his own people (? the sons of light, but the text is damaged here) from the power of Belial. There was to be a messenger of peace announcing to Zion ‘Your God reigns’, thus fulfilling Isaiah 52.7. The messenger was probably Melchizedek, but again the text is too damaged for certainty. He would be the anointed one prophesied in Daniel 9.25, but described in 11 QMelch as ‘anointed of the Spirit’, a conflation with Isaiah 61.1. The anointed one would instruct in the end times of the world16 and some people (the text is broken here) would establish the covenant, another Day of Atonement theme.

This gives the context for the opening scenes of the gospels. In the first week of the tenth Jubilee Jesus was baptised with the Spirit, which was interpreted as his anointing (Acts 10.38). After his time in the desert he returned to Galilee announcing ‘the time is fulfilled’ i.e. the tenth Jubilee is inaugurated and ‘Melchizedek’ is here, ‘the Kingdom of God is at hand, repent’, because the final Day of Atonement was also at hand at hand, ‘and believe the good news’ of the Jubilee release. Luke’s account of Jesus in the synagogue at Nazareth shows that he claimed to have inaugurated the final Jubilee; no other interpretation can be put on the claim to have fulfilled that day (Luke 4.21) the Jubilee prophecy in Isaiah 61 which was central to the Melchizedek expectations of the time. 17

The first miracle was an exorcism (Mark 1.21-26), setting one of his own people free from the power of Belial. He spoke of a woman bound by Satan and released her (Luke 13.16), of slaves to sin whom the Son could release (John 9.31-38). He forgave sins and illustrated his teaching with a parable of two debtors whose debts were cancelled (Luke 7. 41-48). The healing miracles restored to the community people who would have been excluded as ritually unfit: the disabled, the lepers, a woman who was bleeding. This was the great ingathering of the Jubilee. Jesus spoke of those who would inherit the earth (Mat.5.5) and at the Last Supper, he spoke of the New Covenant and of his blood poured out for the remission of sins (aphesis, the Jubilee word, Mat.26.28).

The Jubilee also brought the Day of Judgement, vividly described in 11QMelch. Melchizedek would take his place in the heavenly assembly and, as described in Psalm 82.1, begin to judge the `elohim, the heavenly beings. This was to be the year of Melchizedek’s favour, a very significant alteration to Isaiah 61.2, which proclaims the Jubilee as the year of the LORD’s favour. Similarly with Psalm 82.1; it is Melchizedek who takes his place in the heavenly assembly, whereas in the original Psalm it is God. The only possible conclusion is that Melchizedek, the heavenly high priest, was the LORD, the God of Israel. In 11 QMelch he has armies and brings the vengeance of divine judgement, and these were expected to appear in the tenth Jubilee. 11 QMelch explains why Jesus is depicted as judge and warrior in the Book of Revelation and why the Book of Revelation is described as ‘The revelation of Jesus Christ which God gave him to show to his servants what must soon take place’ (Rev.1.1). These were the teachings of Melchizedek, revealing in the tenth Jubilee the ends times of the world. When the Lamb takes his place in the heavenly assembly (Rev.5.6-14 fulfilling Ps.82.1) the judgement begins. The Word of God rides out from heaven, wearing a white robe sprinkled with blood; he is the high priest who has taken the atonement blood into the holy of holies. He rides out with his with his army (Rev.19.11-16) and the judgement follows.

The letter to the Hebrews explained the role of Jesus as the new Melchizedek (Heb.7.11), the one who had attained the priesthood by ascent, being raised up, not by descent from Aaron18. The crucifixion and ascension had been recognised as the enthronement of the Lamb, exactly as described in Hebrews 10.12: ‘When Christ had offered for all time a single sacrifice for sins, he sat down at the right hand of God, there to wait until his enemies should be made a footstool for his feet’. The remainder of the tenth Jubilee was the time of waiting until the final battle and victory when the Great High Priest would emerge to complete the Atonement and conclude the Jubilee.” (Ibid.).

*** “The seventh seal [of Revelation] would bring the return of the heavenly high priest to complete the great atonement at the end of the tenth Jubilee which was, by that time, imminent. In August 66CE, the nationalists gained entrance to the temple area and burned all records of debt20, the start of the Jubilee.” (Ibid.).

*** “There is insufficient evidence to say with confidence how closely the Parousia expectations of the early church were bound up with the Jewish nationalism of the first century CE. They had Jubilee expectations in common, but the present form of the gospels invites us to believe that Jesus spiritualised the Jubilee, interpreting release from debt and slavery as forgiveness of sins and release from the power of Satan. This, however, is exactly the interpretation in 11QMelch, which was quite clear about the events of the tenth Jubilee. A spiritual interpretation of Jubilee does not necessarily indicate a separate agenda from the nationalists. Jesus did warn that the blood of the prophets would be required of his generation (Luke 11.50), in other words, that the Day of Judgement would occur within the lifetime of his hearers. This explains the urgency of his words: ‘The time is fulfilled and the kingdom of God is at hand. Repent and believe in the good news’.” (Ibid.).

*** “The Jubilee was used to measure time in the second temple period even when a literal application of the land laws was no longer possible10. Later tradition divided the history of Israel into Jubilees, but the remarkable coincidence of important events and Jubilee years does suggest that the Jubilee system was a significant factor in Israel’s actual history and not just in the memory of its historians.” (Ibid.).

That the Jubilee of Isaiah 61 was considered an imminent eschatological expectation in Jesus’ days is supported by other scholars:

“In 11Q13 phrases from Isa. 61:1–2 are linked with Lev. 25:13; Deut. 15:2; Ps. 7:8–9; 82:1–2; Isa. 52:7 to portray the expectation of the eschatological Jubilee (M. P. Miller 1969; J. A. Sanders 1975: 85). (Pao, D. W., & Schnabel, E. J. (2007). Luke. In Commentary on the New Testament use of the Old Testament (p. 288). Grand Rapids, MI; Nottingham, UK: Baker Academic; Apollos).

My Response to Margaret Barker’s Article Jubilee Used to Measure Time and the History of Israel

As to Barker’s insight into the Jews dividing up their history in jubilee years and expectations of Messiah coming to fulfill Daniel’s 10th cycle of Jubilee during the times of Jesus — see my comments on the eschatological genealogies of Matthew and Luke’s gospels and George F. Moore’s article, Fourteen Generations: 490 Years: An Explanation of the Genealogy of Jesus, The Harvard Theological Review, Vol. 14, No. 1 (Jan., 1921), pp. 97-103 Published by: Cambridge University Press on behalf of the Harvard Divinity School.

The “Days of Vengeance” – Luke 21:20-32 and the 10th Jubilee Cycle

Yeshua predicted that His coming soteriological and eschatological “redemption” “kingdom” “days of vengeance” of the Jubilee of Isaiah 61–66 would arrive at the sound of a trumpet and would be accomplished within His first century “this generation” audience (Lk. 21:20-32/Mt. 24:30-34). This was the fulfillment of “all that had been written” in the OT (Lk. 21:20-22ff.), which would obviously include Isaiah 61–66 and Daniel 2; 7; 9 and 12.

The Book of Hebrews and the 10th Jubilee Cycle

In chapters 3-4 the author demonstrates that the OT predicted “another sabbath rest” for Israel to enter into of which the land promise was only a type. In chapters 9-10 this “approaching day” of sabbath rest is connected to His Second Appearing as the Great High Priest to finish His atonement work. The first century Church was “eagerly” awaiting this return that is described as taking place in the last days of the Old Covenant age and “in a very little while” and would “not delay.” He was “about to” (Greek mello) burn up His Old Covenant apostate Jewish enemies and place them under His feet at this AD 66 – AD 70 Second Appearing.

In chapter 7 Melchizedek only functioned as a type of Christ, therefore the fist century imminent expectations of the eschatological “last days” Melchizedek is rightfully applied to Christ as Messiah and God to accomplish what they thought this figure would.

The Book of Revelation and the 10th Jubilee Cycle

The book of Revelation picks up where Daniel leaves off. Daniel had to “seal up the vision” because the time of fulfillment was “far off” (Dan. 12), whereas John is told the opposite concerning the SAME prophecy. He is told to “NOT seal up the vision” because the time of fulfillment is “at hand” (Rev. 22). Most of the book of Revelation deals with Daniel’s final “7” and places it being fulfilled in a fist century AD 66 – AD 77 period (i.e. “shortly” “soon” “at hand” “about to” “quick”).

Revelation also addresses issues of atonement, forgiveness of sin, sabbath rest and restoring man’s original Edenic inheritance in Christ at His “soon” Second Coming event during AD 66 – AD 70.

Yeshua – the Only Messianic Candidate

No matter how you look at it, the Jews were expecting Messiah to arrive during the Roman Empire and during the 10th Jubilee cycle/period and thus be made manifest to them between AD 17/19 or AD 26/28 Jesus was the ONLY one claiming to be Messiah and fulfilling this prophecy in His day, that I know of. Jesus arriving during this 10th. Jubilee cycle and proclaiming “liberty” along with His physical miracles, demonstrated that He indeed was who He claimed to be. Who else during this period was making this specific claim and having the miracles to back it up?!? And who else was prophesying that He would come on the clouds as the Ancient of Days and destroy the Temple within that same generation (Mt. 24:15-34/Lk. 21:20-32)?!?

My calculations are on the left using a count for the Jubilee to be every 50 years.  Using my calculation, Yeshua opens the scroll of Isaiah 61 in Luke 4 during a Jubilee Sabbath year somewhere between AD 26/28 at the beginning of His ministry and fulfills the entire 10th and final cycle of events between AD 26 — AD 66-70.  The two columns on the right are Margaret Barker’s calculations counting a Jubilee to be every 49 years.

1). AD 26/28 — Yeshua begins fulfilling the soteriological (Lk. 4/Isa. 61) and eschatological 10th. cycle of the Jubilee and is “cut off” – inaugurating the NC age — First half of Daniel’s last “7.”

2). AD 33/35 – Seventh year sabbath

3). AD 40/42 – Seventh year sabbath

4). AD 47/49 – Seventh year sabbath

5). AD 54/56 – Seventh year sabbath

6). AD 61/63 – Seventh year sabbath

7). AD 67/69 — Yeshua fulfilling “Day(s) of vengeance” (Lk. 21:22-32/Isa. 61:2) which ends the OC age and brings to maturity the NC age — last half of Daniel’s “7”

Click on chart below to enlarge:

Yeshua fulfilled all of the seven feast days and the “climatic” second exodus generation between AD 26 – AD 66-AD 70.

Let’s now examine the six events listed in Daniel 9:24 and show how they were fulfilled by AD 70.  We will begin with “seal vision and prophet or prophecy” since this is most relevant to the debate of “prophecy” “passing away” in AD 70 per (1 Cor. 13:8-12).

1).  “Seal Vision and Prophecy/Prophet”

Here are some relevant quotes which demonstrate when Daniel’s seventy weeks would be fulfilled, is when the gift and office of prophecy and prophet would “stop” or “end”:

• “Prophecies and prophets are sealed, when by the full realization of all prophecies prophecy ceases, no more prophets any more appear.” (Keil and Delitzsch, Commentary on the Old Testament, Vol. 9, (Grand Rapids; Eerdmans, 1975), 344).
• “…the prophet is speaking of the absolute cessation of all prophecy. I Cor. 13:8.” (Charles John Ellicott, Commentary on the Whole Bible, (Cassell and Co; London, 1884), 387).
• “The words taken together refer to the final fulfillment of revelation and prophecy, i.e., when their functions are shown to be finished.” (James Leon Wood, A Commentary on Daniel, (Grand Rapids; Zondervan, 1973), 250).

Daniel 9:24-27 – The “Already & Not Yet” fulfilled by AD 70

2).  To Finish or “fill up” the transgression and rebellion of Israel’s Sin

Agreeing with Smith, Dr. Brown understands this to mean, “Within the 490 years period the people of Israel would commit their final transgression against God.  Jesus indicated that the leaders of his generationwere about to fill up the measure of the sin of their forefathers (Matt. 23:32)…” (Michael Brown, AJOJ, Vol. 3, 93). The book of Revelation teaches the same time period for the vindication of the martyrs and the judgment of the dead (i.e. AD 70).  The martyrs would be avenged take in “a very little while” when OC Jerusalem/Babylon was judged “soon” for putting to death the Apostles and Prophets (Rev. 6:10-11; 11–22:7-12).

3) — 4).  Put an end to sin or atone for wickedness (covering over of iniquity)

In the book of Hebrews, Christ as the Anointed Great High Priest put an “end to sin” at His imminent “in a very little while and would not delay” “Second Appearing” to close the “last days” of the OC age in AD 70 (Heb. 9:26-28/10:37; Rom. 11:26-27/13:11-12; Dan. 9:24b.).  As being or in the New Creation, our sins are remembered no more, covered in the depths of the sea and then removed positionally in Christ (Isa. 65-66/2 Cor. 5:17; Mic. 7:19).

5).  To bring in everlasting righteousness

According to Peter, the inheritance the OT prophets predicted in the form of the New Creation or “world of righteousness” was “ready to be revealed” and thus “the end of all things” was “at hand” (1 Peter 1:4-12; 4:5-7).  According to Paul, “…[righteousness] is/was about to be reckoned  (Rom. 4:24) and “For through the Spirit we eagerly await by faith the righteousness for which we hope” (Gal. 5:5).  This “hope” Paul defines as, “Christ in you the hope of glory (Cols. 1:27; Lk. 17:20-37).

6).  To anoint the Most Holy Place – Hag. 2:6-9- AJOJ, Vol. 1, p. 75ff.

In Dr. Brown’s lectures and writings he claims this prophecy and those of Ezekiel, can refer to the Church as the spiritual millennial Temple, Levitical Priesthood and Sacrifices of Ezekiel 37:27; 40—48 / 2 Cor. 6:16; Jn. 7:37-39 or a physical millennial temple with a literal priesthood and sacrifices as the climax of redemptive history.

But obviously it can’t be both and the inspired “time frame” of Daniel 9:24-27 requires the spiritual fulfillment by AD 70! The truth is the New Jerusalem is the New Covenant “Jerusalem from above” of (Galatians 4) and is in the shape of a perfect cube because it is God’s Most Holy Place dwelling which was in the process of “coming down” and would “soon” come down to earth at Christ’s “at hand” Second Coming event in AD 70 (Rev. 3:11-12NIV—Rev. 21:16—22:20). God placed His “glory/presence” in this Temple at His Parousia/presence in AD 70.  “Christ in you the hope of glory” (Cols. 1:27).

It is in the New Jerusalem or the Most Holy Place dwelling of God (the Church) where God’s glory, righteousness and presence resides.  It is this Most Holy Place Temple that fulfills Haggai 2:6-9 where it is stated, “the latter glory of this house shall be greater than the former,” and functions as the “desire of the nations.” It is here where God grants “peace” that surpasses all understanding.  The “nations” come through the gates of this City/Temple for healing in Revelation 22:17 AFTER the ”soon” Second Coming was fulfilled.  God “shook” the Old Covenant Kingdom or Mount Sinai made of things that were created in AD 70 and brought to maturity the  spiritual New Covenant mount Zion that “cannot be shaken” (Heb. 12:18-28).  And the author tells us when this Most Holy Place City would arrive, “For here [in physical Jerusalem] we do not have an enduring or eternal city, but we are looking for the city that is about to come.” (Heb. 13:14YLT).  That one verse alone destroys Dr. Brown’s carnal Premillennial Zionist theology.

Concluding the eschatology of Judaism

I have demonstrated according to Jewish sources of authority (prior to Christ and after) that Messiah was to be a divine figure (God) functioning as “Savior” forgiving sins. I have also demonstrated that in AD 70 Israel’s Messiah/Jesus “took the kingdom” from old covenant Israel and “gave it to a nation bearing the fruits thereof” (in its NC restored form ie. the Church – the new Israel of God) – (Matt. 21:43-45).

Therefore, modern day Israel has no religious or covenantal “right” to “sacred” land post AD 70 with their OC “vanishing” (Heb. 8:13) at Christ’s “in a very little while” coming to end that age (Heb. 9:26-28/Heb. 10:37). They have no more of a religious right to their land than Islam has of what they think “God” has or will give them. Selah. The more Christians here in the U.S. begin understanding this – and these “in the land,” “end time,” “holy war” false religious systems do, the more objective and peaceful this process will become in the future.

Go to “part 3” now:

Part 1 Islam – Refuting and Healing “Holy Land” “End Time” “Holy War” Eschatology: https://fullpreterism.com/a-full-preterist-response-to-holy-land-end-time-holy-war-eschatologies-part-1-islam/

Part 2 Judaism – Refuting and Healing “Holy Land” “End Time” “Holy War” Eschatology:https://fullpreterism.com/a-full-preterist-response-to-holy-land-end-of-time-holy-war-eschatologies-part-2-judaism-the-article-facebook-doesnt-want-yo/

Part 3 “Christian” Dispensational Zionism – Refuting and Healing “Holy Land” “End Time” “Holy War” Eschatology: https://fullpreterism.com/a-full-preterist-response-to-holy-land-end-time-holy-war-eschatologies-part-3-christian-dispensational-zionism/

Appendix A – Additional Material on Zionism

While there are various strains and forms of Zionism, my focus in this lecture will be on religious/Talmudic Zionism or Messianic Zionism. This is where Zionists try and equate modern Christian Arabs or Muslim Arabs living in Palestine with the ancient Amalekites under the Old Covenant and have convinced themselves that they have a divine right today to perform ethnic cleansing of these groups — because again the have a divine right to the land. They also believe that it is through these modern wars, theft, and ethnic cleansing that they will usher in the Messiah’s coming and world “redemption.

Knowledge of the Talmud for a Gentile Strictly Forbidden

After the destruction of the Temple during the Babylonian captivity beginning in 586 BC, the need arose for the Jews to interpret the law in Babylon without the Temple. The offices of the Scribes and Pharisees were created to fill this function. These men claimed God gave the 70 elders at Mount Saini more profound revelations and traditions than that which Moses was given when he received the Torah.

So what exactly were some of the “traditions of men” and the “hypocrisy” of the Pharisees by which they were seeking to make “null and void the commandments of God” that Jesus rebukes them for in such passages as Mark 7:13 and Matthew 23? Why were they so arrogant, exclusive, violent and sexually perverted? Other than the depravity of man, the other explanation is what they had orally memorized from the Talmud and would officially canonize in 426 BC.

1. The Authority of the Talmud

The Talmud is more important than the law of Moses and it is more wicked to question a Rabbis than to question the Law of Moses.

The decisions of the Talmud are words of the living God. Jehovah himself asks the opinions of earthly rabbis when there are difficult affairs in heaven.

Jehovah himself in heaven studies the Talmud, standing: he has such respect for that book.

Wow, since the Talmud has so much authority, what exactly is the Zionist “Jew” to submit and commit himself to believing and living out? (Sources: Mischna Sanhedryn 11:3; Rabbi Issael, Rabbi Chasbar, et. al.; Rabbi Menachen, Comments for the Fifth Book; Tractate Mechilla/Me’ilah).

2. View of Gentiles

Jews have souls and are humans but Gentiles do not have souls. Gentiles are mere animals created in human form, created for the purpose of serving the Jews (-Saba Mecia 114, 6; Midrasch Talpioth, p. 225-L; -Simeon Haddarsen, fol. 56-D;).

Jews are to “make (‘continuous’) war with Gentiles by deceit and trickery” in order to “free themselves from them and rule over them.” (Talmud: Zohar, I. 160a).

“All property of other nations belongs to the Jewish nation, which, consequently, is entitled to seize upon it without any scruples.” Stealing from and “…cheating of a non-Jew at any time pleases the Lord.” -Schulchan Qruch, Orach Chaim 539; Schulchan Qruch, Choszen Hamiszpat 348).

“A Jew may do to a non-Jew female whatever he can do. He may treat her as he treats a piece of meat.” -Hadarine, 20, B; Schulchan Qruch, Choszen Hamiszpat 348; Moses Maimonides (“The RaMBaM”), Jak. Chasaka 2:2).

Summary: A Jew could rape, steal from, deceive, and kill a Gentile at anytime (if they could get away with it) because Gentiles have no souls and were only created for the purpose of being slaves to the Jews.

3. The Talmud’s views on Jesus and Christians

a. Views on Jesus Christ

Jesus’s mother played the whore with many carpenters. Therefore, Jesus was a bastard child.

Jesus seduced and destroyed Israel by performing magic and teaching heresy and apostasy. Therefore, he is currently being punished by being boiled in his own urine and excrement never to enter the world to come (Sanhedrin, 107b; Mishna Yebamoth 4,13; Sanhedrin 106a; Tosephta Sanhedrin X, 11: Jerusalem Sanhedrin 25c,d; Sanhedrin 107b; Taanit 65a; Gittin 56b, 57a; Mishna Sanhedrin X, 2).

b. Views on Christians

A JEW WHO KILLS A CHRISTIAN COMMITS NO SIN, BUT OFFERS AN ACCEPTABLE SACRIFICE TO GOD AND SHALL HAVE A HIGH PLACE IN HEAVEN (Sepher Or Israel (177b); Ialkut Simoni (245c. n. 772); In Zohar (III,227b); Zohar (I,38b, and 39a).

Christians are idolators, Jews must not associate with them. (Hilkhoth Maakhaloth).

Suggests Christians have sexual relations with animals. Abhodah Zarah (15b, 22a).

Marriages between Christian and Jews null. Eben Haezar (44,8)

Christian birth rate must be diminished. Zohar (II, 64b)

Christian churches are places of idolatry. Abhodah Zarah (78).

Avoid eating with Christians, breeds familiarity. Iore Dea (112, 1).

It is permitted to deceive Christians. Babha Kama (113b).

Usury may be practiced upon Christians. Abhodah Zarah (54a).

Jew may lie and perjure to condemn a Christian. Babha Kama (113a-b).

Kill those who give Israelites’ money to Christians. (but they love taking money from Dispensational Zionists). Choschen Ham (388,15).

Make no agreements and show no mercy to Christians. Hilkhoth Akum (X,1).

4. On Rabbi’s Teaching the Talmud

While the Talmud teaches the greatest Rabbi ever Jesus, is being boiled in the afterlife, it is says that a Rabbi teaching the Talmud can never go to hell (Hagigah 27a).

Similar to Muslims teaching that those who die in battle are guaranteed paradise.

Knowledge of the Talmud for a Gentile Strictly Forbidden:

“Every non-Jew who studies the Talmud and every Jew who helps him in it, ought to die.”

A Jew is to lie and make false vows to Gentiles if they ask what is taught in the Talmud, because if the Gentiles find out what is taught about them, they may desire to persecute or kill the Jews. Sources: (Sanhedryn, 59a, Aboda Zora 8-6, Szagiga 13; Libbre David 37; Szaaloth-Utszabot, The Book of Jore 17)

What Happens When Gentiles Do Find Out What is in the Talmud and How These “Jews” Are Living It Out?

Once Gentiles have found out what these so-called Jews have been teaching in their Talmud about them and what they have been up to — we find the Jews being thrown out of 47 countries in the last 1,000 years. These so-called “Jews” claim they are being persecuted for their righteousness and have been the victims of “Anti-Semitism.” Yet from the perspective of these countries the reasons include:

Their starting of revolutions and persecuting and killing of Christians (ex. Bolshevik revolution where 66 million Christians died). While we agree Hitler killing 1 – 6 million Jews (depending on your source) was wrong, we cannot ignore what Communist Jews did in Russia in killing 66 million Christians).

Their predator lending practices and manipulating their currency (ex. Rothschild Dynasty)

Their arrogance and attitude toward the Gentile nations that have hosted (and often protected) them.

Profiting from both sides of a war (ex. Rothschild Dynasty).

The modern state of Israel and its consistent land grab in Palestine, is a consistent expression of the Talmud – it is nothing but stealing land and committing racial genocide (murder) of “non-Jews” – all in the name of “God.”

Most don’t know that the modern state of Israel has committed more war crimes and violations (per the UN) than any nation in the world.

Consider the following racist or religious intolerant views of the modern state of Israel:

Israel’s interior minister Eli Yishai (in the picture with Benjamin N. on the right) has said of refugees coming into Israel that they “…think the country doesn’t belong to us, the white man.”

Israel overwhelmingly segregates its schools, apartments, neighborhoods, whole cities and towns and even in the settlements they stole from Palestinians. Israel even segregates public transport and has “Jews only” roads in the occupied territories.

In Israel it is illegal for a Jew to marry a non-Jew.

A Christian must renounce his faith before becoming a citizen in Israel.

In Israel Jews constantly hit and spit upon Christians in public and urinate on their churches.

But now that the racism and violence of the Talmud has become more public, some such as Benjamin Netanyahu and other religious Zionist fanatics, want to make it the law of the land! Newspaper headlines read, “Report: Netanyahu Promises Talmud Will Be Israeli Law”

Netanyahu has said, “We will legally define the Talmud as the basis of the Israeli legal system,” Vider reportedly told the haredi news website Kikar HaShabat last night.

And again, “…This is a very important law that will change how Israel looks in the future.…[the new bill] will be a Basic Law that [shows] the State of Israel rose and exists on the basis of the Torah and the Jewish tradition,” Netanyahu allegedly told Vider.

Critics even within Israel point out, “..now Benjamin Netanyahu wants to have Israel declare that its legal system is based on the Babylonian Talmud rather than on the secular western common law it was founded on.”

I would go on to add this is a classic “bait and switch.” Deceptively convince the Gentile nations you will agree to a two state Palestinian occupation of the land in 1947 and build your laws on Western values, but once in, begin driving the Palestinian Christians and Arabs out and seek to establish Talmudic law. Since the Talmud is considered more inspired than the Torah itself, if the Talmud is adopted as the law of the land, how can anyone avoid the theological racism and violence that is interwoven throughout which justifies and paves the way for Israel’s existence and coming of Messiah?!?

Lack of Consistency and Hypocrisy Coming from Sean Hannity and FOX NEWS

Why is it when Islam practices Sharia law in Muslim countries conservative commentators such as Sean Hannity condemn them as not being consistent with Western or Christian values, but when Israel lives out the violent and racist ambitions and worldview contained in the Talmud (even wanting to make it the law of the land) not only is it not condemned, we are actually called on by Hannity and others to continue giving Israel 5 – 15 billion a year to keep doing it?!? Why did Hannity obsess over trying to warn us about those Obama surrounded himself with (which would indicate his destructive worldview), but not do the same with his “good friend” Benjamin Netanyahu who surrounds himself with violent racists and himself has done and promotes the same?!? I agreed when Hannity and Beck tried to shed the light on Obama, but why the lack of consistency with Benjamin Netanyahu?

It seems more than hypocritical to engage in Islamic “extreme vetting” (which I agree with and should continue), but then allow Mossad operatives, organizations/cells and dual citizens to thrive (even serve in high levels of our government) here in the U.S.! Here are some helpful quotes from George Washington and Benjamin Franklin that are worth meditating upon:

“They (the Jews) work more effectively against us, than the enemy’s armies. They are a hundred times more dangerous to our liberties and the great cause we are engaged in… It is much to be lamented that each state, long ago, has not hunted them down as pest to society and the greatest enemies we have to the happiness of America.” (George Washington).”

“Jews, gentlemen, are Asiatics, let them be born where they will nor how many generations they are away from Asia, they will never be otherwise. Their ideas do not conform to an American’s, and will not even thou they live among us ten generations. A leopard cannot change its spots. Jews are Asiatics, are a menace to this country if permitted entrance, and should be excluded by this Constitutional Convention.” (Benjamin Franklin).

Hannity is only following Ronald Reagan. And it was public knowledge that Reagan was following Hal Lindsey. Lindsey of course knows nothing about Biblical eschatology and has been proven to be a fraud!

Zionist Eschatology – Are modern Zionists in Israel “God’s chosen people” having a divine right to “the land” of ancient Israel?

Benjamin N. believes the national gathering and resurrection of Ezekiel 37 was fulfilled in 1948. Modern religious Zionist “Jews” consistent assert that God still has a covenant with them and therefore, they have a divine right to the land from which they will be a light to the Gentile nations and from where they can then eventually rule the world.

Rabbi Avi Weiss – “Why is [the land] of Israel so crucial to our covenant with God? In the end, the goal of the Jewish people is to do our share to redeem the world. This is our mission as the chosen people and this can only be accomplished through committing ourselves to the chosen land, Israel.” The idea of our chosenness has always been associated with our sovereignty over the chosen land. But first and foremost, Israel is the place – the only place – where we have the potential to carry out and fulfill our mandate as the chosen people. In exile, we are not in control of our destiny; we cannot create the ideal society Torah envisions. Only in a Jewish state do we have the political sovereignty and judicial autonomy that we need to be the light unto the nations and to establish a just society from which other nations can learn the basic ethical ideals of Torah.” (The Jewish Press.com – The Importance of the Land of Israel, By Rabbi Avi Weiss – 18 Av 5774 – August 14, 2014).

Rabbi Yisrael Meida, “It is all a matter of sovereignty. He who controls the Temple Mount, controls Jerusalem. And he who controls Jerusalem, controls the land of Israel.”

Dr. Nahum Goldmann 1960 President world Zionist congress, “The Jews might have had Uganda, Madagascar and other places for the establishment of a Jewish fatherland, but they want absolutely nothing but Palestine. Because Palestine constitutes the veritable center of world political power, the strategic military center for world control.”

David Ben Gurion (Israel’s first President) wrote, “Jerusalem is not the capitol of Israel and world Jewry; it aspires to become the spiritual center of the world…” (Jewish Chronicles, London, Dec. 16, 1949). In LOOK Magazine (1962) he wrote, “All continents will become unified in a world alliance, at whose disposal will be an international police force. All armies will be abolished and there will be no more war. In Jerusalem the united nations (a truly united nations) will build a shrine of the prophets to serve the federated union of all the continents this will be the seat of the supreme court of mankind, to settle all controversies among the federated continents, as prophesied by Isaiah.” The irony here is that according to the Talmud Gentiles have no “legal rights”!

Max Mandelstam 1898 World Zionist Congress July – “The Jews energetically reject the idea of fusion with the other nationalities and cling to their historical hope of world empire.”

Morris A. Levy Secretary, 1946 World Leage of liberal Jews – “The only true path to follow to gain real peace and honest government is through Judaism. And the Jewish people can and will lead the people to lasting peace. The promise of Jehovah for the Jewish people to rule the world and for the Jews to hold high places in world government has arrived.”

Who are these Zionist “Jews” and who brought them to Palestine in 1948?

Are those in Israel today of the “Jewish RACE”? Here are some relevant quotes on the subject:

The American Peoples Encyclopedia, 1954 — “In the year 740 A.D. the Khazars were officially converted to Judaism. A century later they were crushed by the incoming Slavic-speaking people and were scattered over central Europe where they were known as Jews.”

Jewish Dr. Benjamin H. Freedman wrote, “. . these Eastern European, Yiddish-speaking Jews who form the Zionist group practically in entirely, have NEITHER a geographic, historic NOR ethnic connection with either the Jews of the Old Testament OR the land known today as Palestine.”

The Encyclopaedia Brittanica (1973) Vol. 12, p. 1054 states, “The findings of physical anthropology show that, contrary to the popular view, there is no Jewish race.” “The only race to which the Jews have not achieved assimilation is the Nordic.”

Encyclopedia Judaica Jerusalem (1971)�”It is a common assumption, and one that sometimes seems ineradicable even in the face of evidence to the contrary, that the Jews of today constitute a race, a homogeneous entity easily recognizable. From the preceding discussion of the origin and early history of the Jews, it should be clear that in the course of their formation as a people and a nation they had already assimilated a variety of racial strains from people moving into the general area they occupied. This had taken place by interbreeding and then by conversion to Judaism of a considerable number of communities. . . .”

“Thus, the diversity of the racial and genetic attributes of various Jewish colonies of today renders any unified racial classification of them a contradiction in terms. Despite this, many people readily accept the notion that they are a distinct race. This is probably reinforced by the fact that some Jews are recognizably different in appearance from the surrounding population. That many cannot be easily identified is overlooked and the stereotype for some is extended to all – a not uncommon phenomenon” (Encyclopedia Judaica Jerusalem, 1971, vol. 3, p. 50).

Encyclopedia Americana (1986) – “Some theorists have considered the Jews a distinct race, although this has no factual basis. In every country in which the Jews lived for a considerable time, their physical traits came to approximate those of the indigenous people. Hence the Jews belong to several distinct racial types, ranging, for example, from fair to dark. Among the reasons for this phenomenon are voluntary or involuntary miscegenation and the conversion of Gentiles to Judaism” (Encyclopedia Americana, 1986, vol. 16, p. 71).

Collier’s Encyclopedia (1977) – “A common error and persistent modern myth is the designation of the Jews as a ‘race! This is scientifically fallacious, from the standpoint of both physical and historical tradition. Investigations by anthropologists have shown that Jews are by no means uniform in physical character and that they nearly always reflect the physical and mental characteristics of the people among whom they live” (Collier’s Encyclopedia, 1977, vol. 13, p. 573).

Some seeing the problem here claim a “Jew” is simply a person who has converted to the religion of Judaism. But as we will see in Part 2, the covenant that undergirds “Judaism” ended when the scepter departed from Judah in AD 70. Also, since the birth and genealogical records were burned in AD 70, there are no “Levites” to even get “Judaism” off the ground (even if they had a Temple).

The Irony

History, archeology and now DNA testing confirms that some 92% of Zionist “Jews” in the modern state of Israel today have roots in the ancient Turkish Khazars. This is pathetic in that most of the Palestinians (Christian or Muslim) have more DNA relationship to Abraham and the ancient Hebrew people than these phony Zionist Khazarian “Jews” do! And yet they have tried to convince the world that they and they alone, have the exclusive racial rights to the Old Covenant ancient land and boundaries of Israel. This has to be one of the biggest scams of ALL TIME! But since most of Hollywood and the media is owned by these so-called “Jews,” don’t expect to hear this where you should be hearing it!

The other irony here is that when you present these historical and genetic facts to the public, this powerful group seeks to silence you by calling you “anti-semitic” when they aren’t even Jewish! Lol. I usually know I’ve won a debate with a Muslim and Zionist “Jew” when they resort to calling me “Islamaphobic” or I’m allegedly “anti-semitic..”

History of the Khazarian Empire

The Khazar kingdom was a large Turkish people that at one time stopped the expansion of the Islamic caliphate empire. They became wealthy through trade and placing an overbearing tax upon those they conquered. They also specialized in being a mercenary army – renting out their army of 40 – 50 thousand men to the highest bidders. After battle took place they were known to rape and pillage. Not surprisingly, the people in the area didn’t care for them much and ended up driving them out of Turkey in around 500 AD to what would be considered today as southern Russia or Georgia. From here their kingdom thrived from 660 – 1016. It wasn’t long before they began enslaving those in that area as well.

Eventually they were put in a dilemma. Coming down from the North was Byzantine Christianity, and coming from the South was Islam. They knew to choose either of these sides would put them in conflict with the other and this would affect their prosperous trading with both sides. So they did the politically expedient thing and decided to make their Empire convert to Judaism. They quickly saw the wickedness, racial supremacy, and violence found in the Talmud which fit in well with their violent and immoral world-view that built their Empire.

In 965 AD they were weakened by the Vikings. In 1140 they were overrun by the Mongols and driven west and settle in parts of eastern Europe. Over time they convinced themselves they were ethnically and racially “Jewish” – adopting Jewish names etc…

History of Rothschild Khazarian Dynasty

One of the Khazarian Talmudic “Jews” that settled in Europe was Mayer Amschel Bauer — who changed his last name to Rothschild. Rothschild means “red-shield.” Thus he hung a sign of a red six pointed shielded star as his logo for his money merchant shop. It is through his religious views on the Talmud and money he and his 5 sons attain, that will set the stage for the events of 1948 to become a reality.

Mayer Rothschild eventually befriends William the 9th who was a Hession warrior and leader of a mercenary army. For 12,000 you could hire William and his army to do anything. England hired them to keep the U.S. Colonists in check. At this time William is one of the richest people in the world (worth 200 million) and the Rothschilds make a great deal overseeing his estate and making financial decisions for him. William steals millions owed to his army and then when Nepolean comes after him, he entrusts 3 million to the Rothschilds who in return end up stealing it from him. The Rothschild’s use this un-kosher and unclean money to begin its international banking venture. The five Rothschild brothers obeyed their father’s command and branched out into the various countries in Europe. From here, they end up financing not just various wars, but in some instances both sides of the same war.

The Balfour Declaration in 1917 was created when the British Foreign Secretary Arthur Balfour declared in a letter to the Rothschilds that his government would support a Jewish homeland in Palestine. It is important to note, that before this declaration was given, it was agreed upon that if the Rothschild’s could get the U.S. into WWI to help defeat the Germans, that Britain in return would give the land of Palestine to the Rothschild’s and Zionists.

The Rothschild’s funded the early Khazarian settlers from Europe to relocate in Palestine. In 1948 they also funded and armed terrorist groups, which bombed and terrorised 800,000 Palestinians to leave the land of their birth. Israel is simply the State of Rothschild. This is even evident with them paying for the construction of the Israeli parliament building, the Knesset, and the Israel Supreme Court. The Israeli flag symbolizes both its territorial ambitions and that it is owned by the Rothschilds. Modern Israel uses the same six pointed star on its flag that the Rothschild’s used as their family symbol (just changing its color from red to blue). The two blue lines above and beneath the star symbolize the ancient borders / rivers given ancient Israel under the Old Covenant.

The Influence of the Talmud on the Rothschild’s

Mayer’s father’s wish for his son was that he would one day become a Rabbi strictly teaching and following the Talmud. Although not becoming a Rabbi, Biographer Frederic Morton, in The Rothschilds, points out how important the Talmud was in guiding the Rothschild dynasty in their unquenchable drive for money and power. He writes, “On Saturday evenings, when prayer was done at the synagogue, Mayer would invite the rabbi into his house. They would bend towards one another on the green upholstery, sipping slowly at a glass of wine and argue about first and last things deep into the night. Even on work days…Mayer…was apt to tare down the big book of the Talmud and recite from it…while the entire family must sit stock still and listen” (p. 31). He goes on to tell us that Mayer Amschel Rothschild and his five sons were “wizards” of finance, and “fiendish calculators” who were motivated by a “demonic drive” to succeed in their secret undertakings. And Morton adds that it is difficult for the average person to “comprehend Rothschild nor even the reason why he having so much, wanted to conquer more.” All five brothers shared their fathers spirit of Talmudic cunning and conquest.

The Influence of the Rothschild Dynasty

“The Rothschild’s are the wonders of modern banking… We see the descendants of Judah, after a persecution of two thousand years, peering above kings, rising higher than emperors, and holding a whole continent in the hollow of their hands. The Rothschilds govern a Christian world. Not a cabinet moves without their advice. They stretch their hand, with equal ease, from Petersburg to Vienna, from Vienna to Paris, from Paris to London, from London to Washington. Baron Rothschild, the head of the house, is the true king of Judah, the prince of the captivity, the Messiah so long looked for by this extraordinary people. He holds the keys of peace or war, blessing or cursing… They are the brokers and counselors of the kings of Europe and of the republican chiefs of America. What more can they desire?” (Niles Weekly Register, 1835-1836).

President Andrew Jackson, the only one of our presidents whose administration totally abolished the National Debt, condemned the Rothschild’s and international bankers as a “den of vipers” which he was determined to “rout out” of the fabric of American life. Jackson claimed that if only the American people understood how these vipers operated on the American scene “there would be a revolution before morning.”

In 1911, John F. Hylan, mayor of New York said that “the real menace of our republic is the invisible government which, like a giant octopus, sprawls its slimy length over our city, state and nation. At the head is a small group of banking houses, generally referred to as ‘international bankers.'”

“The house of Rothschild has arisen from the quarrels between states, has become great and mighty from wars. The misfortune of states and peoples has been its fortune.” (Friedrich Edlen von Scherb).

“The Rothschild’s are the wonders of modern banking… We see the descendants of Judah, after a persecution of two thousand years, peering above kings, rising higher than emperors, and holding a whole continent in the hollow of their hands. The Rothschilds govern a Christian world. Not a cabinet moves without their advice. They stretch their hand, with equal ease, from Petersburg to Vienna, from Vienna to Paris, from Paris to London, from London to Washington. Baron Rothschild, the head of the house, is the true king of Judah, the prince of the captivity, the Messiah so long looked for by this extraordinary people. He holds the keys of peace or war, blessing or cursing… They are the brokers and counselors of the kings of Europe and of the republican chiefs of America. What more can they desire?” (Niles Weekly Register, 1835-1836).

Self-Fulfilling an Imminent arrival of Messiah and the Temple through war (Ezek. 37-39)

Mai-mon-ides (a famous Mid-Evil Rabbi) ruled on Sanhedrin 98b. giving the following as the definitive criteria for identifying the messiah: “If we see a Jewish leader who (a) toils in the study of Torah…, (b) influences the Jews to follow the ways of the Torah and (c) wages the “battles of God”—such a person is the “presumed messiah.” If the person succeeded in all these endeavors, and then rebuilds the Holy Temple in Jerusalem and facilitates the in-gathering of the Jews to the Land of Israel—then we are certain that he is the “actual messiah.”

Hasidic Jews – Have a strong belief in the immediacy of Messiah’s coming & their ability to hasten his arrival. They believe someone is born every generation that has the potential to become the Messiah.

There is a Messianic view within religious Zionism that is very similar to what we see in Islamic eschatology. It sees war and the suppression of the Gentiles or unbelievers and their nations to take place prior to and actually paves the way for the Messiah who will then come to completely destroy the Gentiles and give each Jew 2,800 Gentile slaves in a “kingdom on earth” “paradise.”

Going as far back to the Jewish Zealots of AD 66-AD 70–up until today, there have always been those claiming to be “Jews” and “God’s chosen people” that think killing and making war will usher in the redemption of the world and coming of Messiah.

In the twelfth century one of those Khazarian “Jews” I addressed earlier, believed he could bring Messiah’s coming by conquering the land of Palestine (i.e. through war). They claimed that “…the time had come in which god would gather Israel, His people from all lands to Jerusalem, the holy city.” They wielded their six-pointed “shields of David” of which symbol would later be placed on Israeli flags — a national symbol that began with this violent Messiah crusader eschatology (cf. John L. Bray, Israel in Bible Prophecy, pp. 42-43) and then picked up by the Rothschild’s.

A modern Jewish Zealot would be Gershon Salomon who said,

“The mission of the present generation is to liberate the Temple Mount and remove the defiling abomination (the Dome of the Rock).” “The Israeli Government must do it. We must have a war…The Messiah will not come by himself; we should bring Him by fighting.” (Sam Kiley, ‘The righteous will survive and the rest will perish’ The Times, 13 December 1999, p. 39).

And again referring to Ezekiel 38 and the war of Gog and Magog he writes,

“They (Muslims), ogether with their allies, are preparing for the coming war against Israel in which they plan to finally destroy her. This is going to be the most terrible war against the small state of Israel. This will be the war that the prophets called the war of Gog and Magog. This will be the last war against Israel. G-d is going to show them, and all the nations, that He is One and His Name is One. He alone is the best friend of Israel and controls her destiny, not any of her enemies. G-d will save Israel in this war and will defeat, judge, and terribly punish all the enemies of Israel all over the world.” (A WORD FROM GERSHON SALOMON 100 YEARS OF THE ZIONIST MOVEMENT http://www.templemount.org/ftm/gershon.html).

Zionists have a history of trying to see current events through the lens of the battle of Gog and Magog as ushering in the coming of Messiah. Louis Jacobs writes, “…World Wars I and II did tend to be seen as the wars of Gog and Magog, as the essential prelude to the coming of the Messiah. Some of the Hasidic masters saw the struggle between Napoleon and Russia as the wars of Gog and Magog.” (Louis Jacobs, Gog and Magog)

Rabbi Schachter saw the Israeli-Arab wars (of 1948 and 1967) as the “beginning of redemption” and therefore he taught Jews were not to pray for peace because that would delay the coming Messianic redemption (that could only come through war).

Benjamin Netanyahu is on record for saying that he believes the Jews coming back in the land in 1948 was the fulfillment of Ezekiel 37. This begs the question as to how he sees the coming wars of Gog and Magog to be fulfilled in the following chapters – 38-39. He is clearly being pressured by Rabbi’s that believe he is to hasten the coming of Messiah and his redemption for Israel and the world:

a. Chief Rabbi: Since we last met many things have progressed.

b. Netanyahu: Many things have progressed.

a. Chief rabbi: What hasn’t changed, however, is that Messiah hasn’t come.

So do something to hasten his coming.

b. Netanyahu: We’re doing, we’re doing…

a. Chief rabbi: Apparently it’s not enough, since many hours have already passed today and he’s still not here…

But there are still a few hours left in the day, so try still for today.

b. Netanyahu: Yes.

So what exactly has Benjamin Netanyahu been “doing” to hasten the coming of Messiah? He has been doing all he can to conquer and drive the Palestinians from the ancient borders of Israel so as to completely fulfill Ezekiel 37 and the land promises (thus undernining the U.N. resolutions and borders). He has also been provoking the Muslims nations around him and manipulating the U.S. to back them in their provocations.

Jews, Communism, Talmud, and World Conquest

And of course we can’t ignore the more non-religious communist Jew that sees it’s self as a Messiah conquering the world and brining about Talmudic “redemption”:

“The Jewish people as a whole will become its own Messiah. It will attain world domination by the dissolution of other races, by the abolition of frontiers, the annihilation of monarchy and by the establishment of a world republic in which the Jews will everywhere exercise the privilege of citizenship. Thus will the promise of the Talmud will be fulfilled, in which it is said that when the Messianic time is come, the Jews will have all the property of the whole world in their hands. (Baruch Levy, Letter to Karl Marx, printed in La Revue de Paris, p. 574, June 1, 1928).

In A Program for the Jews and Humanity, Rabbi Harry Waton, on pages 143, 148, and 206 we read the following:

“It is not an accident that Judaism gave birth to Marxism, and it is not an accident that the Jews readily took up Marxism; all this was in perfect accord with the progress of Judaism and the Jews. The Jews should realize that Jehovah no longer dwells in heaven, but he dwells in us right here on earth; we must no longer look up to Jehovah as above us and outside of us, but we must see him right within us,” (p. 148). ”. . . the communist soul is the soul of Judaism . . . in the Russian revolution the triumph of communism was the triumph of Judaism . . .” (pg. 143). “The poor working class is the lowest and most backward class in society. It is therefore the supreme duty of the Jews to identify themselves with them. All other classes will disappear, but the working class will endure forever, for all of mankind will become workers. For identifying themselves with the working class the Jews will incur the displeasure and hatred of the ruling classes, but the Jews must not fear the ruling classes: their rule will be only for a while.”

”. . . the aim of Judaism is to realize the destiny of mankind. This aim cannot and will not be changed, for the destiny of mankind was predetermined by God from eternity unto eternity. And no matter what may come to pass, races, nations, states and empires may come and go, the predetermined destiny of mankind will inevitably be realized. What is the predetermined destiny of mankind? This is the kingdom of God on earth. What is this kingdom of God on earth? It is a human society resting on universal communism.” (p. 206).

Rabbi Harry Waton: “We can say with Nietsche that the Jews are the highest aristocrats in the world…. The Talmud tells us that the whole world was created only for the sake of the Jew; the Jew is the spiritual aristocrat, the excellent man. The Jews differ from all other races and peoples because of Judaism; Judaism differs from all other religions because of Jehovah; and Jehovah differs from all other gods. All other gods dwell in heaven. But Jehovah comes down from heaven to dwell on this earth and to embody himself in mankind. Judaism concerns itself only about this earth and promises all reward right here on this earth. Judaism is communism, internationalism, the universal brotherhood of man, the emancipation of the working class and the human society. It is with these spiritual weapons that the Jews will conquer the world and the human race. The races and the nations will cheerfully submit to the spiritual power of Judaism, and all will become Jews….”

1). How the “Last Days” Battle or War of Armageddon and Gog and Magog was Fulfilled Between AD 67-AD 70 along with Zechariah 12-14 Article:

https://www.facebook.com/notes/mike-sullivan/the-last-days-the-war-of-isaiah-2-4-daniel-9-12-revelation-16-19-20-fullfilled-b/10153941401569364/ and https://www.facebook.com/notes/mike-sullivan/zechariah-12-14-the-olivet-discourse-armageddon-healing-of-the-nations-and-the-t/10155297167914364/

2). How the Nations Have Beaten and Continue to Beat Their Swords into Plowshares and Have Learned War No More as They Stream Into the New Jerusalem:  https://www.facebook.com/notes/mike-sullivan/the-last-days-day-of-the-lord-of-isaiah-22-4-10-19-21-and-2-thessalonians-15-10-/10155254904044364/

3). How Matthew 24-25; the “Rapture” of 1 Thessalonians 4:15-17 and the Resurrection of 1 Corinthians 15 Were All Fulfilled by AD 70:

http://fullpreterism.com/matthew-24-25-and-the-resurrectio…/

4). Understanding the book of Revelation and How it was Fulfilled by AD 70:

a). A Pre-AD 70 Date for the Book of Revelation – A Full Preterist Response to Dr. Simon Kistemaker:  https://www.facebook.com/notes/mike-sullivan/a-pre-ad-70-date-for-the-book-of-revelation-a-full-preterist-response-to-simon-k/10155311579099364/

b). How Futurists Have Failed to Deal with Imminence in Revelation:

https://www.facebook.com/notes/mike-sullivan/the-various-failed-attempts-by-futurists-to-deal-with-imminence-in-the-book-of-r/10155045480034364/

c). Revelation 1-4:

https://www.facebook.com/notes/mike-sullivan/unveiling-christ-and-his-bride-exegetical-essays-in-the-book-of-revelation-chapt/10154616917064364/

d). Revelation 5-10:

https://www.facebook.com/notes/mike-sullivan/unveiling-christ-and-his-bride-exegetical-essays-in-the-book-of-revelation-chapt/10154616922304364/

e). Revelation 11-13:

https://www.facebook.com/notes/mike-sullivan/unveiling-christ-and-his-bride-exegetical-essays-in-the-book-of-revelation-chapt/10154616926529364/

f). Revelation 14-19:

https://www.facebook.com/notes/mike-sullivan/unveiling-christ-and-his-bride-exegetical-essays-in-the-book-of-revelation-chapt/10154616928719364/

g). Revelation 20-22:

https://www.facebook.com/notes/mike-sullivan/unveiling-christ-and-his-bride-exegetical-essays-in-the-book-of-revelation-chapt/10154616931499364/

And don’t forget to get a copy of my/our book: “House Divided Bridging the Gap in Reformed Eschatology…” Available on Amazon here:

https://www.amazon.com/House-Divided-Bridging-Reformed-Eschatology/dp/146759671X