The Seventy Weeks and the Great tribulation

A Study of the Last Two Visions of Daniel, and of the Olivet Discourse of the Lord Jesus Christ

Philip Mauro
(1921)

 

PART ONE

CHAPTER I

Principles That Should Govern in the Interpretation of Prophecy
Nothing Should be Based upon Surmise-Proofs Should be Drawn from the Scripture Itself, which is the only Authority in Matters of Interpretation-But History Must be Appealed to in order to Show Fulfilment of Prophecy. BIBLE CHRONOLOGY: The Bible Contains its own Chronology.- “DANIEL THE PROPHET”-An Exact Time-Measure to the Coming and Crucifixion of Christ-Special Features of the Prophecy of The Seventy Weeks.

CHAPTER II

The Commandment To Restore and To Build
Differences of opinion as to the Starting Point of the Prophecy Arising from Disregard of Bible Chronology-The Defectiveness of all Systems Based on the “Canon” of Ptolemy -Martin Anstey’s Chronology Based on the Bible Alone. THE DECREE OF CYRUS THE GREAT-Isaiah’s Prophecies Concerning Cyrus. Josephus’ References to Cyrus-Decrees by later Persian Kings-Nehemiah’s Work on the Wall.

CHAPTER III

Details of The Seventy Weeks
The Six Predictions of v. 24. The Division of the Period into Three Parts-”To Finish the Transgression To Make an End of Sins”-”To Make Reconciliation for Iniquity”- “To Bring in Everlasting Righteousness”-”To Seal up Vision and Prophecy”-”To Anoint the Most Holy Place.”

CHAPTER IV

“Unto The Messiah The Prince”
The Terminal Point of the Sixty-Nine Weeks; The Baptism and Anointing of Jesus- The Manifestation to Israel Beginning of the Lord’s ministry-Proofs which fix the Terminal Point of the 483 Years-The Prince.

CHAPTER V

Messiah “Cut Off”
The “Time” and the “Hour”-The Lord’s Earthly Ministry -The Judgment: “The Prince that Shall Come”-Different Opinions as to the Time of His Coming-Titus, Son of Vespasian- was the Prince (or Commander) of the Roman Armies which Destroyed the City and Desolated the Land- The Terms of the Prophecy Forbid its Application to a Future Personage.

CHAPTER VI

The Seventieth Week
The Interpretation of verse 27-Who is the Person Referred to? What “Covenant” is it? And what Sacrifices?-”For One Week”-The Septuagint Rendering.

CHAPTER VII

Are The Seventy Weeks Consecutive?
The Idea of a Detached and “Postponed” Seventieth Week Examined-Various Proofs that the Seventy Weeks are a Continuous Measure of Time-The Past Fulfillment of verse 27 Proves this-Many Bands that Clasp the Seventieth Week Firmly to the Other Sixty-nine-Why the Entire Period is Divided into Three Parts-The Overspreading of Abominations-The Decree of Cyrus Again – The Remainder of the Seventieth Week-God’s Prophetic Time-Measure.

CHAPTER VIII

Daniel’s Last Vision
Outline of the Visions of Daniel 7, 8, and 9-How the Last Vision Came to be Given-The Prophetic History of Daniel 11-The “Latter Days”-The “Thing” Revealed to Daniel -The Persian Era-The Macedonian Era-Alexander the Great and His Successors-Ptolemy Philadelphus-Antiochus the Great-Ptolemy Epiphanes-Antiochus Epiphanes (the “Vile Person”)-His Persecutions of the Jews-The Uprising of the Maccabees, and their “Exploits.”

CHAPTER IX

“The King”
Various Attempts to Identify this Personage-The “Break” Theory-Proof that the Prophetic Narrative is Continuous -”Herod the King”-Herod’s Dynasty Filled Out the Last Stage of Jewish History “Until the Indignation”-”According to His Will”-Exalting and Magnifying Himself-”The Desire of Women”-”The God of Forces”-The Testimony of Josephus as to Herod-The Time of the End-Farquharson’s Commentary-Defeat of Antony and Cleopatra by Octavius Caesar-Edom, Moab and Ammon-The Treasures of Egypt-Tidings from East and North-Herod “Troubled”-His Outbreak of “Great Fury”-His Palace and His End.

CHAPTER X

The Time Of Trouble
Michael the Great Prince-A Time of Trouble such as Never Was-Many Awakened-They Who Make Wise- Many Shall Run To and Fro-How Long the End?-A Time, Times and a Part-The Taking Away of the Daily Sacrifice-The Period of Three and a Half Years in Scripture.

CHAPTER XI

The Wise Shall Understand
Who are “the Wicked” and “the Wise”?-Many Purified and Made White, and Tried-False Prophets-Have These Prophecies a Future Application?

PART TWO

CHAPTER XII

The Lord’s Olivet Prophecy
Christ’s References to the Approaching Destruction of Jerusalem-The Importance of that Event in History, and in God’s Dealings with Mankind-Prophecies Concerning Jerusalem-Wrath to the Uttermost-Future Troubles for Mankind-Concerning Antichrist.

CHAPTER XIII

Outline of the Olivet Prophecy
The Three Main Purposes of the Discourse-The Great Tribulation or the Days of Vengeance-The Sign to Flee- The Three Parallel Accounts of the Olivet Prophecy- “When Ye Shall See” Self-Inflicted Sufferings-Tribulation “Such as Never Was.”

CHAPTER XIV

Mark’s Account of The Olivet Prophecy
The Question of the Four Disciples-The Stones of the Temple-The General Warnings-The Sign of the Approaching “Desolation”-Those Days to be “Shortened”- False Christs and False Prophets-Proof that the Three Evangelists Refer to one and the same Tribulation-The Siege and Dispersion Foretold by Moses-The Abomination of Desolation was the Roman Armies, not an Idol in the Sanctuary-Luke’s Account: Is it the Same Discourse?- Israel’s Last Probation-The Time of Jacob’s Trouble- The Great Tribulation of Revelation VII.

CHAPTER XV

Josephus’ Description of the Siege of Jerusalem
The Days of Herod Agrippa II and His Great Oration-Felix and Festus-The Sicarii-False Prophets-”ThatEgyptian”-Three Million at the Passover-The Cruelties of Florus-Tlie Strange Retreat of Cestius-The Days of Vengeance-Josephus Taken Prisoner by Vespasian-Titus Succeeds Vespasian in Charge of the Roman Armies-The Internal Strife in Jerusalem-The Cruelties of the “Tyrants” -The Last Passover-Flamine, Blood, and Fire-Unspeakable Sufferings-The Capture of the City and Dispersion of the Nation.

CHAPTER XVI

Concluding Comments
Edersheim on Matthew XXIV-The Four Divisions of the Prophecy-The Beginning of Sorrows-A Strong and Illuminating Contrast-The Two Illustrative Parables: The Figtree and The Man Taking a Far Journey-Signs in the Sun, Moon and Stars-The Times of the Gentiles.

APPENDIX