There can only be one correct interpretation of the 70 Weeks prophecy. That means most views are wrong. I wanted to identify a single issue as the test to judge all interpretations by. I think I have found it.
Everyone argues endlessly about which king made the decree to start the whole period of the 70 Weeks. Was it Cyrus? Was it Darius? Was it Artaxerxes? Was it something else people come up with? Well, Ezra gives us the major clue.
When talking about the second temple, he says: [Ezr 6:14 LSB] 14b So they built and completed [it] according to the decree of the God of Israel and the decree of Cyrus, Darius, and Artaxerxes king of Persia.
Ezra 6:14 states that there were more than just 3 decrees from earthly kings that allowed for the completion of the temple (and by extension, returning to the land and rebuilding Jerusalem). There was a fourth. In addition Ezra seems to list the earthly decrees in chronological order. That would suggest that the decree by God, which no one recognizes, happened BEFORE the one from Cyrus. Where is this decree? Why does no one recognize or address this? Can your particular system even survive taking this decree into account? Either your interpretation can't pass the test or your interpretation does not consider the Word of God as accurate.
My claim is that ALL interpretations of the 70 Weeks Prophecy can not pass this test. Except for the one correct one.
Everyone argues endlessly about which king made the decree to start the whole period of the 70 Weeks. Was it Cyrus? Was it Darius? Was it Artaxerxes? Was it something else people come up with? Well, Ezra gives us the major clue.
When talking about the second temple, he says: [Ezr 6:14 LSB] 14b So they built and completed [it] according to the decree of the God of Israel and the decree of Cyrus, Darius, and Artaxerxes king of Persia.
Ezra 6:14 states that there were more than just 3 decrees from earthly kings that allowed for the completion of the temple (and by extension, returning to the land and rebuilding Jerusalem). There was a fourth. In addition Ezra seems to list the earthly decrees in chronological order. That would suggest that the decree by God, which no one recognizes, happened BEFORE the one from Cyrus. Where is this decree? Why does no one recognize or address this? Can your particular system even survive taking this decree into account? Either your interpretation can't pass the test or your interpretation does not consider the Word of God as accurate.
My claim is that ALL interpretations of the 70 Weeks Prophecy can not pass this test. Except for the one correct one.
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