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Number in Scripture (by Dr. E. W. Bullinger) draws attention to another period of
70X7, which is obtained by the application of this principle.
From the deduction of the Temple to Nehemiah's
Return in the 20th year of Artaxerxes (Neh. 2: 1).
560 years.
Deduct the 70 years' servitude in Babylon
(Jer. 25: 11, 12; Dan. 9: 2).
70
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Total.
490 years.
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We draw particular attention to the fact that the 70 years' servitude is reckoned as a
"Lo-ammi" period.
We now pass to the next consideration, Dan. 9: itself.
"Seventy sevens are severed off upon thy people and upon thy holy city
a | To make an utter end of transgression.
b | To seal up sins.
c | To make atonement for iniquity.
a | To bring in eonian righteousness.
b | To seal up prophetic vision.
c | To anoint the Holy of Holies.
Know therefore and understand that from the going forth of the commandments to
rebuild Jerusalem unto the Messiah the Prince shall be
7 X 7 - 49
62 X 7 - 434
and the street shall be built again the wall even in troublous times. And after the 62
sevens shall Messiah be cut off, and shall have nothing."
Dan. 9: opens with the recognition of the fact that Jerusalem was at that time
"desolate". Verse 7 speaks plainly of the people of Israel being "driven", and verse 11 of
the curse being poured over upon them. Verse 12 declares that the visitation upon
Jerusalem was unprecedented "under the whole heavens". Verse 16 speaks of "fury"
upon Jerusalem and "reproach" upon Israel, and verse 17 speaks of the sanctuary being
desolate. Clearly at this period Israel are "Lo-ammi", and the time of the desolation of
Jerusalem must not be reckoned in the 70X7 period which is "severed off" upon Israel.
Now from what we have already learned, we shall find it impossible to commence the
reckoning of this 490 years at a period when Jerusalem is still desolate and Israel
"Lo-ammi". Yet this is precisely what the accepted interpretation does. The 490 years
are made to start from the going forth of the commandment to rebuild Jerusalem, in spite
of the angel's warning that the rebuilding would not be completed until another 49 years
had gone by! Instead of the angel saying to Daniel that the 70X7 started in the 20th year
of Artaxerxes when the commandment was given, he definitely says that from that date
we may compute the coming of the Messiah, a somewhat different thing. From the date
of the command unto the Messiah was 7X7, and 62X7, or 483 years, which period was
divided by the angel into two, according as it was "Lo-ammi" time or otherwise. The