first period of 49 years must not be reckoned in the period severed off upon Israel,

otherwise we shall involve ourselves in confusion.

Where shall we then commence the special period of 70X7? When Israel are received

back into favour and the temple at Jerusalem again blessed! In the year B.C.405, when

the temple was dedicated at Jerusalem, the 70X7 began. It was to be the commencement

of a period of "Ammi" years, years when God recognized Israel as His people, a period

of 62X7, or 434 years, which should reach to the coming of Messiah the Prince. While

the crucifixion of Christ marks the close of the 69th seven from the going forth of the

proclamation, we must remember that it is the 62nd from the dedication of the temple,

and as this commenced the period of Israel's restoration, the crucifixion marks the 62nd

seven of the 70 sevens that were severed off upon Israel, leaving 8 sevens to run their

course, instead of one as we have hitherto taught.

In other issues of this Magazine we have shown the prominent position that Israel has

in the Acts of the Apostles, yet by following the orthodox view it appears that we are

compelled to make a two-fold error. First, in spite of the witness of Scripture to the

contrary, a period of 49 years, wherein Israel and Jerusalem are out of favour, is

introduced into a special period that necessitates Israel and Jerusalem being under favour

and security, and it compels us to blot out the whole of the Acts from this special period

wherein Israel and Jerusalem manifestly are still receiving mercy. If the 69th seven

ended at the crucifixion, there could be no place for Paul's solemn and formal setting

aside of Israel at the end of the Acts.

Readers will remember that a rectification was found necessary in the calendar, and

that the date of the crucifixion was A.D.29. This can be seen in chart 50/6: on page 61

of Appendixes to Part I of The Companion Bible. From A.D.29 to A.D.63, when God

finally set aside Israel through the words of Paul, we have 34 years, where, if we include

both the years that began and ended the period, we have practically another five sevens

which ran on after the crucifixion. The crucifixion being the 62nd seven, Israel becomes

Lo-ammi at the end of Acts, in the 67th seven, leaving three sevens to conclude the

complete series of 490 years. We must not therefore speak of the "final seven years of

Dan. 9:" as though they were all the years that are to run. It is true that the chief interest

is centred in the final seven, for therein Antichrist and the Beast are active, but there other

things to be done before that.

There is a suggestive connection to be observed between the final three sevens and the

seven seals, seven trumpets and seven vials that occupy the book of the Revelation. The

following diagram, which shows the difference between the two interpretations, may be

of help. It will be seen that the marvelous accuracy that has been pointed out regarding

the time of the coming of the Messiah is not impaired. It is simply a matter as it were of

placing the whole period forward until Israel are a people before God. That period is

at the close of the first division, the 7 sevens. Since the setting aside of Israel in

Acts 28: Israel have been "Lo-ammi". Soon that He that scattered them will gather

them, and the "final 3 sevens" will then run their course until the consummation foretold

in Dan. 9:, when prophecy shall attain its goal, sin shall be sealed and atoned for,