Thoughts on Ezra 8... The 70weeks beginning & ending on the Day of Atonement

[Stewart (SDA)]

A THOUGHT ON EZRA CHAPTER 8.

The Book of Ezra is central to our teachings on the “Going forth of the commandment to restore and build Jerusalem” (Dan 9:25). That civil “command” is important to us because it marks the beginning of the 70 weeks prophecy [and the beginning of the 2300 days] of Daniel 8 & 9.

We have understood that Ezra was the one to carry the final decree (or command) to Jerusalem containing the legal permission to reinstate (or restore) the Jewish State. None of the civil decrees granted by the earlier Kings of Persia had given the Jewish people this power.

Cyrus was the man that God had called by name (some 200 years before the event,) to “let go My captives”, and to re-build the Temple (Isa 45:1-4,13). But when Cyrus' decree was effectively over-ruled by an imposter (who accepted Samaritan accusations against the Jews at Jerusalem), everything stalled. Some years later, when Darius ruled the Empire, Darius re-activated and strengthened Cyrus' decree. But it was not until Ezra solicited a Royal decree from Artaxerxes [Longimanus], and Artaxerxes “granted him all his request”, that the Jews were at liberty to set up their own civil government based in Jerusalem. It was the introduction of this element that 'perfected' the decree, signalling the beginning of the prophetic time periods.

SOMETHING I HAVE NOT SEEN BEFORE.

As a people we have long taught that the 2300 years ended on the 10th day of the 7th Jewish month, 1844. (Corresponding to October 22 1844.) It necessarily follows that the BEGINNING of the 2300 years fell on the 10th day of the 7th month in the year 457B.C., but I have been under the impression that there was nothing in Scripture to tie “the going forth of the command”, to that day (to the 10th day of the 7th month, i.e., the Day of Atonement,) in 457B.C.

But now something has caught my eye.

Toward the end of the Book of Ezra (8:31-36) a brief summary is given regarding Ezra's journey from Babylon to Jerusalem. He carried the decree of Artaxerxes with him, as well as a large quantity of silver, gold, and various goods. Ezra and his party arrived in Jerusalem on the 1st day of the 5th month 457B.C., and they “abode there 3 days”, and on the 4th day they weighed all the silver and gold that they had brought with them. The account then goes on to mention ceremonial offerings that were made. Those offerings have drawn my attention.

They “offered burnt offerings unto the God of Israel,
12 Bullocks for all Israel,
96 Rams,
77 Lambs,
12 he-goats for a sin offering:
all this was a burnt offering unto the Lord.” (Ezra 8:35)

If we were able to determine the nature of this offering, it would be useful, because there seems to be two primary options. 1. That these were free-will offerings based on the Day of Atonement, or, 2. That these were in fact the offerings made ON the Day of Atonement, about 2 months after Ezra's arrival in Jerusalem.

The classes of animals offered on this occasion, and on the Day of Atonement, are the same. On the Day of Atonement the following offerings were made:

“... on the tenth day of the seventh month... you shall offer a burnt offering unto the Lord for a sweet savor:
1 young Bullock,
1 Ram,
and 7 Lambs of the first year...
1 kid of the goats for a sin offering;

beside the sin offering of atonement, and the continual burnt offering, and the [meal] offering of it, and their drink offerings.” (Num 29:7-11)

So it was Bullocks, Rams, Lambs, and he-goats (in that order), that comprised the Day of Atonement offerings. It was also Bullocks, Rams, Lambs and Goats (in that order) that comprised the offerings made under the guidance of Ezra. If the offerings described in Ezra 8 were indeed Day of Atonement offerings, then this would be significant, because the very next thought in the narrative is the “going forth” of Artaxerxes command.

(Note here that the “going forth” of the command was not the issuance of the decree by the king, but rather the “promulgation” of the decree in the region where it was to have application. (See Note 1.) The decree went into effect, not when Artaxerxes issued it, but when Ezra delivered it to the officials in Judea.)

But of course the number of animals offered differs. For example, the account in Ezra specifies an offering of 77 Lambs whereas the Book of the Law specifies only 7 Lambs for the Day of Atonement (Num 29). Why an 11-fold increase like this?

We can be confident, I think, that in this case the increase was not undertaken simply because it produced a “nice” number, i.e. 77.

It is not unusual [in the history of Israel,] for the number of offerings to exceed those specified in the law. Solomon, for example, presented many more animals on the Passover than those specified in the Law. And yet in Ezra's case, why 77 lambs instead of 7? It appears to be a curious fact that when the first group of freed Jews arrived in Jerusalem under the leadership of Zerubabel, there were 11 descendants of David among them. (See Ezra 2:1-2 Fenton's Translation.) Those 11 men were, of course, men of Judah; and they formed the Royal house. (Zerubabel himself being the grandson of king Jehoiachin. (See Kitto.)) But it was not until more than 50 years later, when Ezra had returned to Jerusalem with Artaxerxes' decree, that the Jewish Royal house was restored to any civil capacity.

It does not seem unreasonable to me therefore, that following Ezra's arrival, each of those 11 lines offered the prescribed 7 Lambs, resulting in a total of 77 Lambs. In the same way, 12 Bullocks were offered for “all Israel” (Ezra 8:24). Only 1 Bullock was prescribed for the Day of Atonement offerings, but again, Bible precedent seems to allow for multiple Bullocks. Each of the 12 Tribes of Israel [even though the vast majority of those that returned were of Judah and Benjamin,] were represented in the offerings described in Ezra chapter 8.

[8thdaypriest]

Stewart,

You've done some detailed calculations.  Thank you.

 

I don't personally believe that an investigative judgment began in Heaven on October 22nd, 1844,  but I can understand where you're coming from.

 

Let's say that Iran gets a nuclear bomb and destroys the city of Jerusalem one of these days.  By then our economy has collapsed and we have come under a New World Government thru the UN.  There would need to be a decree from the UN, to rebuild Jerusalem.  IF that scenario plays out, I think more than a few people would begin counting 2300 evening/mornings. A Temple might be rebuilt on the Mount, and sacrifices like "the daily" restored.  

 

I'm not saying it WILL.  I'm just saying that IF IT HAPPENS, it will throw a whole new light on things.   

[Stewart (SDA)]

Rachel, if that scenario were to play out, and people counted 2300 evenings and mornings, what do you think might happen at the end?

 

Is it possible that the Sanctuary would be cleansed? and that this world might constitute the Sanctuary?

[JoeMo]

Rachel, if that scenario were to play out, and people counted 2300 evenings and mornings, what do you think might happen at the end?

 

Is it possible that the Sanctuary would be cleansed? and that this world might constitute the Sanctuary?

Not trying to butt in here; but my current viewpoint is that the 2300 evening/mornings refer to the evening and morning daily sacrifices; which would work out to 1150 days  the 1150 days fits in with "a time, times and part of a time" (frequently translated as half a time) referred to in Daniel.  After 2300 evening/morning sacrifices, the temple will be "restored" (i.e., returned to its originally intended function).  I infer from other prophecies that the "temple" referred to is possibly a 3rd temple.

 

Daniel 8:17-18 make it abundantly clear that this vision is for the end of time; not Daniel's time.

[Stewart (SDA)]

... The 2300 day prophecy could not possible begin during your hypothetical tme frame, for that would mean Jesus would have to repeat the events of the 70th week of the prophecy during your hypothetical time frame and that would be silly.

 

Dan9:25 Know therefore and understand, [that] from the going forth of the commandment to restore and to build Jerusalem unto the Messiah the Prince [shall be] seven weeks, and threescore and two weeks: ......

9:26 And after threescore and two weeks shall Messiah be cut off,.......

9:27 And he shall confirm the covenant with many for one week: and in the midst of the week he shall cause the sacrifice and the oblation to cease, ...

I agree Jackson,

 

it seems strange to think that the 70 weeks could be repeated, and that Messiah would, in some way, be "cut off" again.

[Kevin H]

JoeMo: The sacrifice is "Morning and Evening" the 2300 is Evening-Morning.

 

Also the year that Daniel got the message was the year that had 2300 literal days until the fall of Babylon.

 

Deuteronomy 4 predicted that the exile was to be the last days. Of course this was conditional on the spreading of the Gospel. In the year that they only had 2300 days left the message came that there were only 2300 days left to spread the Gospel if they wanted to go home in a second great exodus lead by the Messiah.

 

It was 1150 days from business as usual.

 

[Stewart (SDA)]

Kevin, I was interested to look at the idea of the morning and evening sacrifices... and yes, sure enough they seem to be described consistently as morning and evening... in that order. (Ex 29:38-42, Num 28:4, 1Chron 16:40, Ezra 3:3, etc.) Thank you for this very interesting detail... even the "jots and tittles" have their place and significance.

 

The 2300 evenings-mornings do not appear to relate to the sacrifices. In fact I cannot find one place were the daily (or "perpetual") offerings are described in that way... again, as I say, it seems to always be the other way around (i.e. morning -- evening).

[Kevin H]

And don't forget that there is a real "and" between morning and evening in the sacrifices while it is more of an implied dash in evening-morning. The "evening-morning" is related to the "evening and morning" of Genesis 1 but is also cyclic language.  In Leviticus 23 and Deuteronomy we have the Hebrew cyclic equivalents. A week for the Hebrews were 6 days and the Sabbath, the 6 months of the growing season with Passover ending/starting the one season and Yom Kippur ending/starting the other season. 6 years and the Sabbatical year. And in Leviticus we have 6 Sabbatical years and the Jubilee.   

 

Thus the Hebrew day is the cycle of the sun or for us a literal day. A month, a year, and in Leviticus a sabbatical year. In Deuteronomy it would be Day, Month or Year. Daniel tends to follow more Deuteronomy and the Jeremiah reform based on the discovery Moses of the book of the law (either Deuteronomy or the foundation of Deuteronomy). Thus the cycles we can apply to Daniel is 2300 days, (and the prophecy was given the year that included 2300 days until the fall of Babylon) 2300 months or 2300 years.

 

A little foot note: Notice that if you study Leviticus 23 or Deuteronomy you don't have the day-thousand year cycle. The texts "A day to the Lord is like a thousand years and a thousand years is like a day" is NOT given in the context of cyclic time and does not say "Oops, Moses forgot to mention this cycle in Leviticus 23 or Deuteronomy so let me correct his mistake."

[8thdaypriest]

Rachel, Dan 9:25-27 would protect a Bible student from being swayed by such events. The Messiah has already come, He has confirmed the covenant and He  was sacrificed  dutring the 70th week after the command to restore Jerusalem. The 2300 day prophecy could not possible begin during your hypothetical tme frame, for that would mean Jesus would have to repeat the events of the 70th week of the prophecy during your hypothetical time frame and that would be silly.

 

Dan9:25 Know therefore and understand, [that] from the going forth of the commandment to restore and to build Jerusalem unto the Messiah the Prince [shall be] seven weeks, and threescore and two weeks: ......

9:26 And after threescore and two weeks shall Messiah be cut off,.......

9:27 And he shall confirm the covenant with many for one week: and in the midst of the week he shall cause the sacrifice and the oblation to cease, .......

 

The SOP  warns us of the error of time setting after 1844

 

Rev 10:6 And sware by him that liveth for ever and ever, who created heaven, and the things that therein are, and the earth, and the things that therein are, and the sea, and the things which are therein, that there should be time no longer:

 

This message (Rev 10:6) announces the end of the prophetic periods. {2SM 108.1} 

 

I have borne the testimony since the passing of the time in 1844, that there should be no definite time set by which to test God's people. The great test on time was in 1843 and 1844; and all who have set time since these great periods marked in prophecy were deceiving and being deceived.  {LS80 221.1}

Jackson,

I know you did not write your post for me.  You know that I do NOT BELIEVE the writings of EGW should be used to set doctrine, or to settle questions of doctrine.  She was not infallible.  She made errors.  And she was not shown all truth. 

[8thdaypriest]

I think we can all agree that the cycles of evening/morning, of weeks, appointed times, planting cycles, and jubilee WAS A PROPHECY. 

 

Jackson quotes EGW, and seems to be saying that this prophecy - all of it, just came to a screeching halt on October 22nd, 1844. 

 

I don't believe so.  October 22nd, was NOT jubilee. 

[Stewart (SDA)]

I think we can all agree that the cycles of evening/morning, of weeks, appointed times, planting cycles, and jubilee WAS A PROPHECY. 

 

Jackson quotes EGW, and seems to be saying that this prophecy - all of it, just came to a screeching halt on October 22nd, 1844. 

 

I don't believe so.  October 22nd, was NOT jubilee. 

I would like to be able to agree with you on those things Rachel. But in what sense were the cycles of evening/morning and of weeks, prophetic?

 

With regards to Jackson's quote about Rev 10:6, "that there should be time no longer", I can see only two options. 1, That "time" will eventually cease to be an entity -- but if this were the case, then how would Sabbaths be marked-off in heaven through eternity? The 2nd option, is that prophetic time would cease. Beyond a certain point, prophetic "days" would no longer represent years.

 

Rachel, what is your understanding of the words, "that there should be time no longer"?

[8thdaypriest]

Stewart,

"that there should be time no longer" - could be speaking of the time marked out by the 10 Trumpet days, from the Feast of Trumpets to Yom Kippur. 

 

I think of "time no longer" as "times up". 

That was a probationary time, to "get right" with the LORD - to bring your sin offering, and your burnt offering, so that your sins could be put upon the head of the scapegoat.  

When the time period was finished - probation closed FOR ISRAEL (those in covenant) and the informed mixed multitude.   

 

I think of "time" when I read Revelation 7:3 :  "Do not harm the earth, the sea, or the trees till we have sealed the servants of our God on their foreheads."

There is definitely a "times up" aspect to this verse, with judgments following.

 

In Revelation 8:1-6, we see Jesus ministering at the Alter of Incense.  Then He "took the censer, filled it with fire from the alter, and threw it to the earth."  The trumpet disasters follow, which are devastation to the  earth, so I would say that the "sealing" is complete at this point.  I personally would START the 1260 days (time, times and a part; 42 months) HERE.   The world will highly RESENT the servants of God predicting each trumpet disaster for 42 months. 

 

Just a note.  The reason we KNOW that "the angel" of Revelation 8:3 is Jesus, is because he has a "golden censer".  The "golden censer" was ONLY handled by the High Priest, and ONLY on the Day of Atonement.   

 

In Ezekiel 10:2, "the man clothed in linen" (linen symbolic of Day of Atonement attire of the HP) is told to scatter coals over Jerusalem.  Destruction of the City followed.

Prior to this - in Ezek 9:3-4, the "man clothed in linen" was told to "set a mark on the foreheads of the men who sign and cry over all the abominations that are done within" Jerusalem.

So - that was the "sealing."  

[8thdaypriest]

I asked a Hebrew rabbi once, about Daniel 8:14.  I wanted to know about the word "cleansed".  What tense was conveyed. 

Would a cleansing process BEGIN after 2300 evening-mornings, or would the cleansing be COMPLETE at the end of that period? 

 

The rabbi explained that the word "cleansed" in Daniel 8:14, was NOT THE SAME as the word translated as "cleansed" in other passages,

like a cleansed leper.  Those other uses referred to ceremonial "cleansing".  Another example would be

Nehemiah 13:30 Thus I cleansed <02891> (08765) them of everything pagan. (Neh 13:30 NKJ)

 

The word used in Daniel 8:14 is 06663 - tsadaq {tsaw-dak'}, which means to be justified - to be declared just, or in the right. 

The tense is "perfect" (08738) which means the "cleansing" is COMPLETE at the end of the 2300 Ev/Mor. 

 

Which reminds me of Romans 3:4.

"Let God be true but every man a liar, As it is written; 'That You may be justified in Your words and may overcome when You are judged." 

This is God on trial'"  (Ps. 51:4).

 

At the judgment of Daniel 7:9-10, the Son of God comes before the heavenly court.  He is declared

"worthy" (Rev. 5:9), and Satan's dominion is taken from him, and is given to the Son of Man.   

 

This is Revelation 11:15  "Then the 7th angel sounded; and there were loud voices in heaven saying, "The kingdoms of this world have become the kingdoms of our Lord and of His Christ."  NOW comes "wrath" (Rev. 11:18) in the form of the 7 bowl judgments.

 

Anciently Israel (collectively) was judged IN THE PERSON OF THE HIGH PRIEST (on the Day of Atonement).  This is why "judgment is declared in favor of the saints of the most high" in Daniel 7:22, when the Son of Man appears before the Court.    Day of Atonement is NOT the start of a person by person investigation of individuals.  THAT must all be done, and the individuals sealed BEFORE this day.  

 

The Adventist pioneers had it right.  Probation CLOSES on the Day of Atonement.  

The fact that "time" had continued, and probation was NOT closed on October 22nd, means that it was NOT the fulfillment of the Day of Atonement prophecy.