This website is a blog of the weekly 5 minute update by Eddie Chumney of Hebraic Heritage Ministries Int’l. It will contain links to the audio file and articles which are a part of the weekly update.
The God of Israel has called His people to be “watchmen of Zion” (Isaiah 62:5-6).
A Biblical watchman is to “blow the shofar” to warn the people of the God of Israel. (Ezekiel 33:1-7)
This blog will contain updates on a weekly basis pertaining to events happening in the world which are associated with major prophecies that are related with the second coming of Yeshua the Messiah. It will focus on the tribulation prophecies to divide the land of Israel and the city of Jerusalem which will result in the judgment of the nations, the fall of Babylon and the end of the exile of the house of Jacob wherein Ephraim and Judah will be united (Ezekiel 37:15-28) and the Messiah will be glorified.
In this week’s article, I discuss the background and prophetic understanding of the 70 weeks prophecy of Daniel while reviewing the article written by Monte Judah on the subject in the February 2010 issue of YAVOH! magazine.
Most prophecy teachers misunderstand the 70 week prophecy of Daniel because they do not understand the context of the prophecy.
In Daniel 9, Daniel realizes that he is coming to the end of the 70 years of Babylonian captivity prophesied in Jeremiah 25:9-11. As a result, Daniel is wondering whether these 70 years are THE exile for breaking the covenant given at Mount Sinai.
Daniel understands that in order to end the exile that the nation of Israel must repent of their sins. As a result, Daniel prays a prayer of repentance for the sins of the nation of Israel.
While Daniel is wondering whether these 70 years of Babylonian captivity is THE exile for breaking the covenant as detailed in the Torah and confessing the sins of the nation of Israel to possibly end the exile, the angel Gabriel appears to Daniel to give him understanding of his prayer request.
Daniel is told that 70 weeks are determined to end the exile. The Hebrew word for “weeks” in this verse is “shavuim”. It is the masculine form of the Hebrew word, “Shavuah” which means “seven”. The feminine form of “weeks” is “shavuot” which is the Hebrew word for the “feast of weeks”. “Weeks” in Hebrew can mean “years”. Therefore, this prophecy can be interpreted to mean “70 years”.
Bible prophecies have different levels of meaning and application. The conclusion of the 70 weeks prophecy is the end of the exile of the nation of Israel and the coming of King Messiah to set up the Messianic Kingdom. The 70 weeks prophecy will accomplish the following seven things:
- To finish the transgression
- To make an end of sin
- To make atonement for iniquity
- To bring in everlasting righteousness
- To seal up vision
- To seal up prophecy
- To anoint the most holy place
Because the prophecy will result in the end of the exile of the nation of Israel and the setting up of the Messianic Era by King Messiah, the ultimate fulfillment of the prophecy pertains to the end of days.
On November 29, 1947 the United Nations voted to establish a “two state solution” for the land of Palestine and make Jerusalem an international city. It was to go into effect at the end of the British mandate over Palestine on May 14, 1948.
UN Resolution 181 established that Jerusalem be an international city. The goal of the present peace process is to make Jerusalem an international city.
The prophecy of the 70 weeks (years) is divided into 62 weeks (years), 7 weeks (years) and then the final week (year) counting 70 weeks (shavuot). If 1948 was the first Shavuot (week / year) of the 70 week (years) prophecy then 2009 was the end of the first 62 week (year) period of the prophecy. If this is the correct interpretation of the prophecy then Shavuot, 2010 will be the beginning of the last 7 years of Daniel’s prophecy.
If this interpretation is correct then we should see events taking place in 2010 that are associated with the tribulation. A US war with Iran is a tribulation event. An agreement to divide the city of Jerusalem is a tribulation event. The fall of the Babylonian economic system is a tribulation event.
If we see the nation of Israel agree to divide the city of Jerusalem in 2010 then we are in the tribulation. If we see a US war against Iran in 2010 then we are in the tribulation. If we see a collapse of the US dollar in 2010 then we are in the tribulation.
Will it be confirmed in 2010 that this is the start of the tribulation? Only time will tell. In the meantime, we are being “watchmen upon the walls of Jerusalem” to “blow the shofar” and warn people about the significance of the days and times in which we are living. This is the purpose of the 5 minute update.
The following articles are covered in this week’s 5 minute update:
- The PLO agrees to start “indirect talks” with Israel on February 20 demanding that the borders of a PLO state be defined upon the conclusion of the talks.
- The parameters of the “indirect talks” are given
- Two Israeli ships are headed to the Persian gulf
- US Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff: Michael Mullen visits Israel
- The February 2010 issue of YAVOH! magazine
Pray for the peace of Jerusalem,
Shalom in Yeshua the Messiah,
Eddie Chumney, Hebraic Heritage Ministries Int’l