Key to the 1843 Prophetic Chart
beloved; therefore understand the matter, and consider the vision. Seventy weeks are determined upon thy people and upon thy holy city." etc. That this is a continuation of the explanation of the vision of chap.viii, would seem sufficiently evident without the aid of any special argument to prove it so.
But as there is a vital point that hinges upon this fact, we will offer a few reasons which place it beyond the limits of contradiction. 1. Gabriel had received a charge, chap.viii,16, to make Daniel understand the vision; but at the end of that chapter, Daniel says he was astonished at the vision, but none understood it. Gabriel therefore did not complete his mission in chap.viii: the charge still rested upon him, "Make this man to understand the vision."
2. The being who came to Daniel at the time of his supplication, was the very same who had appeared to him in the vision at the beginning; namely, Gabriel. And that he had now come to undeceive him concerning his application of the time, is evident in that he says, I am now come forth to give thee skill and understanding. Why did he not give him a full understanding of the vision at first?
Because, we answer, he revealed to him all that he was then able to bear; for he fainted and was sick certain days. 3. Direct reference is made to the vision at the beginning; and if that is not the vision of chap.viii, it is impossible to find it. And again, if Gabriel does not explain in chap.ix, what he omitted in chap.viii, it is impossible for any man to show wherein Gabriel fulfilled his commission to make this man understand the vision.
But a position which will lead to such a result, is utterly unallowable. 4. When Gabriel commenced his further explanation he did not explain the symbol of the ram; for that he had already explained; he did not explain the goat; for he had likewise explained that; neither did he commence about the little horn; for he had made that plain also in chap.viii. What then did he explain? The very point there omitted; namely, time: "Seventy weeks are determined upon thy people, etc. These facts are sufficient to show the connection of Dan.ix (9), with the vision of chap.viii.
But how do the words of Gabriel, "Seventy weeks are determined upon thy people,: etc., explain the period of the 2300 days? The answer is. The word rendered determined, signifies literally, cut off . Gesenius in his Hebrew Lexicon thus defines it: "Properly, to cut off ; tropically, to divide, and so to determine, to decree." The Englishman's Hebrew Concordance says, "Determined, literally, divided."
From what period are the seventy weeks divided, or cut off? From the 2300 days; for there is no other period given from which they can be taken; and this is placed beyond a doubt by the connection of the two chapters, which has already been proved.
Having now ascertained that the 70 weeks of Dan.ix (9) are the first 490 years of the 2300 days, and that consequently the two periods commence together, we further learn that this period of weeks dates from the going forth of a commandment to restore and build Jerusalem. Dan.ix (9),25. If then we can