Thursday In Harmony With Events of Crucifixion

In its concluding paragraph this Paper asserts that “33 AD is far too late (in history) to be accommodated by the gospels and is completely at odds with the sequence of events in the gospels”. (Emphasis CGE) It has been shown in the present study – without appeal to astrometric factors – that Thursday is in fact implied in the Gospels to be the day of Christ’s crucifixion and in fact is completely in harmony with the sequence of events in the Gospels. The second of the two reasons contained in this concluding remark is unfounded. It is beyond the scope of this book to argue the years of Christ’s birth. But the present writer is of the opinion that no definite conclusions are possible whether the arguments and historical references of this paper or any other are used in this regard. The best of scholars adhere to some range of years rather than to any specific year. These scholars also agree that Christ had been born some four years before the Christian count of years started. But while also the year 29 AD had a 1st Nisan on a Thursday – which corresponds with historical requirements and the events recorded in the Gospels – Thursday should be accepted. Not even astrometric data can refute the authority of Scripture.

5.1.1.6.1.5.2.

Thursday in Harmony with Daniel’s Prophecy

C	DETERMINED UPON ISRAEL					Times of
O	70 Weeks					Gentiles
M	7 x 7	62 x 7		1 x 7	T		TO END
M			A		U		Jerusalem
A			N		R		Trodden
N			O		N		under foot
D			I		I
			N		N
T	Jerusalem rebuilt	Unto Messiah the Prince	T	Messiah	G		War
O			E	cut off
			D		T		and
R				Middle	O
E				of			desolation
B				week	G
U					E
I			baptism		N		until
L					T
D					I		consum-
					L
4					E		mation
5					S
7			26	29½	33

For the understanding of the following view of Daniel’s prophecy in chapter 9, it is presupposed that, 1, the ‘prophetic day’ be regarded one solar year; 2, that the year 457 BC (Esra 6:14 – Artaxerxes) be the year of the “commissioning of the contract to restore and to build Jerusalem”. (See Appendix p. 275.) 3, that at least four years must be allowed for a more correct year-count. (See Appendixes pp. 275, 290-292.)

“Seventy weeks are determined upon thy people [Israel] and upon thy holy city [Jerusalem], to finish transgression [by making full the measure of sin by killing the Anointed as well as by rejecting the preaching of the Gospel – see below.] and to make reconciliation for iniquity [by the sacrifice of Messiah], and to bring in everlasting righteousness [the Righteous for the unrighteous dying], and to seal up the vision and the prophecy [by making an end of it all Himself being the perfecting of the vision and the prophecy], and to anoint the most Holy [entering at the right hand of the Father with his own blood into the most Holy to make everlasting atonement.” – This is a preview.

Now follows an analysis of the time allocations. “Know therefore and understand that from the going forth of the command to restore and to build Jerusalem unto Messiah the Prince (Jesus Anointed) shall be seven weeks, and, threescore and two weeks. [7 + 62 = 69 weeks or 49 years plus 434 years = 483 years. 483 years from 457 BC is 26 AD. At the baptism of Christ He was declared “Son of God”, God anointing Him with the Holy Spirit, Acts 10: 37-38.] After the command is given to “restore and to build Jerusalem … The street shall be built again, and the wall, even in troublous times. [This is a parenthesis.] And after the threescore and two weeks [i.e., after the second phase of 62 weeks of years that reached to 26 AD] shall Messiah (Jesus Christ) be cut off [killed by crucifixion], but not for Himself [but for the people’s sins.] And the hosts of the ruler that shall come shall destroy the city and the sanctuary. [Jerusalem and the temple destroyed by Titus.] And the end thereof [of Jerusalem and the temple] shall be with a flood [of blood and death]. And unto the end [of time] war and desolations are determined.”

Next the last week is described in detail. “And He [Jesus Messiah] shall confirm the covenant [of grace] with many [with the elect] for one week. In the middle of the week [i.e. middle of the fourth solar year after three and a halve years, Spring of 30 AD] He shall cause sacrifice and the oblation to cease [by the offering of his own blood]. And on the wings of abomination a desolator shall be even until the consummation [of history], and that determined shall be poured upon the desolate [in judgement at the Second Advent of Christ].”

Three and halve years after Christ’s crucifixion, when the 70th week ended, God’s covenant He made with the Jews was ended:- “seventy weeks are determined upon thy people [Israel]”. “It is necessary that the word of God should first have been spoken to you: but seeing ye put it from you, and judge yourselves unworthy of everlasting life, lo, we turn to the gentiles”. ^{Acts 13:46} “And at that time there was a great persecution against the Church which was at Jerusalem; and they were all scattered throughout the regions … they that were scattered abroad went everywhere preaching the Word.” ^{Acts 8:1, 4} “They (the Church) shall be led away captive into all nations: And Jerusalem shall be trodden down of the Gentiles [also the Jews now were accounted Gentiles] until the times of the Gentiles be fulfilled … and [Jerusalem shall be trodden down of the Gentiles until] they shall see the Son of man coming in a cloud with power and great glory”. ^{Lk.21:24, 27}

The Wednesday crucifixion theory claims that Daniel’s prophecy that Messiah the Prince would be cut off “in the middle of the week” should be literally interpreted as if He had been killed on a Wednesday, the middle day of week. If the seventieth ‘week’ should be understood for a literal week, the other 69 weeks should also be understood for literal, and the prophecy would be meaningless. Literalness should be applied consistently, in which case Jesus would have had to be killed in the morning at six o’clock, and not the afternoon at three o’clock. Six o’clock Wednesday morning is the precise middle of the week since so much in terms of hours and even minutes and seconds is required by the Wednesday crucifixion theory. [Some of its adherents go so far as to view Jesus’ being delivered over to be crucified at six a.m. as the beginning of the “seventy two hours” of the “three days and three nights” allegedly according to the Jonah prophecy. See Par. 5.1.1.6.5.]