Category: Palestine / land of Canaan / Holy Land

The Seventy Weeks of Daniel #3

Friday, April 25, 2025

“Seventy weeks are determined upon thy people and upon thy holy city, to finish the transgression, and to make an end of sins, and to make reconciliation for iniquity, and to bring in everlasting righteousness, and to seal up the vision and prophecy, and to anoint the most Holy” (Daniel 9:24 KJV).

What precisely are these seventy weeks of Daniel? How do they form the backbone of prophecy?

Before we dissect Daniel 9:24-27, it is tremendously critical for us to observe how today’s Scripture restricts these seventy weeks to a certain people and a particular location: “Seventy weeks are determined upon thy people and upon thy holy city….”

Who are these “thy people?” Remember, the Angel Gabriel is talking to Daniel (verses 21-23). Since Daniel is an Israelite, Daniel 9:24-27 applies to Daniel’s people—Israel (note well verses 7,11,20). “And whiles I was speaking, and praying, and confessing my sin and the sin of my people Israel,…” (verse 20). What is this “thy holy city?” Again, the context defines it for us—Jerusalem (check verses 2,7,12,16,25). “O LORD, according to all thy righteousness, I beseech thee, let thine anger and thy fury be turned away from thy city Jerusalem, thy holy mountain: because for our sins, and for the iniquities of our fathers, Jerusalem and thy people are become a reproach to all that are about us” (verse 16).

Daniel’s seventy weeks deal with the restoration of Israel and Jerusalem as they recover from the devastation and destruction of the 70-year Babylonian Captivity (cf. Daniel 9:16-19). This must be distinctly understood, for sensational “prophecy preachers” have habitually wrested or perverted these verses to accommodate Gentiles and European cities (Rome, for instance) or American cities (New York City, for example). We should not rip these verses from context. Daniel’s focus is the Middle East: again, it is Israel and Jerusalem.

Echoing the words he heard from God, the Angel Gabriel lays out for Daniel and his Jewish people a schedule of “seventy weeks.” During this designated period of time, several individual prophecies will be fulfilled to finally restore Israel to the LORD God and ultimately equip the nation and its capital city to fulfill His purposes (today’s Scripture)….

The Seventy Weeks of Daniel #2

Thursday, April 24, 2025

“Seventy weeks are determined upon thy people and upon thy holy city, to finish the transgression, and to make an end of sins, and to make reconciliation for iniquity, and to bring in everlasting righteousness, and to seal up the vision and prophecy, and to anoint the most Holy” (Daniel 9:24 KJV).

What precisely are these seventy weeks of Daniel? How do they form the backbone of prophecy?

In the context of today’s Scripture (read verses 3-20), the Prophet Daniel prays as he and his nation live outside the Promised Land. Since the Jewish people violated the Law of Moses by participating in heathen idolatry for centuries, the LORD God punished them by removing them from the Land of Canaan and exiling them to Babylon. See Leviticus 26:27-46, especially verses 39,40: “And they that are left of you shall pine away in their iniquity in your enemies’ lands; and also in the iniquities of their fathers shall they pine away with them. If they shall confess their iniquity, and the iniquity of their fathers, with their trespass which they trespassed against me, and that also they have walked contrary unto me;….”

Daniel confesses his nation’s sins of breaking the Old Covenant; Israel’s restoration to God and her return to the Promised Land depend on such a confession. According to Daniel 9:1,2, Daniel learned from the Prophet Jeremiah how the Babylonian Captivity would last 70 years. “And this whole land shall be a desolation, and an astonishment; and these nations shall serve the king of Babylon seventy years. And it shall come to pass, when seventy years are accomplished, that I will punish the king of Babylon, and that nation, saith the LORD, for their iniquity, and the land of the Chaldeans, and will make it perpetual desolations” (Jeremiah 25:11,12; cf. Jeremiah 29:10; cf. 2 Chronicles 36:20,21).

Having been deported via the Babylonian Captivity in chapter 1 as a teenager, Daniel has lived all 70 years of it. Confessing Israel’s sins, the aged Prophet seeks further understanding as to his nation’s future, especially since a believing remnant is now returning to Judaea/Jerusalem from Babylon (2 Chronicles 36:22,23; cf. Daniel 5:30,31; Daniel 9:1,2). God thus sends the Angel Gabriel to teach Daniel so he can write more prophecy for Israel’s sake (see Daniel 9:21-23). Verses 24-27 (today’s Scripture and context) are God’s words to Daniel through Gabriel….

Paul in the Synagogues #11

Sunday, March 16, 2025

“…Then was Saul certain days with the disciples which were at Damascus. And straightway he preached Christ in the synagogues, that he is the Son of God” (Acts 9:19b,20 KJV).

What are the three reasons the Apostle Paul went to the synagogues?

Paul’s visits to synagogues had a three-fold purpose. Firstly, his preaching the Gospel of the Grace of God (Acts 20:24; 1 Corinthians 15:3,4) was to win some lost Jews to Jesus Christ and therefore have them join the Church the Body of Christ (see Romans 9:1-5 and Romans 10:1-3).

Secondly, such a provoking ministry automatically left the entire nation Israel without excuse. Read Romans 11:11-14. Jews in the land of Palestine had already rejected the LORD God by refusing to believe the Gospel of the Kingdom during Matthew to John and early Acts. Now, outside the Promised Land and throughout the Roman Empire as he travelled, they were resisting, obstructing, and attacking Paul’s ministry during Acts chapters 9–28. Whether under Peter or under Paul, their mounting unbelief and protracted hatred for Jesus Christ increasingly justified God turning to the Gentiles without them. Salvation and blessing would go to the world through Israel’s fall because, although there was a Jewish believing remnant (the Little Flock or Messianic Church), the nation itself was unconverted.

Thirdly, and lastly, Paul’s trips to those synagogues for 15 or 20 years (Acts chapters 9–19) were God’s method of announcing to Israel out of the land about the change in program from prophecy to mystery. To wit, Paul preached Romans chapters 9–11 as he went to those synagogues. National Israel’s history of unbelief (Romans chapter 9, Abraham to Christ’s earthly ministry) continued to the present (Romans chapter 10, the Acts period) and would remain even into the future until mystery ceased and prophecy returned (Romans chapter 11). Israel was not walking by faith in Old Testament prophecy, persisted in that unbelief, so God unfolded a secret program through Paul. Even as Paul himself preached that, apostate Israel fought him! See Acts 13:44-48 and Acts 18:5,6. From the world capital of Rome, his farthest point from the Promised Land, Paul announced to lost Jews at the end of the Acts transitional period how the God of Israel had gone to Gentiles in spite of their nation’s unbelief (see Acts 28:14-29)!

NO Bible Ignorance in the Midst of Tragedy! #17

Tuesday, January 21, 2025

“Why standest thou afar off, O LORD? why hidest thou thyself in times of trouble?” (Psalm 10:1 KJV).

In light of the recent New Orleans terrorist attack just a few hours away from my home, we are delighted to dispel the associated Bible ignorance….

The Psalmist in today’s Scripture wonders why God is “distant” and “hiding” during difficult situations and circumstances. Is He there? Is He asleep? Does He care? What is going on? Will there be a resolution? Read today’s Scripture in context, the first 11 verses of Psalm 10: “[1] Why standest thou afar off, O LORD? why hidest thou thyself in times of trouble? [2] The wicked in his pride doth persecute the poor: let them be taken in the devices that they have imagined. [3] For the wicked boasteth of his heart’s desire, and blesseth the covetous, whom the LORD abhorreth. [4] The wicked, through the pride of his countenance, will not seek after God: God is not in all his thoughts. [5] His ways are always grievous; thy judgments are far above out of his sight: as for all his enemies, he puffeth at them.

“[6] He hath said in his heart, I shall not be moved: for I shall never be in adversity. [7] His mouth is full of cursing and deceit and fraud: under his tongue is mischief and vanity. [8] He sitteth in the lurking places of the villages: in the secret places doth he murder the innocent: his eyes are privily set against the poor. [9] He lieth in wait secretly as a lion in his den: he lieth in wait to catch the poor: he doth catch the poor, when he draweth him into his net. [10] He croucheth, and humbleth himself, that the poor may fall by his strong ones. [11] He hath said in his heart, God hath forgotten: he hideth his face; he will never see it.”

This Psalm depicts an extremely grim setting: before creation is rescued from Satan and his policy of evil, it will endure conditions far, far worse than what even we observe right now. In short, a man who embodies that satanic plan must rise to power… and then fall to perdition….

NO Bible Ignorance in the Midst of Tragedy! #16

Monday, January 20, 2025

“Why standest thou afar off, O LORD? why hidest thou thyself in times of trouble?” (Psalm 10:1 KJV).

In light of the recent New Orleans terrorist attack just a few hours away from my home, we are delighted to dispel the associated Bible ignorance….

God has formed—and will form—the nation Israel’s believing remnant to become His earthly people, who will eventually occupy Earth’s governmental offices in accordance with Colossians 1:16-20. This Little Flock includes all believers in Christ from His earthly ministry and early Acts: “Fear not, little flock; for it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom” (Luke 12:32). It also involves all believers in Christ during Daniel’s 70th Week (a time after our dispensation ends). Redeemed, believing Israel reigns only when Christ reigns, and that cannot be brought to pass until His Second Coming of Revelation chapter 19.

Observe Revelation 20:4-6: “And I saw thrones, and they sat upon them, and judgment was given unto them: and I saw the souls of them that were beheaded for the witness of Jesus, and for the word of God, and which had not worshipped the beast, neither his image, neither had received his mark upon their foreheads, or in their hands; and they lived and reigned with Christ a thousand years. But the rest of the dead lived not again until the thousand years were finished. This is the first resurrection. Blessed and holy is he that hath part in the first resurrection: on such the second death hath no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with him a thousand years.”

“For evildoers shall be cut off: but those that wait upon the LORD, they shall inherit the earth” (Psalm 37:9). “Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven” (Matthew 6:10). “Blessed are the meek: for they shall inherit the earth” (Matthew 5:5). “And hast made us unto our God kings and priests: and we shall reign on the earth” (Revelation 5:10). Until believing Israel is redeemed and regathered into the Promised Land to reign with Christ, conditions on Earth will not improve….

NOTE: Happy 45th Spiritual Birthday to my Mom, who will be reading this, and led me to faith in Christ almost 30 years ago!

Magdala

Monday, October 7, 2024

“And he sent away the multitude, and took ship, and came into the coasts of Magdala” (Matthew 15:39 KJV).

This little obscure town in Galilee is more familiar than you realize….

After miraculously feeding the 4,000-plus in northern Israel, the Lord Jesus crossed the Sea of Galilee by ship and entered the “coasts” (borders) of the town of Magdala (today’s Scripture). Magdala, apparently, was near the westernmost shore of the Sea of Galilee, slightly south of the midpoint between the little cities of Capernaum and Tiberias. It was one of the elevated or fortified places in Palestine (“migdal” is Hebrew for “tower”). According to the parallel passage (Mark 8:10), the town was located in the vicinity of Dalmanutha. Do we know any Bible character from Magdala? Yes!

“Magdala” forms part of the designation of a famous Bible character. She is none other than “Mary Magdalene,” a believer who is mentioned a dozen times in Scripture (Matthew 27:56,61; Matthew 28:1; Mark 15:40,47; Mark 16:1,9; Luke 8:2; Luke 24:10; John 19:25; John 20:1,18). It is unclear exactly when she trusted Jesus as Messiah, but she definitely resided in Magdala at some point before following Him. Her appellation is no different from the names “Simon the Canaanite [from Cana, a town in Galilee]” (Matthew 10:4; Mark 3:18) and “Judas Iscariot [Hebrew for ‘man of Kerioth,’ a town near Jerusalem]” (Matthew 10:4; Mark 3:19).

Hopefully, we will remember how the Bible declares of her, “Mary Magdalene, out of whom he [Christ] had cast seven devils” (Mark 16:9; Luke 8:2). It is unknown just when this miracle occurred, but, Mary Magdalene herself was doubtless a fortified tower of devils—seven evil spirits, to be precise, who had taken over her body. She was a graphic representation of her sinful nation Israel and its polluted land of Canaan, quite useful to Satan in preventing God’s earthly kingdom from being founded. Of course, the Lord Jesus threw out all seven devils, reversing her complete and utter spiritual defilement. Also, by subsequently accompanying and serving Him—especially at His crucifixion, resurrection, and beyond—Mary Magdalene’s conduct ensured her tiny town of Magdala is noteworthy. Now, the Holy Spirit has written these verses so it will never be forgotten.

No Wedding Garment! #8

Monday, July 29, 2024

“And when the king came in to see the guests, he saw there a man which had not on a wedding garment: And he saith unto him, Friend, how camest thou in hither not having a wedding garment? And he was speechless” (Matthew 22:11,12 KJV).

Who is this who has no “wedding garment?”

The “wedding” is in Revelation 19:7-9, the Marriage Supper of the Lamb: “Let us be glad and rejoice, and give honour to him: for the marriage of the Lamb is come, and his wife hath made herself ready. And to her was granted that she should be arrayed in fine linen, clean and white: for the fine linen is the righteousness of saints. And he saith unto me, Write, Blessed are they which are called unto the marriage supper of the Lamb. And he saith unto me, These are the true sayings of God.” The “supper” itself is Revelation 19:11-21.

As for the proper wedding garment, see Revelation 7:9-14—God’s righteousness, not man’s self-righteousness (recall Isaiah 61:10; cf. Genesis 3:1-13,21). Only Israel’s believing remnant, the Little Flock, will have it. National Israel will be without the wedding garment, having only works-religion. As for the wedding, Jesus Christ marries Israel under the New Covenant. Hosea 2:16,19,20: “And it shall be at that day, saith the LORD, that thou shalt call me Ishi [‘Husband’]; and shalt call me no more Baali [‘Lord’]…. And I will betroth [engage] thee unto me for ever; yea, I will betroth thee unto me in righteousness, and in judgment, and in lovingkindness, and in mercies. I will even betroth thee unto me in faithfulness: and thou shalt know the LORD.”

Also see Isaiah 62:4,5: “Thou shalt no more be termed Forsaken; neither shall thy land any more be termed Desolate: but thou shalt be called Hephzibah [‘Delight’], and thy land Beulah [‘Married’]: for the LORD delighteth in thee, and thy land shall be married. For as a young man marrieth a virgin, so shall thy sons marry thee: and as the bridegroom rejoiceth over the bride, so shall thy God rejoice over thee.” God marries (joins) Israel to the Promised Land, and then Jesus Christ marries Israel.

Let us summarize and conclude this devotionals arc….

Tokens #5

Wednesday, June 19, 2024

“And God said, This is the token of the covenant which I make between me and you and every living creature that is with you, for perpetual generations:…” (Genesis 9:12 KJV).

What are “tokens” in Scripture?

Israel’s two spies sent into Jericho to scout the city arrived at a (former) harlot’s house. Rahab, recognizing the Jews deserved the land of Canaan, lodged these spies and asked for mercy when Israel would come back to destroy Jericho. Read Joshua chapter 2: “[9] And she said unto the men, I know that the LORD hath given you the land, and that your terror is fallen upon us, and that all the inhabitants of the land faint because of you. [10] For we have heard how the LORD dried up the water of the Red sea for you, when ye came out of Egypt; and what ye did unto the two kings of the Amorites, that were on the other side Jordan, Sihon and Og, whom ye utterly destroyed. [11] And as soon as we had heard these things, our hearts did melt, neither did there remain any more courage in any man, because of you: for the LORD your God, he is God in heaven above, and in earth beneath.

“[12] Now therefore, I pray you, swear unto me by the LORD, since I have shewed you kindness, that ye will also shew kindness unto my father’s house, and give me a true token: [13] And that ye will save alive my father, and my mother, and my brethren, and my sisters, and all that they have, and deliver our lives from death.” That “token” or sign (verse 12) turned out to be a rope of scarlet-red cloth the spies gave her to hang from her window to identify her location when Israel returned to Jericho: “[18] Behold, when we come into the land, thou shalt bind this line of scarlet thread in the window which thou didst let us down by: and thou shalt bring thy father, and thy mother, and thy brethren, and all thy father’s household, home unto thee…. [21] And she said, According unto your words, so be it. And she sent them away, and they departed: and she bound the scarlet line in the window.”

Still, there are more “tokens” in Scripture….

Jeremiah 29:11 and Right Division #7

Sunday, May 26, 2024

“For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the LORD, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end” (Jeremiah 29:11 KJV).

What is the truth about today’s Scripture?

Today’s Scripture is connected to the Jews’ Babylonian Captivity (see verse 10). For 70 years, the Kingdom of Judah would live in the foreign territory of Babylonia because of habitual violation of the Law of Moses. However, a remnant would come back to the Promised Land. In the short-term, that was the return under Zerubbabel and Ezra (see the Books of Ezra, Nehemiah, Haggai, Zechariah, and Malachi). In the long-term, however, it speaks of a regathering of Israel even future from us. That would be Christ’s Second Coming in Matthew 24:30,31.

Read the verses immediately following today’s Scripture: “[12] Then shall ye call upon me, and ye shall go and pray unto me, and I will hearken unto you. [13] And ye shall seek me, and find me, when ye shall search for me with all your heart. [14] And I will be found of you, saith the LORD: and I will turn away your captivity, and I will gather you from all the nations, and from all the places whither I have driven you, saith the LORD; and I will bring you again into the place whence I caused you to be carried away captive.” Israel’s believing remnant will recognize their apostate nation is doomed under the Old Covenant—but will be blessed under the New Covenant. As God drove the Jewish people from the land of Canaan during the Babylonian Captivity, so He will bring them back to the land of Canaan at Messiah’s return. See also Deuteronomy 30:1-10; Psalm 126:1-6; Isaiah 11:11,12; Jeremiah 16:14,15; Ezekiel 36:16-38; Zephaniah 3:20; et cetera.

We study the Bible “rightly divided” (2 Timothy 2:15), carefully separating Israel from the Body of Christ, prophecy from mystery, Peter from Paul, earth from heaven, and law from grace. After the “evil” or curses of the Law have fallen on Israel and Jerusalem (Jeremiah 21:10; Jeremiah 39:16; Jeremiah 44:27), the “thoughts of peace” will be brought to pass (the “expected end” or hope of today’s Scripture). This is the LORD dealing with Israel, not us! “For thus saith the LORD; Like as I have brought all this great evil upon this people, so will I bring upon them all the good that I have promised them” (Jeremiah 32:42).

The Last State is Worse Than the First #10

Thursday, October 12, 2023

“When the unclean spirit is gone out of a man, he walketh through dry places, seeking rest; and finding none, he saith, I will return unto my house whence I came out. And when he cometh, he findeth it swept and garnished. Then goeth he, and taketh to him seven other spirits more wicked than himself; and they enter in, and dwell there: and the last state of that man is worse than the first” (Luke 11:24-26 KJV).

Who is this man? Why is his last state worse than his first?

Recall Isaiah 49:24-26, how the LORD will serve as Israel’s Saviour and Redeemer. Also, remember Jeremiah 31:11, the LORD redeeming and ransoming Israel from “the hand of him that was stronger than he.” This looks to Jesus’ Second Coming. With Israel freed from Satan, sin, and even oppressive Gentile armies and governments, the nation can be filled with God’s life.

For example, consider how Israel’s sin debt will be cleared when the New Covenant, based on Christ’s shed blood, is ratified (Jeremiah 31:31-34; Hebrews 8:8-13; Hebrews 10:1-22). One blessing of the New Covenant is Father God filling the redeemed Jewish people—His kingdom of priests (see 1 Peter 2:9,10; Revelation 1:5,6; Revelation 5:9,10)—with the indwelling Holy Spirit. “A new heart also will I give you, and a new spirit will I put within you: and I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh, and I will give you an heart of flesh. And I will put my spirit within you, and cause you to walk in my statutes, and ye shall keep my judgments, and do them. And ye shall dwell in the land that I gave to your fathers; and ye shall be my people, and I will be your God” (Ezekiel 36:26-28). “And shall put my spirit in you, and ye shall live, and I shall place you in your own land: then shall ye know that I the LORD have spoken it, and performed it, saith the LORD” (Ezekiel 37:14).

Israel’s believing remnant (trusting Jesus as Messiah) serves in the Promised Land, becoming God’s channel of salvation and blessing to the world (see Isaiah 59:20–60:3; Zechariah 8:20-23; Matthew 28:18-20). In that day, God Himself will have solved Israel’s devil problem!