Nisan 10 Prophetic Implications

Here’s a brief explanation of the significance of Nisan 10.  If you find this of interest, you may want to share this with your friends (or even paste it in Facebook).

Background:  The foundation of end-times prophecy is usually considered to be the “70 Weeks Prophecy” given by Daniel in the Old Testament and recorded in Daniel chapter 9.  The prophecy was given while Daniel and the Jews were exiles in Babylon, and Jerusalem was literally a heap of ruins following the city’s destruction by King Nebuchadnezzar in 586 BC (or so; experts differ on the date).

God revealed to Daniel that seventy weeks (literally ‘sevens’) were determined for Israel and Jerusalem to accomplish six objectives.  Each week is actually a period of seven years; 70 seven-year blocks or 490 years total.  The period would begin when a command went forth to restore and build Jerusalem.  The years would not be contiguous, but would be broken into three periods:  the first would be seven ‘weeks’ or 49 years, then a second period of 62 ‘weeks’ or 434 years, and then a final period of seven years.  Daniel also included a significant time-marker after the first two periods (483 years) had transpired:  he wrote that “after the sixty-two weeks Messiah shall be cut off, but not for Himself.”  While there may be some doubt as to exactly when this time period began, there is no doubt about when it ended.  It ended just before Jesus Christ was crucified.  It is significant to note that Daniel said Messiah would be cut off “after” the sixty nine weeks, rather than “at the beginning of the 70th week” or something similar.

Where we are now:  We know that 69 of the 70 weeks have already passed.  How can we tell that one week remains; that is, what makes us confident that the final week wasn’t already completed at some time in the past?  We can safely assume that if the final seven years have also passed, then the six objectives would have been met.  Here they are:

• finish the transgression
• make an end of sins
• make reconciliation for iniquity
• bring in everlasting righteousness
• seal up vision and prophecy
• anoint the Most Holy

It seems obvious, just by looking at the world today, at the nation of Israel, or even our own lives that these agenda items have not yet been accomplished.  One week – a final period of seven years – must remain.

When did the clock stop?  Passover always occurs on the 14th day of the first month of the Jewish calendar.  That month is known by two names: ‘Abib’ and ‘Nisan.’  Each month begins on a new moon.  Four days before Passover – that is, on Nisan 10 – Jesus entered Jerusalem to begin his ‘passion week.’  That was the day that the 69th week ended, and it was also when the Jews began their official rejection of their Messiah.  The first 69 weeks were concluded before Jesus was crucified, but the 70th week had not yet begun.

If the 69th week ended on Nisan 10, it would be reasonable to assume that the 70th week would begin on some future Nisan 11.  There are several reasons for believing the final week will begin on this upcoming Nisan 11.  Following is one of those reasons.

Sign in the heavens:  There is a prophecy in Revelation 12 that speaks of a sign in the heavens involving stars, planets, the sun and the moon.  That sign is Virgo simultaneously in near-conjunction with the sun, with the moon under her feet, and with a garland of 12 stars above her head.  This highly unusual configuration will be observable above the city of Jerusalem during the Jewish Feast of Rosh Hashannah in 2017.   According to Revelation, this sign appears in the middle of this final seven-year period (technically, after 1,260 days).  If you back up 1,260 days, you land on Nisan 11 of this year.  Illustration and more information here:  http://tinyurl.com/nisan11

What’s next?  Daniel also stated that the Messiah would confirm a covenant at the beginning of this final week.  Theories abound concerning what “covenant” may be in view or how this confirmation may take place, but one thing seems certain:  this will be an event that will signal the resumption of God’s covenantal activities between Himself and the people of Israel.  This means it must be a post-rapture event. 

Paul wrote in Romans 11:25-26 that “hardening in part has happened to Israel until the fullness of the Gentiles has come in.  And so all Israel will be saved, as it is written:

The Deliverer will come out of Zion,
And He will turn away ungodliness from Jacob;
For this is My covenant with them,
When I take away their sins.”

Notice that national salvation for Israel occurs subsequent to the fullness of the Gentiles having come in.  Compare these prophesied activities with the six objectives stated by Daniel listed above.  Notice also that this scripture explicitly mentions God’s covenant with Jacob and the taking away of Israel’s sins.

You may be wondering when Nisan 11 will fall this year on our calendar.  That date is April 11, 2014 – about 24 days from now.