The keynote of the preaching of Christ was: "The time is fulfilled and the kingdom of God is at hand: repent and believe the gospel" (Mark 1: 15).
So the gospel message, as did the Savior Himself, was based on the prophecies. The "time" he declared fulfilled was the period made known to Daniel by the angel Gabriel:
"Seventy weeks are determined upon thy people and upon thy holy city to finish transgression, put an end to sin, and reconciliation for iniquity, to bring in everlasting righteousness, to seal up vision and prophecy and to anoint the most Holy "(Daniel 9: 24).
In prophecy a day represents a year (Numbers 14: 34. Ezekiel 4: 6).
The seventy weeks, or four hundred ninety days, represent four hundred and ninety years. And there had been a starting point for this period:
"Know therefore and understand, that from the start of the commandment to restore and build Jerusalem until Messiah the Prince shall be seven weeks and sixty-two weeks," ( Daniel 9: 25) sixty-nine weeks, ie four hundred eighty-three years.
The order to restore and build Jerusalem, completed by the decree of Artaxerxes Longimanus (Ezra 6:14; 7: 1) entered into force in the autumn of 457 BC Since that time, four hundred eighty-three years reach the autumn of AD 27
According to prophecy, this period was to come to Messiah, the Anointed. In the year 27 AD, Jesus at His baptism received the anointing of the Holy Spirit, and soon after began his ministry. Then it was proclaimed the message: "The time is fulfilled."
the angel had declared: "In one week [seven years] shall confirm the covenant with many."
For seven years after the Savior began his ministry, the gospel had to be preached especially to the Jews by Christ himself for three years and a half, and then by the apostles.
"In the middle of the week he shall cause the sacrifice and offering" (Daniel 9: 27). In the spring of AD 31, Christ the true sacrifice was offered on Calvary. Then the veil of the temple was torn in two, showing that the meaning and sanctity of the ritual of sacrifice were over. Now was the time when sacrifices were to cease and terrestrial offerings.
week-seven years ended in 34 AD. So, for the stoning of Stephen the Jews finally sealed His rejection of the gospel the disciples, scattered by persecution "went everywhere preaching the word" (Acts 8: 4) and shortly thereafter became the persecutor Saul, and became Paul the apostle to the Gentiles.
time of Christ's coming, His anointing by the Holy Spirit, death and the proclamation of the Gospel to the Gentiles, had been given in a definite shape.
was the privilege of the Jewish people understand these prophecies, and recognize their fulfillment in the mission of Jesus. Christ urged his disciples to recognize the importance of studying prophecy.
Referring to what was given to Daniel about his time, said: "The reader understand." (Matthew 24: 15). After his resurrection, said to the disciples in "all the prophets" "the things concerning himself" (Luke 24: 27).
El Salvador had spoken through the prophets. "The spirit of Christ which was in them" "testified beforehand the sufferings of Christ and the glories that would follow" (1 Peter 1: 11).
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