First Coming

Second Coming

At the terminus of the 69 Weeks Messiah was taken before the Sanhedrin and Herod, then to Pilate and the mob. Then He was "cut off". This indicates a gap between the 69 weeks and the future 70th Week in the range of 2,000 years.

69 weeks of years are counted out from the Edict of Artaxerxes, in his 20th Year as given to the cup-bearer, Nehemiah. The 69 X 7 X 360 = 173,880 day timeline terminates on Palm Sabbath, connecting these two auspicious dates in holy history.

Then a long gap - - - - -> to the Future 70th Week.

The prophecy concerning the first 69 of the Seventy Weeks of Daniel was an electrifying Word from God. At the terminus of the 69 weeks a momentous day would dawn. It would be the occasion of a public spectacle of enormous import. This awesome day would bring nothing less than the coming of the Messiah into His holy city.

Just what were the political ramifications here? For His first prophesied entry into Jerusalem just how would He come? Would He enter in vengeance as the Deliverer, the Conquering King, riding upon a white horse with a sword to smite the nations? Apparently those were the expectations.

Of course in that eventful Passover back in 32 A.D. it did not turn out that way. No. Not this time. Those other prophecies (- Isa.63:1-6, Rev.19:11-21 etc.) would surely come. But they would have to wait for His later coming, - His Second Coming.

This was the stumbling block for the royal house of Israel. They expected their Messiah to come as the Conquering King expel the Romans from the land, and establish His Millennial Kingdom. They were not prepared for His appearance as the Suffering Servant. Their hearts were not yet ready for Him.

All this drama, and all this apparent tragedy.
But divine holy history was unfolding in the sovereign will of God.
Israel's Sacrifice Lamb would be slain.
And the gates to salvation would be opened wide for all mankind.

For His first coming Jesus would make a humble entrance.
He would come to His people riding upon a donkey.
The Bridegroom was coming to woo His prospective Bride.
And He was coming in humility.

The priesthood had valued Him cheaply.
They had paid out thirty pieces of silver to be done with Him.
But the Bridegroom was bringing Himself,
He was offering up His very Life, as the bridal price.

That day was Palm Sunday. On this day Jesus made His only Messianic and therefore political appearance in all His life and ministry. He had taught and ministered among His people for three and a half years. He had retreated from the crowds on many occasions when they had sought to raise Him to prominence. But this day, this special day in holy history, was a day like no other. It was the only time Jesus was presented Himself to His people in a political way as their Messiah.

On that auspicious day Jesus/Yeshua made a grand entrance. Oh yes, He was rejected by the city of Jerusalem as a whole. And He was despised by the Sanhedrin. But on that day our Messiah made a very open and public political appearance. Israel's Messiah was coming into His City! But Messiah entered His Holy City in His priestly role as the 'The Suffering Servant', even Israel's Sacrifice Lamb. The ones who knew Him and loved Him received Him with adulation.

From the Mount of Olives our Savior came. He crossed the Kidron Valley and came through the Eastern Gate. Then He passed on up into the Holy City on His way to the Temple. He entered Jerusalem to the acclaim of crowds bearing palm branches. There were shouts of "Hosanna", which is an appeal from the heart meaning "Please save now!".

It was a joyful parade. Those who loved Him were there. They greeted Him with shouts of joy. The palm branches were waved and thrown before Him in the manner of a king returning to his city in triumph.

Alas this moment was short lived. His city was not ready for Him. And when He went on to cleanse the Temple for the second time and disrupt the lucrative religi-business of the religious leaders they were furious. In spite of it being close to the holy days of Passover they immediately plotted to kill Him. Four days later, just as Daniel's prophecy had predicted, our Messiah was "cut off" or executed.

The people of Israel were not yet ready to receive their Messiah in His role as High Priest. They wanted Him to come as their Conquering King. But the priestly role is one of the two offices of Melchizedek. And King David had heard YHVH-God proclaim to David's son, (and David's Lord), the Son of David,

"You are a Priest forever after the Order of Melchizedek."
(See Psalm 110:4)

But the future Righteous Branch had NOT been received in the hearts of His people. (Jer.31:31-33)
And That Day of the coming of Israel's Great King was not to be at that time.

The High Priest of God Most High was cut off, .... executed.
And the Prince of Peace was put to death in His own City of Shalom.