Posted by Bibleman [Bibleman] on October 28, 1999 at 18:22:15 {BrTq3yWfsYMSSTtTA17sslyACFuF8c}:
In Reply to: *******Jan/AL:Inspired Prophecy! posted by Al; on October 28, 1999 at 14:57:28:
If you are ready to embark on that, then I did give you a link below by Phillip Mauro that basically gives you the basics on the "70 weeks" prophecy fulfillment.
Since this is a JW setting, you can refer to their reference to the "70 weeks" in the "Insight" Book. However, they think that the prophecy was fulfilled in 455BCE which is when they date the 20th of Artaxerxes.
After you have looked at these sources, if you have any other questions let me know.
It is my position that Cyrus fulfilled the prophecy not Nehemiah, so I would be happy to discusss the Cyrus particulars if you wish.
I'll wait with any more references until you have some specific questions.
If you want some alternative views on the "seventy weeks", Carl Jonsson discusses it in his book, "Gentile Times Reconsidered, 3rd Edition."
He makes this interesting observation about the prophecy, though he has his own opinion:
Page 192 He says, "....different views are held regarding when and by whom this "word" was sent forth. If we "just stick to the Bible," it seems to point to the Persian king Cyrus....Thus it would seem clear that according to the Bible itself the "word to restore and rebuild Jerusalem" was issued by Cyrus.... If this period ended at the baptism of Christ, usually dated somewhere in the period 26-29 C.E., Cyrus' first year as king of Babylon would have to be dated in the period 458-455 B.C.E. instead of 538, the historically acknowledged date."
This is the basis for dating the 1st of Cyrus in 455BCE, based upon the understood application of the prophecy to Cyrus.
Let me know if you have any other questions.
Cheers,
Bibleman